#10. Nice guy Kris Allen may have been crowned this year’s Idol winner, but it was runner-up Adam Lambert that had America talking. From the black eyeliner to the “Gothic” get-up-Lambert was slowly transforming into a Rock superstar. One of the most interesting things about Adam was the controversy that followed him. First there was the brief feud with Out magazine. And then there’s the risque performance at the 2009 American Music Awards.

Like Adam, Eminem knows a thing or two about controversy. 2009 brought the return of this popular rap superstar. Fans showed just how much they missed the “Stan” rapper as “Crack A Bottle” quickly soared to #1 on the charts with barely any promotion. Even more impressive was the high sales of the heavily anticipated album Relapse . Relapse went on to become the 2nd bestselling album of ’09. The video for “We Made You” targeted Businesswoman and singer Jessica Simpson, Amy Winehouse and Governor Sarah Palin-making them the latest victims of Slim Shady’s wrath. Eminem charts on our year-end countdown at #9.

Images: Adam-lambert.net and TheMavenReport.

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