THIS YEAR, Americana artist Rhiannon Giddens, 46, won a Pulitzer Prize for an opera she co-composed with Michael Abels called Omar. In August, she returned to more mainstream music with her new album, You’re the One. She offers these words of wisdom: “It’s never too late to learn something new, to add your voice to what’s going on. I started playing fiddle and banjo when I was 23 or 24, and now I make a living with it. It’s never too late. And give yourself permission to not know what you’re doing.” —Alanna Nash