Timeline: Britney's ups and downs The life and times of Britney Spears:

• Dec. 2, 1981: Britney Spears born in Kentwood, La., the second of three children of father Jamie, a building contractor, and mother Lynne, a second-grade teacher.

• 1991: Spears, her mother and her little sister, Jamie Lynn, go to New York for the next three summers. Spears studies at the Professional Performing Arts School and the off-Broadway Dance Center. The move pays off with commercials and a role in the off-Broadway comedy "Ruthless."

• 1992: Chosen for "The All New Mickey Mouse Club" along with Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, Justin Timberlake and J.C. Chasez.

• 1994: "The All New Mickey Mouse Club" canceled.

• December 1996: Lands development deal with Jive Records.

• October 1998: Releases first single, "... Baby One More Time." By December it sells 500,000 copies.

• January 1999: Debut album and single each hit No. 1; album goes platinum and is the second-highest seller of the year.

• April 15, 1999: The 17-year-old Spears appears on Rolling Stone's cover in a bra and hot pants.
• May 16, 2000: Releases second album, "Oops! ... I Did It Again." Sells almost 8 million copies in 2000 alone.

• Sept. 7, 2000: Covers The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" at the MTV Video Music Awards, stripping down to a nude-colored glimmering bikini top and matching pants.

• Sept. 6, 2001: At the MTV awards, performs "I'm A Slave 4 U" with a 7-foot albino python around her neck.

• Feb. 15, 2002: Stars in the film "Crossroads," earning a worst actress Razzie Award.

• March 2002: After dating fellow Mousketeer alum Justin Timberlake for three years, announces she's "not in an intense relationship with anyone."

• July 2002: Tops Forbes magazine's most powerful celebrities list, beating out Tiger Woods, Steven Spielberg, Madonna, U2, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and Tom Hanks.

• Aug. 28, 2003: Live at the MTV Awards, Madonna gives Spears an open-mouthed kiss.

• Nov. 18, 2003: Album "In the Zone" released at the top of the charts.

• Jan. 3, 2004: At 5:30 a.m. in Las Vegas, marries childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander. Wearing a baseball cap and torn jeans, she's escorted down the aisle by a limousine driver at the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Strip. The marriage is annulled after 55 hours.

• Summer 2004: Starts dating backup dancer Kevin Federline, who has a child and another on the way by actress Shar Jackson.

• Sept. 18, 2004: Marries Federline, 26.

• May 2005: Spears and Federline star in their own UPN reality show, "Britney and Kevin: Chaotic," featuring private home videos.

• Sept. 14, 2005: Gives birth to Sean Preston Federline.

• Feb. 7: Photos of Spears driving her car with infant son Sean Preston on her lap are published. Authorities visit home to investigate.

• April 1: Sean Preston falls from his high chair; authorities return to her home.

• May 9: Confirms second pregnancy on "Late Night With David Letterman."

• May 19: Almost drops baby in stumble in front of media as she holds child in one hand and glass of water in another. Later seen in tears.

• June 15: In a wide-ranging, rambling interview with Matt Lauer on "Dateline," a pregnant Spears says her marriage is "awesome," blames media scrutiny for making her an "emotional wreck." Later mocked for incessant gum chewing, sobbing, and overdone makeup.

• June 29: Appears nude on cover of Harper's Bazaar.

• Sept. 12: Gives birth to another baby boy, declines to release name.

• October 31: Appears Federline's debut album. It does not top the charts.

• Nov. 6: Newly trim Spears appears on "Late Night With David Letterman" sans wedding ring.

• Nov. 7: Files for divorce.