Curious fragrance line

Spears released her first fragrance, "Curious", in September 2004. It is a floral scent with vanilla and musk. "Curious" is currently ranked the #1 fragrance in department stores. The fragrance had the biggest debut in sales in history from Elizabeth Arden. Spears is expected to earn anywhere from $10 million to $28 million from the fragrance. The fragrance ended up the #1 fragrance of 2004 in department stores.

Greatest Hits: My Prerogative

Spears released her first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, on November 9, 2004. The album debuted at #4 in the US charts, selling 255,000 copies in its first week. Spears also notched up the biggest selling first week for a greatest hits compilation by a female artist in UK chart history (115,341 copies), smashing the first week sales of previous high profile collections from Whitney Houston, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Céline Dion, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Shania Twain. The collection includes "...Baby One More Time", "Oops...I Did It Again" and "Toxic", as well as two new songs and a cover of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative". As of Spring 2005, the set has sold 7 million copies worldwide.

Original Doll

On December 29, 2004, Spears did a live interview on KIIS FM in America and stated that her new album was already half done and that it would be named Original Doll, appropriately enough for her changing image. Additionally, after the interview, the first single from the new album, called "Mona Lisa", was played. She announced that the album would probably be out in the late spring or early summer. However, Jive Records later released a statement saying the album would not be released until at least next year (2006). Spears also called into TRL U.S. in early 2005 and mentioned that there would probably be no new album for this year, though she did say that she was working on a song for an upcoming show. Although reports claimed the song for a Madonna special for MTV, Madonna's representatives would later dismiss those rumors.

Controversy

Spears' success has rested on a mixed fanbase. Millions of girls became enthusiasts for her work, adopting her as an idol. It also appears that many young men are also fans. Writers on popular music for the mainstream press, however, have generally been dismissive of Spears' music, considering it to be commercial and shallow.

In October 2003, Maryland First Lady Kendel Ehrlich, the wife of Governor Robert Ehrlich, was criticized for saying that she would like to "shoot Britney Spears" in an address to a domestic violence conference. After her comments made national headlines, she was forced to apologize.

While young girls seldom address this debate in the same terms as their parents, many are divided on whether they consider Britney Spears appealing, especially in the light of more recent developments in her career.

For her part, Spears has responded to their concerns by stating that she is "not their babysitter. It's the parents' responsibility. If you don't like it, turn the T.V. off. The only person I want to be a role model is to my sister, Jamie Lynn." (From ABC's Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer).

The criticisms leveled against Spears are similar to those Madonna received at the start of her career. Indeed, Madonna's early fans belonged to a similar demographic to Spears' current fanbase. Spears' show-stealing kiss with Madonna received much media attention, as have her recent marriages. Her provocative image and seemingly down-to-earth personality have contributed greatly to her success.

In common with a number of other popular female figures in show business, Britney Spears' private life has attracted considerable media attention. Indeed, some people feel that she has courted it by cultivating, in her early years at least, a chaste, God-fearing and "wholesome" image somewhat at odds not only with the traditional pressures, temptations and opportunities of "pop 'n' roll"...