About Cortney Wills

Cortney M. Wills is the Entertainment Director at TheGrio and host of our latest podcast initiative, Acting Up.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, the Medill alum began her career at Time Inc. and has since covered music, film, television, and pop culture for numerous publications including Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, MTV News, JET, and more.
Much of her work at TheGrio focuses on holding Hollywood accountable and examines how stories about our people, our culture, and our communities are being told on screens big and small.
She’s currently based in Los Angeles where she resides with her husband and children.

All Articles

Selah and the spades
April 6, 2020
Watch the trailer for Tayarisha Poe’s Sundance hit, ‘Selah and the Spades’ starring Lovie Simone, Jesse Williams, and Jharrel Jerome, coming soon to Amazon.
nailed it!
April 3, 2020
Check out our list of cool content coming to Netflix in April including ‘#blackAF’ from Kenya Barris and ‘Coffee & Kareem’ with Taraji P. Henson
Savannah Smith
April 3, 2020
It looks like HBO’s ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot will have a lot more melanin than the original series, as they have cast Savannah Smith in a leading role.
HBO
April 3, 2020
HBO is offering 500 hours of free programming as part of the #StayHomeBoxOffice initiative with titles including ‘The Wire’.
Tekashi 6ix9ine
April 3, 2020
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine has been granted an early release from prison due to coronavirus fears because his asthma puts him at high risk.
Spike lee
April 2, 2020
Spike Lee released the full script to an unproduced biopic about Jackie Robinson entitled ‘I Never Had It Made’ on Instagram this week
April 2, 2020
Alicia Keys opens up about feeling “manipulated” into posing topless when she was younger in her new memoir, “More Myself.”
innocence files
April 2, 2020
Netflix just dropped the trailer for the powerful, 9-episode docuseries ‘The Innocence Files’ which examines the work of The Innocence Project.
Taraji P. Henson
April 2, 2020
Taraji P. Henson revealed that she is putting wedding planning on hold as she mourns her uncle’s death, whom she suspects suffered coronavirus complications
Wayne brady
April 1, 2020
Wayne Brady discusses his new show ‘Wayne Brady’s Comedy IQ’ and how he’s handling being quarantined with his ex-wife and her boyfriend
Vanessa Bryant thegrio.com
April 1, 2020
Vanessa Bryant took to social media this week to promote the latest book from Kobe Bryant entitled ‘The Wizenard: Season One’
Public Enemy theGrio.com
April 1, 2020
Chuck D says Flavor Flav wasn’t really fired from Public Enemy and admitted their recent feud was a publicity stunt ahead of their new album.
Lauren London Nipsey Hussle theGrio.com
March 31, 2020
Lauren London penned an emotional tribute to her late love, Nipsey Hussle on Tuesday marking the one year anniversary of his death.
Madam C.J. Walker museum, Madam CJ Walker museum Atlanta, Atlanta Black history museum, Who was Madam CJ Walker? theGrio.com
March 31, 2020
For folks who want to get the real story about Madam C.J. Walker while quarantining, Stanley Nelson’s Two Dollars and a Dream is a worthy watch.
March 31, 2020
‘The Photograph’ star Lakeith Stanfield opens up about his new music and reveals how he’s coping with the coronavirus quarantine.
Lexi Underwood
March 31, 2020
Five fascinating facts about ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ star Lexi Underwood who recently sat down with Regina King for an interview including playing Aaliyah
Dr. venus Opal Reese
March 31, 2020
Dr. Venus Opal Reese is empowering Black women entrepreneurs to create a home-based business online during the quarantine.
Watchmen theGrio.com
March 30, 2020
Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and the rest of the cast of HBO’s ‘Watchmen’ star in coronavirus PSA “Who Washes the Washmen?”
Future
March 30, 2020
Future is working to donate masks to hospital workers on the front line of the coronavirus crisis and Stephon Marbury is sending 10 million masks.
Aretha Franklin
March 30, 2020
Both of the highly-anticipated Aretha Franklin projects have been derailed by the coronavirus crisis, forcing release dates to be pushed back.