Who’s the hottest star of 2006? Is it JENNIFER ANISTON? GEORGE CLOONEY? Each year, ET ranks the top 20 stars of the year — based on who received the most mentions on the show over the course of the year — and tonight, we’ve got the “ET Hot List”!

“It has been a huge, fascinating year for celebrity news,” says ET Executive Producer LINDA BELL BLUE. “And now we have ranked those stars and public figures that have been at the forefront of 2006’s news as reported by Entertainment Tonight.”

OPRAH WINFREY slips down to No. 6 this year after spending two years back-to-back at No. 1. Previous title holders include JENNIFER LOPEZ in 2003 and Jennifer Aniston in 2002.

So who made the grade this year? Why, none other than TOM CRUISE! Tom tops the list due to our extensive and exclusive coverage of his fairytale Italian wedding to KATIE HOLMES (who ranked No. 5), the birth of baby SURI and his ‘M:i:III’ mission.

With the birth of SHILOH NOUVEL JOLIE-PITT and the press following their every move around the world from L.A. to Africa and India, BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE moved up to the top five this year at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, sharing the space with ANNA NICOLE SMITH at No. 4, whose joyful birth of baby DANNIELYNN and commitment to HOWARD K. STERN was marred by the tragic death of her 20-year-old son, DANIEL, in September.

Stars making the Top 10 include JESSICA SIMPSON, newly engaged “Desperate Housewives” star EVA LONGORIA and Oscar winner George Clooney. Other honorable mentions on the list include LINDSAY LOHAN, NICK LACHEY, REESE WITHERSPOON, TERI HATCHER, TORI SPELLING, NICOLE KIDMAN and “Dr. McDreamy” himself, PATRICK DEMPSEY.

And who is notably absent from the “Hot List”? You may be surprised to learn that MEL GIBSON, despite his infamous DUI arrest and anti-Semitic rant this year, did not crack the top 20. BRITNEY SPEARS and JULIA ROBERTS also failed to make the list this year.

Here’s the “Hot List”!