Career Timeline of Britney Spears: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Britney Spears, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Britney Spears, the "Princess of Pop," is an American singer who rose to fame as a teenager and significantly impacted popular music. With over 150 million records sold, she's among the best-selling music artists globally. Spears is credited with reviving teen pop in the late 1990s and early 2000s and remains an influential figure in the entertainment industry.
December 1998: Spears' single and video chart highly
In December 1998, Britney Spears' debut single and its music video charted highly, dramatically shifting the female teen pop landscape. RCA Records quickly signed Christina Aguilera to capitalize on Spears' success.
1998: Emergence onto the scene with ...Baby One More Time
In 1998, Britney Spears emerged onto the scene with "...Baby One More Time", revolutionizing pop music and leaving a lasting impact, not seen since Madonna.
April 1999: Rolling Stone cover controversy
In April 1999, Britney Spears' Rolling Stone cover, featuring her in revealing attire, sparked controversy. The American Family Association called for a boycott of her albums, but Spears defended the images.
September 1999: Jessica Simpson's "I Wanna Love You Forever" charts
In September 1999, Jessica Simpson's single "I Wanna Love You Forever" charted. Simpson consciously modeled her persona as more mature than Spears.
2000: Spears releases Shades of Britney sunglasses
In 2000, Britney Spears released a limited edition of sunglasses titled Shades of Britney.
2000: MTV Video Music Awards performance
In 2000, Britney Spears' MTV Video Music Awards performance was lauded, showcasing her elaborate dance routines and solidifying her status as a performer.
September 11, 2001: Terrorist attacks of September 11
On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred, leading to a grant from Britney Spears and The Britney Spears Foundation to the Twin Towers Fund.
October 30, 2001: Spears releases album with Artists Against AIDS Worldwide
On October 30, 2001, Britney Spears, alongside Bono and other popular recording artists under the name "Artists Against AIDS Worldwide", released an album consisting of multiple versions of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", intending to benefit AIDS programs in Africa and other impoverished regions.
2001: Spears has sold over 37 million albums worldwide
Before turning 20 in 2001, Britney Spears had sold over 37 million albums worldwide, marking her as the best-selling teenage artist.
2001: Performance at MTV Video Music Awards
In 2001, Britney Spears performed her single at the MTV Video Music Awards. The performance featured a caged tiger and a large albino python. PETA criticized the performance, alleging mistreatment of the animals and scrapping plans for an anti-fur billboard featuring Spears.
2001: Spears signs deals with Skechers and Pepsi
In 2001, Britney Spears signed a deal with shoe company Skechers, and a $7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi, their biggest entertainment deal at the time.
2001: MTV Video Music Awards performance
In 2001, Britney Spears' MTV Video Music Awards performance was lauded, showcasing her elaborate dance routines and solidifying her status as a performer.
2001: Release of album Britney marks transition to adulthood
In 2001, Britney Spears' album 'Britney' marked a shift in her public image, transitioning from an innocent teen idol to a more mature performer.
February 2002: Starring role in Crossroads
In February 2002, Britney Spears starred in the film Crossroads, which was released to largely negative reviews but praised Spears' acting. The movie was a box office success, grossing over $61.1 million worldwide on a $12 million budget.
April 2002: Grant made to the Twin Towers Fund
In April 2002, through the efforts of Britney Spears and The Britney Spears Foundation, a grant of $1 million was made to the Twin Towers Fund to support the children of uniformed service heroes affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
June 2002: Opening of Nyla restaurant
In June 2002, Britney Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City.
June 19, 2002: Release of Britney's Dance Beat video game
On June 19, 2002, Britney Spears released her first multi-platform video game, Britney's Dance Beat, which received positive reviews.
July 2002: Six-month break announcement
In July 2002, Britney Spears announced that she would take a six-month break from her career.
August 2003: MTV Video Music Awards performance
In August 2003, Britney Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards with Christina Aguilera, performing "Like a Virgin". Madonna joined them midway through, and both Aguilera and Spears kissed Madonna. The event was highly publicized.
