Audacious, original, and wielding clear visions, the stars who rose to the top this year pushed boundaries and took bold, even risky, choices. Here are ten artists who shook up their scenes and captured the hearts of fans across genres.
Pop Music: Chappell Roan
Last year, Chappell Roan was also working as a camp counselor. It’s astounding to think of her meteoric rise since then. After releasing her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, in 2023, she became known for her extravagant drag-inspired persona and ‘80s-influenced pop sound. This year, her album hit No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart and topped album sales.
Known for her soaring vocals and edgy performances, Roan climbed to mainstream fame. Her dance-along anthem “Hot to Go!” even featured in a Target ad and was belted out at various sporting events. But it was her single “Good Luck, Babe!”—about the struggles in a same-sex relationship—that truly connected with listeners. Roan, who is openly gay, emphasized the emotional depth behind her lyrics, stating, “It’s automatically political because I’m gay.” The emotional impact of this fame hasn’t been lost on her. “I never really expected it to grow this big,” she shared with Bowen Yang for Interview Magazine.
Roan, 26, has become increasingly vocal about toxic fan culture, breaking the fourth wall to critique the ways fans idolize artists. Next year, she will be at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she earned six nominations, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year.
Television: Richard Gadd
Richard Gadd's seven-episode thriller Baby Reindeer became the most-watched show on Netflix shortly after its April release. Gadd, who created, wrote, and starred in the show, tackled intense themes of masculinity, self-loathing, and sexual assault through the lens of a struggling comedian and his stalker.
Based on his award-winning one-man stage show, Gadd explains, “I feel like ‘Baby Reindeer’ stood out because...some humanity has been lost in some television shows,” indicating the risk he took. The show went on to win six Emmy Awards, including Best Actor for Gadd himself.
Fine Art: Lotus L. Kang
Lotus L. Kang made waves at the March opening of the 81st Whitney Biennial with her site-specific installation “In Cascades.” Described as “tanned” sheets of light-sensitive film, this powerful work morphs and changes with exposure to elements around it. Kang elaborated, “They’re porous...that precarity is also the reality of the human condition.” This year featured solo exhibitions for Kang at notable venues, affirming her as a significant voice in contemporary art.
Theater: Cole Escola
Cole Escola’s rollercoaster of success began with their wildly received play, Oh, Mary!, transitioning from the Lucille Lortel Theater to Broadway’s Lyceum Theater. With stars like Timothée Chalamet and Jennifer Aniston attending, Escola's playful take on Mary Todd Lincoln has drawn acclaim. Notably, theater critic Jesse Green praised it as “one of the best crafted and most exactingly directed Broadway comedies.” Reflecting back, Escola confessed to feeling like they were “on Broadway” and living the dream.
Influencer: Kai Cenat
Energetic influencer Kai Cenat is breaking barriers, even proposing to Elon Musk on X to be the first to stream from space. With over 15 million followers on Twitch alone, Cenat has made headlines for his ambitious endeavors. His recent “Mafiathon 2,” a monthlong livestream marathon featuring celebrities like SZA and Lizzo, amassed over 80 million hours watched.
Cenat, who is also credited with coining Gen Z slang term “rizz,” maintains he is driven by his audience: “Every time...it’s tough, y’all always prove to me why I should keep going.”
Classical: Emily D’Angelo
Emily D’Angelo's 30th birthday coincided with the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera’s new season, featuring her as the key star. The opera, Grounded, was adapted with her voice deeply embedded. Critics applauded her performance as she portrayed Jess, capturing the emotional intensity required for the character.
D’Angelo reflected on her role with great passion, saying, “We all have to overcome fear and trick ourselves to being brave.” The tenor of her voice has assured her place as one of the up-and-coming stars of classical music.
Podcast: Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe continues to dominate beyond the football field. His podcast Club Shay Shay has grown tremendously since its inception, amassing millions of views and featuring guests from various spheres of entertainment. His January episode with Katt Williams went viral, and he stated, “There’s something about video and being able to see it for yourself.” His unique approach to storytelling has kept his audience engaged.
Filmmaking: Mikey Madison
Mikey Madison has found herself at the center of Oscar buzz for her standout role in Sean Baker’s film Anora, which also won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. This challenging role required extensive preparation—she immersed herself completely to embody the character. Baker compared her potential to Hollywood’s finest, stating, “The talent’s there, the looks are there, the determination is there.”
Comedy: Nikki Glaser
Nikki Glaser's year includes the standout roast of Tom Brady, which broke Netflix records. She noted, “I knew it was going to be a big moment...but I didn’t know it would be the linchpin.” This followed closely with her successful stand-up special Someday You’ll Die. She recognizes the importance of timing and the path of her career: “You’re having more than a moment, and it’s because you deserve it,” Conan O’Brien remarked to her.
Dance: Chloe Misseldine
Chloe Misseldine has dazzled audiences and critics as part of the American Ballet Theater and was recently promoted to principal dancer. Her performances, particularly as Odette-Odile, have added to her growing reputation. Misseldine acknowledged her upbringing as instrumental to shaping her artistic persona, aptly stating, “I’m growing up...through roles like this.”
