The year 2008 was one for the history books.
It was a year of incredible highs, numbing lows, new household names and countless surprises along the way.
The following represent some of the most popular stories on ABCNews.com from the past year.
The list includes exclusive interviews and investigations, new trends in health and lifestyles, breaking economic news and feature stories focusing on everything from Hollywood stars to chefs' secrets.
John Edwards admitted to ABC News in an interview with Bob Woodruff that he repeatedly lied about an extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter, a 42-year-old campaign employee. The news broke on ABCNews.com, resulting in the most-read story of 2008.
Edwards strenuously denied being involved in paying the woman hush money or fathering her newborn child. The former Democratic U.S. senator and presidential candidate from North Carolina said he would be willing to take a paternity test and divulge the results publicly.
"Two years ago I made a very serious mistake, a mistake that I am responsible for and no one else," Edwards said. "In 2006, I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness. And we have kept this within our family since that time."
Read the story: Edwards Admits Sexual Affair; Lied as Presidential Candidate.
Watch the full interview: Edwards Admits to Affair With Rielle Hunter.
Read the full transcript: Excerpts of Edwards Interview with Bob Woodruff .
Another political scandal involving an affair also ranked among the most-read stories. U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fla., whose predecessor resigned in the wake of his own sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who had been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.
Read the story: Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress.
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