People: Obama, Clinton retain most-admired rankings
The annual Gallup poll of the most admired men and women in America has come out, and it contains two actors, a queen, a pope, a talk show host and a plethora of politicians.
President Barack Obama hung on to the top spot on the list of most admired men, despite the health care drama, for the sixth year in a row. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton was first on the list of most admired women, her record-setting 18th time on the list.
Francis, the pope whose popularity soared in 2013 amid anecdotes of his selflessness and frugality, tied for second with George W. Bush. Still, the pope and the former president lagged far behind Obama, 4 percent compared with 16 percent.
Nelson Mandela actually beat out both Bush and Francis. The survey was conducted Dec. 5-8 – Mandela died on the 5th. The South African leader scored 7 percent in the poll, but it’s limited to the living, so he was excluded.
Clinton has been named most admired woman for the last 12 years in a row, according to Gallup. Her 18 appearances on the list are more than any other woman in Gallup’s history, although her total of 15 percent is down from 21 percent in 2012 and the lowest since 2006.
This was Obama’s sixth year as most admired man, but he has a long way to go when it comes to the most top 10 finishes among men. The Rev. Billy Graham reigns supreme with 57. Queen Elizabeth II (10th on this year’s list) holds the record for top 10 finishes among women with 46.
Only one actor ( Clint Eastwood) and one actress ( Angelina Jolie) made the 2013 list.
Here are the top 10 men: Obama, 16 percent; Bush, 4 percent; Pope Francis, 4 percent; Bill Clinton, 2 percent; Graham, 2 percent; Bill Gates, 1 percent; Eastwood, 1 percent; Ron Paul, 1 percent; Ted Cruz, 1 percent; Mitt Romney, 1 percent; Jimmy Carter, 1 percent.
The top 10 women: Hillary Clinton, 15 percent; Oprah Winfrey, 6 percent; Michelle Obama, 5 percent; Sarah Palin, 5 percent; Malala Yousafzai, 2 percent; Condoleezza Rice, 2 percent; Angela Merkel, 1 percent; Jolie, 1 percent; Duchess Kate, 1 percent; Queen Elizabeth II, 1 percent.
Bon Jovi sets world, band record
Bon Jovi not only has the year’s top tour, but the rock band has achieved a career high.
The New Jersey-based act’s worldwide tour grossed $259.5 million this year, topping Pollstar’s annual top 20 list and setting a record for the band itself.
Beyonce is second with $188.6 million. She ended her tour last week in Brooklyn, N.Y. Pink, Justin Bieber and Bruce Springsteen round out the top five.
The top 20 list also included Taylor Swift, Elton John, Rihanna, Depeche Mode and One Direction. The Rolling Stones’ comeback tour ranked 12th, a notch under Paul McCartney.
The birthday bunch
Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is 76. Rock musician Andy Summers is 71. Actor Sir Ben Kingsley is 70. Actress Bebe Neuwirth is 55. Actor Val Kilmer is 54. Author Nicholas Spark s is 48. Rapper Psy is 36.