”’Britney Jean Spears”’ (born December 2, 1981) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Raised in [[Kentwood, Louisiana]], Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with [[Jive Records]] in 1997 and released her debut album in 1999. During her first decade within the music industry, she became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture, followed by a much-publicized personal life. Her first two albums established her as a pop icon and broke sales records, while title tracks “[[...Baby One More Time (song)|...Baby One More Time]]” and “[[Oops!... I Did It Again (song)|Oops!... I Did It Again]]” became international number-one hits. Spears was credited for influencing the revival of [[teen pop]] during the late 1990s.

In 2001, she released her third studio album ”[[Britney (album)|Britney]]” and expanded her brand, playing the starring role in the film ”[[Crossroads (2002 film)|Crossroads]]”. She assumed creative control of her fourth studio album, ”[[In the Zone]]” released in 2003, which yielded chart-topping singles “[[Me Against the Music]]”, “[[Toxic (song)|Toxic]]” and “[[Everytime]]”. After the release of two compilation albums, Spears experienced personal struggles and career went under hiatus. Her fifth studio album, ”[[Blackout (Britney Spears album)|Blackout]]”, was released in 2007 and despite receiving little promotion, it spawned hits “[[Gimme More]]” and “[[Piece of Me]]”. In 2008, her erratic behaviour and hospitalizations caused her to be placed in a [[conservatorship]]. The same year, her sixth studio album ”[[Circus (Britney Spears album)|Circus]]” was released, with the global chart-topping lead single “[[Womanizer (song)|Womanizer]]”. After embarking on [[The Circus Starring Britney Spears]], she released greatest hits ”[[The Singles Collection (Britney Spears album)|The Singles Collection]]”, which featured U.S. and Canadian number-one single “[[3 (song)|3]]”.

Spears has sold more than 85 million albums worldwide. She is ranked as the eight [[List of best-selling music artists in the United States|best-selling]] female recording artist in the U.S., having sold more than 32&nbsp;million copies of her albums and all [[RIAA certification|certified by the Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum – May 03, 2010|date=2010|accessdate=2010-05-03| last=|first=|work=”[[Recording Industry Association of America]]”|publisher=[[Mitch Bainwol]]}}</ref> In 2009, ”Billboard” named Spears as one of the best selling acts of the 2000s, solely based on album sales as well as the 8th overall best act of the decade based on album sales, chart success, and cultural relativity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/features/artist-of-the-decade-1004053060.story|title=Artists of the Decade | Billboard.com|date=2010|accessdate=2010-05-03| last=Staff|first=Billboard|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Company]]}}</ref> In the United States, Spears is the best selling female artist of the 2000s, as well as the fifth overall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/34074/chart-watch-extra-the-top-20-album-sellers-of-the-2000s|title=Chart Watch Extra: The Top 20 Album Sellers Of The 2000s|date=2009-05-29|accessdate=2010-05-03| last=Grein|first=Paul|work=”[[Yahoo! Music]]”|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref>

==Biography==
===1981–1997: Early life and beginnings===
Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, the second child of [[Lynne Spears|Lynne Irene]] (née Bridges) and Jamie Parnell Spears. She is of [[English American|English]] heritage through her maternal grandmother, who was born in London, and of distant [[Maltese people|Maltese]] descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1056674/EXCLUSIVE-First-photos-Britney-Spears-newly-discovered-British-family.html|title=Exclusive: First photos of Britney Spears’ newly-discovered British family | Mail Online|work=[[Daily Mail]]|publisher=[[Daily Mail and General Trust]] |date=2008-09-17|accesdate=2010-06-04|last=Thomas|first=Liz}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Spears|Craker|2008|p=4}}</ref> Her sibilings are Bryan James and [[Jamie Lynn Spears|Jamie Lynn]].<ref>{{harvnb|Spears|Craker|2008|p=211}}</ref> At age three, she started to attend dance lessons in her hometown of [[Kentwood, Louisiana]] and was selected to perform a solo at the annual recital. During her childhood, she also attended [[gymnastics]] and voice lessons, and won many state-level competitions and children’s talent shows.<ref>{{harvnb|Spears|Craker|2008|p=56}}</ref><ref name=rs1>{{cite journal|url=|title=Cover Story: Britney Spears: Britney Spears : Rolling Stone|date=1999-04-15|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Jann Wenner]]|accessdate=2010-06-04|last=Daly|first=Steven|issn=0035-791X}}</ref><ref name=foxnews>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195283,00.html|title=Britney Spears’ Biography – Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment – FOXNews.com|work=”[[Fox News Channel]]”|publisher=[[News Corporation]] |date=2008-07-31|accesdate=2010-06-06|last=Reporter|first=Staff}}</ref> Spears made her local stage debut at age five, singing “[[What Child Is This?]]” at her [[kindergarten]] graduation. Spears said about her ambition as a child, “I was in my own world, [...] I found out what I’m supposed to do at an early age”.<ref name=rs1/> At age eight, Spears and her mother Lynne travelled to [[Atlanta]] for an audition in the 1990′s revival of ”[[The Mickey Mouse Club]]”. Casting director Matt Cassella rejected her for being too young to join the series at the time, but introduced her to Nancy Carson, a [[New York City]] talent agent. Carson was impressed with Spears’s vocals and suggested enrolling her at the [[Professional Performing Arts School]]; shortly after, Lynne and her daughters moved to a sublet apartment in New York. Spears was hired for her first professional role, as the understudy for the lead role of Tina Denmark in the Off-Broadway musical ”[[Ruthless!]]”. She also appeared as a contestant on the popular television show ”[[Star Search]]”, as well as being cast in a number of commercials.<ref>{{harvnb|Spears|Craker|2008|p=75}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Laufenberg|2005|p=616}}</ref> In December 1992, she was finally cast in ”The Mickey Mouse Club”, but returned to Kentwood after the show was cancelled. She enrolled at [[Parklane Academy]] in nearby [[McComb, Mississippi]]. Although she made friends with most of her classmates, she compared the school to “the opening scene in ”[[Clueless (film)|Clueless]]” with all the [[cliques]]. [...] I was so bored. I was the point guard on the basketball team. I had my boyfriend, and I went to homecoming and Christmas formal. But I wanted more.”<ref name=rs1/><ref name=rs2>{{cite journal|url=|title=Cover Story: The Girl Can’t Help It : Rolling Stone|date=2000-05-25|work=Rolling Stone|publisher=Jann Wenner|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Mundy|first=Chris|issn=0035-791X}}</ref>

In June 1997, Spears was in talks with manager [[Lou Pearlman]] to join female pop group [[innosense]]. Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyer [[Larry Rudolph]] for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears singing over a [[Whitney Houston]] karaoke song along with some pictures. Rudolph decided he wanted to pitch her to record labels, therefore she needed a professional [[demo (music)|demo]]. He sent Spears an unused song from [[Toni Braxton]]; she rehearsed for a week and recorded her vocals in a studio with a lone [[Audio engineering|sound engineer]]. Spears travelled to New York with the demo and met with executives from four labels, returning to Kentwood the same day. Three of the labels rejected her, arguing audiences wanted pop bands such as [[The Backstreet Boys]] and [[The Spice Girls]], and “there wasn’t going to be another [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], another [[Debbie Gibson]], or another [[Tiffany (singer)|Tiffany]].” Two weeks later, executives from [[Jive Records]] returned calls to Rudolph.<ref>{{harvnb|Hughes|2005|p=145}}</ref> Senior vice president of [[A&R]] Jeff Fenster stated about Spears’s audition that “It’s very rare to hear someone that age who can deliver emotional content and commercial appeal. [...] For any artist, the motivation—the ‘eye of the tiger’— is extremely important. And Britney had that.”<ref name=rs1/> They appointed her to work with producer Eric Foster White for a month, who reportedly shaped her voice from “lower and less poppy” delivery to “distinctively, unmistakably Britney.”<ref>{{harvnb|Hughes|2005|p=147}}</ref> After hearing the recorded material, president [[Clive Calder]] ordered a full album. Spears had originally envisioned “[[Sheryl Crow]] music, but younger more adult contemporary” but felt alright with her label’s appointment of producers, since “It made more sense to go pop, because I can dance to it—it’s more me.” She flew to [[Cheiron Studios]] in [[Stockholm, Sweden]], where half of the album was recorded from March to November 1998, with producers [[Max Martin]], [[Denniz PoP]] and [[Rami Yacoub|Rami]], among others.<ref name=rs1/>

