April 15, 2026, 7:30 a.m. ET
Success comes and goes, but impact lasts forever.
Time magazine has unveiled its 2026 Time 100 list, and USA TODAY has an exclusive sneak peek at the major stars who were selected. The annual short list highlights prominent figures across entertainment, sports, politics and more, collectively dubbed the “100 most influential people in the world.”
This year’s roundup features an eclectic mix of A-listers that captivated pop culture, from “The Pitt” star Noah Wyle and pop singer Hilary Duff to Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu and Brazilian actor Wagner Moura.
The Time 100 list also features personal testimonials for each of the celebrity honorees, often written by their Hollywood peers.
Take a look at the stars who made the cut. And for the full list, readers can visit the official Time magazine website.
Time 100 list 2025: Look back at the star-studded honorees
Sterling K. Brown
Sterling K. Brown is one of the good guys, on and offscreen.
The Oscar-nominated actor is best known for his role as sensitive brainiac Randall Pearson on the NBC family dramedy “This is Us,” which earned him a historic Golden Globe Award as the first Black actor to win best performance by an actor in a TV drama.
“It’s going to be hard for anyone asked to list Sterling K. Brown’s qualities not to start with his integrity. It’s right there, on full display,” wrote actress Kristen Bell, who worked with Brown on the Disney animated film “Frozen 2.”
Brown’s other notable roles include performances in “Army Wives,” “Hotel Artemis,” “Paradise,” “Waves” and “American Fiction,” the latter of which earned him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.
“I’m going to be brave and admit that his charisma would be tops for me,” Bell continued. “Yes, we should acknowledge his incredible acting performances. Of course, we should celebrate his Stanford-certified intellect. And he appears to be an incredible father and husband — but charming people senseless is also good for the world.”
Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff didn’t need good luck to make her mark.
The former child star, who helped create the Disney Channel to pop star pipeline with her sitcom “Lizzie McGuire” and chart-topping music, reintroduced herself to fans earlier this year with her sixth album “Luck… or Something,” her first studio effort in over a decade.
Duff’s longtime friend, socialite and TV personality Nicole Richie, said Duff, now 38, “exists in that rare space of both nostalgia and now” and applauded the singer’s evolution.
“She is the girl we danced with in our bedrooms then and the woman we all want to have dinner with now,” Richie wrote. “Grounded, glowing and fully herself. Somehow mothering four children, leading a massive pop resurgence, and still making time for a fun night with her girlfriends for a glass of wine (or seven).”
Noah Kahan
Noah Kahan is the voice of the people, literally.
The Grammy-nominated folk pop singer, who debuted with 2019’s “Busyhead,” has charmed listeners with his emotive vocals and frank songwriting. His biggest hits include “The Great Divide,” “Stick Season,” “Porch Light’ and “Dial Drunk.”
“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,” wrote fellow singer Marcus Mumford, praising Kahn for the “universality” of his music.
“Noah is not the most glamorous person in the room. He’s the most honest,” Mumford continued. “And that’s why so many of us have connected with him as an artist.”
Alysa Liu
When it comes to serving up inspiration, Alysa Liu gets 10s across the board.
The dynamic figure skater, known for her electric performances and striped hair, collected a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in February, becoming the first American woman to win an individual figure skating Olympic medal in two decades.
“She’s somehow made her triumphs feel unsentimental to herself but meaningful to everyone else,” wrote comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum Bowen Yang, who watched her compete in Milan.
“I felt so many inherited knots of expectation loosening: filial piety, social pressure, un-striped hair,” Yang continued. “That’s what great artists do: they make you reconsider what you’ve been carrying and invite you to join them in being light on their feet.”
Wagner Moura
Wagner Moura is far from an overnight sensation.
The Golden Globe-winning actor broke out in his native Brazil in the late 2000s with his lead role in the crime drama “Elite Squad” and its sequel, “Elite Squad: The Enemy Within.” He then expanded to a global audience in the 2010s thanks to performances in “Elysium” and the Netflix series “Narcos,” the latter of which starred Moura as the late drug trafficker Pablo Escobar.
“Long a legend in Brazil, he has been on the world’s stage for some time now,” wrote actor Jeremy Strong. “But, this past year, Moura punched a hole through the world’s ceiling.”
Moura’s most recent film, “The Secret Agent,” marked a watershed in the actor’s crossover success. The political thriller, which draws inspiration from Brazil’s former military dictatorship, earned Moura a Golden Globe Award (the first Brazilian male actor to do so) and an Oscar nomination for best actor in a leading role.
Moura is “someone who understands that democracy and freedom are things you have to fight for every day,” Strong continued. “He is a force of the political and the humane, a duo we desperately need more of.”
Anderson .Paak
Anderson .Paak is the whole package.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, producer and director became a force in hip-hop with his soulful, R&B-tinged style. His fourth album, 2019’s “Ventura,” earned him a pair of Grammys, including best R&B album.
In 2021, Paak teamed up with pop star Bruno Mars to form the supergroup Silk Sonic, a collaboration that spawned the critically acclaimed album “An Evening with Silk Sonic” and the Grammy-winning hit “Leave the Door Open.”
“Anderson .Paak is the genuine, multihyphenate article,” wrote actor Natasha Lyonne. “No one like him. Funny, un-self-conscious, inspired. Humbly aware that he’s the keeper of this endless trove of ideas, songs and stories.”
Rhea Seehorn
Rhea Seehorn can flip the script like nobody’s business.
The Emmy-nominated actress is best known for her role as lawyer Kim Wexler on the “Breaking Bad” spin-off “Better Call Saul.” Over the course of her decadeslong career, Seehorn has explored genres including comedy (sitcom “Whitney”), action (“Bad Boys: Ride or Die”), science fiction (“Linoleum”) and animation (“The Harper House”).
Seehorn’s latest role, novelist Carol Sturka in the post-apocalyptic drama “Pluribus,” earned her both a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award.
“In every role, Rhea comes from an angle unforeseen,” wrote actor Britt Lower, who costars with Seehorn in the upcoming film “Sender.”
“She honors the invisible work of acting, time spent with text, tone, and craft, and then shows up to set to do what she does best — be playful and generous.”
Noah Wyle
Noah Wyle is an icon, but don’t tell him that.
The Emmy-winning actor became a household name in the ’90s thanks to his role as Dr. John Carter on the medical drama “ER.” In something of a full circle, Wyle returned to the genre with HBO Max’s “The Pitt,” a series he stars in, executive produces, directs and writes on.
Wyle’s portrayal of Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.
“Noah Wyle is one of those people who you’d love to hate, except you can’t because he’s such a great guy,” wrote actor and former costar LeVar Burton, calling Wyle “one of my favorite human beings on the planet.”
“He wears his compassionate nature as effortlessly as he does his easy sense of humor,” Burton continued. “Chief among his enviable traits is probably his humility. I’m willing to wager good money that upon reading this, he’ll have a difficult time taking it all in.”
Contributing: Erin Jensen and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
