Chris Willman

‘Here Lies Love’: David Byrne and Director Snehai Desai on Adapting the Dance Musical for L.A.’s Taper, and Why Imelda Marcos’ Story Nervously Parallels Contemporary America David Byrne's musical 'Here Lies Love,' which hit Broadway in 2023, is opening in L.A. He and Mark Taper Forum director Snehai Desai discuss the show.

I love "Here Lies Love," and even without the full-immersion production that was done on Broadway in 2023, the show stands up. I was glad to write about the Mark Taper production that just opened, even if I didn't go quite as crazy on the reporting as three years ago... variety.com/2026/music/n...

Amy Grant on Making Her First New Album in 13 Years, ‘The Me That Remains,’ After Asking: ‘Am I Doing People a Disservice in My Sixties, Singing Songs From the Perspective of a 30-Year-Old?’ (EXCLUSIV... Amy Grant will issue her first new album of original material in 13 years, 'The Me That Remains.' In a Q&A she discusses the journey back to new music.

It'd been a long time, a really long time, since I talked with @amygrantofficial.bsky.social, and I was glad to catch up, finding her at least as thoughtful and conscience-driven as ever. variety.com/2026/music/n...

Beach Boys ‘We Gotta Groove’ Boxed Set Revives Cult Love for Classic ‘Love You’ Album: Producers and Engineers Tell What Went Down in the ‘Brian’s Back’ Era At a Grammy Museum event celebrating the the Beach Boys' 'We Gotta Groove' boxed set, producers, engineers and Mike Love discussed the 'Love You' era.

The Beach Boys love you, and I love the Beach Boys loving you. variety.com/2026/music/n...

August Ponthier on Coming Out as Non-Binary and Exploring the Tension Between Home and Freedom With a Remarkable Debut Album, ‘Everywhere Isn’t Texas’ August Ponthier, who came out as non-binary and changed names after several EPs but before their debut album release, talks about navigating change.

Glad to have talked with August Ponthier again. Do yourself a favor and check out their new album. variety.com/2026/music/n...

Megyn Kelly just shouting “FOOTBALL IS OURS” at Piers Morgan about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show is the perfect example of this moment in time. Put it in a time capsule and send it out into space.

Brandi Carlile on What It Means to Sing ‘America the Beautiful’ at the Super Bowl in a Time of Turmoil: It’s a Song of ‘Fragile Hope, for Where America Could Be’ Brandi Carlile talks about what it means to sing 'America the Beautiful' at the Super Bowl in a time of national turmoil, as a song of 'fragile hope.'

I'm grateful Brandi Carlile took time in advance of the Super Bowl to talk about about what "America the Beautiful" means to her, as an American, queer person, activist, person of faith and Seahawks superfan. variety.com/2026/music/n...

cover of The Washington Post on Wednesday Feb 4, 2026. Headline on bottom, right: Musk wanted to hook users; his chatbot got more sexual

My story on Elon Musk cutting safeguards at xAI is on the front page of today's @washingtonpost.com. I’m also among 100’s of reporters laid off. I absolutely loved my job my brilliant coworkers & the thrill of reporting @ the center of forces upending the world: AI & Silicon Valley’s political power

Ok y'all. Whats going on is making me cry on the regular. It feels weird to be here at the GRAMMYs - but I want to honor the music of my ancestors by playing it- we gonna do some busking tomorrow, come say hello if you’re in town for the shindig.

Final Grammy Awards Predictions: Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and ‘Golden’ Set to Rule Music’s Biggest Night 2026 Grammy Awards winner predictions in all categories include Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and more.

I made predictions in the top four categories at the Grammys. I'm foreseeing some love being shared, between Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, "Golden" and Olivia Dean. ... Final Grammy Awards Predictions: variety.com/lists/2026-g... via @variety

How Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend Became the World’s Warmest Music Festival: It’s Not Just the Tropical Temperatures Brandi Carlile's Girls Just Wanna Weekend 7 featured the Chicks, Sam Smith and other female or non-binary artists providing activism and escapism.

I wrote a longer piece about the whole Girls Just Wanna Weekend festival experience with Brandi Carlile, the Chicks, Sam Smith, Shelby Lynne, etc. Please read it if you're at all inclined and can handle a little FOMO. variety.com/2026/music/n...

Thank God for the patriots of @ICEgov — we have your back 100%. You are SAVING the country. Shame on the leadership of Minnesota — and the lunatics in the street. ICE > MN

Pete Hegseth, who is from Minnesota, dismisses peaceful protesters as "lunatics" and adds, "ICE > MN"

Melissa Joan Hart is a legit card carrying conservative republican we are through the looking glass.

Alex was killed in cold blood by Trump’s personal death squad. Please share.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these domestic terrorists from the swift completion of their appointed rounds

It opens a week from now, though, not today, right? This says Jan. 30. So they have a week to sell a couple more of those seats.

Eddie Izzard on Bringing ‘Hamlet’ to L.A. as a One-Person, 23-Character Show, After 200 Global Performances: ‘I Want to, as a Trans Person, Give Honor to All the Characters’ Eddie Izzard talks about bringing their one-person staging of 'Hamlet' to the Ricardo Montalban in L.A. after more than 200 performances globally.

