Rolling Stone has released a compilation of its most-read long-form articles from 2025, highlighting investigative pieces, personal profiles, and cultural analyses. The list spans topics from celebrity lives and political influences to social issues and sports scandals, reflecting the year's key concerns. Published on December 25, these stories drew significant reader engagement through detailed reporting and exclusive insights.
As 2025 draws to a close, Rolling Stone reflected on the narratives that captured public attention throughout the year. The magazine's annual roundup, ordered by publication date, begins with the transformation of Canadian Olympian Ryan Wedding from a 2002 snowboarding champion to a figure on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for drug trafficking and murders. Writer Jesse Hyde drew on court records and interviews with family and investigators to trace this descent.
Subsequent entries explore the growth of the UFC under Dana White, valued at $12 billion, and its ties to American politics, including events near President Trump. Jack Crosbie's access to White and fighters underscores the sport's evolution from niche entertainment to mainstream influence.
Music features include examinations of Eric Carmen's decline into seclusion before his 2024 death at age 74, and the tragic final days of One Direction's Liam Payne, who fell from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony amid substance struggles. Reporters delved into legal documents and witness accounts for comprehensive portraits.
Other standout pieces cover the impacts of California wildfires on individuals like property owner David Hertz and teacher Donald Kinsey; the rise and imprisonment of cult leader Eligio Bishop, known as Natureboy; and the background of Luigi Mangione, accused in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Further stories address global issues, such as Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland and the reversal of migration trends at the Darién Gap following stricter U.S. policies, with crossings dropping 98 percent early in the year. Investigations into Portland's fentanyl decriminalization challenges, AI-induced delusions, and scandals like the Shohei Ohtani betting case also feature prominently.
Profiles of artists like Sabrina Carpenter, who discussed fame's pressures during her album promotion, and Lady Gaga, opening up about mental health and panic attacks, add personal depth. Tributes to D’Angelo after his October death at 51 and reports on political violence, including the assassination of Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman, round out the diverse selection. These articles, rooted in exclusive interviews and on-site reporting, illustrate Rolling Stone's commitment to exploring pressing human stories since 1967.