===1998–2000: ”…Baby One More Time” and ”Oops!… I Did It Again”===
[[File:Baby One More Time (1).jpg|thumb|right|upright|Spears performing at the [[...Baby One More Time Tour]] in 1999]]
After Spears returned to the United States, Spears embarked on a shopping mall promotional tour to promote her forthcoming album. Her show was a four song set and she was accompanied by two back up dancers. Her first concert tour followed, as an opening act for [['N Sync]].<ref>{{harvnb|Blandford|2002|p=28}}</ref> Her debut album, ”[[...Baby One More Time]]”, was released on January 1999. It debuted at number one on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and was certified two-times [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] after a month. Worldwide, the album topped the charts in fifteen countries and sold over ten million copies in a year.<ref>{{harvnb|Blandford|2002|p=30}}</ref> It became the biggest selling album ever by a teenage artist.<ref name=foxnews/> The [[...Baby One More Time (song)|title track]] was released as the [[lead single]] from the album. Originally, Jive Records wanted its music video to be animated; however, Spears rejected it, and suggested the final idea of a Catholic schoolgirl.<ref>{{harvnb|Hughes|2005|p=147}}</ref> The single sold 500,000 copies on its first day, and debuted at number one on the ”Billboard” [[Hot 100]], topping the chart for two consecutive weeks.<ref>{{harvnb|Blandford|2002|p=29}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bronson|2003|p=377}}</ref> “…Baby One More Time” later received a [[Grammy]] nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/grammys.htm|title=Rock On The Net: 42nd Annual Grammy Awards – 2000|work=”[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]”|publisher=RockOntheNet.com|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-05}}</ref> The title track also topped the singles chart for two weeks in the United Kingdom, and became the fastest-selling single ever by a female artist, shipping over 460,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://everyhit.com/record4.html|title=Record-Breakers and Trivia – everyHit.com|work=|publisher=Everyhit.com|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-05}}</ref> It would later become the [[UK Million-Selling Singles|25th most successful song of all time in British chart history]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://everyhit.com/bestsellingsingles.html|title=everyHit.com – Best Selling Singles Of All Time|work=|publisher=Everyhit.com|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-05}}</ref> Spears is also the youngest female artist to have a million seller in the country.<ref name=ukchart>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/BRITNEY%20SPEARS/|title=Britney Spears – The Official Charts Company|work=”Theofficialcharts.com”|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-05}}</ref> “[[(You Drive Me) Crazy]]” was released as the second single from the album. It became a top-ten hit worldwide and propelled ”…Baby One More Time” to sell 25 million copies.<ref name=foxnews/> The April 1999 cover of ”[[Rolling Stone]]” featured Spears laying on her bed, clad with a bra, shorts and an open top. The [[American Family Association]] (AFA) referred to the shoot as “a disturbing mix of childhood innocence and adult sexuality” and called to “God-loving Americans to boycott stores selling Britney’s albums.” Spears responded to the outcry commenting, “What’s the big deal? I have strong morals. [...] I’d do it again. I thought the pictures were fine. And I was tired of being compared to Debbie Gibson and all of this [[bubblegum pop]] all the time.”<ref>{{harvnb|Blandford|2002|p=36}}</ref> Shortly before, Spears had announced publicly she would remain a [[virgin]] until marriage.<ref name=foxnews/>

On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining [[...Baby One More Time Tour]] in North America, which was positively received by critics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/S/Spears_Britney/1999/07/10/749831.html|title=Spears takes aim at fame|date=1999-07-10|accessdate=2010-01-01|last=Stevenson|first=Jane|work=”[[Jam!]]”|publisher=[[Quebecor Inc.]]}}</ref> but generated some controversy due to her racy outfits.<ref>{{harvnb|Blandford|2002|p=38}}</ref> An extension of the tour, titled Crazy 2k, followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show.<ref name=rs2/> ”[[Oops!... I Did It Again]]”, her second studio album, was released in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the US, selling 1,3 million copies, breaking the [[SoundScan]] record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist.<ref name=rs2>{{cite journal|url=|title=Oops!…She Sold 1.3 Million Albums: Britney Spears : Rolling Stone|date=2000-05-25|work=Rolling Stone|publisher=Jann Wenner|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Skanse|first=Richard|issn=0035-791X}}</ref> The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide.<ref name=oopssales>{{cite web|url=http://www.britneyspears.com/2010/05/oops-week-10-fun-facts.php|title=Oops! Week: 10 Fun Facts – BRITNEY SPEARS|date=2010-05-20|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Staff|first=Michael|work=”BritneySpears.com”|publisher=Brandcasting Unlimited}}</ref> Rob Sheffield of ”Rolling Stone” said that “the great thing about ”Oops!” – under the cheese surface, Britney’s demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child of [[rock & roll]] tradition.”<ref name=rsoops>{{cite journal|url=|title=Britney Spears: Oops!…I Did It Again : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone|date=2000-06-08|work=Rolling Stone|publisher=Jann Wenner|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|issn=0035-791X}}</ref> The album’s lead single, “[[Oops!... I Did It Again (song)|Oops!... I Did It Again]]”, peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and many other European nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Oops!…+I+Did+It+Again&cat=s|title=ultratop.be – Britney Spears – Oops!… I Did It Again:|work=”[[Ultratop]]”|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=2010-06-05}}</ref><ref name=ukchart/> The album as well as the title track received Grammy nominations for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album|Best Pop Vocal Album]] and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2001/grammys.htm|title=Rock On The Net: 43nd Annual Grammy Awards – 2001|work=”National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences”|publisher=RockOntheNet.com|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-06}}</ref> The same year, Spears embarked on the [[Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour]], which grossed $40.5&nbsp;million; she also released her first book, ”[[Britney Spears products|Britney Spears' Heart-to-Heart]]”, co-written with her mother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/53/2001/LIR.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2001&passListType=Person&uniqueId=PREW&datatype=Person|title=Britney Spears on 100 Top Celebrities|year=2000|accessdate=2010-01-21|last=|first=|work=”[[Forbes.com]]”|publisher=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref name=foxnews/> On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at the [[2000 MTV Video Music Awards]]. Halfway through the performance, she ripped of her black suit to reveal a sequined flesh-colored bodysuit, followed by heavy dance routine. It is noted by critics as the moment that Spears showed signs of becoming a more provocative performer.<ref name=vma>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1568995/20070906/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Spears’ Greatest VMA Hits: Barely There Costumes, Giant Snakes And A Scandalous Lip-Lock – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2007-09-06|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Montgomery|first=James|work=”[[MTV]]”|publisher=[[MTV Networks]]}}</ref> Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating ‘N Sync member [[Justin Timberlake]].<ref name=foxnews/>

