Discover the defining moments in the early life of Britney Spears. From birth to education, explore key events.
Britney Spears, often called the "Princess of Pop," is an American singer who significantly impacted popular music. Credited with reviving teen pop in the late 1990s and early 2000s, she has sold over 150 million records globally, establishing herself as one of the best-selling music artists worldwide. Her influence on the pop music landscape is undeniable.
December 2, 1981: Britney Spears Born
On December 2, 1981, Britney Jean Spears, the American singer often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", was born. She has sold over 150 million records worldwide.
1994: Returned to Mississippi
In 1994, after "The All-New Mickey Mouse Club" was canceled, Britney Spears returned to Mississippi and enrolled at McComb's Parklane Academy.
April 1999: Rolling Stone Cover Controversy
In April 1999, the cover of Rolling Stone featuring a 17-year-old Britney Spears in suggestive attire sparked controversy, with the American Family Association calling for a boycott. Spears defended the images and her morals.
2001: Transition to Adulthood
In 2001, Britney Spears released her self-titled album, marking a shift from her innocent image towards a more mature and adult persona.
July 2002: Career Break Announcement
In July 2002, Britney Spears announced that she would be taking a six-month break from her career.
2003: Comments on President Bush and the Iraq War
In 2003, Britney Spears commented on President George W. Bush and the Iraq War, saying that "we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes", which was later included in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11.
2003: In the Zone Release
In 2003, Britney Spears released "In the Zone", solidifying her transition into adulthood and aligning her with contemporaries like Christina Aguilera in embracing transparent sexuality.
July 2004: Engagement to Kevin Federline
In July 2004, Britney Spears became engaged to Kevin Federline, stirring media attention due to his recent breakup and ongoing pregnancy of his ex, Shar Jackson.
September 18, 2004: Wedding Ceremony with Kevin Federline
On September 18, 2004, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline held a wedding ceremony, though they were not legally married until three weeks later.
October 2004: Career Break and Perfume Release
In October 2004, Britney Spears took a career break to start a family and released her first perfume, Curious, which broke Elizabeth Arden's first-week gross record for a perfume.
August 2005: "Someday (I Will Understand)" Release
In August 2005, Britney Spears released "Someday (I Will Understand)", dedicated to her son, Sean Preston.
February 2006: Driving Controversy
In February 2006, photos surfaced of Britney Spears driving with her son on her lap instead of in a car seat, leading to public criticism.
May 2006: Kabbalah Announcement
In May 2006, Britney Spears announced she no longer studied Kabbalah, explaining, "my baby is my religion".
September 2006: Birth of Second Son
In September 2006, Britney Spears gave birth to her second son, Jayden James.
November 2006: Divorce Filing
In November 2006, Britney Spears filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, citing irreconcilable differences.
2006: Publicized Personal Problems
Britney Spears' erratic behavior and personal problems in 2006 were highly publicized, negatively affecting her career and public image.
January 2007: Death of Aunt Sandra
In January 2007, Britney Spears' maternal aunt, Sandra Bridges Covington, died of ovarian cancer.
October 2007: Loss of Custody
In October 2007, Britney Spears lost physical custody of her sons to Kevin Federline.
December 2007: Relationship with Adnan Ghalib
In December 2007, Britney Spears began a relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.
2007: High-Value Paparazzi Target
In 2007, photos of Britney Spears sold for a combined value of $100 million, underscoring her status as a highly sought-after paparazzi target.
January 2008: Hospitalization and Conservatorship
In January 2008, Britney Spears was hospitalized and placed under a conservatorship led by her father, Jamie Spears, after refusing to relinquish custody of her sons.
July 2008: Visitation Rights Regained
In July 2008, Britney Spears regained some visitation rights with her children after reaching an agreement with Kevin Federline.
2008: Conservatorship
In 2008, Britney Spears was involuntarily placed in a conservatorship following a highly publicized breakdown, marking a significant turning point in her personal life.
January 2009: Restraining Order
In January 2009, Britney Spears and her father obtained a restraining order against Sam Lutfi, Adnan Ghalib, and Jon Eardley.
2010: Gwyneth Paltrow's character inspired by Spears
In 2010, Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the film Country Strong was inspired by Britney Spears' treatment by the media, showing the impact of Spears' personal struggles on creative works.
December 2011: Engagement to Jason Trawick
In December 2011, Britney Spears became engaged to her long-time boyfriend Jason Trawick.
April 2012: Jason Trawick Co-Conservator Status
In April 2012, Jason Trawick was legally granted a role as co-conservator, alongside Britney Spears' father.
January 2013: End of Engagement with Jason Trawick
In January 2013, Britney Spears and Jason Trawick ended their engagement, and Trawick was removed as her co-conservator.
August 2014: Split from David Lucado
In August 2014, Britney Spears split from David Lucado.
October 2014: Dating Charlie Ebersol
In October 2014, Britney Spears began dating television producer Charlie Ebersol.
