171-563: In the Zone is the fourth studio album by American singer Britney Spears . It was released on November 15, 2003, by Jive Records . Spears began writing songs during her Dream Within a Dream Tour , not knowing the direction of the record. She stated she was an autobiographical songwriter, although not to the point where she felt self-exploited. During the process, she ended her highly-publicized relationship with singer Justin Timberlake . With
342-631: A Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance . 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. It would later become the 25th-most successful song of all time in British chart history . Spears is the youngest female artist to have a million seller in the UK. The album's third single " (You Drive Me) Crazy " became
513-594: A conservatorship led by her father, Jamie Spears , and attorney Andrew Wallet, giving them complete control of her assets. She was released five days later. The following month, Spears guest-starred on the How 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. In July 2008, Spears regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel. In September 2008, Spears opened
684-561: A drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than a day. The following night, she shaved her head with electric clippers at a hair salon in Tarzana, Los Angeles . She admitted herself to other treatment facilities during the following weeks. In May 2007, she produced a series of promotional concerts at House of Blues venues, titled The M+M's Tour . In October 2007, Spears lost physical custody of her sons to Federline. The reasons of
855-554: A reggae feel and features Spears singing in a Jamaican Patois accent. The power ballad "Shadow" talks about how reminders of a lover can still linger after he's gone. The lyrics of "Brave New Girl" talk about a young woman finding her passion and losing inhibitions. Backed by choppy, electro-funk beats, she sings in a bouncy near-rap: "She's gonna pack her bags, she's going to find her way, she's going to get right out of this / She don't want New York, she don't want L.A., she's going to find that special kiss." The Eurodance and pop song
1026-498: A Slave 4 U ", " Toxic ", " Gimme More ", and " Piece of Me ". "...Baby One More Time" was named the greatest debut single of all time by Rolling Stone in 2020. In 2004, Spears launched a perfume brand with Elizabeth Arden, Inc. ; sales exceeded $ 1.5 billion as of 2012 . Forbes listed Spears as the world's highest-paid female musician in 2001 and 2012. By 2012, she had topped Yahoo! 's list of most searched celebrities seven times in twelve years. Time named Spears one of
1197-523: A Virgin ". Halfway through they were joined by Madonna , 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, while Blender cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television history. Spears released her fourth studio album, In the Zone , in November 2003. She assumed more creative control by writing and co-producing most of
1368-642: A career break to start a family. Greatest Hits: My Prerogative , her first greatest hits compilation album , was released in November 2004. Spears' cover version of Bobby 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. The second single, " Do Somethin' ", was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries of mainland Europe. In August 2005, Spears released " Someday (I Will Understand) ", which
1539-399: A child is born in the next room, implying she reincarnated. The original treatment would have had Spears killing herself from a drug overdose, but the plot was removed after it received criticism by several organizations, who perceived it as a glamorization of suicide. " Outrageous " was released as the fourth and final single from In the Zone on July 13, 2004. The song was finally chosen as
1710-438: A child, "I was in my own world, ... I found out what I'm supposed to do at an early age". When Spears was eight, she and her mother Lynne traveled to Atlanta , Georgia, to audition for the 1990s revival of The 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
1881-591: A club in New York City. The song has a percolating beat and featured subdued vocals from Spears, who purrs and yawns through the track. The nightclub Show is referenced. " Toxic ", which Spears later named her favorite song from her career, was originally offered to Australian singer Kylie Minogue . It contains elements of hip hop, electropop , and bhangra music , and features varied instrumentation, such as drums, synthesizers, high-pitched strings and surf guitars . Lyrically, "Toxic" talks about being addicted to
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#17328021162932052-600: A commercial album that has hit singles. [...] It's the kind of record she should be doing right now, and it came down to her to make it." According to Billboard , In the Zone marked a musical departure for Spears. Instead of traditional pop , the album is darker and more dance -oriented. Spears talked about the overall sound of the album with Rolling Stone , saying: "I'd describe it as trance -y, kind of vibe record—something you could listen to that's no so song-structured [...] Of course I'm not doing ' ...Baby One More Time ' and those massive hits anymore. I think this record
2223-485: A fan of Madonna for years, was "beyond surprised" when she heard Madonna's verse. She said "I just asked her to do a little thing, but she really went there. She did a lot of stuff to it." RedZone were then enlisted to work on several more songs for the album, including co-writing "Early Mornin'", recording background vocals for "Outrageous" and producing "The Hook Up". The Matrix commented that after they presented songs to Spears, she tailored them to suit herself, especially
2394-994: A fictionalized version of herself on the CW series Jane the Virgin . On the show, she danced to "Toxic" with Gina Rodriguez 's character. Rodney Jerkins Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild , is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists. Jerkins has won two Grammy Awards from 19 nominations. Among his most successful productions are " The Boy Is Mine " by Brandy and Monica , " It's Not Right but It's Okay " by Whitney Houston , " Say My Name " by Destiny's Child , " If You Had My Love " by Jennifer Lopez , " Déjà Vu " by Beyoncé , " He Wasn’t Man Enough " by Toni Braxton , " Telephone " by Lady Gaga , and " As Long as You Love Me " by Justin Bieber . Jerkins' father, Frederick,
2565-702: A four-month period Spears was featured in seven mini TV-specials and over 150 interviews outside the US. Among the international performances were Spears opening the NRJ Music Awards in France with "Toxic" on January 24, 2004, and a performance of "Everytime" on the June 25 episode of Top of the Pops in the United Kingdom, which became the final televised performance in support of the album. A tour to further promote In
2736-521: 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." She flew to Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where half of the album was recorded from March to April 1998, with producers Max Martin , Denniz Pop , and Rami Yacoub , among others. After Spears returned to
2907-609: A good pop record. I miss Max Martin , for sure, but it feels like Ms. S. has been paying attention to La Ciccone . To put it another way, this is Britney's True Blue ." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said that the album "[is] all club-ready, but despite some hints of neo-electro and the Neptunes, it doesn't quite sound modern—it sounds like cuts from 1993 or Madonna's Bedtime Stories and Ray of Light . Production-wise, these tracks are not only accomplished but much more varied than any of her previous albums." Ruth Mitchell of
3078-483: A gross of U.S. $ 131.8 million, it became the fifth highest-grossing tour of the year. 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. 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. Spears designed
3249-512: A jungle-inspired stage. The Onyx Zone displayed a ballad performance with acrobats. Security Cameras was the raciest part of the show, with Spears and her dancers emulating different sexual practices . Club displayed a performance with urban influences. The encore consisted of a system malfunction interlude and Spears performed wearing a red ensemble. The tour received mixed reviews from contemporary critics, who praised it for being an entertaining show while criticizing it for looking "more [like]
3420-464: A large albino python draped over her shoulders. It was harshly received by animal rights organization PETA , who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears. 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
3591-550: A limited edition clothing line for Candie's , which was released in stores in July 2010. In September 2010, she made a cameo appearance on a Spears-themed tribute episode of the television series Glee , titled " Britney/Brittany "; the episode drew the highest Nielsen rating – up to that point in the series's run – in the 18–49 demographic . In March 2011, Spears released her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale . The album peaked at number one in
