On Nov. 7, 2025, Ed Sheeran received the wonderful news — he had been nominated for the 2026 Grammy Awards, providing him the opportunity to secure his fifth win since 2016. Known for his musical intellect and unique sound, Sheeran has been releasing albums since 2011, his now-very-large discography encompassing a diverse array of genres — pop, indie-folk, hip-hop, R&B, electropop and more. In September, Sheeran released his eighth studio album titled “Play,” the first of his planned five-album series named after media control symbols.
Sheeran’s accomplishments this year, however, extend far beyond the creation of his own music. In January 2025, he officially launched The Ed Sheeran Foundation, an expansion upon his prior efforts via the 2019 Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation. Sheeran’s newest institution furthers his mission: providing young people living in the United Kingdom with “a high-quality, inclusive and diverse music education,” enabled through access to instruments, performance opportunities and pathways in the industry itself. It came as no surprise, then, that he was such an enthusiastic advocate for reforms within England’s national curriculum, some of which will ensure that more students can study music.
Sheeran’s efforts throughout 2025 have not only assisted in advancing the music industry but also opened doors for countless students as they pursue and campaign for the creative arts. He serves as an inspiring role model for many, and his voice will inevitably continue guiding young minds towards positive change in the years to come.
Sabrina Carpenter has proved herself time and time again. From starting out on Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World” to becoming a pop star, Carpenter’s talents have led her to great fame and success. In August of 2025, Carpenter released her seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” This album was met with high praise from fans around the world, especially the hit single “Manchild.” Moreover, Carpenter’s 2024 album “Short n’ Sweet” won two Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.
More than just music, Carpenter has also brought her efforts to the screen as she hosted “Saturday Night Live” in October of 2025, also performing as the musical guest. Here, Carpenter’s humor is admired by fans most notably in the skit “Domingo: Vow Renewal,” which parodied her own song “Espresso.”
Due to her musical and theatrical talents, Carpenter is sure to continue to make her mark. Her ability to evolve as an artist while remaining authentic has allowed her to connect with audiences across generations. She has proved to be more than a former Disney star – she is an entertainer with a powerful and lasting influence on pop culture.
Jonathan Bailey is an English actor known for recently starring in “Wicked: For Good” as Prince Fiyero, as well as “Jurassic Park: Rebirth” as Dr. Henry Loomis. Towards the end of filming “Wicked: For Good”, he also won People’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive. Bailey also voiced the “Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail” character G’raha Tia.
In April 2025, Bailey was listed in Time’s 2025 TIME100, a list of the 100 most influential people 2025. He was accompanied by Demi Moore, Snoop Dogg, Serena Williams, Ed Sheeran and more.
In May 2025, Bailey starred as Richard II in a production of Shakespeare’s play of the same name at the Bridge Theatre. The play also starred Adam Best as Bagot, and Seamus Dillane and Vinnie Heaven as the Dukes of Surrey and Aumerle, respectively.
In June 2025, Bailey launched The Shameless Fund, a fundraiser aimed at supporting the global LGBTQ+ community, and creating a world where they can live freely, love freely and thrive without discrimination, shame, or oppression. The Shameless Fund collaborates with Cubits, Loewe and Android, among others.
In July 2025, Bailey starred in the fourth Jurassic Park film, “Jurassic Park: Rebirth” as Dr. Henry Loomis. Loomis is a paleontologist who joins a mission with Scarlett Johansson’s Zora Bennet and Mahershala Ali’s Duncan Kincaid in order to retrieve dinosaur blood for medicine.
In November 2025, Bailey starred in “Wicked: For Good”, the sequel to the 2024 film “Wicked”, in which he played Prince Fiyero.
When most people discuss the greatest fantasy films of all time, the name Guillermo del Toro is almost guaranteed to come up. With movies such as Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, his pioneering use of practical effects, innovative character design and beautiful world building has helped reshape the world of fantasy film as we know it.
