Kicking off the list is Miley Cyrus, currently lending her voice to the animated family film 'Bolt' opposite John Travolta. From movies to magazines to her second album Breakout debuting at No. 1, Miley is taking the world by storm -- all before the age of 16!
"At the end of 2007, I said that I wanted 2008 to be the year of total adventure," said an appreciative Miley. "God granted my wish to the fullest extent."
Next up it's Kim Kardashian at No. 7 on our list: Whether she was giving it her all on "Dancing with the Stars," fighting with her family on her hit reality show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" or simply getting a pedicure on Hollywood.TV, the fascination with Kim is never-ending.
At No. 6 is Christina Applegate -- one of America's sweethearts for over 20 years -- winning the fight of her life. In April, the 36-year-old "Samantha Who" star was diagnosed with breast cancer. Courageously, she opted for a double mastectomy and today is cancer free.
"I think it's fantastic!" said Christina when she heard the news of her "8 in '08" honor. "That makes me almost want to cry. Thank you."
Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry made 2008 his year of living famously. His movies, such as 'Madea's Family Reunion' and most recently 'The Family That Preys Together,' regularly open at the top of the box office and have earned a quarter-billion dollars in the U.S. alone. This year, he opened up the first African-American-owned production studio too!
Super couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie land at No. 5 on the '08 list, as they introduced newborn twins Knox and Vivienne to their brood and nabbed a record $14 million for the first photos -- which they promptly donated to charity. Both stars are also creating Oscar buzz for their respective holiday movies, 'Changeling' and 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'
2008 was also the year that Tina Fey became a national superstar. The "30 Rock" comedienne's hit NBC show walked away with four Emmys including Best Comedy and Best Actress. But the magic truly began when she returned to her "Saturday Night Live" stomping grounds in September to deliver her first killer impersonation of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin. Millions tuned in to watch her, and her skits went viral on YouTube.
Katie Couric's interviews with Palin, which became the popular subject of parody with Fey on "SNL," also lands the CBS broadcaster on our "8 in '08" list. With select questions stumping Palin, some believe that the Edward R. Murrow Award winner's one-on-one may have changed the outcome of the election.
"I let the viewers and voters judge for themselves," says Katie, telling our own Lara Spencer upon hearing that she joins the "8 in '08," "I am very flattered and I appreciate it so much."
Finally, president-elect Barack Obama tops the "8 in '08" list. With a ground-breaking Internet fundraising campaign, the young senator from Illinois battled tough competition in Hillary Clinton to clinch the Democratic party's nomination -- and run a historic, edge-of-your-seat campaign against Republican nominee John McCain to become the first-ever African-American U.S. president-elect.
Watch "The Insider" for more on the influential "8 of '08"!
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