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#17328021162933762-413: A lover. " Outrageous " is a hip hop-inspired track which, according to MTV , features Spears "whisper[ing] and moan[ing] [...] with a snake charmer melody giving the song an exotic feel." The lyrics address materialism and amusement, with the singer referencing in the chorus a number of things that give her pleasure. On "Touch of My Hand", which Spears felt it was comparable to Janet Jackson 's " That's
3933-599: A medley of " ...Baby One More Time " and " I'm a Slave 4 U ", which included pyrotechnics. On September 14, Spears played a surprise concert at Rain Nightclub in the Palms Casino Resort , and performed "Me Against the Music", "Breathe on Me" and a medley of "...Baby One More Time" and "I'm a Slave 4 U". On October 18, she performed "Me Against the Music" and " Everytime " on Saturday Night Live . Spears opened
4104-459: A pretty convincing mistress." David Browne of Entertainment Weekly called "Brave New Girl" and "Touch of My Hand" the best and most straightforward moments of In the Zone , but added that "On a CD intended to celebrate her lurch into adulthood, Spears remains distant and submerged. For all her freedom, she's still finding her way." Jon Pareles of Rolling Stone said: "[Spears'] voice is so processed, its physicality almost disappears. [...] In
4275-438: A short film that included footage of the making of Spears's music videos. Two national television advertising campaigns had begun on November 1–one with a teaser ad on Saturday Night Live and another exclusively on MTV . No sponsored cross-marketing campaigns were planned, as Larry Rudolph explained: "[This time] it's going to be more about the music than about corporate tie-ins." In terms of international exposure, during
4446-505: A single after it was selected as the theme song for the film Catwoman (2004). It received mixed reviews from critics, as some praised its funky sound, noting its influence from Michael and Janet Jackson , while others deemed it "forgettable". Plagued by low promotion, the song became the album's lowest-charting single, peaking at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Directed by Dave Meyers , its accompanying music video
4617-440: A single woman." "I just think once you start being so self-serving with your music... I did a little bit of that with the last record, and I really didn't want to put myself out there that much. I understand [when musicians write about personal things]. But when everything is about you, I just think.... Like, on this record, some of the songs, like 'Brave New Girl', I can relate to that song, but It's how personal you go. This record
4788-547: A single, " Pretty Girls ", with Iggy Azalea . It reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted moderately in international territories. Spears and Azalea performed the track live at the 2015 Billboard 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." On June 16, 2015, Giorgio Moroder released
4959-581: A six-month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in November to record her new album. Spears' relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years. In November 2002, Timberlake released the song " Cry Me a River " as the second single from his solo debut album . The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been engaging in an affair, fueled by further rumors of possible relationships involving Timberlake's choreographer Wade Robson and Limp Bizkit 's frontman Fred Durst . Spears had initially denied
5130-591: A song from the album When the Sun Goes Down (2011) by Selena Gomez & the Scene . In June 2011, Spears embarked on her Femme Fatale Tour . The first ten dates of the tour grossed $ 6.2 million, landing the fifty-fifth spot on Pollstar ' s Top 100 North American Tours list for the half-way point of the year. The tour ended on December 10, 2011, in Puerto Rico, after 79 performances. A DVD of
5301-647: A songwriter." In the United States, In the Zone debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart dated December 6, 2003, with first-week sales of 609,000 copies. It initially registered the highest first-week sales of 2003 for a female artist, before Alicia Keys surpassed Spears with The Diary of Alicia Keys two weeks later. Spears also became the second female artist in Billboard' s history to have four consecutive number-one albums, behind Janet Jackson who had
In the Zone - Misplaced Pages Continue
5472-496: A special guest in the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show headlined by Aerosmith and NSYNC. In February 2001, she signed a $ 7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi , and released another book co-written with her mother, A Mother's Gift . Her third studio album, Britney , was released in November 2001, with a funkier sound inspired by hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and the Neptunes . Britney debuted at number one in
5643-406: A spectacle than an actual concert". The Onyx Hotel Tour was commercially successful, grossing $ 34 million. In March, Spears suffered a knee injury onstage which forced her to reschedule two shows. On June 8, Spears fell and hurt her knee again while filming the accompanying music video for " Outrageous ". She underwent surgery and the remainder of the tour was cancelled. " Me Against the Music "
5814-536: 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, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It is the best-selling debut album by any artist. On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining ...Baby One More Time Tour in North America, which was positively received by critics. It also generated some controversy due to her racy outfits. An extension of
5985-495: A total of 100 shows throughout 2014 and 2015. During the same appearance, Spears announced that Britney Jean would be released on December 3, 2013, in the United States. It was released through RCA Records due to the disbandment of Jive Records in 2011, which had formed the joint RCA/Jive Label Group (initially known as BMG Label Group ) between 2007 and 2011. Britney Jean became Spears' final project under her original recording contract with Jive, which had guaranteed
6156-478: A vial of green liquid. After she steals it, she enters an apartment and poisons her unfaithful boyfriend. The video also includes interspersed scenes of Spears naked with diamonds over her body. "Toxic" won Spears her first Grammy Award , for Best Dance Recording ( 2005 ), and is often referred to as one of her signature songs. " Everytime " was released as the third single from In the Zone on May 10, 2004, to critical acclaim. A commercial success, it peaked within
6327-791: 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 the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls , and "there wasn't going to be another Madonna , another Debbie Gibson , or another Tiffany ." Two weeks later, executives from Jive Records returned calls to Rudolph. Senior vice president of A&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,
6498-763: A woman." Jason King of Vibe said the album showcased a transformed Spears, "no longer a girl, and all the woman any man can handle." Following the abrupt conclusion of the Onyx Hotel Tour due to her knee injury, Spears embarked on a prolonged hiatus from performing, and would not release another studio album until Blackout in October 2007. She began a relationship with Kevin Federline , whom she met while on tour in April 2004 and married on September 18. Her first greatest hits album Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
6669-556: Is a big, fat, thumping love letter to the dancefloor, which makes Madonna's involvement [...] even more appropriate." Dorian Lynskey of The Guardian commented: "Unlike previous Britney albums, In the Zone has no filler and no shoddy cover versions, just 57 varieties of blue-chip hit-factory pop. There is southern hip-hop, deep house , Neptunes-style R&B, the ubiquitous Diwali beat and, most importantly, oodles of Madonna." Jason King of Vibe deemed it as "A supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears's development as
6840-490: Is an Evangelical pastor and his mother was a housekeeper. Jerkins began playing piano at age five. He would follow his brother and father, who both played at church gatherings. Raised in Galloway Township, New Jersey , Jerkins is one of four children: two boys and two girls. His brother is fellow producer Fred Jerkins III. Jerkins attended Absegami High School , and identifies as a Christian . At age 13, he
7011-468: Is an American singer and dancer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop ", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists . She has earned numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award , 15 Guinness World Records , six MTV Video Music Awards , seven Billboard Music Awards (including
In the Zone - Misplaced Pages Continue
7182-483: Is definitely personal, but it's not shockingly personal – put it that way." — Spears talks writing about personal experiences In the Zone opens with " Me Against the Music ", constructed as a duet with Madonna after she was added to the track. Spears and Madonna trade lines during the verses, and Madonna sings solo in the bridge. The instrumentation in the song includes influences of hip hop and funk guitars. The song's lyrics feature Spears and Madonna singing of
