← Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Carnie Wilson : Wilson Phillips, Her Father Brian Wilson, and the Songs That Shaped Her Life | She Wrote The Book-Encore Episode
00:25:24
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- [00:01]
Carnie Wilson
Taking a Walk.
- [00:01]
Buzz Knight
I'm Buzz Knight and in March here this Women's History Month, we're honoring women who have lived their truth out loud and never stopped fighting for themselves. My guest today on this encore episode first captured the world's heart as one third of Wilson Phillips, one of the most successful vocal groups in pop history. But her journey didn't stop at the top of the charts. She faced her battles publicly with courage and transparency on body image, mental and what it really means to grow into yourself. Carney Wilson has never hidden from the hard stuff and that honesty, that willingness to be seen, has made her a voice for so many women who needed to hear that they weren't alone. This is taking a Walk and today we talk about life beyond the stage and everything that makes it worth living. Carney Wilson is next.
- [00:57]
Ad Read Voice 1
She wrote the book this is an iHeart podcast.
- [01:02]
Ryan Seacrest
Guaranteed Human hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.
- [01:34]
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- [03:07]
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- [03:31]
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- [03:39]
Buzz Knight
Taking a walk Carney Wilson how is your dad doing?
- [03:42]
Carnie Wilson
He's doing very well. It's his birthday today and he's doing great. He's just, you know, he's getting older and every day there's a new little surprise. Little, you know, there's, there's moving forward, there's setbacks, there's all kinds of stuff and I guess that's just how we are in life. So he's so loved and he knows that and, and I really, I think he's improving. I think he's doing great.
- [04:13]
Buzz Knight
How did growing up with your dad shape your musical journey and aspirations?
- [04:21]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I mean my parents divorced when I was young, so I have, I have quite a few memories and there's a lot of special ones. And depending on how, like how I am, you know, like mentally that day or spiritually that day, often I reflect, you know, and when I'm feeling shitty or just feeling like, I don't know, impatient or in self pity or something like that, then I tend to think about negative things. And then when I'm trying to pick myself out of a funk or, you know, just kind of feeling a little more inspired, then I'll think about good times and there and just like anyone in any family, you know, I don't think it matters if you come from a musical family, a family of doctors, a family of plumbers, a family family, you know, or secretaries. It's just like every family has some dysfunction and the one thread I think was music and that we all feel. And we're all tied together by each, you know, member of my family. So music was very important to our whole family, our whole lives. And I was, you know, I heard in the womb and grew up with it, and it was kind of like an arrow I was following. Just like, this is what I have to do. I know. I know this is my calling. And there were a lot of wonderful influences.
- [05:51]
Buzz Knight
You know, as someone who's had personal struggles, how important has music been in helping you through those challenges?
- [06:01]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I mean, that's. That's a great. That's a great question. And it's. It's. It's more like a. For me, it's like a statement, you know, it's like, music helps you get through the good times and the bad times. It's like, you. Music is healing, you know, especially harmony for me. So when I want to feel spiritual or grounded or calm and serene, you know, I put on the Eagles and. Or any group that has beautiful harmony. Steely Dan, the Dewey Brothers, the Beach Boys, you know, And I listen to the harmony and I just. I feel, you know, little River Band, you know, and I feel like. Like something's being, like, connected again, you know, and it doesn't mean that it's the answer every time, but there's definitely a. There's definitely a place that it. A purpose that. That it serves. And it's usually to help lift my spirits, or it's usually to call me, or it's usually. Or can be just like, you know, when I'm cooking, I put on, like, the B52s and then I start, you know, dancing around my kitchen and start, like, you know, singing and feeling happy. Or I blast it in my car. You know, I love. Love blasting music in my car. I mean, you got to be careful with, like, you know, fire engines or anything like that. But, like, I. I play my music really loud in my car because I have a great stereo and. And I love to hear it blasting. I love the bass. I want to hear it. I want to feel it in my butt cheeks. You know what I mean? I love it. That's. That's really weird to say.
- [07:40]
Buzz Knight
I think it's sensational to say,
- [07:44]
Carnie Wilson
you
- [07:45]
Buzz Knight
know, you have this knack. I've observed you through your. Your media career, your television career. I've observed it with Sounds Delicious, the new show. You have this knack for making your guests and those around you comfortable. Who did you learn this from?
