Britney Spears facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Britney Spears
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Spears in 2013
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Britney Jean Spears
December 2, 1981 McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Years active | 1992–present |
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| Children | 2 |
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| Awards | Full list |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
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Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. She is often called the "Princess of Pop". Britney helped bring back teen pop music in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She has sold over 150 million records worldwide. This makes her one of the world's best-selling music artists.
Britney has won many awards. These include a Grammy Award and 15 Guinness World Records. She also has six MTV Video Music Awards and seven Billboard Music Awards. Her music videos are known for their amazing dance routines. She even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Britney signed with Jive Records in 1997 when she was 15. Her first two albums, ...Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), are among the best-selling albums ever. She became the best-selling teenage artist of all time. Oops!... I Did It Again sold over 1.3 million copies in its first week. This was a record for a female artist for 15 years.
Later, Britney released Britney (2001) and In the Zone (2003). She also starred in the 2002 movie Crossroads. Her album Blackout (2007) is often called her best work. After some personal challenges, a legal arrangement called a conservatorship was put in place.
Even with challenges, Britney released successful albums like Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011). She was the second artist ever to have two songs debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. These songs were "3" (2009) and "Hold It Against Me" (2011). She also had a four-year concert show in Las Vegas called Britney: Piece of Me.
In 2019, her legal battle over her conservatorship became very public. This led to the #FreeBritney movement. In 2021, the conservatorship ended after she spoke out about her experiences. In 2023, she released her book, The Woman in Me. It quickly became a number-one best-seller.
Britney is the fourth best-selling female album artist in the U.S. since 1991. She was also the best-selling female album artist of the 2000s. She has had six number-one albums and five number-one singles in the U.S. Her song "...Baby One More Time" was called the greatest debut single ever by Rolling Stone. Britney also has a very successful perfume brand.
Contents
Britney Spears: Her Life and Career
Early Life and Big Dreams
Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981. She grew up in McComb, Mississippi. Her parents are James "Jamie" Parnell Spears and Lynne Irene Bridges. She has an older brother, Bryan James Spears, and a younger sister, Jamie Lynn Spears.
Britney started dance lessons at age three in Kentwood, Louisiana. She sang "What Child Is This?" at her kindergarten graduation. As a child, she also took gymnastics and voice lessons. She won many talent shows and competitions. Britney knew early on that she wanted to perform.
When she was eight, Britney auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. She was too young, but she met a talent agent. This led her to the Professional Performing Arts School in New York. She was an understudy in the musical Ruthless!. She also appeared on the TV show Star Search.
In 1992, Britney joined The Mickey Mouse Club. She worked with other future stars like Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. After the show ended in 1994, she went back to Mississippi. She attended Parklane Academy. She wanted more than just school life.
Becoming a Pop Star
In 1997, Britney met with music labels. She sang a Whitney Houston song for them. Three labels said no, thinking pop bands were more popular. But Jive Records saw her talent. They signed her, and she started working on her first album.
Her first album, ...Baby One More Time, came out on January 12, 1999. It went straight to number one in the U.S. and 15 other countries. It sold over 10 million copies in a year. This made it the biggest-selling album ever by a teenage artist.
The song "...Baby One More Time" was a huge hit. Britney suggested the famous Catholic schoolgirl idea for the music video. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It sold over 10 million copies. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award. The album has sold 25 million copies worldwide.
In 1999, Britney started her first concert tour. Her second album, Oops!... I Did It Again, was released in May 2000. It sold 1.3 million copies in its first week in the U.S. This set a new record for a solo artist. The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
The title song "Oops!... I Did It Again" was a hit in many countries. The album and song also received Grammy nominations. Britney went on the Oops!... I Did It Again Tour. She also released her first book, Britney Spears' Heart to Heart.
New Sounds and Movies
In 2001, Britney hosted the American Music Awards. She also performed at Rock in Rio and the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show. She signed a big deal with Pepsi. Her third album, Britney, came out in November 2001. It had a funkier sound, inspired by hip hop.
Britney debuted at number one in the U.S. and sold 10 million copies worldwide. The song "I'm a Slave 4 U" was a top-ten hit. Her performance of this song at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards was very memorable. She performed with a tiger and an albino python.
Britney went on the Dream Within a Dream Tour to support the album. The show was praised for its cool effects, like a water screen. In 2002, Forbes magazine named her the world's most powerful celebrity. Britney also starred in her first movie, Crossroads. Even though critics had mixed reviews, the movie was a success.
