Chris Willman
@cwillman.bsky.social
Variety chief music critic and senior writer
Eleven hours of “Twin Peaks: The Return” down, only eight to go at the American Cinematheque’s weekend marathon.… I was afraid this might not hold up, after not having seen any of it since first airing, but it does—I wish everyone could experience it in one fell theatrical swoop.
September 21, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Eleven hours of “Twin Peaks: The Return” down, only eight to go at the American Cinematheque’s weekend marathon.… I was afraid this might not hold up, after not having seen any of it since first airing, but it does—I wish everyone could experience it in one fell theatrical swoop.
Bruce Springsteen at Telluride
August 31, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Bruce Springsteen at Telluride
If you're in L.A., come to Book Soup Tuesday night to see me interview Barry Mazor, author of an outstanding new Everly Brothers biography that is a must-read for music fans. www.booksoup.com/event/barry-...
August 26, 2025 at 8:01 AM
If you're in L.A., come to Book Soup Tuesday night to see me interview Barry Mazor, author of an outstanding new Everly Brothers biography that is a must-read for music fans. www.booksoup.com/event/barry-...
Even the losers get lucky... Grateful to have been named Entertainment Journalist of the Year at the SoCal Journalism Awards, and to pick up awards for best magazine columnist, a cover story on the Eras Tour, and a piece on Randy Newman's "Faust." Thanks to @lapressclub.bsky.social and @variety.com.
June 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Even the losers get lucky... Grateful to have been named Entertainment Journalist of the Year at the SoCal Journalism Awards, and to pick up awards for best magazine columnist, a cover story on the Eras Tour, and a piece on Randy Newman's "Faust." Thanks to @lapressclub.bsky.social and @variety.com.
Still reeling from how phenomenally good the Our Native Daughters reunion was at the Hollywood Bowl this week.
June 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Still reeling from how phenomenally good the Our Native Daughters reunion was at the Hollywood Bowl this week.
We at Variety couldn't be happier to have Sheryl Crow on our cover and in attendance to be honored at our Power of Women: Nashville event today. (Link to my cover story in replies.)
May 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
We at Variety couldn't be happier to have Sheryl Crow on our cover and in attendance to be honored at our Power of Women: Nashville event today. (Link to my cover story in replies.)
Excited to have Mickey Guyton on the cover of Variety, as one of four honorees and cover subjects for our inaugural Power of Women: Nashville event and issue.
April 29, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Excited to have Mickey Guyton on the cover of Variety, as one of four honorees and cover subjects for our inaugural Power of Women: Nashville event and issue.
Two weeks ago I would not have guessed I'd be having another chance to interview Buddy Guy, on the spur of the moment, and to put it into print. Thank you, "Sinners."
April 25, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Two weeks ago I would not have guessed I'd be having another chance to interview Buddy Guy, on the spur of the moment, and to put it into print. Thank you, "Sinners."
A beautiful night with Lucy Dacus and a few hundred people who got to see her acoustic trio show at the “secret” location, the Huntington Gardens. Fun being with fans as they experienced most of the new material for the first time… it’s such a good record and I can’t wait for people to hear it.
February 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A beautiful night with Lucy Dacus and a few hundred people who got to see her acoustic trio show at the “secret” location, the Huntington Gardens. Fun being with fans as they experienced most of the new material for the first time… it’s such a good record and I can’t wait for people to hear it.
Grateful to the judges of the National Arts & Entertainment Awards for four trophies, including Print Journalist of the Year. Thanks to the @lapressclub, and to the editors and publishers at @variety for making space for me to do this. Variety picked up 14 trophies in all, huzzah.
December 2, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Grateful to the judges of the National Arts & Entertainment Awards for four trophies, including Print Journalist of the Year. Thanks to the @lapressclub, and to the editors and publishers at @variety for making space for me to do this. Variety picked up 14 trophies in all, huzzah.
It was a treat to moderate a Q&A with Laufey and director Sam Wrench after the premiere of “Laufey's A Night At The Symphony: Hollywood Bowl” at the Grove. A great capture of a show I was happy to catch in person and happy to revisit now in beautiful IMAX closeups. See it in theaters in early Dec.
November 21, 2024 at 7:04 AM
It was a treat to moderate a Q&A with Laufey and director Sam Wrench after the premiere of “Laufey's A Night At The Symphony: Hollywood Bowl” at the Grove. A great capture of a show I was happy to catch in person and happy to revisit now in beautiful IMAX closeups. See it in theaters in early Dec.
I enjoyed moderating a talk with Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner and director Roy Power at the Music Hall in Beverly Hills, following “Art Dealers.” The film does as good a job of capturing the fervor of a real gig as anything in recent memory. Catch it at the Music Hall now or in a few days on VOD.
September 29, 2024 at 5:26 PM
I enjoyed moderating a talk with Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner and director Roy Power at the Music Hall in Beverly Hills, following “Art Dealers.” The film does as good a job of capturing the fervor of a real gig as anything in recent memory. Catch it at the Music Hall now or in a few days on VOD.
