X-Trail: Baby, one more time

With over 85 million albums sold and five consecutive Billboard number one albums, Britney Spears has risen from teen star to Pop Diva in ten years. Here’s how she did it.

>> 1981: Born December 2 in McComb, Mississippi to a building contractor cum chef dad and elementary school teacher mom.

>> 1989: Auditions for Disney’s The New Mickey Mouse Club but is dropped because she is considered too young for a role in the series at the time.

>> 1992: Gets first national television appearance on Star Search and wins the first round of the competition.

>> 1993: Returns to Disney’s The New Mickey Mouse Club to audition and is featured in the series for the next two years.

>> 1997: Joins all girl Pop group, Innosense, but later signs a solo recording contract with Jive Records. Opened for *Nsync and the Backstreet Boys on an American teen magazines sponsored US tour

>> 1998: Releases first single “...Baby One More Time”, which eventually peaks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Is rumoured to be dating *Nsync lead vocalist Justin Timberlake.

>> 1999:...Baby one More Time, the album, debuts at number one and sells over 25 million copies worldwide. She wins four Billboard Music Awards including Female Artist of the Year.

>> 2000: Drops sophomore album Oops!... I did it Again also debuts at number one on the Billboard chart, pushing about 1.3 million copies its first week. Launches her first world tour and performs at the MTV Video Awards in New York. The album receives two Billboard Music Awards.

>> 2001: Releases third album Britney, and co-writes five tracks on the album thus earning her some creative control.

>> 2002: Ends four-year relationship with Timberlake, whose music video, “Cry Me A River” suggests Spears had been unfaithful. Her parents also got divorced. Opens Nyla; an Italian cuisine restaurant in New York which quickly goes bankrupt due to management issues. Forbes Magazine however names Spears the most powerful celebrity of the year with over $39 million (approx. N5.8b) in earnings.

>> 2003: Nyla officially closes and Fred Durst of the group Limp Bizkit confirms that he is in a relationship with Spears. Fourth album, In the Zone also debuts at number one on Billboard making a Nielsen Soundscan record as the only female with four consecutive number one albums. Also stars in the movie Crossroads. Shares infamous stage kiss with Madonna at the MTV Awards.

>> 2004: Marries childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander in Las Vegas only to be annulled after 55 hours citing that she “lacked understanding of her actions to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to marriage because before entering into the marriage the Plaintiff and Defendant did not know each others’ likes and dislikes, each others’ desires to have or not have children, and each other’s desires as to State of residency”. Is injured on filming set for the music video “Outrageous”. Adopts the Kabbalah religion, a decision believed to be influenced by her rapport with Madonna. Marries rapper, model and actor, Kevin Federline.

>> 2005: Wins a Grammy for Best Dance Recording for the track “Toxic”. Gives birth to first child, Sean Preston Federline by Caesarean Section.

>> 2006: Stars as a closeted Lesbian on comedy series Will & Grace. Poses nude for the cover fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar. Gives birth to second child, Jayden James Federline two days before Sean’s first birthday. Files for divorce citing irreconcilable differences with Federline and requests custody of both children.

>> 2007: Is admitted for 24 hours at a drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua and shaves her hair. Returns to receiving drug rehabilitation treatment at another facility in California. Loses custody of the children to Federline after being charged with misdemeanour hit and run charges. Releases fifth album, Blackout. Begins relationship with paparazzi photographer Adnan Ghalib.

>> 2008: Releases sixth album, Circus which debuts at number one on the Billboard 200 Album chart. Wins Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for “Piece of Me” at the MTV Music Video Awards. Also wins Album of the Year and Act of 2008 at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

>> 2009: Obtains restraining order against former manager and friend Sam Lutfi, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and attorney Jon Eardley, all, she claims, want to gain control of her affairs.

Launches The Circus starring: Britney Spears Tour to promote her sixth album. The tour spans North America, Australia and Europe. Declares support for same sex marriages. Jive releases The Singles Collection, Spears greatest hits album to mark her tenth anniversary in the music industry.

>> Today: She turns 28

SOURCES: WIKIPEDIA, BRITNEYSPEARS.COM