Google’s 2023 Search Trends: Damar Hamlin & Travis Kelce on Top

Google has unveiled its annual list of the year’s top trending searches, and the top spot might surprise you—it’s not Taylor Swift.

Damar Hamlin led the pack in trending searches among individuals. He’s the Buffalo Bills safety who made headlines after suffering cardiac arrest during a January 2023 Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin remarkably recovered and resumed NFL play in August. Following him is Jeremy Renner, who had a serious incident when he was hit by a snowplow a day before Hamlin’s mishap.

At the third spot is Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, whose link with the immensely popular Swift became a significant point of interest.

Swift didn’t make it to the Top 10 Musicians, with Jason Aldean securing the top spot. Aldean, long a country music favorite, gained wider attention for his controversial single “Try That in a Small Town,” which was heavily criticized.

While Swift wasn’t among the top musicians, her Eras Tour was the most-searched tour, surpassing Matt Rife, Beyonce, and Olivia Rodrigo.

In the “Actors” category, Jeremy Renner took the lead, followed by Jamie Foxx, who was hospitalized for an undisclosed illness in April. Danny Masterson, the former That ’70s Show actor sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, ranked third.

Barbie ranked first in the “Movies” category, and The Last of Us topped the “TV Shows” category.

The “Passings” category saw a spike in searches after Matthew Perry’s tragic death at 54 in October, followed by Tina Turner and Jerry Springer. Other names included Jimmy Buffett, Sinéad O’Connor, and Lisa Marie Presley.

Additionally, Succession was the most sought-after show for recaps and finale information. Google’s “Hum to Search” feature was notably used for The White Stripes’ song “Seven Nation Army,” possibly due to its adoption as a protest anthem in Israel with altered lyrics.