Britney Spears
Date of birth
2nd December, 1981
Occupation
Musician
Sex
1st January, 1970
Height
1.63
Britney Spears (born 2.12.1982) is an American singer who's debut album Baby One More Time found her international stardom in 1999 and contained the Billboard topping single 'Baby One More Time. She has sold over 83 million records worldwide, currently making her the eighth best-selling female artist in American music history, having sold 31 million albums in the U.S.
Her turbulent personal life has been well documented. Most recently, On the evening of 3rd January 2008, police were called to Spears's home after she refused to relinquish custody of her children. As a result of an order placed by her psychiatrist, Spears was taken to UCLA Medical Centre on January 31 where she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
Childhood: Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana.
She auditioned for the Disney Channel series 'The New Mickey Mouse Club' when she was just eight years old. At the time, she was considered too young to join the series, but a producer on the show suggested that she meet up with an agent in New York.
When she turned 11, Spears returned to the Disney Channel for a role in the 'The New Mickey Mouse Club'. She remained on the show from until the age of 13, from 1993 to 1994. Her young co-workers on the show included Christina Aguilera (pop singer), Justin Timbelake (who would go on to be her boyfriend for some time), Joshua Chasez (also in N'Sync with Timberlake), Keri Russell (actress) and Ryan Gosling (actor). She returned to schoool in Kentwood for one year after the show had ended.
After school, in 1997, she joined the all-girl group Innosense for a short period of time but later that year she recorded a solo demo tape and was signed by Jive Records on the strength of the demo. She eventually became the opening act for boy bands Backstreet Boys and N'Sync.
Musical Career: Her first single 'Baby One More Time was released in 1998 and became an instant international success. It sold nine million copies worldwide. The song's accompanying music video featured Britney dressed provocatively in a midriff-baring schoolgirl uniform.
The album, also called Baby One More Time was released in January 1999, reaching number one on the Billboard 200. The album subsequently acheived worldwide sales of over 25 million copies. In December 1999, she won four Billboard Music Awards and in early 2000, she took home the Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist award at the American Music Awards. She went on to receive two nominations at the Grammys, that same year, though she lost out to Christina Aguilera and Sarah McLachlan.
Her second album, Oops I Did It Again debuted at number one in the U.S. by selling 1,319,193 units during its first week of sales. Concerning both musical content and sales, the album was very similar to Spears's debut, although critics were more favourable to this second album.
In 2000, Britney gained two more Billboard Music awards and another two Grammy nominations. She also garnered controversy at the MTV Music awards when she ripped off a black suit to reveal a provocative nude-colored and crystal-adorned outfit.
Spears third studio album, Britney was released in November 2001. Although not as successful as her previous albums, she gained some creative control by co-writing five of the album's tracks. It still managed to surpass Michael Jackson's album Invincible when it had a successful debut at number one in the U.S. by selling 745,744 units during its first week. The singles did not fare so well. The lead single 'Im A Slave 4 U' peaked at 27 on the Billlboard Hot 100, making it the album's biggest hit. At the end of the album's promotional tour for the album, Spears announced she would take a six-month break from her career.
During her third consecutive MTV Video Music Awards performance, she controversially utilized caged animals and danced erotically with a large albino python draped over her shoulders. At a performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, she performed the song 'Like A Virgin' with Christina Aguilera and was later joined by Madonna, with whom Spears locked lips, in a highly publicised kiss.
Spears' fourth studio album, In The Zone, was released in November 2003. The album used lesser-known producers such as RedZone, as well as big names such as Moby and R.Kelly. The album reached number one in the U.S. charts during its debut week, with over 609,000 copies sold. Spears became the only female in music history to have her first four studio albums debut at number one.
The album spawned the hit single 'Toxic', winning Spears her first ever Grammy, despite previous nominations.
After her marriage to one of her dancers, Kevin Federline, Spears announced on her website she was taking another career break in order to start a family. However, November 2004 saw the release of her first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, which debuted at #4 on the U.S. charts. Then, In November 2005, she released her first remix album, B In the Mix: The Remixes. With Spears still on maternity leave, the album did not reach the success of her previous albums.
In May 2007, Spears made her musical comeback, but overall, this proved to be a disappointment to many. A mini-tour for the House Of Blues failed to see her singing live for the 15 minutes that she performed. Her most recent was recorded with producers such as Sean Garrett and Nate "Danja" Hills in 2006 and 2007.
The result of these recordings was Blackout, her fifth album. Scheduled for release in November 2007, it was pushed up to October 30th due to internet leaks. It debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard charts, selling 290,000 copies
Britney's ill-fated performance at the 2007 MTV Music Awards received much media attention, being described as a disappointing attempt at a comeback. The BBC, for instance, stated that "her performance would go down in the history books as being one of the worst to grace the MTV Awards." Whilst critics at The Times noted that "Spears was out of synch as she lip-synched and at times just stopped singing altogether." Despite the backlash, however, the single has achieved success worldwide.
Doja Cat And More Pop Sweethearts Who Embraced A Darker Image
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 11 November 2020
Doja Cat isn't the only one who shocked the world with a new image.
It seems we're not the only ones whose jaws dropped when we saw Doja Cat crawl out of a television screen The Ring style with a ripped dress, dark make-up and lank hair at the 2020 MTV European Music Awards, only to perform a hard rock rendition of her song Say So. Apart from the fact that the song, and indeed Doja Cat herself, is the most pop thing ever, we just weren't expecting such an alternative side to the singer - and we certainly weren't expecting to love it so much.