In 2002, Britney took a break from her career. Her relationship with Justin Timberlake ended. She later wrote the song "Everytime" about it.
Creative Control and Family Life
In August 2003, Britney performed at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards with Christina Aguilera and Madonna. They shared a famous kiss that got a lot of attention.
Britney's fourth album, In the Zone, was released in November 2003. She was more involved in writing and producing the songs. In the Zone debuted at number one in the U.S. This made Britney the first female artist to have her first four albums debut at number one.
The album had hit singles like "Me Against the Music" (with Madonna) and "Toxic". "Toxic" won Britney her first Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. Other hits included "Everytime" and "Outrageous".
In January 2004, Britney married her childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander in Las Vegas. The marriage was ended just 55 hours later. In March 2004, she started the Onyx Hotel Tour. The tour was cut short when she injured her knee.
In July 2004, Britney got engaged to dancer Kevin Federline. Their relationship was shown in her reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic. They got married on September 18, 2004.
She released her first perfume, Curious, which was very successful. In October 2004, Britney took a break to start a family. Her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, came out in November 2004. Her son, Sean Preston, was born in September 2005.
Challenges and Comebacks
In February 2006, a picture of Britney driving with her son on her lap caused concern. She said it was a mistake due to paparazzi. In September 2006, her second son, Jayden James, was born. In November 2006, she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline. They agreed to share custody of their sons.
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Britney went through a challenging period in 2007. She released her fifth album, Blackout, in October 2007. It was praised by critics. The album's lead single, "Gimme More", was a worldwide hit. The second single, "Piece of Me", also did very well.
In January 2008, Britney needed support and was briefly hospitalized. A conservatorship was put in place. This meant her father, Jamie Spears, and an attorney managed her life and money.
Britney guest-starred on the TV show How I Met Your Mother. She received good reviews. In September 2008, she won three awards at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards for "Piece of Me". A documentary about her return to music, Britney: For the Record, was released.
Her sixth album, Circus, came out in December 2008. It debuted at number one in the U.S. Britney became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one. The album sold 4 million copies worldwide. She went on The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour, which earned a lot of money.
In 2010, Britney designed a clothing line for Candie's. She also made a guest appearance on the TV show Glee.
New Music and TV Appearances
In March 2011, Britney released her seventh album, Femme Fatale. It reached number one in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The album's first single, "Hold It Against Me", debuted at number one. This made her the second artist to have two songs in a row debut at number one.
Other singles like "Till the World Ends" and "I Wanna Go" were also top-ten hits. In April 2011, she appeared on a remix of Rihanna's song "S&M", which also hit number one. Britney went on the Femme Fatale Tour in 2011. She also received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
In December 2011, Britney got engaged to her boyfriend, Jason Trawick. In May 2012, she became a judge on The X Factor. She was the highest-paid judge on a singing show at the time. She mentored the Teens category, and her act, Carly Rose Sonenclar, was the runner-up.
Britney also sang on the hit song "Scream & Shout" with will.i.am. This song was a huge success worldwide. In 2012, Forbes named her the top-earning woman in music.
Las Vegas Shows and More Music
Britney started working on her eighth album, Britney Jean, in December 2012. In January 2013, she and Jason Trawick ended their engagement.
On September 17, 2013, Britney announced her two-year concert show in Las Vegas. It was called Britney: Piece of Me and started in December 2013. Her album Britney Jean was released in December 2013. It was her last album under her first record deal.
Britney Jean had less promotion and didn't sell as well as her previous albums. The single "Perfume" was released in November 2013. In 2014, Britney renewed her contract with RCA Records. She also announced her own intimate apparel line, "The Intimate Britney Spears".
In 2015, Britney released the song "Pretty Girls" with Iggy Azalea. They performed it live at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. She also sang on the song "Tom's Diner" with Giorgio Moroder.
Glory and Touring
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In 2016, Britney confirmed she was recording her ninth album. She appeared on the cover of V magazine's 100th issue. She also launched a mobile game called Britney Spears: American Dream.
Britney performed a medley of her hits at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. She also received the Billboard Millennium Award. Her ninth album, Glory, was released on August 26, 2016. The lead single was "Make Me" featuring G-Eazy.
She performed at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards for the first time in nine years. Britney also appeared on the cover of Marie Claire UK. She talked about how motherhood helped her with anxiety. In November 2016, she released a remix of "Slumber Party" with Tinashe. She started dating Sam Asghari, who was in the music video.