November 2003: Release of 'In the Zone' album
In November 2003, Britney Spears released her fourth studio album, In the Zone. The album debuted at the top of the charts in the United States, France, and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. It sold over 609,000 copies in its first week in the United States. The album produced four singles: "Me Against the Music", a collaboration with Madonna; "Toxic"; "Everytime", and "Outrageous".
2003: Release of album In the Zone completes journey into adulthood
In 2003, Britney Spears released 'In the Zone', which was seen as the completion of her transition into adulthood, characterized by transparent sexuality and nightclub sounds.
2003: MTV Video Music Awards performance
In 2003, Britney Spears' MTV Video Music Awards performance was lauded, showcasing her elaborate dance routines and solidifying her status as a performer.
March 2004: Launch of The Onyx Hotel Tour
In March 2004, Britney Spears began The Onyx Hotel Tour in support of her album In the Zone.
June 2004: Cancellation of The Onyx Hotel Tour
In June 2004, Britney Spears canceled The Onyx Hotel Tour after injuring her left knee during the music video shoot for "Outrageous". She underwent surgery and rehabilitation.
October 2004: Career break to start a family
In October 2004, Britney Spears took a career break to start a family.
November 2004: Release of Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
In November 2004, Britney Spears' first greatest hits compilation album, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, was released. Her cover version of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative" was released as the lead single from the album.
2004: Release of Curious perfume
In 2004, Britney Spears released her first perfume with Elizabeth Arden, Curious, which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume.
May 17, 2005: Premiere of Britney and Kevin: Chaotic
On May 17, 2005, Britney Spears' first reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, which chronicled the stages of her relationship with Kevin Federline, premiered on UPN.
November 2005: Release of B in the Mix: The Remixes
In November 2005, Britney Spears released her first remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes.
2005: Donation to Music Rising after Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina, Britney Spears donated $350,000 to Music Rising.
August 2006: Harper's Bazaar nude cover
In August 2006, Britney Spears posed nude for the cover of Harper's Bazaar.
May 2007: The M+M's Tour
In May 2007, Britney Spears produced a series of promotional concerts at House of Blues venues, titled The M+M's Tour.
October 2007: Release of Blackout album
In October 2007, Britney Spears released her fifth studio album, Blackout. The album debuted at number two in the U.S. Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics.
2007: MTV Video Music Awards performance panned
In 2007, Britney Spears' presentation at the MTV Video Music Awards was widely criticized. Critics noted that she struggled with her dance steps and appeared to only mouth the words to the song.
September 2008: MTV Video Music Awards wins
In September 2008, Britney Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards and won Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me".
2008: Sales of Blackout album
By the end of 2008, Britney Spears' album Blackout had sold 3.1 million copies worldwide.
2008: Media attention on professional and personal life
In 2008, Britney Spears' appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards was seen as a sign of professionalism after facing a previous disastrous performance and losing control of her life.
2008: Recognition of 2003 VMA performance
In 2008, MTV listed Britney Spears' August 2003 performance at the MTV Video Music Awards as the number-one opening moment in the history of the awards, while Blender cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television.
March 2009: Spears announced as face of Candie's
In March 2009, Britney Spears was announced as the new face of clothing brand Candie's.
December 2009: Billboard ranked Spears the 8th Artist of the 2000s decade
In December 2009, Billboard ranked Britney Spears the 8th Artist of the 2000s decade in the United States.
2009: Seven perfumes released including Fantasy
By 2009, Britney Spears had released seven more perfumes, including Fantasy.
July 2010: Limited edition line for Candie's released
In July 2010, Britney Spears' limited edition line for the brand Candie's was released in stores.
2010: Release of Radiance fragrance
In 2010, Britney Spears released her eighth fragrance, Radiance.
2011: Product placement in "Hold It Against Me" music video
In 2011, Britney Spears teamed up with Sony, Make Up For Ever, and Plenty of Fish to release her music video for "Hold It Against Me", earning $500,000 for product placement.
2011: Radiance reissued as Cosmic Radiance
In 2011, Radiance was reissued as a new perfume titled Cosmic Radiance.
2011: "Hold It Against Me" debuts at number one
With "Hold It Against Me" in 2011, Britney Spears became the second artist after Mariah Carey in the Hot 100's history to debut at number one with two or more songs.