===2001–2003: ”Britney”, ”Crossroads”, and ”In the Zone”===
[[File:Britney Spears.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Spears performing "Me Against The Music" at the NFL Kickoff Live 2003]]
On February 2001, Spears got a promotional deal for $7-8 million dollars with [[Pepsi]], and released another book co-written with her mother, entitled ”A Mother’s Gift”.<ref name=foxnews/> Her third studio album, ”[[Britney]]”, was released in November 2001. While on tour, she felt inspired by hip hop artists such as [[Jay-Z]] and [[The Neptunes]] and wanted to create a record with a funkier sound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1450334/20011024/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Says Britney Reflects Who Britney Is – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2001-10-25|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Moss|first=Corey|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> The album debuted at number one in the ”Billboard” 200 and reached top five positions in Australia, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.store.livenation.com/Product.aspx?cp=13281_16771_16305_16306&pc=MUDD413 |title= ”Britney” sold over 12 million copies worldwide|date=2010|accessdate=2010-06-12|publisher=[[Live Nation]]}}</ref><ref name=ukchart/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Britney&cat=a|title=ultratop.be – Britney Spears – Britney|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=2010-06-05}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[Allmusic]] called ”Britney” “the record where she strives to deepen her persona, making it more adult while still recognizably Britney. [...] It does sound like the work of a star who has now found and refined her voice, resulting in her best record yet.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hcfyxqt0ld6e|title=allmusic ((( Britney > Overview )))|date=2001|accessdate=2010-06-05|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|work=”[[Allmusic]]”|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]}}</ref> The album was honored with two Grammy nominations—Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “[[Overprotected]]”— and was listed in 2008 as one of ”[[Entertainment Weekly]]”’s “100 Best Albums from the Past 25 Years”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2003/grammys.htm|title=Rock On The Net: 45nd Annual Grammy Awards – 2001|work=”National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences”|publisher=RockOntheNet.com|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207076_20207387_20207337,00.html|title=The New Classics: Music | EW 1000: Music | Music | The EW 1000 | Entertainment Weekly|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]|date=2010|accesdate=2010-06-06}}</ref> The album’s first single, “[[I'm a Slave 4 U]]”, became a top-ten hit worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=I%27m+A+Slave+4+U&cat=s|title=ultratop.be – Britney Spears – I’m a Slave 4 U|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=2010-06-06}}</ref> Spears’s performance of the single at the [[2001 MTV Video Music Awards]] featured a caged tiger and a large [[Burmese python|albino python]] drapped over her shoulders. It was harshly received by animal rights organization [[PETA]], who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears.<ref name=vma/> To support the album, Spears embarked on the [[Dream Within a Dream Tour]]. The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, the ”[[pièce de résistance]]” being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage.<ref name=livedesign>{{cite web|url=http://livedesignonline.com/mag/britneys_big_splash/index.html?smte=wr|title=Britney’s Big Splash|date=2002-07-01|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=McHugh|first=Catherine|work=Live Design|publisher=[[Penton Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://livedesignonline.com/mag/lighting_singin_rain/index.html|title=Singin’ in the Rain|date=2002-08-01|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Singlerland|first=Amy L.|work=Live Design|publisher=Penton Media}}</ref> The tour grossed $43.7&nbsp;million, becoming the second highest grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behind [[Cher]]’s [[Living Proof: The Farewell Tour|Farewell Tour]].<ref name=gross>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/news/mccartney-notches-year-s-highest-grossing-1782120.story#/news/mccartney-notches-year-s-highest-grossing-1782120.story|title=McCartney Notches Year’s Highest-Grossing Tour|last=Billboard|first=Reporter|year=2002|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Company]]|accessdate=2010-01-26}}</ref> Her career success was highlighted by ”[[Forbes]]” in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world’s most powerful celebrity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/home.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2002&passListType=Person|title=Forbes.com: Forbes Celebrity 100 2002|date=2002|accessdate=2010-06-06||work=Forbes.com|publisher=Forbes}}</ref> Spears also landed her first starring role in ”[[Crossroads (2002 film)|Crossroads]]”, released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, most critics actually praised Spears’s acting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1112549-crossroads/|title=Crossroads Movie Reviews, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes|date=2002|accessdate=2010-06-06||work=”[[Rotten Tomatoes]]”|publisher=[[Flixster]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/crossroads-film-review-2625.html|title=Crossroads Film Review – Crossroads Film Pictures, Crossroads Film Trailer|date=2002-04-02|accessdate=2010-06-06||work=”View London”|publisher=2 View Group Ltd.}}</ref><ref name=cross>{{harvnb|Hughes|2005|p=152}}</ref> ”Crossroads”, which had a $11 million budget, went on to gross over $57 million worldwide.<ref name=cross/>

In June 2002, Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, but terminated her relationship in November, citing mismanagement and “management’s failure to keep her fully apprised”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458900/20021126/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Spears Bails On Her New York Restaurant, Nyla – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2002-11-27|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Moss|first=Corey|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> In July 2002, Spears announced she would take a six month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in October to record her new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458526/20021105/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Spears’ Hiatus Is History – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News:|date=2002-11-05|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Moss|first=Corey|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> Spears’s relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years. In December 2002, Timberlake released the song “[[Cry Me a River (Justin Timberlake song)|Cry Me a River]]” as the second single from his [[Justified|solo debut album]]. The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been unfaithful to him.<ref name=itself>{{cite web|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/node/226195/thi|title=’This one’s for you’: Ex-music couples sing of their love woes|date=2009-10-04|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Sanchez|first=Rowena Joy A.|work=[[Manila Bulletin]]|publisher=Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.}}</ref><ref name=sawyer>{{cite web|url=http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/stories/contributors/259121/britney-revealed|title=Britney revealed|date=2003-11-23|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Sawyer|first=Diane|work=”[[ninemsn]]”|publisher=[[PBL Media]] / [[Microsoft]]}}</ref> As a response, Spears wrote the ballad “[[Everytime]]” with her backing vocalist and friend [[Annet Artani]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muumuse.com/2010/02/annet-artani-from-everytime-to-alive.html#more-5249|title=Annet Artani: From “Everytime” to “Alive”|date=2010-02|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Stern|first=Bradley|work=”MuuMuse.com”|publisher=Bradley Stern}}</ref> The same year, [[Limp Bizkit]] frontman [[Fred Durst]] confirmed that he was in a relationship with Spears, only to deny it later. In a 2009 interview, he explained that “I just guess at the time it was taboo for a guy like me to be associated with a gal like her.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1607309/20090319/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Fred Durst Looks Back At His Relationship With Britney Spears – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2009-03-19|accessdate=2010-06-06|last=Jacks|first=Brian|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> Spears opened the [[2003 MTV Video Music Awards]] with [[Christina Aguilera]], performing “[[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]]”. Halfway through they were joined by Madonna, with whom they both kissed. The incident was highly publicized.<ref name=cross/> Spears released her fourth studio album, ”[[In the Zone]]”, in November 2003. She assumed more creative control by writing and co-producing most of the material.<ref name=foxnews/> ”[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]” called it “A supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears’s development as a songwriter.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/spearsbritney/inthezone|title=In The Zone reviews at Metacritic.com:|date=2003|accessdate=2010-06-06||work=”[[Metacritic]]”|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]}}</ref> [[NPR]] listed the album as one of “The 50 Most Important Recording of the Decade”, adding that “the decade’s history of impeccably crafted pop is written on her body of work.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120400577|title=The 50 Most Important Recordings: S-Z : NPR|date=2009-11-16|accessdate=2010-06-06||work=”NPR.com”|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]}}</ref> ”In the Zone” sold over 609,000 copies in the United States and debuted at the top of the charts, making Spears the first female artist in the SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one.<ref name=foxnews/> It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=In+The+Zone&cat=a|title=ultratop.be – Britney Spears – In the Zone|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=2010-06-06}}</ref> ”In the Zone” sold over 10 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.store.livenation.com/Product.aspx?cp=13281_16771_16305&pc=MUDD417 |title= ”In the Zone” sold over 10 million copies worldwide|date=2010|accessdate=2010-06-12|publisher=[[Live Nation]]}}</ref> The album yielded three hit singles: “[[Me Against the Music]]”, a collaboration with Madonna; “[[Toxic (song)|Toxic]]”—which won a Grammy for [[Best Dance Recording]]— and “Everytime”.<ref name=foxnews/>

===2004–2007: Compilation albums, personal struggles and ”Blackout”===
On January 3, 2004, Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander at [[The Little White Wedding Chapel]] in [[Las Vegas metropolitan area|Las Vegas, Nevada]].  The marriage was [[annulment|annulled]] 55 hours later, stating that Spears “lacked understanding of her actions”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3869708/|title=Judge dissolves Britney’s ‘joke’ wedding – Music|date=2004-04-06|accessdate=2010-06-10|last=Staff|first=Associated Press|work=”[[msnbc.com]]”|publisher=[[NBC Universal]] / [[Microsoft]]}}</ref> She began [[The Onyx Hotel Tour]] in support of ”In the Zone” in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485503/20040302/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Checking Into Onyx Hotel Wearing Rubberlike Outfit|date=2004-03-02|accessdate=2009-12-24|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> On June 8, 2004, Spears fell and injured her left knee during the music video shoot for “[[Outrageous]]”. She was taken immediately to a local hospital, where doctors performed an MRI scan and found floating cartilage. The following day, Spears underwent [[arthroscopic surgery]]. She was forced to remain six weeks with a thigh brace, followed by eight to twelve weeks of rehabilitation, which caused The Onyx Hotel Tour to be canceled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,652994,00.html|title=Britney Cancels Tour Due to Bad Knee|date=2004-06-16|accessdate=2009-12-27|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M.|first2=|last2=|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]}}</ref> During 2004, Spears became involved in the [[Kabbalah Centre]] through her friendship with Madonna.<ref name=kabbalah>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12920032/|title=Forget Kabbalah, Britney’s baby is her religion – Entertainment – msnbc.com|date=2004-06-01|accessdate=2010-06-10|last=Walls|first=Jeannette|work=”msnbc.com”|publisher=NBC Universal / Microsoft}}</ref> In July 2004, she announced her engagement to American dancer [[Kevin Federline]], who she had met three months before. The romance received intense attention from the media, since Federline had recently broken up with actress [[Shar Jackson]], who was still pregnant with their second child at the time.<ref name=foxnews/> The initial stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears’s first reality show ”[[Britney & Kevin: Chaotic]]”, and they married on September 18, 2004.<ref>{{harvnb|Heller|2007|p=80}}</ref> Shortly after, she released her first fragrance with [[Elizabeth Arden]], ”[[Curious (fragrance)|Curious]]”, which broke the company’s first-week gross for a perfume.<ref name=foxnews/> In October 2004, Spears announced she would be taking another career break to start a family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1492692/20041016/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney Spears Announces She’s Taking A Break From Her Career – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2004-10-16|accessdate=2010-06-10|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> ”[[Greatest Hits: My Prerogative]]”, her first greatest hits [[compilation album]], was released in November 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1490190/20040813/spears_britney.jhtml?headlines=true|title=Britney Covers Bobby Brown’s ‘My Prerogative’ For Forthcoming LP – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2004-08-13|accessdate=2010-10-06| last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref> Spears’s [[cover version]] of [[Bobby Brown]]’s “[[My Prerogative]]” was released as the lead single from the album, reaching the top of the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy and Norway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=My+Prerogative&cat=s|title=Britney Spears – My Prerogative (song) |year=2004|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=2010-10-06}}</ref> The second single, “[[Do Somethin']]”, was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries of mainland Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/uk_singles_top_75/2005/10|title=UK Singles Chart|date=2005-03-07|accessdate=2010-10-06|publisher=acharts.us|work=”The Official Charts Company”}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Do+Somethin%27&cat=s|title=Britney Spears – Do Somethin’ (song)|date=2005|accessdate=2010-10-06|publisher=Hung Medien|work=”Ultratop”}}</ref> Worldwide, ”Greatest Hits: My Prerogative” sold over 5 million copies.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.britney.com/mx/career-highlights|title=Biography | Britney.com|date=2010|accessdate=2010-06-05|work=”Britney.com”|publisher=[[Jive Records|Jive]]}}</ref>

