The people who watched her grow up — far too quickly — haven’t heard much about Britney Spears for a while. But a new book by her ex-husband brought back a lot of memories about her skyrocket to fame and the price that it exacted.
Spears grew up in Kentwood, La., and attended Parklane Academy in McComb for several years. In 1993 and 1994 she was in the cast of a new version of “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club,” working with future stars Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling.
Soon after, she made several hit albums, a couple of movies, got married and divorced three times, had two sons, had a show in Las Vegas and got put under a conservatorship in Los Angeles. Just like all the other girls her age from Kentwood.
The new book, by second husband Kevin Federline, is “You Thought You Knew.” A review in The Washington Post said Federline is critical of many of his ex-wife’s actions and decisions, especially as they relate to their two boys, who are now 19 and 20, if you can believe that.
I’ll stay away from all that and instead tell a few stories about just how odd it was at times to have a global celebrity from this part of the world.
From our archives, her first mention in the paper was in a Parklane honor roll list in 1991. That same year, as a 9-year-old fourth grader, she competed in the “Star Search” TV show. That was the first story we wrote about her.
There were more honor rolls, and she was the 1996 homecoming court freshman maid. And then, in 1999 she released her first album, “...Baby One More Time,” which wound up selling 30 million copies. Her Wikipedia page says it is the best-selling debut album by any artist.
She followed that up with another huge hit, the 2000 album “Oops! I Did It Again,” which sold 20 million copies. Along the way, she made sexually provocative music videos and generated headlines with sensual performances at awards shows, all of which made her lots of money but guaranteed an excess of attention that had to wear down a girl who had barely turned 20.
There was even a Rolling Stone magazine photo session at Parklane after her first album came out that I think turned out to be a little racier than anyone expected.
One thing I remember about those first two albums is how young British reporters would come into the office every few months asking for information about Britney. I guess their bosses thought we covered her like crazy, but we didn’t need to. News about her was on The Associated Press wire all the time.
Her one decision that affected me was her first marriage, an impulsive Vegas fling with a childhood friend. Britney’s handlers got the union annulled right away.
I wrote an editorial criticizing her for treating the institution of marriage recklessly. That afternoon I got a phone call from someone claiming to be Britney’s father. I have no idea if it really was him. He thanked me for what I wrote, which was not what I expected him to say.
The Post review says Federline’s book makes it clear there was a very dark side to the obsessive coverage of a teenage girl. It certainly was relentless and intrusive, but either Britney or somebody close to her allowed it and maybe even encouraged it.
I think the troubles she went through were a what-not-to-do guide for future stars like Taylor Swift.
Whatever else anyone thinks, though, Britney Spears deserves credit for the talent that for a long time made her one of the most watched people in the world. She’s definitely had her ups and downs, but her abilities cannot be denied.
Not bad for a member of the 1996 homecoming court.
