It has to be said, (the white) Michelle Williams was the perfect choice to narrate Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman in Me. When the news came out several weeks ago, Michelle made a statement about how she “stands with Britney,” and you can tell that Michelle really means it. She is really great at book narration, specifically for Britney’s whole vibe. Basically, everyone believes that Michelle will win a Grammy for this. Note: Michelle doesn’t actually have an Oscar or a Tony, although she’s been nominated for both. She does have an Emmy, so she’s well on her way to EGOTing. These are some clips of Michelle’s narration which have made the rounds:
ijbol pic.twitter.com/fs2jiJDXOM
— alex (@alex_abads) October 24, 2023
Michelle Williams needs an AWARD for this Britney audiobook okay?!
Her mimicking THE Mariah Carey has me weak okay?!
What has me more weak is this is also how I would feel too meeting Mariah Carey. pic.twitter.com/z4fMuciUAM— Niccara. (@niccaracampbell) October 24, 2023
Michelle Williams channeled Britney Spears for this line reading about Jamie Lynn pic.twitter.com/4dh8AslyGr
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) October 24, 2023
The clip where Britney has written about Justin Timberlake’s cultural appropriation/AAVE is fascinating and Michelle does an Oscar-worthy line reading. It gets to something which people talk about all the time, which is that Justin is a culture-vulture while Britney just isn’t. Britney’s awareness of JT’s behavior is really interesting too.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.
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- BRITNEY SPEARS AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE OF NSYNC AT THE 29TH ANNUAL AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS HELD AT THE SHRINE AUDITORIUM IN LOS ANGELES, CA. 09 JANUARY 2002.,Image: 547442344, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ron Wolfson / Avalon
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- , 2001 britney spears and boyfriend justin timberlake at the 28th American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA 1/8/2001 URW/,Image: 547460253, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ron Wolfson / Avalon
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- ©/LONDON FEATURES 2001 BRITNEY SPEARS & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE THE BRITNEY SPEARS ALBUM RELEASE PARTY AT CENTRO FLY. NOVEMBER 6, 2001 NEW YORK CITY,Image: 548458036, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Dennis Van Tine / Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 06: American actress Michelle Williams wearing Tiffany and Co. jewelry arrives at the 2022 AFI Fest – Closing Night Special Screening Of Universal Pictures’ ‘The Fabelmans’ held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on November 6, 2022 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 735793656, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Michelle Williams, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 06: American actress Michelle Williams wearing Tiffany and Co. jewelry arrives at the 2022 AFI Fest – Closing Night Special Screening Of Universal Pictures’ ‘The Fabelmans’ held at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on November 6, 2022 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 735794225, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Michelle Williams, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- Beverly Hills, CA – Celebrities attend the Academy Awards 2023 Oscars Nominee Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Pictured: Michelle Williams BACKGRID USA 13 FEBRUARY 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York 02/03/02 – Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake hosting a Super Bowl Fundraiser at Planet Hollywood and unveiling personally designed T-Shirts to benefit their charities “Britney Spears Foundation” and “Justin Timberlake Foundation” PH2706BO Featuring: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake Where: New York , NY , USA When: 24 Aug 2002 Credit: ALEX OLIVEIRAstartraksphoto.com
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- New York, 02/13/2002 – Britney Spears celebrates the release of her debut film “Crossroads” with a party at Planet Hollywood. Event to benefit the Britney Spears Foundation. Pictured: Britney Spears and her boyfriend *NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake. PH2755BK Photo by Startraks© Featuring: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake Where: New York, New York, United States When: 24 Aug 2002 Credit: ANDERS KRUSBERGSTARTRAKS PHOTO©
I know everyone on here was hoping Prince Harry would get the grammy nomination and win for his audiobook and I do think he will still get nominated. However Michelle will definitely win it.
Narrating an autobiography/memoir while ensuring that people do not hear their voice but the author’s is a delicate balance that she managed to do incredibly well. I think everyone will be shocked if she doesn’t get nominated and win.
The Grammy submission cutoff was September 30, so Harry could still win for this year’s ceremony because Michelle’s narration won’t be eligible until a year from now.
Good point. Aside from Harry and now Michelle (if she met the cut off) who is eligible for the grammy and this category. It will be interesting to see who the other nominees are.
I think there’s also a strong chance Jenette MCurdy could win it. Her narration was impeccable and her book was excellent. She’s not nearly as famous as Hazza, and yet her memoir topped the charts for much of the year (basically the whole year apart from when Harry took over the charts). Universally great reviews.
I was thinking about this today. I really want Harry to win, but was wondering about it going up against this memoir ( I am only a few chapters in!) but I didn’t know when the timing of the year cycle was.
I was gonna buy the physical book, but after this, audio is it.
A certain demographic love the white boy pop star,but love it even more when they have a little ‘seasoning’ JT stole Ushers whole steez .
She was good, but she is no Prince Harry when it comes to narration. I listen to a lot of audio books and he was by far the best.
So do I and Michelle was better by far. She not only got the “britney voice” without being comical, she managed to do other characters voices that captured them incredibly well.
Harry was great at narrating his memoir and definitely did his justice but he sounded the same for all the characters/people involved which is fair, he’s not an actor. I think he will still get nominated but if Michelle gets nominated along side him then she will most likely win. As someone reminded me, the cut off for the grammy nominations was in September so who knows he could still win. But if he’s up against Michelle, I’d say Michelle will hands down.
but he won’t be up against Michelle, because this book has a release date of 10/24/23 so its past the cutoff to be eligible.
Either way, who knew audiobook narration would be such an exciting Grammy category lol.