Looking forward to talking with the amazing Shelby Lynne at the Grammy Museum on Oct. 1, followed by a live performance. I believe this is her only appearance of the year in L.A. (Tickets are now available for AmEx members, and go on sale to all comers Saturday.)
September 6, 2024 at 12:57 AM
Looking forward to talking with the amazing Shelby Lynne at the Grammy Museum on Oct. 1, followed by a live performance. I believe this is her only appearance of the year in L.A. (Tickets are now available for AmEx members, and go on sale to all comers Saturday.)
Here's this week's fun Variety cover, fronting a story I wrote about the Eras Tour and its triumph and fandom overseas.
July 31, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Here's this week's fun Variety cover, fronting a story I wrote about the Eras Tour and its triumph and fandom overseas.
Here's this week's @Variety, featuring as great a genius as has ever graced the cover of the weekly (or had his or her name appear on the front page of the daily that preceded it, for that matter). I'm thrilled to have a small part in giving John Williams his ongoing due.
March 6, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Here's this week's @Variety, featuring as great a genius as has ever graced the cover of the weekly (or had his or her name appear on the front page of the daily that preceded it, for that matter). I'm thrilled to have a small part in giving John Williams his ongoing due.
Farewell to the most wonderful mom ever, Betty Jeanne Willman, 1928-2024.
January 15, 2024 at 3:18 AM
Farewell to the most wonderful mom ever, Betty Jeanne Willman, 1928-2024.
Allison Russell had just the balm we needed this year, as "All Without Within" earned its spot on Variety's list of The Best Songs of 2023. variety.com/lists/the-be...
December 31, 2023 at 11:35 PM
Allison Russell had just the balm we needed this year, as "All Without Within" earned its spot on Variety's list of The Best Songs of 2023. variety.com/lists/the-be...
Brandy Clark's and Brandi Carlile's "Dear Insecurity" is high on Variety's list of The Best Songs of 2023. variety.com/lists/the-be...
December 31, 2023 at 7:59 PM
Brandy Clark's and Brandi Carlile's "Dear Insecurity" is high on Variety's list of The Best Songs of 2023. variety.com/lists/the-be...
Boygenius's "Not Strong Enough" is high on @Variety's list of The Best Songs of 2023. (And elsewhere on the list, we found room for a three-way tie between "True Blue," "Satanist" and "Letter to an Old Poet.") variety.com/lists/the-be...
December 31, 2023 at 3:18 PM
Boygenius's "Not Strong Enough" is high on @Variety's list of The Best Songs of 2023. (And elsewhere on the list, we found room for a three-way tie between "True Blue," "Satanist" and "Letter to an Old Poet.") variety.com/lists/the-be...
Allison Russell's "The Returner" is on my list of the year's 10 best albums for Variety... a mustn't miss and a step forward into a whole new light for someone already shining very brightly. variety.com/lists/best-a...
December 14, 2023 at 2:49 AM
Allison Russell's "The Returner" is on my list of the year's 10 best albums for Variety... a mustn't miss and a step forward into a whole new light for someone already shining very brightly. variety.com/lists/best-a...
Brandy Clark's self-titled album is on my Variety top 10 albums of 2023 list... of course... variety.com/lists/best-a...
December 13, 2023 at 10:17 PM
Brandy Clark's self-titled album is on my Variety top 10 albums of 2023 list... of course... variety.com/lists/best-a...
Thankful to the L.A. Press Club for my first-place trophy at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, for my profile of Jack White, in the Personality Profile Over 2,500 Words category... Kudos to the Variety staff for 12 first-place wins, including Entertainment Publication of the Year.
December 5, 2023 at 4:49 AM
Thankful to the L.A. Press Club for my first-place trophy at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, for my profile of Jack White, in the Personality Profile Over 2,500 Words category... Kudos to the Variety staff for 12 first-place wins, including Entertainment Publication of the Year.
A wonderful night at the Grammy Museum, with Sierra Ferrell singing Gram Parsons' songs, and his daughter Polly Parsons and Amoeba founder Dave Prinz joining me for a panel to discuss Gram's legacy and a live album from 1973 being issued exclusively for Record Store Day Black Friday.
November 17, 2023 at 8:40 PM
A wonderful night at the Grammy Museum, with Sierra Ferrell singing Gram Parsons' songs, and his daughter Polly Parsons and Amoeba founder Dave Prinz joining me for a panel to discuss Gram's legacy and a live album from 1973 being issued exclusively for Record Store Day Black Friday.
Happy to report this photo of Amanda Shires has been nominated for an award for a second time... for best action photo (!), for the 2023 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. If I could find a way to spend the rest of my career riding on Amanda Shires' coattails (or wings), I would.
November 4, 2023 at 5:32 PM
Happy to report this photo of Amanda Shires has been nominated for an award for a second time... for best action photo (!), for the 2023 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. If I could find a way to spend the rest of my career riding on Amanda Shires' coattails (or wings), I would.