7353-423: Is for a reason." While rehearsing for their performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Spears played a finished version of "Me Against the Music" to Madonna. After Madonna commented that she liked the track, Spears asked her to do the song with her. RedZone then handed "Me Against the Music" to Madonna, who arranged and recorded her vocal additions on her own, therefore making the song a duet. Spears, who had been
7524-612: Is starting to embrace that concept where she's looking to work on different stuff, instead of using the same familiar, and applying it to her. [...] I don't think [her fans] will be freaked out or upset. I think they'll be really into what's going to happen. Spears previewed several songs to Quddus Philippe of MTV in May 2003, including "Touch of My Hand", "Brave New Girl" and " Everytime ". Spears commented: "I've really been able to take my time and have creative control and make [the new album] special, special, special." On August 27, Spears opened
7695-425: Is where I am at right now in my life. It's sensual, it's sexual. I'm probably writing about that subconsciously because I don't have that right now." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine described the record's sound as "bold mix of hip-hop and dance music", while Amy Schriefer of NPR stated the album "mix[es] dance, house , crunk , Diwali beats and Neptunes -style hip hop ". Tom Bishop of BBC News stated that
7866-417: Is written on her body of work." Celebrating the album's 15th anniversary in 2018, Jason Lipshutz of Billboard claimed it "signaled a more mature direction for Spears as she explored electronic music and hip-hop like never before. And the record's lyrics — which referenced her breakup with Justin Timberlake and pushed back at her critics in the media — celebrated new levels of independence and candor for
8037-627: The 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. Spears placed first in the Time reader poll. Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi , the second child of James "Jamie" Parnell Spears and Lynne Irene Bridges . Her maternal grandmother, Lillian Portell, was English and born in London, and one of Spears' maternal great-grandfathers was Maltese. Her siblings are Bryan James Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears . Born in
8208-456: The 2000 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. Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating NSYNC member Justin Timberlake . Spears and Timberlake both graduated from high school via distance learning from
8379-594: The 2003 American Music Awards on November 16 with a performance of "Me Against the Music". The following day, a concert special titled Britney Spears: In the Zone aired on American Broadcasting Company (ABC). On November 18–the day In the Zone was released in the United States–;she performed "Me Against the Music" and "(I Got That) Boom Boom" on Total Request Live at Times Square . The ABC special and Total Request Live performances would later be included on video album Britney Spears: In
8550-412: The 2003 MTV Video Music Awards by performing a medley of " Like a Virgin " and " Hollywood " with Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott . The performance started with Spears appearing on stage on top of a giant wedding cake while wearing a wedding gown and veil; she sang the first few lines of "Like a Virgin" before Aguilera appeared from behind the cake and joined her. Madonna then emerged from
8721-442: The 2004 Billboard Music Awards . In the song's accompanying music video , directed by Paul Hunter , Spears chases Madonna inside a nightclub. " Toxic " was released as the second single from In the Zone on January 12, 2004, to widespread critical acclaim. After trying to choose between Jive's suggestions "(I Got That) Boom Boom" and "Outrageous", Spears selected "Toxic" instead. It attained worldwide commercial success, reaching
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#17328021162938892-451: The BBC called "Early Mornin'" the best track from the album, but added: "Sadly, her attempts to prove her new-found maturity are what overwhelm and cloud all that is good about In The Zone ." Mim Udovitch of Blender commented: "This I'm-coming-out record is an unhesitant move from songs of the heart to songs of the groin [...] No longer a girl, freed from slavery, now fully a woman, she makes
9063-753: The Bible Belt , where socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a particularly strong religious influence, she was baptized as a Southern Baptist and sang in a church choir as a child. As an adult, she has studied Kabbalist teachings. On August 5, 2021, Spears announced that she had converted to Catholicism . Her mother, sister, and nieces Maddie Aldridge and Ivey Joan Watson, are also Catholic. However, on September 5, 2022, after Spears' ex-husband, Kevin Federline , and youngest son did an interview defending her father's actions during her conservatorship , she stated: "I don't believe in God anymore because of
9234-444: The Billboard 200 and reached top five positions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe, and has sold 10 million copies worldwide. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called Britney "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." It
9405-778: The Billboard Hot 100 since "...Baby One More Time". The single also topped the charts in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, and Sweden. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. In January 2009, Spears and her father obtained a restraining order against her former manager Sam Lutfi, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib, and attorney Jon Eardley, all of whom had been accused of conspiring to gain control of Spears' affairs. Spears embarked on The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour in March 2009. With
9576-560: The Billboard 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, after Mariah Carey . The second single " Till the World Ends " peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in May, 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
9747-826: The Canadian Albums Chart , with first-week sales of 31,000 units. It was certified triple platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipments of 300,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, In the Zone debuted at number 14 on the UK Albums Chart , peaking at number 13 in its 34th week and spending a total of 43 weeks on the chart. It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in March 2004. The album attained higher peaks across mainland Europe, reaching
9918-646: The Kabbalah Centre through her friendship with Madonna. In July 2004, Spears became engaged to dancer Kevin Federline , whom she had met three months earlier. The romance was the subject of intense media attention, since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson , who was still pregnant with their second child at the time. The stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears' first reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic , which premiered on May 17, 2005, on UPN . Spears later referred to
10089-680: The MTV Video Music Awards with a pre-taped comedy sketch with Jonah Hill and an introduction speech. She won Best Female Video , Best Pop Video , and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me". 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 in Beverly Hills , Hollywood, and New York City during
10260-654: The Millennium Award ), the inaugural Radio Disney Icon Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Her heavily choreographed music videos earned her the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award . After appearing in stage productions and television series, Spears signed with Jive Records in 1997 at age fifteen. Her first two studio albums, ...Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), are among
10431-514: The Nielsen SoundScan era, as well as the best-selling female album artist of the 2000s. She was ranked by Billboard as the eighth-biggest artist of the 2000s. Spears has had six number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and five number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: " ...Baby One More Time ", " Womanizer ", "3", "Hold It Against Me", and " S&M (Remix) ". Other hit singles include " Oops!... I Did It Again ", " I'm
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#173280211629310602-686: The Professional Performing Arts School . Spears was hired for her first professional role as the understudy for the lead role of Tina Denmark in the off-Broadway musical Ruthless! She also appeared as a contestant on the popular television show Star Search and was cast in a number of commercials. In December 1992, she was cast in The All-New Mickey Mouse Club . Other fellow cast members included Christina Aguilera , Justin Timberlake , Ryan Gosling , Keri Russell , and JC Chasez . After
10773-482: The UK 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. " Work Bitch " was released as the lead single from Britney Jean in September 2013. 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
