Dear Diary...

"Don't be the last to know. Britney confides in worldpop everything about her relationship with her family, how much she loves Shania Twain and exactly what makes this pop princess so special. We're sure Justin wouldn't mind adding a comment or two …
"
Inner emotions - It's a family thing
worldpop: Since you co-wrote Dear Diary for Oops..., will you share a story from your own diary with us?
Britney: Oh, goodness! Actually those words written for the song weren't words that I've written in my diary. I have experienced situations like that when I was at school and I liked this guy but I didn't know what to say to him. I think every girl probably has experienced that.

worldpop: How much of a role do your parents play in your career?
Britney: If anything, I pushed my parents to do this! When I was younger I would go to New York and my mom (Lynne) was pregnant at the time and she didn't want me to go. I'm so thankful that they supported and believed in me. Most parents would be like, 'No, we're staying home.' My mom was always like, 'Baby, whenever you want to come home, we're going home.' She missed my dad and my family but I was like, 'No, I want to stay. Please!'

worldpop: Your mom is involved in your website, isn't she?
Britney: She's a teacher and the people asked her if she'd mind writing something. I think it's like one of the most read things on the Internet! She says it's very therapeutic for her. But it's so important that she stays my mom - that she's not a stage mom. I do my business and when I come home I can just be me and my mum can cook for me. I wouldn't like it if she was too involved.

worldpop: Is your little sister Jamie Lynn anything like you?
Britney: She is crazy! When I was little, I was really determined but I was still kind of shy and I kept to myself. She'll tell you flat out that she is the biggest star there is! I asked her to be in my performance for the Grammy's, to be the little girl at the very beginning that's dreaming about being me and she said, 'You know, if I do that, the next day all these producers will be calling me! I'm just not ready to deal with that!'

Religion and midriff flashing - Britney on beliefs and looks
worldpop: Aren't you contradicting your Christian beliefs with your sexy image?
Britney: I think it's so silly. You can be a good person and still be sexy. I don't understand that.

worldpop: How often do you pray?
Britney: I grew up praying to God every night and going to church every Sunday. I'm a Baptist. One of the hard things about being on the road is that you can't go to church every Sunday. But I pray on the road. My journal is therapeutic for me to write out what I did that day and what I feel inside.

worldpop: Which of your characteristics have helped shape who you are today?
Britney: I think probably that I'm really focused. I'm very determined. As a person, people can see that they can relate to me. I'm a real girl, down-to-earth.

The future - Next single and life without pop
worldpop: How did Mutt Lang (Shania Twain's hubby and manager) come to write your next single, Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know?
Britney: Mutt is one of the writers on Jive (Britney's record label) and I was like, 'Please let me work with him.' He's a legend. He and Shania wrote the song. The day I went to record it I was so upset as she left the day before so I didn't get to meet her. I love her!

worldpop: Could you return to normal life if this ended?
Britney: I don't think I would handle it very well. The first week or two would go great because I could rest but after that I would probably go crazy because I'm so used to my life. Without music I don't know what I would do. I'd have to have some involvement in music or with children.

worldpop: Are you ever going to do a film?
Britney: In the future definitely. There's a lot of scripts that I'm interested in but there's no time because my schedule is so booked

Enteractive Homapage Interview:
(By Michael Straider)

