Britney Spears has been in the spot light since she was 11-years-old. The pop star has had many ups and down in the media throughout her years as an entertainer. Her most notable “low” was in 2007. During that year, she divorced from her husband, Kevin Federline, entered rehab, left rehab, shaved her entire head, attacked paparazzi with an umbrella, entered rehab again, and lost custody of her two baby boys.
In early 2008, the pop star’s erratic behavior escalated. The singer began dating paparazzi, Adnan Ghalib, and continued to surround herself with people who took advantage of her deranged actions. One night, the singer refused to give up control of her children after a visit. By locking herself and the boys in a bathroom, Spears made a scene and was committed to a psychiatric ward. After this incident, the court placed Spears under temporary conservatorship of her father, James Spears. Her father was also given complete control of her assets. The pop star was thus diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, providing more insight as to why Spears behaved in such spasmodic ways.
Since Spears hit her self-proclaimed “rock bottom,” the singer has been making a comeback. Unlike Chris Brown, Spears has hired a professional management team. Today, everything the singer does is carefully planned and monitored. However, some are beginning to speculate perhaps Spears is too medicated and too supervised.
Spears just recently released her seventh album, Femme Fatale, on March 25th. Spears’ management team has been promoting her new album in a variety of ways. The star made a surprise appearance in Las Vegas this past weekend as an act with the reality star and disk jockey, DJ Pauly D. Spears’ upcoming North American tour was also announced this week. However, the proclamation has sparked some controversy. While Enrique Iglesias was scheduled to go on tour with Spears, he has since pulled out. It is still being speculated whether Iglesias will rejoin Spears’ tour. Along with the drama surrounding Iglesias, the ticket prices announced for the concert series are incredibly steep—with the cheapest tickets starting at $95. Personally, I think Spears’ management should think about some of their decisions to make sure the tour is successful.
I Am The Femme Fatale is the title of the documentary Spears recently filmed for MTV. This documentary further promotes the singer’s upcoming album and tour. This documentary is pre-taped and thus carefully cut to make the singer look professional and exceptional. Spears had few interviews since the release of her album. Much like the documentary, interviews given by Spears are carefully rehearsed and, in some cases, pre-recorded. In fact, certain radio stations and talk show hosts are lashing out at Spears’ management for holding such restrictions.
Celebrities today receive so much attention in the spotlight that they can become obsessed. Stars like Charlie Sheen, who only recently discovered his fixation with fame, will talk to anyone who will listen. However, there is a large difference between Sheen’s and Spears’ management. Those surrounding Sheen allow, and almost enforce, such behavior. Spears, who is partially influenced by her father and press team, is now very guarded in the limelight. This celebrity trend is possibly due in part to today’s technology. The singer can now perfectly edit her singing voice, her interviews, and videos of her performances. While I enjoy Spears’ new album, I think the singer should take some time to get back to her roots. I miss the pop star who’s music and performances were more organic and carefree. It is time for Spears’ “people” to let her Do Somethin’ more natural and true to herself.