Chris Willman
@cwillman.bsky.social
Variety chief music critic and senior writer
Enjoyed talking with this emerging country artist, who's going to be sticking around... Stephen Wilson Jr., Best New Artist Nominee for CMA Awards, on Why His Maverick ‘Death Cab for Country’ Approach Found a Home at Big Loud Records variety.com/2025/music/n...
Stephen Wilson Jr., Best New Artist Nominee for CMA Awards, on Why His Maverick ‘Death Cab for Country’ Approach Found a Home at Big Loud Records
CMAs nominee Stephen Wilson Jr. and the owners of Big Loud Records talk about his signing with the label and what makes him different in country music.
variety.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Enjoyed talking with this emerging country artist, who's going to be sticking around... Stephen Wilson Jr., Best New Artist Nominee for CMA Awards, on Why His Maverick ‘Death Cab for Country’ Approach Found a Home at Big Loud Records variety.com/2025/music/n...
Talked with Sara Bareilles about this new collaboration... Sara Bareilles on Her Duet With Brandi Carlile, ‘Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,’ Theme Song for ‘Come See Me in the Good Light’: ‘This Film Is Medicinal—It’s Easy to Want to Amplify It’ variety.com/2025/music/n...
Sara Bareilles on Her New Duet With Brandi Carlile, ‘Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,’ Theme Song for ‘Come See Me in the Good Light’: ‘This Film Is Medicinal — It’s Easy to Want to Amplify It’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Sara Bareilles talks about her duet with Brandi Carlile, 'Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,' theme song for the documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light.'
variety.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Talked with Sara Bareilles about this new collaboration... Sara Bareilles on Her Duet With Brandi Carlile, ‘Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,’ Theme Song for ‘Come See Me in the Good Light’: ‘This Film Is Medicinal—It’s Easy to Want to Amplify It’ variety.com/2025/music/n...
I interviewed two of the principals behind the modern-day Antone's about the Texas club signing a 50-year lease deal for its downtown Austin location, establishing a museum on the second floor, and taking its all-star blues revues into year 51. variety.com/2025/music/n...
Antone’s Nightclub in Austin Seals Its 50th Anniversary With a Landmark 50-Year Lease Deal: How the Blues Mecca Is Moving Into Its Second Half-Century
Antone's, the famed blues-centric club in Texas, is capping its 50th anniversary year with news of a 50-year lease going forward, among other news.
variety.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
I interviewed two of the principals behind the modern-day Antone's about the Texas club signing a 50-year lease deal for its downtown Austin location, establishing a museum on the second floor, and taking its all-star blues revues into year 51. variety.com/2025/music/n...
It would always be wonderful to get to talk with Emmylou Harris or Buddy Miller again, but getting them as a two-fer, to discuss the new reissue of "Spyboy," makes my heart triply happy. variety.com/2025/music/n...
Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller on the Historic Tour Captured on New ‘Spyboy’ Live Reissue, and Why the ‘Wrecking Ball’ Era Changed Everything for Her: ‘It Gave Me Another 30 Years’
Emmylou Harris sits with Buddy Miller to discuss the tour they did promoting her landmark 'Wrecking Ball' album, heard in a new live 'Spyboy' reissue.
variety.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
It would always be wonderful to get to talk with Emmylou Harris or Buddy Miller again, but getting them as a two-fer, to discuss the new reissue of "Spyboy," makes my heart triply happy. variety.com/2025/music/n...
I took a look at the history of the Barbra/Judy "Get Happy"/"Happy Days Are Here Again" mashup that Ariana and Cynthia performed on the "Wicked" special tonight, coming up with some other examples of duet partners who've tried to recreate it in the 62-year interim... variety.com/2025/music/n...
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Do Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland Proud With ‘Happy’ Duet on ‘Wicked’ TV Special: The History Behind the Mellifluous Mashup
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sang a mashup of 'Get Happy'/'Happy Days Are Here Again,' first done by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland in 1963.
variety.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:55 AM
I took a look at the history of the Barbra/Judy "Get Happy"/"Happy Days Are Here Again" mashup that Ariana and Cynthia performed on the "Wicked" special tonight, coming up with some other examples of duet partners who've tried to recreate it in the 62-year interim... variety.com/2025/music/n...