In 2017, Britney won four awards at the 43rd People's Choice Awards. She also announced that her Las Vegas show would go on a world tour called Britney: Live in Concert. In April 2017, she received the Icon Award at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards.
Her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, ended on December 31, 2017. The final show set a new box office record for a single show in Las Vegas.
In January 2018, Britney released a new perfume, Sunset Fantasy. She also announced the Piece of Me Tour for North America and Europe. Tickets sold out quickly. The tour was very successful. Britney was also part of a campaign for the fashion brand Kenzo.
In April 2018, she received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for helping the LGBTQ community. She also announced plans for her own fashion line. In July 2018, she released her first unisex perfume, Prerogative. She announced a new Las Vegas show, Britney: Domination, but it was later canceled.
Conservatorship and Freedom
In January 2019, Britney announced an indefinite break from her career. This was because her father, Jamie Spears, had a serious health issue. In March 2019, she entered a psychiatric facility for stress.
A fan podcast shared information that led to the #FreeBritney movement. Fans and celebrities believed Britney was being held against her will. They wanted her conservatorship to end. Britney later said "all was well" and left the facility.
In May 2019, a judge ordered a review of the conservatorship. In September, Britney's care manager, Jodi Montgomery, temporarily took over as her conservator. In August 2020, Britney's lawyer filed a request to change the conservatorship. She wanted Montgomery to be her permanent conservator.
A documentary called Framing Britney Spears came out in February 2021. Britney said she felt humiliated by it. In June 2021, Britney spoke to the court. She called the conservatorship "abusive". Her statement got a lot of media attention.
Her manager of 25 years resigned. Britney was allowed to choose her own lawyer, Mathew S. Rosengart. Rosengart worked to end the conservatorship. On August 12, Jamie Spears agreed to step down as conservator.
On September 12, Britney announced her engagement to Sam Asghari. On September 29, the judge suspended Jamie as conservator. On November 12, the judge officially ended the conservatorship.
New Beginnings and Memoir
In April 2022, Britney announced she was pregnant with Sam Asghari's child. Sadly, she lost the baby the next month. They got married on June 9, 2022, at her home.
On August 26, Britney released the song "Hold Me Closer" with Elton John. It was her first new music since the conservatorship ended. The song was a top-ten hit in the U.S. and the UK.
Britney's personal life and social media have continued to get a lot of attention. In January 2023, police checked on her after fans were concerned. She asked for privacy. In July 2023, she released another song with will.i.am called "Mind Your Business".
In August 2023, Britney and Sam Asghari separated. Their divorce was finalized in May 2024. In September 2023, another welfare check happened after she posted a video dancing with knives. Her security team confirmed the knives were not real.
In February 2022, Britney signed a big book deal for her memoir. The book, The Woman in Me, was released on October 24, 2023. It talks about her rise to fame, her conservatorship, and her new freedom. It sold millions of copies in its first week.
In January 2024, there were reports that she might make new music. However, Britney said she would not return to the music industry. She did say she had written many songs for other artists.
Britney's Music and Style
Musical Influences
Britney has said that Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Whitney Houston were her biggest influences. She would sing their songs all the time as a child. She also named Mariah Carey as a reason she started singing. Britney has often been compared to Madonna and Janet Jackson.
Her Sound
Britney is known as a pop artist. Her music often includes dance-pop elements. She helped bring back teen pop in the late 1990s. Her album Britney (2001) had a more mature sound. It included R&B, disco, and funk.
Britney has also used electropop and dance music in her songs. Her album Glory (2016) was more experimental.
Her Voice
Britney is a soprano singer. Before she became famous, her voice was deeper. A producer helped shape her voice to the unique sound we know today.
Stage Shows and Videos
Britney is famous for her energetic stage performances. She often includes complex dance routines. Rolling Stone readers voted her their second-favorite dancing musician. Britney has said that performing helps her confidence.
Her music videos are also very well-known. VH1 ranked her as the fourth Greatest Woman of the Video Era. Billboard ranked her as the eighth Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time. She helped create the famous Catholic schoolgirl look for her "...Baby One More Time" video.
Britney's Impact and Legacy
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Britney Spears is known as the "Princess of Pop". She was a major force in the return of teen pop music in the late 1990s. She led the way for other female teen pop stars like Christina Aguilera and Mandy Moore.
After many years, Billboard described her as one of pop's "reigning queens." She is listed among the 100 Greatest Women in Music by VH1. In 2020, Billboard ranked her among the 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of all time.
