With songwriting, actress Rita Wilson finds a new voice

NEW YORK (AP) — "Crying, Crying," the second track on Rita Wilson's new album, describes the complexity the actress-singer faced last year after learning she had breast cancer.

"Crying, Crying," which features Wilson singing honest lyrics over a fun beat, is one of many tunes she co-wrote — a first for the performer — for "Rita Wilson," to be released Friday.

After her first album, 2012's "AM/FM," Wilson was encouraged to write songs by her friend Kara DioGuardi, the popular songwriter who has worked with Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson.

Not all of the tracks on "Rita Wilson" are based personal experiences, but some hit home: "Still Gone" is about "losing my dad and my two girlfriends in a very short period of time," and "Girls Night In" describes a night during which Wilson and her girlfriends trade their stilettos for sweatpants.

Wilson, who has appeared in a number of films and TV shows and is married to Tom Hanks, recently performed a number of shows at the Cafe Carlyle in New York City.