Synopsis
Singer,
songwriter, and actress Britney Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in
Kentwood, Louisiana. She became a cast member of the TV show The New Mickey Mouse Club when she was 11. Her song Baby One More Time
reached the top of the pop charts at the end of January 1999. Britney
Spears has since been one of the most successful—and sometimes
controversial—solo acts in popular music.
Child Star
Singer,
songwriter, actress. Born on December 2, 1981, in Kentwood, Louisiana.
For more than a decade, Britney Spears has been one of the most
successful—and sometimes controversial—solo acts in popular music. For a
time, however, she was better known for her personal struggles. Spears
launched her latest comeback in 2008, releasing a new album and setting
out on a world tour.
The
middle of the three children, Spears developed an interest in
performing at a young age. "Ever since I was 7 or 8 years old, my mom
would have company over, and I was always performing for everybody in
front of the TV. . .Even when I went to school, I was always the weird
child; I would go outside and instead of playing, I wanted to have 'Star
Search' competitions," Spears told Hollywood Reporter.
When she was eight, she auditioned for a spot on the Disney Channel's The New Mickey Mouse Club.
Spears did not get the part, but she did eventually achieve one
childhood dream: showcasing her vocal talents on the popular
entertainment competition Star Search in 1992.
Spears tried again for The New Mickey Mouse Club
when she was 11. This time, she was picked for the cast, which also
featured other up-and-coming talents such as Justin Timberlake,
Christina Aguilera, and actress Keri Russell. Spears appeared on the
children's variety show for two seasons. "We had an amazing amazing
time; we got to sing and dance and do everything," she later explained
to Hollywood Reporter.
Baby One More Time
After
its cancellation, Spears focused on developing her musical career. She
eventually landed a contract with Jive Records. In December 1998, Spears
released her first single, "...Baby One More Time." The catchy pop tune
reached the top of the pop charts at the end of January 1999, propelled
in part by its music video. In the video, the teenaged Spears wore a
skimpier version of the traditional Catholic schoolgirl uniform, drawing
sharp criticism from the parents of her young fans. Despite her racy
outfit, Spears claimed to be a sweet, innocent Southern girl at heart.
The entire . . . Baby One More Time
album hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts that same year, and went on
to sell more than 22 million copies worldwide. At the 1999 Billboard
Music Awards, Spears picked up three awards Female Album Artist of the
Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Best New Artist of the Year. She
was part of a teenage pop music wave, which included fellow Mickey Mouse Club alumni Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson.
Building upon her meteoric rise, Spears released Oops! I Did It Again
in 2000. The recording was an instant No. 1 hit on the album charts,
selling more than 1 million copies in the first week. Her personal life
was also receiving more media attention, as rumors circulated that she
was dating Justin Timberlake, then part of the hit pop group 'N Sync.
A Sexier Image
With 2001's Britney,
Spears made the first move toward shedding her virginal image, while
also taking her sound in a different direction. The track, "I'm a Slave 4
U," sounded more like Prince than her bubble-gum pop of the past. "I'd
get bored singing the same type of songs all the time. I still love my
old stuff, but you have to extend yourself and grow," she explained to Entertainment Weekly.
Performing "I'm a Slave 4 U" at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, Spears
made heads turn by dancing with a seven-foot albino python around her
neck and wearing a barely-there costume.
Around this same time, Spears took a leading role in the feature film Crossroads.
The coming-of-age drama received a drubbing from critics after its
February 2002 release, but it ended up netting more than $37 million at
the box office. Later that spring, Spears experienced another
disappointment. She and Timberlake announced that they had broken up.
The
following year, Spears created some headlines for her actions at the
2003 MTV Video Music Awards. She and fellow former Mouseketeer Christina
Aguilera shared a kiss with pop superstar Madonna, during Madonna's
performance. Some saw this dramatic stage moment as another way for
Spears to present the latest version of her more sexualized public
persona. Spears acknowledged around this time that Madonna was an
important influence on her. "I remember being in my living room and
watching her on TV. I'd dance around in my short tops and sing and dream
about being her," Spears told Newsweek.
Spears' next album, In the Zone,
hit stores that November, which included an appearance by Madonna on
the "Me Against the Music" track. The recording's top single, "Toxic,"
earned Spears her first Grammy Award win for Best Dance Recording.
