Ann Wilson

Early Life

Ann Dustin Wilson was born in San Diego, California, into a military family that moved frequently due to her father's career as a major in the United States Marine Corps. The Wilson family lived near military bases in Panama and Taiwan before settling in Seattle, Washington, in the early 1960s. Music played a central role in their lives, with family gatherings often featuring a mix of classical music and popular artists. Ann graduated from Sammamish High School in 1968 and, despite struggling with a stutter, found solace in music. She joined a local band called White Heart, which later became Hocus Pocus, and eventually transformed into Heart in 1974.

Career

With her sister Nancy Wilson joining her in Heart, the band relocated to Canada and recorded their debut album, "Dreamboat Annie," released in 1976. The album featured hits like "Magic Man" and "Crazy on You," both co-written by the sisters. Heart continued to achieve success with albums such as "Little Queen" and "Dog & Butterfly," and in 1986, their song "These Dreams" topped the Billboard Hot 100. Ann also collaborated with other artists, including a notable appearance on Alice in Chains' EP "Sap." In 2007, she released her first solo album, "Hope & Glory," featuring collaborations with various artists, including Elton John and k.d. lang.

Personal Life

Ann Wilson's personal life has seen its share of ups and downs. She was in a relationship with Heart's manager, Michael Fisher, during the 1970s, but they parted ways in 1979. Wilson adopted a daughter in 1991 and a son in 1998. In 2015, she married Dean Wetter, with whom she had a brief relationship in the 1980s. However, their marriage faced challenges, particularly after an incident involving Wetter's arrest in 2016, which strained her relationship with her sister Nancy. Despite these challenges, the sisters reunited in 2019 to announce the end of Heart's hiatus and embark on a new tour together.