Britney Jean Spears (born 2 December 1981) is an American singer and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears first appeared on national television as a contestant on the Star Search program in 1992 and went on to star on the television series The New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. After a brief membership with the pop musical group Innosense, Spears signed a recording contract with Jive Records, releasing her debut album: Baby One More Time. The success of the album propelled Spears into stardom, establishing her as a pop icon and “bona fide pop phenomenon”, credited for influencing the revival of teen pop in the late 90s.