INTERVIEW

Online Host:AOL's Entertainment Asylum proudly welcomes the lovely and talented Britney Spears. Britney is currently opening for 'N SYNC and will be releasing her debut album, "Britney Spears... Baby One More Time," on January 12th, and his here chatting with us about the album. Welcome, Britney Spears!

Britney Spears: Thank you, thank you so much!

Question: Where are you from? How did you actually get the push through into the music business?

Britney Spears: Well, I'm actually from Kentwood, Louisiana, a small town an hour away from New Orleans. I've really been singing all my life.
I've always had a love for music. It probably started when I was just singing in church, and one thing led to another. Then I went to "The Mickey
Mouse Club." Then I went to Jive records.

Question: How does it feel to be famous?

Britney Spears: It's really, really flattering. It's good to perform and everything, and see the audience really know your music and get into your
songs. It's awesome. It's really neat.

Question: Are you planning on going to college?

Britney Spears: Yes. I do want to go to college. Right now I want to focus on my music, but I definitely want something to fall back on and to
have something to look forward to, because this business is crazy! It's so crazy, but it's a lot of fun!

Question: When did start singing?

Britney Spears: I was probably eight years old, and I drove my mom crazy. I was always in the house belting with my little hairspray bottle as
a microphone. But I realized I wanted to make something out of it when I was on "The Mickey Mouse Club."

Question: Is it hard remembering the dance routines?

Britney Spears: The first time that I performed, it was kind of weird because it was my first time on stage, and I was scared that I was gonna
forget something. But after a while, after opening up for 'N SYNC for a while, it's a lot easier.

Question: What's it like hanging out with the guys from 'N SYNC?

Britney Spears: Well, actually we don't really get to hang out that much, because right now I'm busy all during the day, before the show, and
they're busy. But when we do, like if we eat, they're really nice and they're just the coolest.

Question: What is your next single going to be?

Britney Spears: I think it's going to be "Sometimes."

Question: What is your song "Baby One More Time" about?

Britney Spears: It's basically about a girl breaking up with a guy, and then she totally regrets it and wants him back. The video reflects it how I
see the guy on the bleachers and I want him back. I wanted the video to be something that all kids could relate to. Being in school and then
getting out and dancing.

Question: What was it like to work on "The Mickey Mouse Club"?

Britney Spears: It was a lot of fun because I was like a baby. I was 11 or 12, and was the youngest one on the show, so people catered to
me. Just being in Disney World alone was a lot of fun. There were like 20 kids with me, so we had a lot of fun. The casting director said I was
too young when I first auditioned, but he said I should go to New York, so I did, and pursued dance and theater. Then I went back. Then I came
home and went to high school, but after a year I wanted to go back to New York.

Question: How long did it take to record the album?

Britney Spears: It took, well actually, I was signed when I was 15 and about to turn 16, so it's taken about a year.

Question: What do find most rewarding about performing?

Britney Spears: Probably just the crowd's reaction is the best feeling when you're up there. Even the songs that aren't out yet, they're still
screaming, and that's the best feeling in the world because they know your music. And they're screaming your name!

Online Host: What is in your CD player now?

Britney Spears: In my CD player right now I have Natalie Imbruglia, Sara McLachlan, Brandy, Madonna's Immaculate Collection, and, oh my
god everyone. Matchbox 20, 3rd Eye Blind, Aerosmith, Prince's old stuff like "Raspberry Beret."

Question: Would you ever consider dating a fan, Britney?

Britney Spears: I don't know. I mean I wouldn't consider the person as a fan, you know, if I met the person. I don't know, if I dig the person and
I loved the person, you know, I would.

Question: Where were you when you first heard your song on the radio? What was your initial reaction?

Britney Spears: The first time I heard my song on the radio, I was at home, and I actually was just getting off the airplane, and had just sat
down and it came out. It goobed me! I'm like all freaked out! It was cool! It was the best feeling.

Question: How long have you been dancing, and have you had ballet training?

Britney Spears:I've been dancing all my life. I danced for a while and then I quit and did gymnastics for a while. But then it got to be too much
of my life. It was driving me crazy, so I started singing and then went to New York and took dance from a great teacher.

Online Host: What is the most difficult move you've hit in gymnastics?

Britney Spears: In gymnastics, I could do a half, you know the twisty things, but I couldn't do a double so that's when I quit.

