2009 Biggest Headlines

We've been counting down the biggest headlines of 2009, and we'll be revealing more throughout the month of December. Read on to take a look back at some of the stories that created the most buzz throughout the year.

This year, we lost many stars, both old and young. Michael Jackson stole headlines over the Summer due to his passing, but we also spent the last 12 months mourning other public figures.

Just two days into the year, John Travolta and Kelly Preston suffered the devastating loss of their son, Jett Travolta, after complications from a seizure. Michael Jackson's highly publicized death almost overshadowed the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon, who died within days of each other at the end of June. Beloved actor Patrick Swayze lost his battle with cancer in September, after a lengthy and courageous fight. Bea Arthur, meanwhile, passed in April at the age of 86, and director John Hughes suffered a fatal heart attack in August. Legendary senator Ted Kennedy also died that month after his own fight against cancer.

Two deaths seemed particularly out of the blue — DJ AM overdosed in August after surviving a plane crash and overcoming drugs during a previous battle with addiction, and Natasha Richardson died in March after a tragic ski accident. The most recent star to be gone too soon is Brittany Murphy, who died last weekend at her LA home. Our hearts go out to all of those who lost a loved one this year, and the memories of these celebrities will certainly live on through their work.

We're counting down to the New Year by taking a look back at the Best of 2009, and that includes your favorite guides and tips for managing your career and money.

Spending less than you earn is more important than ever these days, but it's also more difficult with disappearing jobs and slashed salaries. You can work on increasing your income by making extra money outside of your day job with the help of my seven easy ideas on how to generate more cash flow.

What else wowed us this year? Check out some of the biggest headlines of 2009 and cast your votes in my Best of 2009 polls!

We've been counting down the biggest headlines of 2009, and we'll be revealing more throughout the month of December. We hope you enjoy this look back at some of the stories that created the most buzz throughout the year.

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson rang in 2009 side-by-side in Miami. The girls were gearing up for another year full of ups and downs in their relationship, though at the end of 2010 it looks like they may have gone their separate ways — at least for now.

Their NYE celebrations included some personal fireworks with a big fight, but LL was quick to deny breakup rumors. The girls headed back to LA, where they were pretty much inseparable. They were soon off for a trip to London and lots of bonding time with Samantha's family. Once they were back in LA only a few weeks later, the girls got into a fight so huge that a window was even broken. All the drama didn't sit well with the Ronsons, and they banned LL from entering a family party in April and were rumored to even be seeking a restraining order to protect Samantha.

To take a look back at the rest of Lindsay and Samantha's year together, just read more

I already told you that everything old was new again in 2009 when it came to movie remakes — now I'm applying it to the music of the year too.

First, TV's impact brought back an '80s anthem; when Glee premiered its pilot episode only back in June, the club performed Journey's power ballad "Don't Stop Believin'." Their version debuted at number four on Billboard's Hot 100, and was certified gold in November after selling 500,000 downloads. (The original remains an iTunes staple, and interestingly, received a similar boost when The Sopranos used the song in its 2007 series finale.)

To read about other artists who underwent a 2009 renaissance, just read more

Tiger Woods, the most famous golfer in the world and the first athlete billionaire, had what looked like a pristine personal life throughout his career. A relatively minor car accident at around 2 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving this year cracked open the details of what was apparently a sordid secret situation. Details of the crash emerged and changed quickly; whether or not Elin Nordegren saved him with one of his golf clubs, it was clear that a domestic dispute had gone very wrong. As the news spread about Tiger's accident, everyone learned of the National Enquirer headline that he was cheating on his wife. Within days, one mistress became 10 as many women came forward with stories about their lengthy and multiyear-long relationships with the golfer. Tiger was rumored to be offering Elin a revised version of their prenup so she would stick around for two more years.

Over the past few weeks, Tiger released a series of statements via his website apologizing for his many "transgressions" and ultimately announcing that he will be taking a break from professional golf to "focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person." There were also stories that Tiger was taking many prescription drugs, which may have affected his state on the night of the accident — and apparently affected his affairs, as one woman said Tiger loves "Ambien sex." His many mistresses love the spotlight and have been everywhere from the talk shows to red carpets spilling tons of details about their romantic and sexual relationships with Tiger.

Since Thanksgiving, Tiger's wife Elin Nordegren has been spotted out twice without her wedding ring and with their two children — Sam and 10-month-old Charlie. There are rumors that she is still thinking about staying with Tiger but has hired a divorce lawyer and recently purchased land and a home in her native Sweden. Tiger has been dropped from many of his endorsement deals, but not Nike, which is sticking by its main golfer. This is one big headline that will continue to unfold as we all wait to see when Tiger emerges, what happens with his family, and at what point he'll be back on the course competing on the PGA tour.

Plenty of movies get made and shelved every year, but once in awhile a little gem of a film gets a big break. This year's unexpected success story belongs to Paranormal Activity. The horror film was actually made in 2007, on a budget of $15,000. It premiered at a few film festivals before hitting the theaters in September in limited release — but not for long.

In the spirit of The Blair Witch Project, the film shows fictional "forgotten footage" of a couple who are being haunted by paranormal forces. It was initially released in 13 different college towns across the country, but then the power of viral marketing set in. Director Orson Peli let America decide whether or not the movie should come to their home towns by letting them vote on Eventful.com. The plan worked, and each week the movie was shown on more and more screens across the nation.

To recap what happened, just read more

We're counting down to the new year by taking a look back at the very Best of 2009, and that includes your favorite guides and tips for managing your career and money.

Earlier this year, Starbucks invited me to a store to discover the ultimate insider's tips on how to enjoy your Starbucks experience for less. Deanna, the store manager of a local Starbucks, taught me several awesome tricks that can help you get your cuppa joe for less daily. Check them out, save, and caffeinate.

What else wowed us this year? Check out some of the biggest headlines of 2009 and cast your votes in my Best of 2009 polls!

Reflecting on the past year also means revisiting our best tips to help you usher in the New Year, just a little wiser. So, let's continue our look back at the Best of 2009 with a recap of your favorite lil bits of advice.

In this economy, parents-to-be are thinking less about luxurious layettes and more about baby basics. If you're thinking of showering a mama-to-be, think sensible instead of over-the-top and check out our guides for finding incredibly practical baby shower presents. It's the thought that counts after all.

Everything old was new again in the entertainment world in 2009! The Hollywood powers that be decided that the past was the richest mine of inspiration, as evidenced by the scads of remakes in movies and TV.

The small screen has recycled '90s night soaps Melrose Place and 90210 to mixed results, while new ones were announced: look for a version of Charlie's Angels in the future. Some TV shows were mercifully declared dead in the water in the case of a US version of UK show Absolutely Fabulous.

In theaters, this year saw '70s and '80s flicks The Stepfather and Fame, but the list for planned movie remakes is long: Girls Just Want to Have Fun, The Neverending Story, Little Shop of Horrors, and Footloose are all in the works.

To read more about 2009's year in remakes, just read more