Spears gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1039012_1107631,00.html|title=Britney Welcomes Home Sean Preston|date=2005-09-21|accessdate=2010-10-06|last=Staff|first=People| work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation, ”[[B in the Mix: The Remixes]]”.
The album consists of eleven remixes and a new track titled “And Then We Kiss”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1512630/20051031/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Surprise: Britney’s Releasing An Album In Just Two Weeks – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|work=”MTV”|publisher=[[MTV Networks]]|accessdate=2005-11-08|date=2010-10-06}}</ref> In February 2006, pictures surfaced of Spears driving with her son Sean, on her lap instead of in a car seat. Child advocates were horrified by the photos of her holding the wheel with one hand and Sean with the other. Spears claimed that the situation happened because of a frightening encounter with paparazzi, and that it was a mistake on her part.<ref name=foxnews/> The following month, she [[Guest appearance|guest-starred]] on the ”[[Will & Grace]]” episode “[[Buy, Buy Baby]]” as closeted lesbian Amber Louise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-03-29-britney-sidebar_x.htm|title=USATODAY.com – Britney maybe one more time|last=Thomas|first=Karen|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|accessdate=2006-03-29|date=2010-10-06}}</ref> She publicly announced she longer studied Kabbalah in June 2006, explaining, “my baby is my religion”.<ref name=kabbalah/> Two months later, Spears posed nude for the cover of ”[[Harper's Bazaar]]”. The picture was heavily compared to [[Demi Moore]]’s [[More Demi Moore|August 1991 ''Vanity Fair'' cover]].<ref name=foxnews/> She gave birth to her second child, Jayden James Federline, on September 12, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,1550177,00.html|title=Britney’s Baby Name: Jayden James Federline – Britney Spears : People.com|date=2006-10-24|accessdate=2010-10-06|last=Staff|first=People| work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> On November 7, 2006, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing [[irreconcilable differences]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1556096,00.html|title=Britney Spears Files for Divorce – Divorced, Britney Spears, Kevin Federline : People.com|date=2006-11-07|accessdate=2010-10-06|last=Staff|first=People| work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> Their divorce was finalized in July 2007, when the couple reached a global settlement and agreed to share joint custody of their children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b55767_Britney_Kevin_Back_to_Being_Single_.html|title=Britney, Kevin Back to Being Single – E! Online|date=2007-07-30|accessdate=2010-10-06|last=Hall|first=Sarah| work=”E! Online”|publisher=[[E!]]}}</ref> Spears’s aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of [[ovarian cancer]] in January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20169661,00.html|title=Lynne Spears Visits Sister’s Grave Amid Crisis – Britney Spears, Lynne Spears : People.com|date=2008-01-05|accessdate=2010-10-06|last=Staff|first=People| work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> On February 16, 2007, Spears stayed in a [[drug rehabilitation]] facility in [[Antigua]] for less than a day. The following night, she shaved her head with electric clippers at a hair salon in [[Tarzana, California]]. She admitted herself to other treatment facilities during the following weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Health/story?id=2885048&page=1|title=Bald and Broken: Inside Britney’s Shaved Head – ABC News|date=2007-02-19|accessdate=2010-10-06|last=Marikar|first=Sheila| work=”[[ABC News]]”|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company]]}}</ref> After completing a month-long program at [[Promises Treatment Centers|Promises]], she wrote on her website, “I truly hit rock bottom. Till this day I don’t think that it was [[alcoholism|alcohol]] or [[Major depressive disorder|depression]]. [...] was like a bad kid running around with [[ADHD predominantly inattentive|ADD]].”<ref name=foxnews/> In May 2007, she produced a series of promotional concerts at [[House of Blues]] venues, titled [[The M+M's Tour]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1558527/20070502/spears_britney.jhtml|title=Britney’s Back! Spears Returns To The Stage With Five-Song Dirty Dance Party – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News|date=2007-05-02|accessdate=2010-06-10|last=Van Horn|first=Teri|work=”MTV”|publisher=”MTV Networks”}}</ref> Spears lost physical custody of her children to Federline on October 1, 2007. The reasons of the court ruling were not revealed to the public.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/01/spears.federline/index.html|title=Spears will lose custody of children – CNN.com|date=2007-10-02|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Staff|first=CNN|work=”[[CNN]]”|publisher=”Time Warner”}}</ref>

Her fifth studio album, ”[[Blackout (Britney Spears album)|Blackout]]”, was released in October 2007. It debuted at the top of charts in Canada and Ireland, number two in the U.S. ”Billboard” 200,—held off from the top spot by [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]’s ”[[Long Road out of Eden]]”— France, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom and the top ten in Australia, Korea, New Zealand and many European nations. In the United States, Spears became the only female artist to have her first five studio albums debut at the two top slots of the chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/britney-spears-debuts-1-on-european-albums-chart-and-debuts-1-on-us-digital-albums-chart-58819832.html|title=Britney Spears Debuts #1 on European Albums Chart and Debuts #1 on… — re> NEW YORK, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ –:|date=2007-11-08|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Staff|first=CNN|work=”[[PR Newswire]]”|publisher=}}</ref> ”Blackout” sold over 3.1 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/britney-spears-circus|title=CD review: Britney Spears: Circus | Music | The Guardian|date=2008-11-28|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]]}}</ref> Peter Robinson of ”[[The Observer]]” said that “Britney has delivered the best album of her career, raising the bar for modern pop music with an incendiary mix of [[Timbaland]]’s ”[[Shock Value (album)|Shock Value]]” and her own back catalogue.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/nov/11/shopping.popandrock1|title=CDs: Britney Spears, Blackout and Kylie Minogue, X | Music | The Observer|date=2007-11-11|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Robinson|first=Peter|work=[[The Observer]]|publisher=Guardian Media Group}}</ref> Dennis Lim of ”[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]” commented, “Spears’s fifth studio album is her most consistent, a seamlessly entertaining collection of bright, brash electropop.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/new/54850/blackout.html|title=Blackout – Blender|date=2007-10-30|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Lim|first=Dennis|work=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|publisher=Alpha Media Group}}</ref> ”Blackout” won Album of the Year at [[MTV Europe Music Awards 2008]] and was listed as the fifth Best Pop Album of the Decade by ”[[The Times]]”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/2008/11/07/britney-spears-seals-comeback-with-two-gongs-at-mtv-europe-music-awards-86908-20875355/|title=Britney Spears seals comeback with two gongs at MTV Europe Music Awards – The Daily Record|date=2008-11-07|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Lyons|first=Bev|last2=Sutherland|first2=Laura|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|publisher=[[Trinity Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6922991.ece|title=The 100 best pop albums of the Noughties – Times Online|date=2009-11-21|accessdate=2010-06-11|last=Staff|first=Times Online|work=[[The Times]]|publisher=News Corporation}}</ref> Spears performed the lead single “[[Gimme More]]” at the [[2007 MTV Video Music Awards]]. The performance was panned by many critics. David Willis of [[BBC]] stated her performance would “go down in the history books as being one of the worst to grace the MTV Awards”.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6986539.stm|title=
Britney’s MTV comeback falls flat|date=2007-09-10|accessdate=2010-02-24|last=Willis|first=David|work=[[BBC Online]]|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Despite the backlash, the single rocketed to worldwide success, peaking at number one in Canada and the top ten in almost every country it charted.<ref name=can>{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/canada_singles_top_100/2007/41|title=Canada Singles Top 100|date=2007-10-13|accessdate=2010-02-23|last=|first=|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=acharts.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Gimme+More&cat=s|title=Britney Spears – Gimme More (song)|year=2007|accessdate=2010-02-23|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien}}</ref> The second single “[[Piece of Me]]” reached the top of the charts in Ireland and reached the top five in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/australia_singles_top_50/2008/06|title=Australian Singles Chart|date=2008-03-01| accessdate=2010-02-06|work=”[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]”|publisher=acharts.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/uk_singles_top_75/2007/52|title=UK Singles Chart|date=2007-12-23| accessdate=2010-02-10|work=”[[The Official Charts Company]]”|publisher=acharts.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Piece+of+Me&cat=s|title=Britney Spears – Piece of Me(song)|date=2008|accessdate=2010-02-10|work=”Ultratop 50”|publisher=Hung Medien}}</ref> In December 2007, Spears began a relationship with paparazzi Adnan Ghalib.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20168997,00.html|title=Britney Pap-Happy with Her New Guy – Britney Spears : People.com|date=2008-01-03|accessdate=2010-02-12|last=Staff|first=People|work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref>