How an 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson found its way onto "Saturday Night Live," in song... What Was Brandi Carlile Reciting on ‘SNL’? How Thomas Jefferson’s Proclamation About Separating ‘Church & State’ Made It Into a Blazing Rock Song variety.com/2025/music/n... via @variety
What Was Brandi Carlile Reciting on ‘SNL’? How Thomas Jefferson’s Proclamation About Separating ‘Church & State’ Made It Into a Blazing Rock Song
Singing 'Church & State,' 'Saturday Night Live' music guest Brandi Carlile recited a letter by Thomas Jefferson, along with musically referencing U2.
variety.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
How an 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson found its way onto "Saturday Night Live," in song... What Was Brandi Carlile Reciting on ‘SNL’? How Thomas Jefferson’s Proclamation About Separating ‘Church & State’ Made It Into a Blazing Rock Song variety.com/2025/music/n... via @variety
Loved talking with Cameron about a book exploring the stuff that brought him to the dance... Cameron Crowe on ‘The Uncool,’ Memoir of His Teen Journalist Years, and How Patti Smith Inspired Its Prose — Also: What to Expect From His Joni Biopic
Cameron Crowe on ‘The Uncool,’ a Memoir of His Teen Rock Journalist Years, and How Patti Smith Inspired Its Prose — Also: What to Expect From His Joni Biopic
Cameron Crowe discusses 'The Uncool,' a memoir of life as a teen rock journalist, recounting tales of his '70s experiences with David Bowie and others.
variety.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Loved talking with Cameron about a book exploring the stuff that brought him to the dance... Cameron Crowe on ‘The Uncool,’ Memoir of His Teen Journalist Years, and How Patti Smith Inspired Its Prose — Also: What to Expect From His Joni Biopic
Here's the most popular musician I will interview all year, probably: Dieter Ruehle!... Dodgers Organist Dieter Ruehle on His Witty, Spontaneous Song Picks and Keeping Up With the Series’ Epic Game 3: ‘The Game Isn’t Scripted — What’s Better Than Live Accompaniment?’ variety.com/2025/music/n...
Dodgers Organist Dieter Ruehle on His Witty, Spontaneous Song Picks, and Keeping Up With the Series’ Epic Game 3: ‘The Game Isn’t Scripted — What’s Better Than Live Accompaniment?’
Dodgers organist Dieter Ruehle talks about his amusing choices of song snippets for the World Series, especially that nearly 'All Night Long' Game 3.
variety.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Here's the most popular musician I will interview all year, probably: Dieter Ruehle!... Dodgers Organist Dieter Ruehle on His Witty, Spontaneous Song Picks and Keeping Up With the Series’ Epic Game 3: ‘The Game Isn’t Scripted — What’s Better Than Live Accompaniment?’ variety.com/2025/music/n...
I talked to Brad Paisley this afternoon about his unbroken streak of performing National Anthems before World Series games that go into overtime, including last night's epic... "I’m available also for football. I’d like to see that go into more quarters, as well.” variety.com/2025/music/n...
Brad Paisley on Singing the Anthem Before the Only Two 18-Inning Games in World Series History: ‘I Had No Idea There Would Be Major Cosmic Ramifications’
Country star and Dodgers fan Brad Paisley has now sung the national anthem at the two longest World Series games ever: 'Call me Mr. More Baseball.'
variety.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I talked to Brad Paisley this afternoon about his unbroken streak of performing National Anthems before World Series games that go into overtime, including last night's epic... "I’m available also for football. I’d like to see that go into more quarters, as well.” variety.com/2025/music/n...
Love this album even more than I thought I would, and I thought I'd love it... Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ Is a Stunner — A Divorce Album That Feels Like a Stage Drama Unfolding in Real Time, but With Bops: Album Review variety.com/2025/music/a... via @variety
Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ Is a Stunner — A Divorce Album That Feels Like a Stage Drama Unfolding in Real Time, but With Bops: Album Review
Lily Allen's 'West End Girl' is a divorce album of such brutal honesty that it's compulsively listenable -- with great hooks and production on top of the shock value.
variety.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Love this album even more than I thought I would, and I thought I'd love it... Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ Is a Stunner — A Divorce Album That Feels Like a Stage Drama Unfolding in Real Time, but With Bops: Album Review variety.com/2025/music/a... via @variety
Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska '82" is one of the most rewarding retrospective projects he's put out. If nothing else, thank you to Scott Cooper for maybe having finally forced his hand!
Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska ’82’ Offers a Highly Rewarding Trip Down Some Highways Not Taken: Album Review
Bruce Springsteen's 'Nebraska '82' offers the satisfaction of material long rumored as 'Electric Nebraska," but also solo outtakes just as fascinating.
variety.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska '82" is one of the most rewarding retrospective projects he's put out. If nothing else, thank you to Scott Cooper for maybe having finally forced his hand!
This, for me, was one of the most fascinating interviews I've done in a long time, talking with Elizabeth Weber about her marriage and career with Billy Joel, the HBO documentary and what her life is like now. If you saw the documentary, I know you'll enjoy reading this. variety.com/2025/music/n...
Elizabeth Weber, Billy Joel’s First Wife and Ex-Manager, Tells Why She Spoke Up in HBO Doc After 43 Years of Silence — Becoming One of the Year’s Most Captivating Screen Personalities in the Process
Elizabeth Weber, Billy Joel's first wife and his manager in the '70s, talks about their time together and starring in 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes.'
variety.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This, for me, was one of the most fascinating interviews I've done in a long time, talking with Elizabeth Weber about her marriage and career with Billy Joel, the HBO documentary and what her life is like now. If you saw the documentary, I know you'll enjoy reading this. variety.com/2025/music/n...
Reposted by Chris Willman
Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
wapo.st
October 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Scoop: Trump has started demolishing the White House's East Wing facade to build his ballroom. The president had claimed construction of the $250 million building wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure. /W @ddiamond.bsky.social wapo.st/4hqBNiU
Halsey continues to be underrated, to my mind... variety.com/2025/music/c...
Halsey Reaffirms She’s an Actual Rock Star at Electrifying ‘Badlands’ Anniversary Tour Kickoff in L.A.: Concert Review
Halsey kicked off her 'Badlands' 10-year anniversary tour with a three-night stand at Hollywood Forever that turned into a full career retrospective.
variety.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Halsey continues to be underrated, to my mind... variety.com/2025/music/c...
Reposted by Chris Willman
It’s like they fed a bunch of mobster movies into ChatGPT and then beat it with sticks until it shat out the most garbled mafia boss preening imaginable
Trump on Harvard: "We reached a concept of a deal but it's pretty complicated bc under this deal it would be $500m, they're gonna open up trade schools. I love the idea of trade & trade schools by Harvard. You know, they get into like a vocational-type school... we may just charge them a $500m fine"
October 20, 2025 at 1:30 AM
It’s like they fed a bunch of mobster movies into ChatGPT and then beat it with sticks until it shat out the most garbled mafia boss preening imaginable
"Blue Moon," with Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart, is at the Century City/Burbank AMCs; goes wider next week. Urge you to see it; it was my favorite film out of Telluride and the best screenplay I've seen put to film all year. I'll repost a Q&A I did with Hawke at Telluride that got into "Blue Moon" ...
Ethan Hawke on Directing the Merle Haggard Doc ‘Highway 99’, Playing Lorenz Hart in the Oscar Contender ‘Blue Moon’ and Being Telluride’s King for a Day
Ethan Hawke talks about being feted at the Telluride Film Festival with his Merle Haggard documentary 'Highway 99' and Lorenz Hart biopic 'Blue Moon.'
variety.com
October 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
"Blue Moon," with Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart, is at the Century City/Burbank AMCs; goes wider next week. Urge you to see it; it was my favorite film out of Telluride and the best screenplay I've seen put to film all year. I'll repost a Q&A I did with Hawke at Telluride that got into "Blue Moon" ...
Reposted by Chris Willman
Wishing everyone a safe #NoKings.
On behalf of @freedom.press I’m on lookout for reports of press rights violations nationwide. DMs should be open. Or tag me in a reply if you see concerning post.
Most incidents are by police/DHS/ICE, but I want to hear if by protesters or counterprotesters too.