- [08:04]
Carnie Wilson
Well, that's nice of you to Say, but I don't know. I mean, I think it goes back to like actually like childhood, like being, Being the person that was like, teased and bullied and, you know, made to feel like I was. There was something wrong with me because I was overweight. For real. I really think that it, that it was self taught because my mom is very warm and very open and you know, and we are as a family, because it's just personalities too. I mean, I mean, when you come down to, when it comes down to it, it's just personality. Right? Some people are more shy and outgoing and some people also have the ability to read people. And I, I do think I have that ability, but at the same time I think it's, it's about like, I want to feel accepted and comfortable. And so I want that for other people. I tend to like, well, first of all, I overanalyze everything. So, like, I might think I know the answer. Like, oh, I know how that person's feeling because I can tell by it to look in their eyes or their body language, you know, and so I assess it and then I'm like, well, what's the situation here? Are we like having, Are we just having a conversation at a party? Are we at dinner? Are we at a, Are we at a workplace? Are we having fun? Are we. And it's like, for me, it's just about connection. I really ultimately think that I crave, I. I crave and I yearn, you know, to like, connect with people because everybody has like, special qualities. And I love learning from people and like, taking them in and really like seeing like everybody is individual, but we're kind of all the same. It's a trip.
- [09:46]
Buzz Knight
But you're a good listener also.
- [09:48]
Carnie Wilson
I mean, I try to be. I've learned that through my sobriety. I've learned that through maturity, having children, you know, because I know. And my husband, My husband because. Because he would. We would argue we were married for almost 25 years or 24 years. And like, we. He would say to me, you're not listening to me. And I'd be like, well, wait a minute, maybe I'm not. You know, and so I'd have to shut up, shut my pie hole, you know, and take a breath and like, say, geez, I, I am not. I'm trying to get my point across. And I'm driving it into, I'm like drilling it into his, Trying to drill it in his brain. But it's not fair. Like, he has a point of view. It's not fair. To be selfish like that, you know, so listening to other people is, I think, the opposite of being selfish. It's easy to do. It's easy to be me, me, me, me, you know, and be in your own. Your own feelings. But having children as well, I mean, it's like, I think I know what's best for them, and they are their own person, and I have to learn from them and listen to them, too.
- [11:03]
Buzz Knight
Who are some interviewers or hosts that have had an impact and an influence on you?
- [11:09]
Carnie Wilson
Interviewers are hosts. That's a hard question. I've. I've never been asked that question, and I probably would need more time with that one. Truthfully, I've done hundreds of interviews and hundreds. I think when I. When. When I talk with people that are mothers or they're. Or they're alcoholics, you know, I think I. I definitely relate to people like that because they're like. They're like the most challenging thing ever. You know, sobriety is challenging. Motherhood is challenging. But I don't know. I have to think about that more, I think.
- [11:46]
Buzz Knight
How about three quintessential albums that have impacted you to this day?
- [11:52]
Carnie Wilson
Oh, God, that's hard. That is almost an unfair question.
- [11:57]
Buzz Knight
Okay, 4.
- [12:00]
Carnie Wilson
I have such a. My taste in music is so. It's so vast. You know, there's just. I love. Okay, so the B52 is the first record. That one for sure. Dance this Mess around is like, a ridiculous song that completely blows my mind. And Rock Lobster, like, turned me up upside down and still does. I love Pet Sounds. I know that sounds like. It's totally expected for me to say that, but when I listen to that record, I don't listen to it for, like, the hype. I listen to it because it's so, so deep and. Oh, God, this is really hard.
- [12:47]
Buzz Knight
It is hard making choices. I agree.
- [12:50]
Carnie Wilson
I mean, I mean, you know, like, I love. We could just say, like, the best of so, you know, I mean, Asia by Steely Dan. That's another whopper. I love the Doobie Brothers so much, and I love Heart, but, yeah, I mean, there are a lot of records. Diva, Andy Lennox, diva. That whole album is, like, off. It's off the scale. Just production wise, sonically. Her voice, the songwriting, her singing, I mean, diva is, to me, it was just. It just was like. It just transcends, you know?
- [13:30]
Buzz Knight
So talk about how Wilson Phillips was. Was formed and how you all decided to get that signature sound that was and is Wilson Phillips.