===2008–present: Conservatorship, ”Circus” and The Circus Starring Britney Spears===
[[File:Britneybirthday.jpg|right|upright|thumb| Spears at the album release party of ''[[Circus (Britney Spears album)|Circus]]” and her 27th birthday party.]]
On January 3, 2008, Spears refused to relinquish custody of her sons to Federline’s representatives. She was hospitalized at [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]], after police that arrived at her house noted she appeared to be under the influence of an illicit substance. The following day, Spears’s visitation rights were suspended at an emergency court hearing, and Federline was given sole physical and legal custody of the children. On January 31, 2008, Spears was committed to the psychiatric ward of [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]] and put on [[5150 (Involuntary psychiatric hold)|5150 involuntary psychiatric hold]]. The court placed her under temporary [[conservatorship]] of her father James Spears and attorney Andrew Wallete, giving them complete control of her assets.<ref name=foxnews/> Spears was released on February 6, 2008. Her parents expressed disappointment and concern at the decision to release her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/07/local/me-britney7|title=Spears is released from UCLA hospital psychiatric ward – Los Angeles Times|date=2008-02-07|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Blankstein|first=Andrew|last2=Winton|first2=Richard|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|publisher=[[Tribune Company]]}}</ref> The following month, she guest-starred on the ”[[How I Met Your Mother]]” episode “[[Ten Sessions]]” as receptionist Abby. She received positive reviews for her performance, as well as bringing the series highest ratings ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2008/03/24/2008-03-24_britney_spears_begins_rehab_of_image_wit-1.html?ref=rss|title=Britney Spears begins rehab of image with wacky cameo on CBS sitcom|date=2008-03-25|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Hinckley|first=D.|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|publisher=[[Mortimer Zuckerman]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ia2cce804ce40901d82b7a82b3af831e3?imw=Y|title=Spears delivers ‘Mother’s’ highest ratings|date=2008-03-25|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Hibberd|first=James|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=e5 Global Media}}</ref> In July 2008, Spears regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20213350,00.html|title=It’s Over: Britney & Kevin Reach a Custody Settlement – Scandals & Feuds, Britney Spears, Kevin Federline : People.com|date=2008-07-18|accessdate=2010-02-12|last=Lee|first=Ken|work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> On September 7, 2008, Spears opened the [[2008 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Awards]] with a pre-taped comedy sketch with [[Jonah Hill]] and an introduction speech. She won [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]], [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video|Best Pop Video]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video Of The Year]] for “Piece of Me”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2008/|title=MTV Video Music Awards | 2008 | Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards | MTV.com|date=2008|accessdate=2010-06-12|work=”MTV”|publisher=MTV Networks}}</ref>

Her sixth studio album ”[[Circus (Britney Spears album)|Circus]]”, was released in December 2008. It received  positive reviews from critics; according to the music review aggregation of [[Metacritic]], it garnered an average score of 64/100.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/spearsbritney/circus | title=Circus reviews at Metacritic.com | publisher=[[Metacritic]] | accessdate=2010-06-12}}</ref> ”Circus” debuted at number one in Canada, Czech Republic and the United States, and inside the top in many European nations.<ref name=circus>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/britney-s-circus-debuts-atop-album-chart-1003921402.story#/bbcom/news/britney-s-circus-debuts-atop-album-chart-1003921402.story|title=Britney’s ‘Circus’ Debuts Atop Album Chart | Billboard.com|date=2008-12-10|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Hasty|first=Katie|work=”Billboard”|publisher=[[Nielsen Company]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Gimme+More&cat=s|title=Britney Spears – Gimme More (song)|year=2007|accessdate=2010-02-23|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien}}</ref> In the United States, Spears became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one, earning a place in the ”[[Guinness Book of World Records]]”.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britney.com/us/blog/britney-earns-another-guinness-world-record|title=Britney Earns (Another) Guinness World Record | Britney.com|date=2009-09-27|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Reporter|first=Staff|work=”Britney.com”|publisher=Jive}}</ref> She also became the only act in the Soundscan era to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more copies sold.<ref name=circus/> ”Circus” became one of the fastest-selling albums of the year,<ref name=forbes>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/53/celebrity-09_Britney-Spears_PREW.html|title=#13 Britney Spears – The 2009 Celebrity 100 – Forbes.com|date=2009-03-06|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Reporter|first=Staff|work=”Forbes.com”|publisher=Forbes}}</ref> and has sold 3.5 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tpimagazine.com/production-profiles/317094/britney_spears_the_circus_tour.html|title=Britney Spears: The Circus Tour – Total Production|date=2009-08|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Reporter|first=Staff|work=Total Production International|publisher=Mondiale Publishing Ltd}}</ref> Its lead single, “[[Womanizer (song)|Womanizer]]”, became her first number one in the ”Billboard” Hot 100 since “…Baby One More Time” and topped the charts in countries such as Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway and Sweden.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003874105#/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003874105|title=Spears Scores Record-Setting Hot 100 Jump|date=2008-10-15|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Reporter|first=Billboard|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Womanizer&cat=s|title=Britney Spears – Womanizer (song)|date=2008|accessdate=2010-06-12|work=”Ultratop”|publisher=Hung Medien}}</ref> In January 2009, Spears and her father James obtained a restraining order against her former manager Sam Lufti, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and attorney Jon Eardley—all of whom, court documents claim, had been conspiring to gain control of Spears’s affairs. The restraining order forbids Lutfi and Ghalib from contacting Spears or coming within 250 yards of her, her property or family members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/Britney-Restraining-Order-1002335.aspx|title=Britney Gets Restraining Order Against Former Manager, Ex-Beau and Attorney – Today’s News: Our Take | TVGuide.com|date=2009-01-31|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Mitovich|first=Matt|work=[[TV Guide]]|publisher=OpenGate Capital}}</ref> Spears embarked on [[The Circus Starring Britney Spears]] in March 2009. With a gross of U.S. $131.8 million, it became the fifth highest grossing tour of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pollstarpro.com/SpecialFeatures2009/2009YearEndTop50WorldwideConcertTours.pdf|title= 2009 Year End Top 50 Worldwide Concert Tours|date=2010|accessdate=2010-02-08|publisher=[[Pollstar]]}}</ref> She released her second greatest hits album, ”[[The Singles Collection (Britney Spears album)|The Singles Collection]]” in November 2009. “[[3 (song)|3]]” became her third number one single in the US, and was the first song to debut at the top of the charts in three years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/#/news/3-to-1-britney-beats-odds-to-debut-atop-1004021929.story|title=’3′ To 1: Britney Beats Odds To Debut Atop Hot 100|date=2009-10-14|accessdate=2010-01-04|last=Pietroluongo|first=Silvio|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Company}}</ref> In May 2010, Spears’s representatives confirmed she was dating her agent Jason Trawick, and that they had decided  to end their professional relationship to focus on their personal relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20368457,00.html|title=Britney Spears and Jason Trawick Split – Professionally – Britney Spears : People.com|date=2010-05-11|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Jordan|first=Julie|work=People|publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> She also became the most followed user on social networking service [[Twitter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?entry_id=64358|title=SFGate: Daily Dish : Britney Spears takes Ashton Kutcher’s Twitter crown|date=2010-05-25|accessdate=2010-06-12|last=Reporter|first=Staff|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|publisher=Frank J. Vega}}</ref>

