July 2007
Britney showed she was anything but OK! last summer during a doomed photo shoot with the weekly magazine. Among the troubling highlights: She allowed her dog to poop on a Zac Posen gown, wiped her greasy hands on a designer dress, and fled in more than $14,000 worth of borrowed clothes.
September 2007
Although her appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards in '07 was supposed to be a comeback, the increasingly unhinged superstar’s lackluster performance made headlines of a different sort. She was roundly panned for her stiff dance moves and unconvincing lip-syncing while performing "Gimme More" to open the show.
September 2007
Brit bailed on four scheduled interview appointments with the beauty magazine, prompting the cover line "Britney Spears Tells Us Nothing—and Everything."
The pop princess was supposedly more cooperative while posing for Allure's cover photo—despite inexplicably stripping down to the waist without prompting.
November 2007
In what might be considered the understatement of the year, an Us Weekly cover line declared the pop star "SICK!" During a surreal period for Britney, her new CD, Blackout, hit stores the same week a judge scaled back her supervised parenting time with her sons.
February 2008
In a Britney exposé, the music magazine declares hers to be "the most public downfall of any star in history." The article describes erratic behavior, including staying up for 48 hours after shaving her head in part because she feared her cell phone charger was taping her thoughts.
February 2008
Confined to a psych ward against her will, the People story details the battle between Britney's parents and manager Sam Lutfi, who had tightly controlled access to the deeply troubled celebrity for months. During her hospitalization, Brit's father went to court and gained temporary control over his daughter's affairs.
February 2008
Just as Britney began to turn a corner, controversy found her again. Star magazine declared the troubled star was pregnant—this time with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib's baby. The tab claimed the unlikely pair ran off to Mexico and got hitched. Luckily those rumors, unlike so many others, appeared untrue.
May 2008
Family, friends and fans likely breathed a collective sigh of relief when a rejuvenated-looking Britney appeared on the cover of OK! with sister Jamie Lynn. The pair reunited in Kentwood for Jamie Lynn's baby shower, and the teen mom-to-be dished that she had fun painting her nails and getting advice from her big sis.
August 2008
No dog poop this time! With her dad by her side, a healthy-looking Britney participated in her first candid interview in two years. She discussed her sister, her career and her bond with her boys—finally seeming to overcome the problems plaguing her for the past couple years.
December 2008
With her new album, Circus, about to launch, peace prevailing within the Spears family and not a scandalous headline surfacing for months, this self-described "old fart" is well on her way to proving she’s back on track—and we sure hope she stays that way!
January 2009
New year, new Britney. Glamour's covergirl continues her image rehab by claiming she doesn't like to party. “I hate clubs. I hate being around too many people. I love my home and staying in bed and watching Dancing With the Stars or reading a Danielle Steel novel. I’m kind of boring.” Somehow we doubt it's ever really a snooze-fest at the Spears house.
Want more pics? See how Britney celebrated her 27th birthday!