Dictionary.com’s 2025 word of the year, “6-7,” still has no official definition, but the pop-culture landscape of 2025 was full of surprises, from Taylor Swift’s wedding to Beyoncé’s Grammy win and viral moments that made headlines.
January
Zendaya and Tom Holland announced their engagement, a delightful couple that captured fans’ attention. Demi Moore won a Golden Globe for her wild performance in “The Substance.” Readers flocked to “Onyx Storm,” the third installment of Rebecca Yarros’ romantasy series. A Nirvana reunion highlighted FireAid, a fundraiser for relief efforts following the Los Angeles wildfires. At the Australian Open, U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff mourned the temporary loss of TikTok’s app back home, drawing a broken heart on a TV lens.
February
Samuel L. Jackson greeted the crowd with “Salutations!” before introducing Kendrick Lamar, the first solo hip-hop artist and Pulitzer winner to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. At the Grammys, the Los Angeles Fire Department presented Beyoncé with her best-album trophy for “Cowboy Carter.” She became the first Black woman to win the top prize in the 21st century, a moment that left her at a loss for words. In the age of TikTok, a hand-penned party invitation from 87-year-old Doug Turner to his Pennsylvania neighbors, featuring the line “4 p.m. until the cops arrive,” caught viral attention.
March
The Oscars honored Sean Baker’s Brooklyn-set “Anora,” starring Mikey Madison, while Adrien Brody won for “The Brutalist.” “Wicked” missed major prizes, but its stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performed a rousing opening number. Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” secured two awards but saw its best-picture chances evaporate amid an uproar over past tweets from star Karla Sofía Gascón.
April
The Thailand-set third season of “The White Lotus” sparked conversation. Katy Perry’s Earth-kissing return from a Jeff Bezos Blue Origin rocket drew mockery, with Wendy’s posting on X: “Can we send her back.” Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour introduced 13-year-old Blue Ivy. Hailey Bieber sold her Rhode skincare and makeup brand for $1 billion in a megadeal.
May
The Cannes film fest banned nudity on the carpet, attempting to curb the “naked dress” phenomenon. Tom Cruise performed a stunt atop a classic biplane in “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.” The Met Gala focused on menswear and Black style over the centuries, with Spike Lee remarking, “It took a minute.” Taylor Swift bought back the rights to her first six albums, singing, “You belong with me.” The “Chicago Pope” memes celebrated the first American pope, Leo XIV, who became pope on May 8, 2025.
June
“KPop Demon Hunters” began streaming, promising a summer hit. “Love Island USA” premiered a new season set in a luxury villa in Fiji. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend” album cover, featuring her on all fours with a man holding her hair, sparked debate over offense and intent. At Glastonbury, rap-punk duo Bob Vylan sparked a police probe after chanting “death” to the Israeli military.
July
Oasis reunited for a tour, with the Gallagher brothers still getting along. A Sydney Sweeney jeans advertisement claimed, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” while American Eagle insisted it was about denim. CBS announced it would end Stephen Colbert’s show in May 2026, removing a prominent critic of President Donald Trump from air. The Coldplay KissCam saga continued, and the world lost Hulk Hogan, Ozzy Osbourne, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in quick succession.
August
Taylor-Travis announced their wedding, a fairytale culmination of a courtship that began during the Eras Tour. The announcement became one of the most liked posts on Instagram, solidifying the couple’s place in pop-culture history.
September
The Emmys honored Seth Rogen’s “The Studio” and the medical drama “The Pitt,” which beat “Severance.” Owen Cooper, 15, became the youngest Emmy winner in over 40 years for “Adolescence.” Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily suspended by ABC after comments that angered supporters of Charlie Kirk. Hollywood icon Robert Redford passed away, ending an era of activism and film.
October
The viral term “6-7” was used with a palms-up gesture, while Bad Bunny hosted the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” Swift’s new album “The Life Of A Showgirl” set sales records. A Louvre heist captured global attention, and Diane Keaton died, remembered for her fedoras and films.
November
The “Wicked” press tour wrapped with the release of Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked: For Good.” Jonathan Bailey was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive. Robert Irwin won “Dancing With The Stars,” following his sister Bindi’s victory a decade earlier.
December
The Oscars race intensified, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” emerging as a favorite. The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti. Warner Bros. secured a win amid its stalled Netflix acquisition deal, facing antitrust challenges and a hostile takeover effort from Paramount.
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Swift’s wedding and Beyoncé’s Grammy win dominated the year’s pop-culture headlines.
- New media moments-from dictionary.com’s “6-7” to KPop Demon Hunters-shaped 2025’s viral landscape.
- The entertainment industry saw historic milestones, including Leo XIV’s papacy and record-breaking brand sales.
The year’s events illustrate how pop culture continues to evolve, blending music, film, fashion, and unexpected viral moments into a tapestry that captivates audiences worldwide.
