There's a reason Britney Spears continues to be one of the most beloved artists of all time.
Ever since she was a child, Spears has been an electric force in showbusiness.
She continues to reign as the "Princess of Pop" after decades of making highly memorable music.
Spears has also become legendary in recent years for her personal
strength and resilience in overcoming some very publicized obstacles -- some
of which are detailed in the new documentary "Britney Vs. Spears."
Her ability to remain at the top of the A-list and continuously evolve, while always remaining
true to her individual spirit, makes Spears one of the most impressive talents in the
industry. ﻿So to celebrate Spears' career, here's a look at some of her most iconic moments ever.
Spears was always a natural when it came to performing for a crowd. ﻿Born in Mississippi,
her family later moved to New York. In 1992, she performed on the hit reality
competition series "Star Search" and starred in several major commercials at a very young age.
Things really progressed when she became one of the rising mega talents who appeared on "The
All-New Mickey Mouse Club" in 1993, performing alongside a bevy of other eventual superstars.
Spears nabbed her first record deal at the age of 15,
and it wasn't long before her name was known around the globe.
Few singers have ever had quite as big a breakout as Spears did when her first song
hit airwaves in late 1998. Her leading single, "...Baby One More Time," was a massive success,
and her accompanying music video was the most-requested ever on "Total Request Live."
"And I'm joined now by the one and only Britney Spears."
Not only did she dominate the charts with her unforgettable number, but she also got
her first two Grammy nominations, one of which was for her pop vocal performance in the song.
And she set a world record for best selling album in the United States by a female artist.
Credit goes to Spears for conceptualizing the iconic video for "...Baby One More Time" -- a
video that continues to rack up millions of views. She's the one who suggested that they
make a video featuring her and other dancers in classic school girl gear with a modern twist.
The song instantly cemented her status as a pop sensation,
and her subsequent singles from the album, "Sometimes" and "I Was Born To
Make You Happy" further showed off her vocal versatility and utter command of the screen.
The album's third single release, "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
was also the leading track on the popular 1999 romantic comedy film "Drive Me Crazy,"
making Spears more or less the voice that ushered in the new millennium.
In 2000, Spears kicked off her second studio album release with another dance-pop sensation
and energetic video drop in "Oops! … I Did Again." Spears has since continued to
impress with her catchy music and inventive music video performances that have become a hallmark
of her artistry. She even won a Grammy for her unforgettable video for the 2004 song "Toxic."
Put simply, Spears has been smart right from the start about coupling
her exciting new releases with edgy and iconic visual dynamics
to ensure everyone would take notice of her work for decades to come.
Spears has also consistently brought her A-game to the stage to become one of the most memorable
performers, even in evenings packed with other acts. Her live performances combine pitch-perfect
music with sheer style presence. From the moment she catapulted onto the A-list, Spears has
always been committed to maintaining a unique fashion sense that's as iconic as her music.
Her stunning series of performances at the MTV Video Music Awards are still among the best ever.
From her debut at the 1999 awards to her sleek tan suit at the 2000 VMAs,
to the albino Burmese python that joined her for her performance of
"I'm a Slave 4 U" at the 2001 show, Spears has never not rocked the Video Music Awards.
When she returned to the VMAs in 2003, she joined the stage with Madonna, Christina
Aguilera, and Missy Elliott, even sharing an unforgettable smooch with Madonna on-stage.
Spears' pop culture dominance has also earned her a lot of screen time in Hollywood.
"It's Britney Spears!"
﻿In addition to being a sought-after commercial star for brands like Pepsi and Candie's,
she has also flexed her acting chops in quite a few memorable screen roles as well.
In the 2002 cult classic "Crossroads," which was written by Shonda Rhimes,
Spears was one of the three film leads alongside Zoe Saldana and Taryn Manning
and held her own in the tender coming-of-age adventure story.
She also enjoyed some unforgettable guest roles on the small screen,
including her turn as Amber-Louise in "Will & Grace," her recurring role as Abby in "How I ﻿Met
﻿Your Mother," and her meta roles as herself in series like "Jane the Virgin" and "Glee."
"You're sweet. And your breath smells really good."
"So does yours. And you know why? Because this is a fantasy." "Wow."
If that wasn't enough, ﻿Spears eventually returned to her reality competition roots
as a judge on the sophomore season of "The X Factor ﻿USA."
For more than two decades, Spears has consistently made the world sit up and take notice,
constantly raising the bar with her magnetic presence on the screen,
stage, and red carpets. It's undeniable: She's as iconic as they come.
Thanks for watching. Click the links in our video to watch more from Netflix Film Club.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest exclusive videos.
Plus hit the bell so you don’t miss a single one.