Not even the best casino bonus would have had us bet on a transformation like this. Though we ought to stop being so shocked when this happens by now; after all, she's not the only pop sweetheart to have made a controversial transformation in recent history. Here are just a few women in music who furthered their success by trading in their innocence...
Continue reading: Doja Cat And More Pop Sweethearts Who Embraced A Darker Image
Britney Spears Thanks Fans As Debut Single '...Baby One More Time' Turns 20
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 24 October 2018
Spears shared an emotional Instagram post on the 20th anniversary of her career-making breakout hit.
Britney Spears has taken to Instagram to thank her loyal fans on the 20th anniversary of her first ever single, ‘…Baby One More Time’.
The singer uploaded a clip to Instagram on Tuesday (October 23rd) that boasted highlights from the single’s iconic music video.
“Your support over the years has meant the absolute world to me,” she wrote. “It's hard to put into words what today means to me… 20 years ago, the world heard my music for the very first time!”
Continue reading: Britney Spears Thanks Fans As Debut Single '...Baby One More Time' Turns 20
Music News Round-Up: Britney Spears' Vegas Residency; Bob Dylan Movie; Blossoms Homecoming Gig
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 20 October 2018
The latest music news rounded up, including a possible Nirvana reunion, and Blossom's huge Stockport gig next June.
Britney Spears ANNOUNCES NEW LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY
Britney Spears has announced details of a second Las Vegas residency, following the resounding success of her Piece Of Me run which lasted a staggering four years.
The move was announced on Thursday night (October 18th) that the 36 year old pop megastar will have a new residency, slated to begin in 2019 at the theater inside the new Park MGM Resort.
Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: Britney Spears' Vegas Residency; Bob Dylan Movie; Blossoms Homecoming Gig
Britney Spears To Get Second Las Vegas Residency
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 19 October 2018
Spears is returning to Sin City in 2019 for another residency.
Britney Spears has announced details of a second Las Vegas residency, following the resounding success of her Piece Of Me run which lasted a staggering four years.
The 36 year old pop megastar will have a new residency, slated to begin next year at the theater inside the new Park MGM Resort. The move was announced on Thursday (October 18th) – just a few days shy of the 20th anniversary of Spears’ debut hit single ‘…Baby One More Time’.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Spears is going to be earning around half a million dollars for every show, in addition to percentage of ticket sales and merchandise.
Continue reading: Britney Spears To Get Second Las Vegas Residency
Kevin Federline Lobbies Britney Spears For More Child Support
By Ed Biggs in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 24 May 2018
Although Britney already pays her ex-husband £14,000 per month, Federline's lawyers are reportedly asking for more than three times that amount.
Britney Spears’ relationship with her ex-husband Kevin Federline is set to get toxic over the coming weeks, with the singer set to reject his claim for a huge increase in the amount of child support she pays him, believing it’s “not her problem”.
According to a report by TMZ, Federline’s lawyer wants Britney to pay her ex “at least three times the amount” of child support she pays to him, which is believed to be around £14,000 per month.
Federline, a professional back-up dancer who was married to the American pop megastar for three years until 2007, has two sons with her, Sean Preston (12) and Jayden James (11), as well as four other kids – 15 year old Kori and 13 year old Kaleb with ex-wife Shar Jackson, and six year old Jordan and four year old Peyton with current spouse Victoria Prince.
Continue reading: Kevin Federline Lobbies Britney Spears For More Child Support
Will.i.am And Britney Spears Lose 'Scream And Shout' Lawsuit
By Ed Biggs in Music / Festivals on 04 April 2018
The 2012 hit will now be co-credited to former N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos, after she launched a lawsuit claiming she had written it with will.i.am for her own solo album.
A five year court battle over the multi-platinum selling hit ‘Scream & Shout’ has finally been resolved, with Britney Spears and Will.i.am losing out to British singer Tulisa Contostavlos and forcing to credit her as a co-songwriter.
Former N-Dubz singer Tulisa will now be officially recognised as a writer of the 2012 smash single, after launching a lawsuit over five years following the release of ‘Scream & Shout’.
The 29 year old claimed that she co-wrote the track with Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am and had planned to include it on her first solo album, The Female Boss, apparently with the title ‘I Don’t Give A F***’. However, will.i.am’s producers allegedly didn’t like the version that they had come up with, and offered it instead to Britney Spears to collaborate with him.
Continue reading: Will.i.am And Britney Spears Lose 'Scream And Shout' Lawsuit
Britney Spears May Get Control Of Her Assets Back
By Charlotte Court in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 28 March 2018
The singer's father, Jamie, wants to end his conservatorship
Pop princess Britney Spears had a very public breakdown over a decade ago but the star has since been on the rise - and she even undertook a four-year Las Vegas residency which finished just last year.
The 35-year-old entertainer has been the subject of much scandal and controversy in her life, but she's always remained private when it comes to speaking out about it. One magazine report revealed that she would finally be breaking that silence by publishing a book all about the real Britney.
Continue reading: Britney Spears Is Not Writing A Tell-All Autobiography
Britney Spears arrives at BBC Radio 1. The singer performed at the Apple Music Festival on Tuesday night. London, United Kingdom - Wednesday 28th September 2016
G-Eazy and Britney Spears attending the MTV Video Music Awards 2016 held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. United States - Sunday 28th August 2016
Britney Spears attending the MTV Video Music Awards 2016 held at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. United States - Sunday 28th August 2016
Britney Spears - Celebrities attend 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater. at Microsoft Theater - Los Angeles, California, United States - Sunday 30th August 2015
Britney Spears - 2015 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA's) at the Microsoft Theater - Arrivals at Microsoft Theater - Los Angeles, California, United States - Sunday 30th August 2015