Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of theworld's best-selling music artists.An influential figure in popular music, Spears became the best-selling teenage artist of all time, credited with the revival ofteen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Spears' life, including her high-profile relationships and personal struggles during the 2000s, received widespread media coverage. In 2008, she suffered amental breakdown and was involuntarily placed in aconservatorship. In 2019, herlegal battle over her conservatorship led to the establishment of the #FreeBritney movement and a release of Samantha Stark's documentaryFraming Britney Spears (2021).[3] The conservatorship was terminated in 2021, following her public testimony in which she accused her management team and family of abuse.[4] Spears' 2023 memoir,The Woman in Me, reached number one onThe New York Times Best Seller list in its first week of release.[5] Her other ventures include starring in the filmCrossroads (2002) and launchingnumerous products, with her 2005 fragranceFantasy withElizabeth Arden, Inc. generating over $1.5 billion in sales.[6]
Born in theBible Belt, where socially conservativeevangelical Protestantism is a particularly strong religious influence,[20] she was baptized as aSouthern Baptist and sang in a church choir as a child.[21] As an adult, she has studiedKabbalist teachings.[22] On August 5, 2021, Spears announced that she had converted toCatholicism. Her mother, sister, and nieces Maddie Aldridge and Ivey Joan Watson, are also Catholic.[23] However, on September 5, 2022, after Spears' ex-husband,Kevin Federline, and youngest son did an interview defending her father's actions during herconservatorship, she stated: "I don't believe in God anymore because of the way my children and my family have treated me. There is nothing to believe in anymore. I'm anatheist y'all".[24]
At age three, Spears began attending dance lessons in her hometown ofKentwood, Louisiana, and was selected to perform as a solo artist at the annual recital. Aged five she made her local stage debut, singing "What Child Is This?" at herkindergarten graduation. During her childhood, she also had gymnastics and voice lessons and won many state-level competitions and children's talent shows.[25][26][27] In gymnastics, Spears attendedBéla Károlyi's training camp.[28] She said of her ambition as a child, "I was in my own world, ... I found out what I'm supposed to do at an early age".[26]
When Spears was eight, she and her mother Lynne traveled toAtlanta, Georgia, to audition for the 1990s revival ofThe Mickey Mouse Club. Casting director Matt Casella rejected her as too young, but introduced her to Nancy Carson, a New York City talent agent. Carson was impressed with Spears' singing and suggested enrolling her at theProfessional Performing Arts School.[29]
Spears was hired for her first professional role as the understudy for the lead role of Tina Denmark in the off-Broadway musicalRuthless! She also appeared as a contestant on the popular television showStar Search and was cast in a number of commercials.[30][31] In December 1992, she was cast inThe All-New Mickey Mouse Club. Other fellow cast members includedChristina Aguilera,Justin Timberlake,Ryan Gosling,Keri Russell, andJC Chasez. After the show was canceled in 1994, she returned to Mississippi and enrolled at McComb'sParklane Academy. Although she made friends with most of her classmates, she compared the school to "the opening scene inClueless with all thecliques. ... I was so bored. I was the point guard on the basketball team. I had my boyfriend, and I went tohomecoming andChristmas formal. But I wanted more."[26][32]
In June 1997, Spears was in talks with managerLou Pearlman to join the female pop groupInnosense. Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyerLarry Rudolph for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears singing over aWhitney Houston karaoke song along with some pictures. Rudolph decided that he wanted to pitch her to record labels, for which she needed a professional demo made. He sent Spears an unused song ofToni Braxton; she rehearsed for a week and recorded her vocals in a studio. Spears traveled 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, saying that audiences wanted pop bands such as theBackstreet Boys and theSpice Girls, and "there wasn't going to be anotherMadonna, anotherDebbie Gibson, or anotherTiffany."[33]
Two weeks later, executives fromJive Records returned calls to Rudolph.[33] Senior vice president ofA&R Jeff Fenster said about Spears' 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."[26] Spears sang Houston's "I Have Nothing" (1992) for the executives, and was subsequently signed to the label.[34] They assigned her to work with producer Eric Foster White for a month; he reportedly shaped her voice from "lower and less poppy" delivery to "distinctively, unmistakably Britney".[35] After hearing the recorded material, presidentClive Calder ordered a full album. Spears had originally envisioned "Sheryl Crow music, but younger; more adult contemporary". She felt secure 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."[26] She flew toCheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where half of the album was recorded from March to April 1998, with producersMax Martin,Denniz Pop, andRami Yacoub, among others.[26]
1998–2000:...Baby One More Time andOops!... I Did It Again
After returning to the U.S., Spears toured shopping malls as part of herL'Oreal Hair Zone Mall Tour, to promote her upcoming debut 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 forNSYNC.[36] Her debut album,...Baby One More Time, was released on January 12, 1999.[26] It debuted at number one on the U.S.Billboard 200 and was certified two-timesplatinum by theRecording Industry Association of America after a month. Worldwide, the album topped the charts in fifteen countries and sold over 10 million copies in a year.[37] It became the biggest-selling album ever by a teenage artist.[27]
"...Baby One More Time" was released as the lead single from the album on September 29, 1998. Originally, Jive Records wanted the associated music video to be animated; however, Spears rejected this idea, and suggested the final concept of a Catholic schoolgirl.[35] The single peaked at number one on theBillboard Hot 100, topping the chart for two consecutive weeks in January–February 1999. It sold more than 10 million copies, making it one of thebest-selling singles of all time.[38][39] "...Baby One More Time" later received aGrammy nomination forBest Female Pop Vocal Performance.[40] 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.[41] It would later become the25th-most successful song of all time in British chart history.[42] Spears is the youngest female artist to have a million seller in the UK.[43] The album's third single, "(You Drive Me) Crazy", became a top-ten hit worldwide and further propelled the success of the...Baby One More Time album. The album has sold 30 million copies worldwide,[44] making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It is the best-selling debut album by any artist.[45][46]
On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining...Baby One More Time Tour in North America, which was positively received by critics.[47] It also generated some controversy due to her racy outfits.[48] An extension of the tour, titled(You Drive Me) Crazy Tour, followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show.[32]
Oops!... I Did It Again, Spears' second studio album, was released in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the US, selling 1.3 million copies, breaking theNielsen SoundScan record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist.[49] It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide to date,[50] making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.Rob Sheffield ofRolling Stone said that "the great thing aboutOops! – under the cheese surface, Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child ofrock & roll tradition."[51] The album's lead single, "Oops!... I Did It Again", peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and many other European nations,[43][52] while the second single, "Lucky", peaked at number one in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. The album as well as the title track received Grammy nominations forBest Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively.[53]
The same year, Spears embarked on theOops!... I Did It Again Tour, which grossed $40.5 million; she also released her first book,Britney Spears' Heart to Heart, co-written with her mother.[27][54] On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at the2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Halfway through the performance, she ripped off 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.[55] Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating NSYNC memberJustin Timberlake.[27] Spears and Timberlake both graduated from high school viadistance learning from theUniversity of Nebraska High School.[56][57] She also bought a home inDestin, Florida.[58]In her 2023 memoir, Spears revealed that she had anabortion in late 2000 while dating Timberlake after he said they were not prepared for parenthood.[59][60] Spears called the abortion "one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life."[61]
In January 2001, Spears hosted the28th Annual American Music Awards, starred atRock in Rio alongside NSYNC, and performed as a special guest in theSuper Bowl XXXV halftime show headlined byAerosmith and NSYNC.[62][63] In February 2001, she signed a $7–8 million promotional deal withPepsi, and released another book co-written with her mother,A Mother's Gift.[27] Her third studio album,Britney, was released in November 2001, with a funkier sound inspired by hip hop artists such asJay-Z andthe Neptunes.[64]Britney debuted at number one in theBillboard 200 and reached top five positions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe, and has sold 10 million copies worldwide.[43][65][66]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllMusic calledBritney "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."[67] It was nominated for the Grammy awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Overprotected", and in 2007 it was named one of the best albums of the preceding 25 years byEntertainment Weekly.[68] The lead single, "I'm a Slave 4 U", became a top-ten hit in several countries.[69]
