Ann Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ann Wilson
Wilson at Wacken Open Air 2022
Background information
Birth name	Ann Dustin Wilson
Born	(1950-06-19) June 19, 1950 (age 74) San Diego, California, U.S.
Origin	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock, folk rock, pop rock, Arena rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1967–present
Associated acts	Heart, The Lovemongers, Alice in Chains

Ann Dustin Wilson (born June 19, 1950) is an American singer and songwriter. She is most famous as the lead singer of the rock band Heart.

Ann Wilson joined Heart in the early 1970s. Her younger sister, Nancy Wilson, is also a member of the band. Heart was one of the first hard rock bands with women as lead performers. They released many albums from 1975 to 2016.

Early albums like Dreamboat Annie (1975) and Little Queen (1977) had famous rock songs. These include "Magic Man", "Crazy on You", and "Barracuda". Heart has sold over 35 million records around the world. They had 29 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their albums reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart in four different decades.

In 2006, Hit Parader magazine ranked Ann Wilson as one of the "Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of All Time". In 2013, she became part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Heart. Ann Wilson is known for her powerful and wide vocal range.

Ann Wilson's Early Life

Ann Dustin Wilson was born in San Diego, California. Her father was a major in the U.S. Marine Corps. Because of his job, the Wilson family moved often. They lived near military bases in Panama and Taiwan. In the early 1960s, they settled in Seattle, Washington.

Music helped the Wilsons feel at home wherever they lived. Her sister Nancy remembered their Sundays. They would have pancakes and listen to opera loudly. Their father would even pretend to conduct the music. They listened to all kinds of music, from classical to Ray Charles.

The family finally settled in Bellevue, near Seattle. Ann graduated from Sammamish High School in 1968. She was shy as a child and found comfort in music. In the early 1970s, she joined a local band called White Heart. The band later changed its name to Hocus Pocus. In 1974, they became Heart. Ann also studied at Cornish College of the Arts.

Ann Wilson's Music Career

Ann and her sister Nancy in 1998

Ann's younger sister, Nancy, joined Heart, and the band moved to Canada. Heart recorded their first album, Dreamboat Annie, in Vancouver in 1975. It came out in the United States in 1976. "Magic Man" became Heart's first Top 10 hit, reaching No. 9. "Crazy on You" reached No. 35. Ann and Nancy Wilson wrote both songs together.

In 1977, Heart released Little Queen. In 1978, Dog & Butterfly came out. In 1986, the song "These Dreams" became a No. 1 hit. In 1992, Ann Wilson sang on two songs, "Brother" and "Am I Inside", for Alice in Chains' EP Sap.

The Wilson sisters opened a recording studio called Bad Animals in Seattle. They also started a side band called the Lovemongers. This band performed Led Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore" for the movie Singles in 1992. Later, the Lovemongers released a four-song EP. Their first album, Whirlygig, was released in 1997.

In 2001, Ann Wilson joined producer Alan Parsons for a tour. It was called A Walk Down Abbey Road. This tour paid tribute to Beatles music.

Ann Wilson's first solo album, Hope & Glory, came out on September 11, 2007. Many famous artists sang on this album. These included Elton John, k.d. lang, and Alison Krauss. Nancy Wilson also helped with the album. Three songs were released from it: "Little Problems, Little Lies", "Isolation", and a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song."

In 2012, Ann Wilson sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. This was at a Thanksgiving Day football game. Later that year, the Wilson sisters performed at the Kennedy Center tribute to Led Zeppelin. They sang "Stairway To Heaven" with an orchestra and choir. Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin's drummer, played drums.

Ann Wilson receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2012

In 2015, Ann Wilson announced a solo tour called The Ann Wilson Thing. She released her first EP (a short album) called The Ann Wilson Thing! – #1. In 2016, she released a second EP, focus.

In 2017, her first feature film, Ann Wilson: In Focus, was released. It showed an interview and live performances. In 2018, Ann Wilson and Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell honored their friend Chris Cornell. They sang Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.

On August 3, 2018, Ann Wilson released "You Don't Own Me." This was from her solo album, Immortal, which came out on September 14, 2018. The album had ten songs that honored artists who influenced her.

In May 2021, Ann Wilson announced new tour dates after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she was nominated for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame. In November 2022, she was featured on the song "Don't Tell Me" by the band Disturbed. This song reached number 2 on Billboard's Hard Rock Song Sales chart.

In April 2024, Heart started their Royal Flush 2024 Tour. However, some shows in the UK and Europe were canceled in May. Ann Wilson needed a routine medical procedure and needed time to recover.

Ann Wilson's Personal Life

Ann Wilson adopted a daughter, Marie, in 1991. She adopted a son, Dustin, in 1998.

Ann Wilson married Dean Wetter in April 2015. They had briefly dated in the 1980s. In 2016, an incident happened involving Dean Wetter and Nancy Wilson's sons. This caused some tension between the sisters. After Heart's 2016 tour, the sisters decided to tour with their own side bands. Ann said Heart was taking a break.

In February 2019, the sisters announced that Heart was back together. They started the Love Alive tour that summer. In March 2019, they performed together again for the first time since the break. This was at the Love Rocks NYC benefit concert.

Health Journey

As a child, Ann Wilson was sometimes teased about her weight. She shared that she struggled with her weight for many years. In 2002, she had surgery to help with weight loss.

In July 2024, it was announced that Ann Wilson had been diagnosed with cancer. A tumor was removed, and she began preventative treatment. Heart postponed their tour until 2025 to allow her to recover.

Ann Wilson's Music Albums

Studio Albums

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles

Other Song Appearances

Live Albums

Compilations

See also

In Spanish: Ann Wilson para niños