==Musical style and performance==
[[File:Circus Live london2.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Spears performing in 2009's world tour [[The Circus Starring Britney Spears]] ]]
Following her debut, Spears was credited with leading the revival of [[teen pop]] in the late 1990s. ”[[The Daily Yomiuri]]” reported that “[m]usic critics have hailed her as the most gifted teenage pop idol for many years, but Spears has set her sights a little higher-she is aiming for the level of superstardom that has been achieved by [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] and [[Janet Jackson]].”<ref>{{Cite news|title=Teen pop idols stage comeback|newspaper=[[The Daily Yomiuri]]|page=1|date=November 25, 1999|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> ”Rolling Stone” wrote: “Britney Spears carries on the classic archetype of the rock & roll teen queen, the dungaree doll, the angel baby who just has to make a scene.”<ref>{{Cite document|title=Oops!…I Did It Again |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/britneyspears/albums/album/321762/review/5941004/oopsi_did_it_again|year=2000|accessdate=October 8, 2009|publisher=[[Rolling Stone Australia]]|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Rami Yacoub who co-produced Spears’s debut album with lyricist Max Martin, commented, “I know from [[Denniz Pop]] and Max’s previous productions, when we do songs, there’s kind of a nasal thing. With N’ Sync and the Backstreet Boys, we had to push for that mid-nasal voice. When Britney did that, she got this kind of raspy, sexy voice.”<ref name=”billboard book”>{{cite book | last = Bronson | first = Fred| title = The Billboard book of number 1 hits | publisher = Billboard Books | year = 2003 | page = 377 | isbn = 9780823076772}}</ref> Following the release of her debut album, Chuck Taylor of ”Billboard” observed, “Spears has become a consummate performer, with snappy dance moves, a clearly real-albeit young-and funkdified voice&nbsp;… “[[(You Drive Me) Crazy]]”, her third single&nbsp;… demonstrates Spears’s own development, proving that the 17-year-old is finding her own vocal personality after so many months of steadfast practice.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor | first=Chuck | title=Britney Spears: (You Drive Me) Crazy | newspaper=Billboard |volume=111|issue=35| page=27 | year=1999 | date=August 28, 1999 |postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic referred to her music as a “blend of infectious, rap-inflected dance-pop and smooth balladry.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=…Baby One More Time|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:u0jm7i51g71r~T1|year=1999|accessdate=October 8, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Spears later commented, “With ”[[...Baby One More Time]]”, I didn’t get to show my voice off. The songs were great, but they weren’t very challenging”.<ref>{{Cite news | title=’One more time’ for Spears | newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]] | pages=4F | year=1999 | date=December 16, 1999 | postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref>

”Oops!…I Did It Again” and subsequent albums saw Spears working with several contemporary R&B producers, leading to “a combination of bubblegum, urban soul, and [[raga]].”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=Oops!…I Did It Again|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wbfuxqukldse|year=2000|accessdate=October 8, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Her third studio album, ”Britney” derived from the teen pop niche, “[r]hythmically and melodically&nbsp;… sharper, tougher than what came before. What used to be unabashedly frothy has some disco grit, underpinned by Spears’ spunky self-determination that helps sell hooks that are already catchier, by and large, than those that populated her previous two albums.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=Britney|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hcfyxqt0ld6e|year=2001|accessdate=October 8, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Guy Blackman of ”[[The Age]]” wrote that while few would care to listen to an entire Spears album, “[t]he thing about Spears, though, is that her biggest songs, no matter how committee-created or impossibly polished, have always been convincing because of her delivery, her commitment and her presence. For her mostly teenage fans, Spears expresses perfectly the conflicting urges of adolescence, the tension between chastity and sexual experience, between hedonism and responsibility, between confidence and vulnerability.”<ref name=”The Age”>{{Cite news|last=Blackman|first=Guy|title=Musical Spears|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/2009/10/24/1256147928875.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=August 25, 2009|accessdate=November 21, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref>

Her vocal ability has also been criticized, often drawing unfavorable comparison to her pop rival, [[Christina Aguilera]]<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1219
|title=”Blackout” review
|last=Cinquemani
|first=Sal
|publisher=Slant magazine
|date=October 23, 2007
|accessdate=2010-02-20}}</ref> Critic Allan Raible derides her overdependence in Circus on digital effects and the robotic effect it creates. “She’s never been a strong vocalist…” writes Raible, “Could she handle these songs with stripped down arrangements and no vocal effects? More importantly, would anyone want to hear her attempt such a performance? Does it matter? No. The focus is still image over substance.”<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/allan_raible/2009/01/review-britney.html Review: Britney Spears’ “Circus” - On the Record]</ref> Her image and persona are also often contrasted to Christina Aguilera. David Browne of ”[[Entertainment Weekly]]” observed “Christina Aguilera may flash skin and belly button, but in her music and manner, she’s too eager not to offend — she’s a good girl pretending to be bad. Spears, however, comes across as a bad girl acting good&nbsp;… Spears’ artificial-sweetener voice is much less interesting than the settings, yet that blandness is actually a relief compared with Aguilera’s numbing vocal gymnastics.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,64697,00.html | title= Review | publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | accessdate=July 17, 2009}}</ref> In contrast, Allmusic comments: “Like her peer Christina Aguilera, Britney equates maturity with transparent sexuality and the pounding sounds of nightclubs&nbsp;… Where Christina comes across like a natural-born skank, Britney is the girl next door cutting loose at college, drinking and smoking and dancing and sexing just a little too recklessly, since this is the first time she ”can” indulge herself.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen|title=In the Zone|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3vfixqtaldse|year=2004|accessdate=October 8, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Sal Cinquemani of [[Slant Magazine]] notes, “The disparity between Aguilera and Spears can’t be measured solely by the timbre and octave range of their voices&nbsp;… [Aguilera's] popularity has never reached the fever pitch of Britney’s.<ref>{{Cite document|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1219|title=Blackout|date=October 23, 2007|publisher=[[Slant Magazine]]|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref>

Like other dance-oriented pop stars, it has been widely reported that Spears [[lip-sync]]s in concert. Author Gary Giddins wrote in his book ”Natural selection: Gary Giddins on comedy, film, music, and books” (2006) that “among many other performers accused of moving their lips while a machine does the labor are Britney Spears, [[Luciano Pavarotti]], Shania Twain, [[Beyoncé Knowles|Beyoncé]], and Madonna.”<ref name=”Giddins”>{{Cite book|last=Giddins|first=Gary|title=Natural selection: Gary Giddins on comedy, film, music, and books|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=288|year=2006|isbn=9780195179514|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Rashod D. Ollison of ”[[The Baltimore Sun]]” observes: “Many pop stars&nbsp;… feel they have no choice but to seek vocal enhancement. Since the advent of MTV and other video music channels, pop audiences have been fed elaborate videos thick with jaw-dropping effects, awesome choreography, fabulous clothes, marvelous bodies. And the same level of perfection is expected to extend beyond the video set to the concert stage. So if Britney Spears, Janet Jackson or Madonna sounds shrill and flat without a backing track, fans won’t pay up to $300 for a concert ticket.”<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ollison|first=Rashod|title=The pressure to be perfect singing live ; Audiences expect CD-quality sound; Observation|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|page=1.C|date=October 26, 2004|issn=19308965|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Giddins adds, “it was reported Britney Spears fans prefer her to lip-sync—despite her denials of doing so (contradicted by her own director)—because they expect flawless digitalization when they pay serious money for a concert.”<ref name=”Giddins”/> In Australia, NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge has advised disclaimers be printed on any ticket for concerts which contain any prerecorded vocals. She commented: “There could have been some instances where people actually go and purchase a ticket thinking that they’re going to have a live performance … for some people that means that everything is live, it’s fresh, it happens instantaneously, it’s not something that’s been pre-recorded. You want to make sure that they’re actually paying for what they think they’re getting.”<ref>{{Cite document|title=NSW: Fans deserve to know if concerts are mimed – minister|publisher=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]] General News Wire|date=November 6, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Noting on the prevalence of lip-syncing, ”[[Los Angeles Daily News]]” reported “in the context of a Britney Spears concert, does it really matter? Like a [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Vegas]] revue show, you don’t go to hear the music, you go for the somewhat-ridiculous spectacle of it all”.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Hype; Navel Maneuvers; Britney Spears, Fronting Her Own Career Now, Gives The Pond A Bellyful |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-80254256.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Daily News]] |pages=L.5 |date=November 22, 2001 |postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Similarly, Aline Mendelsohn of the ”[[Orlando Sentinel]]” remarked: “Let’s get one thing straight: A Britney Spears concert is not about the music&nbsp;… you have to remember that it’s about the sight, not the sound.”<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mendelsohn|first=Aline|title=BRITNEY SPEARS’ CONCERT ABOUT SIGHTS, NOT SOUND|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|page=E.1|date=March 31, 2004|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Critic Glenn Gamboa comments her concert tours are “like her life—a massive money-making venture designed to play up her talents and distract from her shortcomings with a mix of techno-tinged sex appeal and disco-flavored flash. And, like her life, it is, more or less, a success.<ref>{{Cite document|last=Gamboa|first=Glenn|title=Britney Spears rocks Nassau Coliseum on ‘Circus’ tour|publisher=Tribune Business News|date=March 12, 2009|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref>

