Britney Spears tops Yahoo searches

LOS ANGELES — She did it again: Britney Spears was the most popular search term on Yahoo for the fourth year in a row — her seventh time topping the list.

Spears bested World Wrestling Entertainment, Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus and the online game "RuneScape" as the five most-searched terms of 2008, the Web portal and search company announced Monday, a day before the singer released her new album "Circus."

(enlarge photo) Pop star Britney Spears leaves Fountain Studios in Wembley, London, after her X Factor performance on Saturday November 29, 2008. (AP Photo/PA, Carl Court)

Jessica Alba, the anime series "Naruto," Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie and "American Idol" rounded out the top 10 list. To compile their year-end review, Yahoo editors analyze search queries based on "absolute volume and growth versus previous periods, to see which themes and trends bubble to the surface." Users and their search queries remain anonymous.

Spears also continues to be a ratings draw on television, too. The Saturday episode of the British talent show "The X Factor," which featured an appearance by Spears, attracted 12.6 million viewers, the show's biggest audience, The Guardian reported Monday. Ratings for the Sunday premiere of Spears' MTV special, "Britney: For the Record," weren't yet available.

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YAHOO TOP 10 OVERALL SEARCHES FOR 2008

_ 1. Britney Spears

_ 2. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)

_ 3. Barack Obama

_ 4. Miley Cyrus

_ 5. "RuneScape"

_ 6. Jessica Alba

_ 7. "Naruto"

_ 8. Lindsay Lohan

_ 9. Angelina Jolie

_ 10. American Idol

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http://buzz.yahoo.com/yearinreview2008/

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