As the world prepares for 2025, a year of wars, political changes, pop culture moments, sports triumphs, and lost stars remains.
ABC News will chronicle every moment and look back at the year’s defining events in a two-hour special, “The Year: 2024,” airing Thursday, Dec. 26 at 9 p.m. ET, then available on Hulu. It will be streamed.
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, who will host the special, will be joined by World News Tonight anchor and editor-in-chief David Muir and Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan. , joins Lara Spencer and others from ABC News Live Prime. “World News Tonight” Sunday anchor Lindsey Davis, “Nightline” co-anchor JuJu Chan, “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts and ABC News correspondent Will Reeve.
Taylor Swift performs on stage during the “Taylor Swift | The Elus Tour” held at Wembley Stadium in London on August 15, 2024.
Kate Green/Getty Images
The special will also include commentary from ABC News’ anchors, correspondents and contributors, including ABC News’ powerful political team, the co-hosts of “The View,” and more.
Now in its 14th year, the feature also includes interviews with Elton John, Teddy Swims, Lisa Ann Walter, Ilona Maher, Stephen Nedrosik and more. Here are some of the topics covered in the special issue.
obsession
Taylor Swift has been on our radar again this year, releasing her new album Tortured Poets Department and embarking on a new leg of her record-breaking Ella Tour. Charli XCX also dominated this summer when she declared, “Kamala is a brat” when Vice President Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for president.
In addition to this year’s music, the feature also covers the year’s social and fashion trends, as well as the movies that set box office records.
breaking news
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s controversial White House race dominated the news throughout much of 2024. Top topics include Joe Biden’s performance in the debate, Trump’s assassination attempt, Harris replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee, and ultimately Trump’s victory. .
Palestinian girls struggle to get food at a distribution center in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, December 6, 2024.
Abdel Kareem Hana/AP
The ongoing terrible war between Israel and Gaza continues into its second year and involves Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The war in Ukraine has passed 1,000 days, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has indicated that the time has come for peace talks with Russia.
celebrity romance
Will you do it or not? The special also explores how the love lives of some of our favorite stars have evolved this year. Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck after two years of marriage, ending their simmering relationship. Natalie Portman also split from Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millipied after 12 years.
But it wasn’t all bad news on the celebrity romance front: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship captivated the world, Hailey and Justin Bieber welcomed a baby boy, and “Golden Bachelorette” Joan Vassos was engaged to Chock Chapple.
law and justice
Former and future presidents weren’t the only notable figures appearing in court this year. ABC News experts weigh in on music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ not guilty plea to sex trafficking and other charges, the Menendez brothers’ infamous 1989 murder case coming back to life before a judge, and apocalypse. Investigating the death sentence for Chad Daybell, author of the triple murder of his family.
A photo booth with Elmo during Mindful Families hosted by Headspace in partnership with Sesame Street and Unicorn Productions on September 6, 2023 in New York City.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images, File
can’t miss the moment
Have you tried the popular “Dancing with the Stars” leg lift? This was just one of those moments that had everyone talking this year. Other moments include a surprising solar eclipse, an Elmo tweet that sparked a conversation about mental health, and a woman being rescued from a semi-truck dangling from the Clark Memorial Bridge in Kentucky.
breakout stars
Actor Glen Powell has been in the spotlight for much of 2024, earning critical acclaim for his performances in Anyone But You, Hitman, and Twisters. On the television front, Anna Sawai’s performance in Hulu’s historical drama “The Shogun” was highly praised, and she won the Emmy Award for Best Actress. Co-star Hiroyuki Sanada won the Best Actor Award, and the series won the Outstanding Drama Award.
Musically, Chapel Lawn had us all dancing at the Pink Pony Club, and Sabrina Carpenter had the world craving (platinum-certified) espresso. Shabouzi also announced that the party was being held near Fifth Avenue downtown and received five Grammy nominations in the process.
politics
In an election year, politics was at the center of many conversations. ABC correspondents look at how Republican Donald Trump overcame legal difficulties and an assassination attempt to win a second term as president.
His Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, may have had support from superstar celebrities like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, but it wasn’t enough to defeat a resurgent Trump.
President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage before speaking at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards on December 5, 2024 in Greenvale, New York.
Heather Khalifa/Associated Press
A.I.
The rise of artificial intelligence caused fear in 2023, but in 2024 this technology will be integrated into the devices we already have, with updates bringing artificial intelligence to our phones, laptops, or smart homes. may be added.
AI is being used in countless ways, from goodbye messages to medical investigations and even self-driving cars. The ABC team takes a closer look at it all.
memorial
This year, the world lost some of its brightest stars. ABC News celebrates the lives and accomplishments of Maggie Smith, Teri Garr and Carl Weathers. Donald Sutherland, Shelley Duvall, James Earl Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Quincy Jones, Liam Payne, and more.
Katie Ledecky of the United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women’s 1500m freestyle final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 31, 2024 in Nanterre, France.
Sarah Steer/Getty Images
champion
The 2024 Paris Olympics took the summer sports world by storm. Swimmer Katie Ledecky became the most successful female Olympian in U.S. history, and gymnast Simone Biles began her comeback among other major successes at this year’s Olympics.
The special also highlights the triumphant story of Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis-Woodhall, a couple who took home the gold and captured our hearts.
Besides the Olympics, the Kansas City Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls, the New York Liberty won their first championship title, and the Los Angeles Dodgers became Major League Baseball’s World Series champions.
