I once told a friend of mine, "Britney Spears will never tour again." That was said during a time when her life was marked by car accidents, divorce, custody battles, hospital/rehab visits and even a little head shaving. Her once successful singing career was no where to be found. But I'll admit when my theories go awry, and after this past Tuesday I can candidly say, "I was wrong."

Britney graced the stage this week at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, and I was in the fifth row to witness this ultimate comeback. Accompanied by my best friend, Jessica, I initially became nervous that my blue hoop-sleeved outfit was a bit dressy for a Britney Spears concert. Since this was my first time at a concert of hers, I had no idea what environment I would soon be entering. Despite the 40-degree weather, girls arrived in groups of scantly dressed outfits replicating past and current music video favorites. One girl even had a six-foot stuffed snake to complete her "I'm A Slave 4 U" outfit. Other less provocative teens donned t-shirts with catchy song lyrics or "I Love Britney" creatively splashed across the front. (And I was worried about my "dressed up" outfit?)

The Pussycat Dolls began the night's entertainment with a rousing version of "Don't Cha." Each girl dressed in her own scandalous outfit, pranced around the stage and occasionally paused for effect or to dance. Lead singer Nicole Scherzinger brought down the house with her tremendous booming vocals. While "When I Grow Up" capped the girls' night, their performance of Slumdog Millionaire's hit song "Jai Ho" brought people to their feet (including me). I wouldn't be too surprised if these girls eventually headline their own tour someday.

After a 20-minute intermission, the stage eventually filled with various acrobats, ribbon dancers, gymnasts and clowns performing their individual routines. Entertaining? Yes. But we wanted Britney.

And so the real portion of the concert finally commenced.

Perez Hilton made a (horrible) cameo in the Circus Tour video introduction. First, you couldn't understand a word he said over the thousands of screaming fans. Second, I don't like him. Not the best start to her concert.

Britney, appropriately danced in a red ringmaster outfit, dropped to the stage from spinning gold hoops to jump-start the first act, "Circus." The show began with a fun remix of her single "Circus" - one of the best opening performances I've seen in a long time. The air acrobats and talented dancers set the show's theme instantly, as the pop princess strutted around striking her whip. Spontaneously smoke flared up from the stage floors, and Britney was soon hurried into a large gold cage where she seductively moved to everyone's favorite radio tune "Piece of Me." A thunderstorm segue dimmed the lights low as Britney broke out of the cage to perform "Radar." Alongside Ed Alonzo, illusionist and former "Saved By The Bell" actor, Britney took part in magic tricks, getting cut in half, as well as disappearing and reappearing on stage.

During a quick stage and costume change, martial artists took the stage complete with swords while "Gimme, Gimme" played in the background - the only time the song would be heard during the night. I have to wonder if Britney Spears had enough of that song after her train-wreck performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

During the second act of the night, "House of Fun (Anything Goes)," Britney launched into an exciting rendition of my favorite tune from her Blackout album, "Ooh, Ooh Baby" with a posse of dancers in pink and black skimpy skirts and lingerie braziers. The song smoothly transitioned into a quick, yet flirty show of "Hot As Ice." Reliving the popularity of her past success, Britney donned a gray button jacket over her previous outfit as she broke out into "Boys." Topping off the act were the sexy and talented guys who busted moves as the singer worked each area of the stage. Once back in her scantly dark outfit draped in a pink feather boa, the audience was treated to a fun and hilarious performance of "If U Seek Amy" with Britney touring the stage with a large pink hammer to bop the male dancers over the head.

My favorite portion of the night featured the pop singer in a breath taking sparkling blue and gold Bollywood outfit similar to that of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin. Dressed to perfection for "Me Against the Music," Britney also gave a near sincere version of "Everytime." The fact that she sat in a large umbrella that spun her around the ceiling void of any dancing warranted her the ability to really sing the song! It's understandable she has to lip sync the other acts because of her elaborate routines and dancing numbers, but why couldn't the audience have been treated to her real voice? Isn't that the entire point of attending a concert - to hear live music?

The show headed into the third act, "Freakshow/Peepshow," with an interesting and hot video of Britney's remake of Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams." New stage props including sofas, enlarged picture frames and an oversized ottoman decorated the stage for "Freakshow" and "Get Naked." But nothing beat Britney's steamy, sexual act of "Breathe on Me" and "Touch of My Hand." (If you were a parent, this was the instant you took your youngsters out for a 15-minute bathroom break!) Wearing nothing but silver and black Madonna boob cones and black panties, Britney spent her time on a center couch where her sensual body movements and gestures did all the talking…

The last act of the night entitled "Electro Circ" featured the singer back in black costumes and a hat, while she rolled around on various stage pieces singing "Do Somethin'," I'm A Slave 4 U" and "Toxic." The pop singer got frisky and dangerous while playing with fire sparklers and dancing over a circle of blazing flames. Later, Britney, dressed in a sexy light blue police uniform, elicited nostalgic memories during her "Hit Me Baby (One More Time)" performance." Ending the show in fashionable encore style, the audience sang along to one of her current hits, "Womanizer." With sparks and confetti pouring from the stage, the legendary singer bowed, thanked Chicago and exited.

Anyone looking to attend an upcoming Britney Spears concert has a lot to look forward to! Unfortunately, if you intend to see the old Britney, you will be disappointed. It's obvious her past few years have taken a toll on her, and while she has made a significant return, she is not the same performer she used to be back in the day. If you score tickets to this show, enjoy the magnificent spectacle and dynamic performances. For what it's worth, you will be a part of a legendary artist thriving in her most recent comeback.

Have you seen Britney in concert? What did you think? Leave a comment below!

Story by Kathryn Sparks

Starpulse contributing writer