Baby for the First Time
Britney Jean Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi, on December 2nd, 1981. She was the second child of James Parnell Spears and Lynne Irene Bridges and grew up with an elder brother named Bryan James and a younger sister named Jamie Lynn Spears, who has also become a public figure.
Britney Starts Dancing
Britney Spears began her dance training at three years old in Kentwood, Louisiana, and performed on stage for the first time at five years old. She was highly motivated from an early age and had a passion for performing. Her parents supported her ambition by enrolling her in various lessons and competitions. At eight years old, she auditioned for “The Mickey Mouse Club” with her mother, which allowed her to make connections in the entertainment industry.
Britney Spears’ Start in the Entertainment Industry
After some time, Spears got another chance to pursue her passion for performing by earning an understudy role in the Off-Broadway musical “Ruthless!” at the age of ten. She was accepted into “The Mickey Mouse Club” a year later, joining the likes of Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling. It’s said that among her cast members, Ryan Gosling was the one who provided her with a sex education class when she inquired about it.
Something Like a Normal Life
After “The Mickey Mouse Club” ended, Spears returned to Kentwood with her family and lived a typical life. She went back to high school, played basketball, helped out at the family gym, taught aerobics classes, and worked part-time as a waitress at her great-grandmother’s restaurant. Her strong work ethic was evident even at a young age.
She Always Wanted More
Britney Spears aimed for a career in professional singing, and her mother, Lynne, helped her find a manager who could assist her in achieving this goal. Britney’s big break came when she was invited to join an all-girl band in June 1997, even though she was still relatively unknown at the time.
Dodged a Bullet
Spears joined Innosense, a female pop group, with the help of her manager and producer, Lou Pearlman. However, she was rejected by three record labels because the industry favored girl groups over solo artists. Despite this, it was fortunate for Spears that she did not work with Pearlman, who was later found guilty of fraud, misrepresentation, and running a Ponzi scheme.
Together Again
In early 1998, Britney signed with Jive Records and recorded her debut album at Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. After returning to the US, she promoted her album by performing at shopping malls and opening for *NSYNC, where she reconnected with Justin Timberlake. The two began dating and were a popular celebrity couple, frequently covered by the media.
The Hit
On January 12th, 1999, Spears’s debut album “…Baby One More Time” was released, debuting at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and receiving double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America in a month. The album topped charts in 15 countries and sold 10 million copies within a year of its release. Its lead single also made it the highest-selling album by a teenage artist in history, a still-standing record.
Baby One More Time
Britney’s idea to dress up as a Catholic schoolgirl for the “…Baby One More Time” music video paid off, becoming an instant sensation. The single sold over half a million copies on its first day topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and made Britney one of the best-selling artists before she turned twenty. However, her success did not mean everything would always be easy for her.
She Did it Again
The Spider-Man: Homecoming team drew inspiration from an iconic scene in the comics where Spider-Man is buried under steel. In the movie, Peter Parker is trapped under cement by the Vulture, played by Michael Keaton. Like the comic, Peter frees himself with determination. Britney Spears co-authored “Britney Spears’ Heart to Heart” with her mother. She surprised audiences at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2000 by performing a provocative dance routine after tearing off her black suit.
Spears and Timberlake
Britney Spears confirmed her romantic relationship with *NSYNC member Justin Timberlake. They were seen as a fairytale couple, even wearing matching outfits at the American Music Awards and showing up in matching jerseys with their nicknames on them. However, their 2002 split was surprising to fans, and Justin later revealed details in one of his solo songs.
He’s Not Fooling Anybody
After their breakup in 2002, Justin Timberlake released the hit single “Cry Me a River,” which many believed was written about Britney Spears. The music video strongly suggested this, but Timberlake never confirmed it. In response, Spears co-wrote the ballad “Everytime” with backing vocalist Annet Artani, but it did not match the success of Timberlake’s hit.