2012: Collaboration with Hasbro for Twister Dance
In 2012, Britney Spears teamed up with Hasbro to release an exclusive version of Twister Dance, which included a remix of "Till the World Ends".
2013: Spears reflects on 'Britney and Kevin: Chaotic'
In 2013, Britney Spears stated in an interview that her reality show, Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, was "probably the worst thing I've done in my career".
October 24, 2015: Donation to Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
On October 24, 2015, Britney Spears donated $120,000 to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. In addition, $1 of each ticket sale for her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, was donated to the nonprofit organization. Spears also fundraised for the charity through social media, in addition to selling limited edition merchandise, with all proceeds going to the NCCF.
2015: Named sixth-highest-earning female musician of 2015
In 2015, Forbes named Britney Spears the sixth-highest-earning female musician of the year.
May 2016: Britney Spears: American Dream app launched
In May 2016, Britney Spears' role-playing game, Britney Spears: American Dream, officially launched and became compatible with iOS and Android.
June 17, 2016: Release of Private Show fragrance
On June 17, 2016, Britney Spears announced the release of her twentieth fragrance, Private Show.
October 27, 2016: Britney Spears Piece of Me Charity Ride
On October 27, 2016, Britney Spears partnered with Zappos and XCYCLE to host the Britney Spears Piece of Me Charity Ride in Boca Park, Las Vegas to raise additional money toward her goal of $1 million for the NCCF, with $450,000 having already been raised from Spears' ticket sales and merchandise. The event ultimately went on to raise $553,130.
November 2016: New Album Confirmation and "Slumber Party" Remix Release
In November 2016, Britney Spears confirmed she had begun working on her next album during an interview with Las Vegas Blog. She also released a remix version of "Slumber Party" featuring Tinashe, as the second single from Glory in the same month.
2016: "Comeback" performance at MTV Video Music Awards
In 2016, Britney Spears delivered a "comeback" performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which Billboard described as an effort to regain pop superstardom.
2016: Spears ranked on Billboard's Greatest Of All Time Top Dance Club Artists list
In 2016, Britney Spears ranked at number twenty on Billboard's Greatest Of All Time Top Dance Club Artists list.
2016: Las Vegas concert residency criticism
In 2016, Britney Spears' Las Vegas concert residency received mixed reviews, with some critics observing that her dancing appeared stiff and robotic, while others praised her performance as flawless.
January 2017: People's Choice Awards Wins
In January 2017, Britney Spears received four wins at the 43rd People's Choice Awards, including Favorite Pop Artist, Female Artist, Social Media Celebrity, and Comedic Collaboration for a skit with Ellen DeGeneres for The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
March 2017: Britney: Live in Concert World Tour Announcement
In March 2017, Britney Spears announced her residency concert would be performed abroad as a world tour, Britney: Live in Concert, with dates in select Asian cities.
April 2017: Israeli Labor Party Reschedules Primary Election for Tel Aviv Concert
In April 2017, the Israeli Labor Party rescheduled its July primary election to avoid conflict with Britney Spears' sold-out Tel Aviv concert, citing traffic and security concerns.
April 29, 2017: Icon Award at Radio Disney Music Awards
On April 29, 2017, Britney Spears became the first recipient of the Icon Award at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards.
December 2017: Publicly shows support for the DREAM Act
In December 2017, Britney Spears publicly showed support for the DREAM Act by posting a photo of herself wearing a "We Are All Dreamers" T-shirt after the announcement that Donald Trump would end the DACA policy.
December 31, 2017: Final Show of Britney: Piece of Me and New Year's Rockin' Eve Airing
On December 31, 2017, Britney Spears performed the final show of Britney: Piece of Me, which brought in $1.172 million, setting a new box office record for a single show in Las Vegas. Performances of "Toxic" and "Work Bitch" were aired on ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
January 2018: Sunset Fantasy Perfume Release and Piece of Me Tour Announcement
In January 2018, Britney Spears released her 24th perfume, Sunset Fantasy, with Elizabeth Arden, and announced the Piece of Me Tour which took place in July 2018 in North America and Europe.