Spears' performance of the single at the2001 MTV Video Music Awards featured a caged tiger (wrangled byBhagavan Antle) and a largealbino python draped over her shoulders.[70] It was harshly received by animal rights organizationPETA, who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears.[55] Jocelyn Vena of MTV News summarized Spears' performance at the ceremony, saying, "draping herself in a white python and slithering around a steamy garden setting – surrounded by dancers in zebra and tiger outfits – Spears created one of the most striking visuals in the 27-year history of the show."[71]
To support the album, Spears began theDream Within a Dream Tour. The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, thepièce de résistance being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage.[72][73] The tour grossed $53.3 million, becoming the second highest-grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behindCher'sFarewell Tour.[74][75] Her career success was highlighted byForbes in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity.[76] Spears also landed her first starring role inCrossroads, released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, critics praised Spears' acting. The film was a box office success,[77][78][79] grossing over $61.1 million worldwide on a $12 million budget.[79]
In June 2002, Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, but terminated her relationship in November due to mismanagement and "management's failure to keep her fully apprised".[80] In July 2002, Spears announced she would take a six-month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in November to record her new album.[81] Spears' relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years.[82] In November 2002, Timberlake released the song "Cry Me a River" as the second single from hissolo debut album. The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been engaging in an affair,[83][84] fueled by further rumors of possible relationships involving Timberlake's choreographerWade Robson andLimp Bizkit's frontmanFred Durst.[85] Spears had initially denied the allegations of a possible affair involving Durst, despite the two being spotted together on multiple occasions; even claiming the two had a friendly connection.[86] In 2023, she admitted to engaging in an affair with Robson.[87] As a response, Spears wrote the ballad "Everytime" with her backing vocalist and friendAnnet Artani.[88][89][90][91][92]
2003–2005:In the Zone and first two marriages
Spears performing at the NFL Kickoff Live in September 2003
In August 2003, Spears opened theMTV Video Music Awards withChristina Aguilera, performing "Like a Virgin". Halfway through they were joined byMadonna, whom they both kissed. The incident was highly publicized. In 2008, MTV listed the performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of MTV Video Music Awards,[93] whileBlender cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television history.[94]
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.[27]Vibe called it "a supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears' development as a songwriter".[95]NPR named it one of the most important recordings of the decade, writing that "the decade's history of impeccably crafted pop is written on her body of work".[96]In the Zone sold over 609,000 copies during its first week of availability in the United States, debuting 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.[27] It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands.[97] The album produced four singles: "Me Against the Music", a collaboration with Madonna; "Toxic"—which won Spears her first Grammy forBest Dance Recording; "Everytime", and "Outrageous".[27]
In January 2004, Spears married her childhood friendJason Allen Alexander atA Little White Wedding Chapel inLas Vegas,Nevada. The marriage wasannulled 55 hours later, following a petition to the court that stated that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions".[98]
In March 2004, Spears embarked onthe Onyx Hotel Tour in support ofIn the Zone.[99] The tour was canceled in June 2004, when she fell and injured her left knee during the music video shoot for "Outrageous". She underwentarthroscopic surgery and wore a thigh brace for six weeks, followed by eight to twelve weeks of rehabilitation.[100] That year, Spears became involved in theKabbalah Centre through her friendship with Madonna.[101]
In July 2004, Spears became engaged to dancerKevin Federline, whom she had met three months earlier. The romance was the subject of intense media attention, since Federline had recently broken up with actressShar Jackson, who was still pregnant with their second child at the time.[27] The stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears' first reality showBritney and Kevin: Chaotic, which premiered on May 17, 2005, onUPN. Spears later referred to the show in a 2013 interview as "probably the worst thing I've done in my career".[102] They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement.[103]
Shortly after, she released her first perfume,Curious, withElizabeth Arden, which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume.[27] In October 2004, Spears took a career break to start a family.[104]Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, her first greatest hitscompilation album, was released in November 2004.[105] Spears'cover version ofBobby 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.[106] The second single, "Do Somethin'", was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries of mainland Europe.[107][108] In August 2005, Spears released "Someday (I Will Understand)", which was dedicated to her first child, a son named Sean Preston, who was born the following month.[109] In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation,B in the Mix: The Remixes, which consists of 11 remixes.[110]
2006–2007: Personal struggles andBlackout
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 attributed the situation to a frightening encounter with paparazzi, and that it was a mistake on her part.[27] The following month, she guest-starred on theWill & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby" as closeted lesbian Amber-Louise.[111] She announced she no longer studied Kabbalah in May 2006, explaining, "my baby is my religion".[101] Spears posed nude for the August 2006 cover ofHarper's Bazaar; the photograph was compared toDemi Moore'sAugust 1991Vanity Fair cover.[27] In September 2006, she gave birth to her second son, Jayden James.[112] In November 2006, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing irreconcilable differences.[113] Their divorce was finalized in July 2007, when the two reached a global settlement and agreed to share joint custody of their sons.[114]
Spears' maternal aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died ofovarian cancer in January 2007.[115] In February, Spears stayed in adrug rehabilitation facility inAntigua for less than a day. The following night, she shaved her head with electric clippers at a hair salon inTarzana, Los Angeles. She admitted herself to other treatment facilities during the following weeks.[116] In May 2007, she produced a series of promotional concerts atHouse of Blues venues, titledThe M+M's Tour.[117] In October 2007, Spears lost physical custody of her sons to Federline. The reasons of the court ruling were not revealed to the public.[118] Spears was also sued byLouis Vuitton over her 2005 music video "Do Somethin'" for upholstering herHummer interior in counterfeit Louis Vuitton cherry blossom fabric, which resulted in the video being banned on European TV stations.[119]
In October 2007, Spears released her fifth studio album,Blackout. The album debuted atop the charts in Canada and Ireland, at number two in the U.S.Billboard 200, France, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, and the top ten in Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and many European nations. In the United States, it was Spears' first album not to debut at number one, although, she did become the only female artist to have her first five studio albums debut at the two top slots of the chart.[120] The album received positive reviews from critics and had sold 3.1 million copies worldwide by the end of 2008.[121][122]Blackout won Album of the Year at the2008 MTV Europe Music Awards and was listed as the fifth Best Pop Album of the Decade byThe Times.[123][124]
Spears performed the lead single, "Gimme More", at the2007 MTV Video Music Awards. The performance was widely panned by critics.[125] Despite the criticism, the single enjoyed worldwide success, peaking at number one in Canada and within the top ten in almost every country it charted.[126][127] 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. The third single, "Break the Ice", was released the following year,[128] and respectively reached numbers seven and nine in Ireland and Canada.[129][130] In December 2007, Spears began a relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.[131]
2008–2010: Conservatorship andCircus
In January 2008, Spears refused to relinquish custody of her sons to Federline's representatives. She was hospitalized atCedars-Sinai Medical Center after police that had arrived at her house noted she appeared to be under the influence of an unidentified substance. The following day, Spears'visitation rights were suspended at an emergency court hearing, and Federline was given sole custody of their sons. She was admitted to the psychiatric ward ofRonald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and put on5150 involuntary psychiatric hold under California state law. The court placed her under aconservatorship led by her father,Jamie Spears, and attorney Andrew Wallet, giving them complete control of her assets.[27][132] She was released five days later.[133][134]
The following month, Spears guest-starred on theHow I Met Your Mother episode "Ten Sessions" as receptionist Abby. She received positive reviews for her performance, as well as bringing the series its highest ratings ever.[135][136] In July 2008, Spears regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel.[137] In September 2008, Spears opened theMTV Video Music Awards with a pre-taped comedy sketch withJonah Hill and an introduction speech. She wonBest Female Video,Best Pop Video, andVideo of the Year for "Piece of Me".[138] A 60-minute introspective documentary,Britney: For the Record, was produced to chronicle Spears' return to the recording industry. Directed by Phil Griffin,For the Record was shot inBeverly Hills, Hollywood, and New York City during the third quarter of 2008.[139] The documentary was broadcast on MTV to 5.6 million viewers for the two airings on the premiere night. It was the highest rating in its Sunday night timeslot and in the network's history.[140]
