By LILY TINOCO | Reporter
Palisadian Rita Wilson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Board Installation and Awards Gala on Thursday, March 18.
The Chamber shared it was “elated” to reveal Wilson as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
“I am so honored!!! Thank you so much … for this Lifetime Achievement Award for Singer [and] Songwriter, Producer, and Actress,” Wilson shared via Instagram. “I am so lucky that I have been able to make a living doing things I love in the town where I was born and raised.”
Wilson joins a list of past Chamber Lifetime Achievement honorees “who have made significant contributions in the entertainment industry and Hollywood,” according to the organization’s website. Past honorees include Steve Allen, Debbie Reynolds, Ralph Edwards, Rhonda Fleming, Melissa Gilbert, Bob Barker, Vanessa Williams and more.
Wilson has produced record-breaking box office hits, including “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.” As an actress, Wilson has appeared in 1993’s “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Boy Genius” where she contributed an original song by the title “Sometimes Love.”
Wilson also co-wrote and sang “Heart Unknown” for the film “Simple Wedding.” In March 2019, Wilson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in celebration of her film career.
But according to the Chamber, Wilson’s first love is actually music—in May 2012, Wilson discovered her dream with the debut of her solo album “AM/FM.” She has since written and performed songs alongside a number of musicians.
This year’s event celebrated the Chamber’s 100th anniversary, and installation attendees were invited to enjoy a performance by Wilson.
In an interview with Variety ahead of the Chamber’s event, Wilson shared how much she missed performing in person.
“I miss it for many reasons,” she said. “You want to be with people, you just want to be in the room. I always say that performing a song requires the participation of the audience in order to really get what you’re trying to do.”
She also said she has done a lot of songwriting during the pandemic, including a song called “Hello World” and “I Want to Kiss Bob Dylan.” She concluded by sharing that she has a new EP coming out, with most of the songs being written over the course of the pandemic.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.