While the Dakota Access Pipeline is no longer in danger of poisoning the water source on the Standing Rock reservation, there's still worry about whether the decision to keep the oil pipeline away from Lake Oahe will last.

Image Facebook

Carpool Karaoke is a blessing in general, but when First Lady Michelle Obama got in James Corden's car, it was the real deal. Missy Elliott joined in too, making it one of the most inspiring car rides ever.

After being snubbed for two decades, Leonardo DiCaprio finally did it. He won an Academy Award for his role in The Revenant.

Pokémon definitely reached a peak in the late '90s, but in 2016, the franchise became the country's favorite game again—this time in the form of a mobile app, Pokémon Go. The combination of a gaming classic and new technology? Perfection.

We waited a long time for a follow-up to one of Pixar's most beloved films, Finding Nemo. Finding Dory hit theaters with a sweet and goofy story in June and raked in over $1 billion on the box office.

The Rock busts out his musical chops in Moana, the Disney animated movie with a strong female lead and music by the world's new favorite, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The kids from Stranger Things were convincing as D&D-playing, Demogorgon-battling, Feds-escaping '80s kids in the Netflix series. But during press runs for the show, they were just plain charming. We can't wait to seem them again in Season 2 (and in music videos and late-night talk shows too!).

In May, Gucci Mane was released early after serving a sentence for a possession of firearms charge. He'd been releasing music from the inside, but when we got out, he started dropping new material left and right, including his feature on Rae Sremmurd's No. 1 song "Black Beatles."

Seriously, how long did we have to wait for a new Frank Ocean album? Too long. Oh, just four years? Whatever. Frank Ocean came back to our open arms with Blonde (and Endless, if you're into that too), finally giving us the return we impatiently awaited.

Solange's True EP was short and sweet, and it had us longing for more. At the end of September, the younger Knowles released A Seat at the Table, which was more than we had ever expected, twirling her heart into social awareness, making an album that said everything that many wanted to say.

Ciara and Future's messy breakup has been playing out for a couple years now. But in the aftermath, she found new love in Russell Wilson. This year, they got married, got pregnant and seem happier than ever.

Adele went on a marathon tour this year to follow-up the success of her 25 LP. Some memorable moments include her dodging a bat in Mexico, yelling at a fan for filming, endorsing Hillary Clinton and accepting a wedding invitation onstage.

OK, OK. I know what you're thinking: Taylor Swift had some funky feuds this year with Calvin Harris and Kanye West, but when she wasn't in the headlines for those gossipy reasons, she was giving back in a big way, donating money to Dolly Parton's telethon, paying Kesha's legal fees and giving $1 million to Louisiana flood victims.

Teyana Taylor has always been around as a singer/dancer/director/visionary, but when we saw her dancing at the VMAs for Kanye West's "Fade" video, people began to notice. It sucks that it took a man to get her the attention she deserves, but now, you can't stop watching.

Who is the Honey Bun Baby? Don't worry about it. He doesn't.

Two kids in California got way too famous for wearing white Vans on Snapchat and Vans gave them a lifetime supply of shoes. But Daniel Lara and Josh Holz wanted to do something better. They donated the shoes to kids at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in Southern California in March.

Image Facebook

"It's the simple joys in life..." Candace Payne wrote on Facebook when she recorded what would be their most-watched FB Live video with 164 million views and counting. In May, she recorded a video wearing an electronic Chewbacca mask, laughing her ass off, and now, she's an internet celebrity.

Although we're all aware of the results of the U.S. election, Hillary Clinton made history this year by becoming the first woman to clinch a major-party endorsement for POTUS.

In November, Dave Chappelle came out of hiding and back to TV with his hosting gig on Saturday Night Live. After that, it was announced that he'd get three Netflix specials next year.

Chicago celebrated when the Cubs pulled in their first World Series win since 1908—the longest drought in professional sports.

After Monica's #SoGoneChallenge swept over Twitter, Chance the Rapper put his twist on it, providing the most adorable display of affection this year.