In December 2008, Spears' sixth studio album,Circus, was released. It received positive reviews from critics[141] and debuted at number one in Canada, Czech Republic, and the United States, and within the top ten in many European nations.[127][142] In the United States, Spears became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one, earning a place inGuinness World Records.[143] She also became the only act in the SoundScan era to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more copies sold.[142] The album was one of the fastest-selling albums of the year,[144] and has sold 4 million copies worldwide.[145] Its lead single, "Womanizer", became Spears' first chart-topper on theBillboard Hot 100 since "...Baby One More Time". The single also topped the charts in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, and Sweden.[146][147] It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.[148]
In January 2009, Spears and Jamie obtained a restraining order against her former manager Sam Lutfi, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib, and attorney Jon Eardley, who were accused of conspiring to gain control of Spears' affairs.[149] Spears beganThe Circus Starring Britney Spears tour that March. With a gross of U.S. $131.8 million, it became the fifth highest-grossing tour of the year.[150] In November 2009, Spears released her second greatest hits album,The Singles Collection. The album's lead and only single, "3", became her third number-one single in the U.S.[151]
In May 2010, Spears' 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.[152] Spears designed a limited edition clothing line forCandie's, which was released in stores in July 2010.[153] In September 2010, she made acameo appearance on a Spears-themed tribute episode of the television seriesGlee, titled "Britney/Brittany"; the episode drew the highestNielsen rating – up to that point in the series's run[154] – in the18–49 demographic.[155][156]
2011–2012:Femme Fatale andThe X Factor
In March 2011, Spears released her seventh studio album,Femme Fatale.[157] The album peaked at number one in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and within the top ten on nearly every other chart. Its peak in the United States tied Spears withMariah Carey andJanet Jackson for the third-most number ones among women.[158]Femme Fatale has been certified platinum by theRIAA and as of February 2014, it had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide.[159][160]
The album's lead single, "Hold It Against Me", debuted atop theBillboard Hot 100, becoming Spears' fourth number-one single on the chart and making her the second artist in history to have two consecutive singles debut at number one, afterMariah Carey.[161] The second single, "Till the World Ends", peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100 in May,[162] while the third single, "I Wanna Go", reached number seven in August.Femme Fatale became Spears' first album in which three of its songs reached the top ten of the chart. The fourth and final single "Criminal" was released in September 2011. The music video sparked controversy when British politicians criticized Spears for using replica guns while filming the video in a London area that had been badly affected by the2011 England riots.[163] Spears' management briefly responded, stating, "The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney's boyfriend, Jason Trawick, which literally plays out the lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened."[164] In April 2011, Spears appeared in a remix ofRihanna's song "S&M".[165] It reached number one in the US later that month, giving Spears her fifth number one on the chart.[166] OnBillboard's 2011 Year-End list, Spears was ranked number fourteen on the Artists of the Year,[167] thirty-two onBillboard 200 artists, and ten onBillboard Hot 100 artists.[168][169] Spears co-wrote "Whiplash", a song from the albumWhen the Sun Goes Down (2011) bySelena Gomez & the Scene.[170]
In June 2011, Spears embarked on herFemme Fatale Tour.[171] The first ten dates of the tour grossed $6.2 million, peaking at number 55 onPollstar's Top 100 North American Tours list for the half-way point of the year.[172] The tour ended on December 10, 2011, in Puerto Rico, after 79 performances.[173] A DVD of the tour was released in November 2011.[174] In August 2011, Spears received theMichael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the2011 MTV Video Music Awards.[175] The next month, she released her second remix album,B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2.[176] In December 2011, Spears became engaged to Trawick.[177] Trawick was legally granted a role as co-conservator, alongside Jamie, in April 2012.[178]
That year, Spears was featured as a guest vocalist onwill.i.am's "Scream & Shout", released as the third single from his fourth studio album,#willpower (2013). The song later became Spears' sixth number-one single on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100. "Scream & Shout" was among the best-selling songs of 2012 and 2013 with denoting sales of over 8.1 million worldwide,[183] the accompanying music video was the third most-viewed video in 2013 onVevo despite the video being released in 2012.[184][failed verification] In December 2012,Forbes named her music's top-earning woman of 2012, with estimated earnings of $58 million.[185]
2013–2015:Britney Jean and Britney: Piece of Me
Spears performing in 2014 duringBritney: Piece of Me, a four-year concert residency in Las Vegas
Spears began work on her eighth studio album,Britney Jean, in December 2012,[186] and enlistedwill.i.am as its executive producer in May 2013.[187] In January 2013, Spears and Jason Trawick ended their engagement. Trawick was also removed as Spears' co-conservator, restoring her father as the sole conservator.[188][189] Following the breakup, she began dating David Lucado in March; the couple split in August 2014.[190] During the production ofBritney Jean, Spears recorded the song "Ooh La La" for the soundtrack ofThe Smurfs 2, which was released in June 2013.[191]
Britney Jean became Spears' final project under her original recording contract with Jive, which had guaranteed the release of eight studio albums.[197] The record received a low amount of promotion and had little commercial impact, reportedly due to time conflicts involving preparations for Britney: Piece of Me.[198] Upon its release, the record debuted at number four on theU.S.Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 107,000 copies, becoming her lowest-peaking and lowest-selling album in the United States.[199]Britney Jean debuted at number 34 on theUK Albums Chart, selling 12,959 copies in its first week. In doing so, it became Spears' lowest-charting and lowest-selling album in the country.[200]
"Work Bitch" was released as the lead single fromBritney Jean in September 2013.[201] It debuted and peaked at number 12 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 marking Spears' 31st entry on the chart and the fifth highest debut of her career on the chart, and her seventh in the top 20. It also marked Spears' 19th top 20 entry and overall her 23rd top 40 single. The song marked Spears' highest sales debut since her 2011 number-one single "Hold It Against Me". "Work Bitch" debuted and peaked at number seven on theUK Singles Chart. The song also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, and Spain.[202]
The second single, "Perfume", premiered in November 2013.[203][204] It debuted and peaked at number 76 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100.[205] In October 2013, she was featured as a guest vocalist on the song "SMS (Bangerz)" byMiley Cyrus, from the latter's fourth studio album,Bangerz (2013).[206] On January 8, 2014, Spears won Favorite Pop Artist at the40th People's Choice Awards at theMicrosoft Theater in Los Angeles.[207] In August 2014, Spears confirmed she had renewed her contract with RCA and that she was writing and recording new music for her next album.[208]
Spears announced via Twitter in August 2014 that she would be releasing an intimate apparel line called "The Intimate Britney Spears". It was available to be purchased beginning on September 9, 2014, in the United States and Canada through Spears' Intimate Collection website. It was later available on September 25 for purchase in Europe. The company now ships to over 200 countries including Australia and New Zealand.[209] On September 25, 2014, Spears confirmed onGood Morning Britain that she extended her contract to perform her Britney: Piece of Meconcert residency atPlanet Hollywood Las Vegas for two additional years.[210] Spears began dating television producerCharlie Ebersol in October 2014. The pair were split in June 2015.[211]
On May 14, 2015, Spears released a single, "Pretty Girls", withIggy Azalea.[212] It reached number 29 on theBillboard Hot 100 and charted moderately in international territories. Spears and Azalea performed the track live at the2015Billboard Music Awards from The AXIS, the home of Spears' residency, to positive critical response.Entertainment Weekly praised the performance, noting "Spears gave one of her most energetic televised performances in years."[213]
On June 16, 2015,Giorgio Moroder released the albumDéjà Vu, which featured Spears on "Tom's Diner".[214] The song was released as the fourth single from the album on October 9, 2015.[215] In an interview, Moroder praised Spears' vocals and said she "sounds so good that you would hardly recognize her".[216][217] At the2015 Teen Choice Awards, Spears received the Candie's Style Icon Award, her ninthTeen Choice Award.[218] In November 2015, Spears guest-starred as a fictionalized version of herself onthe CW seriesJane the Virgin.[219] On the show, she danced to "Toxic" withGina Rodriguez's character.[220]
2016–2018:Glory, continued residency, and the Piece of Me Tour
In November 2015, Spears confirmed via social media that she had begun recording her ninth studio album.[221] On March 1, 2016,V announced that Spears would appear on the cover of its 100th issue, dated March 8, 2016, in addition to revealing three different covers shot by photographerMario Testino for the milestone publication.[222] TheV editor-in-chief, Stephen Gan, said Spears was selected because of her status as an icon in the industry, and asked: "Who in our world did not grow up listening to her music?"[223] In May 2016, Spears launched acasualrole-play gaming application,Britney Spears: American Dream. The app, created byGlu Mobile, was made available through bothiOS andGoogle Play.[224]
On May 22, 2016, Spears performed a medley of her past singles at the2016Billboard Music Awards.[225][226] In addition to opening the show, Spears was honored with theBillboard Millennium Award.[227] On July 15, 2016, Spears released the lead single, "Make Me", from her ninth studio album, featuring guest vocals from American rapperG-Eazy.[228] The album,Glory, was formally released on August 26, 2016. On August 16, 2016,MTV and Spears announced that she would perform at the2016 MTV Video Music Awards.[229] The performance marked Spears' first time returning to the VMA stage after her widely panned performance of "Gimme More" at the 2007 show nine years earlier.[230] Along with "Make Me", Spears and G-Eazy also performed the latter's hit song "Me, Myself & I".[231]
