The best, weirdest and wildest pop culture moments of 2024

From Moo Deng to “Brat,” “Wicked” to the failed Willy Wonka event in Scotland, these were the most unforgettable pop culture moments of 2024.

Whew. That’s the way we feel as we round the bend into the final days of the year. We really had it ALL in 2024: Era-defining albums, the Olympics, the return of the blockbuster movie musical, a devastatingly cute pygmy hippo. You might not remember it all, but we took note of every niche pop culture oddity and TikTok fad. And there were many surprises — perennial history-maker Taylor Swift didn’t even make the cut this year. Helming the highest-grossing tour ever is probably enough recognition. Go down memory lane with us as we revisit the trends and crazes that got us through this wacky year — for better or worse. Best Midwesterner: Chappell Roan The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer’s debut album actually came out over a year ago, but 2024 belonged to Roan, whose fiery hair was outmatched only by her hot songs and piercing candor. She captivated us with lascivious lyrics about loving women, electric live performances that brought drag to festival stages and a refreshing refusal to bow to the demands of an industry that too often wrings its stars dry. Our Midwestern Princess is reforming pop music in her image, and if the new songs she’s been teasing are any indication, she’ll dominate 2025, too.