headliner
UK: ˈhɛdˌlaɪnə | US: ˈhɛdˌlaɪnər
n. the main performer or act in a show or event
n. a prominent news headline or featured story
n. (informal) a person who attracts significant attention
The word "headliner" combines "head" (from Old English hēafod, meaning "top" or "chief") and "line" (from Latin linea, meaning "string" or "text"), originally referring to the top line of printed text in a newspaper. By the early 20th century, it evolved to denote the main performer in a show (as if "topping" the event's promotional text). The suffix "-er" marks the agent (e.g., "singer," "writer"), emphasizing the subject's prominence.
The famous band was the headliner at the music festival.
The scandal became the headliner in all major newspapers.
As a comedian, she worked hard to become a headliner in Las Vegas.
The magazine’s headliner caught everyone’s attention with its bold font.
He dreamed of being a headliner on Broadway one day.