10944-641: The University of Nebraska High School . She also bought a home in Destin, Florida . In her 2023 memoir , Spears revealed that she had an abortion during late 2000 while dating Timberlake after he said they were not prepared for parenthood. Spears called the abortion "one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life." In January 2001, Spears hosted the 28th Annual American Music Awards , starred at Rock in Rio alongside NSYNC, and performed as
11115-409: The best-selling albums of all time and made Spears the best-selling teenage artist of all time. With first-week sales of over 1.3 million copies , Oops!... I Did It Again held the record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the United States for fifteen years. Spears adopted a more mature and provocative style for her albums Britney (2001) and In the Zone (2003), and starred in
11286-401: The 2002 film Crossroads . She was executive producer of her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007), often referred to as her best work. Following a series of highly publicized personal problems, promotion for the album was limited, and Spears was involuntarily placed in a conservatorship . Subsequently, Spears released the chart-topping albums Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011),
11457-404: The 2010s, he produced songs for Mariah Carey , Leona Lewis , JLS , Kylie Minogue , Ayumi Hamasaki , The Saturdays . Jerkins was a music executive and mentor on season 10 of American Idol . In 2013, Jerkins was hired on to be a producer for Michael Jackson's posthumous album Xscape . He originally worked on the title track for the album from 1999 to 2001. He is the only producer to work on
11628-523: The 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, Jerkins produced a song featuring the Palestinian 2013 Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf . In 2017, he produced Blind and Makings of You for Tamar Braxton . In 1999, Jerkins joined Sony / Epic Records to promote singer Rhona Bennett , Pop/R&B girl group So Plush , and rapper Fats. Fats appeared on two tracks on which Jerkins produced for Michael Jackson 's album Invincible , and So Plush released
11799-456: The Matrix spoke about the development of the album with MTV News , and likened their work with Spears to Madonna 's album Ray of Light (1998). Scott Spock, also from the Matrix, continued comparing her to Madonna by saying: She's taking it to the next level in her career. Madonna constantly takes what's in the club and puts what she does on top of it and makes it mainstream. I think Britney
11970-403: The Matrix . Their final result was an eclectic record incorporating pop and urban music styles with instrumentation from techno and Middle Eastern genres. Its lyrical themes range from romance and partying to more explicit ones such as sex and masturbation. Spears explained that the album's sexual nature was subconscious and emerged while she was in the process of developing the album. In
12141-474: The Phonographic Industry (IFPI), In the Zone was the eighth best-selling album of 2003. "I'm not the type of person to put blame on other people, but I do feel that some things which were done for me were not always in my best interests. Looking back, I feel now that on my 4th album 'less is more' should have been the way to go." —Spears reflects on In the Zone in November 2004. In
12312-512: The U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified two-times platinum by the Recording 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. It became the biggest-selling album ever by a teenage artist. " ...Baby One More Time " was released as the lead single from the album on September 29, 1998. Originally, Jive Records wanted
12483-534: The U.S. Billboard Hot 100 . In October 2013, she was featured as a guest vocalist on the song "SMS (Bangerz)" by Miley Cyrus , from the latter's fourth studio album Bangerz (2013). On January 8, 2014, Spears won Favorite Pop Artist at the 40th People's Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. In August 2014, Spears confirmed she had renewed her contract with RCA and that she
12654-453: 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. The album received positive reviews from critics and had sold 3.1 million copies worldwide by
12825-783: The UK Singles Chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. "Scream & Shout" was among the best-selling songs of 2012 and 2013 with denoting sales of over 8.1 million worldwide, the accompanying music video was the third most-viewed video in 2013 on Vevo despite the video being released in 2012. In December 2012, Forbes named her music's top-earning woman of 2012, with estimated earnings of $ 58 million. Spears began work on her eighth studio album, Britney Jean , in December 2012, and enlisted will.i.am as its executive producer in May 2013. In January 2013, Spears and Jason Trawick ended their engagement. Trawick
12996-459: The United States, Canada, and Australia, and within the top ten on nearly every other chart. Its peak in the United States tied Spears with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson for the third-most number ones among women. Femme Fatale has been certified platinum by the RIAA and as of February 2014, it had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, " Hold It Against Me " debuted atop
13167-560: The United States, it was viewed as "poor-selling" in comparison to her previous efforts. The following year, her three-year relationship with pop singer Justin Timberlake ended after months of speculation. After the Dream Within a Dream Tour in support of Britney ended in July 2002, Spears announced a six-month break. In November, she revealed that she had started working on her next studio album. She explained: "Well, actually, I just said that I wanted two or three weeks off. [....] And
13338-399: The United States, she embarked on a shopping mall promotional tour, titled L'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 for NSYNC . Her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time , was released on January 12, 1999. It debuted at number one on
13509-580: The Way Love Goes " (1993), she sings in a lower register. The instrumentation contains elements of music from the Far East , particularly in its use of the Chinese instrument the erhu , and its lyrics refer to masturbation : "Into the unknown, I will be bold / I'm going to the places I can be out of control / And I don't want to explain tonight / All the things I've tried to hide." "The Hook Up" has
13680-484: The Zone , released on April 6, 2004. The video debuted atop the US Music Video Sales and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "Me Against the Music" was also performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on November 17, 2003, and on Live with Regis and Kelly on November 24. She also performed "Toxic", "Breathe on Me" and "Me Against the Music" as
13851-565: The Zone has been declared a metamorphosis for Spears by numerous critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic commented: "If 2001's Britney was a transitional album, capturing Spears at the point when she wasn'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 compared Spears to her peer Christina Aguilera , explaining that both equated maturity with transparent sexuality and
14022-401: The Zone offers strip-club, 1-900 sex, accommodating and hollow. Beyond the glittering beats, Spears sounds about as intimate as a blowup doll." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine stated: "Britney's fourth album, In The Zone , finds the pop tart coming of age with a bold mix of hip-hop and dance music, wiping clean the last traces of her bubblegum-pop past. [...] For the most part, In The Zone
14193-532: The Zone received positive reviews upon its release, with music critics widely praising its innovative production, aesthetics, lyricism and blend of eclectic genres, though some criticized Spears' vocals on certain tracks for being distant and processed. A global commercial success, it debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 609,000 copies, making Spears the first female artist to have her first four albums reach number one. Retrospectively,
14364-549: The Zone was "Touch of My Hand", and Spears said it "really did provide a balance for the rest of the record. We just went from there." Following the recording sessions for "Everytime" at the Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Spears complimented Sigsworth, saying: "I just basically told him exactly how I wanted the song to sound. And he was so amazing because there's a lot of producers you tell them things and they don't get it. And you're like oh, that's not
14535-623: The Zone was announced in December 2003, originally titled In the Zone Tour. However, Spears was sued for trademark infringement by the San Diego company Lite Breeze, Inc. and was banned from using the phrase "in the zone", hence the tour's title was changed to The Onyx Hotel Tour . It commenced on March 2, 2004 at the San Diego Sports Arena . Spears felt inspired to create a show with a hotel theme which she later mixed with
14706-469: The album Déjà Vu , which featured Spears on " Tom's Diner ". The song was released as the fourth single from the album on October 9, 2015. In an interview, Moroder praised Spears' vocals and said she "sounds so good that you would hardly recognize her". At the 2015 Teen Choice Awards , Spears received the Candie's Style Icon Award, her ninth Teen Choice Award . In November 2015, Spears guest-starred as
