The Music Goes On Without Britney

Six years ago teen pop ruled the music universe and Britney Spears had the world eating out of the palm of her hand.  Now, following her tragic interview with Matt Lauer on "Dateline," she has the world wondering what went wrong.  With the hair, the makeup, the outfit and her "country" demeanor - Britney 2.0 is not your kid sister's pop princess!

Britney, Christina and Jessica
While Brit has been holed up in her Malibu mansion making babies with 'the Fed,' the rest of her teen pop peeps have been hard at work and will see new albums released in the upcoming months. Check out what your favorite pop idols have been up to as Britney's music career takes a pregnant pause.



Christina AguileraChristina Aguilera
From the beginning, she was labeled Britney's biggest competitor. While the former Mousketeer has always lagged in sales and popularity to Spears, she does have the pipes and the Grammys to back up her talent. 

Though Britney has endured a very public and high profile marriage, Christina took a more low key approach and stayed out of the spotlight while dating and marrying her husband Jordan Bratman.  As Britney awaits the arrival of her latest tater-tot, Christina has a hot new single, "Ain't No Other Man" burning up the charts and a double album, "Back to Basics," coming out on August 15.

Justin TimberlakeJustin Timberlake
Britney's former boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, enjoyed success as NSYNC's frontman and went on to more fame and fortune as a solo artist. His 2002 solo debut cd "Justified" sold over 3.5 million copies and won 2 Grammys. After his relationship with Spears ended, Justin fell into the beautiful arms of Cameron Diaz and has been with her for three years. 

Now, Justin's future looks even brighter. On top of having several films premiering this year, his second solo cd "Future Sex/LoveSounds" comes out September 12 and the first single "SexyBack" goes out to radio stations on July 7.

Jessica SimpsonJessica Simpson
Once considered just another Britney-clone, Simpson has emerged as a pop icon to be reckoned with.  While music is what put Jessica on the map, it was her marriage to Nick Lachey and their subsequent MTV reality show that really launched her to super stardom. 

Now that her film career and her high-profile divorce have made Simpson a staple in the weekly magazines, the blonde bombshell is ready to unleash her singing chops to her legions of fans once again.  Jessica's new album is due out in August and the video for the first single, "A Public Affair," will be helmed by "X-Men: The Last Stand" director Brett Ratner.

JC ChasezJC Chasez
Even Britney, Justin and Christina's former fellow Mousketeer JC Chasez is getting back into the game.  JC is set to release his second solo cd this fall, with the first single "Until Yesterday" expected to hit the airwaves in August. JC worked on the single with Timberlake - his former NSYNC bandmate.

As these pop stars ready for the next chapter of their musical careers, here's hoping Britney Spears-Federline can pull off a Mariah-style comeback in 2007.

Tags: Britney Spears Christina Aguilera Jessica Simpson Justin Timberl, BritneySpearsChristinaAguileraJessicaSimpsonJustinTimberlakeJcCh

Reader Comments

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1. Comeback for Britney? It's possible. She has NO talent as a singer (never has) but is a great tabloid target and does sell magazines. Everyone loves a train wreck....

Posted at 2:39PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Wicked1

2. BRITNEY will COMEBACK. She has to because she has it in her. Icons don't die. Artists always have backlash and this is Britney's. Just wait till she is at it again. You all will look like idiots for doubting her

Posted at 2:47PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Guillermo

3. She never had talent, yet somehow managed to sell millions of cds and sell plenty of tickets to her concerts....some of u people should really think before u post comments that don't make sense, u must be "country" too..

Posted at 2:51PM on Jun 20th 2006 by doesn'tmatter

4. She'll be hawking weight loss products on QVC.

Posted at 3:05PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Lo Maret

5. its not like she was forced out of the game, it was her choice to leave. if a family is what she wants then she can have that. she laready has all the money in the world.

