September 25, 2007. Probably not as special of a day as you may think.

I am sure there were the usual family birthdays, tests, paper due dates, romantic dates and maybe some other special things that I have no particular interest in at this moment. But what did release on that day was a two-word song with a three word-intro. In an electronically enhanced belting, “It’s Britney, bitch,” Britney Spears began her “comeback.” Unfortunately for her, the first comeback was short-lived. Fortunately for America, after a few brief stints tied to a hospital bed, heavy life rehabilitation, a tell-all MTV documentary and a long-awaited new album, its number one train wreck has come home.

Spears has had a very illustrious career, first hitting the mainstream as a contestant in 1992 on Star Search and then a Mouseketeer on Disney’s New Mickey Mouse Club (known simply as MMC) in 1993. Who knew that this bubbly teen, whose co-stars included “Dirrty” pop rival, Christina Aguilera, and the ex notorious for taking BS’s innocence, Justin Timberlake, would go from dawning mouse ears to being “tabloid’s most wanted”? It’s simple. She just did, and America loved watching her do it. The only difference this time is that people want to either see her make it or fall hard on her face trying.

In February 2008, Rolling Stone magazine featured a teary-eyed Spears on the cover. In black and white, with a ambiance of sadness and loss, the cover stated that Britney Spears had become an American tragedy. Hard to believe that by December, after being on the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, Britney, her new body and new album graced the cover of Rolling Stone again. This time it was bright, bubbly, smiley and an overall happy appearance. I’m thinking you can guess what the spin was this time around” She now was America’s sweetheart (yet again), backed by the masses.

Something had to have happened from February to December. Why else would the American population go from hating to loving? Of course I would have an answer for that!

• She’s hot. If you don’t think so, I don’t know where you’ve been. She has gotten back into shape and continues to be controversial.
• You love to hate her. People did the same thing with Madonna. It is entertaining to watch someone go up and down, classy to trashy to druggie to mommy to being back on top.
• She stole the show at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Arguably one of the most important nights of the year for musicians, Spears flaunted, bounced, laughed and spoke her way to getting her first Moon Men, and by the end of the night totaled three. And this was all before she released one of her all-time greatest chart toppers, “Womanizer.” It probably was a little help that Russell Brand, the dim-witted, sex-crazed rock star from “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” added his political jabs and gave the Jonas Brothers a knock for still being virgins. (Which by the way, it makes me laugh that they can get anyone they want yet they let a ring prove a promise. I’m thinking heavy PR ploy on this one. Those teenie-boppers have some strong morals if you ask me — or some great reps.)
• She had a very successful tell-all documentary that got everyone thinking about how horrible life as America’s obsession really is. (For more on Britney: For the Record, read Sara J. Martinez’s column TV…or not TV?: All eyes on me, in the center of the ring)
• The bodacious blonde dropped a new hit record (Circus), selling millions the first week, and a new body that sent the tabloids into a rustle to see who could get her on the cover the fastest. People: regardless of how much you claim you hate her, you bought those magazines because you wanted to see how she lost the weight, how she got the abs and how she ended up back in the spotlight.
• And the best reason…she’s Britney, bitch.

The pop queen has flashed her vagina to the public, broken laws, gotten in fist fights at hot-shot night clubs, thrown hissy fits and glass vases, married and divorced two times, went from Mousketeer to school girl to leather and lace to stripper and sweat to womanizer and ring leader. She fell down and got back up. She tamed lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

Britney Spears has solidified herself in the hearts, minds and history books as a pop culture phenomenon. You know you want a piece of her. If you didn’t, why else would she sit smiling on the top of the charts? Say what you please — she’s here to stay. The bitch is back.