Movies

Kate Hudson on why she wrote a song about her famous mom

BBG News

I, Kate Hudson, found myself perched on a portable chair in a bustling storage room within a studio in the Fashion District one crisp morning. The walls seemed to echo with my own voice, as if from another dimension. You see, I was there to film a music video for “Right on Time,” a heartfelt bonus track freshly dropped from an expanded edition of my 2024 debut album, “Glorious.” (The room’s quiet corners offered a tranquil spot for our conversation while the crew prepared.)

“Right on Time,” a majestic ballad that highlights my powerful vocal range, is a deeply personal tribute to my esteemed mother, Goldie Hawn. As I sang those poignant lyrics, a tear trickled down my cheek, mirroring the emotions I felt within.

Hudson shares, tilted slightly towards the music, “This tune stirs up feelings within me as it reminds me of my mother.

Grew up in Los Angeles and Colorado under the care of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who is her parents’ longtime partner. In 2000, Kate Hudson made a splash in Hollywood by playing Penny Lane, a wise but idealistic groupie in “Almost Famous,” a movie that revolves around rock music. Since then, she has acted in romantic comedies, action movies, and mystery films, endorsed vodka and athletic wear, hosted a podcast with her brother Oliver (also an actor), and has had well-known relationships with Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes and Matt Bellamy of Muse.

Kate Hudson was raised by Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in Los Angeles and Colorado. She gained fame in Hollywood for her role as Penny Lane, a wise groupie, in the 2000 movie “Almost Famous.” After that, she appeared in romantic comedies, action films, mystery movies, endorsed vodka and activewear, hosted a podcast with her brother Oliver (also an actor), and has been in high-profile relationships with Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes and Matt Bellamy of Muse.

Music

The Bush frontman says he’s not a professional chef. Yet he just started cooking on TV.

Initially, the song “Glorious” offers a glimpse of an unassuming musician who has been honing her skills privately for years before deciding to release an album. Hudson, whose father, Bill Hudson from the ’70s pop band with his brothers, was behind several hits, produced and recorded this LP alongside experienced producer Linda Perry and Hudson’s partner, Danny Fujikawa, with whom she shares a 6-year-old daughter (in addition to two older sons). As she sips bone broth from a wine glass, Hudson listens to herself singing about Goldie Hawn’s entertainment roots in the adjoining room: “She drove a hundred miles to Baltimore / In a car with a broken floor.

Is that lyric accurate? Absolutely! She’d often cover her feet due to the numerous holes in the floor of her father’s Cadillac while traveling to dance class. Upon arrival, she would need to soak her frozen feet in warm water.

Why did you decide to compose a piece about your mother? Well, Linda stepped out for a phone call, leaving me at the piano. When she returned, she complimented my work, asking what I was doing. I replied that I had just begun writing it spontaneously, and it seemed reminiscent of my mom.

There’s a noticeable lack of songs that celebrate the lives of parents compared to those about children. As their daughter, I believe it’s our responsibility to pass on their tales, and hers is particularly captivating – the journey of a girl from a modest home in Takoma Park, Md., to stardom. Occasionally, I ponder if our culture is forgetting the importance of multi-generational homes. My grandmother, my mother’s mother, lived with us growing up, and there was something magical about venturing into her room and hearing her stories, which helped me grasp our family history. Now that I live just seven blocks from my mom, she visits daily.

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In the song “Truck Stop Baby,” there’s a lot of detailed imagery. For instance, it goes, “Truck stop baby, won’t you dance for me? / These 18-wheelers aren’t anything special.

She had a knack for writing catchy lyrics.
My mom once danced at a few truck stops in New Jersey, performing go-go dance routines in cages. But after a while, she decided, “I think I’d rather leave this behind — I’m heading to New York.

During the track, there’s a grand peak, yet for some moments, only your voice and the string setup accompany you. When I tune in, I find myself immersed deeper in the narrative rather than the overall production.

Is creating an emotional impact through sound and production what a songwriter strives for? That’s my focus too, as I found myself engrossed in Jack Antonoff’s work over the holidays. His manipulation of sounds and their movement from foreground to background is incredibly moving to me. Interestingly, I wasn’t aware that he was involved in the production of Taylor Swift and Zayn’s song “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever”. The way he subtly pulls back on the production of that song captivates me. As a dancer, I relate to music by how my body reacts to it.

