Editing Britney Spears (section)

===2003–2005: ''In the Zone'' and first two marriages===
[[File:Britney Spears.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Spears performing at the NFL Kickoff Live in September 2003]]

In August 2003, Spears opened the [[2003 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Awards]] with [[Christina Aguilera]], performing "[[Like a Virgin (song)|Like a Virgin]]". Halfway through they were joined by [[Madonna]], whom they both kissed. The incident was highly publicized. In 2008, MTV listed the performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of MTV Video Music Awards,<ref name=openingvma>{{cite news |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1593419/the-top-10-opening-moments-in-vma-history-from-madonna-to-the-present/ |title=The Top 10 Opening Moments in VMA History: From Madonna To The Present |last=Vera |first=Jocelyn |date=August 24, 2008 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221172611/https://www.mtv.com/news/1593419/the-top-10-opening-moments-in-vma-history-from-madonna-to-the-present/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> while ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television history.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 25 Sexiest Music Moments in TV History! |last1=Collis |first1=Jonah |last2=Weiner |date=February 15, 2004 |magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |issn=1534-0554}}</ref>

Spears released her fourth studio album, ''[[In the Zone]]'', in November 2003. She assumed more creative control by writing and co-producing most of the material.<ref name="foxnews" /> ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' called it "a supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears' development as a songwriter".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metacritic.com/music/in-the-zone/britney-spears |title=In The Zone reviews at Metacritic.com |year=2003 |access-date=June 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830233837/http://www.metacritic.com/music/in-the-zone/britney-spears |url-status=live}}</ref> [[NPR]] named it one of the most important recordings of the decade, writing that "the decade's history of impeccably crafted pop is written on her body of work".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2009/11/16/120400577/the-50-most-important-recordings-s-z |title=The 50 Most Important Recordings: S-Z |publisher=NPR |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=June 6, 2010 |archive-date=January 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122215720/http://www.npr.org/2009/11/16/120400577/the-50-most-important-recordings-s-z |url-status=live}}</ref> ''In the Zone'' sold over 609,000 copies during its first week of availability in the United States, debuting at the top of the charts, making Spears the first female artist in the SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one.<ref name=foxnews /> It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=In+The+Zone&cat=a |title=ultratop.be&nbsp;– Britney Spears&nbsp;– In the Zone |work=Ultratop |publisher=Hung Medien |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829011750/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=In+The+Zone&cat=a |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=June 6, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The album produced four singles: "[[Me Against the Music]]", a collaboration with Madonna; "[[Toxic (song)|Toxic]]"—which won Spears her first Grammy for [[Best Dance Recording]]; "[[Everytime]]", and "[[Outrageous (song)|Outrageous]]".<ref name=foxnews />

In January 2004, Spears married her childhood friend {{Visible anchor|Jason Allen Alexander}}<!-- NOTE: [[Jason Allen Alexander]] redirects to this article. --> at [[A Little White Wedding Chapel]] in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. The marriage was [[annulled]] 55 hours later, following a petition to the court that stated that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/id/wbna3869708 |title=Judge dissolves Britney's 'joke' wedding |date=April 6, 2004 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] / [[Microsoft]] |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221172605/https://www.today.com/id/wbna3869708 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2004, Spears embarked on [[the Onyx Hotel Tour]] in support of ''In the Zone''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1485503/britney-checking-into-onyx-hotel-wearing-rubberlike-outfit/ |title=Britney Checking into Onyx Hotel Wearing Rubberlike Outfit |date=March 2, 2004 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |publisher=MTV |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221172606/https://www.mtv.com/news/1485503/britney-checking-into-onyx-hotel-wearing-rubberlike-outfit/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The tour was canceled in June 2004, when she fell and injured her left knee during the music video shoot for "Outrageous". She underwent [[arthroscopic surgery]] and wore a thigh brace for six weeks, followed by eight to twelve weeks of rehabilitation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/britney-cancels-tour-due-to-bad-knee/ |title=Britney Cancels Tour Due to Bad Knee |date=June 16, 2004 |access-date=October 19, 2019 |last=Silverman |first=Stephen M. |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511105524/https://people.com/celebrity/britney-cancels-tour-due-to-bad-knee/ |url-status=live}}</ref> That year, Spears became involved in the [[Kabbalah Centre]] through her friendship with Madonna.<ref name="kabbalah">{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/forget-kabbalah-britneys-baby-her-religion-wbna12920032 |title=Forget Kabbalah, Britney's baby is her religion |date=May 23, 2006 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |last=Walls |first=Jeannette |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704175449/http://www.today.com/popculture/forget-kabbalah-britneys-baby-her-religion-wbna12920032 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2004, Spears became engaged to dancer [[Kevin Federline]], whom she had met three months earlier. The romance was the subject of intense media attention, since Federline had recently broken up with actress [[Shar Jackson]], who was still pregnant with their second child at the time.<ref name=foxnews /> The stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears' first reality show ''[[Britney and Kevin: Chaotic]]'', which premiered on May 17, 2005, on [[UPN]]. Spears later referred to the show in a 2013 interview as "probably the worst thing I've done in my career".<ref name="Source1">{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/10491588/Britney-Spears-More-expectations-of-me-now.html |title=Britney Spears: 'More expectations of me now' |last=Robinson |first=Peter |date=December 8, 2013 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005002611/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/10491588/Britney-Spears-More-expectations-of-me-now.html |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement.<ref>{{harvnb|Heller|2007|p=80}}</ref>

