Bryant, his daughter Gianna and six others perished in a January 26, 2020, helicopter crash, leaving a permanent hole in the basketball world.

What started as a friendship grew into a trailblazing collaboration between two women who broke through gender stereotypes to become rap royalty.

As the first Black American woman to run for U.S. president through a major party, the seven-term Congresswoman shook up the 1972 campaign.

As the first Black woman to headline the 2018 music festival, the Grammy winner combined African American history and her iconic music catalog for a two-hour show that changed pop culture.

The "Queen of Soul" took an existing song and infused it with such passion that it has become a universal rallying cry for the civil rights and feminist movements.

Born premature and plagued with illnesses throughout her childhood, the groundbreaking athlete went on to defy all the odds and bring home three Olympic golds.

Tragedy brought the widows of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X together, with the friendship cemented by their own sense of activism.

The couple's fun-loving, self-deprecating humor has kept their relationship as strong today as it was when they met nearly three decades ago.

Here's a look back at some of the famous names who died this year.

Despite a United Nations boycott, the musician went to Johannesburg and recorded with local musicians, laying the foundation for one of his greatest albums.

During the greatest triumphs of his ground-breaking career, the "Black Panther" actor secretly struggled with his deteriorating health.

The royal shocked audiences in 1985 by appearing on stage with ballet dancer Wayne Sleep in a routine choreographed to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.”

The pop star and her godmother may be a generation apart, but their family ties make them the most unlikely power duo in the music industry.

The two trailblazing women met weekly for 11 years during the prime minister’s three terms, but the rumored tension may have also been filled with mutual respect.

Without any premeditated intention, a 33-year-old managed to find his way into Queen Elizabeth II’s bedroom while she was sleeping.

The royal made some of her most famous journeys via the speedy jet.

Throughout her record-breaking realm as British monarch, the queen has been saved by security, luck and her own strong will.

In true Diana style, the gown from her 1981 nuptials to Prince Charles represented both her extreme grandeur and sophisticated simplicity.

These notable figures passed away on the spookiest day of the year, October 31.

Vili Fualaau, who famously had an affair with his teacher when he was a teen, recalls the last months of her life before she died of cancer in July 2020.

As the statistics for breast cancer continue to rise, these famous thrivers have shared their stories and advocated for awareness and regular exams.

The Colorado father killed his family in August 2018 and confessed just days later.

After seeing her on stage with Prince, musician Lionel Richie was captivated and knew he had to be part of the future reality star's life.

The social studies teacher was chosen from 11,000 applicants to be the first civilian in space aboard 1986's the Challenger, which tragically exploded upon takeoff.