Mental health advocate Hilary Gleason tops Billboard's 2026 40 Under 40

Billboard's 2026 40 Under 40 list, published 30 July, is led by Hilary Gleason, co-founder of Backline — a nonprofit connecting music industry professionals with mental health resources. Backline launched B-LINE, a 24/7 crisis support line, in January 2026. Billboard credits hundreds of nominations each year for the honour, limited to one appearance per person.