Mousketeer. Naughty schoolgirl. Snake charmer. Mommy. Ringmaster. Criminal. Britney Spears has tried it all over the last 30 years, but on her birthday we wanted to honor one part of the irreplaceable artist that’s never changed: her big ol’ Southern heart. So on her big 3-0, Act’s gonna focus on all the glittery goodness Brit-Brit has spread -- so here are the most memorable moments when Miss Spears exercised her impressive pop powers to make a difference!
+ She Wasn't 16, But Britney Showed Us How Hard It Is to Be a Young Mom
Baby mama drama is an understatement when it comes to Britney’s motherhood. Through all the ups and downs, however, she actually did millions of hormonally crazed kids a big service. Mama Spears showed her fans how seriously tough it is to raise a family, how important it is to really think things through, and who you’re doing things with when it comes to starting a family.
Before there was Teen Mom to show us the rough reality of having a baby when you still feel like one yourself, there was the custody saga of Brit-Brit and her two boys, Sean Preston and Jayden James. At 30, Britney seems to have the steps down to being a good mamma -- heck, she’s even giving advice to the very-preggers Beyonce. We’re really rooting for music’s hottest MILF to nail this routine – the most important in her life – for the next 30 years.
+ Pop Patriotism: Britney Responds to 9/11
When the towers came down and our world changed forever, Spears was actually in Australia promoting her new album, Britney. Like many artists affected by this somber time in our nation’s history, she respectfully canceled her promo tour, came back to the States and regrouped – and when she was ready to take to the stage again, she did it with a special purpose. She joined many stars on the 2001 remake of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" which benefited the American Red Cross' 9/11 Fund and Artists Against AIDS.
The compassionate singer also announced that her Dream Within A Dream Tour would send $1 from every ticket sold (plus proceeds from exclusive merch and auctions of front row tickets) to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund, an organization that supports the children of the brave firefighters and policemen who lost their lives responding to the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center. After the 31-show run was over, the patriotic pop star was able to contribute $1 million to the devastated families of real American heroes. Not bad for a small-town girl from Louisiana.
+ Brit Bounces Back & Comes Out Stronger
In a flurry of thigh-highs and midriff tops, Britney Spears skyrocketed to mega stardom – and the harsh pop spotlight has been blowing up her spot ever since. The boundary-pushing pop princess was known for her over-the-top approach, so when the burned-out bombshell hit rock bottom, she did it in her characteristic balls-to-the-wall fashion.
Many wondered what was going on. But the sassy Miss Spears wasn’t done and she cleaned up her act, worked out those famous abs and staged a comeback over the last few years that was a straight-up Circus run by one fierce Femme Fatale. Say what you want, but the irrepressible starlet helped make it clear that even if you’re going through tough times, with the support of family and friends you can bounce back in a MAJOR way. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: It’s Britney, b*tch!
P.S. Did you know that half of all college students have felt so depressed they couldn’t function? Visit Half of Us for tips and resources for you or a friend.
P.P.S. Cute family photo alert!
+ Brit vs. Leo: Guess Who Gave More in 2005?
Leonardo DiCaprio is a pretty high-profile celeb activist, so some of y’all might be surprised that Lady Spears actually beat him in donations back in 2005. Britney gave away $590,000, including $350,000 to relief programs related to Hurricane Katrina and $175,000 to Habitat for Humanity while Leo contributed a measly $48,025 in comparison. What’s even more impressive about Brit’s generosity is that she gave all this dough away while her whacky marriage to Kevin Federline fell apart (cue expensive divorce settlement) and her career was sputtering to a screeching halt. In contrast, Leo aka the King of the World was basically rolling in it – making $12 to $15 million per movie. When the going gets tough, the tough give back – and that’s why we love us some Spears.
+ A Southern Belle Gives Back After Katrina
Before she was the biggest pop star in the known universe, Britney Spears was just a small-town girl from Louisiana. So when her homestate was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, the down-home diva remembered her roots and immediately started contributing to relief efforts. Most recently, she became the ambassador for the St. Bernard Project – a nonprofit that’s building homes for families displaced by the devastating natural disaster. This May, the divine Miss S hosted "An Evening of Southern Style" – a benefit featuring fried delicacies served up by her father (plus her own signature sweet tea recipe) and a slew of star-studded guests such as Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez. Bless her heart -- Britney really is back, y’all!
Source: MTV.com