Celebrity of the Year Finalist #9: Sarah Palin and Family

As 2008 winds down, it's time to reflect upon those - from household names to relative unknowns, from A- to D-list - who made this year so memorable.

The Hollywood Gossip is unveiling 10 finalists for its 2nd Annual Celebrity of the Year award. They've given us their best, their worst, even their nude pictures in some cases. Now it is time for us to give something back with this moving tribute.

We previously profiled the political Home-Wrecker or the Millennium, Rielle Hunter. Today, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #9 … The Palin Family!

When Sarah Palin burst on the scene at the end of August as the Republicans' nominee for Vice President, she took the political and celeb gossip worlds by storm.

Rumors that Sarah's daughter Bristol was actually the mother of Sarah's son Trig led to the revelation that Bristol Palin was pregnant with boyfriend Levi Johnston.

While Sarah invigorated the GOP base and ignited a media firestorm, incredible sound bytes from SNL look-alike Tina Fey and the candidate herself soon followed.

What a great ride it was. Click to enlarge more photos of the self-styled maverick, hockey mom and Joe Six-Pack candidate, along with her husband and kids ...

MEET THE PALINS: After an election-day thumping at the hands of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Sarah and family are gone, but not forgotten. We can't wait for 2012.