Britney Jean Spears was born on Dec. 2, 1981, and raised in Kentwood, La. She was a performer from a young age and earned a spot on Disney's "The New Mickey Mouse Club" (bottom row, far right) when she was 11 years old. She appeared alongside other future stars such as Ryan Gosling (bottom left), Christina Aguilera (middle row, right), and Justin Timberlake (top row, right).