Born on 2nd December 1981, Kentwood, Louisiana, USA. One of the last teenage superstars of the millennium, Spears enjoyed her breakthrough success at the end of 1998. She appeared in local dance revues and church choirs as a young girl, and at the age of eight auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. Although she was too young to join the series, a producer on the show gave her an introduction to a New York agent. She subsequently spent three summers at the Professional Performing Arts School Center. She appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions as a child actor, including Ruthless (1991). She returned to the [ Walt ] Disney Channel for a spot on The Mickey Mouse Club, where she was featured for two years between the ages of 11 and 13. She began to audition for pop bands in the New York area, her demo tapes eventually landing on the desk of Jive Records' Jeff Fenster. ''Her vocal ability and commercial appeal caught me right away,'' he recalls. She was expensively groomed by Jive, who put her in the studio with Eric Foster White (producer and writer for Boyzone, Whitney Houston and others). They employed top R&B writer Max Martin (of Backstreet Boys fame) to produce her debut single, ''... Baby, One More Time'', and an album of the same title. They also set up a promotional free phone number where fans could listen to Spears' music and interviews throughout the summer of 1998. She toured American venues for a series of concerts sponsored by US teen magazines, eventually joining 'N Sync on tour. The careful planning paid off when her debut album and single went on to top the American charts at the start of 1999. The album and single enjoyed similar success in the UK and Europe. The ballad ''Sometimes'' and the funky ''(You Drive Me) Crazy'' were also substantial transatlantic hits. ''Born To Make You Happy'' topped the UK charts in January 2000. The demand for new Spears material was satisfied when her sophomore set, Oops! ... I Did It Again, was released in May. The album contained the expected quota of well-produced, expertly crafted pop songs alongside a risible cover version of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.
Good friends with singer Madonna. They made a song together called "Me Against the Music". The song is on her album "In the Zone".
2002: Voted one of the "Fun and Fearless Females" by Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Though it had been rumored that she would be guesting on the sexually suggestive HBO series "Sex and the City" (1998), playing the niece of Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones, a spokesman for HBO denied the reports, saying no such negotiations ever took place.
Angered the animal rights group PETA for wearing a fur jacket on the cover of her "Greatest Hits Album: My Prerogative". She claims she was told it was fake fur. This is the second time PETA has criticized her after she performed on stage with a caged tiger and a snake at the 2001 MTV music awards, after which she apologized and posed for an anti-fur poster.
2002: Ranked #1 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World".
Her name is an anagram of "Presbyterians".
She is mentioned in the songs "Riot Girl" by Good Charlotte and "Don't Let Me Get Me" by Pink.
She's the best-selling female music artist of the still young century (as of early 2005).
February 2005: Won her first Grammy for Best Dance Recording for "Toxic".
In her "Baby One More Time" music video, her love interest is played by her cousin.
The school scenes in her "Baby One More Time" music video were filmed in the same place the movie Grease (1978) was shot.
April 2005: The guy in her "Curious" fragrance commercial is played by actor Eric Winter of the daytime soap "Days of Our Lives" (1965).
April 2005: Announced on her website she was pregnant with her first child with ex-husband, Kevin Federline.
Has two stepchildren (her ex-husband's children from a previous relationship): Kori (b. July 31 2002,) and Kaleb (b. July 20, 2004).
July 2002: Opened a trendy restaurant on East 41st St., New York City, called "Nyla", which is themed around her home state of Louisiana.
Is mentioned in Eminem's song "The Real Slim Shady" and is spoofed in the song's music video.
Shares her birthday with Nelly Furtado, Lucy Liu and Gianni Versace.
She wrote her song "Someday" 2 weeks before she found out she was pregnant
1996, 1997: Elected junior high most beautiful.
Sets the record as the only solo female artist to have 4 consecutive albums debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts.
Has her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Her ex-husband Kevin Federline was background dancer for her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake.
Likes to wear T-shirts with slogans on them
9/14/05: Son Sean Preston born at Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center by Caesarian section. Father is ex-husband Kevin Federline.
October 2005: She and Kevin Federline were forced to leave their home in California because a brush fire threatened to destroy it and several other houses in that area (including the one of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith).
1/11/06: Topped the 2005 "Worst Dressed" list of fashion critic Richard Selzer (aka Mr. Blackwell) for wearing clothes that he said made her look like an "over-the-hill Lolita".
March 2002: Her Crossroads (2002/I) co-star Taryn Manning denied reports that she, Spears, and Zoe Saldana did a topless scene that was cut from the final edit of the film. According to her and the film's producer, Ann Carli, the "flashing" scene was filmed only from the neck up, and none of the three actresses involved was actually topless during the shoot.
