The Inspiring Journey Of Wilson Phillips: From Struggles To Stardom

Before Wilson Phillips' first No. 1 single, "Hold On," reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 1990, founding member Chynna Phillips had to hit rock bottom. The singer, who formed the group with Carnie and Wendy Wilson in 1986, struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout high school. “I was at a real crossroads in my life because I was still in a lot of pain over my ex-relationship, and I was just struggling to navigate through some pretty painful childhood experiences in therapy,” she told Rolling Stone. “I was just depressed and anxious and trying to stumble through my teenage years and find myself as a young adult and figure out who I was.”

Overcoming Personal Challenges to Create Music

The late '80s were a pivotal time for Chynna, Carnie, and Wendy as they began working on their earliest songs together in producer Glen Ballard's garage studio in Encino, California. It was during this time that they were given a catchy, pop, melodic track by Ballard, known for his work on Alanis Morissette's acclaimed album Jagged Little Pill. Phillips took Ballard's cassette tape home to her mother, Michelle Phillips, and would often sit in her car, writing lyrics on a yellow legal pad.

Chynna reflected on the lessons she learned from Alcoholics Anonymous, saying, “I thought to myself, ‘Well, AA tells me, just hold on, just one day at a time.’ I thought, ‘OK, if I can just hold on for one more day, then I can do this. If I can just take life one day at a time.’ It sounds so cliché, but if I can just hold on for one more day, then I will be able to get through life if I just take it one day at a time.”

The Birth of "Hold On"

Carnie recalls how Chynna returned to Ballard's studio the next day with 90 percent of "Hold On" already written. After some minor tweaks, the song, described as being about personal inner strength, was complete. Wendy added, “Chynna had the inspiration for 'Hold On,' and wrote the majority of it. It came from her heart and the feelings she was overcoming at the time. A very sophisticated point of view, and memorable lyric.”

Despite recording the song, they faced challenges as they were not yet signed to a record label. The only people who heard it initially were supportive friends and judgmental boyfriends. Chynna remembers one listener saying, “That’s not going to go anywhere. That’s not a very good song. It’s really corny.” Chynna thought to herself, “God, I hope he’s wrong.”

From Dreams to Reality: The Rise of Wilson Phillips

Eventually, "Hold On" became one of four songs on their first demo, which sparked a bidding war among record companies. In 1989, Wilson Phillips signed with SBK Records and released "Hold On" as the lead single off their self-titled debut album in February the following year. Within months, the song knocked Madonna's "Vogue" out of the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart.

Carnie remembers the hard work it took to promote the track globally while competing with huge artists like Madonna and Mariah Carey. “We were in Japan when it hit number one on the Billboard charts,” she recalls, emphasizing that it was a time the women would never forget.

The Surreal Experience of Success

For Wendy, achieving No. 1 with "Hold On" felt surreal. “It almost didn’t seem real. In fact, that whole time in our lives was kind of dreamlike. We were working our record and traveling like crazy, touring the world at 20 and 21 years old.”

Although the song only spent one week in the top spot before being surpassed by Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love," Wilson Phillips sold 10 million copies of their debut album, becoming the best-selling all-female group of 1990. Two additional singles, “Release Me” and “You’re in Love,” also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Empowering Message of "Hold On"

Wendy credits the themes of liberty and empowerment as contributing to the song’s strong resonance with the public. She summed it up beautifully: “Being strong as a female and turning a negative into positivity — anyone could relate, really.” This powerful message continues to inspire countless listeners today.

In reflecting on their journey, the members of Wilson Phillips show us that perseverance in the face of personal struggles can lead to incredible success. Their story serves as a reminder that even when things seem bleak, holding on and believing in oneself can ultimately lead to triumph.