Every year TIME honors an impressive group of people for its annual 100 Most Influential list. This year’s list carries a few notable stars and politicians like Barack Obama and Raphael Saadiq. Also among the names are Oscar nominated actress Viola Davis and pop-rising icon Rihanna.
Cicely Tyson was kind enough to pen a sincere and encouraging note about Davis. “As I watch Viola’s career soar, I marvel at her strength, stamina and amazing spirit, which I believe comes from her faith in the Almighty,” Tyson writes. “She has taken an opportunity not just to set a standard but to redefine it.”
Tyson says that Davis gives her credit for opening doors for other Black actresses. “This acknowledgement speaks to the richness of her soul and how she has carried out her life as a mother, wife and actress. She affords me great hope for the future,” concluded Tyson.
Fashion designer Stella McCartney called Rihanna one of the “coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today,” in her short note about the star. Rihanna’s success undoubtedly voted her onto this year’s list. Since her career started in 2005, she’s earned an astounding 11 number one singles. In light of her fame and success, McCartney says Rihanna remains humble. “She is one of the few people I know in that world of fame and celebrity who aren’t all about themselves.”
In other TIME news, the magazine announced that Rihanna and Raphael Saadiq will kick off the TIME 100 Gala with special performances on April 24.
