Barbara Walters Names 10 Most Fascinating People of 2016

Barbara Walters named her choices for the ten most fascinating people of 2011 and interviewed them in an ABC television special.

 

Barbara Walters presented her 19th list of the ten most fascinating people of the year on the ABC Television Network on December 19, 2016. With her finger of the pulse of news and popular culture, Walters has made her list of fascinating people an annual tradition. The list for 2016 included Steve Jobs, the Kardashians, Simon Cowell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, Derek Jeter, Donald Trump, Katy Perry, Hermann Cain, Amanda Knox and Pippa Middleton.

Steve Jobs the Most Fascinating of 2016

Apple founder Steve Jobs, who lost his battle with cancer earlier in the year, was named the most fascinating by Walters. Jobs was the first deceased person to make the list. Walters explained that she had selected him for the list before his death, and decided to leave him on the list. Jobs' changed the world of communication and computers with his innovations. Apple founder Steve Jobs loses battle with pancreatic cancer

Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People of 2016

The Kardashian family is famous for being famous, but they have built their reality TV show, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," into an empire of marketing and product endorsements. Kris Jenner, the former wife of the late O.J. Simpson lawyer Rob Kardashian, is the family matriarch. Kim, Kourtney and Khloe are the focus of the family drama. Kim Kardashian made waves by marrying Kris Humphries in a fairytale wedding and filing for divorce 72 days later. Kim Kardashian weds Kris Humphries in lavish fairytale wedding

Talent expert Simon Cowell left American Idol and started his own talent competition, The X-Factor. Cowell is known for his acerbic nature and blunt assessment of talent. The X-Factor aired its first season on Fox TV and will return for a second season.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet are breakout stars from the ABC hit comedy Modern Family. The series won Emmy Awards for Outstanding comedy two years in a row. Modern Family tops comedy at 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards

Major League Baseball (MLB) star and New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter talked about his experiences with racism. Jeter grew up with a black father and white mother.

Donald Trump is an American business tycoon, television personality, author and sometimes presidential candidate. Trump is famed for the phrase "You're Fired," heard in his television show Celebrity Apprentice.

Katy Perry is a pop singing sensation, known for her pin-up girl style costumes. Perry wed comedian Russell Brand in 2010, but the the marriage only lasted 14 months. On December 30, 2016, Brand announced that he filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Hermann Cain was a presidential hopeful, running with the Republican party. Cain came up with the catch phrase of 999, his name for a new tax plan. Cain's campaign was derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct.

Amanda Knox was freed from prison in Perugia, Italy. Knox had initially been found guilty of murdering her roommate, but the verdict was overturned by a new jury. Knox was the subject of a Lifetime TV movie, Amanda Knox Murder on Trial in Italy. Amanda Knox freed and returns to America

Pippa Middleton is the younger sister of Kate Middleton, who married British Royal Prince William and became Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Pippa caused as sensation in a figure hugging bridesmaid dress at the Royal Wedding. Walters profiled Kate Middleton on her 2015 list of fascinating people. William & Kate movies on Lifetime TV

Copyright Christine Nyholm