If you're wondering why Lainey Wilson is the only country star on the 2025 Time100 Next list, Miranda Lambert has a few explanations for you.
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The "Somewhere Over Laredo" and host of the upcoming CMA Awards absolutely deserves this honor, as do the other musical artists on the list, which include Tate McRae, Teyana Taylor, and Becky G. Nevertheless, Wilson stands alone as the sole country music representative.
Of course, Wilson's peers are proud of her achievement, and an important part of the Time100 Next list is the tradition of having a fellow star write a tribute to each honoree. For Wilson, Time selected her "Trailblazer" partner Miranda Lambert, who provided heartfelt and genuine praise, explaining why Wilson being the only country musician on the Time100 list makes perfect sense.
"I'm a Huge Fan of Lainey Wilson."
Lambert says she "instantly loved" what Wilson was doing, having only heard a few of her songs.
"She is such a light," she writes. "She's funny and she's fun, and she has a spirit about her that brings joy to any room she walks in."
Of course, what makes a country star stand out is their genuineness. Lambert says that Wilson has this trait in spades.
She says, "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."
Miranda Lambert Sees "Passion" in Wilson's Eyes
Continuing her tribute, Lambert discusses Wilson's enthusiasm for songwriting.
"She lives and breathes songs, and you can see that passion in her eyes," she says. "It's all about the music for her, and she lets the music lead.
While achieving real fame often requires years of effort, Lambert affirms that Wilson has already reached that milestone.
"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," she writes. "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."
That's high praise coming from a Grammy Award winner as exalted as Lambert.
To read Lambert's tribute to Wilson in its entirety, click here.
