Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Spears is regarded as a pop icon and is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s, for which she is referred to as the “Princess of Pop”. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, she appeared in stage productions and television series, before signing with Jive Records in 1997.