Music career

1998–2000: Early commercial success
See also: ...Baby One More Time and Oops!... I Did It Again
Spears' debut single "...Baby One More Time," released in the fourth quarter of 1998, became an instant international success, earning nine million sales worldwide. The provocative music video accompanying the song featured Spears dressed suggestively in a Catholic schoolgirl uniform..[20] The album of the same title was released in January 1999 and reached number one on the Billboard 200[21], although it received mixed reviews. All Music Guide gave it 4 out of 5 stars, while Rolling Stone gave it 2 out of 5, noting that, "While several Cherion-crafted kiddie-funk jams serve up beefy hooks, shameless schlock slowies, like 'E-Mail My Heart,' are pure spam."[22][23] Rolling Stone later featured Spears on their April 1999 cover in a photo shoot that triggered speculation the seventeen-year-old had breast implants.[24] The success of Spears' music coupled with her controversial image made her one of the year's biggest stars. In December 1999, she won four Billboard Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year. A month later, she took home the Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist award at the American Music Awards.[25] At the 2000 Grammy Awards, Spears received two nominations in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for ...Baby One More Time, but lost to Christina Aguilera and Sarah McLachlan respectively.[26]

Following the success of her debut album, Spears released Oops!... I Did It Again, which debuted at number one in the U.S., selling 1,319,193 units during its first week of sales, the record for any female artist..[27] Concerning both musical content and sales, the album was very similar to Spears’ debut, although it fared better with critics.[28] The album’s lead single, "Oops!... I Did It Again," broke the record for most radio station additions in a single day and quickly became a top ten hit in the U.S. and other countries.[29] 2000 also saw Spears launch her first world tour, the Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour. During the tour, she made a stop in New York for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. As part of her performance, she ripped off a black suit to reveal a provocative nude-colored and crystal-adorned outfit that generated much controversy.[30] She finished the year with two more Billboard Music Awards[31] and two Grammy nominations for Oops!... I Did It Again in the categories of Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[32]