Life story of britney spears

2008-07-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter, dancer and actress. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears first appeared on national television as a contestant on the Star Search program in 1992 and went on to star on the television series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993-1994. After a brief membership with the pop musical group Innosense, Spears signed a recording contract with Jive Records, releasing her debut album …Baby One More Time in 1999 which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.^[1]^[2] The success of the album propelled Spears into stardom, establishing her as a pop icon and "bona fide pop phenomenon", credited for influencing the revival of teen pop in the late 1990s.^[3]

The title-tract of Spears debut album and its accompanying music video also established her as a international sex symbol, garnering controversy over the influence of her public image on teenage girls. Amidst further media scrutiny, Spears continued her career with three more consecutive number one studio albums; Oops!… I Did It Again (2000), Britney (2001), and In the Zone (2003).^[4]^[5] Spears subsequently became the first artist in the history of Nielsen SoundScan to have four consecutive albums debut at number one. Spears's personal life began to gain substantial media attention after her marriage to Kevin Federline in 2004. Their marriage ended two years later, resulting in an ongoing custody battle over their first child, born in 2005 and their second child, born in 2006.^[6]^[7]

Spears is ranked as the eighth best-selling female recording artist in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America with 36 million certified albums and one of the worlds best-selling music artists having sold an estimated 92 million records worldwide.

An astonishing fact, it has been only five years since Britney Spears released her debut album “…Baby One More Time.” Sixty Months. Less than 2,000 days. That’s it. More than fifty-five million albums later, it’s hard to imagine what the landscape of pop culture would look like without her. Britney has grown up and grown into her larger-than-life persona with the eyes of the world watching her every move. All in just five years.

With the release of her “Greatest Hits: My prerogative” CD, Britney earns her fourth Mainstream Top 40 hit this year, as “My Prerogative” begins it’s chart life at No. 28 and Britney is now tied as the artist with the most chart debuts this year. Britney has also charted the most songs on Mainstream Top 40 so far this decade with a total of 14. She is also in 4th place for the artist with the most charted titles in the history of the chart.

Dubbed by MTV as “one of the last teenage pop superstars of the 20oth century,” Spears enjoyed her breakthrough success at the end of 1998. She appeared in the local dance revues and church choirs as a young girl, and at the age of eight auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. Although she was too young to join the series, a producer on the show gave her an introduction to a New York agent. She subsequently spent three summers at the Professional Performing Arts School Center. She also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions as a child actor, including 1991’s “Ruthless”. She returned to the Disney Channel for a spot on The Mickey Mouse Club, where she was featured for two years between the ages of 11 and 13. Her demo tape eventually landed in the hands of a Jive Records executive who quickly signed her to the label. She toured American venues for a series of concerts sponsored by U.S teen magazines, eventually joining “N sync on tour. It all added up to 1999’s wildly infectious “…Baby One More Time “ album to make its bow on the charts at No. 1. The set not only spawned a smash hit with the title tune, but also scored with the charming ballad “Sometimes” and the funky “(You Drive Me) Crazy.” Before the album finished its impressive worldwide attack of the charts, it garnered Britney 4 MTV Europe Awards, including best pop performer, and 4 Billboard Music Awards, most notably female artist of the year.

The massive demand for new Britney material was satisfied when her 2000 sophomore collection, “Oops!… I Did it Again,” was released to a Spears-starved world in May. Once again, the title cut flooded radio airwaves, as did the anthemic “Stronger” and lovely “Don’t Let Me Be the Last To Know.” She also racked up more awards that year by taking home an American Music Award as favourite new artists, a Billboard Music Award as album artist of the year, and 2 Teen Choice Awards. Britney would later earn Teen Choice Awards in 2001 and 2003. Ever-prolific, the artist returned in 2001 with “Britney,” a spirited, assertive collection on which she began to reveal her mettle as a tunesmith, not to mention as a vocalist of increasingly soulful depth. She earned high praise for the wickedly sultry “Slave 4 U,” as well as for the forceful “Overprotected” and the gentle “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet A Woman.” The album’s was quickly followed by Britney’s motion picture debut, “Crossroads,” which proved that she has the talent and box-office pull to be a multifaceted superstar. Britney’s musical intensity and her evolution from a teen renegade into a provocative young woman are undeniable throughout “In The Zone,” her fourth Jive Records collection. First and foremost, the project showed her flexing notably strong and mature songwriting muscles. She co-wrote 8 of the project’s 13 sterling new compositions, collaborating with such heavy hitters as Red Zone (“Me Against the Music,” “The Hook Up”), Cathy Dennis (“Toxic,” “Showdown”), R Kelly (“Outrageous”) and Ying-Yang Twins on “(I Got That) Boom Boom.” The album runs the stylistic gamut from streetwise hip-hop and electro-trance to new-wave-etched rock and well-crafted pop. From top to bottom, Britney effectively expands the parameters of mainstream musical consciously with songs that lure listeners with infectious hooks, and then captivates them with layers of clever lyrics and deft instrumentation.

