Barack Obama was sworn in as president and began efforts to reform the health care system, end torture in terrorism interrogations and rescue the country from the Great Recession. The world mourned the death of Michael Jackson. In this commemorative issue, we paid tribute to the King of Pop and told the tragic story of his final days as he planned an epic comeback that was not to be.
Lou Reed's favorite transgender torch singer battles for Mother Earth
With 'Che,' the actor secures his place as Hollywood's revolutionary rogue
A farewell interview, in which W. comes clean — on his dad, Condi's farts and the time Dick waterboarded the houseboy
With his third great album this decade, he tackles love, loyalty – and the ultimate deadline
Synths, tension and a skeleton: Inside the Scottish crew's new disc
On the eve of Obama's historic inauguration, the Democrats allowed themselves to be outfoxed by a craven scum eater
The "Just Dance" singer on leotards, the first lady and raunchy lyrics
The virtuoso violinist (and whistler) makes his most accessible CD yet
Clean coal could present Obama's biggest energy challenge
Oscar's bad boy goes off the deep end on art, life, politics and what his kids think of him going gay in 'Milk'
The world's biggest new pop star is a little bit country, a little bit rock & roll, and all control freak. What's behind Taylor Swift's drive for success?
How M. Ward's vintage sound made him indie rock's go-to collaborator
A Q&A with the politically incorrect host of 'Real Time'
Anatomy of a radio killer: a guide to the-Dream's biggest, hookiest hit singles
Why the beautiful cast of TV's most sexily subversive show may be the last people in America living the fabulous life
On his ex-wife, his Tom Jones impression and his new CD with Timbaland
The violent, acid-fueled journey of America's new kings of metal
Inside the hermetically sealed, perpetually stoned, compulsively improvised bubble around the world's most endearing gangsta
The Yeah Yeah Yeah singer on crying at the club and cutting back on booze
People always said about me, 'She's not going anywhere – she's a fat girl.' But it's obviously not an issue. I'm selling records, aren't I?
It's a land of Walt Whitman and Chuck Berry, of border towns and murder ballads — and America's greatest songwriter may be the last man living there
Rising hitmaker loves Merle, the Bible, weed; hates trust-fund kids
Porn's biggest star reads Nietzche, likes it rough and says she's liberating women
Gaga worships Warhol, kisses girls (for real), and she's the biggest new pop star of 2009
Inside hot Internet series 'Wainy Days'
The drugs that gives you the hallucinatory urge to indulge your most moronic whims
In this age of celebrity, it's sensible to question the values of being a pop star.
Inside a gated compound in South Africa, one of rock's most legendary drummers is still making enemies
We rank the best from the past two decades
Three leading political observers sit down to assess the first 100 days of his historic presidency
How the band overcame drugs, divisiveness and the plane crash that nearly killed their drummer
The inside story of the forces that tore apart the world's greatest band
U.K. rockers team with Josh Homme for trippy, heavy third album
The Fab Four's albums get their first sonic upgrade in 22 years
I was a geek in high school. I didn't really have my first drink until my first divorce.
Days after her 51st birthday, pop's reigning queen reflects on three decades of provocation, scandal and monster hits
Four of rock's greatest young songwriters form band, cut killer debut
The singer's new DVD documents gigs in France, U.K., Germany
The world's waste has formed a vast floating garbage dump that's twice the size of Texas, and it's working its way up the food chain
Her album is late. Her shrink is on the phone. And her biological clock is ticking. But nothing will stop her quest for global domination
On his new album, 'Soulbook,' singer takes on Motown, Stax hits
The Arctic is melting faster than predicted — and the resulting release of carbon and methane could prove catastrophic
From rehearsals with Bruce Springsteen and Metallica to Mick Jagger's surprise finale with U2
Inside the meetings, the debates and the secret ballots of a passionate and rigorous process
Singer's new album inspired by Motley Crue, whiskey, David Bowie
