1 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Freshly-plucked from the Mickey Mouse Club, Spears began to pave her own path here in 1998.
2 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Making her mark in Hollywood in 2000, her mother Lynne was always by her side.
3 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Publicly in love with then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake, Britney had it all in 2000.
4 of 24 Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
Double-fisted with Billboard Music Awards in 2000, colorful Spears was at the top of her game.
5 of 24 Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com
Pictured here with Justin Timberlake in 2001, Britney never seemed happier.
6 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
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Making the MTV Video Music Awards memorable in 2001, Britney performed with a live snake around her neck.
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Seen here with Michael Jackson at Madison Square Garden in 2001, Spears has performed with some of music's bigwigs.
8 of 24 John Shearer/WireImage.com
Surprising viewers of the 2003 VMAs, Britney and Madonna locked lips on stage.
9 of 24 Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
Britney received a Walk of Fame star in 2003 when her career was still going strong.
10 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Seemingly content here in 2004, Britney and Kevin Federline shared the spotlight.
11 of 24 Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com
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Hand-in-hand with K-Fed in 2005, expectant Spears smiled wide next to now-pregnant sister Jamie Lynn.
12 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Britney was all smiles posing for the cameras with Kevin in 2006.
13 of 24 HotShotsWorldwide/Splash News
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Spotted driving with baby Sean Preston on her lap in 2006, many questioned Spears' parenting abilities.
14 of 24 Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com
Britney looked happy here with first son Sean Preston in 2006.
15 of 24 Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Pregnant with her second child here at the Teen Choice Awards in 2006, Britney is glowing on stage.
16 of 24 James Devaney/WireImage.com
Spears was seen ice skating at NYC's Rockefeller Center in 2006 after divorcing Kevin Federline.
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In 2007, Britney shocked her fans after shaving her own head.
18 of 24 HotShotsWorldwide/Splash News
Here with her two sons in 2007, Britney clearly had her hands full.
19 of 24 Chris Weeks/WireImage.com
Photographed with Mindfreak Criss Angel in 2007, talk followed about a possible hookup.
20 of 24 John Shearer/WireImage.com
Performing at the 2007 VMAs, Spears received mixed reviews after returning to the stage.
21 of 24 Matthew Simmons/WireImage.com
Britney Spears arrives for a child custody hearing in Los Angeles, October 26, 2007.
22 of 24 Alexandra Wyman/WireImage.com
Surrounded by friends (or fans) at Heidi Klum's Halloween party, Spears looked happy enough.
23 of 24 Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com
Out celebrating her 26th birthday last month, Britney loves to be a social butterfly.
24 of 24 Hot Shots Worldwide/Splash News
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Caught on camera with paparazzo Adnan on Dec. 22, 2007, rumors flew about a possible fling. For more photos, check out our Britney Spears page!