Timberlake is Doing Fine
Rumors persist that Britney Spears cheated on Justin Timberlake with choreographer Wade Robson, which contributed to their breakup. Despite this, Timberlake moved on and is happily married with two children. His 2019 album “Man of the Woods” portrays a rustic, peaceful lifestyle, in contrast to Spears, who has faced numerous challenges in her life.
Almost a Real Princess
Britney Spears received an invitation from Prince William to meet with her, which she reportedly accepted. The Prince had a reputation for crushing on pop stars, and Spears admitted to exchanging flirtatious emails with him. They were supposed to have a dinner date during her 2000 tour in England, but Spears stood him up.
How’s Banana Doing? We Wonder
Britney Spears’ third album marked a new direction for her music, with inspiration from hip-hop artists like Jay-Z and The Neptunes. She signed a million-dollar deal with Pepsi and released the album in November 2001, with lead single “I’m a Slave 4 U” becoming a worldwide top-ten hit. At the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, she gave a memorable performance with a seven-foot-long albino Burmese python named Banana draped over her shoulders.
Britney Does Things her Way
Britney Spears initially had a team of writers for her lyrics due to her busy schedule, but she began contributing her own material for her third album. To remember her ideas, she would call her home phone from her cellphone and leave a message on her answering machine, singing through the phone to make a recording of herself. One of the songs that Spears created using this method was “Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.”
Following in Her Grandmother’s Footsteps
In 2002, Britney Spears opened a restaurant in New York City named Nyla as a tribute to her great-grandmother. The restaurant served Louisiana-style Cajun food, but unfortunately failed after only a few months of operation due to mounting debt and health code violations. In addition, spears claimed that her business partners did not keep her involved in the business, leading to its closure. Nyla was later rebranded as an Italian restaurant but ultimately closed down for good.
Staying Close With the Family
Britney Spears has maintained a strong relationship with her family, supporting her younger sister Jamie Lynn when she became pregnant at 16 and purchasing a 1.5 million dollar loft in New York City for her brother Bryan. She has also shown generosity with her money by donating a million dollars to the children of uniformed officers affected by the September 11th terrorist attacks.
The Devil Met her at the Crossroads
Britney Spears’ foray into acting didn’t go smoothly, with the film “Crossroads” failing to attract significant box office sales despite having a star-studded cast. Critics panned the film, particularly targeting Spears’ acting, calling it a vanity project. Meanwhile, her personal life was also undergoing turmoil, with her parents announcing their divorce after twenty-seven years of marriage.
The Kiss That Shocked the World
At the 2003 VMAs, Britney made a memorable performance when she kissed both Madonna and Christina Aguilera in the middle of Madonna’s hit song “Like A Virgin.” This move inspired other artists like Katy Perry. The kiss occurred after Britney’s split from Timberlake and during a highly anticipated performance with Madonna and Aguilera. Madonna then kissed Aguilera, and Timberlake’s reaction was caught on camera.
A Long List of Lovers
After her breakup with Timberlake, Britney Spears dated several famous men, including actors Colin Farrell, Jared Leto, and musician Fred Durst. Durst claimed that they were in a relationship after collaborating on a song, but Spears denied it. He later admitted that their relationship might have been taboo due to their different public images.
Album Number Four
Britney’s fourth album, “In the Zone,” included the hit single “Me Against the Music” featuring Madonna, selling over 10 million copies worldwide. Its music video for “Toxic” won Britney her first Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. She had creative control, writing and co-producing all her songs. “In the Zone” was praised by Vibe magazine as “a supremely confident dance record that showcases Spears’s evolution as a songwriter.”
Wedding Bells
After a series of relationships with famous and not-so-famous men, Spears married her childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander in January 2004 at A Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her unconventional wedding attire included a maroon cap and low-rise jeans. However, like most Vegas weddings, it was short-lived. The marriage was annulled only fifty-five hours after the wedding, with Britney citing that she “lacked understanding of her actions” when she married Alexander.