His latest creation (pun intended) from this past year is a film adaptation of the classic 1818 novel Frankenstein, a faithful and yet unique take on Mary Shelley’s story that immediately became a huge global hit. It garnered tens of millions of viewers within the first week alone.
Del Toro rose to fame with his ability to bring powerful emotional and thematic complexity to such dark and often almost horror-esque films. He often uses more evocative imagery, creating terrifying yet misunderstood creatures that leave viewers commiserating with them.
Through his unique perspective on film, his trailblazing in keeping beautiful practical effects alive and his incredible visions for the stories he creates, Guillermo Del Toro breaks the boundaries of what fantasy movies can be, and is an essential figure in the film industry as we know it.
Leah Sava’ Jefferies is a 16-year-old American actress who debuted on the musical drama Empire and in the action-thriller film Beast. However, she is most known for her role as Annabeth Chase in the TV series Percy Jackson and The Olympians, which premiered on Disney+ on Dec. 19, 2023. As a person, her passions and free time involve promoting community involvement, animal care and rights, empowerment in the youth and diversity in the arts, to name a few. In the media, she is an advocate for breaking barriers in the film industry for Black actors and actresses, and has faced waves of discrimination and hate for doing so.
At such a young age, it is truly admirable how she has used her voice and platform to speak out against topics people in Hollywood’s spotlight usually veer away from. On top of that, she won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth two years in a row and received a nomination for the Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Performer, receiving both for her work in the popular Disney series. So it’s safe to say that not only does she speak out against the negativity she faces, but actively puts in the work to prove them wrong.
As someone who has been a fan of the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan since I was 12, I can say with confidence that I am more than satisfied to see Jefferies’ portrayal of the well-loved character in live-action. She is not only a talented actress but a person who isn’t afraid to say what’s right, even when faced with the threat of online backlash. These are the reasons why I think Leah Sava’ Jefferies is the best person of 2025, and I can’t wait to see what else she accomplishes with her career in the years to come.
Kristen Bell was nominated as one of the top 100 most influential people by Time Magazine. This achievement alone should be enough for a Best Of, as only 100 people on earth get this every year. That doesn’t even begin to discuss her 19 other awards she has won over her many years of acting, and 77 award nominations.
Known for her role as Eleanor Shellstrop in The Good Place, Bell earned three nominations in a row, one for each year the show released a season. Bell is also widely known as the voice of Anna in Frozen, though she has held many other roles, both in television and movies. Her sense of humor, kindness, and interesting character, both in her roles and outside of them, make her an inspiring role model.
In addition to that, she has helped many charities and other organizations get supplies to those in need, much like her character Anna in the movie Frozen. She is a global advocate of the United Nations Global Women’ s Peace & Humanitarian Fund as well, with an entire webpage devoted to her. According to her Facebook posts, she strongly supports the LGBTQIA+ movement, despite the pressure against it in the modern era.
Nowadays, many companies refrain from discussing anything pertaining to politics, however Kristen Bell is brave enough to speak out for what she believes to be true. She was even granted the honor of hosting the SAG awards, also known as The Actor Awards. Her line, “pobody’s nerfect” (an attempt on nobody’s perfect) has been turned into t-shirts and buttons by television enthusiasts, as well as a motto for many, myself included.
Over many years, there is one actor whose name seems to come up time and again. This actor is, of course, Timothée Chalamet. Whether the topic is his latest appearance on a talk show, his newest movie or his stunning digital footprint, he always finds a way to stay in the headlines and in the minds of everyone globally. Chalamet has found ways to impress his fans with his comedic personality, intelligent marketing strategies and his constant features in movies. He starred in exactly 30 movies before he turned 30 years old himself.
Chalamet is best recognized for his standout appearance in titles such as “Call Me By Your Name,” “Little Women” (2019) and the “Dune” film series. However, on Christmas Day in 2025, his latest film, “Marty Supreme” from the entertainment company A24, was released. In this film, Chalamet portrays Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman in New York with dreams of becoming a table-tennis champion, setting out on an exciting journey of perseverance, self-discovery and aspirations.
