Baller Alert Entertainment & Lifestyle
If you’re like me, you smiled when you saw Megan Thee Stallion gracefully posed on the cover of TIMES Magazine beside the title, 100 Most Influential People.
On Tuesday, the magazine announced its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Among the list of names was the Weeknd, J. Balvin, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Gabrielle Union, and Dwyane Wade, and of course, Miss Stallion, who was nominated by actress Taraji P. Henson.
“I remember hearing Megan Thee Stallion on one of those famous DJ radio shows a few years ago. She rode the beat like I’d never heard anybody ride the beat in a long time,” Henson wrote, adding that “once you discover her, you become a fan.”
“She’s lost much of her family—her mother, her father, her grandmother—yet she is the epitome of tenacity, of pulling herself up by her bootstraps. She was shot this summer, and still, people tried to tear her down. But she’s out here still loving and being sweet. It’s invigorating to see her become a platinum-selling artist with the viral hit “Hot Girl Summer” and multiple No. 1 songs in the past year, “Savage” and “WAP.” But you would be a fool to think that’s all there is to her. She’s deep….”
Elton John chose to endorse singer “The Weeknd” after meeting him at an Oscar’s party. Abel Tesfaye, aka “The Weeknd,” told Elton John he would be excited when he heard his new album, “After Hours,” but didn’t tell him why. John later learned he had used his chorus of “Your Song” on his album single “Scared to Live.”
“He was right, I was excited,” John said, adding that The Weeknd’s album single “Blinding Lights” is 2020’s best pop song. Like the rest of us, John was amazed over the artist’s ability to produce different types of music and the fact that he is not “interested in commerciality for commerciality’s sake,” but still remains a top streaming artist on Spotify.
“Like Prince, he marches to his own beat. That’s an exemplary way for an artist to be,” John said.
J Balvin earned his spot on the list of 100 for opening “ up the doors for Latino artists everywhere by making the world hear and fall in love with our culture, our sounds and our spirit,” tributer Camila Cabello wrote.
The list includes a powerful group all mentioned by household names in entertainment, including Taylor Swift’s tribute to Phoebe Waller-Bridge, BTS for Halsey, Stevie Wonder for Yo-Yo Ma, Missy Elliot’s tribute to Dapper Dan, America Ferrera’s mention of Selena Gomez, Riz Ahmed for Waad Al-Kateab, Mary J. Blige endorsed friend Jennifer Hudson; Common paid homage to Angela Davis, Cyndi Lauper paid tribute to Billy Porter, and John Legend paid tribute to former NBA star Dwyane Wade and Tarana Burke paid tribute to his wife, Gabrielle Union.
Check it out and read their tributes: HERE