Marriages
By
January 2004, Spears appeared to be rebelling again—this time, against
her intense work schedule. She married her childhood friend Jason
Alexander in Las Vegas, but the union was annulled two days later. She
then got involved with backup dancer Kevin Federline. At the time,
Federline's girlfriend Shar Jackson was pregnant with their second
child. Spears' relationship with Federline only intensified with the
media's scrutiny of her private life.
Spears
experienced some troubles in her professional life around this time.
She had to undergo surgery to correct a knee injury, forcing her to
cancel the last part of her tour. Her personal life, however, seemed to
be flourishing. Spears and Federline married on September 18, 2004, in
Studio City, California.
Shortly after her wedding, she released Greatest Hits: My Prerogative.
Spears covered the Bobby Brown hit "My Prerogative," which seemed to be
her way of talking back to her critics and lashing out about the media
frenzy that continually surrounded her. The recording sold 5 million
copies, a million less than In the Zone.
Despite
her declining sales, Spears seemed contented. She and her husband
announced that they were expecting their first child together in April
2005. "I find being pregnant empowering. I think it brings out a pure
side of you," Spears told People magazine. As fascinated as the
media and the public had been about this young couple, few people tuned
in to catch a glimpse of their 2005 reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, which told the story of their early relationship through personal videos. That September,the couple welcomed son Sean Preston.
Troubles in the Spotlight
The
new mother found herself in hot water in February 2006, after she was
caught on film driving her car with her infant son in her lap. Her
parenting skills became a subject of national debate, and she was even
rebuked by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta for her actions.
Calling her behavior "irresponsible" and "troubling," Mineta said that
Spears was sending "the wrong message to millions of her fans." Spears
apologized for the incident, claiming that she just wanted to get away
from the paparazzi. "I love my baby more than anything, and as
unfortunate an experience as this has been for me and my family, if it
brings more attention to child safety then I fully support that," she
told People magazine.
In
September 2006, Spears and Federline had a new addition to their young
family with the birth of their son Jayden James. But Spears made a
surprising move two months later when she filed for divorce, claiming
"irreconcilable differences." After her separation, Spears frequented
the club scene for a time, partying with socialite Paris Hilton among
others. She reportedly checked in and out rehabilitation, and then
shaved her head in a California beauty salon while the paparazzi took
pictures in February 2007. She told the salon owner that "my mom is
going to freak." The following month, Spears spent time at a treatment
center in California.
By
the summer, Spears and Federline were in the midst of a difficult
custody battle. Federline sought full physical custody of their two
sons. She was also estranged from her mother. Despite her personal
challenges, Spears moved forward with her latest album. The single,
"Gimme More," was released in August and received a warm reception from
the public and critics. But Spears' performance of the song at that
year's MTV Video Music Award was a disaster. She appeared nervous on
stage, sluggishly dancing and poorly lip-syncing. The following month,
Spears was charged in connection to a hit-and-run incident in a parking
lot.
Family Struggles
Britney
wasn't the only member of her family making headlines in 2007, however.
Her younger sister, actress Jamie Lynn, announced that she was pregnant
at the age of 16. Jamie Lynn, who was a star on cable's kid-friendly
Nickelodeon channel at the time, became a controversial symbol of teen
pregnancy.
Despite these setbacks, the album Blackout
reached the second slot on the Billboard charts after its November
release. This comeback of sorts seemed to be short-lived, as Spears
appeared to have yet another breakdown in January 2008. She was taken to
the hospital for psychiatric evaluation when she refused to return her
sons to their father after a court-appointed visit. Federline eventually
received full custody of the two boys.
By
month's end, Spears returned to the hospital for another evaluation.
Rumors circulated that she had bipolar disorder, but that diagnosis has
not been confirmed.
Her mother, Lynne, later wrote in her memoir Through the Storm that she believed her daughter experienced postpartum depression.
While
in the hospital, Spears became the subject of a power struggle between
her parents, Jamie and Lynne, and her then-manager Sam Lufti. The couple
believed that Lufti was a bad influence on their daughter and was
trying to control her life. Her father went to court and obtained
control over Britney's personal, professional, and medical matters.
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