- [13:42]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I was out of high school and I was I made a decision to not go to college. I made a decision to jump into the industry as an actress. And. But I was obsessed with singing and harmony, and I was a stoner. I was. I was really, like, I just wanted to party. I wanted to smoke pot all day, all day long and just, like, listen to music. And the CD had just came out, and it was unbelievable sound. And I was just really, like, really in a party, party, party phase. But I was very obsessed with music. And, you know, Chyna and Wendy and I have always been friends since, you know, birth, so it was natural to see each other. But we hadn't seen each other in a while, a few years, I think. And there was an idea to do a charity record with some other 60s artists, kids, and only a few people wanted to do it. And it was Wendy China and Mama Cass's daughter. And we all kind of sat around and, you know, we take. In between our bong hits. We just, like, would listen to, like, Stevie Nicks and Hart and. And we. China didn't even know how to sing harmony. And it was. I was really, like, obsessed with, like, getting everybody like, okay, let's. Let's sit around here. I'm gonna take the low part. When do you sing the high part? Here's your part, China. And we just, like, started vocalizing and singing the songs that we were listening to. And it was like we were trying to imitate it. And I'm sure the harmony parts weren't exact, but there was a sound that we were just completely like, wow. When the three. When the three of us in particular sang a three part harmony, it was like it was another voice that. That emerged. It was like another. It was like a separate voice between, you know, besides the three of us. It became one, and it was really, really apparent. And my mom heard us through the. Through the ceiling, and she was like. She came downstairs and she said, what are you guys doing? And we said, we're singing harmony of Mama. You know, we're singing harmony. And she goes, do you know how great you sound together? Like, really? Do you. What is that? She heard the sound, you know, And I. And I'm grateful that she was there that day because she confirmed what we were all feeling. You know what I mean? And she said, what are you gonna do about it? We were like, why? What do you mean? You know? And we said, we have no clue. We just. Stevie Nicks songs from. From Wild Heart and Belladonna, and we're like, okay, we sound amazing now. What? You know, and then we called a producer that Michelle knew, Richard Perry, who is very famous, some of the best records of all time. He produced. You know, I mean, and. And we went to his house and we. And, you know, he rolled a joint, and we, you know, mutual stoners. Fellow. My fellow stoner. And we just, like, started singing, and he was just like, I just can't believe what I'm hearing, you know, and got in the studio, and he hooked us up with Glenn Ballard. We started writing songs with Glenn, and then before we knew it, we were in front of, like, nine record companies fighting to sign us. And it was an absolute, insanely fortunate position to be in, but we worked really hard at it for four years, writing songs and getting our shit together, you know, and realizing we are a group, we're a vocal group, we want to make a record. And SBK signed us, and we were off to the races.
- [17:18]
Buzz Knight
What's it like when your music becomes part of, you know, pop culture, specifically, you know, your music being in Bridesmaids?
- [17:30]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I mean, all the years that we've been, you know, the music's been on the radio and all the records that we sold, and we were never a touring band, but we did tour, but we. It was more about the impact, I think, that the music had on people. You know, it's. It's more. I feel like it's. It's the songs like hold on and Release Me and you'd're In Love, and I feel like those songs, you know, they were number one records. But at the same time, I think it goes much deeper than just a chart and climbing up the charts and whatever it is. I mean, we worked really hard to get, like, every radio station, you know, to play us and everything. But I'm glad we did that, because we did get. I mean, back in the day when we were making record, when we were, you know, first promoting the record, and when it was released, it took the people to hear the record and call in to request it to get the spins. And. And then once the spins happen, you know, then. Then you got the ads, and the ads would. Then they would. That would make you rise on the chart. So it was like this domino effect. It wasn't like some, like, Oz, you know, pulling the string, going, okay, you got number one record. You had to sell records, and you had to have your records being. They were called spins, you know, on the. On the radio stations. And it's not like that anymore. And it's just. And it's not that it's bad. It's just. It's just different. But. But we could really. It was like, palpable, you know, to feel the. The public's embrace and the meaning that the songs had in their lives. That's. That's the part that is the most important thing. I mean, I'm in my office here, and I'm looking at, you know, like, 50 different gold albums on the wall or maybe 30, you know, and different, you know, accolades and all the awards, you know, and I have all my awards and everything. And. And don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful feeling to see that because it's like this, like, recognition and everything. Well, and then I go, well, all right. That's just a number of what. What. What we. What we sold. But the truth is, when I really, like, look into it, it's like, okay, I see 10 million records in the United States. That means that 10 million people. 10 million people took money out of their wallets and bought the fucking record. And whether they listened to it once or it became like an anthem or became something that saved their life, which I've heard many times, that is extraordinary. And I do not and will never take that for granted.
- [20:15]
Buzz Knight
I got chills with you talking about it, you know?
- [20:18]
Carnie Wilson
Yeah. Yeah.
- [20:20]
Buzz Knight
So you're having a blast with sounds delicious. Tuesdays, 9pm Pacific, encore episodes, Saturdays and Sundays on axis. Tell me how much fun you're having.
- [20:31]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I mean, you asked me if I preferred singing or cooking. I swear I don't know. I think that's why the show is what it is. It's both and it's. And it's music. Because when I cook, I sing, I love music, I play music, and. And then it just. It's inspiring, you know, Both inspire me. I found my passion in cooking and baking and feeding other people, you know, And I think I want. I secretly want to, like, tell people, like, you do that too, because the feeling is so great. And food is very meaningful to me in my. My family and in my life, you know, so it's. It's been. It's been a battle, you know, not. It's been a struggle to be heavyset and, like, be addicted to food, you know, and then being able to celebrate it at the same time and having, you know, just, like, regulator, like. Like a. Like a limit. And so I can listen to as much music as I want. I can sing as much as I want, you know, forever, but I can't eat as much as I want. I can't eat all the foods that I want. And so when I'm in the kitchen and, you know, like you said, connecting with the guests on the show, like, I feel it's that satisfying and it's that gratifying. So it gives me the same pleasure. But I know. I mean, I know that answer was all over the place, but really, truthfully, it's like singing and cooking, music and cooking are somehow tied together for me, and they're the most important things in my life. My children, of course. They're number one. Of course. But it's funny because my kids love food and love cooking and love singing. So I. You know, we cook together, we bake together, we sing together. That's my family, that's my friends. So it's like when I do this show, when I do these episodes, the guests come on and we share that love of music and love of cooking and love of eating, and it's. It's the best.
