The Pop Corporation

Whether you like it or not, Britney Spears is about to drop the biggest pop-cultural moment of 2023, and it’s not even new music. The fervour around her new memoir is bigger than, say, a new album from Rihanna or the imminent Beatles release.

And why is that?

Well, largely, it’s because Britney is still a big deal. Her brand has had a renaissance since the dissolution of her conservators control over her, and the FreeBritney moment. She’s wild, but ultimately, still incredibly likeable. Her songs have aged well, everyone’s still rooting for her, and now, she’s somewhat in control of her own destiny.

However, there’s more to the excitement and interest in ‘The Woman In Me’. Her publishers have said of the book that it’s a “moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope”.

Nostalgia for Noughties pop is obviously an interest to music lovers, but there’s more to this. The MeToo movement has moved the goalposts and Britney has things she needs to share about the way she’s been treated by her family, the industry, and of course, her romantic relationships. This is going to be both empowering and incredibly hot gossip.

She wants to tell everyone about the grim 13 year conservatorship where she wasn’t able to make decisions about her own life. She wants to let everyone know what Justin Timberlake was really like too. Snippets shared to some publications tell of him pressuring her to have an abortion. We know he sings ‘Cry Me A River’ about her. Timberlake will be sweating about this release, and given the rumours about his actions in the fall-out of the Janet Jackson ‘wardrobe malfunction’ moment, his image is already somewhat on the rocks.

She says of her book, with typical affable charm: “My book’s purpose was not to offend anyone by any means. I don’t like the headlines I am reading … that’s exactly why I quit the business four years ago. This is actually a book I didn’t know needed to be written … although some might be offended, it has given me closure on all things for a better future.”

“Hopefully I can enlighten people who feel particularly alone in most cases or hurt or misunderstood.”

The Noughties were a brutal time to be a celebrity and Britney Spears is absolutely one who has suffered the most at the hands of the press and intense scrutiny. We’ve needed to hear her side of the story, and now’s that chance. She’s now an adult and can process that time of her life with more clarity and candour.

The LA Times have already called the book a ‘Gothic horror story’ and it’s worth remembering that this is going to be a cautionary tale as well as a riot to read.

It’s going to be all anyone talks about when it drops and brace yourself – it’s going to be as moving as it is salacious.