Taijuan Moorman
Taijuan Moorman covers fast-moving entertainment and pop-culture stories for USA TODAY, with a focus on celebrity and music news at the intersection of fame, controversy and online conversation. Her reporting centers on trending and breaking stories, from musicians facing legal scrutiny to viral moments for performers and their families. Recent work spans incidents inside luxury boutiques, presidential pardons for rappers and brand campaigns built around pop and R&B stars.
Trending celebrity and music news
Moorman regularly reports on musicians whose personal lives and careers become news events, offering clear accounts of what happened and why it matters. Her coverage of Jelly Roll’s experience at a Louis Vuitton store in Sydney details his description of being treated like a “criminal” and sets that against a straightforward summary of his past convictions drawn from criminal court records, giving readers the necessary context without sensationalism. In a piece on NBA YoungBoy’s federal gun case, she walks through his sentence, real name and the nature of the charges as she explains what the presidential pardon changes for him, framing a legal development in terms of a high-profile rap career.
She also follows emerging artists in the orbit of major celebrities, such as North West discussing a desire for a “regular job” at Starbucks while balancing a budding rap career and the expectations that come with being the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Ye. Across these stories, Moorman keeps the focus on the musicians’ own words and the factual record, using accessible language to connect legal and personal developments to their work and public images.
That same eye for the blend of image and music appears in her coverage of Hailey Bieber’s risqué campaign for Skims, where she treats the shoot as both a fashion moment and a pop-culture signal.
Legal and crisis coverage around public figures
Moorman frequently handles stories where legal proceedings, law enforcement actions or government decisions drive the entertainment narrative, distilling court records and official documents into clear explainers. Her reporting on former “Home Improvement” actor Zachery Ty Bryan’s repeated arrests in Oregon catalogs multiple domestic violence and DUI cases, carefully noting dates, charges and probation details drawn from sheriff’s records and prior incidents.
In a joint story on Angelina Jolie dropping a lawsuit over FBI records related to a 2016 plane incident with Brad Pitt, she summarizes the status of the Freedom of Information Act request and the decision to end the suit, tying a complex legal process back to the long-running public interest in the case.
Her work also reaches into political coverage when entertainment figures intersect with national decisions, as in a broader report on Donald Trump’s wave of pardons where she contributes detail on clemency for NBA YoungBoy alongside other high-profile names. Moorman’s crisis reporting extends to sensitive stories such as the article on the death of Chad Lowe’s 13-year-old daughter, where she relays the medical examiner’s determination of suicide and the timeline of events with restrained, factual language. She applies similar care to a piece on Elizabeth Smart’s emotional post after losing a bodybuilding competition, focusing on Smart’s own reflections and framing them within the outcome of the event.
Across these assignments, Moorman treats legal documents, case updates and official statements as anchors, using them to keep high-interest stories grounded.
Pop culture, television and brand campaigns
Beyond hard news, Moorman tracks how pop-culture moments unfold through television, fashion campaigns and red-carpet appearances. Her coverage of Sadie Sink’s Calvin Klein denim campaign focuses on the “Feel the Fit” video, describing how the actor channels a 2000s pop diva persona while dancing to Willa Ford’s “I Wanna Be Bad,” and highlighting how the brand leans on nostalgia and sex appeal to sell high-rise jeans.
In television, she has reported on NBC’s cancellation of “The Hunting Party,” explaining that the series is “definitely not returning” for a third season and laying out why the show will not be renewed. She follows cast dynamics as well, as in a story on Dave Coulier reuniting with the “Full House” cast after entering remission, noting who attended and who was absent while tying the gathering to his health journey. Moorman also covers family-oriented moments on big stages, such as Kate Upton’s rare appearance with Justin Verlander and their two children at the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show, treating the outing as both a sports-adjacent event and a celebrity family snapshot. Her brand and campaign coverage consistently links visuals, music choices and celebrity personas, whether she is writing about Sadie Sink for Calvin Klein or Hailey Bieber’s work with Skims, making clear how these collaborations fit into broader pop-culture trends.
