Celebrity of the Year Gossip

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 present to you Celebrity of the Year finalist #10 … Rielle Hunter!

Unknown a year ago, Rielle Hunter - a.k.a. Lisa Hunter, a.k.a. Lisa Druck, a.k.a. Rielle Druck - is now a (very strange) name etched in political and celeb gossip infamy.

After first being linked to former U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate John Edwards in a cheating scandal late in 2007, Rielle was staying in an L.A. hotel with her newborn daughter this summer ... and Edwards was caught visiting them.

Having run out of plausible denials, the married Edwards finally admitted the affair. He denied the baby was his, though, and said his wife's cancer was in remission at the time of the Rielle railing - as if that makes it so much better.

We may never know for sure if John Edwards knocked up Rielle Hunter (unless he effs up and leaves a paper trail of his shady hush money), but his career in politics is certainly over. It was totally worth it, right John? Just look at her ...

THE RIELLE DEAL: Hunter certainly made for an interesting August.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled sex tape star Kim Kardashian as our runner-up. Now, without delay, we present our Celebrity of the Year … the incomparable Britney Spears!

With the type of year the former international sex symbol had, it wasn't exactly a close race for this award. When a living, breathing train wreck like Britney Spears is in the news every hour of every day, everyone else is playing for second.

Eyes bloodshot, wearing a leopard-print dress and a pink wig, Britney Spears drives around aimlessly in Los Angeles. That sums up the past few months right there.

Since filing for divorce from Kevin Federline at the end of 2006, Britney's life has been in a tailspin, resulting in countless traffic incidents, custody hearings, photos of her clubbing in no underwear, family drama, and random ass dudes and pals.

From Isaac Cohen, Jason Filyaw, Daimon Shippen, Tony Barretto, Alli Sims, Sam Lutfi and Howie Day to Mark Vincent Kaplan, Robert Edie, J.R. Rotem, Lucy Walsh and some celebrity gossip photographer named Adnan, the list of once anonymous peeps Spears has brought into her life - and our site - continues to grow.

As far as her family life goes, well, that's been no less turbulent. Aside from the two adorable little mistakes - Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 - that she routinely neglects, Britney has been estranged from her mother, Lynne Spears, for much of the year. Oh, and 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn Spears recently got pregnant.

A very brief list of Britney Spears highlights from the year:

• Shaving her head (February)
• Attacking paparazzi with umbrella (February)
• Leaving rehab, partying immediately (March)
• A drug overdose with Howie Day (May)
• J.R. Rotem hitting that wheelbarrow style (June)
• Random topless photos emerge (August)
• Giving Tony Romo lap dance (October)
• Running red light while texting (November)
• Pregnancy rumors surface (November-December)

Clearly, our Celebrity of the Year could be no one else. Congratulations, Britney Spears, and thank you for all you've given us. Keep up the good work, baby.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled promiscuous drug addict Lindsay Lohan at #3. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #2 … Kim Kardashian!

In 2007, Kardashian proved just how far a giant pair of boobs, large rear end and penchant for the spotlight can take a young lady born into millions of dollars.

The Hollywood Gossip staff had never even heard of this socialite 12 months ago, but a Ray J sex tape, Playboy pictorial and reality TV show later, and Kim Kardashian sits (or straddles, really) atop the celebrity gossip world.

She's even left former best friend Paris Hilton in the dust.

Kim has also sexed up her share of male suitors this year. Kardashian ditched Ray J soon after the aforementioned video hit the street, and others such as Reggie Bush and J.R. Rotem are certainly grateful that she did.

Just one spot away from earning our Celebrity of the Year honors, Kim's reality series, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, has been picked up for a second season.

She may need to shave her head and pop out a pair of kids she subsequently ignores in order to be #1 in our 2008 rankings, but we wouldn't put anything past Kim.

Especially not a large black penis.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled scantily clad Busty British Blondes at #4. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #3 … Lindsay Lohan!

Lindsay's actions - or lackthereof - over the last couple months almost caused her to drop out of the top three. After her arrest for DUI and cocaine possession, the Firecrotch Queen actually did drop out of the news for a bit.

Fortunately, her first half of 2007 ensured a high spot for Lohan on out countdown.