Question: Do you have AOL, or any e-mail address?

Britney Spears: I don't have an e-mail address, but one of my friends that I travel with, she has one, but I don't know what it is. I'm sorry.

Question: What are the names of the dancers from the concert on 12/29?

Britney Spears: The guys' names are Jerry and TJ, and they're the funniest guys in the world.

Question: What's the funniest thing to happen on road with 'N SYNC?

Britney Spears: Probably when I was on stage, and there was a cupcake on the stage, and I was dancing and getting all into it, and then I
stepped on the cupcake and I slipped and fell. Then TJ, one of the dancers, he got it off the stage for me, and I got up and recovered. That was
probably the most embarrassing, and funny, thing on stage.

Question: What do you see yourself doing in the future besides performing?

Britney Spears: Well, right now I want to focus on my music, definitely, because I love music. But I would like to get into some film. A little bit
of film. Yeah, that would be fun.

Question: How long did it take to memorize those dance steps?

Britney Spears: We had two weeks of rehearsal for the dance video. Actually, it was the dancers in New York that had 2 weeks, but when we
came to L.A., the L.A. dancers had 2 days. We don't do the whole thing from beginning to finish, so it wasn't that hard. It took 3 days to film
the video.

Question: How did your parents handle you having a singing career?

Britney Spears: I was really thankful because my parents... you know most parents are the one pushing the child. I was the one, because I'm
from a small town and people were like, "You're sending your daughter to New York? Are you crazy?" But I was the one who wanted to do it,
and I'm thankful because they were so supportive.

Question: Do you have any advice for people like me, who want to be a singer?

Britney Spears: I say go for it. Just believe and work hard! I'm 17 now, and I've been doing it all my life, so it takes time.

Question: I know you have your license, but do you have a car? What kind?

Britney Spears: Actually, I do have my license, but when I got my license, I was 15 and it was right when I got signed to Jive. I was going to
be away for the whole year, so there was no point in me getting a car. But now I'm going to get a car this year. I'm really excited about it!

Question: Are you recognized on the street?

Britney Spears: It's not overwhelming. It's just enough to where it's flattering. I've been with people where it's like they can't go anywhere. It's
ridiculous. It's sad.

Question: Wasn't your video shot in the same high school as "Grease"?

Britney Spears: Yes, it was.

Online Host: How do you feel about being called a young Madonna?

Britney Spears: I like being compared to Madonna, because I totally respect and admire how every time she comes out, she's grown as an
artist. I take that as a compliment.

Question: How did you feel at your first concert?

Britney Spears: I was nervous. I was nervous about how the crowd was going to respond because I'm just the opening act, and they're there to
see 'N SYNC. But so far, they've been supportive!

Question: Do you have any siblings?

Britney Spears: Yes, I have a little sister, she's seven, and I have an older brother who's 21, his name's Brian.

Question: What was the best song you have written and or heard before?

Britney Spears: It's going to be on the B side of the second single. It's called "I'm So Curious." And my favorite song... probably if I had to
say, I'd say "Purple Rain."

Question: Do you ever get frustrated when too many fans won't leave you alone?

Britney Spears: Yeah. I just don't like it when they shove things in your face, "Here do this! Do this!" That gets kind of like, "Please get away!"
Most of the time they're really nice.

Question: Do you have any idols?

Britney Spears: Yeah, I love Whitney Houston, she's incredible. I totally admire her. When she sings, she really feels her music. As far as
writers go, I love Diane Warren, she's an incredible writer. I love her songs.

Question: Was it fun being at the American Music Awards last night?

Britney Spears: Yeah, it was a lot of fun. There was a party afterwards and we all got to hang out.

Question: Do you have any pets?

Britney Spears: Yes, I have a rottweiler, and his name's Cane.

Question: Are you a fan of the Backstreet Boys?

Britney Spears: Yeah. I love their music. Their songs are really good. I'm a big fan.

Question: Did you ever consider doing movies?

Britney Spears: Yeah. I would love that. I've done theater and some regional commercials already.

Question: Who writes all of your songs?

Britney Spears: Max Martin and Eric Foster White wrote the whole album. They are very talented.

Question: What was the best experience of your life so far?

Britney Spears: Probably in L.A. doing the video. It was like everyone was there working for me, and it was so cool. Everyone was so nice.

Online Host: Thank you for joining us. We hope to have you back soon!

Britney Spears: Thank you!