Megan Moroney Revealed On 2026 TIME100 Next List Among 'The World's Most Influential Rising Stars'

Megan Moroney is among "the world's most influential rising stars," according to TIME.

The Cloud 9 hitmaker, 28, was revealed on the 2026 TIME100 Next list on Wednesday (September 30). She's the sole country artist to appear on the list. Singer-songwriter and dancer Tate McRae, 23, wrote in a tribute that Moroney "somehow figured out how to turn terrible men into extremely successful songs, which is both a talent and an incredible public service."

Moroney and McRae have shared the stage before, and spent time together after performances in Nashville, Tennessee. McRae shared that the Emo Cowgirl "is exactly what you wish and hope her to be," she wrote. "She is genuinely so kind, smart, and witty-as just one night out with her will make clear. But what I love most about Megan is how purely herself she is. Throughout her latest album, she tells stories that are incredibly specific and personal, and somehow make millions of people swear she wrote them about their lives. That kind of songwriting is rare, and watching her connect with people through it is really special. There is no one more deserving of all the success she is having right now."

Moroney's latest studio record is Cloud 9, a highly-anticipated project following 2024's Am I Okay? and 2023's powerhouse debut, Lucky. The Georgia-born country star's Cloud 9 era has led to highly-energetic singalong moments on her first-ever arena tour throughout the year, including with anthems like "Medicine," "6 Months Later," "Stupid," "Who Hurt You?," "Wish I Didn't" and more. Moroney said when she announced Cloud 9 that, like her first two studio records, "it's all written about honest, personal experiences, but these songs were written by the strongest, most confident version of myself I've ever been. My feet feel firmly planted in my artistry and it was fun to play around sonically, while still sticking to my roots of what my fans and I love. Cloud 9 is a state of mind, and I have no doubt this will be the best chapter yet."

TIME's annual list includes other artists, phenoms, leaders, innovators and advocates, spotlighting those "who are shaping the future." TIME shared how the publication chose the 2026 TIME100 Next here. See the full list here.