TIME magazine has revealed its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world
The issue has 8 worldwide covers, each highlighting a member of the TIME100. They include immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, COVID-19 frontline nurse Amy O'Sullivan, actor Gabrielle Union, athlete Dwyane Wade, performer Megan Thee Stallion, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, Black Lives Matter founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi— and the one and only Canadian, The Weeknd.
The TIME100 often includes guest contributors. In this addition, Elton John has penned the tribute for The Weeknd.
“He’s a mysterious figure in an era when mystery is rare in pop,” John wrote. “And you never know what to expect next. He plays with personae in his music and presentation: on the After Hours cover, he’s dripping in blood; you’re never sure if he’s singing about himself, or if he’s in character. He’s got an incredible imagination.”
John, called The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” the year’s “best pop single” and added: “He has so many different types of music tucked up his sleeve that he incorporates into his vision. He’s not interested in commerciality for commerciality’s sake… Like Prince, he marches to his own beat. That’s an exemplary way for an artist to be.”
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The seventeenth annual list also includes Denzel Washington on Michael B. Jordan, Derek Jeter on Patrick Mahomes, Common on Angela Davis, Ted Cruz on Tsai Ing-wen, Oprah Winfrey on Tyler Perry, Taylor Swift on Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Elizabeth Warren on Ady Barkan, Stevie Wonder on Yo-Yo Ma, Maya Moore on Naomi Osaka, Leonardo DiCaprio on Nemonte Nenquimo, Cyndi Lauper on Billy Porter, Deepika Padukone on Ayushmann Khurrana, Lena Waithe on Michaela Coel, Ayanna Pressley on Kamala Harris, Tilda Swinton on Bong Joon Ho, Kim Kardashian West on JoJo Siwa, Melinda Gates on MacKenzie Scott, Ronan Farrow on Julie K. Brown, Timothy Geithner on Jerome Powell, Jennifer Garner on Greg Berlanti and many more.
Time 100 was first published in 1999 as the result of a debate among American academics, politicians, and journalists. The final list is exclusively chosen by Time editors, with nominations coming from the Time 100 alumni and the magazine's international writing staff.
Only the winner of the Reader's Poll is chosen by the general public. The corresponding commemorative gala is held annually in Manhattan, New York.