Britney Spears didn’t show up with her dome shaved Thursday night at the Tacoma Dome. She wasn’t listless and pudgy, a la her career low on the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. She didn’t even storm off stage, peeved at the aroma of wacky tobacky, as she did night before last in Vancouver, B.C.

Nope, there were no tabloid-worthy moments during the pop princess’ first Puget Sound performance in half a decade, a victory by itself. Instead, Spears confidently strutted, gyrated and lip-synced her way through a slick two hours of smash hits, eye-popping spectacle and PG-13 erotica, much to the delight of more than 20,000 screaming and mostly female fans. It was another step forward on a comeback trail that’s seen her bounce back from the public meltdowns and trips to rehab that have largely overshadowed her musical career these last few years.

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