Cover Story

The 2009 Hot List

From the next M.I.A. to the best recession drugs to the sexiest surfer girl in the world. Pop an Ambien and cue up the sounds of rock's great French hope: Here are the 162 things that are burning up 2009.

Photos: Who's hot in 2009
Covers: Classic Hot List covers through the years
Hot Model: Up close with Daisy Lowe
Hot Trekkie: Ben Stiller
Hot Sidekick: Harry Potter star Rupert Grint
Hot Comic: Aubrey Plaza
Hot Nerd: Jesse Eisenberg
Hot Movie Cameo: Mike Tyson

Lady Gaga: The New
Princess of Pop

Watch out, Katy Perry: Lady Gaga kisses girls (for real), claims Marilyn Manson and Madonna as fans and is on the verge of becoming the defining pop star of the year.
By Brian Hiatt

Photos: Gaga's wildest wardrobe moments.

Three Sick Stooges

In The Hangover, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zac Galifianakis play groomsmen who go on a twisted, epic bender in Vegas. Which one would be the most fun to go to Sin City with in real life? By Erik Hedegaard

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Inside the 'Death Tax' Scam

By pouring millions into an effort to slash the estate tax, some of America's wealthiest families may save $90 billion over the next decade. So why are some Democrats siding with the super-rich? By Michael Crowley

FEATURES

Jay Leno: The RS Interview

After 17 years as the host of The Tonight Show, Leno is moving to prime time. The late-night king talks about passing the torch to Conan, messing up his perfect attendance record, and his secret to surviving in show business. By Neil Strauss

The Saga of an Ivy
League Con Girl

The tale of a high school dropout who created the ultimate fake ID, scammed her way into Harvard and Columbia and became the target of a nationwide manhunt. By Sabrina Rubin Erdely

Rock & Roll

'American Idol':
Long Live Rock

With apologies to Daughtry, David Cook and this year's winner, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert is Idol's first real rock star.

Essential 'Idol' Coverage: Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on the road ahead. Plus: Photos from this season, and Rob Sheffield's analysis of the season's finale.

Q&A: At 64, Eric Clapton is still soul-searching

Profile: Elvis Costello hits Nashville for blue-grass influenced disc

Checking In: Inside Blink-182's Big Reunion

Flashback: The Making of the Woodstock Documentary

Breaking: Grizzly Bear Go to Church, Craft Ambitious Art-Rock Set

What's Up With: Kid Cudi

In the Studio: Devo Comeback Disc Gets Assist from LCD Soundsystem; Chester Bennington's 'Sexier' Side; Recession, Trip to Africa Inspire Jimmy Buffett Album

Hall of Fame: Springsteen's Farewell to the Boardwalk

RECORDS

DMB Return With
Best Album Yet

Crew honors fallen sax player with electric new album.

PLUS: Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Dirty Projectors, Neil Young, Iron and Wine, Sarah Jarosz, Electrik Red, Eels, Rhett Miller, Ben Harper and the Relentless7, The Who, Method Man and Redman, Nils Lofgren, Mandy Moore, Unknown Instructors, Jeff Buckley, the Dead Weather, the Sounds and Crosby, Stills and Nash

FRICKE'S PICKS:
Cocktail Slippers, That Boy! More Girls With Guitars, El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez and Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber

MOVIES

'The Hangover'

Twisted Vegas comedy is the funniest movie of the year.

Plus: Terminator Salvation, Drag Me to Hell, Up and
Away We Go

The Travers Take: More movie news and reviews from our movie critic.

Travers Hits Twitter: Tap in for daily Twitter updates — juicy interview tidbits and knee-jerk reviews — from our film critic.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

Jonas Brothers Prep Summer Tour: Go behind the scenes with Nick, Joe and Kevin as they get ready to launch the U.S. leg of their world tour. With photos and an exclusive report from the band's rehearsals.

Rock & Roll Yearbook: As the class of 2009 graduates, see what your favorite rockers looked like in high school — browse yearbook photos of Madonna, Prince, Eddie Vedder and others.

Phish Hit Boston: The jam kings kick off their summer reunion tour at Fenway Park; check out live pics and read our rundown of the show.

The Vaselines' Live Performance: The Scottish indie-pop stalwarts enter the Smoking Section to perform classics including "Molly's Lips," "Son of a Gun" and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam."

Sasquatch! Music Festival 2009: Kings of Leon, Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, TV on the Radio and others hit Washington's Gorge for the three-day fest. Check out photos and read our live report.

Celebrating a Hip-Hop Classic: Twenty years after releasing 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul give us a track-by-track breakdown of the seminal album.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs: See photos and read a complete report from the band's summer tour opener in Chicago.