While the film itself has already grossed $69.5 million globally, the aspect that truly stood out to me was the marketing surrounding it. While many dismissed Chalamet’s marketing tactics, finding them silly or excessive, they proved to be highly effective. The campaign began with Chalamet publicly pitching outrageous ideas to A24. These ideas consisted of painting landmarks the film’s signature color, bright orange, or releasing ping pong balls from blimps, instantly sparking conversation and curiosity.
Timothee Chalamet’s success with “Marty Supreme” as well as many other films he has previously starred in demonstrates talents well beyond his acting abilities. As his career progresses, he consistently proves why he is set apart from the increasingly competitive entertainment industry. By embracing personality, humor and new ideas, Chalamet continues to shape modern film culture and marketing strategies.
Zara Larsson is a Swedish pop artist who garnered mainstream attention in 2025 for her fifth studio album, “Midnight Sun.” Looking at her career thus far, it is clear that this public attention was only inevitable. She first came onto the scene at age ten, when she won “Talang,” Sweden’s version of “America’s Got Talent.” Ever since, her polished pop sound has been heard on playlists worldwide, even without name recognition. As it currently stands, Larsson has three tracks on the Spotify billions club: “Lush Life,” “Never Forget You” and “Symphony.”
Along with being an amazing artist, Larsson is an outspoken activist who uses her platform to protest injustice, despite any repercussions she may face. Following her public stance on Israel-Palestine relations in 2021, Larsson experienced major career setbacks. This included losing gigs, brand deals and awards show appearances, all of which would have bolstered her then stagnant career. She never wavered in her resolve, instead backing up her words with actions. She declined an offer to play “Eurovision,” refusing to endorse a show that supports her moral antithesis.
She is inspiring. She is the moment. She is purely and unflinchingly Zara Larsson, 2025’s most darling person of the year.
Dolly Parton continues to be an incredible person. She is recognized worldwide for being a philanthropic “Queen of Country.” 2025 has been a difficult year for her, as she lost her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, in March. Despite that, this trail-blazing superstar made a few big moves this year, all while reflecting on her upcoming birthday. This year, Dolly turns 80, a huge accomplishment that has some drawbacks. She has put a small halt on her projects to focus on her health and managing an illness.
Despite this, she has launched the “Threads: My Songs in Symphony” tour, meant to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her theme park, Dollywood. Dolly also achieved 300 million books in her Imagination Library, a literacy program she started to donate books to children who are not yet school age. To accomplish so much in such a difficult year makes her more than deserving of my Best Person of 2025.
Pedro Pascal is a Chilean-American actor best known for his role as Oberyn Martell on the popular HBO TV show “Game of Thrones”. After that, he went on to star as Mandalorian on the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian”, where he continued to gain notoriety for his acting abilities despite his face being hidden for a majority of the show.
In 2023, he took on the role of Joel Miller in the TV adaptation of “The Last of Us” and then received more praise for his raw portrayal of the grieving father. Since then, his popularity has only seemed to skyrocket as people praise him for his good looks and exceptional performances. Once again, he is trending all over social media with his most recent roles as Henry Castillo in Materialists and Mister Fantastic on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. His portrayal of Henry Castillo, a wealthy, charismatic financier, has captivated audiences, with every corner of social media being flooded with Pedro Pascal edits. He seems to be permanently cemented in the internet hall of fame as one of the most admired men on the internet, and frankly, it is very well deserved.
Ozzy Osbourne, dubbed “The Prince of Darkness,” was a famous songwriter and singer. He originally was a part of the popular band Black Sabbath. Later, after he was kicked out of the band, he started a solo career. This solo career was super successful and made lots of popular hits like Crazy Train.
In 2025, his health was declining rapidly. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. So on July 5, 2025, he got back together with Black Sabbath and did one final concert. People from all over went to see the legend’s last performance. The concert was called Back to the Beginning, and all money made from the event was donated to charity. In the end, Ozzy Osbourne ended up donating around 200 million dollars to charity. Sadly, on July 22, 2025, Ozzy passed away at the age of 76 in his house in the comfort of his wife and kids.
