These days, it seems like everyone wants to be the next Britney Spears, but the pop star's legacy is not an easy one to recreate. Spears became known for her choreography on stage and in her music videos. Lately, stars like Tate McRae, Addison Rae, and more have incorporated intense choreography into their work, making it seem like they might be trying to be like Britney Spears. For the most part, it is people online comparing the artists and causing heated debates, and not the artists themselves.

McRae has itted that while she respects Spears, she's too young to have been a fan of hers during her most famous years. Instead, she's more inspired by artists like Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande. However, she did pay tribute to the 2000s pop star at the 2024 VMAs by recreating one of her red-carpet looks. Rae has also shown love to Spears. In a 2023 paparazzi shot, she was seen reading Spears' memoir. However, when it comes to recreating Spears' career, that's a pretty tough feat for anyone.

Britney Spears Was Authentic

Spears Was Just Being Herself

When it comes to Britney Spears, she's only ever tried to be herself. Even to this day, as she twirls around in her Instagram reels or shares photos of flowers, her authenticity shines through. The pop star took a lot of inspiration from the stars that came before her, especially Janet Jackson and Madonna. She even went on to collaborate with the "Like A Virgin" singer on her 2004 In The Zone track "Me Against The Music."

However, Spears was the master of learning from others and then making it her own. She wasn't trying to be a clone of Madonna or Jackson, but following the path they paved to be a pop star for the new generation. The problem with stars today who try to emulate Spears is that they're trying too hard to be just like her. From wearing outfits like hers on the red carpet to mimicking her choreography and street style, it feels too on the nose.

It also doesn't give the public a sense of who they really are as an artist or a person. Whether she was performing for thousands of fans or ending up on the front page of the tabloids, she always led with authenticity, which is what made her so appealing.

Britney Spears Was A Staple Of The 2000s

Spears Was A 2000s Icon

There are a handful of artists who come to mind when we think about the 2000s, from NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys to Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson. However, Britney Spears was the most prominent singer of the 2000s and was truly a staple of the time period. The 2000s culture is evident in every picture of her from her earlier career. From her crop tops, which were once called "belly shirts," to her low-rise jeans, Spears was the quintessential 2000s icon.

Spears' choreography was also true to its time period, so when stars try to mimic it today, it doesn't always translate well, and often comes across as forced and outdated. However, when Britney Spears did it, it was still fresh and was a part of what made her such a beloved pop star. Aside from her style and choreography, the singer was also ubiquitous in the 2000s. Younger generations either don't or weren't even born during the days when Spears was on top of the world, but she really was one of the biggest stars on the planet.

The new generation of pop stars has yet to come close to her star power.

Today, it seems a lot simpler to become a star. One viral song on TikTok could garner millions of followers, but that doesn't necessarily make stars a household name. Spears, on the other hand, was a household name across all generations. She wasn't just playing big venues in major American cities like New York and LA. The star sold out shows worldwide, including a 2002 concert at the Tokyo Dome for over 60,000 people. The star even played an iconic concert in Honolulu, Hawaii, to promote her first two albums, ...Baby One More Time and Oops!...I Did It Again.

Clips from the 2000 show still circulate on social media today, celebrating just how iconic she was. Spears was also mimicked in pop culture throughout the decade. From inspiring a fictional pop star named Britney Britney on the Nickelodeon cartoon The Fairly Odd Parents to being referenced in Eminem's 2000 hit "The Real Slim Shady," Spears was the pop star of the 2000s. The new generation of pop stars has yet to come close to her star power.

Actually, Britney Spears Was That Innocent

Despite What She Said In Oops!...I Did It Again

In her 2000 single "Oops!...I Did It Again" off her sophomore album of the same name, Britney Spears claimed, "I'm not that innocent." The thing is, she actually kind of was. Spears was born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana. She was brought up in a very religious community, and the fact that she wasn't from a big city was always apparent in the way she acted. She was naive and sheltered, but she was also incredibly sweet. While she might look like a superstar on stage, in interviews, Britney Spears always came across as a kind-hearted, small-town girl.

While stage presence is a massive part of a pop star's appeal, it's also who they are when they're offstage that draws fans in. There were also plenty of moments on stage where the singer shed her popstar persona to have a real moment with the crowd. In performances of songs like "Sometimes," Spears often dropped her intense choreography for a few minutes, for a much more stripped-down performance. These performances showcased who Britney Spears is at her core. There's a very innocent side to her that resonated deeply with her young audience.

It came across as endearing and charming, and while Spears' upbringing was a major contributor, it was also the era she was coming up in. These days, it feels like most people know what they're getting themselves into when they step into the limelight. Especially with social media, it's like everyone has seen it all. There is so much information online, and a lot of pop stars were already social media stars before even breaking into the music industry.

Both Tate McRae and Addison Rae built followings on social media, with McRae getting big on YouTube and Rae accumulating fans on TikTok. When Spears released her first single, "...Baby One More Time," it was still 4 years before MySpace had launched. With the way society has changed, it's incredibly difficult for anyone to mimic Spears' authentic naivety.

Britney Spears Defined 21st Century Pop Music

Britney Was The Pop Star Of The 21st Century

After starring on Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club, Britney Spears launched a solo music career, with "...Baby One More Time" releasing in 1998. Spears' career would skyrocket from the late 90s through the 2000s. Britney Spears began the new century in 2001 as one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. She became the blueprint for the 21st-century pop star, and whether people recognize it or not, her career is being mimicked today by some of the biggest names in music.

No matter how many stars dominate pop music, the title still belongs to her, because she was the first pop star of the century.

Taylor Swift grew up as a Britney Spears fan, even covering her 2000 single "Lucky" at one of her concerts. In 2012, she released her own song, "The Lucky One," which shares many similarities to Spears' hit. Swift would also go on to work with songwriter and producer Max Martin, the mastermind behind many of Britney Spears' songs. Even Sabrina Carpenter, who was born the year Spears' first single was released, mimicked the star's choreography in her 2022 "Fast Times" music video.

Britney Spears came in at number 6 on Billboard's 2024 list of greatest pop stars of the 21st century, and her position was well deserved. While Michael Jackson was known as the King of Pop, and Madonna is often considered the Queen of Pop, Britney Spears became the official Princess of Pop. No matter how many stars dominate pop music, the title still belongs to her, because she was the first pop star of the century. Spears' legacy is truly unmatched, and while the world may always be filled with Britney Spears copy-cats, no one could ever truly replace her.