Background in music and digital storytelling
Moorman brings a long-running focus on music to her entertainment beat, having previously edited music coverage for a local magazine and worked closely with artists, shows and listening events. She has produced and hosted a music-focused podcast and reported across civics, arts, lifestyle and business, experience that helps her situate celebrity and entertainment stories within wider cultural and social currents.
Her background in digital media, including photography, video editing, social media work and SEO-informed headline writing, feeds into concise, online-first stories designed to engage readers on multiple platforms while maintaining a straightforward, news-driven tone. At USA TODAY she is described as an entertainment reporter covering trending and breaking entertainment news, a role reflected in the variety and pace of her recent output.
Taken together, her music roots and digital skills shape a body of work that blends quick-turn coverage of celebrity and music news with careful documentation of the legal and cultural forces around those figures.
4 more music journalists.
Andrea Dresdale
Andrea Dresdale manages entertainment content at ABC Audio and covers music-driven pop culture for news and audio platforms. Her beat centers on chart-friendly pop, new releases, mainstream artists, awards, residencies and industry milestones. She also reports on legacy acts, anniversaries, nostalgia, remixes, live performances and music’s links to film, television, streaming and social media. Her notable coverage includes Taylor Swift, BTS, The Weeknd, Madonna, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Patty Smyth and Miley Cyrus. Her work has appeared through syndicated ABC Audio coverage on outlets such as WRMF, KS95 and Hot 96.7. Dresdale writes concise, timely pieces for radio audiences. She frames songs, tours, specials and career moments through cultural impact, fan appeal, commercial momentum and lasting relevance. Her stories connect current hits with music history and show how artists maintain attention through new releases, collaborations and reinterpretations.
Andrew Weber
Andrew Weber uses accountability reporting to examine who benefits from decisions shaping Austin’s music ecosystem. He reports for KUT as a government accountability reporter and works as a freelance reporter and associate editor for KUT News across the public radio network. His music coverage focuses on musicians’ pay at festivals, health care, mental health services, venue relief and working conditions. He treats SXSW as a workplace and economic system, reporting on low fees, sponsorships, boycotts and the political choices behind the festival. He also covers government and institutional issues, including KUT’s relationship with the University of Texas and the firing of general manager Debbie Hiott. His reporting ranges from nonprofit support systems to experimental sound art. He plays music on the side and brings digital storytelling experience, including an Edward R. Murrow award for social media work.
Andy Greene
Andy Greene is a senior writer at Rolling Stone who stands out for long-form interviews and narrative features that follow artists across entire careers. He focuses on music, especially classic rock performers, live shows, tours, and band dynamics. He runs the interview series Unknown Legends and King For a Day, which center on veteran musicians, sidemen, collaborators, and singers who replace legendary frontmen. He also writes cover stories and major features on high-profile figures, including Radiohead, Howard Stern, Bill Withers, Nathan Fielder, Steve Perry, Pete Townshend, and Stephen King. His reporting relies on access, detailed questioning, and a deep command of rock history. He also writes about film and television when they connect to music and culture.
Anna Grace Lee
Anna Grace Lee is a Vogue reporter who covers pop musicians and celebrities through fashion, weddings, and lifestyle culture, focusing on dresses, events, pets, and subcultures rather than industry news. She writes scene-driven features that place entertainers in vivid settings, from villas to underground food markets, and treats music-adjacent stories as fashion and craftsmanship narratives. Her Dua Lipa Sicily wedding coverage shows how she frames a wedding dress as a haute couture moment and a pop-cultural milestone, emphasizing design, making, and handwork. Her Millie Bobby Brown miniature poodle piece reflects a consistent interest in celebrity pets, fandom, and off-stage persona. She also reports lifestyle features like Brooklyn’s buzziest underground cheese sale, embedding in niche food scenes. At Vogue she contributes to weddings, celebrity, living, and Met Gala coverage, and maintains a portfolio of culture and lifestyle work built around entertainment-adjacent storytelling.