Britney Spears’ closest confidante says the pop star is at the top of her game ahead of her music comeback
BRITNEY SPEARS’ inner circle have insisted the pop icon is stronger than ever and ready to make a comeback – despite still being surrounded by drama and rumour.
Every tiny detail of the Toxic hit-maker’s life has been poured over and analysed by fans for two decades — and she can often end up painted in a negative light.
Yet days before she releases her collaboration Hold Me Closer, with Sir Elton John, I’ve spoken to those at the top — who are keen to cut through the noise.
One of her closest confidantes told me: “Britney is in the best place she has been for a long time but constant rumours and conspiracy theories around her need to stop.
“She’s amazing and she adores her fans but at times they run the risk of hurting her with their claims and allegations.
“It can get like a pressure cooker at times but the bottom line is she is great and is finally in control of her life.”
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Since her debut . . . Baby One More Time in 1998 — and throughout most of her career — she has been a force to be reckoned with.
As well as being nominated for eight Grammy Awards, winning Best Dance Recording for mega-smash Toxic in 2004, Britney has sold more than 100million records worldwide.
But in 2008, after struggling to cope in the media spotlight following a messy divorce from Kevin Federline, her father Jamie Spears got a court to place her in a conservatorship.
She was forced into a childlike state, with no power over her professional nor personal life, even being banned from re-marrying or starting a family.
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She said in 2008 documentary Britney: For The Record: “There is no excitement or passion. It is groundhog day, every day.
“I’m stuck in this place and I just deal. I just cope with it. Every day.
“You can’t go there in a complete state of happiness because you are scared of it being taken away.
“So it’s better not to feel anything at all.”
Even then, she put out four albums.
Her most recent, 2016’s Glory, peaked at No2 here and she completed three world tours and a record-breaking residency in Las Vegas.
Now, after successfully getting the conservatorship ended in September last year, Britney is a free woman.
However a stream of worrying Instagram posts, including naked photographs, has recently led to speculation all is not well with her, despite protests from her husband, dancer Sam Asghari.
And those close to her insist there is nothing to worry about.
My insider added: “Britney sees something and wants to share it with her fans. She’s not bothered about being preened and perfect 24/7.
“That’s not her. Everything you see on her Instagram is 100 per cent her.
“For Britney finally having autonomy is everything.
“Relaunching her career with Elton will remind the public just why she is such a talent.”
I think it is high time Britney was allowed to find her feet again, even if some of her actions don’t always seem to add up.
BECKY’S ANXIETY BATTLES
BECKY HILL says she still struggles with anxiety over her career, despite having five Top Ten songs under her belt.
The singer, whose tune History, with Joel Corry, came out last week, said: “I get really bad anxiety before I release a single.
“I worry that people are not going to like it and does that mean that people are going to dislike me?
“I don’t check numbers and I don’t check how many streams it has but I am just grateful after it is released that I have had the chance to put out a song.”
Becky said she is still undergoing counselling to help her cope better with her worries.
She added: “You have caught me in a phase of my life where I don’t deal with my anxiety very well.
“It’s getting worse as it’s getting older but therapy is a great way to combat it.
“I try going to the gym but as much as I look after my body, I give my brain a workout as well with therapy, and that is healthy for everyone.”
LILY TAKES A BREAK
SHE has finished her stint treading the boards in 2:22 A Ghost Story and now Lily Allen is having a break.
The Smile pop star shared this snap of herself in a mismatched bikini and green striped shirt on Instagram from her holiday with her kids and actor husband David Harbour.
Stranger Things star David recently said how he fell in love with Lily in just days after they matched on celebrity dating app Raya.
David, who married Lily in September 2020, told GQ Hype mag: “She claims to have fallen in love at first sight with me . . . I mean, who wouldn’t?
“I remember the exact moment. It was our third date. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that’s somebody I want to be around.’”
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HARRY STYLES has revealed one of the most terrifying moments in his career – singing one of folk legend Joni Mitchell’s songs in front of her.
He said: “I went to her house for a Christmas carol singalong. I was invited by the wonderful (US singer) Brandi Carlile and it was fun.
Brandi kind of volunteered me to sing River, which was one of the more nerve-wracking moments in my life, singing in front of Joni Mitchell.
“But it was pretty special.”
MEG HAS A BLAST
MEGAN THEE STALLION got up close and personal with a fan – but not one throwing their hands in the air, a machine blasting out air.
She needed it to cool her down as she performed at the Summer Sonic festival in Japan.
I’m not surprised the Sweetest Pie rapper was feeling the heat in Osaka, after she chose to perform in this skin-tight purple and yellow one-piece, furiously twerking and singing as the tempature hit 33C.
After arriving in Japan at the end of last week, American Megan has been taking in the sights and hitting the shops, as well as an exhibition of Japanese TV and film animation.
She is clearly feeling good for the downtime – tweeting yesterday: “I’m not giving no energy to nothing that don’t make me happy or make me no money.”
That’s some pretty sage advice there, Megan.
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GOK WAN and Jodie Harsh each surprised fans at Camp Bestival at the weekend by performing DJ sets.
In an exclusive chat after his performance on the Barclaycard AMP stage at the festival in Shropshire, telly chef and fashion guru Gok said: “Bestival is one of my favourite festivals because it is so family orientated.
“When you go onsite you have the best food, the best atmosphere, plus there’s something for every generation.
“Kids can enjoy it as much as adults.”
And he has big plans for next year’s event.
When asked about his dream headliner, he joked: “Gok Wan.
“Have you heard of him? He should be on the main stage performing.”
WHAT A CHEMICAL REACTION THAT IS
THE Chemical Brothers put on one hell of a show at the All Points East Festival and drew the biggest crowd.
Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands had celebs including Nick Grimshaw there to enjoy their electric performance.
As well as playing some of their classics, the pair – who headlined the APE Presents Field Day at the event in East London’s Victoria Park – did a mash-up of their track Star Guitar and New Order’s Temptation.
If you have never seen these guys live, put it on your to-do list.
ASH SMASH OUT TWO NEW ALBUMS
THERE aren’t many bands still releasing music three decades into their careers.
But I can reveal Irish rockers Ash are working on their first music in four years.
Frontman Tim Wheeler and his bandmates have been recording in Scotland.
Things have gone so well that Ash now plan to put out TWO albums. The records will be their first since 2018’s Islands.
A source said: “Things are very much a work in progress but over the past few weeks they have been secretly writing and recording in Scotland.
“As things evolved it became clear a double album-style release could be the way forward.
“Each will have a different sound, with one being more synthy than the other.”
On their release date, the insider added: “The second half of 2023 is most likely.”
SEAN CARNIVAL CAMEO
NOTTING Hill Carnival hits West London this weekend and there may be a surprise guest who promises some crazy antics – SEAN PAUL.
The Jamaican dancehall rapper said he has had wild times at the event and plans to break off from his Scorcha UK tour to perform a set.
He told me: “I have no show on one of those days so I might be touching down on one of the stages, just for fun.
“I’ve been many times. The first I went to was 1999 or 2000, and I did seven years straight.”
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But he admits things have got a bit out of hand.
He said: “I remember climbing a big scaffolding thing and hanging off, singing. Everybody was like, ‘Ahhh!’”