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

February 16, 2021
Check out our review of 'Judas and the Black Messiah' starring LaKeith Stanfield, Daniel Kaluuya, and Dominique Fishback.
February 16, 2021
Check out an exclusive clip of the Netfix docuseries 'Amend: The Fight for America,' featuring Brittany Packnett Cunningham.
February 13, 2021
Daniel Kaluuya accepts AFI Award for 'Judas and the Black Messiah' and Shaka King invites us to take a look…
Malcolm & Marie
February 6, 2021
John David Washington and Zendaya discuss the troubling relationship between "Malcolm & Marie" characters and making the film during COVID.
R#J
February 6, 2021
Check out our interview with Francesca Noel as she discusses her starring role as Juliet in the film 'R#J', which…
Issa Rae thegrio.com
February 3, 2021
Check out our interview with Issa Rae as she celebrates the 10-year anniversary of her web series 'The Misadventures of…
Cicley Tyson thegrio.com AP
January 28, 2021
Cicely Tyson sadly passed away on Thursday at the age of 96, but her life was full of standout moments…
Cord Jefferson writers fellowship watchmen thegrio.com
January 27, 2021
Emmy-winning writer Cord Jefferson launches fellowship for journalists looking to transition to careers in screenwriting.
21 Savage, Jhené Aiko and Kirk Franklin iheartradio thegrio.com
January 27, 2021
21 Savage, Jhene Aiko, Kirk Franklin, and more to perform on first-ever 'iHeartRadio's Living Black!' special
January 25, 2021
The Blackhouse Foundation is committed to curating incredible events and programming throughout the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Regina King One Night in Miami Amazon thegrio.com
January 18, 2021
Regina King talks to theGrio about her feature film directorial debut 'One Night in Miami,' and how it relates to…
January 16, 2021
Check out our interview with Leslie Odom Jr. who stars as Sam Cooke in Regina King's directorial debut, 'One Night…
Spike Lee thegrio.com
January 14, 2021
Spike Lee says Donald Trump has blood on his hands and explains why he plans on getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Spike Lee thegrio.com
January 12, 2021
The HPFA has selected Satchel and Jackson Lee, the children of Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, as Ambassadors for…
kevin Hart
January 11, 2021
Kevin Hart and his company, HartBeat Productions has inked a multi-year, first-look deal with Netflix to create new films.
Basketball Wives thegrio.com
January 11, 2021
Check out an explosive sneak peek for the upcoming season of 'Basketball Wives' premiering February 9 on Vh1.
The United States vs Billie Holiday thegrio.com
January 11, 2021
Lee Daniels has unveiled the first official trailer for 'The United States vs. Billie Holiday' starring Andra Day and Trevante…
11th Annual Women In Film Pre-Oscar Cocktail Party presented by Max Mara and Lancome with additional support from Crustacean Beverly Hills, Johnnie Walker, Stella Artois and Cambria
January 7, 2021
Actress Raven Goodwin has signed on to star as Hattie McDaniels in the upcoming biopic about the iconic actress, 'Behind…
Laverne Cox thegrio.com
January 7, 2021
Laverne Cox has announced she won't be executive producing the upcoming ‘Sell/Buy/Date’ doc alongside Rashida Jones and Meryl Streep.
Noma Domazweni Little Mermaid thegrio.com
January 6, 2021
'The Undoing' star Noma Dumezweni will joining the cast of DIsney's upcoming, live-action remake of 'The Little Mermaid.'