Britney Spears facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Britney Spears
Spears in 2013
Born	Britney Jean Spears (1981-12-02) December 2, 1981 (age 43) McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Other names	Princess of Pop
Education	Professional Performing Arts School Parklane Academy
Occupation	Singer songwriter dancer actress
Years active	1992–present
Works	Discography songs unreleased videography
Spouse(s)	Jason Allen Alexander ​ ​ (m. 2004; annulled 2004)​ Kevin Federline ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2007)​ Sam Asghari ​ ​ (m. 2022; div. 2024)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Jamie Spears Lynne Bridges
Relatives	Bryan Spears (brother) Jamie Lynn Spears (sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop dance-pop electropop teen pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Jive RCA
Signature

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer, dancer, and actress. She is often called the "Princess of Pop" because she helped make teen pop music popular again in the late 1990s. Many people see her as a major cultural figure of the 21st century. Spears has sold over 150 million records around the world, making her one of the best-selling music artists ever.

Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears was inspired by singers like Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Whitney Houston. She started her career in 1992, appearing in musicals and on the TV show The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. In 1997, she signed with Jive Records. Her first two albums, ...Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), were huge hits and are among the best-selling albums of all time.

As she grew older, her music style changed. She starred in the 2002 movie Crossroads. Her fifth album, Blackout (2007), received great reviews from critics. For many years, Spears was under a legal arrangement called a conservatorship, which controlled her life and career. This led to a fan movement called #FreeBritney. The conservatorship ended in 2021 after she spoke in court about her experiences. In 2023, she released a best-selling book about her life called The Woman in Me.

Spears has had many hit songs, including four that reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. She has won many awards, including a Grammy Award, fifteen Guinness World Records, and six MTV Video Music Awards.

Life and Career

1981–1997: A Star in the Making

Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi. She grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana, with her parents, Jamie and Lynne, and her siblings, Bryan and Jamie Lynn. From a young age, Britney loved to perform. She started taking dance lessons at age three and sang a solo at her kindergarten graduation. She also competed in gymnastics and talent shows.

When Spears was eight, she auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. A casting director thought she was too young but introduced her to a talent agent in New York City. Soon, she was hired for a role in the musical Ruthless! and appeared on the TV show Star Search. In 1992, she was finally cast in The All-New Mickey Mouse Club alongside other future stars like Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling.

After the show ended in 1994, she went back to high school in Mississippi. But she wanted more than a normal life. In 1997, her mother helped her get in touch with an entertainment lawyer, Larry Rudolph. He helped her make a demo tape. After meeting with record labels, Jive Records signed her. They sent her to Sweden to work with producers like Max Martin, who helped shape her unique pop sound.

1998–2000: Pop Music Sensation

Spears performing during her mall tour in 1998.

To promote her first album, Spears went on a tour of shopping malls. Her debut album, ...Baby One More Time, came out in 1999 and was an instant success. It went to number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and sold over 10 million copies in its first year. It became the best-selling album ever by a teenage artist.

The lead single, "...Baby One More Time", also hit number one. The music video, where Spears dressed as a schoolgirl, became iconic. The song sold over 10 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. In 1999, she started her first headlining tour.

Her second album, Oops!... I Did It Again, was released in May 2000. It also debuted at number one in the U.S. and sold over 1.3 million copies in its first week. The title track was a worldwide hit. That same year, she went on another successful tour and confirmed she was dating Justin Timberlake from the group NSYNC.

2001–2002: A More Mature Style

Spears performing on the Dream Within a Dream Tour in 2002.

In 2001, Spears signed a multi-million dollar deal with Pepsi. Her third album, Britney, was released in November 2001. It had a more grown-up sound, inspired by hip hop. The album debuted at number one, and its lead single, "I'm a Slave 4 U", was a top-ten hit.

Her performance of the song at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, which featured a live python, is one of her most famous. To support the album, she launched the Dream Within a Dream Tour. The tour was praised for its amazing special effects, including a water screen that used two tons of water on stage.

In 2002, Spears starred in her first movie, Crossroads. While some critics didn't like the film, they praised her acting. The movie was a box office success. Later that year, her relationship with Justin Timberlake ended.

2003–2007: New Music and Personal Changes

Spears performing at the NFL Kickoff Live in September 2003.

In 2003, Spears performed at the MTV Video Music Awards with Madonna and Christina Aguilera. The performance, where she and Aguilera kissed Madonna, was talked about everywhere.

Her fourth album, In the Zone, came out in November 2003. She had more creative control on this record, writing and co-producing most of the songs. It became her fourth number-one album in the U.S. The album included the hit single "Toxic", which won Spears her first Grammy Award.

In 2004, Spears married dancer Kevin Federline. Their relationship was shown on the reality TV show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic. They had two sons, Sean Preston (born in 2005) and Jayden James (born in 2006). Spears took a break from her career to start a family. In 2006, she filed for divorce from Federline.