This mediocre actress is best known for doing both drugs and men. Many, many men. Her rumored conquests over the past 12 months include Riley Giles, Calum Best, Criss Angel, Stavros Niarchos, AJ Lamas, J.R. Rotem and some guy named Spencer Guilbert.

Lohan's naked run-ins with every guy she meets, along with her clothed encounters with police, have led numerous celebrities to chime in with advice. The Sports Gal says she ought to go into porn. Lindsay's former bodyguard says abusive parents have led to this star's demise.

But with Dina Lohan in her corner, we have no doubt Lohan will soon find her way....

... onto the cover of every celebrity gossip magazine on newsstands.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled attention-seeking, naked Celebrity Sex Tape Stars at #5. Now, without delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #4 … Busty British Babes!

The past 12 months have seen at least that many pairs of giant boobs cross the Atlantic and get the attention of entertainment news outlets. They've belonged to a series of British models, none of whom appear to have discernible skills outside of the ability to remove their shirts when a camera is on.

It started in January with Keeley Hazell (above) and her sex tape leak.

Unlike other dishonest amateur porn stars, however, this model wasn't afraid to admit she was in on the release. This must have inspired other large breasted Englishwomen to realize the potential of getting naked in public, as Michelle Marsh and Lucy Pinder were soon flashing their chests in every magazine they could find.

From there, Katie Price became a household name. Although that name was often "Jordan," the modeling moniker she goes by for no apparent reason. Finally, Gemma Atkinson came on the scene and, well, also bared her body in various publications.

Indeed, these busty British babes of 2007 weren't very different from one another, but perhaps it was this similarity that earned them our respect.

Unlike American celebrities who think they possess actual skills - yes, we're looking at you Kim Kardashian and Heidi Montag - the Brits are simple people. They're real people, honest people.

They merely say, as Lucy Pinder is in the photo above: I have a big chest and I would like to earn money for showing it off. They don't try to be anything they're not. And for that Keeley, Lucy, Gemma and company, we salute you.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled attention-starved rich people from The Hills at #6. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #5 … A slew of celebrity sex tape stars!

While many may remember 2007 as the year the war in Iraq raged on and on, those in the entertainment news world will mark it down as an era during which we were taken from camping out on the front lawns of celebrities... to receiving an up close and personal view of what goes on in their bedrooms.

Indeed, sex tapes came from the likeliest of sources (Keeley Hazell) to the nerdiest (Dustin Diamond) and most enterprising (Ray J, below).

With that in mind, we present the 2007 Celebrity Sex Tape Awards:

• Most Career Enhancing: Kim Kardashian. Paris Hilton's former BFF learned from the master. Getting reamed by Ray J has led to a reality TV show and a spot atop the celebrity gossip world for this socialite.
• Least Surprising: Amy Fisher. She shot her former lover's wife in the face. After that, nothing could really surprise us.
• Most Explicit: Olivia Mojica. The former American Idol contestant didn't possess the singing ability to go far on the country's most popular reality show. So Mojica chose to show us her other, more hard core talents as punishment for not voting for her.
• Sex Tape Featuring Least Famous and Least Attractive Girl: Jennifer Toof. Or Toastee Toof. This former Flavor of Love girl was so unknown at the time of her video's release that we still aren't sure what to call her.
• Best Attempt at a Sex Tape: Vanessa Hudgens and Katie Rees (tie). Sorry, ladies, but it takes more than naked photos to be counted in this group.
• Most Exciting, Untrue Sex Tape Rumors: Lauren Conrad and Britney Spears (tie). Maybe next year we'll experience the real thing. Speaking of which...
• Sex Tape Star We Most Hope to Write About in 2008: Hayden Panettiere. What? She's 18 now. It's okay if we admit this.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled High Schol Musical hunk Zac Efron at #7. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #6 … The Hills cast!

In a manner of speaking, Lauren Conrad is the straw the stirs The Hills drink. At the same time, without Lauren's smarmy and sexy supporting cast, this Laguna Beach spin-off would never have been catapulted to its massive success.

In Season 3 of The Hills, the end of LC's friendship with Heidi Montag turned into to a public feud, with conflict outside the show spilling into the media.

A Year in The Hills: Star Lauren Conrad led her life, Spencer and Heidi staged a lot of pics, Jason Wahler went to rehab and jail, and Whitney Port sure looked pretty.