Talked with Eddie Izzard about playing Hamlet... and about playing every other character in "Hamlet," too... Eddie Izzard on Bringing ‘Hamlet’ to L.A. as a One-Person, 23-Character Show: ‘I Want to, as a Trans Person, Give Honor to All the Characters’ variety.com/2026/theater...

Brandi Carlile and Sam Smith: A Conversation About Bravura Voices, Fashion as Queer Armor and Having a Nonbinary Headliner for Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend Brandi Carlile and Sam Smith sit down to discuss their love for each other's voices, queer style, and singing at Carlile's Girls Just Wanna Weekend.

A Q&A I did backstage at the world's best music festival, down in Mexico. Wish I had hours with these two.... Brandi Carlile and Sam Smith: A Conversation About Bravura Voices, Fashion as Queer Armor and Having a Nonbinary Headliner for Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend variety.com/2026/music/n...

Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke on the Relevance of Their All-Star Live-Read of ‘All the President’s Men’: ‘Journalism Is Under Attack… and Decisions Are Being Made About the National News in Hollywood’ Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke and others taking part in an 'All the President's Men' live-read discuss why a dark political/journalism story resonates now.

Talked with Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke about the intersections of journalism and Hollywood -- and what is scariest about the current climate -- prior to a live reading of "All the President's Men" in Hollywood Friday night. Here's my report on a great evening. variety.com/2026/film/ne...

‘A Concert for Altadena’ Raises $450K for Community Rebuilding, and Raises Spirits With Dawes, Brandon Flowers, Brad Paisley and Other Performers A Concert for Altadena raised $450,000 for local groups with Dawes, Brandon Flowers, Brad Paisley, Mandy Moore, Stephen Stills, Aloe Blacc and others.

Grateful to see Dawes and their friends doing a benefit right... variety.com/2026/music/c...

Thanks for allowing me the chance to re-read that (one of my last pre-layoff EW lead reviews) and be reminded again that I used to be a better writer.

John Mayer and McG on Buying the Henson/A&M Lot and Preserving It as Chaplin Studios: ‘This Is One of Those Times in Life Where You Throw Down for What Matters’ John Mayer and film director McG are talking for the first time about buying the Henson Studios, formerly the A&M lot and Charlie Chaplin's home base.

My report on what John Mayer and McG are up to with their purchase and renovation of the former A&M and Henson Studios... variety.com/2026/music/n...

The Best Concerts of 2025 Variety's writers pick the 50 best concerts of 2025, including Beyonce, David Byrne, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Paul McCartney and the Who.

The Best Concerts of 2025... I wrote up David Byrne, Dua Lipa, the Who, 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' Haim, Halsey, Herb Alpert, Tyler Childers, Paul Simon, Chappell Roan, Dead & Company, Wet Leg, Jesse Welles, Maggie Rose, Rhiannon Giddens and, oh, maybe a few dozen more. variety.com/lists/best-c...

YouTube video by The OldSkool Collective J J Fad - Comin Correct

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnWc...

Dr. Possibly
You’re Only a Born Again Christian
Diamonds Are 50% Off
The Spelunker Who Loved Me
Mulchraker
Never Say Trevor Again
Try Another Day
Octogonny
Morongo Casino Royale
A View to a Killers Livestream
Quantum of Weak Sauce

"Seamus" would like a word

It was a pleasure being able to help host an evening with Lady Gaga at the Grammy Museum. She was as warm and wonderful on-stage and off- as you'd hope. I'd written enthusiastically about her "Harlequin Live" concert 15 months ago, and I'm happy everyone will get to see it starting Christmas Eve.

Lady Gaga to Premiere ‘Harlequin Live’ Christmas Eve on YouTube: ‘By Harlequin Standards, Christmas Is the Perfect Time to Release Something Rebellious,’ She Says (EXCLUSIVE) Lady Gaga has announced her 'Harlequin Live' concert film will come out on YouTube Christmas Eve. She went in-depth on its making at the Grammy Museum.

My talk with Lady Gaga about the "Harlequin" concert film is up now...

The Best Music Books of 2025: Cameron Crowe, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne and More Title by or about Paul McCartney, Cameron Crowe, Ozzy Osbourne, Yoko Ono, the Cars, Mark Ronson and more are among the year's best music books.

Variety's annual music books compendium... I wrote up Cameron Crowe's "The Uncool," Barry Mazor's "Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story," Steven Smith's "Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema” and Tim Greiving's "John Williams" ... variety.com/2025/music/n...

‘Hitchcock & Herrmann’: Author Steven C. Smith on His Book About the Greatest Director/Composer Collaboration in Hollywood History, and Why the Two Legends Finally Fell Out Author Steven C. Smith talks about his absorbing new book, 'Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema.'

I interviewed the amazing Steven C. Smith about his great new book, "Hitchcock & Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores That Changed Cinema." Hope you'll read our Q&A *and* ask Santa for the book. variety.com/2025/music/n...