Entertainment

Rita Wilson Makes 'Quarantunes' Playlist For People Self-Quarantining

by Julie Scagell
om Hanks and Rita Wilson
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Rita Wilson asked fans for song recommendations on Twitter

Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson recently announced they were both diagnosed with the novel coronavirus while the two were in Australia doing pre-production work on a film about Elvis Presley — a film in which Hanks is starring. Wilson decided to fill some of her time in quarantine by creating a playlist for everyone to enjoy, and we love her for it.

The actress took to Twitter on Friday, asking fans for suggestions on a playlist she could put on Spotify for anyone in need of a pick-me-up while at home (so… everyone). “I want to make a @Spotify playlist for people self-quarantining,” she wrote. “Something that might relate to isolation, perhaps? Can you send some song ideas that I can add? Also, what should we call it? Quarantine Choruses? This is what one does in quarantine. [You] think of stuff like this.”

As hoped, people gave dozens of suggestions and the “Quarantunes” playlist was born. Her playlist features 32 songs and runs around two hours. Two glorious hours to let the music take us away while we scramble to find things to entertain our kids (for those now out of school), make meals, and generally keep our heads above water.

The playlist contains some classics, like Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting,” “So Far Away” by the great Carole King, “Dancing With Myself” by Bill Idol, and Queen’s “I Want To Break Free,” as well as several tunes from Wilson herself. For those who didn’t know, Wilson is a talented musician with several albums and is a prolific songwriter.

“What I’ve learned with songwriting is to always tell the truth, to never settle for something that’s just OK,” said Wilson on her website. “And to have found that at this point in my life is a gift.”

Hanks has been equally positive on social media. “Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other,” he wrote in his latest post, a nod to Mister Rogers, who he played in the film It’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

He also posted an update after their announcement, saying in part, “We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no? Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball.”

It seems the pair are keeping their spirits high and helping us all cope in the process.