Ozzy Osbourne was a huge figure in many people’s lives. He has inspired tons of young bands and artists. Over his lifetime, he has donated millions to charities across the world. He was always surrounded by his family and friends, as well as with the support of millions around the world. He was one of the best people in 2025, no doubt.
Starring in two blockbuster movies in 2025, comedian, actor and musician Jack Black has once again brought joy and pure laughter to the public. A Minecraft Movie, considered his biggest film of the year, became an instant classic thanks to his wildly energetic, absurd and totally crazy performance.
Off-screen, Jack is known to give off the same wacky energy but also shows great engagement with fans, as he consistently surprises them at movie screenings and goes out of his way to make memorable moments with them. He also has big roles in support to organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Autism Speaks and Boys and Girls Clubs of America, which clearly show how good and thoughtful a guy he is.
Jack is also the lead vocalist of the Grammy Award-winning comedy rock band Tenacious D. Playing a unique style of “mock rock”, Tenacious D’s songs are delivered with the same quirky approach he focuses on, but also contain good composition, great for anyone needing a lift. Jack Black is not only an astonishing actor and musician, but he is also a caring, kind-hearted guy who always focuses on putting a smile on others’ faces.
Although Pamela Anderson first became a household name in the early 1990s due to the hit show “Baywatch”, she starred in a variety of TV shows and led a substantial modeling career through the early 2010s. In 2025, Anderson starred in the new comedy “The Naked Gun”. Throughout the filming of this movie, many rumors surfaced of a romantic relationship forming between Anderson and her co-star, Liam Neeson. The pair remained relatively silent regarding these rumors, eventually denying any continuing romantic relationship.
Although the world has seemed to be enthralled by Anderson’s romantic life, she has more recently used her platform to fight against animal cruelty and break down societal expectations on women. Anderson has partnered with the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to influence beauty brands to end animal testing on their products.
One of Anderson’s most notable actions of the year, however, was the decision to wear no makeup to galas, movie premieres, and other large events. While this may seem like a small action, it was truly an empowering statement for women across the world, helping to break down the expectation for women to wear makeup in most social settings.
Actor Jack Wolfe had a huge spike in fame this year with his Broadway debut in ‘Hadestown’, playing the role of Orpheus. Wolfe is an English actor who has been working both on stage and in films since 2017. He gained many fans for roles such as Wylan Hendricks in the ‘Shadow and Bone’ series, and Gabe Goodman in the UK West End production of ‘Next to Normal’.
For his participation in ‘Next to Normal’, Wolfe won three out of the four award nominations he received in the role of Gabe, one of them being Most Promising Newcomer from the Critics Circle Theatre Awards. The performance had a digital “pro-shot” that was recorded and released on PBS in May 2025, making its viewing much more accessible.
Wolfe debuted in Hadestown in September 2025 alongside his co-star, Morgan Dudley, and, as of January 2026, continues to play the role. His stunning voice and delivery of the character has captivated audiences. He has quickly become one of the public’s favorite actors to play the role of Orpheus. Wolfe had an extremely successful 2025, and I believe 2026 will hold even more in store for him and his career.
Many people have stood out this year, but in my opinion no one did more than 16-year-old Owen Cooper, who had his debut role in “Adolescence,” the limited series that helped him win numerous awards, including Primetime Emmys and Critics Choice Awards. Although he is young, he has done what most actors and actresses only dream of doing. He has received 11 different awards for acting and been nominated for an additional six. When looking at “Adolescence,” you can’t help but understand why. The show is a masterful drama about what can tear apart a family.
The show follows a young boy who is accused of murdering a young girl, one of his classmates, and when he is found guilty, it changes not only his life, but his family’s lives as well. Owen did a fantastic job, portraying the guilt that was hidden within his actions, and for a debut role, he acted as well as, if not better than, people who have been doing it their whole lives. He remains very humble, which is what sets him apart as well; he isn’t flaunting the fact that he won all these awards, he is just a kid soaking it all in, and he deserves every last bit of it. That is why he is my choice for 2025 Person of the Year.