14877-419: The album is widely considered a major turning point in Spears' artistic journey and a culmination in her transition from a teen pop star to a more adult artist. Various critics have considered it the album that pushed Spears past her contemporaries and establishing her as the definitive female artist of the 2000s. In the Zone was promoted with four singles. " Me Against the Music ", featuring Madonna, reached
15048-406: The album received an average score of 66, based on 13 reviews. Jason Shawhan of About.com gave a positive review, saying that while the album's vibe is sexy, the result is a personal statement from Spears. He also added: "T[here]'s another thing about Spears' new record, as none of her previous albums ever managed to produce any kind of sustained emotional response than the pleasure that comes from
15219-523: The album to the gay community . Other broader-based marketing efforts included a tie-in with marketing company LidRock, where after ordering a soda at Sbarro , customers received a cup featuring the artwork and a three-inch disc in the lid featuring "Brave New Girl" and songs by two other artists; in December, an updated LidRock disc was made available, including a remix of "Me Against the Music" without Madonna, as well as songs by fellow Jive acts Nick Cannon and Bowling for Soup . Regal Theaters also showed
15390-470: The album was released, Spears' manager Larry Rudolph commented that it was important for Spears to continue moving away from a traditional pop sound, citing " I'm a Slave 4 U " and " Boys " from Britney as departures from her previous music. Barry Weiss , then-president of Jive Label Group , added: "She has achieved what she set out to achieve, which was to make a mature album that didn't sound like something she would have done three years while still making
15561-688: The album. Other recording locations for the album included the Battery Studios , Daddy's House Recordings and The Dojo in New York City; 3:20 Studios, Decoy Studios, Pacifique Recording Studios , Record Plant and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles; The Chocolate Factory, in Chicago, Triangle Sound Studios in Atlanta , Olympic Studios in London, and Murlyn Studios in Stockholm. Throughout 2003, Spears started testing tracks by playing them in nightclubs such as Show in New York City. Before
15732-443: 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. In 2023, she admitted to engaging in an affair with Robson. As a response, Spears wrote the ballad " Everytime " with her backing vocalist and friend Annet Artani . In August 2003, Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards with Christina Aguilera , performing " Like
15903-463: The associated music video to be animated; however, Spears rejected this idea, and suggested the final concept of a Catholic schoolgirl. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 , topping the chart for two consecutive weeks in January–February 1999. It sold more than 10 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. "...Baby One More Time" later received
16074-451: The best-selling albums of all time. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said that "the great thing about Oops! – under the cheese surface, Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child of rock & roll tradition." 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, while
16245-417: The cake wearing a black coat and a hat and started singing "Hollywood" before proceeding to kiss Spears and Aguilera on the lips. Elliott came out from a wedding chapel to sing her song " Work It " halfway through the performance. The kiss generated strong reaction from the media. The performance was listed by Blender magazine as one of the 25 sexiest music moments in television history. In 2008, MTV listed
16416-659: The charts in countries such as Australia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland and Spain, as well as the European Hot 100 Singles . It also peaked at number two in Canada, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom, and inside the top five in many other countries; however, it peaked at number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100 , being Spears' lowest-charting lead single. The song won the Hot Dance Single of the Year award at
16587-427: The concept of an onyx stone. The stage, inspired by Broadway musicals , was less elaborate than her previous tours. The setlist was composed mostly by songs from In the Zone as well as some of her past songs reworked with different elements of jazz, blues and Latin percussion. Tour promoter Clear Channel Entertainment marketed the tour to a more adult audience than her previous shows, while sponsor MTV highly promoted
16758-1349: The course of his career, Jerkins has developed a "camp" of successful topline writers, including LaShawn Daniels , Kenisha Pratt , Toni Estes , Anesha & Antea Birchett , Jordan Omley, Delisha Thomas , Marvin Hemmings , Kalenna Harper , Keli Nicole Price , Nora Payne , Michaela Shiloh , Isaac Phillips , Japhe Tejeda , LeToya Duggan, Mischke Butler , Andre Lindal , and Victoria Monét , among others. Jerkins has produced and written for Brandy , Patti LaBelle , Joe , The Saturdays , Toni Braxton , Vanessa Williams , Will Smith , Keyshia Cole , Monica , Michael Jackson , Ayumi Hamasaki , Cher , Jessica Simpson , Jennifer Lopez , Ashanti , Aaliyah , Amerie , Ariana Grande , Britney Spears , Mary Mary , Kirk Franklin , Kierra Sheard , The Black Eyed Peas , Destiny's Child , Spice Girls , TLC , Janet Jackson , Danity Kane , Beyoncé , Linda Király , Lady Gaga , Cascada , Tamia , Pussycat Dolls , Whitney Houston , Natasha Bedingfield , Mary J. Blige , B5 , Lionel Richie , Tiffany Evans , JYJ , Wonder Girls , Austin Brown , Kanye West , Katy Perry , Hikaru Utada , Keke Palmer , Hala Al Turk , Nelly Furtado , Justin Bieber , Brian McKnight and LMFAO . In
16929-436: The court ruling were not revealed to the public. Spears was also sued by Louis Vuitton over her 2005 music video "Do Somethin'" for upholstering her Hummer interior in counterfeit Louis Vuitton cherry blossom fabric, which resulted in the video being banned on European TV stations. In October 2007, Spears released her fifth studio album, Blackout . The album debuted atop the charts in Canada and Ireland, at number two in
17100-523: The divorce was finalized in July 2007. Within that period, Spears was involved in a series of media scandals and suffered from a mental breakdown , most notably shaving her head in February 2007. Several critics have credited In the Zone for influencing pop music of the 2000s. In 2009, Amy Schriefer of NPR listed the album among the "50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade". Calling it "a primer on
17271-405: The end of 2008. Blackout won Album of the Year at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards and was listed as the fifth Best Pop Album of the Decade by The Times . Spears performed the lead single " Gimme More " at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards . The performance was widely panned by critics. Despite the criticism, the single enjoyed worldwide success, peaking at number one in Canada and within
17442-462: The establishment of the #FreeBritney movement . In 2021, the conservatorship was terminated following her public testimony in which she accused her management team and family of abuse. Spears published her first memoir, The Woman in Me , in 2023, which became a #1 New York Times best-seller in its first week of release. In the United States, Spears is the fourth best-selling female album artist of
17613-474: The floor, head-to head, working on lyrics in a notepad. She seemed eager to please, but it went nowhere. She went to dinner and just never came back." Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst wrote and produced three trip hop tracks recorded by Spears in January 2003. However, after news of an affair between them broke, Durst told Jive Records he would not let them use the songs. In March 2003, Lauren Christy from
17784-607: The headliner of the Jingle Ball on December 8, at the Staples Center . In November 2003, Zomba Label Group president Barry Weiss had spoken to Billboard and said that In the Zone was being promoted on a global level, exhausting areas such as print and electronic media, television, radio and video to raise awareness of its release. In addition, Jive worked with lifestyle marketer the Karpel Group to market
17955-606: The latter of which became her most successful era of singles in the US charts. With " 3 " in 2009 and " Hold It Against Me " in 2011, Spears became the second artist in history to debut at number one with two or more songs on the Billboard Hot 100 . She embarked on a four-year concert residency , Britney: Piece of Me , at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to promote her next two albums Britney Jean (2013) and Glory (2016). In 2019, Spears' legal battle over her conservatorship became more publicized and led to
18126-520: The lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened." In April 2011, Spears appeared in a remix of Rihanna 's song " S&M ". It reached number one in the US later that month, giving Spears her fifth number one on the chart. On Billboard ' s 2011 Year-End list, Spears was ranked number fourteen on the Artists of the Year, thirty-two on Billboard 200 artists, and ten on Billboard Hot 100 artists. Spears co-wrote "Whiplash",
