With 2025 nearing its final days, the time is ideal to look back at the pop culture highs and lows of the year.
The year served up myriad celebrations, shenanigans, weddings, birthdays and, sadly, deaths.
Looking at the happier occasions first, the year was golden for a slew of stars turning 50, including actress Angelina Jolie, the Spice Girls' Mel B, Titanic star Kate Winslet, golfer Tiger Woods, soccer icon David Beckham, actress Eva Longoria and singer Sia.
Also turning 50 were the digital camera, the pet rock and Jaws, along with Microsoft, Saturday Night Live, Big Red chewing gum and the unforgettable Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Other birthdays and anniversaries of note? Well, YouTube is already 20! Facebook turned 21; Farm Aid celebrated its 40th anniversary; and Gatorade and Barrel of Monkeys hit 60. Meanwhile, Special K and Crest toothpaste turned 70, while the Bic pen and Peanuts comic strip celebrated their 75th.
When it comes to those celebrating eight decades on this planet, there was no shortage of celebrities who were still rocking - and working - after turning 80 in 2025, including singer Rod Stewart, Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry, actress Goldie Hawn, actor Tom Selleck and The Fonz, A.K.A. Henry Winkler.
The year also saw many unusual stories making headlines. Astronomers found 128 new moons circling Saturn. Thieves staged a daring daytime heist at the Louvre. Other thieves stole thousands of chairs from restaurants in Spain. And, the fascination with Taylor Swift, her music and her engagement continued to capture headlines.
On the small screen, The Pitt, The Studio and The Paper grabbed attention, while Anora captured the best picture award at the Oscars. Everyone from Springsteen and Superman to Blige and Bono became the subject of new movies. And, as usual, there was no shortage of celebs releasing their memoirs, including Lionel Ritchie, Brooke Shields, Christie Brinkley, Bill Gates and Priscilla Presley.
Other highlights of 2025 came on the field, court and ice. Victory celebrations were the order of the day for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Florida Panthers, the L.A. Dodgers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in their respective sports.
While 2025 was a year of celebration for many, it also saw the world saying goodbye to dozens of famous folks, including the recent deaths of filmmaker/actor Rob Reiner (78) and his wife photographer/producer Michele Singer Reiner (68.) Others who passed in 2025 include: Hollywood star June Lockhart, age 100; architect Frank Gehry (96); actor Gene Hackman, 95; primatologist Jane Goodall, 91; actor Richard Chamberlain, 90; actress Diane Ladd, 89; actor/director Robert Redford, 89; singer Roberta Flack, 88; Pope Francis, 88; comedian Ruth Buzzi, 88; singer Connie Francis, 87; M*A*S*H* actress Loretta Swit, 87; jazz musician Chuck Mangione, 84; Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, 82; singer/songwriter Sly Stone, 82; pop singer/actor Bobby Sherman, 81; reggae singer Jimmy Cliff (81); Supertramp vocalist Rick Davies, 81; actress Diane Keaton, 79; actress Loni Anderson, 79; filmmaker David Lynch, 78; singer Marianne Faithfull, 78; boxer George Foreman, 76; Cheers actor George Wendt, 76; rock star Ozzy Osbourne, 76; musician Wayne Osmond, 73; musician D'Angelo, 51; Kiss musician Ace Frehley, 74; actor Graham Greene, 73; wrestler Hulk Hogan, 71; actor Michael Madsen, 67; actor Val Kilmer, 65; actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, 54; and, actress Michelle Trachtenberg, 39.
Some of the above news events are highlighted in clues in the mammoth Annual Year-in-Review Crossword that many newspapers are publishing this month. To try your hand at the crossword, here's a look at publication dates for some newspapers:
Dec. 24: Calgary Herald; Calgary Sun
Dec. 27: Windsor Star
Dec. 30: Montreal Gazette
TBD: National Post; Ottawa Citizen; Vancouver Sun; Vancouver Province; Edmonton Journal