E.A.: You’ve had a very “productive” childhood! Whether it was attending a performing arts school in New York or being a regular on the “Mickey Mouse Club.” How did a little girl from a small town in Louisiana come to be so active?
Britney: My mom noticed that I had a talent and really encouraged me to “go for it.” I realized after the Mickey Mouse Club that I truly loved performing for not only my family, but for everyone who would watch.  I really wanted to follow my dream, and my family was always very supportive from the beginning.
E.A.: What are some of the likes and dislikes that you have encountered with the music industry since you recently got into it?
Britney: I love meeting new people and also working with the great producers that they’ve put me with. I think the only thing that I don’t like is the lack of sleep!
E.A.: What are your hobbies when you’re not dancing and making music?
Britney: I love to shop! I also love talking on the phone, going to
movies with friends and reading romance novels!
E.A.: You have a deep passion for dancing AND singing...which came first?
Britney: Dancing was my first love!
E.A.: With the “Mega” success that you’ve already achieved with your musical career in such a short time (amazingly, I might add,) and the experience in New York, if given the chance, would you accept a role in a major motion picture? Just as artists such as Brandy recently did. 
Britney: I would surely consider a motion picture sometime in the
future. Right now, I’m too busy concentrating on my music career. We are currently planning an upcoming tour.
E.A.: Female sexuality has reached an all time high in the music
industry. Shania Twain was primarily responsible for bringing out what every woman wanted to but was scared to do so (more so in country music.) Women like Gwen Stefani from “No Doubt” followed in her footsteps. It was very simple but has since been proven to be a very effective marketing tool! They show their bellybuttons! You also dress similar to Shania during your performances. Is it a conscious thing to dress that way for marketing reasons or is it more so the way you have always dressed?
Britney: That’s a good question and I can see why people may think it’s a marketing tool. In some cases it may be....but not mine. This is the way I’ve always dressed and the same way that most girls my age dress.
E.A.: Here’s one that the whole world’s wondering! Will Britney get her bellybutton pierced?!
Britney: No plans right now! But you never know! Too trendy!
E.A.: You’ve been chosen to be a model for Tommy Jeans! How did this come about? You have also gotten offers from several other modeling agencies. Any plans to act on these?
Britney: My lawyer, Larry Rudolph, told me about the Tommy Girl
campaign. Jive, my record label set it up for me. I really enjoyed the photo shoot! It was great! I don’t know about any further modeling right now though. Like I said, I’m really busy with my music and we have an upcoming tour!
E.A.: Your tour started with N’SYNC. Did you find it a challenge opening for a band of that size with an almost “all female” audience? 
Britney: It was great opening for a band that is so popular! It was a bit intimidating at first but after my first started playing on the
radio it got better. I had a great response...even from the girls!
E.A.: What song do you find to be the closest to the way you feel or maybe a real life situation that affected you?
Britney: I really like, “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart!” Not that it relates to my life, I just like it!
E.A.: My personal favorite song on the CD is “Sometimes.” That would be my pick for the next single on the CD. What’s yours?
Britney: Good pick!  “Sometimes” is the second single!
E.A.: What is your opinion of groups such as Marilyn Manson? (It’s great to get a teenager’s point of view!)
Britney: Each to his own! He said nice things about me on MTV!
E.A.: Who were some of the artists that you like/liked? Were you exposed to different types of music? Who would you go see in concert?
Britney: I like Whitney Houston, Mariah, Prince, Madonna, Monica,
Matchbox 20, Natalie Imbruglia, N’SYNC and Backstreet Boys. That’s only a few to mention! Yes, I’d go see all of them.
E.A.: If you had the power to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Britney: I’d make sure there were no abused children in the world. That subject makes me sad!

Celebrity Palace Interview

At 17, Britney Spears enjoys being a girl. She loves colors that pop and shopping till you drop, romance novels and idyllic days at the beach. Untamed and untarnished as they come, the bright beautiful teen from Kentwood, Louisiana (pop:1200), is poised to liven up the pop world with the irresistible collection of songs on her Jive Records self-titled debut release.

Produced by Eric Foster White (Whitney Houston, Hi-Five) and Max Martin (Robyn, Backstreet Boys, Ace of Base), the album showcases Britney's unbridled effervescence and musical curiosity. From the sweet melody of "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart," to the driving funk of "One More Time," to the funky reggae beats of "Soda Pop," to her soulful take on the Jets hit "You've Got It All," Britney's lively, assured vocal style is intoxicating. "I want to be an artist that everyone can relate to, that's young, happy and fun," she says.

Despite a refreshingly adolescent attitude, Britney's life has hardly been traditional. "I've done the prom thing, but it's only once a year," she notes about her unconventional teenage lifestyle. "I need to sing and I love to travel."

Performing since early childhood in local dance reviews and church choirs, she auditioned for the Disney Channel's "Mickey Mouse Club" series at age eight in Atlanta. Too young for her series, but too talented to dismiss, a producer on the show helped Britney secure an agent in New York City, where she spent the next three summers studying at the renowned Off-Broadway Dance Center and at the Professional Performing Arts School. She also began appearing in national commercials and Off-Broadway shows including the 1991 comedy, "Ruthless," based on the 1956 thriller "The Bad Seed." "At 10 I was playing this really bad child who seems real sweet but she's evil too. It was so much fun," she recalls.

Finally old enough at age 11, Britney earned a coveted place in "Mickey Mouse Club." After two years performing on the popular children's TV show filmed in Orlando, Britney returned to Kentwood for one completely normal year of high school at age 14. "It was fun for awhile but I started getting itchy to get out again and see the world," she says.

A devoted fan of pop music- her favorites include Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston- Britney once again went to New York to pursue her dream. "I had always wanted to be a singer," she says. "It's what I always wanted to do since I was little." Now a seasoned performer at age 15, an audition for an all girl vocal group led to her developing a solo career as a pop singer as well as continuing her high school studies with tutors. "I need a lot of help in geometry and Spanish!" she admits. Recording with Martin in Sweden this past spring and in New Jersey with Foster White, Britney's ready to make her own special mark on the world. "I love performing more than anything and having people hear my music. I know I've had to give some stuff up to do this, but I don't miss high school. When I was home two years ago, every weekend we'd go out and do the same thing. It's wonderful as long as you love what you're doing, but I'd rather be doing this!"