| TAKEMETOTHERIVER | First Top 40 hit for Talking Heads, and a hint to the starts of the theme answers |
| HAIRGROWTH | Development on one's head, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| MAMA | Honoree of the puzzle (and the starts of the theme answer words) |
| ONCE | ___ in a Lifetime, 1981 hit for Talking Heads (4) |
| WILDWILDLIFE | 1986 hit for Talking Heads |
| WATER | Word that can precede the start of the theme entries |
| BEDHEAD | Messy hair in the morning, and a hint to the tops of the theme answers |
| BENNETT | Dramatist depicted in The Lady in the Van whose productions include the series of 12 monologues Talking Heads and the play The Madness of George III (7) |
| MACHOMAN | First Top 40 hit for the Village People |
| YEAROFTHEOX | What 2021 will be on the Chinese calendar, beginning Feb. 12; see the ends of the theme answers for a hint |
| ITSAPROCESS | "Don't expect instant results," and a hint to the ends of the theme answers |
| EATIT | First Top 40 hit for "Weird" Al |
| WRINKLEINTIME | With "A," classic science fantasy novel, and a feature of the theme answers |
| CHERRYCHERRY | Neil Diamond's first top-40 hit, with a repetitive title: 2 wds. |
| WIMPLE | Typical headgear for ladies of the 13th century. It was constructed of a linen band, wound firmly around the chin and head, and a head band of starched linen. |
| ANAGRAM | What you should to each of the theme-answer formulas to get their answers |
| UPONCRPLECREEK | The Band's first Top 40 hit |
| JIMMYBUFFETT | Singer whose first Top 40 hit was 1974's "Come Monday" (2 wds.) |
| TELEPORTING | Futuristic travel method (which explains how the last words of the theme answers got there) |
| CROSSWORDS | Popular pastime, or what can be found at the ends of the theme answers |