The Mega-Star Halts
Britney was at the peak of her success with a highly acclaimed fourth album, a friendship with Madonna, a Grammy win, and a massive promotional tour. Unfortunately, tragedy struck just two months into the tour when she suffered a knee injury while filming a music video. She had to cancel her tour and take a break from her career for the first time in six years, which also brought forth many issues.
K-Fed
Britney Spears got engaged to Kevin Federline in July 2004 while recovering from knee surgery. They met during the rehearsal for her “In the Zone” tour, where Federline worked as a backup dancer for the pop band LFO. The media criticized their relationship since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson, who was pregnant with their second child.
An Unconventional Wedding
In a bizarre ceremony on September 18th, 2004, Spears and Federline surprised their twenty-seven guests by getting married instead of celebrating their engagement. Wearing matching sweatsuits, they had a brief ceremony and dinner before going to a local club. Federline’s outfit had “The Pimp” written on it, while his half of the wedding party wore matching sweatsuits with “The Pimps.” It was later revealed that the couple was not legally married on that day.
So…are They Married…Or…?
Britney Spears protected her assets by creating a prenuptial agreement before marrying Kevin Federline. To avoid paparazzi’s attention, they had a non-binding ceremony. Their legal marriage happened on October 6th, 2004, after Kevin signed Britney’s extensively crafted prenup in a secret ceremony.
On the Little Screen
In less than a year after getting married, Spears and Federline featured in a five-episode reality show titled “Britney & Kevin: Chaotic.” The show documented Britney’s daily life before her injury and preparation for her “In the Zone” tour while she was dating and engaged to Kevin, adding additional footage after their marriage. Although the show garnered high viewership, it was for mostly unfavorable reasons.
The Show You Both Want to See and Avoid
The reality show “Britney & Kevin: Chaotic” was highly explicit, with Spears and Federline revealing intimate details about their sex life and kissing on camera. It drew in loyal fans but was panned by casual viewers and critics, who called it a “horrifying train wreck” and “an insult to common sense and decency.” Spears and Federline didn’t comment on the show until 2013, when Spears called it “the worst thing I’ve ever done in my career.”
Rhodes Scholar She Ain’t
During a difficult time in her life, Britney Spears almost landed the role of Daisy Duke in the 2005 “The Dukes of Hazzard” remake but lost out to Jessica Simpson. Simpson famously couldn’t tell if tuna was chicken or fish. Britney had her own moment of confusion earlier in her career when she expressed a desire to travel to Canada as if it were a foreign country.
A Dangerous Relationship
The troubled relationship between Britney and Federline was documented in their reality show, where Britney was seen grinding her teeth and rubbing her jaw, giving viewers cause for concern. Federline’s background as a high school dropout, failed rapper, and father of six children with three different women made him an undesirable partner for Spears. Additionally, he had another child on the way, exacerbating their already difficult situation.
Life Goal Achieved
Britney Spears always wanted to have her own family, which she expressed even while dating Justin Timberlake. In 2004, she announced a break from her career to start a family, and a few months later, revealed her first pregnancy. In 2005, she gave birth to her first son, Sean Preston, and a year later, to her second son, Jayden James. It was a dream come true for Spears.
Showing Off the Baby Bump
Britney Spears posed for a revealing photo shoot with “Harper’s Bazaar” during her second pregnancy. The inspiration behind the shoot was Demi Moore’s iconic “Vanity Fair” cover from the 1990s when she was pregnant with her second child. However, Spears’s shoot received a negative reaction. Despite this, Spears looks stunning in the photos.
Taking the Ring Off
In 2006, Britney Spears filed for divorce from Kevin Federline just a month after giving birth to their second child. Federline was surprised by the news via text message, and the couple began a custody battle due to changes in their prenuptial agreement. By 2007, Spears had experienced two failed marriages, had two children, and had several unsuccessful projects. And then, things took a turn for the worse.
