From YouTube Covers to Global Icon: Teddy Swims Makes History as TIME’s Most Influential Voice of 2025

The ballroom at Lincoln Center didn’t just applaud; it erupted with a visceral, collective roar that signaled a shift in the cultural zeitgeist. When the name was read aloud for the 2025 TIME 100 list, the reaction was not the polite, gloved applause usually reserved for such formal galas. Instead, the room rose to its feet in a wave of genuine affection, honoring a man who has spent the last few years singing his way into the very marrow of the public consciousness. Teddy Swims, the vocal powerhouse who began his journey filming cover songs in a bedroom, has officially been named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2025.” This historic designation marks the culmination of an extraordinary rise for the Atlanta native, affirming that his gritty, soul-drenched voice has become the soundtrack for a generation seeking comfort in chaotic times.

This prestigious accolade honors far more than chart dominance or sold-out stadium tours; it recognizes a radical shift in what a modern pop star can represent. TIME’s editorial board noted that while Swims’ commercial success is undeniable, his true influence lies in his radical vulnerability. In an era where celebrity is often curated to a sheen of unattainable perfection, Swims has offered the world his scars, his heartbreak, and his unfiltered truth. He was selected not merely as an entertainer, but as a cultural conduit who has successfully bridged the widening gaps between country, R&B, and pop music. His inclusion on the list places him alongside heads of state, tech innovators, and activists, validating the idea that a song, sung with enough conviction, can carry as much weight as a policy or a patent.

In an industry often defined by curated perfection and algorithm-chasing, Teddy Swims stands as a defiant, tattooed monument to the power of unfiltered authenticity. Visually, he defies the traditional mold of the polished pop idol. Covered in ink, often dressed in eclectic streetwear, and wearing his signature glasses, he looks like the antithesis of the marketing department’s dream. Yet, it is precisely this refusal to conform that has endeared him to millions. His presence on the TIME 100 list serves as a powerful rebuttal to the image-obsessed culture of the last decade. It sends a message that the packaging matters far less than the product, and in Swims’ case, the product is a voice that sounds like it has lived a thousand lives and survived every single one of them.

Central to his influence is his fearless advocacy for mental health and his active dismantling of traditional archetypes of stoic masculinity.¹ Throughout 2024 and 2025, Swims has used his platform to champion the concept that “toughness” isn’t about hiding feelings, but about having the courage to face them. His global hit “Lose Control” became more than just an earworm; it became an anthem for anxiety and the loss of self, allowing men and women alike to scream their pain in unison at his concerts.² By speaking openly about his own struggles with mental health, he has transformed his concerts into mass therapy sessions.³ He has normalized the conversation around emotional volatility, reminding his audience that it is okay to not be okay, and that there is strength in admitting you are falling apart.