Spears appeared on the cover ofMarie Claire UK for the October 2016 issue. In the publication, Spears revealed that she had suffered from crippling anxiety in the past, and that motherhood played a major role in helping her overcome it.[232] "My boys don't care if everything isn't perfect. They don't judge me", Spears said in the issue.[233] In November 2016, during an interview with Las Vegas Blog, Spears confirmed she had already begun work on her next album, stating: "I'm not sure what I want the next album to sound like. ... I just know that I'm excited to get into the studio again and actually have already been back recording."[234] In the same month, she released a remix version of "Slumber Party" as the second single fromGlory, featuringTinashe.[235]
She began dating "Slumber Party"'s music video co-starSam Asghari after the two met on set.[236] In January 2017, Spears received four wins out of four nominations at the43rd People's Choice Awards, including Favorite Pop Artist, Female Artist, Social Media Celebrity, as well as Comedic Collaboration for a skit withEllen DeGeneres forThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.[237] In March 2017, Spears announced that her residency concert would be performed abroad as a world tour,Britney: Live in Concert, with dates in select Asian cities.[238][239][240] In April 2017, theIsraeli Labor Party announced that it would reschedule its July primary election to avoid conflict with Spears' sold-out Tel Aviv concert, citing traffic, and security concerns.[241]
Spears' manager Larry Rudolph also announced the residency would not be extended following her contract expiration with Caesars Entertainment at the end of 2017. On April 29, 2017, Spears became the first recipient of the Icon Award at the2017 Radio Disney Music Awards.[242] On November 4, 2017, Spears attended the grand opening of the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation Britney Spears Campus inLas Vegas.[243] Later that month,Forbes announced that Spears was the 8th highest earning female musician, earning $34 million in 2017.[244] On December 31, 2017, Spears performed the final show of Britney: Piece of Me.[245] The final performance reportedly brought in $1.172 million, setting a new box office record for a single show in Las Vegas, and breaking the record previously held byJennifer Lopez.[245] Performances of "Toxic" and "Work Bitch" were recorded on earlier dates and aired on ABC'sDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve to a record audience of 25.6 million.[246]
In January 2018, Spears released her 24th perfume with Elizabeth Arden,Sunset Fantasy,[247] and announced thePiece of Me Tour which took place in July 2018 in North America and Europe.[248] Tickets were sold out within minutes for major cities, and additional dates were added to meet the demand.[249]Pitbull was thesupporting act for the European leg.[250] The tour ranked at 86 and 30 onPollstar's 2018 Year-End Top 100 Tours chart both in North America and worldwide, respectively. In total, the tour grossed $54.3 million with 260,531 tickets sold and was the sixth highest-grossing female tour of 2018, and was the United Kingdom's second best-selling female tour of 2018.[251][252]
On March 20, 2018, Spears was announced as part of a campaign for French luxury fashion houseKenzo.[253] The company said it aimed to shake up the 'jungle' world of fashion with Spears' 'La Collection Memento No. 2' campaign.[254] On April 12, 2018, Spears was honored with the 2018GLAAD Vanguard Award at theGLAAD Media Awards for her role in "accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community".[255] On April 27, 2018, Epic Rights announced a new partnership with Spears to debut her own fashion line in 2019, which would include clothing, fitness apparel, accessories, and electronics.[256]
In July 2018, Spears released her first unisex fragrance,Prerogative.[257] On October 18, 2018, Spears announced her second Las Vegas residency show, Britney: Domination, which was set to launch atPark MGM's Park Theatre on February 13, 2019.[258] Spears was slated to make $507,000 per show, which would have made her the highest paid act on theLas Vegas Strip.[258][259] On October 21, 2018, Spears performed at theFormula One Grand Prix inAustin, the final performance of her Piece of Me Tour.[260]
2019–2021: Conservatorship dispute, #FreeBritney, and abuse allegations
On January 4, 2019, Spears announced an indefinite hiatus and the cancellation of her Las Vegas residency after her father,Jamie, suffered a near-fatal colon rupture.[261] In March 2019, Andrew Wallet resigned as co-conservator of her estate after 11 years.[262] Spears entered a psychiatric facility amidst stress from her father's illness that same month.[263] The following month, a fan podcast,Britney's Gram, released a voicemail message from a source who claimed to be a former member of Spears' legal team. They alleged that Jamie had canceled the residency due to Spears' refusal to take her medication, that he had been holding her in the facility against her will since January 2019 after she violated a no-driving rule, and that her conservatorship was supposed to have ended in 2009.[264][265] The allegations gave rise to a movement to terminate the conservatorship, #FreeBritney,[266] which received support from celebrities including singersCher,Paris Hilton, andMiley Cyrus, and the nonprofit organizationAmerican Civil Liberties Union.[267][268][269][270] On April 22, 2019, fans protested outside theWest Hollywood City Hall and demanded Spears' release.[263] Spears said "all [was] well" two days later and left the facility later that month.[271][272]
In a May 2019 hearing, Judge Brenda Penny ordered a professional evaluation of the conservatorship.[273] In September, Spears' ex-husband Federline obtained a restraining order against Britney's father, Jamie, following an alleged physical altercation between Jamie and one of her sons.[274] Spears' longtime care manager, Jodi Montgomery, temporarily replaced Jamie as her conservator that same month,[275] which also saw a hearing where no decisions about the arrangement were reached.[276] An interactive pop-up museum dedicated to Spears, dubbed "The Zone", opened in Los Angeles in February 2020, though it was later suspended after theCOVID-19 pandemic emerged.[277][278] She releasedGlory's Japanese-exclusive bonus track, "Mood Ring" as a single, and debuted a new cover of the album to streaming and digital platforms worldwide in May 2020.[279] In August, Jamie called the #FreeBritney movement "a joke" and its organizers "conspiracy theorists".[280]
On August 17, 2020, Spears' court-appointed lawyer, Samuel D. Ingham III, submitted a court filing that documented Spears' desire to have her conservatorship altered to reflect her wishes as well as lifestyle, to instate Montgomery as her permanent conservator,[281] and to replace Jamie with afiduciary as conservator of her estate.[282] Four days later, Penny extended the established arrangement until February 2021.[283] In November 2020, Penny approvedBessemer Trust as co-conservator of Spears' estate alongside Jamie.[284] The following month, Spears released a new deluxe edition ofGlory, which includes "Mood Ring" and new songs "Swimming in the Stars" and "Matches".[285]
A documentary about Spears' career and conservatorship,Framing Britney Spears, premiered onFX in February 2021.[286] Spears later revealed that she had seen parts of the documentary, stating that she felt humiliated by the perception of her that was presented and that she "cried for two weeks" following the initial broadcast.[287] The following month, Ingham petitioned to permanently replace Jamie with Montgomery as Spears' conservator, citing a 2014 order that determined that she did not have the capacity to consent to any medical treatment.[288][289]
In June 2021, shortly before Spears was set to speak to the court,The New York Times obtained confidential court documents stating that Spears had pushed for years to end her conservatorship.[17] Spears spoke to the court on June 23, calling the conservatorship "abusive". She said she had lied by "telling the whole world I'm OK and I'm happy", and that she was traumatized and angry.[290][291][292] The court statement received widespread media coverage and generated over 1 million shares on Twitter, over 500,000 messages using the tag #FreeBritney, and more than 150,000 messages with a new hashtag referencing the court appearance, #BritneySpeaks.[293][294]
On July 1, Bessemer Trust asked to withdraw from the conservatorship, saying that they had been misled and had entered into the arrangement on the understanding that the conservatorship was voluntary.[295] The same day, senatorsElizabeth Warren andBob Casey Jr. called on federal agencies to increase oversight of the country's conservatorship systems.[296] Five days later, Spears' managerLarry Rudolph resigned, citing her "intention to officially retire" as the reason[297] and on that same day, it was reported that Ingham planned to file documents to the court asking to be dismissed.[298] In a July 14 hearing, Penny approved the resignations of Bessemer Trust and Ingham. The court also approved of Spears' request to hireMathew Rosengart as her attorney. Rosengart informed the court that he would be working to terminate the conservatorship.[299] Later that day, Spears publicly endorsed the #FreeBritney movement for the first time, using the hashtag in a caption on an Instagram post. She mentioned feeling "blessed" after earning "real representation", referring to Penny's decision to allow her to choose her own counsel.[300]
On July 26, Rosengart petitioned to remove Jamie as conservator of Spears' estate and to replace him with Jason Rubin, aCertified Public Accountant (CPA) at Certified Strategies Inc. in Woodland Hills, California.[301] On August 12, Jamie agreed to step down as conservator at some future date, with his lawyers stating that he wanted "an orderly transition to a new conservator".[302] On September 7, Jamie petitioned to end the conservatorship.[303] Five days later, Spears announced her engagement to her longtime boyfriend, Sam Asghari, through an Instagram post.[304] On September 29, Penny suspended Jamie as conservator of Spears' estate, with accountant John Zabel replacing him on a temporary basis.[305] On November 12, Penny terminated the conservatorship.[4]
2022–present: Third marriage,The Woman in Me, and retirement from singing
