Dashed left edge = started before January 2009 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond January 2009
Events in January 2009 17
1917 – 2009Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009)Died 16 January 2009, aged 91Wyeth was one of the best-known American painters of the twentieth century, celebrated for realist works such as Christina's World. He worked primarily in tempera and watercolor, depicting rural scenes near his homes in Pennsylvania and Maine. His work remained widely popular despite critical debate over his realist style.
1920 – 2009Ricardo Montalban (1920-2009)Died 14 January 2009, aged 88Montalban was a Mexican-American actor best known for playing Mr. Roarke on the television series Fantasy Island and Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He worked in Hollywood for over six decades. He also had a long career as an advocate for Latino representation in film.
1932 – 2009John Updike (1932-2009)Died 27 January 2009, aged 76Updike was an American novelist, poet and critic best known for his Rabbit series of novels, which won him two Pulitzer Prizes. He published prolifically across fiction, poetry and criticism for over five decades. He was widely regarded as one of the leading American writers of his generation.
2001 – 2009G.W. Bush presidency43rd President — 2001 to 2009George W. Bush served as the 43rd President from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009. He led the War on Terror following 9/11, invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, and responded to Hurricane Katrina.
2009Australian Open 2009Men: Rafael Nadal · Women: Serena Williams
2009 – 20101Q84Published 1Q84, an epic three-volume novel about a parallel version of 1984 in which the sky has two moons. It became a global publishing event, selling over a million copies in Japan in the first month alone.
20092009: Jenson ButtonBrawnButton won the title with the Brawn GP team, a fairy-tale outfit formed from the ashes of Honda's withdrawal. Six wins in the first seven races sealed an improbable championship.
2009 – 2022Environmental and Animal AdvocacyBecame a dedicated environmental activist and animal rights advocate, supporting organisations like the Natural Resources Defense Council and using her platform to raise awareness about conservation.
2009 – 2011Lifetime Achievement AwardsReceived the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, having already been honoured with a Kennedy Center Honor nomination and the National Medal of Arts.
2009Person of Cultural MeritDesignated a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government, one of the country's most prestigious cultural honours.
2009Uber foundedRide-sharing disrupts transportUber was founded in San Francisco in 2009 by Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp. It grew to operate in over 70 countries, fundamentally disrupting the taxi industry worldwide.
2009Women Without Men FilmVisual artist Shirin Neshat adapted Women Without Men into a feature film that won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival.
2009US Airways Flight 1549 lands on Hudson RiverCaptain Sullenberger ditches airliner after bird strikeAn Airbus A320 struck a flock of geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport and lost both engines. Captain Chesley Sullenberger glided the plane to a landing on the Hudson River, and all 155 people aboard survived. The incident became known as the Miracle on the Hudson.
2009Gaza War endsIsrael and Hamas declare separate ceasefiresIsrael unilaterally declared a ceasefire on 18 January 2009, ending its three-week military offensive in the Gaza Strip known as Operation Cast Lead. Hamas announced its own ceasefire days later, and Israeli forces completed their withdrawal by 21 January. The conflict killed over a thousand Palestinians and thirteen Israelis.
2009Aretha Franklin sings at Barack Obama's inaugurationMy Country, 'Tis of TheeSings at the inauguration of the first Black US president.
2009Obama inaugurated44th US President takes officeBarack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009, watched by a crowd of nearly 2 million on the National Mall.
2009 – 2017Obama presidency44th President — 2009 to 2017Barack Obama served as the 44th President from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017. He passed the Affordable Care Act, ordered the raid killing Osama bin Laden, and signed the Paris Climate Agreement.