The year is drawing to a close.
Therefore, it's time for the The Hollywood Gossip staff to back on 2009 and name the finalists for our prestigious, 3rd Annual Celebrity of the Year award.
In this section, we pay tribute to the unique celebrities that made this year so memorable for celebrity gossip followers across the nation and world.
These stars have given us their best, their worst, their ridiculous antics and, in the case of today's finalist, a series of age-inappropriate shenanigans.
Last week, our countdown featured the great Jon Gosselin in the #3 spot. Today, it's on to Celebrity of the Year Finalist #2: Miley Cyrus!
This is the second consecutive year Miley has finished one slot away from the top spot in our rankings. Perhaps she ought to alter her patented finger flash, shown above, slightly. Either that, or win some music awards.
Cyrus has actually grown up considerably in 2009. She famously deleted her Twitter account and started a new relationship (with Australian actor Liam Hemsworth) that she's keeping on the down low these days.
Of course, Miley has had her immature moments in the spotlight, too.
She danced like a stripper at the Teen Choice Awards in August; she wore inappropriate attire when meeting the Queen of England; and she yelled encouragement at her nine-year old sister during the latter's rendition of an Akon classic.
Will Miley ever achieve Taylor Swift-like levels of success and respect? We doubt it.
But she's clearly aiming her career in a more adult direction. In 2010, she'll make a cameo in the Sex and the City sequel, while also appearing alongside respected actor Greg Kinnear in The Last Song.
If those films are a hit, and if Cyrus can star in a few more scandals, she might find herself atop our Celebrity of the Year rankings. For now, her fans will have to settle for runner-up status again, which at least includes a photo montage in Miley's honor...
WHO WILL BE THG'S NUMBER-ONE CELEBRITY OF 2009? HAVE ANY GUESSES? RECOMMENDATIONS? VISIT THE SITE ON THURSDAY TO FIND OUT!