Perhaps the most significant was the appearance of pop icon Madonna, who lent her voice to the single “Me Against the Music.” Collaborating with one of her all-time greatest musical influences was a dream come true for Britney. From this collaboration, Britney picked up a 2004 Billboard Music Award of Hot Dance single of the Year. She also went on to win a 2004 Teen Choice Award of Choice Music Single for “Toxic”, 2004 Female Artist of the Year at the MTV Europe Awards and a 2005 Grammy for Best Dance Recording of “Toxic”.

Britney’s “Greatest Hits: My Prerogative” perfectly sums up the beginning chapter of Britney’s career. As far as the next chapter goes, “I can’t imagine ever reaching the point where I’ve hit the wall”, Britney concludes. “There will always be something new and challenging to tackle. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Childhood and discovery

Britney Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi,^[10]^[11] and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana as a Southern Baptist. Her parents are Lynne Irene (née Bridges), a former elementary school teacher, and Jamie Parnell Spears, a building contractor. Spears's brother Bryan works as a manager for the Spears family interests^[12] and her sister Jamie Lynn is an actress and singer. Her maternal grandmother Lillian Woolmore was an English war-bride,^[13] born in Tottenham, London^[14] who met Spears's grandfather Barnett O'Field Bridges in England during World War II. Her paternal grandparents were June Austin Spears and Emma Jean Forbes.^[13]

Spears was an accomplished gymnast, attending gymnastics classes until age nine and competing in state-level competitions.^[15] She performed in local dance revues and sang in her local Baptist church choir. At age eight she auditioned for the Disney Channel series The New Mickey Mouse Club. Although she was considered too young to join the series at the time, a producer on the show introduced her to a New York City agent.^[15] Spears subsequently spent three summers at NYC's Professional Performing Arts School and also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions, including 1991's Ruthless!. In 1992, she landed a spot on the popular television show Star Search. She won the first round of competition, but ultimately lost. At age eleven, Spears returned to the Disney Channel for a spot on the The New Mickey Mouse Club in Lakeland, Florida.^[15] She was featured on the show from 1993 to 1994, until she was 13.^[16] After the show ended, Spears returned to Kentwood and attended high school for a year.^[17]

In 1997, Spears briefly joined the all-female pop group Innosense.^[18] Later that same year, she recorded a demo solo and was signed by Jive Records.^[15] She began a U.S. concert tour sponsored by American teen magazines, and eventually became an opening act for 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys

Film and television

Spears entered New York City's Professional Performing Arts School when she was 8. She was an understudy in the 1991 play Ruthless! and appeared in several other off-Broadway productions. At age 11, she joined the cast of The New Mickey Mouse Club until the show ended in 1993.^[15]^[16]

Spears had her first starring role in the 2002 film Crossroads,^[91] in which she portrayed a high school graduate who travels to find her long-lost mother. The movie was poorly received,^[92] as was Spears's performance; Spears received Razzie Awards for Worst Actress and for Worst Original Song.^[93] Nonetheless, the film grossed over $60 million worldwide.^[94] Spears also made cameo appearances in Austin Powers in Goldmember and Longshot.^[95] Footage of Spears appeared in the 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which samples a 2003 CNN interview about the Iraq War in which Spears says, "Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes and should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens."^[96]^[97]

In late 1999, Spears appeared on the sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and performed the song "(You Drive Me) Crazy"; this cameo was a cross-promotion for the film Drive Me Crazy, which starred Sabrina's Melissa Joan Hart and was named after the song.^[98] She later appeared on Saturday Night Live as host and musical guest during 2000, 2002 and 2003.^[99] In 2006, Spears guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby". Her portrayal of a closeted lesbian drew criticism from conservative Christian groups.^[100]^[101]

In 2008, Spears guest-starred on CBS's television show How I Met Your Mother playing a receptionist.^[102] She received positive reviews for her performance as well as bringing in the series highest ratings ever.^[103]^[104] Spears reprised her role in May 2008, leaving the storyline open for a future return.

Personal life

1999–2004

Spears posed for her first major magazine publication, Rolling Stone in April 1999. Shot by photographer David LaChapelle,^[111] the photo shoot garnered much criticism for the controversial mixing of child-like innocence and adolescent sexuality. The cover featured her in a skimpy outfit lying on a bed.^[111] More controversy arose when Spears declared that she would "remain a virgin until marriage".^[112] This pledge has been questioned due to her apparently sexual relationship with fellow pop singer Justin Timberlake.^[113] In early 2002, Spears's four-year relationship with Timberlake ended.^[114] His 2002 song "Cry Me a River" and its music video, which featured an actress resembling Spears, caused speculation that Spears had been unfaithful;^[115] Timberlake, however, denied that his song was meant to portray her.^[116]

June 2002 saw the opening of Spears's restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, which served Louisianan and Italian cuisine. However, she was pulled out of the business venture in November as a result of debts and management issues. Nyla officially closed in 2003.^[19] In the same year, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst confirmed that he was in a relationship with Spears. Durst was also hired to help write and produce tracks for her album In the Zone, which were eventually scrapped.^[117]

Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander on January 3, 2004, at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.^[118] The marriage lasted 55 hours, ending with an annulment stating that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to marriage because before entering into the marriage the Plaintiff and Defendant did not know each others' likes and dislikes, each others' desires to have or not have children, and each other's desires as to State of residency."^[119]^[120]

Months after her Las Vegas marriage, Spears embarked on The Onyx Hotel Tour, which was canceled in June, after Spears injured her knee during the filming of the video for the single "Outrageous".^[121] She then became involved in the Kabbalah Centre in September 2004 through her friendship with Madonna.^[122] However, she publicly left the religion in 2006, stating on her website, "I no longer study Kaballah, my baby is my religion."^[123]

2004–2006

In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to Kevin Federline, three months after they met. Federline had recently been in a relationship with actress Shar Jackson, who was eight months pregnant with their second child.^[124] These initial stages were chronicled in Spears's first reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, which aired on UPN in May and June 2005.^[125] On the night of September 18, Spears married Federline in a surprise, non-denominational ceremony at a residence in Studio City, California, filing legal papers on October 6.^[126]^[127] After the marriage, Spears announced via her website that she would be taking another career break to start a family. She gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005 in Santa Monica, California by a scheduled caesarean section.^[6]

Spears announced her second pregnancy in May 2006 during an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.^[128] She also appeared on Dateline the next month to discuss tabloid rumors about an impending divorce, and motherhood. She addressed an incident which occurred in February when photos revealed her driving with her son unrestrained in her lap,^[129] explaining, "I see a bunch of photographers and I’m scared and I want to get out of the situation… They’re coming up on the sides of the car which is a scary situation for me… so I get my baby out of the car and I go home."^[130] The month following the televised interview, Spears posed nude for the August 2006 cover of Harper's Bazaar.^[131]^[132] Just two days before Sean's first birthday, Spears gave birth to her second son, Jayden James Federline on September 12 in Los Angeles.^[7]

Spears filed for divorce from Federline on November 7, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for both physical and legal custody of their two children, with visitation rights for Federline.^[133] The following day, Federline filed a response to Spears's divorce petition, seeking physical and legal custody of their children.^[134] American attorney Laura Wasser was hired to represent Spears in the case.^[135] According to a representative for Federline's lawyer, the divorce filing "caught Kevin totally by surprise".^[136] The couple reached a global settlement agreement in March 2007 and their divorce was finalized in July.^[137]^[138]

2007–present

Spears's aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer on January 21, 2007.^[139] Spears then stayed in an off-shore drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than 24 hours on February 16.^[140] The following night at a hair salon in Tarzana, California she shaved her head with electric clippers. A few days later, she admitted herself to another treatment facility in Malibu, California.^[141] While leaving the facility briefly, she quickly returned on February 22.^[142] The previous day, Kevin Federline had requested an emergency hearing regarding the custody of their children but then his attorney announced that Federline asked to cancel the court appearance. No further explanation was given.^[143] Throughout 2007, Spears's behavior received heightened media attention, including attacking a paparazzi vehicle with an umbrella.^[144] Spears left the rehabilitation center on March 20 according to her manager, who said she was released after "successfully completing their program."^[145] As the legal battle over the custody of their children continued, many members of her entourage have been summoned to testify about her parenting skills.^[146]

In September 2007, the official findings in Spears's custody battle were announced by the court. She was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol testings and to attend parenting counseling. Spears and Federline continued to share joint custody of their two children on a conditional basis.^[147] A few days later, she was officially charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a license. If convicted, she could face a year in jail.^[148] Spears lost physical custody of her children to Federline on October 1,^[149]^[150] with the court ruling that Federline will keep full custody of the children.^[151] The charges for her alleged hit-and-run that occurred in August 2007 were officially laid,^[152] she was booked for the charges by the Los Angeles Police Department on October 15 but was not arrested.^[153]

On the evening of January 3 2008, after not sleeping for over 4 days police were called to Spears's home after she refused to relinquish custody of her children to Federline's representatives.^[154] She was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after she "appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance,"^[155] though blood tests show negative for any illicit substances.^[156] She was held for psychiatric evaluation for two days.^[157]^[158]^[159] Pending a February 19 hearing, Commissioner Scott Gordon issued an order on January 14 stating that her visitation rights have been suspended indefinitely. On January 31, a court placed Spears under temporary co-conservatorship of her father James Spears and attorney Andrew Wallete, giving them complete control of her assets.^[160] As a result of an order placed by her psychiatrist, she was taken to UCLA Medical Center to be put on a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold for the second time that month.^[161] On February 1, a restraining order was issued against Sam Lutfi, a prominent figure in Spears's life.^[162]^[163] She was released from the hospital on February 6, amid speculation that she has bipolar disorder,^[164]^[165] although medical records are classified, and no confirmation has been made. Her parents expressed disappointment and concern at the decision to release her.^[166] She has regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel.