- 2 minutes ago
Britney Spears didn’t just top the charts, she owned the stage. From jaw-dropping award show moments to career-defining televised concerts, we’re revisiting the performances that helped make her the Princess of Pop. Our countdown includes iconic renditions of “Toxic,” “...Baby One More Time,” “I’m a Slave 4 U,” and more! Which Britney moment still lives rent-free in your head?
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best and most iconic
00:14performances of this pop legends career.
00:21Number 30, The Hookup, Britney Spears, live from Miami.
00:37Promoting Spears' fourth album, In The Zone, the Onyx Hotel tour had Broadway and jazz written all over it.
00:44However, for The Hookup, a dance hall number with reggaeton influence, Spears threw in a distinct Latin twist to the
00:51performance.
01:03With the flower-colored costumes and sensual body waves, Spears shows off her good ensemble and dancing, and all barefoot.
01:12The Madonna showmanship of it all is clear, but Spears showed she could stand on her own.
01:17With the Miami stop televised, the tour received mixed reviews from critics for its genre and thematic mishmash,
01:23but this performance was a clear highlight.
01:37Number 29, Lonely, Britney Spears, live from Las Vegas.
01:43Who can beat Spears at her own game? Spears herself, apparently.
01:56Her 2001-2002 Dream Within a Dream tour had a clear theme of coming-of-age and independence.
02:03With Lonely, Spears cleverly performed the song by dancing with a pre-recorded video projection of herself,
02:09its innovative choreography even by today's standards, and certainly unforgettable.
02:25Spears would eventually be placed under a strict and abusive conservatorship in 2008 after several breakdowns,
02:31which makes this performance and the tour's themes especially poignant.
02:35Here's hoping this diva will never be that lonely ever again.
02:50Number 28, I'm a Slave for You, Late Show with David Letterman.
02:55Spears' performances of this song are among the most iconic and memorable.
02:59This appearance on Late Show with David Letterman, however, deserves a shout-out.
03:13From Spears' spectacular entrance in near-total darkness to the black leather raunchiness of it all,
03:18this sultry rendition goes off the walls quickly, or rather, around David Letterman's desk.
03:33Talk about making use of the whole studio.
03:35Also, Spears' vocals sound especially good here.
03:39I'm a Slave for You is one of Spears' most controversial songs,
03:42so her performing on the squeaky-clean Letterman show was a choice, to say the least.
03:47A good one, of course.
04:12This catchy, up-tempo number by Spears sees the singer calling out a man for his womanizing ways
04:18and claims she won't fall for his tricks.
04:21She performed the song in various shows,
04:23one of the most notable being the UK version of The X Factor.
04:34Beginning with a circus theme and a stunning silhouetted entrance on Spears' part,
04:39the performance gets spectacular quickly.
04:41Spears is riveting in the frenetic choreography,
04:44and, of course, ultra-dramatic hair flips.
04:47Womanizer became a number one hit in the U.S.,
04:50selling over 3.5 million digital copies.
04:53And it's easy to see why.
05:02Number 26.
05:04If You Seek A Me.
05:05The circus starring Britney Spears.
05:08Speaking of raunchy, sex-themed songs,
05:11If You Seek A Me is among the more clever at disguising its suggestiveness.
05:14Naturally, during the circus tour,
05:17Spears performs this suggestive single with a hint of the burlesque.
05:26In a half-playboy bunny suit,
05:29Spears allows the storytelling of the lyrics to shine through with simple choreography
05:33and some light-hearted antics.
05:36At one point, she plays whack-a-mole with a pink mallet.
05:45Fantastic.
05:47It's rare to find Spears this fun and animated in the later years,
05:50and this performance is one of the most entertaining of hers.
06:02If you want to Seek A Me, there's only one thing to do.
06:05Seek out Ms. Mojo's 24-7 live stream.
06:09Scan the QR code on screen to join us live for non-stop pop culture fun.
06:13Oh, oh, tell me, have you seen her?
06:17Cause I'm so, oh, I can get her off of my brain.
06:22Number 25.
06:23Gimme More.
06:24Britney Spears Live.
06:26The Femme Fatale Tour.
06:27Give us more of this performance.
06:30Every time they turn the lights down.
06:34Just wanna go that extra mile for you.
06:38The Femme Fatale Tour of 2011 showed Spears at her flashiest and most spectacular,
06:44and the singer herself even claimed it was the, quote, best of her career.
06:48For this 2007 dance pop number, Spears brought out all the stops,
06:53or rather, one large peacock-shaped one.
06:56You got me in a crazy position.
07:00I've got my permission.
07:02You got my permission.
07:09With a loose Egyptian theme, sparklers, and acrobatics,
07:13we see Spears pulling off a Cleopatra in glittery bikini gold.
07:18Although she's older, Spears does not lose an ounce of her star power.
07:22She is the princess of pop indeed, but in this performance, she became the queen.
07:28Feels like a person.
07:30Oh, oh, oh.
07:37Number 24.
07:39Every Time.
07:40Britney Spears in the Zone.
07:44Notice me.
07:47Take my hand.
07:51We don't usually associate Spears with emotional ballads,
07:54but this 2004 single was written by Spears herself,
07:58a tender and aching song which may have been inspired by a lost pregnancy.
08:19A torch song pleading an ex-lover for forgiveness,
08:22it shows the star at her most expressive and vulnerable.
08:25In this performance on ABC,
08:27Spears is no less angelic in a white dress and clear, sweet vocals.
08:42There are no dancers or pyrotechnics to distract us from Spears' artistry.
08:47We have to wonder what she would have accomplished had she had full control of her career.
08:52I see your face, your heart's in me.
08:56I guess I need you, baby.
09:00Number 23.
09:02Work, bitch.
09:03Piece of me.
09:04We'd all like a piece of this.
09:13This 2013 single from Spears' eighth studio album is a girl power anthem to feel inspired by.
09:20In the 2018 Piece of Me tour, Spears not only performs the song,
09:24but makes it the opening act of the whole concert.
09:27Starting with a video montage of Spears' greatest moments,
09:30Spears makes her grand entrance in a huge metal sphere amid male dancers.
09:35It only gets more fabulous from there.
09:38Spears is as good a dancer as ever,
09:40with sassy but disciplined choreography.
09:43She really did work it.
09:53Number 22.
09:55How I Roll,
09:56The Femme Fatale Tour.
10:04Debuting in the Femme Fatale album of 2011,
10:07this song is among Spears' bubbly, more playful numbers.
10:10Even sweet.
10:11In the Femme Fatale tour,
10:13Spears performs this song perched on a stereo system,
10:16and then later on a car in a loose tribute to the 50s rock and roll of yore.
10:20Dare we say it's Greece-inspired?
10:22Not only that,
10:23but the notoriously playback-heavy Spears is actually singing live,
10:27and her vocals sound wonderful.
10:39It's a cute, uncomplicated performance that you can tell Spears is enjoying tremendously.
10:45This is how she rolls.
10:54Number 21.
10:56Toxic.
10:565th NRJ Music Awards.
11:05One of Spears' most beloved songs,
11:07with a truly iconic string riff,
11:10there are quite a number of great performances of this single.
11:12One performance worth noting, however, was at the NRJ Music Awards,
11:17presented by French radio station NRJ.
11:26Here, Spears is on the move almost from the word go,
11:30performing intricate South Asian-inspired choreography in skin-tight leather
11:35and an expert ensemble with her every step of the way.
11:38At one point, Spears even gets a blindfold.
11:41With impeccable breathy vocals and sensual dancing,
11:44it's no wonder Toxic has become Spears' signature song.
11:48Fantastic, can you never run?
11:50But I love you now,
11:51I love you, yeah,
11:52I bet you never run.
11:55Number 20.
11:56From the bottom of my broken heart,
11:58Baby One More Time.
12:0042nd Annual Grammy Awards.
