Dubbed by MTV as "one of the last teenage pop superstars of the 20th century," Spears enjoyed her breakthrough success at the end of 1998. She appeared in local dance revues and church choirs as a young girl, and at the age of eight auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. Although she was too young to join the series, a producer on the show gave her an introduction to a New York agent.
She subsequently spent three summers at the Professional Arts School Center. She also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions as a child actor, including 1991's "Ruthless." She returned to the Disney Channel for a spot on The Mickey Mouse Club, where she was featured for two years between the ages of 11 and 13. Her demo tape eventually landed in the hands of a Jive Records executive who quickly singed her to the label.
She toured American venues for a series of concerts sponsored by U.S teen magazines, eventually joining "N Sync on tour. It all added up to 1999's wildly infectious "...Baby One More Time" album to make its bow on the charts at No. 1. The set not only spanned a smash hit with the title tune, but also scored with the charming ballad "Sometimes" and the funky "(You Drive Me) Crazy."
Before the album finished its impressive worldwide attack of the charts, it garnered Britney 4 MTV Europe Awards, including best pop performer, and 4 Billboard Music Awards, Most notably female artist of the year.
The massive demand for Britney material was satisfied when her 2000 sophomore collection, "Oops!... I Did It Again" was released to a Spears-starved world in May. Once again, the title cut flooded radio airwaves, as did the anthemic "Stronger" and lovely "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know." She also racked up more Awards that year by taking home an American Music Award as favourite new artist, a Billboard Music Award as artist of the year, and 2 Teen Choice Awards. Britney would later earn Teen Choice Award honours in 2001 and 2003. Ever-prolific, the artist returned in 2001 with "Britney," a spirited, assertive collection on which she began to reveal her mettle as a tunesmith, not to mention as a vocalist of increasingly soulful depth.
She earned high praise for the forceful "Overprotected" and the gentle "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman." The album's was quickly followed by Britney's motion picture debut, "Crossroads," which proved that she has the talent and box-office pull to be a multifaceted superstar. Britney's Musical intensity and her evolution from a teen renegade into a provocative young woman are undeniable throughout "In The Zone," her fourth Jive Records collection. First and foremost, the project shows her flexing notably strong and mature songwriting muscles. She co-wrote 8 of the project's 13 sterling new compositions, collaborating with such heavy hitters as Red Z, Cathy Dennis ("Toxic," "Showdown"), R. Kelly ("Outrageous") and Ying-yang Twins on "(I Got That) Boom Boom." The album runs the stylistic gamut from streetwise hip-hop and electro-trance to the new-wave-etched rock and well-crafted pop. From top to bottom, Britney effectively expands the parameters of mainstream musical consciousness with songs that lure listeners with infectious hooks, and then captivates them with layers of clever lyrics and deft instrumentation.
Perhaps the most significant was the appearance of pop icon Madonna, who lent her voice to the single "Me Against The Music." Collaborating with one of her all-time greatest musical influences was a dream come true for Britney. From this collaboration, Britney picked up a 2004 Billboard Music Award of Hot Dance Single of the Tear. She also went on to win a 2004 Teen Choice Award of Choice Music Single for "Toxic", 2004 Female Artist of the year at the MTV Europe Awards and a 2005 Grammy for best dance Recording of "Toxic".
Britney's "Greatest Hits: My Prerogative" perfectly sums up the beginning chapter of Britney's Career. As far as the next chapter goes, "I can't imagine ever reaching the point where I've hit the all", Britney concludes. "There will always be something new and challenging to tackle. I can't wait to see what happens next."
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