Dictionaries outline issues. It’s their job. So when dictionary.com pronounced “6-7” as their 2025 phrase of the yr, you’d assume they might have, properly, outlined it.
But no. “We’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” they instructed us of this yr’s “linguistic time capsule.”
But that’s simply how popular culture works, isn’t it? Who’s to clarify why mother and father alone of their vehicles have been out of the blue singing “up up up” from that “KPop Demon Hunters?” track? Or why, within the Venn diagram of popular culture and zoology, it was the capybara that emerged victorious and beloved? Goodbye, Moo Deng. You’re lovely, however so 2024.
Despite our new obsessions, although, some issues remained fixed — by which we imply Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, in fact. It looks as if yearly will get larger for Swift. But in 2025, she put a bow — or ring — on it with Travis Kelce, asserting “your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” As for Beyoncé, the musical goddess lastly gained that finest album Grammy she lengthy deserved — and, on tour, launched a brand new drive: her daughter, Blue Ivy.
So from the inexplicable to the acquainted, this is our annual, extremely selective journey down popular culture reminiscence lane:
JANUARY
They will not be TAYVIS, however they’re a pleasant couple simply the identical: ZENDAYA and TOM HOLLAND are engaged. Let’s hear it additionally for DEMI MOORE, who wins a GOLDEN GLOBE for her wild efficiency in “The Substance.” At the bookstore, followers go wild for “ONYX STORM,” the third installment of REBECCA YARROS’ romantasy sequence. A NIRVANA reunion highlights FireAssist, a fundraiser for reduction efforts following the Los Angeles wildfires. At the Australian Open, U.S. tennis star COCO GAUFF mourns the short-term lack of TikTok’s app again house, drawing a damaged coronary heart on a TV lens.
FEBRUARY
“Salutations!” says SAMUEL L. JACKSON, introducing KENDRICK LAMAR, the primary solo hip-hop artist — and Pulitzer winner — to headline the Super Bowl halftime present. (P.S. Is that SERENA WILLIAMS?) At the GRAMMYS, members of the Los Angeles Fire Department current BEYONCÉ along with her finest album trophy for “COWBOY CARTER” — the most awarded and nominated artist in Grammy historical past turns into the primary Black girl to win the highest prize within the twenty first century. In the age of TikTok, you by no means know what’s going to catch fireplace — like these hand-penned occasion invites from 87-year outdated DOUG TURNER to his Pennsylvania neighbors, with the priceless line: “4 p.m. until the cops arrive.”
MARCH
It’s OSCAR month! All hail to SEAN BAKER’S victorious, Brooklyn-set “ANORA” and its star, MIKEY MADISON. Also scoring an appearing prize is ADRIEN BRODY for “THE BRUTALIST” — who in all probability ought to have discovered one other place to place his chewing gum. “WICKED,” an viewers favourite, misses out on huge prizes, however its stars, CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE, carry out a rousing opening quantity. Meanwhile, the once-promising Netflix contender “EMILIA PÉREZ” wins two prizes however sees finest image possibilities evaporate within the wake of an uproar over previous tweets from star KARLA SOFÍA GASCÓN.
APRIL
The blender! The toxic fruit! The lizard! And SAM ROCKWELL! The Thailand-set third season of “THE WHITE LOTUS ” is actually a talker. KATY PERRY could also be wishing she’d headed to Thailand slightly than outer house: her Earth-kissing return from an 11-minute journey on a JEFF BEZOS Blue Origin rocket is extensively mocked — even by Wendy’s, which writes on X: “Can we send her back.” On BEYONCÉ’S “Cowboy Carter” tour, a star has emerged — 13-year outdated BLUE IVY. In a megadeal, HAILEY BIEBER sells her Rhode skincare and make-up model for a cool $1 billion.
MAY
A disaster, at CANNES! The movie fest bans nudity on the carpet — do they assume it will halt the “naked dress” phenomenon? Bonne likelihood. Also at Cannes, TOM CRUISE once more reveals he’ll danger life and limb to entertain, this time atop a traditional biplane in “MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING.” Across the ocean, the MET GALA turns its focus to menswear and Black type over the centuries. “It took a minute,” says an approving SPIKE LEE. “You belong with me,” SWIFT sings, shopping for again the rights to her first six albums. Finally, cue the “Chicago Pope” memes — in honor of the primary American pope, LEO XIV. Later this yr, he’ll reveal his WORDLE technique.
