Michael Jackson tops Yahoo’s search charts in 2009

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP) - Michael Jackson’s stunning death made him Yahoo’s biggest star this year.

The quest to find out what happened to Jackson in his final hours and celebrate his legacy elevated the late entertainer to the top of the Internet company’s annual breakdown of the most frequent online search requests.

The self-proclaimed King of Pop ended singer Britney Spears’ four-year reign atop Yahoo’s search rankings.

The list released Tuesday is meant to provide a reading on our cultural pulse.

As usual, people using Yahoo’s search engine in 2009 seemed to be most interested in celebrities and other diversions, even against the sobering backdrop of the worst recession in 70 years.