Britney Spears
Early Life
Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi, to Lynne Irene Bridges and James Parnell Spears. Her mother, a former elementary school teacher, and her father, a building contractor, raised Spears and her two siblings in the small town of Kentwood, Louisiana.
From a young age, Spears showed an interest in performing. At the age of eight, she auditioned for the Disney television series 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 talent agent in New York, leading to her enrollment at the Professional Performing Arts School.
Career
1997–2000: ...Baby One More Time and Oops!... I Did It Again
In 1997, Spears signed with Jive Records. Her first studio album, ...Baby One More Time, was released in 1999. The title track was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Her second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again, was released in 2000. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was a commercial success worldwide.
2001–2003: Britney, Crossroads, and In the Zone
In 2001, Spears released her third studio album, Britney. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and marked a transition in her image from teen pop star to a more mature, adult artist.
In 2002, Spears made her acting debut in the film Crossroads. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $60 million worldwide.
Her fourth studio album, In the Zone, was released in 2003. The album incorporated elements of pop with R&B and dance music, and included the hit single "Toxic", which won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
2004–2007: Marriage, personal struggles, and Blackout
In 2004, Spears married her childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas, but the marriage was annulled 55 hours later. Later that year, she married backup dancer Kevin Federline. The couple had two sons before divorcing in 2007.
During this period, Spears faced personal struggles and was placed under a conservatorship in 2008. Despite these challenges, she released her fifth studio album, Blackout, in 2007. The album was a critical success and is often cited as influencing the trajectory of pop music.
2008–present: Circus, Femme Fatale, and Vegas residency
In 2008, Spears released her sixth studio album, Circus. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and included the hit single "Womanizer".
Her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale, was released in 2011. The album was a commercial success and included the hit singles "Hold It Against Me" and "Till the World Ends".
In 2013, Spears began a four-year residency show, Britney: Piece of Me, at the AXIS at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The residency was a commercial success and is one of the highest-grossing residencies of all time.
Legacy
Spears is often credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. She is regarded as a pop icon and has influenced numerous artists. Her work in the music industry has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award, seven Billboard Music Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