12:08For her one and only showing at the Grammy Awards,
12:12Britney Spears proved her versatility as an artist
12:14by starting out with an emotional rendition of
12:17From the Bottom of My Broken Heart.
12:19From the bottom of my broken heart,
12:31Her passionate vocals combined with her gorgeous costume
12:35kept the audience entranced.
12:37Then, she completely flipped the script
12:39by transitioning into her biggest hit at the time,
12:42Baby One More Time.
12:43She, of course, did this in the coolest way possible,
12:46having her legion of robot dancers storm the stage
12:49as she executed a flawless outfit change.
12:58When she reappeared,
13:00she immediately launched into a seemingly simple
13:03yet technically perfect performance of the single,
13:06proving to everyone there
13:07why she was already one of the biggest stars on the planet.
13:10Hit me, baby, one more time.
13:15Number 19.
13:16Work Bitch.
13:17Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
13:26This EDM song from Spears' eighth studio album
13:30is a female empowerment number
13:31that never fails to get our blood pumping.
13:33Written by Spears with Will.i.am
13:35and Anthony Preston, among others,
13:38it is one of the few mostly spoken word songs
13:40in her repertoire.
13:41And in 2018,
13:43it received a lavishly spectacular performance
13:45on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
13:55Work Bitch shows Spears at the peak of her talents
13:58with impeccable live vocals,
13:59smooth dancing choreography,
14:01and a truly dazzling dominatrix fit.
14:04Also, the way Spears works a room
14:06is nothing less than riveting.
14:07She really got to work.
14:16Number 18.
14:17Breathe on me.
14:19Britney Spears in the zone.
14:36If there is one word to describe the star,
14:39it would be alluring,
14:40with her sultry voice and seductive dance moves
14:43taking center stage in most of her performances.
14:45This is most apparent
14:47during her rendition of Breathe On Me
14:49from her ABC special in 2004.
15:00The entire act was mature,
15:02from the strip tease in the beginning
15:04to her intimate choreography
15:06with one of her dancers.
15:07The audience was locked in from the start,
15:09hanging on every move she made.
15:11We don't need to touch,
15:13touch, touch, touch, touch,
15:14don't need me.
15:16Plenty of floorwork and sensual moves
15:19enhanced the impact
15:20of this marvelously suggestive song.
15:23It was the perfect combination
15:24of raunch and grace,
15:26all wrapped up into one show-stopping piece.
15:29We don't need to touch, touch.
15:35Number 17.
15:37Peace of Me.
15:38The circus starring Britney Spears.
15:40I listen to my freaking dreams
15:49A performance that perfectly matches the vibe of a song will always hit.
15:53The tour following the album Circus was intended to be Britney's comeback
15:57following her rough year in the media.
15:59And for many fans, she exceeded every expectation.
16:11Beginning the number in a golden cage, she used the cage as the ultimate prop,
16:16treating the audience to controlled yet impressive dance moves.
16:19When she finally breaks free in the end, it feels truly triumphant.
16:30The setting was also oddly representative of her personal situation at the time,
16:35with the cage serving as the perfect metaphor for the conservatorship she had just been placed under.
16:40You wanna piece of me?
16:43Number 16. Womanizer. 60th Bambi Awards.
16:50Towards the end of the 2000s, the pop star had been going through a rough time.
16:55However, she didn't let that slow her down.
16:57I know you got a clue what you're doing.
17:01You can play by me to all the other chicks out here,
17:04but I know what you are, what you are, baby.
17:08This is obvious during her performance of Womanizer at the 2008 Bambi Awards.
17:13Despite occurring at the very tail end of her public breakdown,
17:15she still exuded plenty of professional energy.
17:19Decked out in an era-defining get-up,
17:21she easily commanded the entire room with her stage presence.
17:34She also showed that she didn't need the bells and whistles of a standard award show performance,
17:39slaying with minimalistic yet perfectly executed steps.
17:49In one three-minute span, she proved that she wouldn't be giving up her crown anytime soon.
18:00Number 15. Walk This Way. Super Bowl XXXV halftime show.
