Robin Williams tops CBC's 10 biggest arts stories of 2014

Pop culture churned out some important headlines in the world of arts and entertainment this year, from the stunning death of comedian Robin Williams to pop star Justin Bieber's latest brush with the law — and, of course, 2014 delivered a few potent celebrity scandals, too.

Here's a look back at some of the most-read entertainment stories of the last 12 months:

10. Céline Dion halts career to care for René Angélil

​Canadian singing superstar Céline Dion, 46, surprised fans in August when she announced that she was postponing all her show business activities indefinitely to give her attention to her husband, René Angélil, who is battling cancer. The decision effectively ended the Dion's successful run at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and cancelled an upcoming Asian tour. Fans responded with an outpouring of support.

9. Renee Zellweger puts new face forward

Renee Zellweger became the subject of one of the most read stories on CBCNews.ca this year when she revealed a dramatically different-looking face in October. Fans were taken aback by the puzzling changes in the Bridget Jones star's appearance, and their reaction resulted in a lively discussion about cosmetic surgery and the challenges of being an aging actor in Hollywood. When asked what she thought about the social media storm, Zellweger, 45, said she was happy people were noticing the results of her "more fulfilling life."​

8. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt tie the knot

After years of speculation Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt got married in late August. Despite being Hollywood's biggest glamour couple, the pair managed to pull off a completely clandestine ceremony at their chateau in France, attended by family, friends and the couple's six children. The event's total secrecy was a coup for the camera-hounded couple who announced their nuptials just as they prepared to launch the publicity campaigns for upcoming their movies, Fury and Unbroken.

7. Kim Kardashian tries to break … everything

Even if you didn't want to see any more Kim Kardashian this year, the socialite turned reality TV star seemed to be everywhere in 2014. From her Italian wedding to rapper Kanye West, to her omnipresence on social media and the launch her own fame and fashion app, Kardashian, 34, continued to capitalize on her star power. And then, just in case we hadn't noticed her yet, she bared her much-talked-about derriere on a magazine cover in November, generating a fresh cacophony of clicks.

6. George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin get married

Old Hollywood romance made a comeback in September with a lavish Venitian wedding between a handsome movie star and a beautiful and powerful London lawyer. George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin's wedding drew some of the biggest names in show business — and an army of photographers — to the Italian lagoon city, and it drove a figurative stake into the heart of Clooney's many admirers. Alamuddin's Oscar de la Renta wedding gown was thrust back into the headlines weeks later when the legendary designer died in October.

5. Justin Bieber's brushes with the law

Justin Bieber raced into the headlines early in 2014, with police raiding the pop star's California home followed shortly by his arrest in Miami Beach on charges of street racing and driving under the influence. Both cases were resolved with fines and/or probation. But the pop star, 20, faced new charges by September after an altercation in his hometown of Stratford, Ont. The same month, prosecutors dropped an assault charge against him in another case, this one involving a limo driver in Toronto.

4. Nude celebrity photos leak online

The internet showed its darker side in late summer when the intimate images of dozens of celebrities, including Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, began surfacing online. Hackers said they'd stolen data belonging to 100 actors and singers in an iCloud security breach. The hack was seen as a blow to Apple, and sparked a wider discussion about the nature of privacy, security and celebrity in the digital age. Celebrities affected by the leak threatened Google with $100-million lawsuit in October over its alleged failure to remove the images from its search results. 

3. Bill Cosby rape allegations

American TV dad and stand-up comedian Bill Cosby made headlines in 2014, not for his humour, but his alleged misconduct. Simmering allegations of sexual assault came back to the surface when comedian Hannibal Buress called Cosby a rapist during a gig in September. The headline seemed to encourage a number of women, including former model Janice Dickinson, to come forward with claims that Cosby drugged and raped them over the years. NBC and Netflix​ dropped projects with the entertainer, 77, who continues to tour despite the backlash. Cosby has never been charged in connection with any of the allegations​.

​2. Jian Ghomeshi charged

The sudden departure of Jian Ghomeshi from his post at CBC's popular radio show Q sparked a flurry of speculation one Friday in September, but nothing could have predicted the shock waves that would hit with his eventual firing and the emergence of claims of violence and harassment. By late November, a number of woman had come forward with allegations, and Ghomeshi, 47, was formally charged with four counts of sexual assault. His lawyer said he intends to plead not guilty to all charges, none of which have been tested in court. 

1. The death of Robin Williams 

Whether you heard with a buzz on your device, a voice on the radio or a call from a friend, Robin Williams's death apparently had a big impact on our readers this year.

Fans responded with an outpouring of emotion as they remembered the quick-witted man behind such lovable characters as sitcom extraterrestrial Mork and his cross-dressing, divorced dad, Mrs. Doubtfire.

So widespread was was the grief that it actually led to a surge in charitable donations around the world and re-opened an important conversation on addiction, suicide and mental health.