18297-456: The lyrics. Member Lauren Christy said: "... she really knows what she wants. She knows if she's trying something on that doesn't fit right for her. She's like, 'No, that's not me.' She's not one to strap on some sort of fake image." Christy also claimed to be impressed with Spears's vocal ability during the recording of "Shadow". Steve Anderson , Lisa Greene and Stephen Lee wrote "Breathe on Me" at Metrophonic Studios in London. Before meeting with
18468-403: The material. Vibe called it "a supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears' development as a songwriter". 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". In the Zone sold over 609,000 copies during its first week of availability in the United States, debuting at
18639-420: The most at the time with five. In the Zone was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in October 2023, for album-equivalent units of three million copies. It placed at number eight on the year-end Billboard 200 for 2004. As of 2016, it has sold over three million copies in the country, according to Nielsen SoundScan . In Canada, the album debuted at number two on
18810-455: The most striking visuals in the 27-year history of the show." To support the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour . The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, the pièce de résistance being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage. The tour grossed $ 53.3 million, becoming the second highest-grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behind Cher 's Farewell Tour . Her career success
18981-448: The motivation—the 'eye of the tiger'—is extremely important. And Britney had that." Spears sang Houston's " I Have Nothing " (1992) for the executives, and was subsequently signed to the label. 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". After hearing the recorded material, president Clive Calder ordered
19152-526: The night? / Who can wipe my tears when it's wrong, make it right? / Who can give me love till I'm satisfied? / Who's the one I need in my life?". On the Australian, Japanese and UK editions bonus track "Don't Hang Up", she pleads on the phone for her lover to keep her satisfied long-distance. To promote In the Zone , Spears first performed the lead single " Me Against the Music " at the 2003 NFL Kickoff Live on September 4, 2003. The performance segued into
19323-508: The original version and reworking version of the title track. When asked by Ryan Seacrest in 2013 the favourite people he's produced for he said "Definitely The Saturdays . Without a doubt. I had a lot of fun working with them and was really impressed with their voices. They were very down to earth and I like that a lot in an artist. I wish them all the best in America and think they could end up as big as The Spice Girls." In preparation for
19494-473: The other writers, Anderson thought of two concepts for songs specifically for Spears: one he had worked on "for ages", and "Breathe on Me", which he drafted on the morning of the sessions. Greene and Lee did not like the first concept, and they wrote "Breathe on Me" with Anderson. The song was produced by Mark Taylor , who kept most of the programming done by Anderson. With Taylor, Spears recorded "Breathe on Me" and " And Then We Kiss ", latter of which did not make
19665-486: The other. Spears claimed that the situation happened because of a frightening encounter with paparazzi, and that it was a mistake on her part. The following month, she guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode " Buy, Buy Baby " as closeted lesbian Amber-Louise. She announced she no longer studied Kabbalah in May 2006, explaining, "my baby is my religion". Spears posed nude for the August 2006 cover of Harper's Bazaar ;
19836-492: The performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards. For In the Zone , Spears worked with hit producers such as Bloodshy & Avant , R. Kelly , Diddy , Christopher Stewart , Moby , Guy Sigsworth and the Matrix . She first started writing songs for the album during her Dream Within a Dream Tour. Spears commented about writing while touring: "The only thing that
20007-535: The photograph was compared to Demi Moore 's August 1991 Vanity Fair cover . In September 2006, she gave birth to her second son, Jayden James. In November 2006, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in July 2007, when the two reached a global settlement and agreed to share joint custody of their sons. Spears' maternal aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer in January 2007. In February, Spears stayed in
20178-534: The pleasures of letting go on the dancefloor, in "I'm up against the speaker / Trying to take on the music / It's like a competition". The second song, "I Got That (Boom Boom)", is an Atlanta -style hip hop track featuring the Ying Yang Twins . "Showdown" has "bubbly" beats and its lyrics, about "fighting and making up with carnal relations", include the lines "I don't really want to be a tease / But would you undo my zipper, please?" Rolling Stone classified
20349-543: The pounding sounds of nightclubs, but while Aguilera "comes across like a natural-born skank, Britney is the girl next door cutting loose at college, drinking and smoking and dancing and sexing just a little too recklessly, since this is the first time she can indulge herself." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine stated: "For a girl who's always seemed too sexed-up for her age, In the Zone finds Britney finally filling her britches, so-to-speak. Her little girl coquettishness actually works now—maybe because, at 21, she's finally
20520-408: The record combines bhaṅgṛā , R&B and hip hop. Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian deemed In the Zone "a happy collision of house, dreamy electro-pop and Britney’s lyrical preoccupations [...] which have her perched on the cusp between teen poppet and sexually confident woman." According to William Shaw of Blender , the main theme of In the Zone is "Spears’s awakening to her sexuality as
20691-437: The release of eight studio albums. 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. Upon its release, the record debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 107,000 copies, becoming her lowest-peaking and lowest-selling album in the United States. Britney Jean debuted at number 34 on
20862-452: The rest of your life." When asked if "Everytime" was about Justin Timberlake , she responded: "I'll let the song speak for itself." The Rishi Rich 's Desi Kulcha Remix of "Me Against the Music" removes the original melody of the song and adds a clattering backbeat and Punjabi shouts. On the international editions bonus track "The Answer", Spears sings that her lover is the answer to all her needs: "Who can hold me tight, keep me warm through
21033-419: The right way. He got it just right. He was amazing." Christopher Stewart and Penelope Magnet, known collectively as RedZone , presented Spears with the third song they had written and produced, titled "Pop Culture Whore". While her management liked the track, she rejected it, telling them the song "sucked". After bonding with Spears during a night in New York City to "get in her world", as Magnet explained, it
21204-640: 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 for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively. The same year, Spears embarked on the Oops!... 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. On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at
21375-435: The show in a 2013 interview as "probably the worst thing I've done in my career". 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. Shortly after, she released her first perfume, Curious , with Elizabeth Arden , which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume. In October 2004, Spears took
21546-485: The show was canceled in 1994, she returned to Mississippi and enrolled at McComb's Parklane Academy . Although she made friends with most of her classmates, she compared the school to "the opening scene in Clueless with all the cliques . ... I was so bored. I was the point guard on the basketball team. I had my boyfriend, and I went to homecoming and Christmas formal . But I wanted more." In June 1997, Spears
21717-589: The singer." Los Angeles pop-up museum The Zone, celebrating Spears' "iconic songs, videos, and outfits through Instagram -worthy photo ops, interactive displays and personalized content activated by special RFID wristbands", was titled after the album and opened in January 2020. Credits are adapted from the liner notes of In the Zone . Sales figures based on certification alone. Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981)
21888-502: The single "Things I've Heard Before". Subsequently, So Plush's singles, "Damn" and "Things I've Heard Before", were pressed and made available as promos , and Rhona's album was released in Japan. In 2005, Darkchild Records reemerged when Jerkins signed acts including Shamari Fears , formerly of R&B group Blaque , female MC Asia Lee, dancehall artist Atiba, crossover act Natasha Bradley, and gospel singer Anesha Birchett . In 2006, he
