headliner

Think of a concert: the headliner is the biggest star, the one everyone paid to see. The term is most common in music and comedy, but a headliner can also be the main attraction at other big events, such as a keynote speaker at a convention or a star athlete at a meet. It is usually the name that grabs your attention first on a poster.

The term comes from the world of newspapers. A "headline" is the big, bold text at the top of an article that catches a reader's eye. A headliner is the "headline act" of an event. If a band is "headlining" a festival, it usually plays last, has the longest set, and is seen as the most popular act on the bill.

A headliner is the main performer, act, or attraction that draws the biggest audience and gets the most prominent billing. It is the focal point of the event, the "star" that the public is most excited to see.

The word comes from the printing industry. In newspapers, the headline, the large title at the top of a story, is meant to sum up the news and grab attention. That idea moved into entertainment to describe performers whose names appeared in the largest print at the top of advertisements. Today, to "headline" an event means to be the main draw. For example, a famous comedian might headline a show at a theater, or a well-known business leader might be the headliner at a global summit.

The word is sometimes used more loosely for the biggest attraction at an event, but it is important to keep it separate from headline. The text at the top of the page is the headline; the star of the show is the headliner. Whether it is a charity gala or a world-famous music festival, the headliner is the person or act getting the spotlight and the most attention.