In April 2022, she announced her pregnancy with Asghari's child,[306] which ended in a miscarriage the following month.[307] The couple married on June 9 at her home inThousand Oaks, Los Angeles.[308] None of Spears' immediate family (including her parents, sister, and brother) were invited; her two sons did not attend.[309][310] Spears' ex-husband, Jason Alexander, attempted to crash the wedding by breaking into her home, armed with a knife, but was arrested.[311] A three-yearrestraining order was subsequently enacted.[312] On August 26, Spears and English musicianElton John released the duet "Hold Me Closer", a remake of John's 1972 single "Tiny Dancer".[313][314] It was Spears' first musical release since the termination of her conservatorship.[315] "Hold Me Closer" debuted at number six on the USBillboard Hot 100, becoming her 14th top-ten single and her highest-charting song in the chart since "Scream & Shout" (2012).[316] It debuted at number three on theUK Singles Chart, earning Spears her 24th top-ten.[317]
Since the termination of her conservatorship, Spears' personal life, social media presence, and overall well-being have been subject to renewed media interest and fan speculation, giving rise to conspiracy theories.[318] On January 24, 2023, deputies from theVentura County Sheriff's Office performed a welfare check at Spears' residence after receiving several calls from fans who were concerned after she deleted herInstagram account. A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Department stated that Spears "was safe and in no danger". Spears addressed the incident on herTwitter account, asking fans to respect her privacy.[319] Spears and the rapperwill.i.am released their single, "Mind Your Business", on July 21, 2023.[320] On August 16, it was announced Spears and Asghari separated after 14 months of marriage.[321] On May 1, 2024, they reached a divorce settlement.[322][323] The following day, the judge signed off on the settlement and the couple were divorced on December 2, 2024.[324] In September 2023, an additional welfare check was initiated when Spears posted an Instagram video of herself dancing with knives. Her security team assured the attending officer that there was no immediate threat to her safety, and the officer departed. Spears also clarified that the knives were not real.[325]
In February 2022, Spears signed a $15 million book deal for a memoir in one of thebiggest book deals of all time.[326][327] The memoir,The Woman in Me, was released on October 24, 2023.[328] It details her rise to fame, public media events, her conservatorship, and her newfound freedom.[329] In the United States, it sold 1.1 million copies, while worldwide it sold 2.4 million copies in print sales during its first week of release.[330][331]
In January 2024, reports circulated thatCharli XCX andJulia Michaels had been asked to write songs for Spears, andRolling Stone reported that "management and A&R are trying to get her excited for the music". Spears denied the reports, saying she would never return to the music industry. However, she also said that she had written more than 20 songs for other artists in the previous two years.[332] In May 2024, Charli XCX confirmed in an interview that she was indeed asked to write for Spears, for which she traveled to Malibu, but that she did not know if Spears was a part of the process explaining that "the team were present... But she didn't record it. She obviously didn't."[333]
Spears has citedMadonna,Janet Jackson, andWhitney Houston as major influences, her "three favorite artists" as a child, whom she would "sing along to ... day and night in [her] living room"; Houston's "I Have Nothing" was the song she auditioned to that landed her record deal with Jive Records.[334] Spears also namedMariah Carey as "one of the main reasons I started singing".[335] Throughout her career, Spears has drawn frequent comparisons to Madonna and Jackson in particular, in terms of vocals, choreography, and stage presence. 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."[336]
In the 2002 bookMadonnastyle by Carol Clerk, she is quoted saying: "I have been a huge fan of Madonna since I was a little girl. She's the person that I've really looked up to. I would really, really like to be a legend like Madonna."[337] Spears cited "That's the Way Love Goes" as the inspiration for her song "Touch of My Hand" from her albumIn the Zone, saying "I like to compare it to 'That's the Way Love Goes,' kind of a Janet Jackson thing."[338] She also said her song "Just Luv Me" from herGlory album also reminded her of "That's the Way Love Goes".[339]
After meeting Spears face to face, Janet Jackson stated: "she said to me, 'I'm such a big fan; I really admire you.' That's so flattering. Everyone gets inspiration from some place. And it's awesome to see someone else coming up who's dancing and singing, and seeing how all these kids relate to her. A lot of people put it down, but what she does is a positive thing."[340] Madonna said of Spears in the documentaryBritney: For the Record: "I admire her talent as an artist ... There are aspects about her that I recognize in myself when I first started out in my career".[341] Spears has also namedMichael Jackson,Mariah Carey,Sheryl Crow,Otis Redding,Shania Twain,Brandy,Beyoncé,Natalie Imbruglia,Cher, andPrince as inspirations,[342][343][344] and younger artists such asSelena Gomez andAriana Grande.[345][346]
Musical style
Spears is described as apop artist[16] and generally explores the genre in the form ofdance-pop.[347][348][349] Following her debut, she was credited with influencing the revival ofteen pop in the late 1990s.[350] Rob Sheffield ofRolling Stone wrote: "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."[351] In a review of...Baby One More Time, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described her music as a "blend of infectious, rap-inflected dance-pop and smooth balladry".[352]Oops!... I Did It Again saw Spears working with severalR&B producers to create "a combination of bubblegum, urban soul, andraga".[353] Her third studio album,Britney, derived from the teen pop niche "[r]hythmically and melodically", but was described as "sharper, tougher than what came before", incorporating genres such as R&B, disco, and funk.[67][354]
Spears has explored and heavily incorporated the genres ofelectropop[355][356] anddance music in her records, as well as influences ofurban andhip hop, which are most present onIn the Zone andBlackout.In the Zone also experiments withEuro trance,reggae, andMiddle Eastern music.[356][357][358]Femme Fatale andBritney Jean were also heavily influenced byelectronic music genres.[359][360] Spears' ninth studio album,Glory, is more eclectic and experimental than her previous released work. She commented that it "took a lot of time ... it's really different ... there are like two or three songs that go in the direction of more urban that I've wanted to do for a long time now, and I just haven't really done that."[361]
...Baby One More Time andOops!... I Did It Again address themes such as love and relationships from a teenager's point of view.[362][363] Following the massive commercial success of her first two studio albums, Spears' team and producers wanted to maintain the formula that took her to the top of the charts.[362] Spears, however, was no longer satisfied with the sound and themes covered on her records. She co-wrote five songs and choose each track's producer on her third studio album,Britney, which lyrics address the subjects of reaching adulthood, sexuality, and self-discovery.[67][362][354] Sex, dancing, freedom, and love continued to be Spears' music main subjects on her subsequent albums.[357][358][360][359] Her fifth studio effort,Blackout, also addresses issues such as fame and media scrutiny, including on the song "Piece of Me".[358][364]
Spears' music has also been noted for some catchphrases. The opening in her debut single "...Baby One More Time", "Oh, baby baby" is considered to be one of her signature lines and has been parodied in the media by various artists such asNicole Scherzinger and Ariana Grande.[365] It has been used in variating forms throughout her music, such as simply, "baby" and "oh baby", as well as theBlackout track, "Ooh Ooh Baby". On the initial development of "...Baby One More Time",Barry Weiss noted Spears' inception of the catchphrase from her strangead-libbing during the recording of the song. He commented further, "We thought it was really weird at first. It was strange. It was not the wayMax wrote it. But it worked! We thought it could be a really good opening salvo for her."[366] The opening line in "Gimme More", "It's Britney, bitch" has become another signature phrase.[367] An early review ofBlackout suggested the phrase was "simply laughable".[367] Amy Roberts ofBustle called it "an indelible cultural turning point, transforming a frenetic, floundering moment in the superstar's career to one of strength and empowerment".[367]
The cover ofthe Jets's song was Spears's first recording for her then-label Jive in 1997.[368] The prominent use ofmelisma andvibrato as she continuously raises key into a high range was viewed as aMariah Carey influence.[369]
The track is built around the 'wobbler' effect ofdubstep, and her vocals are pitched down low, making her sound masculine.[364][370] She has been credited as one of the artists who prompted the genre within a pop mainstream audience.[371]
Spears is asoprano.[372][373][374][375] Other sources state that she possesses acontraltovocal range.[376][377] Prior to her breakthrough success, she is described as having sung "much deeper than her highly recognizable trademark voice of today", with Eric Foster White, who worked with Spears on her debut album,...Baby One More Time, being cited as "[shaping] her voice over the course of a month" upon being signed toJive Records "to where it is today—distinctively, unmistakably Britney".[33] Rami Yacoub, who co-produced Spears' debut album with lyricist Max Martin, commented, "I know fromDenniz 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."[378]
Guy Blackman ofThe Age wrote that "[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. ... Spears expresses perfectly the conflicting urges of adolescence, the tension between chastity and sexual experience, between hedonism and responsibility, between confidence and vulnerability."[379] ProducerWilliam Orbit, who worked with Spears on her albumBritney Jean, stated regarding her vocals: "[Britney] didn't get so big just because [she] put on great shows; [she] got to be that way because [her voice is] unique: you hear two words and you know who is singing".[380]
