Samantha Appleton/Official White House Photo
Veteran newswoman Barbara Walters revealed her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 on Wednesday (December 9) and First Lady Michelle Obama was this year's number one pick.
Mrs. Obama follows in the footsteps of her husband President Barak Obama, who received the number one slot in 2008.
In case you missed the special, here is an excerpt from Mrs. Obama's interview as well as the complete list:
MS. WALTERS: You know, I understand that many nights when you and the president and the girls sit down for dinner you do something called the rose and the thorn.
MS. OBAMA: Yes.
W: The best and worst.
O: Yes.
W: So look back over this past year. What is the rose, what's the thorn?
O: The rose has been the response of people, not just this nation, but around the globe. Seeing the warmth and the excitement, those have all been roses.
Thorns -- you know, not so many thorns. I mean, as Barack says, he has the thorny job.
W: Yeah.
O: If there are any thorns, it's just the constant concern that I'm -- I'm doing enough and that I'm doing my best and that I'm making the country proud. And, hopefully, people are happy with the job that I've done so far.
Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009:
2. Lady Gaga - Lady GaGa became the first artist ever to have four No. 1 hits off a debut album, receive an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and become one of the Most Fascinating People of 2009.
3. Glenn Beck - The controversial host Glenn Beck has the most-watched cable news show on television and hosts a radio show that draws 8 million listeners.
4. Tyler Perry - Tyler Perry is an actor, writer, producer and oversees a multi-million dollar empire. Fans know Perry best from his Christian theatrical start and his beloved matriarch character Madea.
5. Kate Gosselin - Reality mom Kate Gosselin was thrust into the spotlight when her family's TLC reality show, "Jon & Kate Plus 8," became a hit. While often criticized for her stern parenting, fans became sympathetic to Kate once revelations surfaced that her husband Jon - the father of her eight children - had cheated on her.
6. Adam Lambert - Season 8 American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert shocked many with his risque performance at the American Music Awards, where he kissed his male band member on live television.
7. Sarah Palin - With the release of her memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life," former Alaska Governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin discussed the 2008 campaign with Walters along with the effect fame had on her family life.
8. Brett Favre - The star NFL quarterback made headlines when he came out of retirement to join the Minnesota Vikings. To date, Favre is the only player to win the Most Valuable Player award three consecutive times.
9. Jenny Sanford - South Carolina's first lady Jenny Sanford was thrown into the national spotlight when her husband, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, admitted to an affair with a woman in Argentina.
10. Michael Jackson's three children -- Paris, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II -- have had to deal with the very public loss of their father as displayed at the King of Pop's Memorial Service at the Staples Center. The eye-opening event made many realize, Michael Jackson's children have always had to share their father with the world.
Do you agree with Barbara's list? Leave a comment below. Also check out the interesting reader discussion on Tiger Woods here, with over 100 reader comments!
FOR MORE CELEBRITY NEWS: Make sure you subscribe to Tiffany's email list. Need a story or event covered? Email Tiffanydiva@gmail.
Comments
Michelle Obama is intelligent, gracious and a lovely human being. I also love the avant garde kids - Adam and Gaga! They are some of the most talented, interesting and unique performers to come along in quite sometime, so yes they too are fascinating. Palin and Beck - well they are the best example of immoral people pulling off a Coo I have ever seen. So there you have it!!
Good list except for Beck. Anyone who calls the president of our country a "racist" does not qualify as fascinating in my book. I can think of other terms but I won't use them on this forum.
I SEEM TO REMEMBER A CERTAIN FEMALE SINGER STICKING HER TONGUE INTO ANOTHER FEMALE SINGER'S MOUTH, ON TV. NO ONE SAID MUCH. EVERYONE NEEDS TO NOT JUDGE. HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING NEW. HE JUST LOOKED BETTER AT IT !
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!