It was the year of 9-9-9 and the 99 percent; nuclear meltdowns and a state government shutdown. Justin Bieber cut his hair, Kirstie Alley cut a rug, and Congress failed to cut a couple trillion dollars from the ever-ballooning federal budget. While tragedy struck from Joplin, Mo., to Utøya, Norway, there were against-the-odds triumphs, too, as Gabrielle Giffords returned to Washington and a water-lined memorial rose from the ashes of the World Trade towers. From the first download of “Friday” to the final airing ofFriday Night Lights, it was a year worth remembering. So we’ll raise our glasses and, to quote Spinal Tap’s guitarist Nigel Tufnel, announce that this one goes to ’11. 

Personalities of 2011

1. Lady Gaga

2. Charlie Sheen

3. Oprah Winfrey

4. Jennifer Lopez

5. Steven Tyler

6. Donald Trump

7. Rory McIlroy

8. Daniel Radcliffe

9. Kim Kardashian

10. Herman Cain

11. Albert Pujols

12. Prince William

13. Kate Middleton

14. Adele

15. Kristen Stewart

16. Robert Pattinson

17. Barack Obama

18. John Boehner

19. Mitt Romney