10 Most Fascinating People of 2025
By LaDonna Raeh
Happy New Year, family.
On January 1st, we officially closed the book on 2025—and whew, what a chapter it was. Some years whisper. Others shout. 2025 hollered. And through all the noise, a few voices didn’t just rise—they reshaped the room.
This countdown wasn’t about popularity. It wasn’t about clout. It was about impact. These were the people who didn’t just make headlines in 2025—they moved the needle, bent conversations, and forced America to look itself square in the mirror.
Before we rolled into the Top 10, WVON paused to salute three truth-tellers who narrowly missed the list but deserve flowers now:
Don Lemon, Joy Reid, and Roland S. Martin each proved that ownership is the ultimate mic drop. After storied runs in mainstream media, they built platforms on their own terms—speaking truth to power without asking permission. That’s Black excellence with a backbone.
Now… let’s get into it.
#10 —
Leo Catholic High School Boys Choir
We opened the list with young kings. The Leo Catholic Boys Choir didn’t just sing in 2025—they testified. Their appearance on America’s Got Talent shifted how America sees the South Side of Chicago. No trophy, but all the respect. Discipline. Poise. Harmony. They won hearts—and rewrote narratives.
#9 —
Jasmine Crockett
Black women in 2025? Unmoved. Unmuted. Unbothered.
And Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett stood ten toes down. Her committee questioning was surgical. Her media presence fearless. Accountability was her love language. By year’s end, she had become one of the most watched—and most felt—voices in Washington. As her Senate ambitions took shape, America realized: receipts were being kept.
#8 —
Kendrick Lamar
The Super Bowl halftime show had never seen this. Kendrick didn’t perform—he decoded America in real time. Imagery. Horns. Symbolism. Bars with bite. For months, folks debated every frame of his 13-minute set. Drake was mad. Half the country was mad. But the message landed loud and clear: they not like us. Period.
#7 —
A’ja Wilson
The WNBA caught fire in 2025, and A’ja Wilson was the match. Four-time league MVP. Three-time champion. Statue. Signature shoe. Still underpaid. Still underestimated. Still unstoppable. Free agency loomed, and something told us the league was about to learn what “market correction” really looks like.
#6 —
Brandon Johnson
Forget the noise. In 2025, Mayor Brandon Johnson became a national figure. From congressional hearings to standing firm on immigration and civil protections, he challenged federal pressure with local resolve. Crime dropped. Conversations shifted. Other cities started saying the quiet part out loud: we wish he were our mayor.
In Memoriam
At the halfway mark, WVON paused to honor those we lost in 2025, led by Dr. Al Greer. Their legacies reminded us that Black excellence doesn’t expire—it echoes.
#5 —
Pope Leo
Yes. That Chicago.
The first American Pope, born and bred on the South Side, took the papacy during a moment of global tension. A White Sox fan. Former Mendel Catholic educator. The world leaned in, hopeful that tradition might finally meet transformation. Chicago—and WVON—felt that pride deep.
#4 —
Jalen Hurts
Quiet storm. Loud results.
After losing the Super Bowl the year before, Hurts came back in 2025 and delivered a clinic. Super Bowl 59. Perfect execution. No excuses. Still, the analysts hesitated to crown him. WVON didn’t. We saw greatness—calm, centered, relentless.
#3 —
Cynthia Erivo
From Broadway royalty to box-office dominance, Cynthia Erivo owned 2025 from top to bottom. Wicked crowned the year, but her voice—her interpretation—her command of story is what sealed her legacy. A true multi-hyphenate in an era that demands range.
#2 —
Shedeur Sanders
Drafted late. Counted out early.
Shedeur Sanders turned every slight into fuel. Fifth-round pick. Benched. Overlooked. And still—he showed heart, poise, and star power. By year’s end, his jersey was among the league’s best sellers. Skill gets you noticed. Heart makes you unforgettable.
Honorable Mentions
Before we crowned #1, we had to tip our hats to a few legends and game-changers:
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Diana Ross — 80 years young and still The Boss.
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Beyoncé — Cowboy Carter shattered records and genres.
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Mary Sheffield — History-maker in Detroit.
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Ryan Coogler — Ownership. Authorship. Power moves only.
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Louis Carr — Named President of BET. Chicago, stand up.
#1 —
Jamal Bryant
And then there was impact.
Pastor Jamal Bryant didn’t just lead a boycott in 2025—he led a reckoning. His campaign against Target over DEI rollbacks cost the corporation billions, forced leadership change, and reminded America of something it keeps forgetting: Black dollars organize. Seventy years after Montgomery, he proved the blueprint still works—faith, strategy, and action.
That is why Pastor Jamal Bryant was WVON’s Most Fascinating Person of 2025.
Thank you for riding with us through WVON’s Ten Most Fascinating People of 2025.
Special love to our production dream team—Titus Williams, Dr. Al Greer, Shapaira Willis, and Lorie Smith.
I’m LaDonna Raeh. Catch Atiba Buchanan and me weekdays from 3–6 PM on WVON 1690 AM.
Here’s to new chapters, bold voices, and stories that still need telling.
Happy New Year.
WVON’s Ten Most Fascinating People of 2025 is an exclusive feature of Midway Broadcasting Corporation.