22059-476: The song pop - dancehall . "Breathe on Me" was described as the most sensual song of the record and compared to Madonna 's 1992 studio album Erotica . On the Euro trance and ambient - techno song with trip hop influences, Spears sings: "Oh, it's so hot, and I need some air / And boy, don't stop 'cause I'm halfway there" and "Just put your lips together and blow." "Early Mornin'" depicts Spears looking for men at
22230-426: The sound of pop in the '00s", she deemed Spears as the ideal vehicle for a futuristic sound, since she was still trying to break away from her teen pop past. Schriefer praised "Toxic" and "Everytime", and added: "While the decade's history of celebrity obsession, paparazzi voyeurism and conflicted constructions of female sexuality and motherhood are written on Spears' body, the decade's history of impeccably crafted pop
22401-418: The third quarter of 2008. 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. In December 2008, Spears' sixth studio album Circus was released. It received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one in Canada, Czech Republic, and the United States, and within
22572-591: 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 the UK Singles Chart . The song also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. The second single " Perfume " premiered in November 2013. It debuted and peaked at number 76 on
22743-406: The top five in 15 countries, while topping the charts in Australia, Canada, Hungary, Norway and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first single to peak inside the top ten since " Oops!... I Did It Again " (2000). Directed by Joseph Kahn , the accompanying music video for the song portrays Spears as a secret agent in the search of
22914-410: The top five in most countries, while reaching the top of the charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its accompanying music video, directed by David LaChapelle , portrays Spears as a star hounded by paparazzi, who drowns in her bathtub when she starts bleeding from a wound in her head. In the hospital, doctors fail to resuscitate her while
23085-786: 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. It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The album produced four singles: " Me Against the Music ", a collaboration with Madonna; " Toxic "—which won Spears her first Grammy for Best Dance Recording ; " Everytime ", and " Outrageous ". In January 2004, Spears married her childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas , Nevada . The marriage
23256-634: The top ten in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, and peaking at number three on the European Top 100 Albums . In France, it debuted at number one, becoming her second number-one album in the country after Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), and was certified double gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP) in December 2004. It
23427-643: The top ten in almost every country it charted. 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, and respectively reached numbers seven and nine in Ireland and Canada. In December 2007, Spears began a relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib. In January 2008, Spears refused to relinquish custody of her sons to Federline's representatives. She
23598-548: The top ten in many European nations. In the United States, Spears became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one, earning a place in Guinness World Records . She also became the only act in the SoundScan era to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more copies sold. The album was one of the fastest-selling albums of the year, and has sold 4 million copies worldwide. Its lead single, " Womanizer ", became Spears' first chart-topper on
23769-420: The top ten in nearly every country except the United States, where it only peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 . " Toxic " peaked atop the charts in eight countries and at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Spears' first US top-ten hit since " Oops!... I Did It Again " (2000), and won Spears her first Grammy Award . " Everytime " peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and within
23940-451: The top ten nearly everywhere else. " Outrageous " was plagued by a lack of promotion due to Spears injuring her knee while filming its accompanying music video, and only peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100. To further promote the album, Spears embarked on the Onyx Hotel Tour (2004). In October 2001, Spears released her third studio album Britney , which portrayed more mature themes. Despite selling over four million copies in
24111-449: 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 the 2011 England riots . Spears' management briefly responded, stating, "The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney's boyfriend, Jason Trawick, which literally plays out
24282-433: The tour on television shows and the network's website. The tour was divided into seven segments: Check-In , Mystic Lounge , Mystic Garden , The Onyx Zone , Security Cameras , Club and the encore. Check-In displayed performances with dance and advanced in the hotel theme. Mystic Lounge featured an homage to Cabaret and other musicals, while remixing some of Spears's early hits. Mystic Garden displayed
24453-548: The tour was released in November 2011. In August 2011, Spears received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards . The next month, she released her second remix album, B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2 . In December 2011, Spears became engaged to her long-time boyfriend Jason Trawick, who had formerly been her agent. Trawick was legally granted a role as co-conservator, alongside her father, in April 2012. In May 2012, Spears
24624-484: The tour's conclusion in July 2002, Spears planned to take a six-month break from her career; however, recording for the album commenced in November. For In the Zone , Spears experimented with different producers, trying to find those with whom she had chemistry. She collaborated with artists such as Madonna and the Ying Yang Twins , while contributions came from a wide range of producers, including Bloodshy & Avant , R. Kelly , Trixster , Moby , Guy Sigsworth and
24795-452: The tour, titled (You Drive Me) Crazy Tour , followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show. 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 the Nielsen SoundScan record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist. It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide to date, making it one of
24966-518: The tracks they worked on was "Everytime", which Artani confirmed to be written as a response to Justin Timberlake's " Cry Me a River ", as well as "Shine", written by Spears about her sister Jamie Lynn , which was left unfinished. Earnest recording of the album began in November 2002. Spears commented that although she did not know initially what direction she wanted to go with the album, she took time to work with different producers and to find those who she had chemistry with. The first song recorded for In
25137-613: The way my children and my family have treated me. There is nothing to believe in anymore. I'm an atheist y'all". At age three, Spears began attending dance lessons in her hometown of Kentwood, 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 her kindergarten graduation. During her childhood, she also had gymnastics and voice lessons and won many state-level competitions and children's talent shows. In gymnastics, Spears attended Béla Károlyi 's training camp. She said of her ambition as
25308-446: The way you feel. [...] Whatever happens, happens". Additionally, Spears scheduled meet-and-greets with Timbaland and Missy Elliott in an effort to help evolve her sound. Elliott was enlisted in further production work with Nisan Stewart for Spears' project; however, none of the initial material was released. Spears also worked with James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem , but their work was unproductive; Murphy said: "We were both lying on
25479-472: The whole world was like, 'Ohmigod, [ sic ] she's gone..." While in Europe, Spears met with William Orbit and Daft Punk about possible collaborations, and originally confirmed previous collaborators Darkchild and the Neptunes as producers. When asked by The Hollywood Reporter about the direction of the record, Spears responded it was an organic evolution, adding: "It should just happen naturally from
25650-505: Was annulled 55 hours later, following a petition to the court that stated that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions". In March 2004, Spears embarked on the Onyx Hotel Tour in support of In the Zone . The tour was canceled in June 2004, when she fell and injured her left knee during the music video shoot for "Outrageous". She underwent arthroscopic surgery and wore a thigh brace for six weeks, followed by eight to twelve weeks of rehabilitation. That year, Spears became involved in
25821-582: Was also removed as Spears' co-conservator, restoring her father as the sole conservator. Following the breakup, she began dating David Lucado in March; the couple split in August 2014. During the production of Britney Jean , Spears recorded the song " Ooh La La " for the soundtrack of The Smurfs 2 , which was released in June 2013. On September 17, 2013, she appeared on Good Morning America to announce her two-year concert residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, titled Britney: Piece of Me . It began on December 27, 2013, and included