- [22:45]
Buzz Knight
What was it like working with that shy flower of an individual named D. Snyder?
- [22:53]
Carnie Wilson
He's so amazing. I just, you know, it's like he's so. I mean, out of all the guests, really, he's. He's. He just had so much life experience, too. You know what I mean? And he is. I mean, every guest is special in their own way. I mean, I really love everybody that was on the show so very much. They're so sweet and really great people. I mean, I surround myself with good peeps. I don't like assholes. I don't like dicks. I don't like phony people. I like real good people, and I like spirited people and passionate people. And D. Dee is, you know, funny and strong, and, you know, he has a voice, not just as a singer and as an entertainer, but, you know, he has strong beliefs, and he's a good man. You know, he's a grandpa. He's a husband of a long marriage, and I respect him. And he's just funny, you know?
- [23:53]
Buzz Knight
He is. He's. He's. He is a rare breed.
- [23:57]
Carnie Wilson
He is.
- [23:59]
Buzz Knight
And some of your other guests, Mark McGrath. Terrific. Elisa Loeb. Who are some new targets maybe you're thinking of?
- [24:08]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I mean, I would love to have my friend Joey from NSync, Joey Fatone. He's one of my best friends. And he was not. He was, you know, on tour, traveling, and there were. There were a few people that couldn't come because they were on tour. And, you know, Paul McCartney, they. They said that he really wanted to do it. And that's who I'm waiting for as Paul. I Want to talk about when he came over my house and what happened when he came over and we sang at the piano together? And Elton John, you know, I mean, Elton John picked me up and put me back in my crib when I was. When I was a toddler. It's like, that's the thing that's so cool is you got. I've got these stories because of my life. And, And I wanna. I know Paul loves food. He's a vegetarian. His daughter's a vegan. Mary. They love food. And, you know, you want to cook quinoa, you want to cook a steak, let's go. You know, but, like, who's gonna be able to talk about the time that. That Paul McCartney came over when I was a kid and we sang My Bonnie Lives over the Ocean at the piano? It's so cool. Wow. I love it.
- [25:18]
Buzz Knight
Carney, in closing, is there career satisfaction you are still hoping to achieve?
- [25:26]
Carnie Wilson
Well, I mean, I have a lot of personal. I have, like, insecurities, you know, I mean, sometimes when I go to the movies and I. And I see movies and I watch a TV show and I, you know, I see the actresses, actors, pardon me, and the roles and the scripts and the stories, and I think, like, wow, you know, I wish I. I wish I. I had that role. I wish that I did that. And I think there's just this roadblock, this block that I. That I just. It's like a sabotage, you know? I mean, one day, who knows, maybe I'll break down that barrier and. And just like, find that part of me that's willing to be vulnerable and do that. So that's definitely something. But I, you know, I kind of love being in the kitchen. And if I can continue doing that and, and monetizing that, I mean, it's. I don't have an education. I mean, I never saved money. I have to work like other people do. And people might find that surprising, but I don't care. It is what it is, and that's what makes me human. And, you know, I know how to make money. I don't know how to save money. I can tell you that. I don't. I like my little you. I like my lifestyle. But, you know, health first, family first, food, music first. And that's what keeps me happy. So I'm open to what's next. I don't know what's next. And my mom always says to me, you never know what's around the corner, so don't be afraid to look.
- [27:08]
Buzz Knight
Carney Wilson. Oh, you're the best sounds delicious. Tuesdays 9pm Pacific Encore episodes Saturday and Sunday Carney thanks for being on Takin a walk.
- [27:21]
Carnie Wilson
Oh you're so sweet. It was so great to talk with you and thank you to you and your listeners and everything. I appreciate it.
- [27:30]
Buzz Knight
I'm Buzz Knight and thanks for listening to the Taking a Walk podcast. Now please check out our companion podcasts produced by BuzzKnight Media Productions with your host Lynn Hoffman. Music Save Me Showcasing the he power of music and comedy, Saved Me Shining a light on how laughter is the best medicine. All shows are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and are part of the iHeart podcast network.
- [28:00]
Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. It's Stock up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Host, Ziploc and Zoa. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.
- [28:31]
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