Amidst rumors of the Lauren Conrad sex tape, much of the season served as a mole hunt as Lauren had suspicions that the (false) sex tape rumors of were spread by Heidi and boyfriend Spencer Pratt (both Heidi and Spencer denied it).

Combine that central theme with former star Jason Wahler getting arrested four times, Spencer and Heidi getting engaged and staging bikini photo shoots every other day, LC's friend Whitney Port stepping into the limelight, and romance rumors involving Lauren Conrad and Brody Jenner, and a hit series was born.

The drama was so widespread that even bit players such as Gavin Beasley, Stephanie Pratt, Justin-Bobby Brescia and Jenn Bunney got in on the action. It was a year to remember on The Hills, and with at least eight new episodes coming next spring, we can only hope for a repeat - and then some - in 2008.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled the unpopular gold digger Tameka Foster at #8. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #7 … Zac Efron!

Anyone that has ever glanced at this High School Musical star barely has to ask why he made the list. Those eyes. That hair. Those biceps... sorry, where were we?

Far more than a brainless dream boat, however, Efron has shown true grit and loyalty in 2007. He stuck by the side of his girlfriend throughout the infamous Vanessa Hudgens nude photo scandal. He didn't bash her to the press, he didn't shrink from the spotlight, and he got to go home and hit that every night.

Way to be, Zac.

Efron also starred in Hairspray this year, earning enough critical praise to land him a feature role opposite Matthew Perry in the upcoming movie Seventeen, along with a significant pay raise for High School Musical 3.

We don't know what the future will hold for Zac Efron, but we do know it will involve the screaming of countless teenage girls. Lord knows, he's earned it.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled the young sex kitten Hayden Panettiere at #9. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #8 … Tameka Foster!

Before 2007, even hardcore Usher fans had never heard of Foster. Within months, however, this 42-year old had grown into the bane of their R&B loving existence.

Who was this mother of three to be dating their man? His washboard stomach and sultry voice deserved someone closer to Beyonce, a companion more like Alicia Keys. To this day, Tameka Foster invokes a scorn within Usher's camp that not even the most ardent Simon Monjack haters can summon.

While other girlfriends and new wives, such as Alexis Phifer or Renee Sloan, were being welcomed by fans of their loved celebrities, Tameka battled hate mail all year long. It didn't end with the birth of Usher's first child, either, as Usher Raymond V entered the world in November.

As we enter 2008, the buzz surrounding Foster and Usher should die down. They're married. They're raising a child. There's little else to say on the matter.

Plus, Blake Fielder-Civil and Amy Winehouse are pretty much stealing all the controversial newlywed headlines at this point.

As 2007 draws to a close, it's time to reflect and pay tribute to the stars who made this a year to remember. On that note, The Hollywood Gossip is announcing its 10 finalists for its first annual Celebrity of the Year award.

They've given us their best, their worst and, in a more than a few cases, their naked pictures. Now it is time for us to give a little something back with this special feature, because without these celebrities, we are nothing.

We previously profiled the adorable little Suri Cruise at #10. Now, without further delay, we present Celebrity of the Year finalist #9 ... Hayden Panettiere!

As of this post, we've covered 981 different celebrities since The Hollywood Gossip debuted in mid-2006. But few bring as much to the table as Hayden.

Cover girl good looks, loads of talent, a bubbly personality, rampant over-exposure, maturity mixed with youthful exuberance, personal life speculation, constant material for inappropriate jokes about her age - the list goes on and on!

Fortunately, Hayden Panettiere - a Long Island native who stars on one of our favorite shows in Heroes - turned 18 this year, making us feel a little less dirty about our crush on her. But just look at her. Can you blame us, really?

Hayden Panettiere's middle name is Leslie. But it might as well be Sunshine.

Whether she's wearing that cute cheerleader uniform on the NBC show, dining out with friends at Koi, posing for 10 magazines per month or trying to save the dolphins in Japan, Hayden makes our world a little brighter and a lot more fun.

So here's to you, Hayden Panettiere. We'll buy you a drink in 32 months when it's legal for us to... as long as you haven't gone bonkers and checked into rehab prior to that. Please, Hayden. We beg of you. Don't go Lindsay Lohan on us.