Shave and a Haircut
Britney’s aunt, Sandra Bridges Covington, died from ovarian cancer in January, causing her distress. After a brief stay at a rehab facility in Antigua, she left and was seen crying in her car outside a California salon. Britney went inside, argued with a hairdresser, and shaved her head bald with clippers. The event gained international attention and was widely covered by the media.
Making the Best of a Bad Haircut
As Britney’s hair fell, the clippings were still falling, and the owner of the LA salon collected it along with her Red Bull can, cigarette lighter, and butts. The entire collection was put up for sale on eBay for $1 million, but the listing was removed for violating the platform’s policies, which prohibit the sale of pop star hair.
She Did it Again
After her haircut, Britney visited a tattoo parlor for a lip tattoo on her wrist. When asked about her shaved head, she revealed that she was tired of being touched. A few days later, she tried to see her children but received no response from Federline’s home. Britney then attacked paparazzi cars with an umbrella, shouting obscenities.
Answering the Unresolved Questions
The saying “If Britney Spears survived 2007, you can survive this” became popular. But what led to her breakdown? Despite having a successful career and family, she had been acting erratically for months. Her performances lacked passion, causing concern from fans and family. Britney’s breakdown was a long time coming.
Giving Her Life Away
It was clear that Britney needed help and checked in and out of rehab. She met her manager, Sam Lufti, in a club and gave him control of her life for a 15% cut. Lufti’s request was no drugs. Britney’s relationship with her family deteriorated, and Lufti was her manager for eight years, implementing new rules.
Keep the Cameras Away
Lufti created rules for the paparazzi, such as not following Britney into shops, not entering her private property, and not running red lights while chasing her. In exchange for following these rules, they would receive her itinerary. However, despite Lufti’s efforts, Britney’s problems persisted, and another major setback was on the horizon.
Blacked Out
Despite personal issues, Britney Spears released “Blackout,” her fifth album, with hopes of a comeback. However, her 2007 MTV Music Awards performance of the new single “Gimme More” was heavily criticized by the media. The “New York Times” labeled it a fiasco, the “Toronto Star” compared her movements to someone with cement in their shoes, and the BBC’s David Willis called it one of the worst MTV performances ever.
Chris Crocker’s Impassioned Plea
After Britney Spears’s poor MTV performance, Youtuber Chris Crocker posted a video defending her and asking people to “Leave Britney Alone!” He expressed concern for her well-being and didn’t want her to end up like Anna Nicole Smith. However, the video went viral for the wrong reasons, with many people mocking Crocker’s emotional plea. “Leave Britney Alone!” became a subject of ridicule on the internet, and even an attempt to defend her went awry.
A New Relationship
Britney Spears went through a divorce, released a new album with mixed reviews, delivered a poor MTV performance, and had multiple public meltdowns and violent outbursts. Despite asking for privacy, she started dating photographer Adnan Ghalib. The couple’s frequent appearances on camera fueled tabloid rumors, including reports of feuding with Ghalib’s parents. Ghalib’s marital status at the time added to the scandal for the paparazzi.
Losing the Kids
During her tumultuous period, Britney Spears was going through a divorce with Kevin Federline, and the custody battle for their two children was at the center stage. In 2007, Spears drove with her children, despite her suspended license, and a judge granted full custody to Federline. This led to Spears’s next big breakdown and a significant change in her life, as she had to hand over her children to Federline and was allowed only infrequent visits.
5150
In January 2008, Britney Spears locked herself in a room with her son Jayden during a visitation and was involuntarily hospitalized after a four-hour police standoff. Her parents applied for a restraining order against Adnan Ghalib and Sam Lufti, accusing them of trying to control her affairs and sneaking her a phone while she was institutionalized. As a result, Spears was placed under a conservatorship with her father, Jamie overseeing her well-being and assets.
A Chance at a Comeback
After her release from hospitalization, Britney Spears resumed work and made guest appearances on TV shows while working on her sixth album, “Circus.” The album, released in November 2008, was appropriately named and featured Spears in a ringleader’s outfit. She embarked on a tour to promote the album, but the question remained whether she could maintain her comeback or spiral again.
