Britney Spears Talks About Mind-Altering Aspects of Fame in Vegas Player Magazine

Britney Spears Talks About "Mind-Altering" Aspects of Fame in Vegas Player Magazine

by Zach Johnson Wed., Nov. 13, 2013 10:56 AM PST

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Britney Spears has been in the public eye since childhood, but the late aughts were especially difficult for the "Perfume" singer. In the Fall 2013/Winter 2014 issue of Vegas Player magazine, the pop princess speaks candidly about her struggles in the spotlight and her desire for privacy.

"It was kind of like a dream," the 31-year-old performer says of her early days in the music business. "I'm from a small town [Kentwood, La.] and I wasn't expecting anything. When it happened, it was kind of surreal. I got so busy traveling that I was oblivious to it all. I didn't even realize what was happening. It was like a dream that I never woke up from. It was pretty spectacular."

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Spears says it's easy to get swept up in the moment and lose sight of what really matters. "It's important to have a group of people around you who can keep you down to earth. It's a mind-altering experience when you become a pop star at such a young age," she says. "Some people are made for it and some people aren't. If you keep good friends around you and stay grounded, you'll be ok."

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Since her debut album was released in January 1999, the Grammy winner has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, starred in a feature film and judged a TV talent competition. Still, Spears says it's been difficult to embrace her superstar status.

"This is the thing: I'm actually really shy. I don't like having my picture taken. I don't like the attention, but it's something that comes with success," she says. "I've accepted the paparazzi are going to be there; I just try to wear the same thing every day so I become uninteresting."

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Spears adds that she "never" reads tabloid stories regarding her personal life. "I know there is rude stuff out there, but I choose not to be a part of it," she explains. "It's all kind of silly."

Instead, the "Work Bitch" singer is focused on the next phase of her career—which just so happens to include a two-year residency at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. "When you tour, it's so hard on the body," Spears says. "I look back and I don't know how I did it. Being in one place is cool. It's a more stable environment."

"Las Vegas is a fun place," she adds. "There is so much going on. The energy here is incredible. You feel it walking through the casino. Everybody is here to have a good time."

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