Happy Birthday Britney! A Look Back at the Pop Icon’s Career

Britney Spears 2nd grade young yearbook photo 1990

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Britney Spears, 2nd Grade, 1990

Before she was cast on The Mickey Mouse Club, Britney Spears was just a regular kid at the Park Lane Academy in McComb, Mississippi.

Britney Spears 3rd grade young yearbook photo 1991

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Britney Spears, 3rd Grade, 1991

Britney grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana, but attended the nearby Park Lane Academy in Mississippi. At school, she had friends, but she thought everyone was too cliquey. Obviously she was always meant for bigger things than she could find at Park Lane or Kentwood!

britney spears star search singing photo 1992

Star Search, 1992

When Britney was 10, she was a contestant on Star Search. But she lost to 12-year-old Marty Thomas. Good call, Star Search.

britney spears justin timberlake mickey mouse club photo 1993

The Mickey Mouse Club, 1993

Britney finally got her big break when she was cast in the final season of The Mickey Mouse Club. Her costars that year included Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and, of course, future beau Justin Timberlake.

britney spears 7th grade young yearbook photo 1993

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Britney Spears, 7th Grade, 1993

The mayor of Kentwood declared April 24, 1993, Britney Spears Day, and henceforward, it shall be known.

britney spears baby one more time album cover photo 1999

…Baby One More Time, 1999

Britney had just celebrated her 17th birthday when …Baby One More Time was released in January 1999. Doesn’t she look so sweet and innocent on the cover?

britney spears baby one more time video school girl photo 1999

…Baby One More Time Music Video, 1999

Originally the record company wanted to release an animated music video for this song (!?), but it was Britney’s idea to go with the Catholic schoolgirl theme instead.

britney spears rolling stone magazine cover 1999

Rolling Stone, 1999

When Britney was on the cover of Rolling Stone in her underwear, the American Family Association called for “God-loving Americans to boycott stores selling Britney’s albums.” Yeah, that boycott sure worked. …Baby One More Time went 14 times platinum and has sold more than 26 million records worldwide.

britney spears heart to heart book cover photo 2000

Heart to Heart, by Britney & Lynne Spears, 2000

In 2000, Britney and her mom Lynne wrote a book together called Heart to Heart to talk about “life, love, fame, and following your dreams.”

britney spears mtv vma performance photo 2000

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MTV VMAs, 2000

After Britney performed “Oops!...I Did It Again” at the 2000 VMAs, host Marlon Wayans said: “Girl done went from The Mickey Mouse Club to the strip club.”

britney spears mtv vma award performance python snake photo 2001

Scott Gries/ImageDirect

MTV VMAs, 2001

In 2001, how could Britney possibly top her performance from the previous year’s VMAs? That’s easy: Just sing “I’m a Slave 4 U” with a giant python.

britney spears justin timberlake matching denim outfit photo 2001

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Britney and Justin, 2001

They always say that the couple that wears all denim together stays together. But somehow Britney and Justin Timberlake’s love wasn’t meant to be. Back in 2001, we thought they were going to last forever!

britney spears michael jackson way you make me feel photo 2001

Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Celebration, 2001

To celebrate 30 years as a solo artist, Michael Jackson put on a special two-night concert in New York City. He invited all of the big names, and Britney joined him for a duet of “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

madonna britney spears mtv vma kiss photo 2003

Scott Gries/Getty Images

MTV VMAs, 2003

She had already stripped onstage. She had already performed with a python. What else could Britney possibly do at the VMAs to surprise us? Oh, she could make out with Madonna. Yeah, that works.

britney spears jason alexander little wedding chapel wedding photo 2004

The Little Wedding Chapel, Las Vegas, 2004

Just after New Year’s in 2004, Britney was in Las Vegas with her childhood friend Jason Alexander, and you know how these things can happen. One minute you’re having a good time at the craps table, and the next minute you’re married. The marriage was annulled a mere 55 hours later.

britney spears kevin federline photo 2005

Matthew Simmons/Getty Images for Rolling Stone

Kevin Federline, 2005

Just a few months after the debacle in Las Vegas, Britney started dating backup dancer Kevin Federline, and three months later they were engaged. The pair married in September 2004 and had two children, but they divorced in 2006.

britney spears naked pregnancy photo harpers bazaar 2006

Harper’s Bazaar, 2006

When she was preggo with her second child (Jayden), Britney pulled a Demi Moore and posed nude on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar.

britney spears how I met your mother photo 2008

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

How I Met Your Mother, 2008

The mid-2000s were not a great time for Britney enthusiasts. She was bald. She was freaking out. She was in rehab. But as always, she bounced back. On the comeback trail, she filmed two episodes of How I Met Your Mother as Abby, a woman obsessed with Ted. (Of course, we prefer her previous screen work in the film Crossroads.)

britney spears sean jayden lion king family photo 2011

Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Disney's THE LION KING At Mandalay Bay

The Lion King, 2011

Britney definitely mellowed as her 20s were coming to an end. She’s still making music, and she’s busy being a mom for her two kids, Sean and Jayden.

David Livingston/Getty Images

Jason Trawick, 2011

In 2010, Britney started dating her agent Jason Trawick, but the pair split in January 2013, after getting engaged in 2012.

britney spears rihanna billboard awards photo 2011

Ethan Miller/Getty Images for ABC

Billboard Awards, 2011

Britney is going strong, even after all these years. In 2011, she scored her fourth and fifth number-one songs with “Hold It Against Me” and her remix of “S&M” with Rihanna. Here’s to 30 more years of hits, Brit-Brit.

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The X Factor, 2012

Post Femme Fatale, Britney signed up to be a judge on season two of The X Factor in May 2012. Her $15 million salary made her the highest judge on a singing competition in television history. She didn't return for the third season.

Britney Spears Official Facebook

Britney Jean, 2013

After Britney was featured on will.i.am's 2012's single "Scream & Shout," everyone was buzzing whether Spears was returning to the studio. Britney Jean will be her eighth studio album with singles "Work Bitch" and "Perfume" already released. Britney has said Britney Jean is her most personal album yet and includes an awesome duet with younger sister, Jamie-Lynn.

She also announced that starting in December 2013, she would begin a two year residency show in Vegas called Britney: Piece of Me.

The Intimate Britney Spears, 2014

While she's still doing her Vegas residency, Spears also finally launched her lingerie line this fall. She's been working on the line for the last 2 1/2 years.