Stage Name: Britney
Spears
Real Name: Britney Jean Spears
Birthdate: December 2, 1981
Sign: Sagittarius
Hometown: Kentwood, Louisiana, USA
Born Britney Jean Spears on December 2, 1981 in Kentwood, Louisiana, Britney broke through to pop stardom with the summer of 1998 release of .Baby One More Time. But it doesn't start there. As fate would have it, 8 year-old Britney failed an audition with the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club due to her young age. However, producers for the show saw the potential of Britney's abilities, therefore turning her to a New York talent agency, who eventually landed her a role in the Off-Broadway production of Ruthless in 1991, among others. In 1992, at the age of 11, Britney was asked to join The Mickey Mouse Club, where she stayed on for a total of two years. She'd continue the Off-Broadway circuit until the moment came in 1997 when she was signed to Jive Records. Hence the recording sessions for 1998's biggest debut release. Record executives, promotional executives and talent co-coordinators rode on Britney's pop appeal and charming looks in order to promote one of the 90's biggest debuts. A tour with the up-and-coming *N Sync would prove fatal to her beginning stages, but paid off effortlessly. The release of .Baby One More Time hit #1 immediately upon release, as did the singles, "Baby One More Time" and "Sometimes". The follow-up release, Oops I Did It Again, released May of 2000, would be the true test of form. However, it again struck a chord on the charts by debuting at #1 in the US, UK and Europe. Catching on the wave of younger pre-teen female fans, Britney Spears' success is not without competition. Christina Aguilera, also a former Mickey Mouse Club alumnus, set the pace with her rise to fame the very same debut year as Britney. However, Christina leaned toward a more adult audience and eventually won over with her 2001 Labelle cover release of "Lady Marmalade" (with Mya, Pink and Lil' Kim) and her excellent duet with other teen idol, Ricky Martin, "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely". Britney Spears charmed the world by November of 2001 with her third release, Britney.