18:05Spears covering Aerosmith at the Super Bowl halftime show was real, and it was glorious.
18:10Her performance with the band, as well as NSYNC and other artists,
18:14has become one of the most beloved Super Bowl halftime moments.
18:21As the finale of the halftime show,
18:28Spears handles the rock and funk of Aerosmith's 1975 hit as if she had been born to do it,
18:35holding her own against these musical heavyweights.
18:38Also, her chemistry with Aerosmith is everything.
18:50We have to wonder what it would have been like had Spears gone the rock route.
18:54It's a blast from the 2001 past, and gosh darn it, we miss it.
18:59Number 14. Every Time. Saturday Night Live.
19:10When it comes to her talent, Britney is often given more flowers for her dancing.
19:15However, that doesn't diminish her vocal ability one bit.
19:27And nothing demonstrates that better than her 2003 appearance
19:31on Saturday Night Live.
19:33While she sang two songs that night,
19:35the one that truly stood out was her ballad, Every Time.
19:39What have I done?
19:43You seem so more than easy.
19:47She showed off her unique voice as she crooned the heartbreaking lyrics.
19:51Her appearance came about a year after her highly publicized breakup
19:55with fellow musician Justin Timberlake,
19:57making the rendition all the more emotional for both her and the audience.
20:10The harp was the piece de resistance,
20:13adding the perfect amount of instrumentation to the background
20:16without overpowering her voice.
20:28Number 13. Circus. Good Morning, America.
20:42No one can captivate a crowd quite like Britney Spears can.
20:46Even in her darkest days,
20:48she still managed to put on some practically flawless shows.
20:51Take, for example, her 2008 appearance on Good Morning America,
20:55where she performed Circus to celebrate the album being released.
21:06It was her big chance to regain the mainstream's love again
21:09following the rough year she'd just had.
21:12And she pulled it off faultlessly.
21:14I'm like the main leader.
21:17I call the shots.
21:18I'm like a firecracker.
21:21I make it hot.
21:22From the impeccably executed dance break,
21:24complete with high kicks to her dancers decked out in full circus attire,
21:29she made the world genuinely excited for her return.
21:32She more than demonstrated that she still had what it takes.
21:45Number 12. Baby One More Time, You Drive Me Crazy.
21:58We just know an award show hates to see her coming.
22:02When it comes to an industry event,
22:04Britney will constantly keep you guessing.
22:06And the 1999 Billboard Music Awards was no exception.
22:18For her debut there,
22:20she immediately demonstrated why she would be a lasting force in the business.
22:24She opened with a jazzy rendition of Baby One More Time,
22:27switching it up from the usual bubblegum pop fare.
22:43The alternate tempo allowed her to display her talents in a new way,
22:48showcasing her versatility.
23:01The energy completely flipped as she moved into You Drive Me Crazy,
23:05whipping out multiple dance breaks over the beat.
23:08Even though she was still a new artist,
23:10she effortlessly proved why she would become a household name.
23:17Number 11.
23:18The Way You Make Me Feel
23:19Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Celebration
23:28Two icons performing one song together.
23:31Who could ask for anything more?
23:33At the 30th anniversary celebration for Michael Jackson's career,
23:37he had a full set complete with some huge guests,
23:40Britney being one of them.
23:41I swear I'm keeping satisfied
23:52The two worked off each other seamlessly as they sang The Way You Make Me Feel.
23:56They perfectly played off each other's energy,
23:59creating a rousing performance that had the crowd out of their seats.
24:02What made it all the more masterful is that neither pulled out their show-stopping moves,
24:07allowing their voices and pure star power to take center stage.
24:19It was a moment of sheer respect between two powerhouses,
24:24forming a once-in-a-lifetime presentation that may never be replicated.
24:27Come on and pay my girl I wanna look at mine
24:31Ain't nobody disniest
24:34Ain't nobody disniest
24:36But mine is my bab OGlingen
24:39Ooh
24:41Number 10, Medley, 23rd Billboard Music Awards.
