Arguably the most successful pop icon of her generation, Britney Spears has followed in the footsteps of her idols Madonna, Whitney Houston,
and Mariah Carey, mixing sugary, synthesized pop music with ravishing sex appeal. Britney’s success has been largely due to a rather brilliant lack of
subtlety – her wildly popular first single, 1998’s “…Baby One More Time,” was heavily promoted by a notorious video in which the 17-year-old Spears danced
suggestively in a skimpy schoolgirl outfit.
Britney’s genius as a pop provocateur doesn’t rest entirely with her racy costumes, however. During her brief career she has deftly managed to toe
the line between innocent girldom and sexpot status, and has frequently exhibited an all-American persona that has made her a sensation with pre-teen girls
and twentysomething males alike. All four of her albums have opened at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100, and her first two, …Baby One More Time and Oops!...I Did It Again, hit diamond sales selling over ten million copies each.
Born Dec. 2, 1981 in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears was a competitive gymnast in her youth until she received a spot on the popular program Star Search in 1992. Though she didn’t win the competition, she was soon accepted into Disney’s New Mickey Mouse Club and was featured for two seasons from 1993-94. Here she met Justin Timberlake, whom she would date for four years during the two stars’ early career booms starting in 1998. Also featured with Britney on the New Mickey Mouse Club were actor Ryan Gosling, pop rival Christina Aguilera, *NSYNC star Joshua Chasez, and "Felicity" actress Keri Russell.
Spears has released four highly successful albums, completed three world tours, starred in the modestly successful 2002 film Crossroads, wrote or co-wrote four books, and released a successful greatest hits compilation – all before her recent 25th birthday. As if that wasn’t enough, Spears has been a consistent source of media controversy, from her public appearances to her highly sexualized image. At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Britney and Madonna famously made out in front of the live audience, prompting a media frenzy over the event and criticism of Britney from family groups accusing her of contradicting her early, chaster image. Additionally, a fun night in Las Vegas in January 2004 ended with Britney eloping with her childhood friend Jason Alexander. The marriage was quickly annulled.
Britney’s detractors are far fewer than her posse of fans, however, and one thing is certain – Britney is all grown-up. Currently married to dancer Kevin
Federline and raising their child Sean Preston, Spears is returning to the studio for a late 2006 album release and is attached to star in the film
"In the Pink" with Tim Allen, Cher, and Bette Midler. Her forthcoming album is being called a ‘comeback’ by some, but that’s likely due only to her recent pregnancy hiatus. The Princess of Pop hasn’t met with much failure, and is unlikely to in the future.