2002: Arrived an hour late for the UK premiere of Crossroads (2002/I) and snubbed fans who had been waiting for her to arrive.
2000: Was voted by 'People' magazine as the fourth most influential person of that year.
2002: Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine.
2001: Was ranked 5th of the 100 Sexiest Women by FHM Taiwan.
June 2002: Came in at #2 in the American edition of FHM's Sexiest Girls of 2002 poll.
Attended Parklane Academy, a private school in McComb, Mississippi until October 1994. She was on the girls basketball team.
Was offered a role in Scary Movie (2000), but was forced to turn it down, due to concert scheduling.
Sister of Bryan Spears.
Spears chose Cynthia Wolff's 4-carat cushion-cut diamond set on two slim platinum bands with micropave diamonds.
2003: Accompanied Colin Farrell to the S.W.A.T. (2003) US premiere.
May; 2006: Portrayed as a character in the rock musical "We Will Rock You" by Queen and Ben Elton. The role is being played by Colin Charles in London's West End production.
Was best friends with Christina Aguilera when they performed together on "MMC" (1989)
Lived with her brother in an apartment in New York for some time
August 2006: Posed nude for the cover of "Harper's Bazaar", in a photo similar to Demi Moore's famous September 1991 cover of "Vanity Fair".
9/12/06: Second son, Jayden James Federline, born. Weighed 6 lb., 11 oz.
2006: Was named most searched name on internet search engine Yahoo!.
2006: Named "Most Controversial Celebrity of 2006" by CNN Headline News for her actions making people discuss about everything from proper parenthood to appearing in public without panties.
2006: Michael Fredo wrote a song about her called "Popstar Lovelife (Britney, I Know)".
1/10/07: After topping the 2005 "Worst Dressed" list of fashion critic 'Mr. Blackwell', she shared the #1 spot with Paris Hilton in 2006 for wearing clothes that made them look like "two peas in an overexposed box".
2004: Offered to perform at the Republican National Convention, but was turned down.
2007: Ranked #12 in "Forbes" magazine's "The 20 Richest Women in Entertainment" list, estimating her net worth at around $100 million.
Her idols are Madonna and Mariah Carey.
Sister of Jamie Lynn Spears.
Studied at NYC's Professional Performing Arts School.
Daughter of Lynne Spears.
First solo artist ever to have a #1 Album and single on the Billboard charts at the same time with a debut.
Worked at a novelty shop before making it big.
1999: One of "Teen People" Magazine's "21 Hottest Stars Under 21".
1999: Caused a stir with the American Family Association by posing in her underwear on the cover of Rolling Stone.
1999: Was one of People's 50 Most Beautiful People.
Ended up as the youngest cast member of "MMC" (1989); during the initial audition, she won the part after Jessica Simpson freaked out at the final question during the initial audition.
2000: Purchased a $1.5-million loft in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, for her brother Bryan.
2000: Announced that she will attend college and eventually wants to study entertainment law.
In her first song "Baby One More Time" there is a line "My loneliness is killing me" and in another of her songs, "Stronger", there is a line "My loneliness ain't killing me no more".
Is a natural-born blonde. However, she dyed her hair brown in 2003 for a short period.
September 2000: Her flesh-colored outfit at the MTV Video Music Awards created a stir, as it made her look scantily clad.
Requested that writers change the lyrics of her song "Born to Make You Happy." The original version contained sexually explicit lyrics, and Britney felt she was too young to be singing it.
October 2000: Chicago-based DNA Visual Business Solutions filed a lawsuit against her and her marketing companies, including Britney Brands, Inc., claiming that they failed to pay fees due to the web-designing company for helping set up the pop star's website, www.britneyspears.com.
2001: Accepted an endorsement from Pepsi to do TV commercials promoting the soft drink. The first commercial was slated for the 2001 Academy Awards.
2001: Was selected as #2 among the 100 sexiest women in FHM Magazine. Jennifer Lopez was #1, and Christina Aguilera was in the Top 20.
February 2001: Her third album is slated for release in October 2001.
March 2001: Her video for "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" features Britney doing a love scene with a 23-year-old male model. The original cut contained material so sexually explicit that mother Lynne Spears ordered that parts of the video be edited for content before its release to the public in the spring of 2001.
2001: In her first starring film role, her character was supposed to swear. Britney ordered that the curse words be taken out so as not to tarnish her image for the younger pre-teen viewers of her movie.
2001: During the concert "Rock in Rio" in Brazil, a tape recorder caught her swearing on a microphone she wasn't aware was connected. She was complaining about the fact that they weren't playing a vamp before she was to go on stage. Tape recordings of the incident were downloaded by Napster users.