Many artists have said Britney influenced them. These include Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus. Lady Gaga once said Britney "taught us all how to be fearless."
Achievements and Records
Britney has won many awards. These include a Grammy Award, 15 Guinness World Records, and six MTV Video Music Awards. She also received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. She has seven Billboard Music Awards, including the Millennium Award.
The Guinness World Records lists her debut album, ...Baby One More Time, as the "Best-selling album by a teenage solo artist." It sold over 13 million copies in the U.S. Before she turned 20, Britney had sold over 37 million albums worldwide.
As of 2023, Britney has sold over 150 million records worldwide. This makes her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She has sold over 70 million records in the United States. She is the best-selling female album artist of the 2000s in the U.S.
Britney is one of the few artists to have a number-one song and album in the U.S. in three different decades. She was the second artist to have two songs debut at number one on the Hot 100.
Other Ventures
Products and Endorsements
Britney has had many commercial deals. In 2001, she signed a big deal with Pepsi. She appeared in several commercials for them. In 2002, she released her video game, Britney's Dance Beat.
In 2009, Britney became the new face of the clothing brand Candie's. She also designed a limited edition clothing line for them. In 2011, she worked with Sony and other companies for her "Hold It Against Me" music video.
She also teamed up with Hasbro in 2012 for a special version of Twister Dance. It included a remix of her song "Till the World Ends." In 2018, she was part of a campaign for the luxury fashion house Kenzo.
Britney is also famous for her perfumes. She released her first perfume, Curious, with Elizabeth Arden in 2004. It was very successful. By 2012, her perfume sales had reached over $1.5 billion. As of 2018, she had released 24 fragrances.
In 2016, she released a mobile game called Britney Spears: American Dream.
Helping Others
Britney founded The Britney Spears Foundation. This charity helped children in need. It supported the Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts. In 2002, her foundation gave $1 million to the Twin Towers Fund. This helped children affected by the September 11 attacks.
Britney has also supported other charities. These include Spirituality for Kids, Gilda's Club Worldwide, and United Way. In 2005, she donated $350,000 to Music Rising after Hurricane Katrina.
In 2015, Britney donated $120,000 to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. She also donated $1 from each ticket sale for her Las Vegas show to the charity. Her fundraising helped create the NCCF Britney Spears Campus in Las Vegas.
Britney also supports Spirit Day to fight bullying of LGBTQ youth. In 2020, she participated in the #DoYourPartChallenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. She offered supportive words to fans. In 2024, she partnered with a dessert shop to raise money for The Trevor Project.
Discography
- ...Baby One More Time (1999)
- Oops!... I Did It Again (2000)
- Britney (2001)
- In the Zone (2003)
- Blackout (2007)
- Circus (2008)
- Femme Fatale (2011)
- Britney Jean (2013)
- Glory (2016)
Filmography
- Longshot (2001)
- Crossroads (2002)
- Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
- Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003)
- Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
- Corporate Animals (2019)
Concerts and Residencies
Tours
- ...Baby One More Time Tour (1999)
- (You Drive Me) Crazy Tour (2000)
- Oops!... I Did It Again Tour (2000–2001)
- Dream Within a Dream Tour (2001–2002)
- The Onyx Hotel Tour (2004)
- The M+M's Tour (2007)
- The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009)
- Femme Fatale Tour (2011)
- Britney: Live in Concert (2017)
- Piece of Me Tour (2018)
Residencies
- Britney: Piece of Me (2013–2017)
Written Works
- Heart to Heart (with Lynne Spears) (2000)
- A Mother's Gift (with Lynne Spears) (2001)
- Crossroads Diary (with Felicia Culotta) (2002)
- Stages (2002)
- The Woman in Me (2023)
Images for kids
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Spears in 2013
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Spears performing during her L'Oreal Hair Zone Mall Tour in 1998
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Spears doing a soundcheck for the Dream Within a Dream Tour, July 2002
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Spears performing at the NFL Kickoff Live in September 2003
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Spears leaving court surrounded in October 2007
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Spears performing on The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour, March 2009
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Spears performing during the Apple Music Festival at the Roundhouse in London in September 2016
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The #FreeBritney movement in front of the Lincoln Memorial, 2021
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Wax figure of Spears on display at Madame Tussauds in London
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Bottle of one of Spears' several perfumes, Curious, released through Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
See Also
- Artists with the most number-one European singles
- Forbes Celebrity 100
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of best-selling singles
- List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
- List of dancers
- List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
- List of most expensive music videos
- List of most-followed Twitter accounts
- Time 100
