It’s hard to transition from a child singer to a successful adult star. Between the money, the pressure and the temptations of a star-studded young life, many successful child stars become burned out or washed up by the time they reach their twenties. It takes tenacity, a love of music and a solid support system to overcome the challenges of early fame. Check out some current adult stars who have remained at the forefront of the music industry despite personal and professional struggles along the way.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake became a teenage heartthrob as a performer in ‘N Sync, but his career started even earlier than that, as a star on the Disney Channel’s The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met fellow young stars JC Chasez, Christina Aguilera and Brittany Spears. In 2002, after gaining a huge following amongst teenage girls, Justin Timberlake released his first album, Justified. In 2006 his album Future/LoveSounds debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Justin Timberlake’s personal life has always made headlines, with links to Brittany Spears, Cameron Diaz and Jessica Biel, but a strong family life and a close relationship with his mom has helped keep his career on track.

Christina Aguilera

Like Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera made her first foray into stardom as a performer on The New Mickey Mouse Club, but her first album was released in 1999 to significant commercial success, including three number one hit singles. She released two more albums before parting ways with her management company and taking control of her own music. It was a good move, too, because her 2002 album, Stripped, and her 2006 album, Back to Basics, both featured singles that kept her in the limelight despite controversy over her personal appearance and personal life. Recent years have been filled with ups and downs – she’s made it as a judge on The Voice, but has also dealt with divorce and box office flops – but her clear self-acceptance and talent has enabled her to remain popular despite the naysayers.

Brittany Spears

It seems like whatever music Brittany Spears touches, it turns to gold…or platinum (if we’re talking about albums and singles). But, like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, this former Mickey Mouse Club star hasn’t always had it easy. After numerous number one albums and songs, Brittany Spears appeared to crack under the fame and pressure, shaving her head in public, having her children taken out of her care and undergoing court-ordered treatment. Luckily, she took a step away from showbiz for awhile, and with the conservatorship of her father, she got her personal life back on track. Since then she’s released several more albums, each featuring number one singles.

by Laura Williams