"If I wasn't doing this i'd probably be a depressed little person"
BRITNEY JEAN SPEARS born December 2nd 1981 in Kentwood, a small town in Louisian. 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 travelled to Atlanta to audition for Disney channel's "Mickey Mouse Club", she was ultimately deemed too young after the show but one of the producers spotted her potential and helpd her get an agent in New York. She spent the next two summers in the Big Apple studying at the off-Broadway dance center and at the professional performing arts school. The creative education paid off; in 1991 she landed a part in the off-broadway production, "Ruthless".
When Britney turned 11 she finally earned her mouse ears and became a fully fledged member of the MMC for both the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Her years with MMC wouild turn out to be fortuitous for Britney; among the cast-members of the childrens show was the then twelve year old Justin Timberlake and Joshua "JC" Chazez who would go on to become two fifths of the teen pin-up band 'N Sync.
Following the cancellation of MMC in 1993, Britney returned home where she went to regular high school. But the bug to perform was too strong, so she returned to New York to give singing another shot. After an executive at jive herd a demo tape cut by the then fifteen year old, he signed her to a development deal and hooked her up with Eric Foster White, a producer who had worked with Boyzone, High 5 and Whitney Houston. It seemed a perfect fit given Spears self-declared musical influences: Madonna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Houston. She also travelled to Sweden to work with Max Martin, whose previous clients included Backstreet Boys, Ace of Bass and Robyn. By early 1998, spears' first album for Jive was complete.
In the fall of 1998, three months befor the release of her debut, ...'Baby one more time', Britany set off on a promotional trek through the malls of America. Much like Tiffany who had done a decade befor her. " Month of the malls" Routine consisted of four songs with two back up dancers along with promotional copies of her music. October 1998 saw the release of Spears' first Single, the title track form her album. written by Max Martin. GIven his track record wit hthe Back Streets, it was, not suprisingly, a comercial success. The world reception to the single helped Britney land a spot opening for 'N Sync' which she did through January 1999.
The biggest day of Young Britneys career thus far as likey was Jan 12th 1999-the day...'baby one more time' Fianally hit store shelves. After the final tally's were in, the former Mouse Keteer discovered that her debut had landed at number one spot on the billboard charts, with her buddies 'N Sync' coming in at number 2. Not a bad showing for a 17 year old.
In a recnet interview with MTV Britney made it clear that she was the one who wanted to get involved with the entertainment world; though she had the full support of her parents when she did, it was entirely her decision. And after breaking away from her small town, in which disaproving tongues would occasionly wag because of her move to New York at such a young age, Britney discovered she became a role model of sorts, with other young towns women following in her creative footsteps.
The next year promises to be a busy year for Britney. In addition to her busy schedule promoting her new album, she's planning a return to the small screen as a guest star on "Dawsons Creek". And if it's true, as she told MTV, that she admires Madonnas ability to reinvent her 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.
