Gracie Abrams shared her admiration for BLACKPINK’s Jennie in an essay written for TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026 list. In her tribute, the “That’s So True” singer made her feelings clear from the beginning by saying that Jennie is a star. Instead of praising her due to her awards, chart success, or public recognition, Gracie chose to describe the personal quality that makes Jennie stand out. She wrote that Jennie has a rare kind of power that reaches people both on a huge stage and simply standing in the corner of a room.
“But sitting down to write, the thing that comes to mind is that the magic at her core—the power that draws you into ‘Jennie the Artist’ when you’re watching her onscreen or as one of 100,000 people in a stadium— is identical to the power she carries when you find her in the corner of a party or run into her in a backstage hallway.”
The 100 Most Influential People of 2026 | TIME#JENNIE by Gracie Abrams
To cut to the chase: Jennie is a star. I could go on and on about her accomplishments or her influence in pop culture. But sitting down to write, the thing that comes to mind is that the magic at her… pic.twitter.com/FNhgct9eF9
— JENNIE NEWS (@NEWSJENNlE) April 15, 2026
Jennie has built a massive career in recent years as a member of BLACKPINK, and most recently as a soloist. Over the last three years, she has had success through her collaborations, including tracks like “Dracula,” a remix with Tame Impala this year, “One of the Girls” with the Weeknd and Lily Rose Depp in 2024, and “ExtraL” with Doechii in 2025. She also made her acting debut in the HBO series The Idol in 2023. Later, in March 2025, Jennie released her first solo album, Ruby, adding another jewel to her crown. The album went on to have hits like “Mantra” and “Love Hangover,” making Jennie one of the most anticipated K-pop solo acts.
In her essay, Abrams said Jennie’s true strength comes from the balance between power and softness. She described the K-pop diva as someone who has kindness and warmth while still displaying an undeniable presence that cuts through everything around her.
“She possesses the same kind of undeniable presence that cuts through all the noise, and she carries that with kindness and warmth. She is the type of person who will grab both your hands and squeeze them. She has a softness that only emphasizes her strength. I just love her.”
