Britney Spears tops ET's annual Hot List

Britney Spears has topped ET's annual Hot List.

Singer Britney Spears arrives at the Cannes festival palace to attend the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes in this Jan. 24, 2004 file photo. 

The 27-year-old singer - who has achieved incredible success with comeback album "Circus" - took the coveted number one spot in the list, made up of the stars who have received the most coverage and mentions on U.S. TV show "Entertainment Tonight" in the past year.

An ET writer explained: "From a historical election to surprising splits, sizzling romances and major comebacks, 2008 was a remarkable year for celebrity news." Britney - who has got her life back on track following her public breakdown, in which she shaved her head and lost custody of her two sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline - was followed on the list by US TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Rounding off the top five were Brad Pitt, U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama and Brad's partner Angelina Jolie. Other celebrities included in the top 20 were George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith and Miley Cyrus.

ET's annual Hot List, top 20 people of 2008:

1. Britney Spears

2. Oprah Winfrey

3. Brad Pitt

4. Barack Obama

5. Angelina Jolie

6. George Clooney

7. Tom Cruise

8. Donny Osmond

9. Jennifer Aniston

10. Julianne Hough

11. Hillary Clinton

12. Marie Osmond

13. Miley Cyrus

14. Madonna

15. Katie Holmes

16. John McCain

17. America Ferrera

18. Michelle Obama

19. Will Smith

20. Valerie Bertinelli