Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American pop singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, and author. Her debut album ...Baby One More Time, released in early 1999, propelled her to international stardom. It spawned several singles, including "...Baby One More Time", which is her only #1 Billboard Hot 100 single. She released her second studio album Oops!... I Did It Again in spring of 2000 with continued success. Her third album Britney was released in fall 2001, followed by the release of her fourth album In The Zone in fall 2003. The album's breakout single "Toxic" was a worldwide success and has won Spears her first Grammy Award. The collection Greatest Hits: My Prerogative was released in fall 2004 followed by a remix album B in the Mix: The Remixes a year later and a brief career break. Her newest album Blackout was released worldwide in October 2007, with the first single "Gimme More" becoming another worldwide hit.

Spears has sold over eighty-three million records worldwide according to Zomba Label Group. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) ranks her as the eighth best-selling female artist in American music history, having sold 31 million albums in the U.S. Spears's fame in the music industry has led her to experiment with other forms of media, including film and television. As an actress, she is most noted for her starring role in the 2002 movie CrossroadsSpears has also made guest appearances in various movie and television programs. Her success as a singer led her to several high-profile advertising deals and endorsements, including her own Elizabeth Arden perfume line.