Carnie Wilson

Living the Good Life Her Way

By Donna Smith

After Lola's birth, one CD in particular stood out for Wilson, Kenny Loggins' Return to Pooh Corner (Sony Wonder, 1994). "It was set in stone," says Wilson. "I knew I had to make a lullaby record."

A Mother's Gift: Lullabies From the Heart became a family affair. The first song Wilson recorded, "Heaven," was written by her Uncle Carl. "Just a beautiful, beautiful song," says Wilson. "It's probably my Uncle Carl's best song. And my cousin, Justin, his son, sang vocals on it." Wilson's Uncle Dennis wrote the song, "Forever," and her Mom's group, The Honeys, sang on the album as well.

One of the CD's most touching songs is "You Are So Beautiful," which Wilson sings with her dad, Beach Boys cofounder Brian Wilson. And Wilson asked her sister, Wendy, to write a song. "I thought, well, if I'm having my dad, my mom, I've got to have my sister," says Wilson. "It would end up more being like a family affair. It wasn't really intended. It just worked out that way, which I love."

Wilson wants parents and children to "get a huge blast, a wave of love, just a feeling of love, serenity and peace" from the CD. "Just a soothing time for them to relax and enjoy some of the greatest songs ever written: 'Over the Rainbow,' 'Wonderful World,' 'Love Me Tender' some beautiful, beautiful melodies. If a parent could experience what I did, which was when I nursed her to sleep and hear music that was beautiful, the feeling of listening to that music and looking at her was so special becuse music is so meaningful to me. And I just knew that music was helping her to fall asleep. I knew that she was hearing it with her little ears for the first time. There were so many meanings. It had so much significance."

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