Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in Kentwood, Louisiana. She always knew she wanted to pursue a musical career, so she took her talents to her local church, where she sang with the choir. She even sang on national television as a Star Search contestant. At the age of 8, Britney auditioned for the popular children's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club, but she was refused because of her young age.

Luckily for Britney, one of the show's producers saw the young singer's talent and helped her find an agent in New York City. Britney spent the next three summers in New York, where she studied at the famous Off Broadway Dance Center and at the Professional Performing Arts School. She also appeared in commercials and off-Broadway shows, one of which showcased Britney as an innocent 10-year-old with a "bad girl" edge. At the age of 11, three years after her first Mickey Mouse Club rejection, Britney finally landed a spot as a "Mouseketeer." Joining a cast of talented teens, Britney showed off her acting, dancing and singing talents on the show that also spawned the careers of fellow celebrities Keri Russell, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. After two years of living in Orlando while doing the show, Britney moved back home to Kentwood and returned to high school. Her one year as a 14-year-old high-school student would be the last bit of normalcy in her life. With dreams of pursuing a career as a singer and a desire to leave her small hometown, Britney set off to New York City.

Britney signed with Jive Records after impressing an executive with her demo tape. With the help of Eric Foster White, a producer who had previously worked with artists such as Boyzone and Whitney Houston, Britney's debut album was released on January 12, 1999. Spears released her third studio album Britney in November 200. Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander on January 3, 2004, at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. November 2004 saw the release of her first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, which features all of Spears's singles with the exception of "From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart". Throughout 2007, Spears's behavior received heightened media attention, including attacking a paparazzi vehicle with an umbrella. pears left the rehabilitation center on March 20 according to her manager, who said she was released after "successfully completing their program." She recorded her next album with producers such as Sean Garrett, J. R. Rotem and Nate "Danja" Hills throughout 2006 and 2007.