UsaToday: Rob & Kristen in Celebrity Heat Index for May

The Celebrity Heat Index ranks celebrities according to media exposure. To do this, USA TODAY tracks their appearances in print, online and on TV by monitoring 12 entertainment news outlets.

Each week, we note when a celeb appeared on a magazine cover or was among the top stories on a TV news report or a website. Points are awarded for each appearance based on the prominence of each outlet.

Outlets tracked include TV's Entertainment Tonight, websites USATODAY.com, PopSugar.com, tmz.com and x17online, and publications In Touch, Life & Style, National Enquirer, OK!, People, Star and Us Weekly.



The newsmakers of May are entering a new month. From new mom Sandra Bullock sharing Mother's Day weekend with baby Louis to Bret Michaels surviving a brain hemorrhage and warning stroke, famous figures are moving on to the next phases of their lives. Here are the names atop USA TODAY's Celebrity Heat Index for May, compiled from a measure of media exposure.
TOP 10 FOR MAY AND THEIR SCORES

1. Sandra Bullock, 516. Mother's Day weekend finds her in son Louis' hometown of New Orleans. She's proceeding with life as a single parent after filing for divorce from Jesse James.

2. Kim Kardashian, 385. As bikini season arrives, tabloids operate on the idea that the more of her they can show, the more issues they can sell.

3. Kendra Wilkinson, 339. This reality TV star has the key to getting media attention: a previously unreleased sex tape circa pre-engagement days.

4. Robert Pattinson, 315. Hype starts building up to the June release of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse with a cast appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show.

5. Heidi Montag, 256. It's all about the personal drama: From her multiple plastic surgeries to her family ties, she catches heat.

6. Bret Michaels, 248. From a brain hemorrhage to warning stroke, health scares persist for this rocker turned reality TV star, but he ends May winning NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.

7. Kristen Stewart, 243. What's that? Did someone say The Twilight Saga: Eclipse again?

LEADERS BY CATEGORY

Top actress: Sandra Bullock | Runner-up: Kristen Stewart
Hollywood mom Bullock reigns as hottest in this category, as vampire movie hottie Stewart moves up the index.

Top actor: Robert Pattinson | Runner-up: John Travolta
Both actors have new projects: Pattinson is working on the film Water for Elephants, while Travolta's wife, Kelly Preston, has a baby on the way.

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