24:54Following in the footsteps of Beyonce and the late Whitney Houston,
24:58Britney Spears became the third singer to be honored with the Billboard Millennium Award.
25:03In addition to receiving this prestigious accolade,
25:06Spears kicked things off at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.
25:09Since the Millennium Award commemorates an artist's influential career,
25:14it's only fitting that Britney sang some of her biggest hits,
25:17from Work Bitch to Toxic.
25:26Complete with a flashy set and an army of backup dancers,
25:30her performance had all the flair of a Super Bowl halftime show.
25:42While Spears has taken her fair share of missteps in recent years,
25:46this epic performance put her right back on top of the music world.
25:55Number 9, I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman, 29th Annual American Music Awards.
26:09While not her biggest commercial hit,
26:12I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman embodied a significant turning point in Britney's career.
26:17As she transitioned from a child star to a teenage diva,
26:21a critical success,
26:22the song was also the centerpiece of her unforgettable performance
26:26at the 29th American Music Awards.
26:38After years of building up a glitzy and even risque image,
26:42this appearance exemplified Britney's subtle, elegant side.
26:45Keeping the choreography simple,
26:47she allowed her beautiful vocals to take center stage.
26:50All I need is time
26:53A moment that is mine
26:56One in between
27:00As backup singers joined Spears towards the end,
27:04it was hard not to shed a tear,
27:06making it one of Britney's most heartfelt and graceful performances.
27:10Not yet a woman
27:19Number 8, Make Me, Me, Myself and I
27:2333rd MTV Video Music Awards
27:26After giving her finest performance in years at the Billboard Music Awards,
27:36Spears kept riding the comeback train to the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.
27:49It had been almost a decade since Britney's less-than-stellar appearance at the 2007 VMAs.
27:55That notorious display became a distant memory following this sensational performance, however.
28:07Hitting the stage in stylish silhouette, Spears opened her act with Make Me.
28:12Shortly after G-Eazy joined her on the stage,
28:15the two closed things out with Me, Myself and I.
28:18Maintaining a powerful, poised presence throughout,
28:21Britney reminded us all who the original Princess of Pop is.
28:32It's no wonder Make Me skyrocketed up the charts following this performance.
28:43Number 7, Me Against the Music, I Got That Boom Boom
28:47Total Request Live
28:53Long before YouTube was around,
28:56people had to catch music videos on MTV's Total Request Live.
29:00As one of the show's most frequently requested artists,
29:03Britney Spears was a TRL regular.
29:06Perhaps her most notable appearance was in 2003 during Spankin' New Music Week.
29:17Donning a fedora and a crop top,
29:19Spears was the center of attention in Times Square as she performed Me Against the Music.
29:23With tight choreography and strong vocals,
29:27this would go down as one of the best live performances in TRL history.
29:31As a bonus, the Ying Yang twins also joined Spears for a performance of I Got That Boom Boom.
29:41Needless to say, they were all in the zone.
29:47Number 6, Baby One More Time
29:4916th MTV Video Music Awards
29:52Britney?
29:54Britney?
29:57Britney Spears?
29:59Over here.
30:00Baby One More Time launched Britney Spears into teen idol territory
30:04and is still arguably her most recognizable work.
30:08My loneliness is doing me
30:11The song earned three nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards,
30:19where Spears also performed her debut single.
30:22Following Roll Call, Spears stormed onto the stage like a true queen bee.
30:26Baby One More Time
30:28Oh, baby, baby
30:30How was I supposed to know
30:38Once the bell finally rang, it felt like an epic party was coming to an end.
30:43Fortunately, NSYNC crashed the classroom to kick off the after party.
30:47Right now, I'd like to introduce to you some friends of mine.
30:49This marked Spears' first appearance at the VMAs,
30:52and it certainly wouldn't be her last.
30:55It could also be seen as an early chapter in her relationship with Justin Timberlake,
30:59adding another layer of nostalgia to the performance.
