Britney's 'Circus' a Birthday Present to Fans

Dec. 1, 2008 — -- It's been a while.
I know I shouldn't have kept you waiting.
But I'm here now.

So begins "Break the Ice," the third single off Britney Spears' 2007 album, "Blackout." In the song, she's serenading a lover, but in real life, now, on the eve of her 27th birthday, are we going to see Britney remade for good?

It's not hyperbole to say that when she rose to fame with "Baby One More Time" in 1999, no one predicted the Southern girl with a sweet smile and sexy swagger would end up a single mom before the age of 25.

In her documentary, "Britney: For the Record," which debuted on MTV Sunday night, Spears opened up about the tough times she's been through. She talked about how her 2002 breakup from fellow pop star Justin Timberlake left her "devasted," lost and confused and how she probably married former backup dancer Kevin Federline "for the wrong reasons ... the idea of everything."

For 2 1/2 years she was hounded by the paparazzi and what was presented was a less than perfect image of the once rising pop star.

But in '08, Spears persevered.

Two guest spots on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" showed audiences and the industry that she could still put on a smile and play a part. In July 2008, she finally surrendered custody of Sean Preston and Jayden James to Federline, a decision parenting experts and attorneys dubbed wise for Spears and sons alike.

Spears appeared on and subsequent sweep of MTV's Video Music Awards in September and pulled it off. Toned, tanned and trim, she shined in a sparkling silver minidress.

Now all in all, things are good. She's on the cover of Rolling Stone and on the verge of a world tour. Her latest single, "Womanizer," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her sixth studio album, "Circus," drops tomorrow, the day she performs on "Good Morning America," her most high-profile gig since her breakdown, and the day she turns 27.

Happy birthday, Britney. It's good to have you back.