===Influences===

Throughout her career, Spears has drawn frequent comparisons to Madonna and Janet Jackson, in terms of vocals, choreography and stage presence, citing both as influences in her work. She has also named [[Michael Jackson]] as a source of inspiration.”<ref name=”shane”>{{Cite news|last=Harrison|first=Shane|title=’Britney’ strengthens claim to pop tiara|newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|page=C.1|date=November 6, 2001|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> According to Spears: “I know when I was younger, I looked up to people… like, you know, Janet Jackson and Madonna. And they were major inspirations for me. But I also had my own identity and I knew who I was, you know.”<ref>{{Cite news|last=Masley|first=Ed|title=The State of Britneydom: Teen-pop Queen declares ‘I’m on the verge of being a woman’|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=W.22|date=November 2, 2001|issn=1068624X|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> In the 2002 book ”Madonnastyle” by Carol Clerk, she is quoted saying: “I have been a huge fan of Madonna since I was a little girl. I would really, really like to be a legend like Madonna&nbsp;… Her choreography definitely opened the door for girls to go in there and do their own thing”.<ref>{{cite book | last = Clerk | first = Carol | title = Madonnastyle | publisher = Omnibus Press | year = 2002 | page = 56 | isbn = 9780711988743}}</ref>

Many critics have argued that Spears should not be considered in the same league of talent as Jackson or Madonna. Journalists Erika Montalvo and Jackie Sheppard of the ”[[Rocky Mountain Collegian]]” observed “[s]ome may argue that Spears is not only a good recording artist but also an important cultural icon.”<ref name=”UWIRE”/> However, in examining her level of skill as an artist, it is questioned that “[a]lthough she has been classified among female elites such as Janet Jackson and Madonna, what does Ms. Spears really have in common with these divas of rock?”<ref name=”UWIRE”>{{Cite news|last1=Montalvo|first1=Erika|last2=Sheppard|first2=Jackie|title=CONCERT REVIEW: Pop’s princess still reigns … for now|newspaper=[[Rocky Mountain Collegian]]|publisher=[[UWIRE]]|date=November 16, 2001|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Joan Anderman of the ”[[Boston Globe]]” remarked that “[t]hirteen costume changes in 90 minutes won’t bless her with Madonna’s intelligence or cultural barometer. An army of cutting-edge R&B producers won’t supply her with Janet Jackson’s sense of humor or sincere smile&nbsp;… Britney’s heroes aren’t great singers. But they’re real singers. Spears sounds robotic, nearly inhuman, on her records, so processed is her voice by digital pitch-shifters and synthesizers.”<ref>{{Cite news|last=Anderman|first=Joan|title=BENEATH HER SEXY GROWLS, A GIRLHOOD INTERRUPTED|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|page=D.1|date=December 7, 2001|issn=07431791|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref>

Reporter Ed Bumgardner commented her transition from teen pop start to adult sex symbol with her third studio album ”[[Britney (album)|Britney]]” “takes its cues from two other successful performers—Madonna and Janet Jackson—both of whom she brazenly rips off and both of whom, like Spears, are passable singers, at best.”<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bumgardner |first=Ed|title=CONFUSED: WOMAN OR A GIRL? SPEARS CAN’T DECIDE|newspaper=[[Winston-Salem Journal]]|page=1|date=November 9, 2001|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> Critic Shane Harrison wrote: “From the minimalist thump and “[[Nasty (song)|Nasty]]” feel of “[[I'm a Slave 4 U]]” to the scattered quotes in “[[Boys (Britney Spears song)|Boys]],” [''Britney''] feels like [Spears's] attempt at ‘[[Control (Janet Jackson album)|Control]]’.”<ref name=”shane”/> Citing Jackson’s resolve to incorporate personal and social issues into her work and Madonna’s ability to constantly redefine the boundaries of socially acceptable material in the industry, Spears’s catalog ultimately pales in comparison, because “[w]hile Jackson and Madonna wrote their own music about subjects of importance, [Spears's] music sounds like an upbeat version of either, ‘I want to grow up but the media won’t let me,’ or ‘Here kitty, kitty, I’m wearing my underwear outside of my leather pants’-type ballads.”<ref name=”UWIRE”/> In contrast, Guy Blackman argues that although “no one would argue that Spears is some kind of pioneering pop auteur, there’s still a lot to like about her back catalogue. During her world-conquering peak, she was just about as cutting edge as you could get in the world of global pop superstardom. Spears didn’t just work with big names, she gave big names their names, and maintained her high currency in the world’s most fickle industry for years, when most aspiring starlets are lucky to manage months.”<ref name=”The Age”/>

Madonna’s respect for Spears has also been a subject of observation. Santiago Fouz-Hernández and Freya Jarman-Ivens, authors of ”Madonna’s drowned worlds: new approaches to her cultural transformations, 1983-2003” (2004) note that the most well known cross-generational relationship exists between Spears and Madonna in which “the entertainment newsmedia almost became obsessed with their relationship of mutual admiration.”<ref name=”MDW”>{{Cite book|last=Hernández|first=Santiago|coauthors=Freya Jarman-Ivens|title=Madonna’s drowned worlds: new approaches to her cultural transformations, 1983-2003|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|page=162|year=2004|isbn=9780754633723|postscript=<!–None–>}}</ref> The biographers also report “[s]ome observers of popular culture, however, feel that the comparisons between the two artist are meaningless and fail to recognize Madonna’s unique contribution: Madonna was never ‘just another pop star’ whereas Britney can more easily be seen as a standard manufactured pop act.”<ref name=”MDW”/>

==Legacy==
[[Image:Brits star in hollywood walk of fame.JPG|right|thumb| Spears's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]]]
Spears became an international [[pop icon|pop culture icon]] immediately after launching her recording career. ”Rolling Stone” magazine wrote: “One of the most controversial and successful female vocalists of the 21st century,” she “spearheaded the rise of post-millennial teen pop&nbsp;… Spears early on cultivated a mixture of innocence and experience that broke the bank”.<ref>{{cite web | title = Britney Spears: Biography: Rolling Stone | publisher = Rolling Stone | year = 2008 | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/britneyspears/biography | accessdate = August 9, 2008}}</ref> She is listed by the ”[[Guinness World Records]]” as having the “Best-selling album by a teenage solo artist” for her debut album ”…Baby One More Time” which sold over thirteen million copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite book | last = Folkard | first = Claire | title = Guinness World Records 2003 | publisher = Bantam Books | year = 2003 | page = 288 | isbn = 9780553586367}}</ref> Melissa Ruggieri of the ”[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]” reported, “She’s also marked for being the best-selling teenage artist. Before she turned 20 in 2001, Spears sold more than 37 million albums worldwide”.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Ruggieri | first=Melissa | title=Music Notes | newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]| pages=D.13 | year=2002 | date=December 19, 2000 |postscript= <!–None–>}}</ref> Barbara Ellen of ”[[The Observer]]” reported: “Spears is famously one of the ‘oldest’ teenagers pop has ever produced, almost middle aged in terms of focus and determination. Many 19-year-olds haven’t even started working by that age, whereas Britney, a former Mouseketeer, was that most unusual and volatile of American phenomena — a child with a full-time career. While other little girls were putting posters on their walls, Britney was wanting to be the poster on the wall. Whereas other children develop at their own pace, Britney was developing at a pace set by the ferociously competitive American entertainment industry”.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Ellen | first=Barbara | title=Comment: Britney Spears: Growing up is hard to do: America’s apple- pie cheerleader is feeling the pressure as she tries to break free from her clean teen image. So is it all proving too much for Britney Inc, as she pulls out of tonight’s Smash Hits Poll Winners’ party and takes to her bed: The Observer Profile: Britney Spears | newspaper=[[The Observer]] | page=27 | year=2000 | date=December 10, 2000|issn=00297712 |postscript= <!–None–>}}</ref> ‘Britney Spears’ has been [[Yahoo!]]’s most popular search term for the last four consecutive years, seven times in total.<ref>{{cite news | title = Britney Spears tops Yahoo searches | agency = Associated Press | year = 2008 | url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ic4j0-zgwVvUIwo6rjPD7Oxxe01wD94Q89003 | accessdate = December 2, 2008}}{{dead link|date=February 2010}}</ref> Spears was named as Most Searched Person in the ”Guinness World Records” book edition 2007 and 2009.