31:02When I'm not with you, I lose my mind
31:06Give me a sign
31:09Hit me, baby
31:11One more time
31:12Number 5
31:13Stronger
31:1428th Annual American Music Awards
31:28In addition to hosting the 28th Annual American Music Awards with LL Cool J,
31:34Spears also performed her empowering single, Stronger.
31:44The act featured an extravagant set, various backup dancers, and even a guitar player with crazy white hair.
31:52Given all the eye candy on display, it would have been easy for Britney to get lost in the shuffle.
32:06Yet all eyes remained fixated on the singer, who commanded her audience's attention with unparalleled confidence.
32:21Where Spears is usually described as a pop diva, in this performance, she came off more like a rock star.
32:27The rock and roll vibes only continued to the song's catchy dance beat,
32:31making everybody listening feel just a little bit stronger.
32:39Number 4
32:40To promote her fourth studio album, In The Zone, Spears headlined her own televised concert on ABC.
33:04Toxic was easily the highlight of this 2004 special, as well as a standout track from the album.
33:10Strutting down the runway, Britney attracts backup dancers like a magnet.
33:14Her performance is so addictive that everybody wants a taste, no matter how poisonous.
33:26Toxic would go on to win Spears her first Grammy Award,
33:30and remains one of her trademark hits.
33:32However, this is quite possibly the definitive version of the song,
33:36thanks to the inventive visuals, slick choreography, and Britney's intoxicating presence.
33:45Number 3
33:46Like a Virgin
33:47Hollywood
33:48Work It
33:4920th MTV Video Music Awards
34:00The Princess of Pop has shared the stage with numerous legends,
34:04and one of the most amazing is this ensemble piece from the 2003 VMAs.
34:09While her duet with Michael Jackson was a landmark,
34:12Spears took part in an even greater ensemble piece at the 2003 VMAs.
34:17Dressed as brides, Spears and Christina Aguilera commenced the act with a rendition of Like a Virgin.
34:23Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
34:30-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
34:31-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
34:31-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
34:32-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
34:36-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
34:44She joined her fellow artists to sing Hollywood,
34:47sealing the song with an infamous kiss.
34:51Throw in Missy Elliott,
34:52and you've got four music icons that know how to work it.
34:59Everyone went nuts for this over-the-top performance,
35:02except maybe JT.
35:04Number two, I Can't Get No Satisfaction,
35:07Oops, I Did It Again,
35:0917th MTV Video Music Awards.
35:12I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
35:20Watching this VMA performance,
35:22it felt as if we were seeing Britney Spears evolve as an artist right before our eyes.
35:27Calling Michael Jackson to mind,
35:29Britney began the performance Hidden Under a Black Hat and Tuxedo,
35:33singing her version of I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
35:44Then, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon,
35:47Spears stripped away the tux to reveal a flesh-colored bodysuit.
35:51As the performance segued into Oops, I Did It Again,
35:54Britney made her message clear.
35:56She was becoming a more adult singer with no qualms about showing some skin.
36:00You see, my problem is this.
36:03I'm dreaming always.
36:06Is she not the heroes that truly hate you?
36:10The performance might have been met with some controversy,
36:12but that's clearly what Brit was going for,
36:15and she'd likely do it again.
36:17I'm not that innocent.
36:34Britney Spears simply stole the show at the 2001 VMAs,
36:38wowing audiences with her sexy and daring rendition of I'm a Slave for You.
36:51The performance flooded the Metropolitan Opera House with a hot, steamy atmosphere.
36:56Britney and a horde of live animals were at the center of everything.
36:59While it did spark a backlash from PETA,
37:02the act wouldn't have become nearly as iconic without the giant albino python
37:06Britney bravely wore on her shoulders like a fashion accessory.
37:19Over a decade and a half later,
37:21this performance is still referenced and parodied in pop culture.
37:25Wouldn't you ever think it'd be okay for me to step into this world?
37:29It's also practically synonymous with Britney's career.
37:41Which Britney Spears performance is your favorite?
37:44Let us know in the comments.