June 2015: Split from Charlie Ebersol
In June 2015, Britney Spears and Charlie Ebersol split.
October 2016: Marie Claire UK Cover and Interview
Britney Spears appeared on the cover of Marie Claire UK for the October 2016 issue, where she discussed her past anxiety and how motherhood helped her overcome it.
2016: Support for Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Britney Spears posted pictures of a meeting with Hillary Clinton on social media, describing Clinton as "an inspiration and [a] beautiful voice for women around the world".
April 2017: Israeli Primary Election Rescheduled
In April 2017, the Israeli Labor Party announced that it would reschedule its July primary election to avoid conflict with Britney Spears' sold-out Tel Aviv concert.
December 2017: Support for DREAM Act
In December 2017, Britney Spears publicly showed support for the DREAM Act, posting a photo of herself wearing a "We Are All Dreamers" T-shirt.
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 due to her father's illness, marking a pause in her career.
January 2019: Conservatorship Allegations
In January 2019, Britney Spears was allegedly held in a facility against her will after she violated a no-driving rule, according to a fan podcast. The allegations gave rise to a movement to terminate the conservatorship, #FreeBritney.
March 2019: Andrew Wallet Resignation and Psychiatric Facility
In March 2019, Andrew Wallet resigned as co-conservator of her estate after 11 years, and Britney Spears entered a psychiatric facility amidst stress from her father's illness.
April 22, 2019: Fans Protest for Spears' Release
On April 22, 2019, fans protested outside the West Hollywood City Hall and demanded Britney Spears' release, showing support amid conservatorship concerns.
May 2019: Judge Orders Conservatorship Evaluation
In a May 2019 hearing, Judge Brenda Penny ordered a professional evaluation of Britney Spears' conservatorship, indicating legal scrutiny.
2019: #FreeBritney Movement
In 2019, Britney Spears' legal battle over her conservatorship gained significant media attention, leading to the establishment of the #FreeBritney movement.
August 17, 2020: Spears' Desire to Alter Conservatorship
On August 17, 2020, Britney Spears' court-appointed lawyer, Samuel D. Ingham III, submitted a court filing that documented Spears' desire to have her conservatorship altered, marking a push for more control over her life.
November 2020: Bessemer Trust Approved as Co-Conservator
In November 2020, Penny approved Bessemer Trust as co-conservator of Britney Spears' estate alongside Jamie, changing the dynamics of her conservatorship.
February 2021: "Framing Britney Spears" Documentary Premiere
In February 2021, the documentary "Framing Britney Spears" premiered on FX, bringing renewed attention to her career and conservatorship.
June 22, 2021: Court Documents Reveal Spears' Push to End Conservatorship
On June 22, 2021, confidential court documents obtained by The New York Times revealed that Britney Spears had pushed for years to end her conservatorship, intensifying public interest in her case.
August 5, 2021: Conversion to Catholicism
On August 5, 2021, Britney Spears announced that she had converted to Catholicism.
October 2021: Gratitude to Fans
In October 2021, Britney Spears thanked her fans and the #FreeBritney movement for "freeing me from my conservatorship".
2021: Conservatorship Termination
In 2021, Britney Spears' conservatorship was terminated after her public testimony, in which she accused her management team and family of abuse. This marked a significant victory after a long legal battle.
April 2022: Pregnancy Announcement
In April 2022, Britney Spears announced her pregnancy with Asghari's child, marking a new chapter in her personal life.
September 5, 2022: Declared Atheism
On September 5, 2022, Britney Spears declared that she no longer believes in God due to the way her children and family have treated her.
January 24, 2023: Welfare Check at Spears' Residence
On January 24, 2023, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office performed a welfare check at Britney Spears' residence after receiving several calls from concerned fans, highlighting the ongoing public interest in her well-being.
September 2023: Additional Welfare Check
In September 2023, an additional welfare check was initiated when Spears posted an Instagram video of herself dancing with knives. Her security team assured the attending officer that there was no immediate threat to her safety, and the officer departed.
October 24, 2023: Release of "The Woman in Me" Memoir
On October 24, 2023, Britney Spears' memoir, "The Woman in Me", was released, detailing her life and experiences.
2023: Affair Admission
In 2023, Britney Spears admitted to engaging in an affair with Wade Robson.
2023: The Woman in Me Memoir Release
In 2023, Britney Spears' memoir, "The Woman in Me," was released and quickly reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
2023: Abortion Revelation in Memoir
In her 2023 memoir, Britney Spears revealed that she had an abortion in late 2000 while dating Justin Timberlake, due to his feeling that they were not prepared for parenthood.
May 1, 2024: Reaching a Divorce Settlement with Asghari
On May 1, 2024, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari reached a divorce settlement, signaling the end of their marriage.
December 2, 2024: Finalization of Spears and Asghari Divorce
On December 2, 2024, the judge finalized the divorce settlement between Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, officially ending their marriage.