And I had no idea you could win a Grammy for audiobook narration. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@BrassyRebel lol its how a fair amount of EGOTs get that “G” – well maybe not a fair amount, but the Grammy can be hard to get if you’re not a singer or producer. Viola Davis, for example, got her grammy for her audiobook.
Exactly, this is Harry’s story and he takes you with him on every page. I felt his pain, joy, love & disappointment. Like someone said down below, yes Michelle is good, but it’s not Brittany’s voice you hear. I’m not trying to say she doesn’t do a good job, but there’s something extra special when the words are coming from the owner of his or her own story.
Sigh…geez you can’t even give Michelle her flowers… without someone checking for Harry🙄
I wasn’t really referring to any awards they might be given. I was referring to my personal experience and enjoyment of listening to the book. I hope all this focus on narrators will make publishers pay attention to hire better people. I’ve started books where the narration was so bad it ruined the book.
I understand, I I also listen to a lot of audio books and PH was one of the best I’ve ever listen to so far. It was so good I’ve listen to it 6 times and I usually don’t do that.
My husband has a lot of audible credits to use so i’ll have him send this to me, its been a long time since I’ve listened to an audiobook.
But she can’t win an Oscar for this so the post title is confusing me 🤣🤣
I love my audio credits💞..
Audiobooks are the only thing that allows me to get in as many books as I do. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day for a full-time job, kids sports, family time, etc. to sit down and squeeze in quality book time–I’m one that has to have a book to read at all times. I even set yearly reading goals. I am a medical coder and listen to audiobooks all day while I work. Give me alllll the credits.
I am not big on audio books but agree that these snippets are so good I want to listen to her read the whole thing!
Okay I started listening to it; I’m only about 5 chapters in and so far I think Michelle Williams is fine, I think she’s doing a good job of not overtaking Britney’s voice, but I’m not as blown away as I was expecting to be. But I’m still pretty early on in the book.
JT must be one of those white male celebrity with an iron Teflon image, and I don’t know why.
I heard the clip of the Justin imitation last night and laughed so hard! I thought, “Welp! I know where my next Audible credit is going!”
I started listening to the audio book yesterday but I actually stopped and decided I want to read the e-book first. Michelle is an awesome narrator but she’s so smooth and sophisticated that I had to keep reminding myself that those are actually Britney’s words — it felt like listening to a fiction novel for me.
I will say though, the very brief intro that Britney read was a mess. The audio quality was not great (as if she did it by phone) and she spoke so quickly that everything came out like one long run-on-sentence. I had to keep jumping back to re-listen to make sense of it.
Interesting. I didn’t have any issue understanding Britney at all and Michelle is so talented I had no troubling getting into the story.
Oh I had no trouble getting into the story either – but it was hard for me to remember it was Britney’s story (I only listed to the first 15 minutes to be fair because I really want to read the ebook “in Britney’s voice” first and then come back and listen to the audio version).
But honestly, I had to listen three times at the very start to understand Britney said “For my boys, who are the loves of my life.” Could be my laptop speakers but Michelle’s voice came through crystal clear with good cadence.
I have added the Audible version for quite a number of books I already have on my kindle as I love having audiobooks on while I do stuff and I’ve noticed I definitely pick up on different things depending on how I’m experiencing the story.
I guess I’ll have to say yes next time audible sends me a free month. Not really an audiobook person, but this sounds good.
Her imitation of Timberfake greeting Ginuwine is **chefs kiss** perfection.
“Oh yea, fo shiz fo shiz Ginuwine what’s up my homie?!?!?”
Michelle is such a talented actress and Britney a great storyteller. I know that Britney had editors but this is clearly her voice.
No I don’t like it when audio book readers imitate someone or change voices.
It’s not a full on imitation — it’s more like if you were telling a story and quoting a friend — you’d have a little of their essence in there. I also agree her narration is just beautifully done.
I know what you mean. This moment could have been really cringey, but it wasn’t. I think that’s due to Michelle’s talent as a voice actor.
I know this book is going to be a huge seller even though I have no interest in reading it. However, Michelle’s audio is so good I might just buy it for that alone.
I was going to pass on this since it seems the big parts of the books have been leaked. But now I am fascinated to hear Michelle Williams’s take on it. Even with already knowing so much already.
She can definitely win a grammy.
I gave up on physical books years ago (old age, arthritis) and still read books but even holding a light phone or device is hard so audiobook for the win. I’ve had trouble finding a good one lately so I’ll wait for this at the library
I wish I could get into audiobooks! I just don’t absorb and retain information as well when I listen as I do when I actually read the words in a book or on my Kindle. But celebrity memoirs are a bit different so maybe this is the perfect opportunity to try. I really want to read this along with Mariah and J. Simp’s memoirs.
Has anyone been following Britney for some time one IG and finished the book? Because there were a few paragraphs/stories that I remembered seeing on her IG, f.e. her visiting home after the break-up from Justin and her feeling let down by her family. I wonder if she wrote these kinds of moments down, send them to her ghostwriter and some also ended up on IG before she was told to delete it.
Are we getting a separate thread for the book? Because I want to discuss it 😉
The Eat Pray Britney podcast is going to do a very detailed chapter by chapter commentary and review. They are looking for a way for listeners to participate but haven’t quite figured out how they want to handle it yet. They talk about some of the book leaks in the latest episode and give JT a good bashing. They have two whole episodes in their catalog where they detail everything JT has done as evidence of what a garbage human being he is.
Thank you 😀
I think I might just have to get the audio book – Michelle nails it. You can imagine Britney saying these things.
Omg hahaha I’m dead. Bravo, Michelle. The cringey JT interaction is hilarious!
I love it. Michelle was such a great choice to give the reading the class it deserves.