Spears has also been criticized for her reliance onAuto-Tune[381] and her vocals being "over-processed" on records.[382] Erlewine criticized Spears' singing abilities in a review of herBlackout album, stating: "Never the greatest vocalist, her thin squawk could be dismissed early in her career as an adolescent learning the ropes, but nearly a decade later her singing hasn't gotten any better, even if the studio tools to masquerade her weaknesses have."[358] Joan Anderman ofThe Boston Globe remarked that "Spears sounds robotic, nearly inhuman, on her records, so processed is her voice by digital pitch-shifters and synthesizers."[383]
Kayla Upadhyaya ofThe Michigan Daily has provided a different point of view, stating: "Auto-tuned and over-processed vocals define [Spears]'s voice as an artist, and in her music, auto-tune isn't so much a gimmick as it is an instrument used to highlight, contort and make a statement."[384] Adam Markovitz ofEntertainment Weekly opines that "Spears is no technical singer, that's for sure. But backed by Martin and Dr. Luke's wall of sound, her vocals melt into a mix of babytalk coo and coital panting that is, in its own overprocessed way, just as iconic and propulsive asMichael Jackson's yips orEminem's snarls."[385]
Spears is known for her stage performances, particularly the elaborate dance routines which incorporate "belly-dancing and tempered erotic moves" that are credited with influencing "dance-heavy acts" such asDanity Kane andthe Pussycat Dolls.[386][387]Rolling Stone readers voted Spears their second-favorite dancing musician.[388] Spears is described as being much more shy than her stage persona suggests.[102][389][390] She said that performing is "a boost to [her] confidence. It's like an alter-ego type thing. Something clicks and I go and turn into this different person. I think it's kind of a gift to be able to do that."[391] Her 2000, 2001, and 2003 MTV Video Music Awards performances were lauded,[392] while her 2007 presentation was widely panned by critics, as she "teetered through her dance steps and mouthed only occasional words".[393]Billboard called her 2016 "comeback" performance at the show "an effective, but not entirely glorious, bid to regain pop superstardom".[374]
After her knee injuries and personal problems, Spears' "showmanship" and dance abilities came under criticism.[386][394] Serge F. Kovaleski ofThe New York Times watched herLas Vegas concert residency in 2016 and stated: "Once a fluid, natural dancer, Ms. Spears can appear stiff, even robotic, today, relying on flailing arms and flashy sets."[395]Las Vegas Sun'sRobin Leach seemed more impressed over Spears' efforts on the concert by saying that she delivered a "flawless performance" on the residency's opening night.[396]
It has been widely reported that Spears lip-syncs during live performances,[387][397][398] which often prompts criticism from music critics and concert goers.[394][399][400] Some, however, claimed that, although she "got plenty of digital support", she "doesn't merely lip-sync" during her live shows.[401] In 2016, Sabrina Weiss ofRefinery29 referred to her lip-syncing as a "well-known fact that's not even taboo anymore."[402] Noting on the prevalence of lip-syncing, theLos Angeles Daily News opined: "In the context of a Britney Spears concert, does it really matter? ... you [just] go for the somewhat-ridiculous spectacle of it all".[403] Spears herself has commented on the topic, arguing: "Because I'm dancing so much, I do have a little bit of playback, but there's a mixture of my voice and the playback. ... It really pisses me off because I'm busting my ass out there and singing at the same time and nobody ever gives me credit for it".[397]
In 2012, VH1 ranked Spears as the fourth Greatest Woman of the Video Era,[404] whileBillboard ranked her as the eight Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time in 2020, explaining: "The storylines, the dancing, theoutfits. Right from the start, the pop princess established the lengths of her creativity with some of the most memorable videos of the last three decades."[405] She has been retroactively noted as the pioneer for her early career videography.[406] She conceptualized the "iconic Catholic schoolgirl and cheerleader motif" in the "...Baby One More Time" video, rejecting the animation video idea. She also made the "Oops!... I Did It Again" video "dance-centric rather than space-centric as her producers suggested". She also used her dancer's intuition to help select the beats for each track.[406]
Upon launching her music career with...Baby One More Time, Spears was labeled ateen idol,[408] andRolling Stone described her as "the latest model of a classic product: the unneurotic pop star who performs her duties withvaudevillian pluck and spokesmodel charm."[26] The April 1999 cover ofRolling Stone pictured a 17-year-old Spears reclining on a bed, wearing an exposed bra andhot pants while cradling aTeletubby in one arm.[409][410][411][412] TheAmerican Family Association (AFA) decried the image as "a disturbing mix of childhood innocence and adult sexuality"[410][413] and called on "God-loving Americans to boycott stores selling Britney's albums".[414] Spears addressed 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 toDebbie Gibson and all of this bubblegum pop all the time."[415] Shortly before this, Spears had announced publicly she would remain abstinent until marriage.[27][416]
An early criticism of Spears dismissed her as "the product of a Swedish songwriting factory that had no real hand in either her music or her persona".Vox editor Constance Grady wrote this was perpetuated from the fact that Spears debuted in the late 1990s, when music was dominated byrockism, that prizes "so-called authenticity and grittiness of rock above all else". Spears' "slick, breezy pop was an affront to rockist sensibilities, and claiming that Spears was fake was an easy way to dismiss her." Ron Levy forRolling Stone noted that "I have to tell you, if the record company could have created more than one Britney Spears, they would have done it, and they tried!"[406]
Billboard opined that, by the time Spears released her second album,Oops!... I Did It Again, "There was a shift occurring in both the music and her public image: She was sharper, sexier and singing about more grown-up fare, setting the stage for 2001'sBritney, which shed her innocent skin and ushered her into adulthood."[417]Britney's lead single, "I'm a Slave 4 U", and its music video were also credited for distancing her from her previous "wholesome bubblegum star" image.[418][419] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic remarked, "If 2001'sBritney was a transitional album, capturing Spears at the point when shewasn't a girl and not yet a woman, its 2003 follow-up,In the Zone, is where she has finally completed that journey and turned into Britney, the Adult Woman." Erlewine likened Spears to fellow singer Christina Aguilera, explaining that both equated "maturity with transparent sexuality and the pounding sounds of nightclubs".[357] Brittany Spanos ofLA Weekly stated that Spears "set the bar for the 'adulthood' transition teen pop stars often struggle with".[420]
Spears' erratic behavior and personal problems during 2006–2008 were highly publicized[421] and affected both her career and public image.[358][422] Erlewine writes that "each new disaster [was] stripping away any residual sexiness in her public image".[358] In a 2008 article,Rolling Stone's Vanessa Grigoriadis described her much-publicized personal issues as "the most public downfall of any star in history".[422] Spears later received favorable media attention;Billboard wrote that her appearance at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards "was a picture of professionalism and poise" after her "disastrous"performance the previous year,[423] whileBusiness Insider ran an article on how she had "lost control of her life ... and then made an incredible career comeback".[424] In 2017, Spears said: "I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health. ... I wrote back then, that I was lost and didn't know what to do with myself. I was trying to please everyone around me because that's who I am deep inside. There are moments where I look back and think: 'What the hell was I thinking?'"[425]
In September 2002, Spears was placed at number eight onVH1's 100 Sexiest Artists list.[426] She was placed at number one onFHM's100 Sexiest Women in the World list in 2004,[427] and, in December 2012,Complex ranked her 12th on its 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time list.[428] Remarking upon her perceived image as a sex symbol, Spears stated: "When I'm on stage, that's my time to do my thing and go there and be that — and it's fun. It's exhilarating just to be something that you're not. And people tend to believe it."[362] In 2003,People cited her as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People.[429]
Spears is recognized as agay icon and received the 2018GLAAD Vanguard Award at theGLAAD Media Awards for her role in "accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community".[255] She addressed the "unwavering loyalty" and "lack of judgment" of her LGBTQ fans inBillboard's Love Letters to the LGBTQ Community. She said: "Your stories are what inspire me, bring me joy, and make me and my sons strive to be better people."[430] Manuel Betancourt ofVice wrote about the "queer adoration", especially of gay men, on Spears, and said that "Where other gay icons exude self-possession, Spears' fragile resilience has made her an even more fascinating role model, closer toJudy Garland than to Lady Gaga ... she's a glittering mirror ball, a fractured reflection of those men on the dance floor back onto themselves."[389]HuffPost's Ben Appel attributed Spears' status as a gay icon to her "oh-so-innocent/not that innocent"Monroe-like sensuality, her sweet, almost saccharine nature, her beyond basic but addictive pop songs, her dance moves, her phoenix-out-of-the-fire comeback from a series of mental health crises, and her unmistakable tenderness. "Britney iscamp. She is a fashion plate. A doll. Britney is adrag queen."[431]
Since her early years in the public eye, Spears has been atabloid fixture and apaparazzi target.[417][416][432] According toVanity Fair, photos of Spears sold for a combined value of $100 million in 2007.[433]Harvey Levin, the founder ofTMZ, said in an interview, "Britney is gold. She is crack to our readers. Her life is a complete train-wreck, and I thank God for her every day."[434][433][409] Steve Huey of AllMusic remarked that "among female singers of [Spears'] era ... her celebrity star power was rivaled only byJennifer Lopez."[416] 'Britney Spears' wasYahoo!'s most popular search term between 2005 and 2008, and has been in a total of seven different years.[435] Spears was named as Most Searched Person in theGuinness World Records book edition 2007 and 2009.[436] She was later named as the most searched person of the decade 2000–2009.[437]
