Yahoo's Top Ten Searches of 2008

1. Britney Spears (again number one - seven out of eight years - Paris Hilton beat her in 2004)
• The singer's steep trajectory to redemption restored her to the top of searches.
• Year began with a police visit, hospital stay, and psych evaluation.
• She returned under her father's shelter and, by summer, settled custody with her ex.
• Professionally, she guested on a sitcom, won thrice at the MTV Video Music Awards, broke records with "Womanizer," relaunched her site, and released a documentary detailing her fall and comeback ... by age 27.

2. WWE - World Wrestling Entertainment (again number two and three years in a row now)
• A June explosion destroyed a World Wrestling Entertainment stage and "injured" chairman Vince McMahon, unleashing a sweaty soap opera of chaos that included his kids appealing for cooperation in difficult times.
• The stunt could've symbolized the sporting empire's battles against the economy's fall and mixed martial arts' rise. WWE produced more events, video games, and movies to make up for fewer paying fans, and faithfuls kept track online to once again maintain its Top 2 status.
• Just launched social networking site.
• Hulk Hogan family troubles. Son in jail, daughter with her own reality show and wife left him for a 19 year old.

3. Barack Obama (new entry to list)
• The Illinois junior senator faced two hard-fought contests and nearly won a third--although toppling Britney Spears wasn't on his list.
• He entered 2008 as a relative newcomer on the national scene and ended the year as president-elect.
• His campaign defied political wisdom and made history at every turn.
• His Web strategy set the groundwork to make him the first wired president and, in an unprecedented Search surge, landed him at No. 3.

4. Miley Cyrus (new entry to list)
• Before 2008, the singer/actress had been better known -- and searched -- by her Disney persona, Hannah Montana.
• She appeared on shows like "Idol Gives Back" as Cyrus, but true name recognition came with scandal: a Vanity Fair spread featuring the 15-year-old seemingly wrapped only in a bed sheet.
• Cyrus apologized, survived, and closed down Disneyland for a 16th birthday charity bash.

5. RuneScape (moved up from seventh position last year)
• The multi-player role-playing game's international popularity rests on its cheap access, ability to run on older computers, and compelling play.
• Its underground success has even led to a real black market, trading actual cash for RuneScape gold--and controversial restrictions to stop it.
• A new boss and the touted player-versus-player combat release signal the company's power play to step up in the RPG battle, and hold at No. 5.
• With more than 10 million registered users, RuneScape is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's most popular, free MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game).

6. Jessica Alba (up from tenth position from 2007)
• Her movies fared none too well, following 2007 missteps that got her three Razzie Worst Actress nominations.
• Still, she earned Best Movie Actress at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and No. 6 in searches, buoyed by her wedding and baby Honor Marie (who earned a reported $1.5 million in her OK! mag debut).
• Her pregnancy gave her impetus to switch to more serious roles -- something to watch for in 2009.
• Reflects people are still interested in celebrity babies.

7. Naruto (down from fourth position)
• The manga. The game. The anime. Whatever form Naruto Uzumaki takes, the awkward but accomplished young graduate of the Ninja Academy remains the Web's most popular fictional character in seventh place. His peers and enemies also command their own followings, but the complex tale of Naruto (whose name translates to "maelstrom"), the orphaned misfit who craves recognition, resonates with its generation of fans.

8. Lindsay Lohan (down from sixth position in 2007)
• At No. 8, the actress made stumbling progress back from rehab, revolving-door relationships, and rejected roles.
• On the upside, she settled down (with a monogamous twist), blogged about politics, and recreated Marilyn Monroe's photo shoot.
• On the downside, she got booted from "Ugly Betty" and as World Music Awards host.

9. Angelina Jolie (new entry to list)
• Leading power lists in Forbes and even Guinness World Records, the actress took her place among Hollywood's elite.
• "Delicate" condition aside, she underscored her image as a tough-dame throwback with a 21st-century vibe.
• She earned box-office bucks as an assassin and cartoon tigress, Oscar cred in "Changeling," and karma by donating her and Brad Pitt's twins' $14 mil pictorial payout to charity.