How Ashland & Victoria Might Help Cait Fairbanks Win A Daytime Emmy

Cait Fairbanks, who plays Tessa Porter on The Young and the Restless, is nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the category of Best Song. Soap Hub talked to the actress/singer about her nomination and what it feels like to have two creative outlets as an artist.

Cait Fairbanks: Nominated for Singing Ashland & Victoria’s Song

Ashland Locke (Robert Newman) and his bride Victoria Newman Locke (Amelia Heinle) may be having marital struggles now but no one can say their marriage didn’t get off to a magical start. Tessa sang a beautiful song for the couple at their wedding and now, that tune has landed Fairbanks a shot at Daytime Emmy gold.

Soap Hub: Congratulations on your third nomination!
Cait Fairbanks: Thank you. I am so excited. This year, I’m nominated for a song called Next To You. It was written for Victoria and Ashland‘s wedding.

Soap Hub: The first year of marriage is the hardest!
Cait Fairbanks: It’s just like in real life. Couples get married. Things happen. I wrote it during the heat of COVID. We were isolating more. I met with Mike [Dobson, Y&R’s music supervisor] and [composer] Brad Hatfield. We wrote it over Zoom. He sent a few tracks, and I played along with them. Brad’s an unbelievable champion and musician. I was feeling really down that day. I wanted to feel better. The song is what I would want to hear from someone when I’m feeling down.

Soap Hub: How does the song reflect Ashland and Victoria?
Cait Fairbanks: From what I was told and from what I’ve seen, Victoria has made some not amazing choices. Same with Ashland. The meaning of the song is about the ability to look past things. To see people for who they are and yet you still want to stand by that person.

Soap Hub: They could hear that song again! What’s the submission?
Cait Fairbanks: I believe it’s the scene from the show and we send the song. I got to sing it when they were walking down the aisle. The clip helps give context.

Soap Hub: Music plays such a vital role in scenes.
Cait Fairbanks: Music sets the tone. A scene without music is like a cake without icing. You can still have it, but it’s not as good. If you change the icing, you can end up changing the cake. I watch on YouTube when videos show different scores — that can change the tone of the movie. Comedies can come off like horror movies with a different score.

Soap Hub: Your competition is another song from Y&R titled Grateful For It All (used in a special tribute episode to Neil Winters, played by the late Kristoff St. John) and Talks With Mama Tina Theme Song (Talks With Mama Tina, Facebook) performed by Beyoncé.
Cait Fairbanks: Yes. [Chuckles] If I win against Beyoncé, I’m quitting. That’s as far as I can go! Seriously, it’s an honor to be nominated.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

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