...News... In case you missed it here's a scene from Britney's recent performance at the MTV Video Awards. Lots of jungle costumes, belly dancing and a huge yellow python made the appearance memorable. As for I'm A Slave 4 U, it's different from her usual singles. Less poppy and more danceable perhaps... Can't wait to hear the song on the radio...

A is for... American Music Awards

The American Music Awards, held in January 2001 and decided by US record buyers, were presented by Britney Spears and rapper LL Cool J. Although she didn't win any awards herself Britney did manage to show off an extensive part of her wardrobe - she changed no less than seven times during the event.

B is for... Baby One More Time

Lyrics

The song which grabbed US and international audiences by their school-ties and made them take notice of the girl from Kentwood was of course Baby One More Time. The idea for the video was Britney's who thought the original concept (a comic book heroine) a little "dorky". Filmed at Rydell High School, California where Grease was also filmed, the video combined high school fashion, dance and sports with a lot of sex-appeal making Britney a star overnight. The song was number one in the US in November 1998, and in the UK in February 1999.

C is for... Crazy

Britney's third single was (You Drive Me) Crazy which peaked at no 3 in the US and no 5 in the UK. The video was set at a teenage dance and also featured Sabrina, the Teenage Witch star, Melissa Joan Hart.

D is for... Disney Club

Britney auditioned twice for TV's Disney Club as a young girl. Although she was unsuccessful the first time, (the producers believed she was too young at age eight), she was instantly accepted three years later and became their youngest ever presenter. When the show was cancelled two years later Britney found it difficult to adjust back to ordinary life but she only saw this period as a set-back and had no doubt her future lay in the entertainment arena. While with Disney she made some important friends such as Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez who would both later form part of 'NSync.

D is also for... Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know

The video for Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know was easily her raunchiest yet with Britney cavorting around a beach, a camp-fire and even halfway up a tree with a muscle-bound beau. Lots of exposed flesh, loose clothes and even a glimpse of butt cleavage (his not hers) - no wonder Britney's mum was a little shocked.

E is for... Eric Foster White

Co-producer and songwriter on Baby One More Time, Eric Foster White has also worked with Whitney Houston and the Backstreet Boys. He recently co-wrote and produced the British no 1 for boyband A1, Same Old Brand New You.

F is for... First Album

Baby One More Time was also the name of Britney's first album which topped the US charts in December 1998 and which peaked at no 2 in the UK in January 2000. Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden with Ace of Base producer Max Martin the album was a huge commercial success.

G is for... Growing Up

Britney Jean Spears is the middle sibling of parents Jamie and Lynne Spears. She was born on December 2nd, 1981. Her father is a building contractor while her mother was a second-grade teacher. Her older brother is Bryan while sister Jamie Lynn is ten years younger. Although her parents have been criticised for pushing their daughter into show-business Britney says that it has always been her pushing them.

H is for... Born To Make You Happy

Born To Make You Happy scored Britney her second UK no 1, in January 2000. However the costumes worn in the video attracted some adverse attention and Britney was labelled the worst dressed singer in pop by some Hollywood style gurus.

I is for... Implants

Another aspect of Britney which drew attention from critics was her sudden maturity in the breast department. What many had forgotten however was that Britney was little more than a child when she recorded her early videos and that there can be big differences between a 16 and 18-year-old body. Britney denies any surgery and for a while was repulsed by many journalists who seemed to be more interested in looking at her chest than asking her questions...

J is for... Jive Records

At the age of fifteen Britney was signed to Jive Records. At that time the record label had been keen to sign a girl singer. The Spice Girls had opened up the pop market worldwide and while boy- and girl-bands were all the rage, company executives felt that the time was right to launch teen solo artists. Multi-talented Britney with dancing, singing and acting skills and bursting with enthusiasm and personality fit their bill exactly. Recently the record company have shown their appreciation of their star by giving her a private jet to make world tours and appearances easier.

K is for... Kentwood

The small town of Kentwood, Louisiana is perhaps the last place you would expect a worldwide superstar to come from but in fact her rural upbringing has helped keep Britney's feet on the ground. It's the type of place where everyone knows everyone else, and whenever she gets the chance to go home, Britney still likes to hang out with her old friends and shop at the local malls.

L is for... Lucky

The second single taken from the 'Oops' album, Lucky debuted at no 5 in the British charts in August, 2000. The video perhaps shows Britney's aspirations as an actress and also gave the singer a chance to wear more adult outfits such as a semi-see-through negligé and a backless evening gown. The song is a simple tear-jerking anthem, sure to have any pre-teen belting it out at family gatherings. In less talented hands the song could have sounded trite but the raw emotion in Britney's vocals lifts the ballad to greater heights.

M is for... Max Martin

Part of the credit for Britney's success has to go to Swedish producer/composer Max Martin. Early in the planning for her first album Britney was sent to Sweden to work with Max and together they came up with tracks that would blow away a generation. Max is seen as something of a hitmaker having previously worked with Ace of Base, Whitney Houston, Backstreet Boys and 'NSync. In 2000 he also helped revitalise Bon Jovi's popularity.