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Britney Spears is like many 18 year old girls. She loves shopping at the mall, romance novels, and long strolls along the beach. But there's one thing that sets Britney apart from other 18 year olds: she loves making music.
Britney Jean Spears was born Dec. 2, 1981, in Kentwood, a small town in Louisiana.
Although technically her first public performance was at the age of 4 (when she sang "What Child Is This" at her local church), her professional career began at the ripe old age of 8, when young Britney traveled to Atlanta, Ga., to audition for the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club (MMC).
After an executive at Jive heard a demo tape cut by the then 15-year-old, he signed her to a development deal and hooked her up with Eric Foster White, a producer who had worked with Boyzone, Hi-Five, and Whitney Houston. It seemed a perfect fit, given Spears self-declared musical influences: Madonna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, and Houston. She also traveled to Sweden to work with Max Martin, whose previous clients included the Backstreet Boys, Ace of Base, and Robyn. By early 1998, Spears' first album for Jive was complete.
In the fall of 1998, three months before the release of her debut, "Baby One More Time", Britney set off on a promotional trek through the malls of America, much like Tiffany had done a decade before her. Her "month in the malls" routine consisted of four songs, with two backup dancers, along with promotional copies of her music.
October 1998 saw the release of Spears' first single, the title track from her album, written by Max Martin. Given his track record with the Backstreets, it was, not surprisingly, a commercial success.The warm reception to the single no doubt helped Britney land a spot opening for 'N Sync, which she did through January 1999.
The biggest day of young Britney's career thus far is likely Jan. 12, 1999 - the day "Baby, One More Time" finally hit store shelves. After the final tallies were in, the former Mouseketeer discovered that her debut had landed at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts, with her buddies 'N Sync coming in at No. 2. Not a bad showing for a 17-year-old. In a recent interview with MTV, Britney made it clear that she was the one who wanted to get involved in the entertainment world, though she had the full support of her parents once she did, it was entirely her decision. And after breaking away from her small town, in which disapproving tongues would occasionally wag because of her move to New York at such a young age, Britney discovered she'd become a role model of sorts, with other young towns women following in her creative footsteps.
The next year promises to be a busy one for Britney. In addition to a busy schedule promoting her new album, she's planning a return to the small screen as a guest star on Dawson's Creek. And if it's true, as she told MTV, that she admires Madonna's ability to reinvent her public persona, then don't look for Britney to be another one-hit wonder. She's planning to stay in the music world for a long time.
"It will always be a part of my life, and I just want to grow as a person each time each album comes out. I want to focus on my music right now and if film or something comes up, I'd go for it. But music will always be my main priority. Just like Madonna. I respect her so much because every time, she has changed, and I just totally admire that."
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