Spears has also become a major influence among many new artists, including [[Kristinia DeBarge]],<ref>[http://www.rhapsody.com/kristinia-debarge Kristinia DeBarge - Rhapsody Music]</ref> [[Lady Gaga]],<ref>[http://worldofbritney.com/?p=3515 Lady Gaga on Britney]</ref> [[Little Boots]],<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/littleboots/articles/story/29558082/artist_to_watch_2009_little_boots Artist to Watch 2009: Little Boots: Little Boots]</ref> [[Taylor Swift]],<ref>[http://www.britneyspears.com/2009/01/taylor-swifts-unwavering-devotion-to-britney.php Taylor Swift's Unwavering Devotion to Britney]</ref> [[Selena Gomez & The Scene]],<ref>http://oceanup.com/selena_gomez</ref> [[Pixie Lott]]<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/aug/27/pixie-lott-diary Pixie Lott's diary: 'After the single hit No 1, it went crazy']</ref> and [[Miley Cyrus]] who has cited Spears as one of her biggest inspirations and has also referenced Spears in her hit song “[[Party in the U.S.A.]]”.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1618447/20090810/cyrus__miley.jhtml Miley Cyrus On Britney Spears: 'I'm Proud Of Her' ]</ref><ref>[http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/mileycyruspartyintheusa.htm Miley Cyrus - Party in the USA - Review of Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus ]</ref> [[Bebo Norman]] wrote a song about Spears, called “Britney”, which was released as a single. Boy band [[Busted (band)|Busted]] also wrote a song about Spears called “[[Britney (song)|Britney]]”, which was on their debut album.<ref>[http://www.ccmmagazine.com/just_for_you/story_behind_the_song/11581817 STORY BEHIND THE SONG: Bebo Norman’s “Britney”]</ref> She is also mentioned in [[Pink (singer)|P!nk]]’s song “[[Don't Let Me Get Me]]”. [[Richard Cheese]] called Britney Spears “a remarkable recording artist” and also went on to say that she was “versatile” and what the industry calls an “artist”. ”[[People (magazine)|People]]” magazine and [[MTV]] reported that October 1, 2008, [[Bronx]]’s [[Middle School|John Philip Sousa Middle School]], named their music studio in honor of Britney Spears.<ref>[http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/10/02/britney-spears-gets-bronx-middle-school-music-studio-named-in-her-honor/ Britney Spears Gets Bronx Middle School Music Studio Named In Her Honor ]</ref> Spears herself was present during the ceremony and donated $10,000 dollars to the school’s music program.<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20230241,00.html Britney Spears Goes Back to School – for a Cause]</ref>

==Products and endorsements==
{{Main|Britney Spears products}}
[[File:Curious.jpg|thumb|left| Spears's first fragrance [[Curious (fragrance)|Curious]] ]]
In early 2001, Spears signed a multi-million dollar promotional deal with [[Pepsi]] that included television commercials, point-of-purchase promotions, and Internet ties between Spears and the company. Britney Spears has earned over US$370 million from her many, multi-million dollar advertisement and endorsement deals all around the World.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5919256/britney_chooses_pepsi | date=February 8, 2001 | accessdate=February 8, 2007 | publisher=Rollingstone.com | author=Jaan Uhelszki | title=Britney chooses Pepsi}}</ref> She has published four books, including ”[[A Mother's Gift]]”, and released seven DVDs, including her self-produced 2005 reality series ”[[Britney & Kevin: Chaotic]]”. Other Spears products include a [[Britney Spears Doll|doll]] and a [[Britney's Dance Beat|video game]]. She has the highest-grossing merchandise sales for a solo artist male or female due to her world tours. (male and female).<ref>{{cite web | publisher=forbes.com | author=Lea Goldman, Kiri Blakeley | date=January 20, 2007 | accessdate=September 30, 2007 | title=In Pictures: The Richest 20 Women In Entertainment | url=http://www.forbes.com/2007/01/17/richest-women-entertainment-tech-media-cz_lg_richwomen07_0118womenstars_slide_13.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Spears’s tour merchandise sales figures | url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12176255 | agency=Associated Press | publisher=music.yahoo.com | date=April 27, 2004 | accessdate=September 5, 2007}}</ref> On March 2, 2009 it was announced that Spears would be the new face of [[Candie's]].<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20262462,00.html Britney's Family Excited and Anxious About Tour]</ref><ref>[http://www.britneyspears.com/2009/03/breaking-news-britney-is-the-new-candies-girl.php BREAKING NEWS: Britney is the new Candie's Girl]</ref> On April 1, 2009, ”[[People (magazine)|People]]” magazine released a sneak peek of what the ads will look like.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2009/04/01/britney-spearss-hot-new-ads-for-candies-revealed | title=Britney Spears’s Hot New Ads for Candie’s Revealed! | accessdate=April 1, 2009 | year=2009 | publisher=[[People Magazine]]}}</ref> In January 2010, it was announced that Britney would remain the spokesperson for Candies in 2010.<ref>[http://www.britneyspears.com/2010/01/breaking-news-britney-renews-with-candies-for-2010.php Breaking News: Britney Renews with Candies for 2010]</ref> The photo shoot entitled “Britney: Through The Lens” was shot by [[Annie Leibovitz]], [[Mark Seliger]], and other photographers.<ref>[http://www.britneyspears.com/2010/02/first-look-britneys-2010-candies-campaign.php]</ref> In April 2010, it was announced that Britney would be designing the summer 2010 line for Candie’s as well as starring in its photoshoots.<ref>http://www.britneyspears.com/2010/04/candies-photo-shoot-tweet.php</ref> In November 2009, Britney released the “It’s Britney” application for the iPhone and iPod touch. It features Twitter and Facebook updates, photo galleries, news, a photo game called “Be Britney’s Dancer,” a sparkler image that includes a surprise when attending her concerts, and exclusive photos and messages from Britney.<ref>[http://www.britneyspears.com/2009/11/its-britney-app-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch-goes-live.php "It's Britney!"]</ref>

Spears endorsed her first [[Elizabeth Arden]] fragrance “[[Curious (fragrance)|Curious]]” in September, 2004, which had $100 million in sales in the five weeks after its 2004 release,<ref name=”usmagazine.com”>[http://www.usmagazine.com/news/see-britney-spears-sexy-new-perfume-hidden-fantasy-ad]{{dead link|date=February 2010}}</ref> and it broke licenser [[Elizabeth Arden]]’s record for first-week gross for a perfume and went on to become the number-one fragrance in department stores on 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,234663,00.html?sPage=fnc/entertainment/celebrity/spears | title=The Business of Britney: Spears’ Latest Oops May Cost Her | author=Catherine Donaldson-Evans | publisher=[[Fox News]] | date=December 6, 2006}}</ref> In September 2005, Spears released the fragrance “[[Fantasy (fragrance)|Fantasy]]” with Elizabeth Arden, which also saw great success.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.beautyfeast.com/Perfume/Britney-Spears-Perfume.htm | title=Britney Spears Perfume | accessdate=October 2, 2007 | year=2007 | publisher=beautyfeast.com}}{{dead link|date=February 2010}}</ref> These were followed by the release of two more fragrances of “[[Curious (fragrance)#In Control|Curious:In Control]]” and “[[Fantasy (fragrance)#Midnight Fantasy|Midnight Fantasy]]” in 2006. Her next Elizabeth Arden fragrance, “[[Believe (fragrance)|Believe]]”, was released in September 2007.<ref>[http://www.fragrantica.com/designers/Britney+Spears.html Britney Spears Perfumes and Colognes]</ref> In January, 2008, Spears released “Curious Heart”.<ref>[http://www.thescentedlife.com/as-promised-britney-spears-new-perfume-curious-heart/ As Promised: Britney Spears’ new Perfume, Curious Heart! ]</ref><ref>[http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/1/3/3444198.html Britney Spears Curious Heart]</ref> Spears released a new fragrance entitled “Hidden Fantasy” in January 2009.<ref name=”usmagazine.com” /> On March 22, 2009, it was announced that Spears has the #1 selling celebrity fragrance, making up 34% of sales.<ref>[http://www.britneyspears.com/2009/05/britneys-perfume-line-on-top.php Britney's Perfume Line On Top]</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Britney Spears discography|Britney Spears videography}}

* ”[[...Baby One More Time]]” (1999)
* ”[[Oops!... I Did It Again]]” (2000)
* ”[[Britney (album)|Britney]]” (2001)
* ”[[In the Zone]]” (2003)
* ”[[Blackout (Britney Spears album)|Blackout]]” (2007)
* ”[[Circus (Britney Spears album)|Circus]]” (2008)