A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Britney Spears across different fields.
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.
1998: Emergence onto the Scene
In 1998, Britney Spears emerged onto the scene with "...Baby One More Time", profoundly affecting the pop music genre.
2000: Most Searched Person of the Decade
From 2000-2009, Britney Spears was named as the most searched person of the decade.
September 2002: VH1 Sexiest Artists List
In September 2002, Britney Spears was placed at number eight on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists list, recognizing her image as a sex symbol.
2003: VH1 cites Spears as one of the Greatest Pop Culture Icons
In 2003, VH1 cited Britney Spears among its choices on the 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, highlighting her significant influence on popular culture.
2004: FHM Sexiest Woman
In 2004, Britney Spears was placed at number one on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World list, highlighting her status as a sex symbol.
2005: Most Popular Search Term
From 2005 to 2008, 'Britney Spears' was Yahoo!'s most popular search term, highlighting her widespread public interest.
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.
2008: Most Popular Search Term
From 2005 to 2008, 'Britney Spears' was Yahoo!'s most popular search term, highlighting her widespread public interest.
2008: Performance Recognition
In 2008, MTV listed the August 2003 performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards. Blender cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television history.
2008: Salon publishes "The Britney Economy" article
In 2008, Salon published an article titled "The Britney Economy," highlighting Britney Spears' significant influence on music, fashion, and consumer culture.
2009: Guinness World Records
In 2007 and 2009, Britney Spears was named as Most Searched Person in the Guinness World Records book, confirming her immense popularity.
2011: Lady Gaga praises Spears at MTV Video Music Awards
During the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga acknowledged Britney Spears' influence, stating that she "taught us all how to be fearless, and the industry wouldn't be the same without her."
December 2012: Complex's Hottest Female Singers
In December 2012, Complex ranked Britney Spears 12th on its 100 Hottest Female Singers of All Time list, acknowledging her attractiveness and vocal talent.
2012: VH1 ranks Spears as one of the Greatest Women
In 2012, Britney Spears was ranked as the fourth VH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era show list and VH1 also cited her among its choices on the 100 Greatest Women in Music in 2012.
2012: VH1 Ranking
In 2012, VH1 ranked Britney Spears as the fourth Greatest Woman of the Video Era, recognizing her impact on music videos.
2013: Reality Show Regret
In 2013, Britney Spears referred to her reality show, Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, as "probably the worst thing I've done in my career".
April 29, 2017: Icon Award at Radio Disney Music Awards
On April 29, 2017, Britney Spears was the first recipient of the Icon Award at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards, marking a significant recognition of her impact on pop culture.
2017: Reflecting on Mental Health
In 2017, Britney Spears reflected on her past struggles, acknowledging the need for breaks and taking responsibility for her mental health throughout her career.
December 31, 2017: Final "Britney: Piece of Me" Show
On December 31, 2017, Britney Spears performed the final show of "Britney: Piece of Me". The performance reportedly brought in $1.172 million, setting a new box office record for a single show in Las Vegas.
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".
2018: GLAAD Vanguard Award
In 2018, Britney Spears received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for her role in promoting acceptance of the LGBTQ community.
2018: Katy Perry Breaks Salary Record
In 2018, Katy Perry broke Britney Spears' record of highest-paid judge on a singing competition series.
2019: Rita Ora's music video inspired by Spears
In 2019, Rita Ora's music video for "Only Want You" was inspired by Britney Spears' "Everytime" music video, showcasing Spears' continuing impact on other artists.
February 2020: Opening of "The Zone" Pop-Up Museum
In February 2020, an interactive pop-up museum dedicated to Britney Spears, dubbed "The Zone", opened in Los Angeles, showcasing her legacy.
2020: Billboard Ranking
In 2020, Billboard ranked Britney Spears as the eighth Greatest Music Video Artist of All Time, acknowledging her creativity and impact on music videos over the past three decades.
2020: Billboard ranks Spears as one of the Greatest Music Video Artists
In 2020, Billboard ranked Britney Spears eight on its 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of all-time list, recognizing her contributions to the art of music videos.
2020: "...Baby One More Time" Named Greatest Debut Single
In 2020, Rolling Stone named Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" as the greatest debut single of all time, recognizing its lasting impact and influence.
2020: Rolling Stone's Ranking
In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked "...Baby One More Time" at number one on a list of the 100 Greatest Debut Singles of All Time, recognizing it as a pop manifesto that changed the sound of pop forever.
September 15, 2021: Time's 100 Most Influential People
On September 15, 2021, Britney Spears was named one of Time's 100 most influential people of 2021, recognizing her impact and fight against her conservatorship.
2021: Legacy as Pop Artist
In 2021, Britney Spears was regarded as the "Princess of Pop", having led the teen pop revival and solidifying her impact through both musical achievements and personal struggles.
2021: One of the 100 Most Influential People
In 2021, Time named Britney Spears one of the 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing her impact and influence beyond music.
2023: Spears sales reach 150 million records
As of 2023, Britney Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
October 2024: Billboard ranks Spears as one of the Greatest Pop Stars
In October 2024, Billboard placed Britney Spears at number six on their Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list, recognizing her impact and contributions to pop music.