Beyonce lands cover of Time’s 100 most influential people issue

Beyonce has been named among this year’s most influential people by Time magazine.

The Grammy-winning singer, who locked in the 11th annual Time 100 main cover, joins this year’s other honorees — director Robert Redford, General Motors CEO Mary Barra and out basketball player Jason Collins — who will be featured on the magazine’s multiple inside covers. Those covers, all black-and-white shots as well, are featured inside the double issue.

The “XO” singer acknowledged the magazine’s prominent accolade on her Facebook page with two words, “So honored,” and shared the black-and-white cover photo, which features her in a sheer shirt worn over a white crop top and skimpy bottoms.

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The outlet was also first to reveal the music video for her song “Pretty Hurts,” a ballad about the perils of physical beauty.

Last year, Beyonce’s husband, Jay Z, was given the honor, which the magazine categorizes by titans, pioneers, artists, leaders and icons. The performers were dubbed the “royal couple of culture.”

In December, Mrs. Carter surprised fans and the industry when she released her fifth, self-titled, visual album on iTunes with no notice or fanfare. The album, which was accompanied by videos, broke sales records. The self-proclaimed “modern-day feminist” also samples a TEDx talk from novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on the track “***Flawless,” speaking about feminism and further championing the female cause.

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Each influential person has an essay written about them by another power player: “Lean In” founder and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg paid tribute to the singer.

“Beyoncé doesn’t just sit at the table. She builds a better one. Today she sits at the head of the boardroom table at Parkwood Entertainment,” Sandberg wrote, calling her a “boss.”

“In the past year, Beyoncé has sold out the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour while being a full-time mother. Her secret: hard work, honesty and authenticity. And her answer to the question, What would you do if you weren’t afraid? appears to be ‘Watch me. I’m about to do it.’ Then she adds, ‘You can, too.’ ”

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein penned Redford’s essay, Ford honcho Lee Iacocca wrote Barra’s piece and mother-to-be Chelsea Clinton wrote about Jason Collins.

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Other interesting pairings include this matryoshka doll-style grouping: current Secretary of State John Kerry is honored by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who sees the essay about her written by young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzi, while Yousafzi finds herself among those making the list as well.

Pop star Justin Timberlake pens “Happy” crooner Pharrell Williams’ essay; funnywoman Amy Poehler writes about her “SNL” pal and new “Late Night” host Seth Meyers; Valerie Jarrett, upon whom ABC’s “Scandal” is based, writes about the show’s star, Kerry Washington; basketball star Dwyane Wade pays homage to tennis pro Serena Williams; President Obama honors Pope Francis; Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o writes about “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen; and country icon Dolly Parton writes about her goddaughter Miley Cyrus. (Yes, Miley somehow managed to make the list.)

“The TIME 100 is a list of the world’s most influential men and women, not its most powerful,” Time editor Nancy Gibbs said. “The vast majority of this year’s roster reveals that while power is certain, influence is subtle. Power is a tool, influence is a skill…. If there is a common theme in many of the tributes, it’s the eagerness to see what some engineer, actor, leader or athlete will do next.”

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Gibbs added that although the list chronicles achievements of the past year, it also focuses on figures whose influence is likely to expand.&

The folks on this year’s list will also be feted at next week’s Time 100 Gala, which is set to take place at Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York and will feature performances from Pharrell, honoree Carrie Underwood and a stand-up performance from Meyers, Page Six reported.

Other entertainment-related names mentioned include Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, “Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch, Oscar-winning “Let It Go” songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “American Hustle” star Amy Adams, “Gravity” director Alfonso Cuaron, comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, Broadway’s Diane Paulus, “House of Cards” star Robin Wright and model Christy Turlington Burns.

See all the honorees here. The full issue goes on sale on Friday.

[For the record, 1:12 p.m. April 24: This post originally referred to Christy Turlington Burns incorrectly as Christy Turlington Brinkley.]

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