News | Entertainment
21 Oct 2025 18:07
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Rita Wilson raps on a new charity remix of Naughty By Nature's 'Hip Hop Hooray' for the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund

    The 63-year-old actress and her husband Tom Hanks were previously diagnosed with coronavirus after coming down with "body aches, chills and slight fevers", and now they are on the mend, the 'Sleepless in Seattle' star is doing her bit to help raise funds for the relief efforts through the Grammys' MusiCares organisation's campaign


    Rita revealed that when she was feeling better, she wanted to see if she could still remember the lyrics for the rap as a "brain exercise" whilst in quarantine.

    The star had previously performed the track for the 2019 movie 'Boy Genius'.

    She said: "'Hip Hop Hooray' is like modern day Shakespeare.

    "I originally learned the song for one of the most fun roles I ever played in the film 'Boy Genius'.

    "It took me a month to learn because it's so complex and nuanced; it was like training for a marathon. The rhythms and tempos are so unique and creative.

    "When I was quarantined and recovering from COVID-19 I wanted to see if I still remembered it, kind of like a brain exercise. To my surprise I did.

    "I thought it would be fun to put it on my Instagram to show people I was doing okay and to make them smile.

    "When Naughty By Nature commented about it, I couldn't believe it. What a joy to be doing this remix with legends of the hip-hop world.

    "I'm forever grateful for their generosity of spirit and for being able to raise money together for MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund."

    Meanwhile, the trio of Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee said they were "honoured" to have Rita recite the song.

    They added: "We were totally shocked she could rap the verses so well.

    "We were aware she contracted COVID-19, and was quarantined along with her husband Tom.

    "The next thing we know, everyone began to inbox us her Instagram.

    "We are honoured to be part of the remix of our classic song to raise awareness and help fight the coronavirus.

    "Thanks again to Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks for embracing us, and for helping us take the unexpected viral moment further for such a great cause."

    Rita and Naughty By Nature's 'Hip Hop Hooray' remix is officially released on April 10 via all major streaming services.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     21 Oct: Roman Kemp says coming off antidepressants has been "difficult
     21 Oct: Kerry Katona wants to have children with her toyboy lover Paolo Margaglione
     21 Oct: David Gilmour says he will never perform with former Pink Floyd bandmate Roger Waters
     21 Oct: Playing Bruce Springsteen in a new biopic took a terrible toll on Jeremy Allen White
     21 Oct: Callum Turner says his fiancée Dua Lipa is "the most beautiful woman in the world"
     21 Oct: Sabrina Carpenter poked fun at her provocative style as she hosted Saturday Night Live
     21 Oct: Mick Hucknall was like "a kid in a sweet shop" when it came to female attention
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Australian football star Sam Kerr's first game on Aussie soil for more than two years is set to be against New Zealand More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Torpedo 7 will return to being an online-only retailer by the end of summer More...



     Today's News

    Environment:
    Turbulent weather's still evolving across the country - for a second chaotic day, with one person dying after being hit by a fallen branch in Wellington 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Roman Kemp says coming off antidepressants has been "difficult 18:00

    Entertainment:
    Kerry Katona wants to have children with her toyboy lover Paolo Margaglione 17:30

    Politics:
    Cross-party support for law to ensure young people's safety 17:27

    Entertainment:
    David Gilmour says he will never perform with former Pink Floyd bandmate Roger Waters 17:00

    Entertainment:
    Playing Bruce Springsteen in a new biopic took a terrible toll on Jeremy Allen White 16:30

    Law and Order:
    Water Safety New Zealand's urging councils to look at the risks of all open water, after the inquest into a toddler's death 16:17

    Law and Order:
    A 72-year-old man's been arrested - in relation to alleged, historic sexual assault at Auckland's Dilworth School 16:07

    National:
    ‘Soviet-era Stasi’ or defender of media freedoms? The battle for the Broadcasting Standards Authority 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Callum Turner says his fiancée Dua Lipa is "the most beautiful woman in the world" 16:00


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd