Singer Cat Burns has emerged as the most searched-for female musician on Google in the UK for 2025. Her rise in popularity follows the release of her second album, How To Be Human, and her notable participation in the BBC reality gameshow, The Celebrity Traitors. Burns, aged 25, gained significant attention after reaching the final of the series, ultimately placing alongside TV presenter Jonathan Ross and comedian Alan Carr, who won the competition.
Reflecting on her year, Burns expressed gratitude for the support she has received. “This year has been a whirlwind,” she stated. “Going from watching The Traitors on my sofa to actually being in the castle was surreal, and the love I’ve felt from the British public has been genuinely heartwarming.” She added, “To have that support carry over to my new album means the world to me. Ending 2025 as Google’s top trending female musician is the cherry on top.”
Female Musicians in the Spotlight
Following Burns in the rankings are fellow contestants from The Celebrity Traitors, with Charlotte Church securing third place and Paloma Faith in fourth, the latter having announced her pregnancy in October. Lily Allen, who released her first album in seven years, West End Girl, claimed the second position. Completing the list is Alanis Morissette, the iconic 1990s alternative rock singer.
On the male side, the reunion of the band Oasis propelled them to the top of the searches. They were followed by Danny Jones, lead singer of McFly and winner of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. Sir Rod Stewart secured third place, while rapper Kendrick Lamar took fourth. Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, who returned to the Glastonbury Festival this year after a challenging performance two years prior, rounded out the top five male musicians.
Google Trends Reflect a Year of Emotion
In the realm of notable passings, US right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk was the most searched-for individual, with Ozzy Osbourne, who died in July, following closely behind. His band, which reunited for a one-off concert at Villa Park shortly before his death, was also among the top searches, coming in tenth. Footballer Diogo Jota and boxing champion Ricky Hatton ranked third and fourth respectively, while actor Gene Hackman completed the top five.
Amidst a wide array of topics, the Netflix drama series Adolescence topped searches for television shows, igniting national discussions about misogyny and online safety. Co-creator Jack Thorne even engaged in a dialogue with the Prime Minister on these pressing issues in March. Other popular shows included MobLand, Missing You, The Celebrity Traitors, and This City Is Ours.
When it comes to film, the most searched titles featured 28 Years Later, Nosferatu, Superman, A Minecraft Movie, and Happy Gilmore 2. The overall most searched individual was actor Mickey Rourke, who was removed from this year’s Celebrity Big Brother for using inappropriate language. He was followed by footballer Alexander Isak, whose transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool captured public attention, and Stephen Graham, co-creator of Adolescence.
Matt Cooke, a Google Trends expert, noted the significance of the year, stating, “Google Search is often a mirror to our collective mood, and in 2025 that reflection was distinctly British. It’s been a year defined by deep emotion — from the shared national grief for Ozzy Osbourne to the euphoria of the long-awaited Oasis reunion. Whether we were championing new icons like Cat Burns or dissecting every twist in The Celebrity Traitors, the trends reveal a country eager to connect, celebrate, and support its own.”