As a public figure, Spears "has never been known to her fans as a politically active, committed—or even aware—entertainer."[349] In a 2003 interview withTucker Carlson, she commented on PresidentGeorge W. Bush and theIraq War, saying that "we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes ... and be faithful in what happens".[438]Michael Moore included the footage of Spears' answer in his "anti-Bush" documentaryFahrenheit 9/11, which, according toThe Washington Times's James Frazier, presented her "as an example of a naive American blindly trusting a dishonest commander in chief" and fueled the "urban legend" of a "conservative" Spears. Frazier also said that "the few positions she has taken can hardly be considered conservative", such as supportingsame-sex marriage.[349] In 2016, Spears posted pictures of a meeting withHillary Clinton on social media. She described Clinton as "an inspiration and [a] beautiful voice for women around the world".[439]
In December 2017, Spears publicly showed support for theDREAM Act in the wake of the announcement thatDonald Trump would end the DACA policy, which previously granted undocumented immigrants who came to the country as minors a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation. She posted a photo of herself on social media wearing a black T-shirt that reads "We Are All Dreamers" in white letters. The caption read, "Tell Congress to pass the #DreamAct".[440]
On September 15, 2021, Spears was named one of the100 most influential people of 2021 byTime. A few days before the editors's list was released, Spears was put at the top of the readers voting list of which personalities should be included on the annualTime 100 list. Deemed an icon of 2021, editors highlighted the impact of her fight against her conservatorship as well as of the #FreeBritney movement.[14][441] In October 2021, Spears thanked her fans and the #FreeBritney movement for "freeing me from my conservatorship".[442] Britney Spears was also named most famous celebrity from Louisiana according to a study done by Baton Rouge.[443]
Referred to as the "Princess of Pop",[444][445] Spears was credited as one of the "driving force[s] behind the return of teen pop in the late 1990s".[416][350]Rolling Stone's Stacy Lambe explained that she "help[ed] to usher in a new era for the genre that had gone dormant in the decade that followedNew Kids on the Block. ... Spears would lead an army of pop stars ... built on slick Max Martin productions, plenty of sexual innuendo and dance-heavy performances. [She became] one of the most successful artists of all time—and a cautionary tale for a generation, whether they paid attention or not."[445] In a 2021 article forTime,Maura Johnston opined that "Spears' legacy as a pop artist is complex, made up of dazzling musical heights and music-business-borne lows". Johnston also commented: "While Spears' catalog is part of the canon that defines the first 20 years of this millennium, one hopes that her public struggles, and the strength she's shown while enduring them, will lead to her cementing her true legacy: Reshaping the machine that turns those songs into cultural touchstones."[446]
Glamour contributor Christopher Rosa described her as "one of pop music's defining voices. ... When she emerged onto the scene in 1998 with...Baby One More Time, the world hadn't seen a performer like her. Not since Madonna had a female artist affected the genre so profoundly."[447]Billboard's Robert Kelly observed that Spears' "sexy and coy" vocals on her debut single "...Baby One More Time" "kicked off a new era of pop vocal stylings that would influence countless artists to come".[448] In 2020,Rolling Stone ranked the song at number one on a list of the 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time andRob Sheffield described it as "One of those pop manifestos that announces a new sound, a new era, a new century. But most of all, a new star ... With "...Baby One More Time", [Spears] changed the sound of pop forever: It's Britney, bitch. Nothing was ever the same."[449]
Spears was at the forefront of the female teen pop explosion starting in 1999 and extending through the 2000s, leading the pack ofChristina Aguilera,Jessica Simpson, andMandy Moore.[450] All of these performers had been developing material in 1998, but the market changed dramatically in December 1998 when Spears' single and video were charting highly.RCA Records quickly signed Aguilera and released her debut single to capitalize on Spears' success, producing her debut hit single "Genie in a Bottle".[451] Simpson consciously modeled her persona as more mature than Spears; her "I Wanna Love You Forever" charted in September 1999, and her albumSweet Kisses followed shortly after.[452][453] Moore's first single, "Candy", hit the airwaves a month before Simpson's single, but it did not perform as well on the charts; Moore was often seen as less accomplished than Spears and the others, coming in fourth of the "pop princesses".[454][455] Fueling media stories about their competition for first place, Spears and Aguilera traded barbs but also compliments through the 2000s.[456]
Alim Kheraj ofDazed called Spears "one of pop's most important pioneers".[457] After eighteen years as a performer,Billboard described her as having "earned her title as one of pop's reigning queens. Since her early days as a Mouseketeer, [Spears] has pushed the boundaries of 21st century sounds, paving the way for a generation of artists to shamelessly embrace glossy pop and redefine how one can accrue consistent success in the music industry."[417]Entertainment Weekly's Adam Markovitz described Spears as "an American institution, as deeply sacred and messed up as pro wrestling or the filibuster."[385] In 2012, she was ranked as the fourthVH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era show list.[404] VH1 also cited her among its choices on the 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012[458] and the 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons in 2003.[459] In 2020,Billboard ranked her eight on its 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of all-time list.[405] In October 2024,Billboard placed Spears at number six on theirGreatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list.[460]
Before Spears joinedThe X Factor,Simon Cowell explained that he is "fascinated by [Britney]. The fact that she's one of the most talked about – not just pop stars – but people in the world today, means that you've got this star power. ... She's still hot, she's still having hit records and she's still controversial, there's a reason for that."[489] Marina Diamandis named Spears as the main influence behind her albumElectra Heart.[490] Lana Del Rey said that the music video for "Toxic" inspires her.[491]Porcelain Black describes her music as a "love child" of Spears andMarilyn Manson.[492]Rita Ora's 2019 music video for "Only Want You" was inspired by Spears' "Everytime" music video, and said in a stories fromInstagram, "Hey @britneyspears this was for you because I love you so. Pay homage to the ones who inspire! #icon."[493]
Spears has been credited with redefiningLas Vegas residencies as a retirement place for musicians. Her debut concert residencyBritney: Piece of Me was described as "the natural evolution ofCeline Dion's powerhourse Vegas residency, a still-charting star of another generation redefining the role of Strip headliner."Forbes named Spears the sixth-highest-earning female musician of 2015." She is credited with influencing and paving the way for other artists's residencies such asJennifer Lopez'sJennifer Lopez: All I Have,Bruno Mars'sBruno Mars at Park MGM, andBackstreet Boys'Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life.[494] The arrival of Spears "saw the pop promoters finally tap into the younger crowd arriving in town for a good time".[495]
Spears' much-publicized personal problems and her subsequent career comeback have inspired some artists.Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the 2010 filmCountry Strong was inspired by Spears' treatment by the media. According to film director Shana Fest, "that's where this movie came from. I mean, I was seeing what was happening in the media to Britney Spears. I think it's tragic how we treat people who give us so much, and we love to see them knocked down to build them back up again, to knock them down again."[496]Nicki Minaj has cited Spears' comeback after her much-publicized personal issues as an inspiration.[497] Spears' hounding by paparazzi and personal problems also inspiredBarry Manilow's album15 Minutes. Manilow said: "She couldn't have a life without them pulling up next to her car and following her and driving her crazy to the point where, that was around the time she shaved off her hair. ... We all looked at it in horror ... So it seemed like a thing to be writing an album about."[498]Bebo Norman wrote a song about Spears, called "Britney", which was inspired by "culture's make-or-break treatment of celebrities".[499] Along withAlicia Silverstone,Christy Turlington, andNaomi Campbell, Spears has been credited with introducing thenavel piercing to mainstream culture.[500][501][502]
Spears is listed by theGuinness World Records as having the "Best-selling album by a teenage solo artist" for her debut studio album,...Baby One More Time, which sold over 13 million copies in the United States.[505] Melissa Ruggieri of theRichmond Times-Dispatch reported: "She's also marked for being the best-selling teenage artist. Before she turned 20 in 2001, Spears had sold over 37 million albums worldwide".[506]
As of 2023[update], according to theEvening Standard, Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of thebest-selling music artists of all time.[507] She also sold more than 70 million records in United States, including 36.9 million digital singles and 33.6 million digital albums.[508] Spears is further recognized as the best-selling female albums artist of the 2000s in the United States, as well as the fifth overall.[8] In December 2009,Billboard ranked Spears the 8th Artist of the 2000s decade in the United States.[509] She is one of the few artists in history to have had a number-one single and a number-one studio album in the US during each of the three decades of her career.[510] With "3" in 2009 and "Hold It Against Me" in 2011, she became the second artist after Mariah Carey in the Hot 100's history to debut at number one with two or more songs.[161] In 2016, Spears ranked at number twenty onBillboard's Greatest Of All Time TopDance Club Artists list.[511]
Bottle of one of Spears' several perfumes, Curious, released throughElizabeth Arden, Inc.
