“Time” magazine has come out with their annual "100 Most Influential People" list, and several music stars are on it. The mag highlights Cardi B, Kesha, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Shawn Mendes, with other famous names sharing essays on what makes them so special.
John Mayer pens an essay about Mendes, noting he’s “a pop star born both of and for Generation Z,” adding, “his devotion to his craft is exactly why people twice his age are welcoming him into their lives and playlists.” Meanwhile, Cyndi Lauper writes about Kesha, noting that she spoke out about sexual harassment before the #MeToo movement, and, “instead of going away quietly, she fought back.”
Adele shares her thoughts on Rihanna, writing, “she has designed and conquered an entire lane of her own,” adding, “She makes her own rules and bends ours,” while Taraji P. Henson writes about Cardi B, “She’s the biggest thing in music. And even with all those eyeballs watching, she’s still unapologetically herself.”
Finally Kerry Washington writes about Lopez, calling her “an iconic performer,” and adding she’s an “undeniable force and a powerful example—not just for women of color but for anyone who has been made to feel ‘other’ and for everyone who carries the burden and the privilege of being a first.”