Conan Gray is an Indie Pop artist who has been on music platforms for quite some time now. He started in 2018 with his EP Sunset Season, with songs such as “Lookalike” and “Crush Culture”. He then moved on to releasing his first studio album called Kid Krow with familiar favorites such as “Heather” and “Maniac”. The song “Heather” became the most popular song in his music career. His other studio albums include Superache, Found Heaven and, most recently, Wishbone.
Conan Gray’s lyricism throughout the album shows just how wonderful a songwriter he is. Throughout his albums, people connect deeply with his words because of how relatable they can be. For example, in the song “Family Line”, he speaks about the heartbreak that comes from family fallout and hurt. His life is spread throughout his music library and he uses his lyrics to speak his mind.
Conan Gray had some exceptional accomplishments this year by starting his small tour called “The Wishbone Pajama Show”. I went with a friend, and it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. Later in the year, he actually announced that he would be going on a world tour for Wishbone. This tour is special because it will be his first arena tour, which I will be attending on Mar. 4th, 2026.
He released Wishbone within a year of releasing Found Heaven, so he has been quite busy over the past few years, but all of his effort paid off with the biggest year in his career being 2025. Conan Gray has gone from a small, underground artist to one of the most inspiring artists of the year.
Self-proclaimed musician, filmmaker, and journalist Cam James’ 2025 saw another year of star journalism and heroic exposé work come to fruition, making his YouTube bio’s own description seem modest in comparison to reality. Cam James, an Atlanta-based creator with 145,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, is now most notable for his investigative journalism. His continuing “DC Scammers,” “FUBU Scammers” and “deep dive$” series, along with his one-off pieces works to uncover and highlight scams and other social issues.
Arguably, the most ambitious video series released by James was his “Project 2025 Halftime Show,” a multi-part breakdown of Project 2025’s political initiative. This series pushed his videos from more general cultural commentary to hard-hitting political analysis. This year, he also released the sixth episode in his FUBU Scammers series, “Tariq Nasheed’s 6 Stages of Foundational Black American Grift,” wherein he investigated how a certain high-profile figure exploits the very communities he claims to serve. In an online space often dominated by offhand opinions and low-quality content, James’ work serves as a testament to the fact that digital platforms can still be used to inform others, challenge misinformation and hold those in power accountable.
Starting his career on social media in 2015, Alex Warren quickly became one of the most popular people of the decade. Warren started his music career in June of 2021, slowly starting to reveal a different side of himself to the world, compared to his internet personality.
Warren began independently releasing music in 2021, and soon after, in August of 2022, he signed to Atlantic Records. Slowly but surely, Warren’s fame in the music industry began to grow as he released more tracks. Warren is well known for writing very emotional and heartfelt music, often conveying stories of his life within the lyrics. Warren’s most famous song, “Ordinary,” with a total of 1,511,018,513 streams and counting, was recorded on Nov. 10, 2024, and released on Feb. 7, 2025. It quickly shot to fame, making Warren one of the top artists in 2025. “Ordinary” tells the story of Warren and his wife, Kouvr Annon. Warren and Annon met on Snapchat in 2018. At the time, Warren was living out of his car after being kicked out of his home by his alcoholic mother. When Annon moved from her hometown in Hawaii to California to live with Warren, she supported him, though she didn’t know he was homeless prior to her move.
Through everything, from his tough childhood to marrying his wife, Warren has been strong and has always found the light in the darkest of situations. Even though Warren is only 25 years old, he’s faced many challenges, but he continues to persevere through it all and make peace with himself and those around him. Warren often speaks about how he would have never made it this far without Annon and how he’s strongest with her by his side. When it comes to Warren and Annon, you could say love truly does conquer all. Warren has always prioritized his love for his family and friends and continues to show this through his music. Warren’s true love for the world and the people around him truly make him shine. Thus proving, Alex Warren is the best person of 2025.