In 2000, Spears released a limited edition of sunglasses titled Shades of Britney.[512] In 2001, she signed a deal with shoe companySkechers,[513] and a $7–8 million promotional deal withPepsi, their biggest entertainment deal at the time.[514] Aside from numerous commercials with the latter during that year, she also appeared in a 2004 Pepsi television commercial in the theme of "Gladiators" with singersBeyoncé,Pink, andEnrique Iglesias.[515] On June 19, 2002, she released her first multi-platform video game,Britney's Dance Beat, which received positive reviews.[516]
In March 2009, Spears was announced as the new face of clothing brandCandie's.[517] Dari Marder, chief marketing officer for the brand, said: "Everybody loves a comeback and nobody's doing it better than Britney. She's just poised for even greater success."[517] In 2010, Spears designed a limited edition line for the brand, which was released in stores in July 2010.[153] In 2011, she teamed up withSony,Make Up For Ever, andPlenty of Fish to release her music video for "Hold It Against Me", earning her $500,000 for the product placement.[518]
Spears also teamed up withHasbro in 2012 to release an exclusive version ofTwister Dance, which includes a remix of "Till the World Ends". She was also featured on a commercial, which was directed byRay Kay, to promote the game.[519] Spears was also featured on the commercial ofTwister Dance Rave, and the game included a Twister remix of "Circus". In March 2018, it was revealed that Spears would be the face ofKenzo, a contemporary French luxury clothing house.[253]
Spears' range of commercial deals and products also includes beauty care products and perfumes. She released her first perfume withElizabeth Arden,Curious in 2004, which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume.[27] By 2009, she had released seven more perfumes includingFantasy.[520][521] In 2010, Spears released her eighth fragrance,Radiance.[522]
In 2011, Radiance was reissued as a new perfume titled Cosmic Radiance.[523] Worldwide, Spears sold over one million bottles in the first five years, with gross receipts of $1.5 billion. In 2016, Spears contactedGlu Mobile to create her own role-playing game,Britney Spears: American Dream. The app officially launched in May 2016 and is compatible withiOS andAndroid.[224] On June 17, 2016, Spears announced the release of her twentieth fragrance, Private Show.[524] As of January 2018[update], Spears has released 24 fragrances through Elizabeth Arden.[525]
Philanthropy
Spears founded The Britney Spears Foundation, a charitable entity set up to help children in need. The philosophy behind the Foundation was that music and entertainment has a healing quality that can benefit children.[526] The Foundation also supported the annual Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts, where campers had the opportunity to explore and develop their talents.[527] In April 2002, through the efforts of Spears and The Britney Spears Foundation, a grant of $1 million was made to the Twin Towers Fund to support the children of uniformed service heroes affected by theterrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including New York City Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Services Command, the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York State Office of court Administration and other government offices.[528] However, it was reported in 2008 that the Foundation had a deficit of $200,000.[529] After Spears went through conservatorship, her father and lawyer Andrew Wallet zeroed out the effort, leading to its closure in 2011.[530]
On October 30, 2001, Spears, alongsideBono and other popular recording artists under the name "Artists Against AIDS Worldwide", released an album consisting of multiple versions ofMarvin Gaye's "What's Going On", intending to benefit AIDS programs in Africa and other impoverished regions.[531] In the wake ofHurricane Katrina in 2005, Spears donated $350,000 toMusic Rising.[532] Spears has also helped several charities during her career, including Madonna's Kabbalah-based Spirituality for Kids,[533] cancer charity Gilda's Club Worldwide,[534] Promises Foundation, andUnited Way, with the latter two focused on giving families from various disadvantaged situations new hope and stable foundations for the future.[532]
On October 24, 2015, Spears donated $120,000 to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.[535] In addition, $1 of each ticket sale for her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, was donated to the nonprofit organization.[536] Spears also fundraised for the charity through social media, in addition to selling limited edition merchandise, with all proceeds going to the NCCF.[537] On October 27, 2016, Spears partnered withZappos and XCYCLE to host theBritney Spears Piece of Me Charity Ride in Boca Park, Las Vegas to raise additional money toward her goal of $1 million for the NCCF, with $450,000 having already been raised from Spears' ticket sales and merchandise.[538] Participants were entered for a chance to win a spin class with Spears herself. The event ultimately went on to raise $553,130.[539] The fundraising ultimately led to the development of the NCCF Britney Spears Campus in Las Vegas, which saw its grand opening on November 4, 2017.[540] Spears also regularly participates inSpirit Day to combat bullying ofLGBTQ youth andbullying.[541]
In March 2020, Spears was participating in the #DoYourPartChallenge, which entails helping people with anything they might need during theCOVID-19 pandemic. She told fans to send her messages on Instagram if they need supportive words during the coronavirus pandemic, with Spears picking three fans.[542] In February 2024, Spears partnered with New York City dessert shop Glace, to create the "Britney Brûlée" dessert, with a portion of the proceeds from its sales being donated toThe Trevor Project.[543]
^Spears & Craker 2008, pp. 4, 8. "But on my mama's side, the family tree is a little more colorful and glamorous. Her father, my grandfather, was Anthony Portelli, who came from the island of Malta."
^Lofton, Kathryn (September 12, 2017).Consuming Religion. University of Chicago Press.ISBN978-0-226-48212-5.Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. RetrievedDecember 2, 2017 – via Google Books.
^Porto, Bruno (January 7, 2003)."Sex Machines".O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived fromthe original on June 3, 2020. RetrievedJune 21, 2019.and 'Britney', released in 2001, sold 10 million copies (150,000 in Brazil).Alt URL
^abLasky, Natasha (2022).Britney Spears's Blackout. 33 1/3. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. p. 55.ISBN978-1-5013-7761-7.
^Schneider, Christopher J. (2016). "Examining Elites Using Qualitative Media Analysis: Celebrity News Coverage and TMZ". In Aguiar, Luis L.M.; Schneider, Christopher J. (eds.).Researching Amongst Elites: Challenges and Opportunities in Studying Up. London: Routledge. p. 112.ISBN978-1-317-06559-3.
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