Music Artists on TIME's 100 Most Influential People (2026)

[JamesG]

Rauw Alejandro
by Tainy (Grammy-winning Record Producer and Songwriter)





The first time Rauw Alejandro and I ever worked together was for his first album Afrodisíaco. It was also our first time really getting to know each other. I had heard of his talent but wasn’t expecting how productive the session would be.

Rauw brings the best out of me each time we collaborate, and that’s something that doesn’t happen often. His level of creativity matches mine, and it makes the possibilities endless. I’ve since seen him grow with each project, while working on his craft and pushing us both creatively. That level of dedication and focus is why he is one of the artists responsible for taking the urban and Latin genres to places we haven’t seen or heard before.

On his most recent project, Cosa Nuestra, Rauw combines different eras and modern sounds with traditional rhythms and dances on a stage with a Broadway feel—this is something only Rauw can do. He is just one of the most talented artists of his generation. I am so excited to see where he takes us next.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...auw-alejandro/









Luke Combs
by Ed Sheeran (Grammy-winning Musician)





I first met Luke Combs in 2018, when I was living in Nashville. I’d heard his song “When It Rains It Pours” while on holiday with my school-mates, and it quickly became our soundtrack. As soon as I met Luke, I knew he was a good bloke, with talent just spilling out of him.

Over the years, I’ve watched him move from album to album and tour to tour, constantly evolving—not just as an artist, but also as a human, and always for the better. He’s scaled the highest heights of music while remaining loving and kind to those around him. People might call that “normal,” but there’s nothing normal about what Luke has achieved.



He’s an incredible writer, singer, and performer. I love his commitment to his family and how that reflects in his music. My favorite album of his is Fathers & Sons—it’s a perfect snapshot for any parent of how life is in the moment.

I’m looking forward to whatever is next, because really, it can be anything.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...26/luke-combs/









Jennie
by Gracie Abrams (Grammy-nominated Musician)





To cut to the chase: Jennie is a star. I could go on and on about her accomplishments or her influence in pop culture. But sitting down to write, the thing that comes to mind is that the magic at her core—the power that draws you into “Jennie the Artist” when you’re watching her onscreen or as one of 100,000 people in a stadium—is identical to the power she carries when you find her in the corner of a party or run into her in a backstage hallway.

What makes Jennie a true star is that even in her quiet moments, she possesses the same kind of undeniable presence that cuts through all the noise, and she carries that with kindness and warmth. She is the type of person who will grab both your hands and squeeze them. She has a softness that only emphasizes her strength. I just love her.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...e/2026/jennie/









Noah Kahan
by Marcus Mumford (Grammy-winning Musician)





Noah Kahan is the same slightly anxious and more than slightly hilarious person whether he’s on a golf course or backstage or onstage. In an age when we can buff and polish the image we present to the world, Noah will give you a true picture
of himself.

Musically, he brings us closer to our humanity in the same way some of the great ’60s folk songwriters did: pairing lyrics set in a particular space and time with traditionally infused pop melodies like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell at their best. Noah paints scenes of his own experience that resonate broadly. We can access the universality of our feelings through the individuality of his storytelling.



And, like the greats, Noah has modernized the concept of collaboration, creating partnerships in organic ways that few people can. Because it comes from his natural and outspoken love of other artists. He’s generous, he’s respectful without sycophancy, and he’s funny. There’s no gloss, and people love it.

Noah is not the most glamorous person in the room. He’s the most honest. And that’s why so many of us have connected with him as an artist.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...26/noah-kahan/









Anderson .Paak
by Natasha Lyonne (Emmy-nominated Actress, Writer and Producer)





You haven’t really heard the Beatles until you’ve heard Anderson .Paak on the piano at 4 a.m., alone, sounding out “The Long and Winding Road.” He’s a magician. A legend. A voice and a tone. Andy’s 40th birthday was a night full of love, dancing, and family. The sum total of a lifetime of talent, a man at the peak of his powers. Laughing with his mom and friends. Top of the world.

His presence is palpable. It’s undeniable. He lights up the whole space—cools and relaxes the place, but still on fire. Feels historic.



Anderson .Paak is the genuine, multihyphenate article. No one like him. Funny, unself-conscious, inspired. Humbly aware that he’s the keeper of this endless trove of ideas, songs, and stories—including, this year, his directorial debut. Each spark tethering to the next, seamlessly flying without a net and yet somehow fully course-corrected.

A director, a drummer, a crooner, and a writer. Pulling ideas from the ether and realizing them in real time.

Basking in Andy’s golden glow is a gift for anyone in his orbit. The song said to leave the door open ... so, you know, pretty sound advice, turns out. Andy’s the whole constellation.

https://time.com/collection/100-most...anderson-paak/