Kristian Bush has been making the impossible happen his whole life. He has conjured his musical dreams into reality three times – first with his rock duo Billy Pilgrim, then with his Grammy-winning country duo Sugarland, and most recently as a solo artist.
Now Bush is undergoing yet another reinvention and chasing another horizon. That horizon includes his latest album with the new single, “Sing Along,” a brand new record label, his first-ever publishing deal, and a foray into musical theater. All of this hope, determination and contagious compassion have led this country original to come into his own. “I feel like a new artist,” Bush says about the journey ahead. “And it’s exciting.”
Bush is no newcomer. Sugarland cemented his status as a captivating stage presence and multi-platinum-selling songwriter, earning him fans and friends around the world. In many ways, his solo debut, “Trailer Hitch,” in 2014 made this new chapter possible. Built on the strength of grooving melodies, catchy hooks, and feel-good wisdom, the song was a runaway country music success, giving fans the first taste of him as a distinct artist.
“‘Trailer Hitch’ really helped validate what I sound like as a singer,” Bush says of his solo debut. “But also my belief system of putting a message into my music. That’s always been my game. Whether it was Sugarland or Billy Pilgrim or whatever, my wish was that it gets stuck in your head somehow, and then you can detangle the message as time goes by.”
Now signed to Wheelhouse Records as an artist, songwriter and producer, Bush will have plenty of opportunity to spread his message. He’s producing rising star Lindsey Ell’s new project, he stepped into the unknown to write original tunes for the new musical, “Troubadour,” opening Jan. 25 at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater, and he’s written meaningful new songs beyond “Sing Along.”
Bush will showcase his solo musical accomplishments at an upcoming show at The Paramount on Friday, June 14 at 8 p.m., where he will share the stage with multi-talented actress, producer, singer, and writer Rita Wilson.
Wilson first donned her producer’s cap for the record-breaking, box-office hit, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002). She returned as a producer and appeared in its sequel, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2,” released in 2016. Wilson co-wrote and performs “Even More Mine,” the song which plays over the film’s credits.
Wilson’s instincts proved solid once again when she saw the theatrical production of “Mamma Mia!” in London shortly after it opened. Her love of ABBA music led her to secure the rights and develop the motion picture, which was filmed on location in Greece. She served as a producer on the 2008 Universal hit that starred Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, and as executive producer for its sequel, “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!,” released last summer.
Wilson starred in the independent film, “Emmett,” for which she contributed an original song, and in the recent feature film, “Gloria Bell,” along with Julianne Moore and Jon Turturro. Her past film credits include “Sleepless in Seattle,” “It’s Complicated,” “That Thing You Do!,” “Runaway Bride,” “The Story of Us,” “Beautiful, Ohio,” and “My Life in Ruins.”
Wilson’s first love, however, is music. In May 2012, she realized a lifelong dream with the debut of her solo album, AM/FM, an intimate and elegantly sung collection of covers of her favorite songs from the 1960s and ’70s.
Since then, Wilson has been focusing on a new component of her musical career as a songwriter. In March 2016, she released her self-titled second album, Rita Wilson, which showcases her skill for creating insightful pop music that is etched with stunning honesty.
Wilson has toured around the country, opening for the band Chicago in the summer of 2016, and performing multiple times at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, as well as at the famed Bluebird Café in Nashville and Café Carlyle in New York City. Writing about one of her recent Carlyle performances, the New York Times said, “Ms. Wilson has a catch in her voice that conveys yearning and potential heartbreak behind a façade of cheer. As a stage performer, she is gregarious and forthright; a natural entertainer.”
Wilson’s new album, Bigger Picture, will be released on Sept. 28. Bigger Picture reunites her with producer Fred Mollin (Johnny Mathis, Jimmy Webb, Kris Kristofferson), expanding on her gifts as a storyteller and vocalist. With her third album, she has crafted a revelatory set of songs co-written with some of the most accomplished songwriters in Nashville and beyond, including the Warren Brothers (Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, and Toby Keith), Darrell Brown (LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, Ariana Grande), and her show partner Bush.
In addition to Bigger Picture, Wilson also co-wrote and sang “Heart Unknown” for the upcoming film “Simple Wedding,” making its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Sept. 21.
For tickets to Bush and Wilson’s upcoming show, go to www.paramountny.com. The Paramount is located at 370 New York Ave. in Huntington.
