iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

"Stop the presses" is not a completely antiquated phrase. This quickly written appreciation was the last thing sent to the printer for Variety's weekly print edition this afternoon... It doesn't do her justice, but we do what we can, when we're hurried and heartbroken.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

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-...

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Still reeling from how phenomenally good the Our Native Daughters reunion was at the Hollywood Bowl this week.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

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.)

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

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."

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 29/09/2024

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 06/09/2024

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.)

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 31/07/2024

Here's this week's fun Variety cover, fronting a story I wrote about the Eras Tour and its triumph and fandom overseas.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 06/03/2024

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 15/01/2024

Farewell to the most wonderful mom ever, Betty Jeanne Willman, 1928-2024.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

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...

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

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...

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 31/12/2023

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...

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 14/12/2023

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...

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 13/12/2023

Brandy Clark's self-titled album is on my Variety top 10 albums of 2023 list... of course... variety.com/lists/best-a...

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 05/12/2023

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 17/11/2023

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 04/11/2023

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.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 28/10/2023

The next song “requires some audience participation: We sing the song, and you shut the fuck up.” —Nick Cave at the Orpheum

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 14/10/2023

Peter Gabriel, at the Forum, in splendid form. Missed him.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 23/07/2023

Great shows from Haim this week at L.A.’s newest concert venue, the Bellwether, which counted as a real underplay after they did the Bowl last summer. I’d describe the 1600-capacity venue as being like a mini-Palladium… or a triple-sized Roxy, if you want to come at it from the other direction.

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Chris Willman @cwillman.bsky.social · 09/07/2023

On the front lines of music journalism with Ringo Starr

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