JUNE
“The world will know you as pop stars — but you will be much more than that.” Like, maybe, the shock, multigenerational hit of the summer season? “KPOP DEMON HUNTERS” begins streaming this month, and in August will give Netflix a giant field workplace win with its singalong screenings. On TV, it’s a brand new season of affection — “LOVE ISLAND USA,” that’s, chronicling the goings-on at a luxurious villa in Fiji. It’s the album cowl that launched a thousand conversations: Some are offended when SABRINA CARPENTER illustrates her “MAN’S BEST FRIEND” album with a photograph of her on all fours, with a person holding her hair. Is it offensive, a purposeful joke, or nothing in any respect? Meanwhile politics finds its approach into the GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL in Britain, as rap-punk duo BOB VYLAN spark a police probe after main a chant calling for “death” to the Israeli navy.
JULY
OASIS begins a reunion tour, and the GALLAGHER brothers are nonetheless getting alongside! “SYDNEY SWEENEY has great jeans,” goes the much-discussed commercial, and American Eagle insists it’s in regards to the denim. CBS says it’ll finish STEPHEN COLBERT’S present in May 2026 — a transfer that can take away from air one among President DONALD TRUMP’S most outspoken critics. We can not depart July behind — though a minimum of two individuals would have beloved to — with out mentioning the saga of the COLDPLAY KISSCAM. Finally, inside six days, the world loses three ’80s icons: mustachioed wrestling icon HULK HOGAN, heavy metallic godfather OZZY OSBOURNE, and beloved “Cosby Show” actor MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER.
AUGUST
Let’s simply give this complete entry to popular culture’s largest “LOVE STORY” — as a result of, child, she mentioned sure! TAYLOR-TRAVIS skeptics eat their phrases when the couple pronounces their comfortable news, in what’s destined to grow to be one of the appreciated posts in Instagram historical past. It’s the fairytale fruits of a courtship that started throughout the Eras Tour and for 2 years captivated tens of millions world wide however particularly Swifties, the pop star’s loving and fiercely protecting fan base.
SEPTEMBER
Proving as soon as once more that Hollywood loves tales about itself, the EMMYS heap awards on SETH ROGEN’S movie-biz satire “THE STUDIO.” Also triumphing is “THE PITT,” the edgy medical drama starring beloved “ER” veteran NOAH WYLE that beats out the mighty “SEVERANCE.” Perhaps the largest Cinderella story of all: 15-year-old OWEN COOPER, the youngest Emmy winner in over 40 years for the searing “ADOLESCENCE.” Also this month, JIMMY KIMMEL is quickly suspended by ABC bosses for feedback that angered supporters of the slain CHARLIE KIRK. The world says goodbye to ROBERT REDFORD, Hollywood’s golden display idol turned influential activist.
OCTOBER
“So, how was your October?” “Oh, 6-7.” That’s apparently how one ought to use the brand new viral time period — accompanied by that palms-up gesture. You know who has higher strikes than that? BAD BUNNY, who hosts the season premiere of “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.” In SWIFT updates, her new album “THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL”units gross sales information. The stunning LOUVRE HEIST captures the world’s consideration, not least for the impossibly dapper stranger who walks into an AP photographer’s body. Another unhappy loss: DIANE KEATON, well-known for her fedoras, vests and particularly “La di da, La di da.”
NOVEMBER
Are we on the finish of the yellow brick street? The “WICKED” press tour, which reached all ends of the universe precise and fictional, wraps with the discharge of JON M. CHU’S second installment, “WICKED: FOR GOOD.” The opinions are a lot much less, er, enthusiastical this time, however the film defies gravity on the field workplace. That’s not sufficient for JONATHAN BAILEY, aka FIYERO, who’s named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. Another fan favourite, ROBERT IRWIN, can also be having an excellent month: a decade after his sister, BINDI, did the identical, the son of late conservationist STEVE IRWIN is topped winner of “DANCING WITH THE STARS.”
DECEMBER
One award after one other! Excuse the slightly apparent pun, however it’s the proper one to explain momentum within the OSCARS race. While some movies see their fortunes fade on GOLDEN GLOBE nominations day, the rising favourite is “ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER,” director PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON’S father-daughter saga of political resistance starring LEONARDO DiCAPRIO and newcomer CHASE INFINITI. Its success additionally lends a victory to WARNER BROS. in the course of its NETFLIX acquisition deal — which, at yr’s finish, is in a holding sample, dealing with antitrust challenges and a hostile takeover effort from PARAMOUNT, and sowing one worry after one other that the very nature of leisure will change.
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