Shortly after, she released her first perfume, [[Curious (fragrance)|Curious]], with [[Elizabeth Arden, Inc.|Elizabeth Arden]], which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume.<ref name=foxnews /> In October 2004, Spears took a career break to start a family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1492692/britney-spears-announces-shes-taking-a-break-from-her-career/ |title=Britney Spears Announces She's Taking A Break From Her Career |date=October 16, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907003335/https://www.mtv.com/news/1492692/britney-spears-announces-shes-taking-a-break-from-her-career/ |archive-date=September 7, 2014 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |publisher=MTV |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Greatest Hits: My Prerogative]]'', her first greatest hits [[compilation album]], was released in November 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1490190/britney-covers-bobby-browns-my-prerogative-for-forthcoming-lp/ |title=Britney Covers Bobby Brown's 'My Prerogative' For Forthcoming LP |date=August 13, 2004 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |publisher=MTV |archive-date=September 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907004121/http://www.mtv.com/news/1490190/britney-covers-bobby-browns-my-prerogative-for-forthcoming-lp/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Spears' [[cover version]] of [[Bobby Brown]]'s "[[My Prerogative]]" was released as the lead single from the album, reaching the top of the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy, and Norway.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/18ca/Britney-Spears-My-Prerogative |title=Britney Spears&nbsp;– My Prerogative (song) |year=2004 |work=Ultratop |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=October 6, 2010 |archive-date=September 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907003528/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/18ca/Britney-Spears-My-Prerogative |url-status=live}}</ref> The second single, "[[Do Somethin']]", was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries of mainland Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acharts.us/uk_singles_top_75/2005/10 |title=UK Singles Chart |date=March 7, 2005 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]. aCharts |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924084938/http://acharts.us/uk_singles_top_75/2005/10 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Do+Somethin%27&cat=s |title=Britney Spears&nbsp;– Do Somethin' (song) |year=2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825171613/http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Do+Somethin%27&cat=s |archive-date=August 25, 2011 |access-date=October 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |publisher=UltratopHung Medien}}</ref> In August 2005, Spears released "[[Someday (I Will Understand)]]", which was dedicated to her first child, a son named Sean Preston, who was born the following month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/britney-welcomes-home-sean-preston/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116030617/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C1039012_1107631%2C00.html |archive-date=January 16, 2007 |title=Britney Welcomes Home Sean Preston |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=People}}</ref> In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation, ''[[B in the Mix: The Remixes]]'', which consists of 11 remixes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1512630/surprise-britneys-releasing-an-album-in-just-two-weeks/ |title=Surprise: Britney's Releasing An Album In Just Two Weeks |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |publisher=MTV |access-date=December 21, 2021 |date=October 31, 2005 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121162216/http://www.mtv.com/news/1512630/surprise-britneys-releasing-an-album-in-just-two-weeks/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>