Posted at 3:06PM on Jun 20th 2006 by SARAH

6. Don't worry she'll be back........

Posted at 3:08PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Nick

7. I just think she's at a different point in her life than the others. She was far bigger than any of them were, so now I'm guessing it's their turn. Each of them, I'm guessing, will eventually marry, have babies and take a break, and they'll all have just as much media on them when they do!

Posted at 3:08PM on Jun 20th 2006 by FourNine87

8. a la Anna Nicole

Posted at 3:27PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Jay

9. She is sooooo over! Pop stars have a short life span, especially the ones that lack talent. I can't believe she still has a record deal at this point. Just like the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync, the gravy train eventually comes to an end when the teeny boppers who were into these people grow up and a new crop of teen queens come along. Christina Aguilera has REAL talent and got smart in time to clean up her act and appeal to a more mature crowd. Her talent will take her wherever she wants to go. Justin Timberlake had the sense to make music that gave new life to his career as well. Britney was a cute little bubble gum pop star who had hordes of little girls following her every move. She had the young boys in her corner for a minute because she was kinda hot. She's now looks like a rural Walmart mom or downtown Vegas stripper. Her stock has gone way down. She is just a mess. Her last bit of publicity will be the end of her joke of a marriage. The tabs may check in with her again in 5 or 6 years to see how much fatter and trashier she looks after losing her fame and filing for bankruptcy. Good riddance!

Posted at 3:29PM on Jun 20th 2006 by kimt

10. I saw her interview...and saw her as a REAL person. I feel for her. She does have talent. I give her alot of credit on speaking up for herself. She has plenty of time and money...when the time is right she will be back. And will sell....something!!!

Posted at 3:31PM on Jun 20th 2006 by donna mahan

11. She'll be back. When she runs out of money that is.

Posted at 3:36PM on Jun 20th 2006 by noneyabizness

12. Get a clue "Doesn't Matter"...Just because someone sells millions of records doesn't mean they have talent!! It is called marketing! Good marketing. Her voice is weak, especially in comparison to Christina Aguilera, which is why she is notorious for lip-synching every performance. She HAD the right look, the right people writing her songs, and released albums at the right time...so of course the teenagers bought into it and she sold millions. It's all smoke and mirrors and what you are seeing NOW is what Britney Spears really is. All her "people" will be back when she isn't pregnant and she can get back to the business of making them money. She has a tough road ahead...

Posted at 3:38PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Wicked1

13. "Just wait till she is at it again."

Who are you kidding? She hasn't been "at it" since 2000. Britney's done.

Posted at 3:41PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Jason

14. Poor Britney. I think the "white trash" side of her that was always there is finally being revealed. I still like her though and I hate seeing anyone go through a hard time. I wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of the entire world watching and scrutinizing everything I do.. could you? I hope she makes a big comeback.

Posted at 3:42PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Rachael

15. I think it is very possible that Britney will come back, however, she really needs to take a hard look at the public persception of her and make some changes. I can't really say that I was ever a huge fan of Britney's music but she came on the scene like a ball of fire after MMC. She was a huge star beginning in the late 1990's but look at her now. We all make mistake and we are all human but the decision that she has made has really hurt her and I find it impossible to believe that she doesn't care what people think.- these are the people that buy your records.
First- her quicky marriage to her highschool friend. Second- her "homemade" video with K-fed. Third- her marriage to the guy and Fourth- her, just woke up out of bed, appreances in public, barefoot bathroom breaks and problems with Sean (i.e. driving on her lap). When she slipped, like so many of us often do, I really felt bad for her. What Mother hasn't done that and then people were slamming on her. But now the interview with Lauer, with no PR person there- cut off shorts and gum chewing. I would really like to think that she wants to clean up her act but then she does this.
If she does come back- I really hope it is without K-Fed. I also hope that somebody explains to her that she is role model and should look and act like one.

Posted at 3:44PM on Jun 20th 2006 by Dianne

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