2001: Host of the American Music Awards.
June 2001: Two Texas DJs created a panic for her fans when they falsely reported that the pop princess and her boyfriend, NSYNC's Justin Timberlake, were in a car accident and that she had died in the crash.
Wrote 2 books about herself, one with her mom.
July 2001: Jive Records announced that her third LP is due November 6, 2001.
September 2001: The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) complained to her about the use of four caged cheetahs and a snake for her performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, claiming that animals trained for performances are mistreated during the training.
September 2001: Announced that she aims to raise $2 million from her fall tour earnings to donate to the children of police officers and firemen who died when the World Trade Center collapsed.
2001: Her deal with Pepsi will net her upwards of $10 million.
11/11/99: She was the big winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards held in Dublin, winning the awards for Best Female, Best Pop, Best Breakthrough Artist, and Best Song for her hit "...Baby One More Time".
2001: Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001".
She was a aerobic instructor at the gym her parents owned.
2001: Turned down an offer to pose nude for a PETA anti-fur campaign ad.
March 2003: Is at work on her fourth album, which is due in October 2003.
2003: Ranked #30 in Maxim's Hot 100 Issue. Placed just ahead of Brittany Murphy and Mya, and behind Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Nichols, Kelly Clarkson and Halle Berry.
2003: Ranked #2 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World , in front of Carmen Electra and behind top-ranked Halle Berry.
2003: Ranked #2 in the "Awesome Multitaskers" section of Stuff's 125 Sexiest Women of the Year 2003 issue, along with hyphenates Jennifer Love Hewitt, Tyra Banks , Mandy Moore, Beyoncé Knowles, Jaime King, Samantha Mumba, Janet Jackson, Estella Warren and Taryn Manning.
11/17/03: Received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is tied with Melissa Gilbert for being the youngest person to accept a Walk of Fame star.
1/3/04: "Taking a joke too far," according to a statement released by her label, she married childhood friend Jason Alexander at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, but quickly had it annulled.
Is a huge fan of Björk.
Has British ancestry on her mother's side of her family.
May 2004: She finally gained the top spot in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004", moving up from #2 last year.
The other understudy for her off-Broadway role in "Ruthless" was now famous actress Natalie Portman. The two still keep in touch and met recently through a party in New York City.
Shoe size is 6.
Is good friends with Sarah Michelle Gellar.
June 2004: Engaged to Kevin Federline.
Was ranked #4 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties.
Considered for a role in Chicago (2002). The part went to Lucy Liu.
2004: Acquired a white Maltese dog named Lacy.
Was considered for the role of "Daisy Duke" in The Dukes of Hazzard (2005). That role eventually went to Jessica Simpson.
Is the first woman to have four albums go straight to #1 on the American charts.
Spring 2004: Had emergency arthroscopic surgery after she injured her knee an the set of her music video "Outrageous".
Her wedding dress was designed by 'Monique L'Huillier'.
Has a tattoo of a small black-winged fairy on the back of her spine.
Is considering the idea of taking her husband Kevin Federline's surname.
Wrote a "letter of truth" to her fans which was published on her official website, telling her fans that she needed to take a hiatus from her career to concentrate on her marriage with her new husband Kevin Federline and start a family with him. The move thus displeased her bosses at Jive Records.
2004: Her perfume "Curious" was one of the best selling fragrances of the year.
Loves Betsey Johnson, Bebe, A/X by Giorgio Armani, Rampage, Abercombie & Fitch, Fred Segal, Gap, Victoria's Secret, and Urban Outfitters.
February 2007: After shaving her own head with clippers in a Sherman Oaks (CA) hair salon, she visited a tattoo parlor and got several tattoos. Her weird behavior caused worldwide public attention. Some days later she admitted herself to a California treatment facility, but checked out after less than 24 hours.
Topped "FHM" Germany's annual survey searching the "100 Unsexiest Women in the World" in 2005 and 2006.
April 2007: Manager Larry Rudolph sent her to rehab in early 2007. She fired him.
4/2/07: Crowned the "April Fool" (by 76% of all voters) in the "Most Foolish" survey of New York publicist Jeff Barge.
Ranked #8 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
Was signed on for a role in a film titled "In The Pink" co-starring comedians Wanda Sykes and Tim Allen, Academy Award Winner Cher, and Academy Award Nominee Bette Midler. The film was scrapped after years of delay.
Actress Claudette Lali was her wardrobe stylist.
9/27/07: Manager Jeff Kwatinetz and her lawyer, Laura Wasser, have quit.
October 2007: Lost physical custody of her two sons with Kevin Federline due to not having a valid driver's license and failing to take a random drug and alcohol test. Federline has sole custody of the children.
