Lasting Legacy of Britney Spears: A Look at the Influence on History

Share: FB Share X Share Reddit Share Reddit Share
Britney Spears

A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Britney Spears across different fields.

Britney Spears, dubbed the "Princess of Pop," is a highly influential American singer celebrated for her impact on 21st-century music and credited with reviving the teen pop genre. Recognized for her captivating stage presence and genre-bending explorations across pop, R&B, electropop, and adult contemporary, she remains a prominent figure in popular music.

2000: Most Popular Search Term on Yahoo!

In 2000, 'Britney Spears' was the most popular search term on Yahoo!, reflecting her high level of public interest.

September 2002: Ranked on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists list

In September 2002, Britney Spears was ranked number eight on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists list, acknowledging her image as a sex symbol.

2002: Quoted in Madonnastyle Book

In the 2002 book Madonnastyle by Carol Clerk, Britney Spears is quoted expressing her admiration for Madonna and her aspiration to become a legend like her.

2003: Named One of People's 50 Most Beautiful People

In 2003, People magazine cited Britney Spears as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People.

2003: VH1 Pop Culture Icon

In 2003, VH1 recognized Britney Spears as one of the 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons.

2004: Ranked number one on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World list

In 2004, Britney Spears was ranked number one on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World list.

2005: Most Popular Search Term on Yahoo!

In 2005, 'Britney Spears' was the most popular search term on Yahoo!, reflecting her high level of public interest.

2007: Photo sales reach $100 million

In 2007, photos of Britney Spears sold for a combined value of $100 million, highlighting her status as a paparazzi target and tabloid fixture.

2008: Most Popular Search Term on Yahoo!

In 2008, 'Britney Spears' was the most popular search term on Yahoo!, reflecting her high level of public interest.

2008: MTV Lists Performance as Number One Opening Moment

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 show, while Blender cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television history.

2009: Named Most Searched Person in Guinness World Records

In 2009, Britney Spears was named as Most Searched Person in the Guinness World Records, solidifying her status as a prominent public figure.

2010: Country Strong Inspiration

In 2010, Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the film Country Strong was inspired by the media's treatment of Britney Spears, highlighting the impact of Spears' personal struggles on artistic expression.

Loading Video...

2011: Lady Gaga's Recognition of Spears

During the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga acknowledged Britney Spears' significant influence, stating that Spears "taught us all how to be fearless, and the industry wouldn't be the same without her."

December 2012: Ranked on Complex's 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time list

In December 2012, Britney Spears was ranked 12th on Complex's 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time list.

2012: VH1 Recognition

In 2012, Britney Spears was ranked fourth on VH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era and was also cited in VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music.

2012: VH1 Ranking as Fourth Greatest Woman of the Video Era

In 2012, VH1 ranked Britney Spears as the fourth Greatest Woman of the Video Era, highlighting her impact on music videos.

2013: Spears calls Britney and Kevin: Chaotic the worst thing she's done in her career

In 2013, Spears reflected on Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, referring to the show as "probably the worst thing I've done in my career".

Loading Video...

2017: Spears reflects on past struggles

In 2017, Britney Spears reflected on her past struggles and acknowledged the need to prioritize her mental health throughout her career.

2018: GLAAD Vanguard Award Recipient

In 2018, Britney Spears received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for her role in promoting acceptance for the LGBTQ community. Spears thanked her LGBTQ fans for their unwavering loyalty and inspiration.

2019: Rita Ora's Homage

In 2019, Rita Ora's music video for "Only Want You" was inspired by Britney Spears' "Everytime" music video, with Ora expressing her love and appreciation for Spears as an inspiration on Instagram.

Loading Video...

2020: Billboard Ranking as Eight Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time

In 2020, Billboard ranked Britney Spears as the eighth Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time, emphasizing her creativity in music videos.

2020: Billboard Ranking

In 2020, Billboard ranked Britney Spears eighth on its 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of all-time list.

2020: '...Baby One More Time' Ranked #1 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Debut Singles

In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked Britney Spears' debut single '...Baby One More Time' at number one on their list of the 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time, calling it a game-changer for pop music.

Loading Video...

September 15, 2021: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2021

On September 15, 2021, Britney Spears was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2021, recognizing the impact of her fight against her conservatorship and the #FreeBritney movement.

2021: Legacy as 'Princess of Pop'

In 2021, Britney Spears was acknowledged as the 'Princess of Pop', credited with spearheading the resurgence of teen pop in the late 1990s. Her impact on music and culture is recognized, along with her struggles and resilience.

2023: Memoir on Abortion

In her 2023 memoir, Britney Spears revealed she had an abortion in late 2000 while dating Justin Timberlake, describing it as "one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life."

The Woman in Me
The Woman in Me

2024: Billboard's Greatest Pop Stars

In 2024, Billboard ranked Britney Spears at number six on its Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list.

2025: Billboard's Top Women Artists

In 2025, Billboard ranked Britney Spears at number 14 on its "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.