What's Wrong with Britney?

The iconic pop star easily secured the number one position on the Billboard 200 albums chart this month, moving 276,000 copies of her new album Femme Fatale in the first week. It helps that the album is a triumph, arguably the best of Spears’ 13-year career, with a roster of über-producers lending their ears to a string of perfectly constructed pop songs. Britney is poised to dominate both airwaves and arenas over the next several months; Nicki Minaj just agreed to join Spears’ North American tour. Yeah, Britney’s back.

But there’s something wrong. Beyond those 12 autotuned tracks, Britney's barely there. Fans may be thrilled with her latest recordings, but others are wondering what happened to the last vestiges of her personality.

America's Sweetheart

Like so many of her pop star predecessors, Britney built her brand on a shockingly sexy image. Not yet 17 when her first single “Baby Hit Me One More Time” broke in a big way, Britney terrified conservative parents everywhere with her constant suggestion of teen sex. In her first Rolling Stone cover, an open-mouthed Spears clutched a pink phone in one hand and a purple Teletubby—the sexually ambiguous Tinky Winky—in the other, her toned and tanned midriff on display atop pink satin sheets.

But offstage, Britney dropped the vixen act in favor of the even more lucrative Relatable Teen. Spears’ public persona at the time was bubbly, flirtatious, spectacularly non-threatening. She cheerfully giggled at reports that she was romantically involved with her former Mickey Mouse Club co-star Justin Timberlake for years; the duo later played up their coupledom with matching outfits (we’ll never forgive Justin’s denim suit).

As Spears matured, her relationship with the public transformed as well. After she and Timberlake parted ways, Spears faced constant speculation over the nature of their split, with public interest bolstered by Timberlake’s highly suggestive music video for “Cry Me a River.”

Federline and Spears (Getty) Spears continued to distance herself from her squeaky clean image with a quickie Vegas wedding to childhood friend Jason Alexander (it was quickly annulled), followed by a scandalous relationship with one of her backup dancers, Kevin Federline, whose girlfriend was pregnant with their second child at the time.

Despite all the raised eyebrows, Britney bought herself an engagement ring, got hitched and had two children in the span of two years. Somewhere in the mix, Federline decided to launch an ill-fated rap career.

Britney offered her public support with an introduction at the Teen Choice Awards, but she filed for divorce a few months after his debut performance (which was, in all honesty, a waste of a perfectly talented backup dancer). The world understood, but sympathy for Britney was short-lived.

Britney Spears and current boyfriend Jason Trawick attend Sean Preston's little league baseball game at West Hills baseball. During the game Britney was seen holding onto a friend's baby and hitting the snack bar with Jason.
(April 17, 2011 - Photo by PacificCoastNews.com)