Yes, she's done it again -- recorded another full-length pop confection, that is. But how many of us felt the same kind of anticipation toward Britney Spears' first LP, "...Baby One More Time," as we're feeling now toward "Oops!... I Did It Again," which is due to drop on May 16?

Since the somewhat subdued release of "...Baby" in late 1998, Miss Spears has managed to work the world at large into a Britney-mad frenzy, thanks largely to her girl-next-door-gone-all-grown-up charm and her, er, eye-popping videos. Think about it: for her debut album to dominate the U.S. top ten for, jeez, a year at least, and to go on to be certified twelve-times platinum... well, that's kind of a big deal and stuff.

No wonder us folks are so excited.

MTV News' Chris Connelly caught up with the pop starlet in Hawaii (he's got it tough, eh?) and chatted candidly about her newfound maturity, how she deals with the rumor mill, and the loneliness she's found at the top. Oh, yeah, and how much it hurt to get her navel pierced, too.

All that, plus RealVideo of Brit performing live on her recent tour, is available right here in our MTV News Online feature. (Be sure to check back for more installments from Connelly's interview in the near future.)