The Weeknd has been named one of Time’s ‘100 most influential people’ of 2020.

 

 

Not only was The Weeknd Time’s cover star but, his tribute was penned by Elton John.

 

 

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thank you Elton ??

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Elton writes, “This year, I met Abel Tesfaye, who performs as The Weeknd, at an Oscar’s party.  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, but he’s on the biggest-streaming artists on Spotify.  Like Prince, he marches to his own beat.  That’s an exemplary way for an artist to be.”

 

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king of the fall

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Megan the Stallion also joins Time’s ‘100 most influential people’ of 2020 roster.

 

 

Megan’s tribute was written by actress, Taraji P. Henson: “Once you discover her, you become a fan.  I don’t like to put the stigma of the word strong on Black women because I think it dehumanizes us, but she has strength – strength through vulnerability.  The industry might try to pigeonhole her in this rap game, but she’s got a plan that’s much bigger.  And we got her.”

 

 

Others who made this year’s list …

 

Selena Gomez

Tribute penned by: America Ferrera

“Selena Gomez is unabashedly spreading her wings and influence into whatever lane her passions lead her. She has always been a great musician, but she’s also always been more than her music. In the past year, in addition to releasing her third No. 1 album, Rare, Selena got her own cooking show on HBO Max, Selena + Chef, and will star in and executive-produce the Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building. She launched her own beauty line, with which she’s pledged to raise $100 million over 10 years for mental-health services in underserved communities.  Selena courageously uses her global platform in service of her full identity. She is emblematic of her powerful generation, which patently rejects the notion that they belong in any one lane as artists, activists or citizens of the world.”

 

 

Halsey

Tribute penned by: BTS

“Working with her was everything we could have wished for and more. Halsey is not only a strikingly talented artist, but also a dedicated partner who sincerely devotes everything to the art we create together. She inspires us, and we’re incredibly honored to be able to call her our cherished friend. We cannot wait to see what she has for the world down the road.”

 

J Balvin

Tribute penned by: BTS

“I’ve seen him become a top artist on Spotify and YouTube globally, nicknamed “the Prince of Reggaeton,” his songs streamed more than 42 billion times, all while remaining true to himself, constantly uplifting his peers and supporting his friends, and dreaming big. He’s opened up the doors for Latino artists everywhere by making the world hear and fall in love with our culture, our sounds and our spirit.  What I truly admire and love the most about José is that he is just himself. He’s himself to the world, he’s himself to his friends and his peers, and he’s got the kind of heart that makes him a person everyone is rooting for.” When he wins, we all win.

Filed under: Halsey, J. Balvin, Megan Thee Stallion, Selena Gomez, The Weeknd, Time Magazine