It's not too early to embrace Kacey Musgraves as one of the greats. Here's my cover story on her and her excellent sixth album... Kacey Musgraves’ Country Homecoming: The Singer on New Album ‘Middle of Nowhere,’ Ending Miranda Lambert Feud… and Embracing Self-Pleasure variety.com/2026/music/f...

Super interesting pop culture piece here about how (not) to depict pop stars in music. (Can confirm The Ballad of Wallis Island and Stereophonic were both excellent.)

My interview with Ringo about his very enjoyable, T Bone-produced "Long Long Road" album, which came out Friday, and a few other fun topics we got onto, like the origins of his name (which he insists was not actually cowboy movie-inspired). variety.com/2026/music/n...

Here's my essay about why nearly every fictional music movie is a dud — the latest being "Mother Mary." If, like me, you spend time wondering why "Hurry Up Tomorrow," "The Moment," "Trap," etc. are such an insult to music fans' intelligence, read along and commiserate... variety.com/2026/music/c...

A guide to some of the hotties you can pick up at Record Store Day today. (Scroll past the annotated list of about 35 highlights if you want to see the full list of 355 titles.) variety.com/lists/record...

Here's my report on the Paul McCartney listening session at Andrew Watt's place, for you Macca-heads out there, you know who you are. variety.com/2026/music/n...

I did a profile of a high school... Hollywood High, which this week has been hosting Mitski's five-show residence. I was fascinated to get access to the school's museum, devoted to alumni ranging from Lana Turner and Judy Garland to the Real Don Steele to Edward Dmytryk. variety.com/2026/music/n...

Noir City Hollywood starts tonight at the Egyptian. Here is the detailed preview I did with Eddie Muller and Alan K. Rode about the entire festival, ICYMI. Music figuring prominently on-screen in most or all of these films truly gives this year's festival a unique spin. variety.com/2026/film/ne...

So exciting to announce and talk about Tift Merritt's first new album since 2017, "Sugar." If you love her, as I know many of my friends do, you'll want to read all about it. variety.com/2026/music/n...

Here's an exit interview I did with @RockyCOfficial about coming to terms with leaving the "NCIS" cast after 18 years... ‘NCIS’ Shocker: Rocky Carroll Tells All on His Unexpected [SPOILER] and Playing Director Vance for Nearly Two Decades variety.com/2026/tv/news...

Glad to have Pacific Electric coming on to the L.A. club scene as a potentially valuable addition at the 750-capacity level. I talked with the man behind it, Ben Lovett, who divides his time between running a live business and being keyboardist for Mumford and Sons. variety.com/2026/music/n...

My review of an excellent Shaggs documentary that premiered at SXSW this weekend. variety.com/2026/music/r...

Rest in peace, Steve Hibbert. variety.com/2026/film/ob...

What a singer, what a performance... In a Thrilling U.S. Headlining Debut at the Troubadour, Sienna Spiro Shows Why She’s About to Become the World’s Next Pop Vocal Superhero: Concert Review variety.com/2026/music/c...

Who's going to the United Theater in L.A. tonight to see Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band perform "The Beach Boys Love You" in its entirety for the first time? Here's a Q&A I did with Al and Darian Sahanaja about the road to playing some or all of this material live... variety.com/2026/music/n...

I loved the "Amadeus" that is now running at the Pasadena Playhouse. Here's my Variety review. I hope you get a chance to see it before March 15 if you're at all inclined. variety.com/2026/music/r...

My semi-epic Q&A with Baz Luhrmann about "EPiC." Read it and see it... Viva Baz Vegas! Baz Luhrmann on the Burning Love That Went Into ‘EPiC’: ‘We Are Giving Elvis the World Tour He Dreamed Of, Playing on the World’s Biggest Screens’ variety.com/2026/music/n... via @variety.com

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...

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...

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

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.

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...

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.

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

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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... 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...

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

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.

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

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...

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...

My interview with Nick Mason, remembering the making of "Wish You Were Here" and celebrating the lavish new boxed set. I've talked with both Roger and David on a number of occasions over the years, so I was happy to finally engage Nick in conversation as well. variety.com/2025/music/n...

Fantastic show by Cynthia Erivo last night to reopen the 89-year-old Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, a spectacular way to mark a fresh start after a few years of darkness, fundraising and renovation. variety.com/2025/music/n...

If you've just watched episode 9 of "The Beatles Anthology," or plan to, here's my interview with its director, Oliver Murray, about putting together the new series finale. variety.com/2025/music/n...

I couldn't be happier (you see what I did there) to bring you my conversation with Stephen Schwartz about "Wicked" and, especially, the two fresh songs he wrote, which are as much about America and the stands we take in it as about Oz. ... variety.com/2025/music/n... via @variety.com

Want to read my Elton cover? He's Variety's Philanthropist of the Year for his AIDS Foundation work. We also cover everything from his road retirement to his vision issues; from the "Captain Fantastic" 50th anniversary to what's on his shopping list for Record Store Day. variety.com/2025/music/f...

I won a CMA Award. Not a typo! I was surprised by Shaboozey and Stephen Wilson Jr. handing me the CMA Media Achievement Award, and I don't imagine I'll get anything that means more to me than something honoring my association with country music. Grateful to every voter who thought I merited it.