Christian Wallace is a staff writer from West Texas. Before joining Texas Monthly as a fact-checker, in March 2016, Wallace worked as a roughneck, a ditch digger, an electrician, a record store clerk, and a radio DJ. He earned BAs in history and English at Texas State University-San Marcos, and holds a Master’s degree in writing from the National University of Ireland in Galway.
In 2020, Wallace wrote and hosted the documentary podcast series, Boomtown, about the Permian Basin’s historic oil boom and the bust that followed. The series has over 3 million downloads. Wallace’s June 2020 cover story on honky-tonks was a National Magazine Award finalist. He has also been a finalist for two City and Regional Magazine Awards. Wallace lives in San Marcos with his partner, Lauren Meckel, and their pup, Wyatt.
The New York–born singer-songwriter got to Texas as soon as he could—and spent the next five decades changing the lives of seemingly everyone he met.
This year’s festival is all-virtual, but its lineup is still all-star, as demonstrated by this trio of recent books from Texas authors.
In the first film for our new Being Texan docuseries, three pint-size cowboys make their inaugural rides on flesh-and-blood steers.
The kids’ television program, helmed by a crop of Texan theatrical talents, landed on PBS 25 years ago.
After the oil bust, wind and solar energy might be the Permian Basin’s best hope.
Christian Wallace talks to some familiar faces from the Boomtown series in an attempt to understand what happened on April 20, 2020—when oil prices went negative for the first time in history.
The recording career of country music’s greatest artist, surveyed, sized up, and sorted on the occasion of his 87th birthday.
Record-breaking oil production in the Permian Basin has brought the boom to the Big Bend's doorstep for the first time. Is it too late to save this pristine landscape?
No oil and gas baron since John D. Rockefeller has made more of an impact on society than George P. Mitchell. But this son of poor Greek immigrants who died a billionaire wanted to leave a legacy beyond oil and gas.
Christian talks with renowned business writer Bethany McLean about how the finances of fracking aren't what they're cracked up to be.
The uneasy alliance between ranchers and the oil industry goes all the way back to the early wildcatting days in West Texas. But today, that relationship is more fraught than ever.
The Permian Basin is the birthplace of Friday Night Lights. But the historic oil boom threatens beloved high school football traditions.
During booms, the Permian Basin sees a rise in prostitution charges. But misperceptions and stereotypes about sex work have led to policies that may actually harm the women involved.
We explore a different kind of boom in the Permian Basin. Meet the women working at a lingerie coffee shop, a “breastaurant,” and two area strip clubs.
Working in the oil patch is incredibly dangerous. But March 10, 2015, brought unimaginable tragedy for one Andrews family.
A devastating bust transforms the Permian from the promised land into a wasteland.
The Santa Rita oil well, named after the patron saint of impossible dreams, launched the first Permian Basin boom and has been fueling the dreams of West Texas wildcatters ever since.
A brief history of one of our most beloved (and endangered) cultural institutions.
From Ernest Tubb to Bob Wills to Willie, Texas has produced a jukebox worth of classics. Here are the best.
We traveled 3,000 miles to find the state's best little country joints. Welcome to neon nirvana.
For those of us born decades after Apollo 11 returned from its mission, the imprint of astronaut boots on the lunar surface has always been historical fact. We can’t conjure personal memories of that voyage, of families huddled around the TV or radio, anxiously waiting for news of that one small…
Though some will reap serious profits, the region's dealing with skyrocketing rents, overcrowded schools, and potholes as big as VW Beetles.
The Lubbock native talks about his trippy, blood-flecked radio plays, the border wall, and working with Jo Harvey Allen.
The Austin-based songwriter opts for the keys and wry humor on his latest single.
Spoiler: The answer is yes.
And it wasn't just because of Willie Nelson. We spent time on the ground at Austin's Auditorium Shores on Saturday night, and here's what we found.
Musgraves joined Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, and others to honor Miller's legacy.
Five decades ago, Myrtis Dightman broke the color barrier in professional rodeo and became one of the best bull riders who ever lived. But his imprint on the sport was only just beginning.
The film debuts at the Dallas International Film Festival this weekend.
Remembering "The Alamo" through souvenir shot glasses, John Wayne toilet paper, and the family that brought the 1960 classic to Texas.
Chris Fullerton performs the final song of the beloved Texas songwriter.
Can a 1960s novel with a cult following finally become the blockbuster film its fans believe it should be?
Plus: Does Coach really deserve Tami Taylor?
Going to Gatling, meeting Landry, and discovering the cruelty of teenage girls.
Yeah, we love Coach Taylor. But we're skeptical that his big hearted speeches are doing much for his team off of the field.
The Dillon Panthers are back (for us, anyway).
Three albums out in the next month bring country rock, story-songs, and swampy blues.
With fewer words and a lot more synth, Ramirez proves his songwriting chops stretch beyond roots music.
With their fourth record, the Austin septet solidifies their place as one of the hardest-working, hardest-drinking, and most compelling acts in the state.
A candid conversation with ”the Houston Kid."
The honky-tonk celebrates its seventy-fifth anniversary with two Texas country icons.
With their forthcoming EP, the singer-songwriters seek to raise awareness for an issue that hits both of them close to home.
Generations of Willie devotees came together to revel in music and good times with the Red Headed Stranger in his own backyard.
The Austin-based one-man band channels George Jones to create a honky-tonk ballad that’s the perfect soundtrack for drowning your woes in the company of your demons.
To honor the lifework of his ”musical father,” Texas country star Randy Rogers purchases the historic honky-tonk that launched his career.
The Austin singer-songwriter uses the sound of a chamber ensemble to explore the limits of Americana and the darker side of the human condition.
One man's adventure in margarita-making turns into a prickly affair.
Reflections on the penultimate Texas stop of Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett’s acoustic tour.
A forthcoming playlist from Amazon Music features a wide range of artists—including three prominent Texas acts—with their takes on 'Acoustic Christmas.'