Another Relationship Comes and Goes
In 2009, Britney Spears began dating her manager, Jason Trawick, who was ten years her senior. He resigned as her manager but remained a conservator with her father. They got engaged in 2011 but split in 2013, stating different life goals. Despite his care for her, her father removed him as a conservator.
Clawing Her Way Back
Britney’s life calmed down as she landed a four-year residency in Las Vegas. She released several successful albums and launched a line of 24 fragrances with Elizabeth Arden. In 2016, she returned to the stage and performed “Make Me.” Despite this success, opportunistic individuals still targeted her for exploitation.
Lufti Strikes Back
Britney Spears’s former manager, Sam Lufti, sued her and her parents for defamation and breach of contract over a book Britney’s mother wrote in 2008. The case was dismissed in 2012, but Lufti appealed and settled with Spears for a low six-figure amount. In 2019, Spears obtained a second restraining order against him for five years.
Britney Day
In 2014, Las Vegas celebrated the famous singer with the first Britney Day, an annual event since then. She was presented with a proclamation and a key to the Las Vegas strip. However, Spears postponed her second residency to be with him when her father suffered a near-fatal colon rupture. Meanwhile, Jamie Spears’ lawyer, Andrew M. Wallet, argued that Britney’s conservatorship should end, warning of “substantial detriment, irreparable harm, and immediate danger” to Britney.
Who’s in Charge Today?
Britney’s conservatorship, which has lasted for over a decade, has seen a rotating cast of individuals taking charge, except for her father, Jamie Spears, who has remained in control. There have been concerns about his character and alarming allegations made against him. Britney has been subjected to strict rules as part of the conservatorship, including a ban on driving and a prescription drug regimen. Her father had her involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility when she broke these rules.
Back in the Ward
In 2019, Britney Spears was hospitalized in a psychiatric facility following her father’s hospitalization, his lawyer’s accusations, and legal battles. It was initially claimed that she was under great stress due to her father’s near death, but later, Britney revealed that she was forced into the facility and medication. Fans rallied around her, and the controversy deepened.
The Hashtag
Britney was released from the psychiatric facility shortly after being admitted, and in a video to her fans, she assured them she was fine. However, the hashtag #FreeBritney gained popularity among fans who wanted her to break free from the conservatorship and her father’s control. Many celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, and Cher, expressed their support for Britney’s emancipation, and fans held a protest outside West Hollywood City Hall.
More Family Problems
In 2019, Britney’s family was further divided as her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, accused her father, Jamie Spears, of being abusive towards their son. Jamie allegedly broke down a door during an argument to get to Sean. Britney sent the boys back to their father and Jamie was granted a three-year restraining order.
Ten Long Years
After a decade of controlling Britney’s conservatorship, Jamie Spears was investigated and temporarily relinquished his role due to health reasons in 2019. Jodi Montgomery, Britney’s caregiver, was appointed as his replacement. Britney has filed paperwork to remove her father as a conservator permanently and hopes that Montgomery will take over her finances.
Good News at Last
Britney has found stability in her long-term relationship with Sam Asghari, a model and personal trainer since 2016. He seems to have her best interests at heart, which has brought positivity to her life. As a personal trainer, he can also help her maintain her physical and mental health through exercise, which is great news for Britney.
The Very First Guy
Spears and Timberlake’s breakup reasons have stayed unknown, but they have both moved on. In 2020, Britney danced to one of Timberlake’s songs and praised his talent. Timberlake responded positively with emojis. It’s not a perfect ending, but it’s a positive step for Britney’s future.
Putting a Ring on It
Britney and Sam got married in June 2022 after five years together in a ceremony attended by high-profile guests, including Madonna, Selena Gomez, and Paris Hilton. Guests had a great time, and Selena and Madonna danced together while Paris declined to DJ at a White House event on the same day to attend the wedding. Their friendship is remarkable.
