Walters Names "10 Most Fascinating People of 2009"

Who does Barbara Walters think are the ten most fascinating people of 2009? Even more intriguing, who does Walters think is the most fascinating person of the year?

Here's the answer to the first question, courtesy of ABC News, with the first on the list being the answer the answer to the second:

Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United StatesLady Gaga, pop singerGlenn Beck, political commentatorTyler Perry, entertainment mogulKate Gosselin, reality TV star Adam Lambert, season 8 "American Idol" runner-up Sarah Palin, former Alaska Governor and former vice presidential candidateBrett Favre, NFL QuarterbackJenny Sanford, First Lady of South CarolinaParis, Prince Michael and Prince Michael II, Michael Jackson's three children

So why are all these people so fascinating? One theme seems to be dealing with adversity in the public eye. Consider Gosselin, Sanford and the Jackson kids; in describing them the ABC coverage uses the term "thrust into the spotlight" several times. Another theme is remarkable success, as with Gaga, Perry and Favre. Finally, Walters gives a nod to being oneself by picking Lambert and Palin. It's beyond me why anybody would consider Beck for anything but a haters' award, but that's for another forum.

Walters' selection of the First Lady as the most fascinating person of the year sums up nicely what she admires: people who face the public eye with grace, achieve success in what they set out to do and remain true to themselves while they do it.

 

Photo courtesy of Christopher Peterson via flickr.