Heart’s Ann Wilson, 73, Opens Up About Aging And Body Acceptance

Ann Wilson, who is renowned for her vocal prowess and significant influence within the rock music sphere, has undeniably left an indelible mark through her role as the frontwoman of the rock band Heart. Together with her sister Nancy Wilson, she co-founded this legendary group during the ’70s, and their musical contributions have been a defining force in the world of rock music.

However, as she prepares for her upcoming headlining performance at the 6th annual Women Who Rock Benefit Concert presented by Gibson Gives, the 73-year-old who was a victim of bullying while growing up due to excessive weight, revealed in a recent interview that the perception of beauty and aging has changed positively over the years.

Ann Wilson says society’s perception of beauty and aging has changed

Wilson, who bravely shared her past struggles of succumbing to societal beauty standards through self-imposed starvation and the usage of diet pills, recently engaged in a candid conversation with PEOPLE. During the discussion, she made a noteworthy observation regarding the evolving mindset of society, adding that society no longer exerts the same pressure on individuals to adhere to rigid, one-size-fits-all beauty ideals.

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Instead, there has been a notable embrace of the notion of celebrating individual differences. “The whole idea is everyone is allowed to be sexy and be powerful no matter what shape you’re in,” the “This Is Now” singer admitted to the news outlet. “I think there’s some pretty good movement in certain areas about that — aging and body acceptance and all that.”

Ann Wilson says she is in good shape thanks to her controlled use of alcohol

During the discussion, Wilson, who had battled alcoholism due to constant body shaming growing up, opened up about her current state, emphasizing that she is now in the best shape of her life. However, she attributed her remarkable transformation to her unwavering commitment to maintaining strict control over her alcohol consumption.

“I’m not 100% sober. Usually, I have a glass of white wine after the show, but that’s all it’s down to now,” Wilson confessed to PEOPLE. “I got a really good handle on it. It’s actually really good and it does help me with stamina and I do a really good warmup.”