(You drive me) Crazy: Britney Spears through the years

Calm before the storm

Way back in 1999, Britney was among a burgeoning crop of young female pop artists vying to make an impact on the music scene. Along with Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson, these clean, sunny teens would signal a shift away from the aggro-masculinity of rap/rock towards the feel-good sounds of tween-pop.

Ironically, Britney would go on to allegedly have a fling with the king of rap/rock, Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst, years later. Perhaps the first outward signs of mental instability?