Celebrity Why Rita Wilson Always Has Whiskey On-Hand When She Performs (Hint: It's for Her Voice) "I'm not going anywhere," she tells PEOPLE By Chancellor Agard Chancellor Agard Chancellor is a staff writer covering TV and occasionally comics. He's still upset that Hugh Laurie never won an Emmy for House. People Editorial Guidelines and Jeff Nelson Jeff Nelson Instagram Twitter Jeff Nelson is the Senior News Editor, Entertainment at PEOPLE. For nearly a decade, he has worked across the brand's entertainment verticals, reporting on breaking news and writing and editing across platforms, as well as securing A-list cover exclusives, including Barry Manilow's coming out and an at-home interview with Madonna. Jeff has appeared as an expert on Good Morning America, Extra, HLN and SiriusXM, as well as at RuPaul's DragCon as a moderator. He studied magazine journalism at Drake University, graduating with a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 22, 2016 07:15 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Melanie Stengel With the release of her self-titled second album, an upcoming tour with the band Chicago, and a recent performance on The Kate, Rita Wilson is really enjoying the second act in her career that pursuing music has given her. “Once I really dug [into music], I thought, I’m here to stay,” Wilson, 59, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I’m not going anywhere. And, I love it so much. I really do.” In March, actress and producer released Rita Wilson, an album that consists entirely of songs she co-wrote. Now, she’s taking her music on the road with a tour, which she says he has always been a dream of hers. “Sometimes you’ve just gotta pinch yourself and say, ‘I can’t believe I get to do this,'” she says, adding that it feels good whenever she meets people who are also familiar with her first album AM/FM, which was released in 2012. In the process of touring, Wilson has developed a few rituals for herself and with her band. Before every show, she and the band form a circle holding hands that always ends with a funny cheer to get everyone in a good mood. Also, the Good Wife and Girls actress always has a few “very, very” small bottles of Maker’s Mark on hand just in case she needs them for her voice. “My voice teacher once said it’s not a bad idea to have a shot of whiskey because it’s very dry and if you’re feeling like you’re a little hoarse, one little shot of whiskey can help,” she says. Wilson recently brought her music to The Kate, a new national music series that’s inspired by the legacy of Katharine Hepburn. There, she performed covers of “Please Come to Boston” and “Wichita Lineman,” which were featured on AM/FM, and “Girls Night In” and “I’m Guilty” from her latest album. “I loved it,” she says. “It was just very intimate and you really sensed the connection with people who and listen to music all the time.” Wilson’s full-hour performance on The Kate will premiere Saturday at thekate.tv. It also airs on public television stations around the country – check thekate.tv for local listings.