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Lainey Wilson is among “the world’s most influential rising stars.”
The Whirlwind megastar, 33, appears with a list of powerful artists, phenoms, innovators, leaders and advocates on the TIME100 Next, revealed on Tuesday morning (September 30). Wilson said “proud is an understatement,” and thanked TIME and fellow country star Miranda Lambert “for the kind words. Means more than you know.”
“I’m a huge fan of Lainey Wilson,” Lambert wrote. “I heard just a few songs and instantly loved what she is doing. She is such a light. She’s funny and she’s fun, and she has a spirit about her that brings joy to any room she walks in. Knowing her off the stage and on, I feel like I’m looking at the same person all the time. That’s pretty rare. What she does doesn’t define her. Who she is defines her, and that’s real authenticity. She lives and breathes songs, and you can see that passion in her eyes; it’s all about the music for her, and she lets the music lead. She’s a legend already—having taken home her first Grammy last year for Bell Bottom Country—and I’m thankful she’s a country artist. I’m really proud of how she represents the lifestyle we both love and the music we both love. She’s out of the gate going 100 miles an hour.”
Wilson’s nod on the TIME100 Next list arrives on the same day she was revealed as the host of the 59th CMA Awards. This year will mark Wilson’s second consecutive time hosting the show, after joining Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning in 2024. She’s also one of the top nominated artists. Find the full list of CMA Award nominees here. The Country Music Association announced this spring that the 59th CMA Awards will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on November 19. The show will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.
Find how TIME chooses the TIME100 Next here, and see the full list here.