Introduction: American shame -- Wish upon a star -- Mouseketears -- The max factor -- The magic of "...Baby One More Time" -- Breastgate -- Double-denim fantasy -- What a girl wants -- Slave 4 peta -- Note quite John Hughes -- Britney v. Christina -- A word from our sponsor -- Like a prayer -- Don't you noel that you're "toxic" -- The sweet smell of Britney -- A chaotic future -- The body Britney -- No "fixin" for Britney -- Extra, extra, this just in -- Hair trade -- Britney goes guerilla -- Ready to break -- Leave Britney alone! -- Britney births a banger -- Love for sale -- If u seek Britney -- The battle for Britney -- Jagged little thrill -- The people's pop princess -- Haunted Britney -- The museum of Britney -- X-posed -- Viva la Britney -- A mansion full of trophies -- Over the rainbow -- Let the show begin -- How #FreeBritney started -- Secret coded Britney -- The business of Britney -- Overprotected -- Third time a charm -- Freed Britney? -- The handmaid -- Britney by numbers -- Conclusion: Born to make you happy? -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Credits -- About the author

Part biography, part social history, Being Britney pieces together a collage of stories, interviews, legends, and fan experiences to construct a definitive portrait of one of the biggest stars in recent history. In her unique narrative, acclaimed music author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike provides a sympathetic yet objective reexamination of Britney’s trajectory from girl next door to woman trapped by fame. Being Britney is the compelling account of a talented, troubled, and much-discussed modern icon whose life, work, and individual significance will be recognized for many decades to come