But now, she’s showing her detractors and supporters alike that she got a lot of fight in her. From a hit song, a new workout regimen, her appearance on a popular TV sitcom, and spending time with her family, Spears has turned what was a big negative into a new beginning.

Now, it’s not over for Britney yet. She still has custody issues to work out with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline … her father, Jamie Spears, is still in charge of her affairs, and she likely needs ongoing counseling.

However, even with those issues, Britney Spears has battled demons that would have caused most normal people to crumble!

But did we expect anything less from this young woman? After all, you don’t rise to fame and fortune at such a young age without having a strong will and a positive outlook on life, no matter what problems you might be facing.

Let’s take a look at a few of the mountains Britney has climbed recently:

Hit song. Shortly after her troubles started, Britney was quick to release “Piece of Me,” a scathing statement about being chased by the paparazzi. The song went Platinum, reached No. 1 on dance charts around the world, and stayed on the charts for several months. The video has had over 40 million views – and counting – on YouTube.

TV appearance. Many people thought this would be the last thing we’d see out of Britney for many years. Her critics like to point to her MTV Awards performance as a low point in her career, and it may well have been. But just because someone reaches a low point, doesn’t mean they can’t rise up, and Britney did with her appearance on the hit TV show, How I Met Your Mother. Her performance was so well received that Spears was asked back for a second appearance. In fact, her first performance increased viewers by over one million!

Family ties. Britney’s been reconnecting with her family recently, which is perhaps the most important thing a person in her position can do. After all, in a time of instability, who else is going to love and support you like your family? She has been photographed by the ever present paparazzi relaxing with her family, she’s returning to her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, and is reportedly planning Jamie Lynn Spears’ (her sister) baby shower.

Is Britney back? Well, it’s too early to tell for sure, but so far the Queen of Pop has been taking all the right steps on the road back to her rightful place atop the charts. Certainly, it would be a wonderful thing to see her on stage singing, dancing and performing again very soon.

At the rate she’s been conquering her mountains, it looks like 2008 could be a very good year for Britney. Let’s all hope so.