Rita Wilson Opens Up About New Album Inspired By Breast Cancer Battle

Rita Wilson opened up about her relationship with her body and how it inspired her new album, Sound of a Woman.

The actress and singer, 69, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, recently celebrated 10 years cancer-free. Her new record touches on themes of loss, motherhood, transformation and healing, particularly on the new track "Whose Body Is This?"

"When you have a baby or when you carry a baby like I did, and you give birth to that life, and then you nurture that life, you really have this extraordinary awe for what your body can do, what it has done, how it's there for you, and it's there for others," Wilson told PEOPLE in a new cover story interview. "Even though your body changes and it shifts, and it might look different, you have such an appreciation for it. I remember distinctly just being amazed at what it could do."

The Now and Then star, who ultimately underwent a double mastectomy, also spoke about how this journey shaped her relationship with her body.

"These parts of your body that had been there for you in such a beautiful way were gone," she continued. "It was interesting to look at my body and see it, understand what is missing, but also see what my body could do to keep me healing and healthy and have that appreciation."

Recently, Wilson also opened up about her music career, revealing that her late friend, renowned writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron, encouraged her second act after turning 50.

"She said, I'm here to tell you that great things happen after the age of 50," the Sleepless in Seattle star told PEOPLE. "I never forgot that when I started getting into music, because I was in my 50s. It was so inspiring."