25992-703: Was an online portal where artists can communicate with their fans. Each quarter, members vote for the best video performances. The top performers were then flown to Los Angeles to compete in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner would get a demo deal with Darkchild Productions. The site appears to be defunct as of 2024. Jerkins has been married to singer Joy Enriquez since April 4, 2004. The two met when he worked on her debut album. The couple has four children: Rodney David Jerkins Jr. (28 May 2008); Heavenly Joy Jerkins (17 November 2009); Hannah Joy Jerkins (19 October 2012); and Royal David Jerkins, in early 2015. In 2015, his five-year-old daughter Heavenly Joy
26163-515: Was appointed VP of Artists & repertoire (A&R) for The Island Def Jam Group . Jerkins released his wife Joy Enriquez 's second album Atmosphere of Heaven , which features a religious direction, on his independent gospel imprint JoyFul Child Records. The Darkchild name has been loaned to Darkchild Gospel, a record company run by Jerkins' brother, Fred Jerkins III . In late 2008, Jerkins joined Nicholas Longano , Ray Brown, and Jonathan E. Eubanks in creating Music Mogul , Inc. MusicMogul.com
26334-483: Was being filmed in New York City on June 8, when Spears injured her knee and had to undergo arthroscopic surgery . The video was cancelled, as well as the remainder of the Onyx Hotel Tour and the feature in the Catwoman soundtrack. Upon its release, In the Zone received generally favorable reviews from music critics . At Metacritic , which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics,
26505-636: Was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). The album was a commercial success across Asia, debuting at number one in South Korea. In Japan, the album debuted at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart , selling 59,128 copies in its first week. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in December 2003. According to the International Federation of
26676-701: Was certified platinum by the IFPI in April, for selling one million copies across Europe. Across Latin America, In the Zone was certified platinum in Argentina and Mexico. In Australia, the album debuted and peaked at number ten on the ARIA Top 100 Albums . It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in 2004. In New Zealand, it debuted at number 28; in April 2004, it peaked at number 25 and
26847-494: Was dedicated to her first child, a son named Sean Preston, who was born the following month. In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes , which consists of 11 remixes. 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
27018-468: Was easier to "actually write and know what she would and wouldn't say, to know where her real vibe is". Stewart and Magnet began working on the first version of "Me Against the Music"; Stewart came up with the track, while Magnet developed the melody on a piano and some of the lyrics. During the recording sessions, Stewart recalls that the studio's air-conditioning died for three days, but Spears "didn't complain or anything, and for me that shows she's where she
27189-658: Was highlighted by Forbes in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity. Spears also landed her first starring role in Crossroads , released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, critics praised Spears' acting. The film was a box office success, grossing over $ 61.1 million worldwide on a $ 12 million budget. 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". In July 2002, Spears announced she would take
27360-452: Was hired to replace Paula Abdul as a judge for the second season of the USA show of The X Factor , joining Simon Cowell , L.A. Reid , and fellow new judge Demi Lovato , who replaced Nicole Scherzinger . With a reported salary of $ 15 million, she became the highest-paid judge on a singing competition series in television history. However, Katy Perry broke her record in 2018 after Perry
27531-514: Was hospitalized at Cedars-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 physical and legal custody of their sons. She was committed to the psychiatric ward of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and put on 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold under California state law. The court placed her under
27702-444: Was in talks with manager Lou Pearlman to join the female pop group Innosense . Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyer Larry Rudolph for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears singing over a Whitney 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 of Toni Braxton ; she rehearsed for
27873-647: Was inspired by No Doubt , Blondie and Madonna. " Everytime " begins with a piano introduction accompanying Spears's breathy vocals, which build from soft to strong throughout the song. Its lyrics are a plea for forgiveness for inadvertently hurting a former lover. In the song, Spears explains she feels unable to continue in lines such as "Everytime I try to fly I fall / Without my wings I feel so small". During an interview with MTV, Spears said: "It's about heartbreak, it's about your first love, your first true love. That's something all people can relate to, because you all have that first love that you think you're going to be with
28044-491: 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 by Entertainment Weekly . The lead single, " I'm a Slave 4 U ", became a top-ten hit in several countries. Spears' performance of the single at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards featured a caged tiger (wrangled by Bhagavan Antle ) and
28215-556: Was offered a chance to work at a studio in Atlantic City , but declined. At age 14, Jerkins was mentored by his idol, Teddy Riley , but he did not accept a contract offer to work with the producer due to an aspiration to build an "empire" without such support. He was also offered a chance to work at Bad Boy Records , but declined. At 16, he was approached by James Jones, formerly of Uptown Records , and moved in with him to Hackensack to work with him. One of their first sessions
28386-439: Was released as the lead single from In the Zone on October 14, 2003. Jive Records' choice for the first single was originally "Outrageous", but Spears convinced them to release "Me Against the Music". The song received mixed reviews from music critics; some felt it was a strong dance track, while others referred to it as lackluster and disappointing. "Me Against the Music" achieved international commercial success, peaking atop of
28557-486: Was released in November, debuting at number four on the US Billboard 200. Spears was unable to promote it, though the album produced two international hit singles–" My Prerogative " and " Do Somethin' ". In September 2005, Spears gave birth to her first son Sean Preston, giving birth to her second son Jayden James a year later. In November 2006, filed for divorce from Federline, citing irreconcilable differences;
28728-529: Was scary to me is that I didn't know if they were good. [But] You can't trust anybody. You have to go with your feelings." Spears commented that she was an autobiographical songwriter, although not to the point she felt self-exploited. Following the end of the tour, Spears invited her friend and backing vocalist Annet Artani to her home in Los Angeles. They started writing songs at the piano, and shortly after, they traveled to Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy . Among
28899-574: Was signed for a $ 25-million salary to serve as a judge on ABC 's revival of American Idol . Spears mentored the Teens category; her final act, Carly Rose Sonenclar , was named the runner-up of the season. Spears did not return for the show's third season and was replaced by Paulina Rubio . Spears appeared on the song " Scream & Shout " with will.i.am , which was released as the third single from his fourth studio album, #willpower (2013). The song later became Spears' sixth number-one single on
29070-752: Was with Patti LaBelle . Jerkins' first recorded output was a " gospel rap " collaboration with his brother, Fred Jerkins III , entitled On the Move . He later incorporated the name "Darkchild", at the age of 17, subsequently accepting a worldwide publishing deal with the EMI Music Corporation . The producer then proceeded to establish a commercial music career, initially working with artists such as Joe , Mary J. Blige and Brandy . Jerkins' stated his first big projects were Blige's Share My World , Whitney Houston 's It's Not Right but It's Okay , and Brandy and Monica's The Boy Is Mine . Over
29241-839: Was writing and recording new music for her next album. 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. On September 25, 2014, Spears confirmed on Good Morning Britain that she extended her contract to perform her Britney: Piece of Me concert residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas for two additional years. Spears began dating television producer Charlie Ebersol in October 2014. The pair were split in June 2015. On May 14, 2015, Spears released
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