 WASHINGTON, DC (AP) - To promote her upcoming album, Britney , Britney Spears held a press conference on Wednesday (Oct. 24) via telephone from Orlando, where she's rehearsing for her world tour, slated to launch on Halloween in Washington, D.C. The press conference was the latest salvo in a publicity onslaught that includes a movie (Crossroads, due out in February), a home video, a Nov. 18 HBO special, and the new cover of Vogue magazine. The press conference didn't yield much in the way of new information - she was particularly reluctant to drop hints about what her live show will be like - but Spears, who really does seem that nice, politely answered questions about her tour, her boyfriend, her virginity, and her opinion of Cher.
She chewed gum and potato chips throughout the interview, called the female journalists ma'am, and only rarely lost her composure, no matter how dumb, redundant, or invasive the question. Some highlights (a more comprehensive Q&A will launch at TOP40 CHARTS on Oct. 30): She worries that Britney won't do as well as its predecessors: "It's kind of hard to top something like ...Baby One More Time and Oops!..., but honestly I'm kind of praying that it does something like that." On being a role model. Or not: "I think it's very sweet that such young kids look up to me, because their innocence is a beautiful thing," she says. "You know, I don't wear those clothes to the supermarket." On reports that Alice Cooper is taking his young daughter onstage, dressed as a faux - Britney, and mock - beating her up. "Oh, well, that's really nice. I just have to laugh [things like that] off. I find it interesting that people find me so interesting." On being the newest gay icon: "It's flattering, oh my gosh. All my best friends are gay guys." Will she be taking the snake out on the road? "No, there's not gonna be any animals on this tour. I'm already doing enough crazy stuff." On meeting Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes: "She was very sweet. Her daughter is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life." On the influence of her boyfriend, 'NSync's Justin Timberlake on Britney, and on Britney : "He's [pretty busy] himself, so I try not to bother him too much, but his opinion means a lot to me. He's everything to me. Definitely on the next one, he'll have a lot more [influence]." What will her upcoming DVD be like? "Honestly, I have no idea." And, finally, is she a virgin? "We can go to the next question."
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