A singer, songwriter, actress Britney Spears was born on December 2, 1981 in Kentwood, Louisiana. For more than a decade, she has been one of the most successful and sometimes controversial solo acts in pop music. For a time, however, she was better known for her personal struggles. She launched her latest comeback in 2008, releasing a new album and setting out a world tour.

The middle of the three children she developed an interest in performing at a young age. When she was 7 or 8 years old her mom would accompany her to perform for everybody in front of the television. Even when she went to school she’s a weird child. Britney rather stay outside instead of playing.

At eight, she auditioned for a spot on the Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the part, but she did eventually achieve one childhood dream showcasing her vocal talents on the popular entertainment competition Star Search in 1992.

After its cancellation, Spears focused on developing her musical career. She eventually landed a contract with Jive Records. In December 1998, Spears released her first single, “Baby One More Time.” The catchy pop tune reached the top of the pop charts at the end of January 1999, propelled in part by its music video. In the video, the teenaged Spears wore a skimpier version of the traditional Catholic schoolgirl uniform, drawing sharp criticism from the parents of her young fans. Despite her racy outfit, Spears claimed to be a sweet, innocent Southern girl at heart.

At the 1999 Billboard Music Awards, Spears won three awards which is the Female Artist of the year, Female Album Artist of the year, and the Best New Artist of the year. She was part of a teenage pop music wave, which included fellow Mickey Mouse Club alumni Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson.

Building upon her meteoric rise, Spears released Oops! I Did It Again in 2000. The recording was an instant No. 1 hit on the album charts, selling more than 1 million copies in the first week. Her personal life was also receiving more media attention, as rumors circulated that she was dating Justin Timberlake, then part of the hit pop group ‘N Sync.

With 2001′s Britney, Spears made the first move toward shedding her virginal image, while also taking her sound in a different direction. The track, “I’m a Slave 4 U,” sounded more like Prince than her bubble-gum pop of the past. Performing “I’m a Slave 4 U” at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, Spears made heads turn by dancing with a seven-foot albino python around her neck and wearing a barely-there costume.

Around this same time, Spears took a leading role in the feature film Crossroads. By January 2004, Spears appeared to be rebelling again—this time, against her intense work schedule. She married her childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas, but the union was annulled two days later. She then got involved with backup dancer Kevin Federline. At the time, Federline’s girlfriend Shar Jackson was pregnant with their second child. Spears’ relationship with Federline only intensified with the media’s scrutiny of her private life.

Spears experienced some troubles in her professional life around this time. She had to undergo surgery to correct a knee injury, forcing her to cancel the last part of her tour. Her personal life, however, seemed to be flourishing. Spears and Federline married on September 18, 2004, in Studio City, California.

Despite her declining sales, Spears seemed contented. She and her husband announced that they were expecting their first child together in April 2005. The new mother found herself in hot water in February 2006, after she was caught on film driving her car with her infant son in her lap. Her parenting skills became a subject of national debate, and she was even rebuked.

By month’s end, Spears returned to the hospital for another evaluation. Rumors circulated that she had bipolar disorder, but that diagnosis has not been confirmed.