On behalf of @freedom.press I’m on lookout for reports of press rights violations nationwide. DMs should be open. Or tag me in a reply if you see concerning post.
Most incidents are by police/DHS/ICE, but I want to hear if by protesters or counterprotesters too.
October 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Wishing everyone a safe #NoKings.
On behalf of @freedom.press I’m on lookout for reports of press rights violations nationwide. DMs should be open. Or tag me in a reply if you see concerning post.
Most incidents are by police/DHS/ICE, but I want to hear if by protesters or counterprotesters too.
On behalf of @freedom.press I’m on lookout for reports of press rights violations nationwide. DMs should be open. Or tag me in a reply if you see concerning post.
Most incidents are by police/DHS/ICE, but I want to hear if by protesters or counterprotesters too.
Reposted by Chris Willman
"Taylor Swift has lost the plot"
I’m desperate for In-N-Out fries.
October 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
"Taylor Swift has lost the plot"
Reposted by Chris Willman
here are 14 albums that turned 50 this year that you might dig www.dontrocktheinbox.com/14-essential...
14 Essential 1975 Country Albums
'70s country is the source of plenty of current nostalgia despite being made (gulp) a half century ago. There are so many great albums that hit the 50 mark this year, though, and it only seemed right ...
www.dontrocktheinbox.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:55 PM
here are 14 albums that turned 50 this year that you might dig www.dontrocktheinbox.com/14-essential...
I interviewed Ken Sharp about this labor-of-love Raspberries tribute, which had me reliving my not-misspent-enough youth through all 37 tracks... Raspberries Mania Finally Goes All the Way With ‘Play On,’ a Tribute Album Giving the Power-Pop Greats Their Full Due variety.com/2025/music/n...
Raspberries Mania Finally Goes All the Way With ‘Play On,’ a Tribute Album Giving the Power-Pop Greats Their Full Due
'Play On' is a double album covering nearly the entire catalog of Eric Carmen's 1970s band the Raspberries. Ken Sharp discusses assembling the salute.
variety.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I interviewed Ken Sharp about this labor-of-love Raspberries tribute, which had me reliving my not-misspent-enough youth through all 37 tracks... Raspberries Mania Finally Goes All the Way With ‘Play On,’ a Tribute Album Giving the Power-Pop Greats Their Full Due variety.com/2025/music/n...
Reposted by Chris Willman
I wish I was surprised that Deadline claims it asked questions that were actually asked by me and other journalists at this James Gunn press conference. No one from Deadline even *submitted questions* for it (and I know, because I moderated). This is just brazen and sad.
October 11, 2025 at 1:53 AM
I wish I was surprised that Deadline claims it asked questions that were actually asked by me and other journalists at this James Gunn press conference. No one from Deadline even *submitted questions* for it (and I know, because I moderated). This is just brazen and sad.
I got deep into it with Amanda Shires... which is always a very good place to go. She was as bold, funny and perceptive as always when we had a long conversation backstage at the Opry. variety.com/2025/music/n...
Amanda Shires on Becoming ‘Nobody’s Girl’ With a Bracing Album That Straddles ‘Divorce Record’ and Reclamation Journal: ‘I Kept Telling Myself I Was Healed, When I Wasn’t Yet’
Amanda Shires talks about writing songs about her split from ex-husband Jason Isbell and boldly moving forward on her new album, 'Nobody's Girl.'
variety.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I got deep into it with Amanda Shires... which is always a very good place to go. She was as bold, funny and perceptive as always when we had a long conversation backstage at the Opry. variety.com/2025/music/n...
I reviewed Paul McCartney's tour opening at the Santa Barbara Bowl. variety.com/2025/music/c...
Paul McCartney Sings John Lennon’s ‘Help!’ in Full for the First Time, Opening a 2025 Tour That Finds Fresh Joy Even in Familiar Repertoire: Concert Review
Paul McCartney opened his tour at the Santa Barbara Bowl with a John Lennon/Beatles number, "Help!," leading into a familiar but still thrilling setlist.
variety.com
September 27, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I reviewed Paul McCartney's tour opening at the Santa Barbara Bowl. variety.com/2025/music/c...