Time 100 list: Get an exclusive early look at the star-studded honorees

USA Today

16-04-2025

Time 100 list: Get an exclusive early look at the star-studded honorees
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Time Magazine names Donald Trump as Person of the Year
Time names a person that they feel has had the biggest impact on the world during that year. This year, it is Donald Trump.
It's the list to end all lists: The Time 100 is here.
A bonafide who's-who of the entertainment, sports and political elite, the list serves as a quasi-yearbook superlatives list for the biggest movers and shakers in each industry. USA TODAY can exclusively reveal that this year's group includes Hollywood favorites like Danielle Deadwyler, Daniel Dae Kim and Jon M. Chu, along with trailblazing athletes like Jalen Hurts, Simone Biles and Serena Williams.
Here's an early look at this year's honorees − and, in signature Time 100 fashion, some words of praise written about them by other notable names.
Michelle Yeoh thinks Jon M. Chu is a 'baby genius'
You've definitely seen a Jon M. Chu film. The director behind blockbuster hits like "Wicked," "In the Heights" and "Crazy Rich Asians," Chu's fingerprint on pop culture is inarguable.
Michell Yeoh, who starred in both "Wicked" and "Crazy Rich Asians," says the director "sees into the heart of things."
"He's a visionary, so he knows what he wants, but he always listens," she writes in her Time 100 tribute. "To this baby genius, who I'm proud to call a friend and an honorary son all at once, I will always be eternally grateful."
Regina King praises Danielle Deadwyler
Danielle Deadwyler, among this year's Time honorees, is a "captivating" actress, Regina King writes in her blurb for the magazine, professing that "her eyes evoke something different and riveting with every role she plays."
Deadwyler first gained critical acclaim for her role in the 2021 Western "The Harder They Fall," in which she co-starred with King, before going on to nab Critic's Choice and BAFTA nominations for her performances in "Till" and "The Piano Lesson."
"Danielle doesn't see anything as small when it comes to acting: every moment has a meaning. It's been a joy to see how much range she has," writes King.
Daniel Dae Kim's acting, activism inspires J.J. Abrams
When Daniel Dae Kim "combines his talent, skill, and humanity as an advocate for equality, he becomes a force of nature," writes director J.J. Abrams, who directed Kim in network TV drama "Lost" and calls his career "rare."
"But even rarer is a willingness to use success not just for oneself, but for others."
With Kim's decision to walk away from his hit series "Hawaii 5-0" when he discovered a pay discrepancy with white co-stars, and his advocacy in 2021 for Asian American communities, Abrams lauded the actor's ability to stand up for what is right even at "personal cost."
Serena Williams makes Time 100 list again
Serena Williams was already considered the G.O.A.T, long before she danced on Drake's (metaphorical) grave during Kendrick Lamar's rousing Super Bowl halftime show.
An investor, athlete and activist, this is not Williams' first time being featured on the Time 100. "Even as she's moved away from professional tennis, Serena continues to be impactful," fellow athlete Allyson Felix writes in a heartfelt tribute.
Felix reveals Williams' candidness about a difficult pregnancy and return to competition inspired her own comeback story. "She continues to show that we, as athletes, are so far from one dimensional."
How Olympians Simone Biles, Léon Marchand are changing sports
Simone Biles has remade gymnastics (several stunts are named after her), and "faced — and withstood — mounting expectations, pressures, and adversity, which seem to intensify each year," fellow Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman writes.
Biles "has embraced her vulnerability, while refusing to let it define or limit her." She returned to the 2024 Olympics with a gold-winning performance, after walking away from competition in 2020, citing mental health concerns.
"Simone has changed lives by bringing mental health and athlete safety to the forefront," Raisman writes. "But her greatest legacy may be ensuring a better future for those who follow."
And fellow 2024 Olympic Games competitor, French swimmer (and world record holder) Léon Marchand, shocked the world this summer, nabbing four gold medals.
"The crowd would roar each time his head broke the surface of the water," writes Olympian Summer McIntosh. "To be able to do that under the pressure of a home crowd is nothing short of sensational."
British singer Myles Smith, K-pop 'icon' Rosé, Irish musician Hozier make sweet music for Time 100
Rosé, once a member of K-pop collective Blackpink, proves that a solo career can be just as successful.
"She's such a dynamic performer and songwriter, and I think it's incredible that she's able to captivate arenas full of people as both a member of the biggest girl group in the world and also as a solo artist," writes friend and actress Lily Collins. "She's basically the definition of an icon and a boss."
Fellow musician Hozier is captivating audiences as well – especially with the yell he lets out during his guest spot on Noah Kahan's "Northern Attitude."
Kahan believes in the "magic" of the Irish musician, best known for his soulful tenor and a masterful blend of folk and blues. "Hozier had me believing from the first note," he writes. "His music became the barometer for my own: How can I make a song feel like an extension of my soul, the way Hozier does?"
And British singer-songwriter Myles Smith has charmed fans with his balladry on tracks like "Stargazing and "Blink Twice."
"Myles sees music as a limitless form of expression—and something meant to be shared with everyone," writes country crooner and "Blink Twice" collaborator Shaboozey, calling Smith "a singular talent" who "proves singer-­songwriter music is still alive in the age of Top 40."
Reese Witherspoon couldn't stop reading Amy Griffin's story
Amy Griffin, a venture capitalist-turned-author, pulled the curtain back on her own abuse in the buzzy 2025 book "The Tell," which recounts a woman's pursuit of the truth about her own story.
"I watched as she bravely reached into the deepest parts of herself and, after gaining access to repressed memories of abuse she faced as a child, embarked on an incredible journey of discovery, grief, and healing," writes Reese Witherspoon, who chose Griffin's memoir as part of her book club.
Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Jalen Hurts are committed to shining in sports
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, both certified WNBA stars at a time when the league itself is enjoying growing success, share a Time 100 slot. The pair are co-founders of Unrivaled, a women's 3-on-3 professional basketball league.
Time honoree and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts used a 2023 Super Bowl loss to compel him to a resounding 2025 win, baseball icon Derek Jeter writes in his tribute, adding that Hurts' decision to set his phone lock screen as a photo of himself walking off the field post-loss demonstrated a commitment to change.
"Sometimes people win, then exhale. Jalen is not exhaling. He's embracing the next challenge."
Who's on the Time 100 list?
Danielle Deadwyler (tribute written by Regina King)
(tribute written by Regina King) Daniel Dae Kim (tribute written by J.J. Abrams)
(tribute written by J.J. Abrams) Jalen Hurts (tribute written by Derek Jeter)
(tribute written by Derek Jeter) Léon Marchand (tribute written by Summer McIntosh)
(tribute written by Summer McIntosh) Serena Williams (tribute written by Allyson Felix)
(tribute written by Allyson Felix) Simone Biles (tribute written by Aly Raisman)
(tribute written by Aly Raisman) Myles Smith (tribute written by Shaboozey)
(tribute written by Shaboozey) Rosé (tribute written by Lily Collins)
(tribute written by Lily Collins) Hozier (tribute written by Noah Kahan)
(tribute written by Noah Kahan) Jon M. Chu (tribute written by Michelle Yeoh)
(tribute written by Michelle Yeoh) Amy Griffin (tribute written by Reese Witherspoon)
(tribute written by Reese Witherspoon) Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier (tribute written by Alex Morgan)
See the full Time 100 List
Follow this link to see the full Time 100 list. The new issue will hit newsstands on Friday, April 18.