In October 2007, Spears released her fifth album, Blackout. Critics loved the album's electronic and dance-pop sound. It included the hit singles "Gimme More" and "Piece of Me". Blackout is still considered one of her best and most influential albums.

2008–2010: The Conservatorship and Circus

In 2008, Spears faced personal challenges that were highly publicized. A court placed her under a conservatorship, a legal arrangement where her father, Jamie Spears, and a lawyer were given control over her personal life and finances. This was done to help her during a difficult time.

Despite these challenges, Spears made a strong comeback. She guest-starred on the TV show How I Met Your Mother, which earned the show its highest ratings. At the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, she won three awards, including Video of the Year for "Piece of Me".

Her sixth album, Circus, was released in December 2008. It debuted at number one in the U.S., making her the youngest female artist to have five number-one albums. ..... In 2009, she embarked on The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour, which was one of the highest-grossing tours of the year.

2011–2015: Femme Fatale and Las Vegas Residency

Spears performing on her Femme Fatale Tour, July 2011.

Spears released her seventh album, Femme Fatale, in March 2011. It was another number-one album for her. It featured three top-ten singles: "Hold It Against Me", "Till the World Ends", and "I Wanna Go". She promoted the album with the successful Femme Fatale Tour.

In 2012, Spears became a judge on the American version of the TV show The X Factor. She joined Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, and Demi Lovato on the judging panel. With a reported salary of $15 million, she was the highest-paid judge on a singing competition show at the time.

In 2013, Spears began a concert residency in Las Vegas called Britney: Piece of Me. The show was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino and was a huge success. It ran for four years, ending in 2017. During this time, she also released her eighth album, Britney Jean (2013).

2016–2021: Glory and the #FreeBritney Movement

Spears performing in London in September 2016.

Her ninth studio album, Glory, was released in 2016. Critics praised it for its fresh and experimental sound. The album included the singles "Make Me" and "Slumber Party". In 2018, she went on the successful Piece of Me Tour, taking her Las Vegas show to North America and Europe.

In January 2019, Spears announced she was taking a break from work. Around this time, fans became more concerned about her conservatorship. They started a movement called #FreeBritney, believing she was being held in the arrangement against her will. The movement gained support from many celebrities.

The #FreeBritney movement in front of the Lincoln Memorial, 2021.

In June 2021, Spears spoke to the court for the first time publicly about the conservatorship. She said the arrangement was controlling and that she wanted her freedom back. Her powerful statement received worldwide attention and support. After her testimony, major changes happened quickly. She was allowed to hire her own lawyer, and her father was removed as her conservator. On November 12, 2021, the conservatorship was officially ended after 13 years.

2022–Present: Freedom and New Projects

After her conservatorship ended, Spears began a new chapter in her life. In June 2022, she married her longtime boyfriend, Sam Asghari. The couple divorced in 2024.

In August 2022, she released her first new music in six years, a duet with Elton John called "Hold Me Closer". The song was a global hit, reaching the top ten in the U.S. and the U.K.

In October 2023, Spears published her memoir, The Woman in Me. The book was a massive success, selling over a million copies in its first week in the U.S. It told her story in her own words, covering her rise to fame, her career, and her experiences under the conservatorship. In January 2024, Spears stated that she would not return to the music industry, but she enjoys writing songs for other artists.

Artistry and Legacy

Musical Style and Influences

Spears has named Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Whitney Houston as her biggest influences. She is known for her pop and dance-pop music. Her early albums helped define the sound of teen pop in the late 1990s. As her career went on, she experimented with other genres like electropop, R&B, and hip hop.

Her voice is very distinctive. Producers who worked with her early on helped her develop her unique, recognizable sound. Her music often explores themes of love, growing up, freedom, and dancing.

Stage Performances

Spears is famous for her energetic stage performances and elaborate dance routines. Her music videos are also iconic and have won many awards. Videos like "...Baby One More Time" and "Toxic" are remembered for their creative stories, dancing, and fashion. VH1 named her one of the "Greatest Women of the Video Era."

Impact on Pop Culture

Often called the "Princess of Pop", Spears is seen as one of the most important figures in modern pop music. She led a new wave of pop stars at the turn of the 21st century. Her success paved the way for many artists who came after her.

Her career has influenced artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and many others. Lady Gaga once said that Spears "taught us all how to be fearless." Her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, changed the idea of what a Vegas show could be, inspiring other major artists to have their own residencies there.

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)

Images for kids

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  Spears performing "Oops!... I Did It Again" on the Dream Within a Dream Tour (2002)

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  Spears performing at the NFL Kickoff Live in September 2003

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  Spears performing in 2014 during Britney: Piece of Me, a four-year concert residency in Las Vegas

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  Bottle of one of Spears' several perfumes, Curious, released through Elizabeth Arden, Inc.

See also

In Spanish: Britney Spears para niños