January 2018: Spears has released 24 fragrances through Elizabeth Arden
As of January 2018, Britney Spears had released 24 fragrances through Elizabeth Arden.
March 2018: Spears as the face of Kenzo
In March 2018, it was revealed that Britney Spears would be the face of Kenzo, a contemporary French luxury clothing house.
March 20, 2018: Kenzo Campaign Announcement
On March 20, 2018, Britney Spears was announced as part of a campaign for French luxury fashion house Kenzo for their 'La Collection Memento No. 2' campaign.
April 12, 2018: GLAAD Vanguard Award
On April 12, 2018, Britney Spears was honored with the 2018 GLAAD Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards for her role in "accelerating acceptance for the LGBTQ community".
April 27, 2018: Fashion Line Partnership with Epic Rights
On April 27, 2018, Epic Rights announced a new partnership with Britney Spears to debut her own fashion line in 2019, which would include clothing, fitness apparel, accessories, and electronics.
July 2018: Release of First Unisex Fragrance, Prerogative
In July 2018, Britney Spears released her first unisex fragrance, Prerogative.
July 2018: Piece of Me Tour in North America and Europe
In July 2018, Britney Spears' Piece of Me Tour took place in North America and Europe, with Pitbull as the supporting act for the European leg. Tickets were sold out quickly.
October 18, 2018: Britney: Domination Residency Announcement
On October 18, 2018, Britney Spears announced her second Las Vegas residency show, Britney: Domination, set to launch at Park MGM's Park Theatre on February 13, 2019.
October 21, 2018: Piece of Me Tour Final Performance at Formula One Grand Prix
On October 21, 2018, Britney Spears performed at the Formula One Grand Prix in Austin, marking the final performance of her Piece of Me Tour.
2018: Receives GLAAD Vanguard Award
In 2018, Britney Spears received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for her role in promoting acceptance for the LGBTQ community.
January 4, 2019: Indefinite Hiatus and Residency Cancellation
On January 4, 2019, Britney Spears announced an indefinite hiatus and the cancellation of her Las Vegas residency after her father, Jamie, suffered a near-fatal colon rupture.
February 13, 2019: Planned Launch of Britney: Domination Residency
Britney Spears' planned residency show, Britney: Domination, was set to launch at Park MGM's Park Theatre on February 13, 2019, but was later cancelled.
March 2020: #DoYourPartChallenge Participation
In March 2020, Britney Spears participated in the #DoYourPartChallenge, helping people with their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. She offered supportive words to fans on Instagram, selecting three to assist.
May 2020: Release of "Mood Ring" and New Album Cover
In May 2020, Britney Spears released Glory's Japanese-exclusive bonus track, "Mood Ring" as a single, and debuted a new cover of the album to streaming and digital platforms worldwide.
2021: Legacy as the "Princess of Pop"
In 2021, Britney Spears, known as the "Princess of Pop", was credited with driving the return of teen pop in the late 1990s and ushering in a new era for the genre.
July 21, 2023: Release of "Mind Your Business" Single with will.i.am
On July 21, 2023, Britney Spears and will.i.am released their single, "Mind Your Business".
October 24, 2023: Release of Memoir, The Woman in Me
On October 24, 2023, Britney Spears' memoir, The Woman in Me, was released, detailing her rise to fame, public media events, her conservatorship, and her newfound freedom. The book sold 1.1 million copies in the United States and 2.4 million copies worldwide in its first week.
2023: Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide
As of 2023, according to the Evening Standard, Britney Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
January 2024: Reports of Songwriting for Spears Surface
In January 2024, reports circulated that Charli XCX and Julia Michaels had been asked to write songs for Britney Spears.
February 2024: Partnership with Glace for "Britney Brûlée" dessert
In February 2024, Britney Spears collaborated with New York City dessert shop Glace to create the "Britney Brûlée" dessert. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this dessert will be donated to The Trevor Project.
May 2024: Charli XCX Confirms Songwriting Request
In May 2024, Charli XCX confirmed she was asked to write for Britney Spears and travelled to Malibu, but was unsure if Spears was involved as she didn't record it.
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