Is it true that your daughter is quite enthusiastic about Taylor Swift’s music, given that we attended the Eras tour together and she struggled to remain awake until midway through the concert, eventually needing my support due to the late hour?

I attended the show several times, including the finale in Vancouver where my sister-in-law was present. She’s quite a Taylor Swift fan, to say the least [laughs]. Yet, I can appreciate it: Taylor has achieved something remarkable by sticking to her beliefs. Despite the criticisms and pressures she faced, she never faltered and kept pushing forward. Truly, she is an exceptional writer, and her iconic status is truly deserved.

Music

The debut tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is captured in a fresh live album, as Stephen Stills reminisces, “We were still a fledgling group honing our skills.

As a film enthusiast who also has a soft spot for music, especially ‘Til Tuesday’s hit “Voices Carry” by Aimee Mann from the ’80s, I found myself compelled to cover it after the release of the original edition of “Glorious”. The reason? Well, this song is one that I often belt out at home during my karaoke sessions as a way to warm up my voice. It’s always been a favorite, and the opportunity to share my interpretation seemed like a perfect fit for my creative journey.

Given that I was around 10 when I encountered this song, it’s not surprising that someone older might have been more capable of appreciating it at the time. My early music experiences were shaped by my Fisher-Price turntable, various genres, and nannies who were into music. One particular nanny, Kathy, often played her music in the car, exposing me to artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Led Zeppelin (although Kurt was the one who appreciated Led Zeppelin more). While my parents weren’t particularly enthusiastic about music, they didn’t have a large vinyl collection either, Kathy played a significant role in broadening my musical horizons.

Although my biological father was a musician, he wasn’t present during my upbringing. However, I later discovered that my strong affinity for music was inherited. My maternal grandfather, who was a professional violinist in Washington D.C., would perform at the White House correspondents’ dinners and then play bluegrass in speakeasies. He led an intriguing life, but I only learned about it when I grew older. As a child, I often spent time alone experimenting with music in my room, which could be quite isolating.

Before collaborating with Linda Perry, you had already been composing songs independently. What did Linda bring out in you?

Linda has a remarkable talent, both due to her musical skills and her ability to channel energy, which helps open up creative pathways. In just two weeks, we managed to write 26 songs together. Eventually, she felt that we had produced enough, saying something like “I believe we should pause – we’ve done well.

In a more conversational tone, “When composing ‘Love Ain’t Easy’ with that George Harrison-esque riff and ‘The Nineties’ sounding like Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rhiannon,’ did you worry about listeners drawing comparisons or did you welcome such references?”

My response would be: “Neither. If I had focused on how others might perceive the music, it would have hindered me from being as authentic as possible in its creation.

Is your method when acting distinct from the one you usually employ?

In acting, I find myself doing much the same thing. When I was younger, I was more conscious of the audience’s gaze. But as I grow older, I understand that focusing on the message I convey rather than the response it elicits is more significant. For a long time, I was petrified to sing in front of people, but now, with each performance, I feel like my creative life is more complete. It’s ironic — I had never performed before a live audience before.

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself captivated by the world of TV and cinema. Yet, there are times when I’m not yearning to appear on screen. Instead, my passion lies in composing musicals and penning scripts for others. The same holds true for film; I aspire to be behind the camera, perhaps even directing a movie one day. That would truly be a dream fulfilled for me.

I would’ve thought that, being a performer, you might become accustomed to needing some level of praise. But if you’re raised around celebrities, it changes your perspective. Seeing people admire your parents, you understand why they are admired, yet realize they are just your parents. This makes you see that the validation aspect is not what keeps you in your life. Instead, when you base your life on the validation of your art, you’re likely to experience profound and heartbreaking misery.

In other words, despite having numerous musicians in your life, I was curious about who’s opinion on your music holds significant value for you. While Matt’s pride in my work and my brother’s (who can be quite annoying) musical insight are important to me, the opinion that truly matters is Danny’s. He has impeccable taste in music, which I hold in high regard. Interestingly, if it were the ’90s, my brother would make a great A&R executive due to his keen musical sense.

Have you ever sought guidance from a singing coach? Given that I often push my vocals to their limits with my powerful tunes, I’ve had to learn various methods to preserve my voice. Now, I understand what it means when people say they’re taking a vocal break. So, in essence, I’ve become one of those individuals myself.

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2025-02-21 20:31

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