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

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

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.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

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.

September 2002: Ranked number eight 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 sex symbol status.

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.

2003: Cited on VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons

In 2003, VH1 cited Britney Spears among its choices on the 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons list.

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, cementing her image as a sex symbol.

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.

2008: Salon publishes "The Britney Economy"

In 2008, Salon published an article titled "The Britney Economy," highlighting Britney Spears' significant influence on music, fashion, and consumer spending.

2009: Named Most Searched Person in the Guinness World Records book

In 2009, Britney Spears was named as Most Searched Person in the Guinness World Records book, reflecting her high level of public interest.

2010: Character in Country Strong inspired by Spears

In 2010, Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the film Country Strong was inspired by the media's treatment of Britney Spears.

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2011: Lady Gaga says Spears taught them how to be fearless

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

December 2012: Ranked 12th on Complex's 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time list

In December 2012, Complex ranked Britney Spears 12th on its 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time list, acknowledging her sex symbol status.

2012: Ranked on VH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era

In 2012, Britney Spears was ranked as the fourth greatest women of the video era on VH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era. VH1 also cited her among its choices on the 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012 and the 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons in 2003.

2012: Ranked fourth Greatest Woman of the Video Era by VH1

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

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 2016: Marie Claire UK Cover and Anxiety Revelation

In October 2016, Britney Spears appeared on the cover of Marie Claire UK and revealed she had suffered from crippling anxiety, which motherhood helped her overcome.

2017: Spears reflects on past struggles and mental health

In 2017, Britney Spears reflected on her past struggles and emphasized the importance of taking breaks and prioritizing mental health.

2019: Rita Ora's music video inspired by Spears' "Everytime"

In 2019, Rita Ora's music video for "Only Want You" was inspired by Britney Spears' "Everytime" music video.

February 2020: Opening of "The Zone" Interactive Pop-Up Museum

An interactive pop-up museum dedicated to Britney Spears, dubbed "The Zone", opened in Los Angeles in February 2020, but was later suspended in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Ranked eight Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time by Billboard

In 2020, Billboard ranked Britney Spears as the eight Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time, highlighting her creativity and memorable videos.

2020: Billboard ranks Spears on its 100 Greatest Music Video Artists list

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

2020: Rolling Stone ranks ...Baby One More Time at number one

In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked "...Baby One More Time" at number one on a list of the 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time, highlighting its revolutionary impact on pop music.

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.

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.