Britney Spears News Archive Part 1

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Nicki Minaj, Rapper and Fierce Fashionista, Turns 28-and Gets Some Britney Spears Love!

The "Super Bass" rapper marked her 28th this morning with a simple message on Twitter: "No wishes. Just thanks. Gratitude. To God be the glory," she wrote.

She also got a little love from pal, Britney Spears, which has to be a great way to start the morning. And while we don't know how Nicki plans to celebrate the rest of the day, we're sure the diva is gonna do it up in her signature outrageous style. This babe's never met a wig or a Rainbow Brite color she didn't love!

America's Tweet-Heart: Britney Spears Thanks Lance Bass, Ryan Seacrest, Victoria Justice & More!

The queen of pop turned the big 3-0 Friday and celebs ranging from Victoria Justice to Ryan Seacrest tweeted birthday wishes and sent videos to the star. Brit-Brit graciously thanked them in return, reminiscing about birthdays past and even remembering a song she forgot she recorded!

Kim Kardashian saluted the singer, tweeting: "Welcome to the 30's club Britney Spears Love you!" Britney matched Kim's happy vibe, replying, "Thank you so much Kim for your kind words and wishes! Luv u too! Xxoo."

And then Britney took Twitter trips down memory lane with Ryan Seacrest, Demi Lovato, Victoria Justice, and Lance Bass.

Ryan tweeted the star, complete with a pic from seven years ago, welcoming her to 30 by flashing back in his own style: "Happy birthday Britney Spears...7 years and so many frosted tips later, we're both finally 30!" Britney, matching the Ry-Master's tone perfectly, thanked Seacrest while offering him: "Next step for you are extensions!"

Victoria Justice gave Brit a shout out, tweeting one of her fave songs: "I would like 2 wish the amazing Britney Spears a magical birthday. BTW, "Santa Can U Hear Me" has always been 1 of my fave Chrstmas songs." The queen of pop has been in the biz so long she admitted she forgot she recorded the Christmas tune: "Thanks Victoria. Stirring up some old memories. Forgot that I did that!"

Brit also took a trip down memory lane with Lance Bass, who joked the blonde was now a geriatric by wishing her "Happy 30th grandma!!!" Brit reminded Lance just how long they've known one another, responding: "You knew me when I was celebrating my 18th! Wow. Feels like yesterday."

The birthday princess is currently continuing her tour of Latin America and will play a free show in Mexico City Sunday. Now that's a whole different kind of birthday gift! Love that Britney.

Britney Spears: How She Spent Her 30th Birthday

"Happy birthday to the beautiful Miss Britney Spears! Welcome to the 30's club, Brit!!" Kim Kardashian told the pop star on Celebuzz. "I wish you all the best for this next year and beyond. You're going to love your 30's! I love you and hope you have a magical day."

Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber phoned Spears on Friday, while Nicki Minaj and Lance Bass (who kiddingly called his old pal "grandma") – not to mention hundreds of her biggest fans – posted videos to honor her.

Rihanna, Katy Perry (who wrote, " Happy B-day, Brit Brit!"), Ke$ha, Pauly D, Heidi Klum, Miley Cyrus and others sent their well-wishes, as did Ryan Seacrest: "7 years and so many frosted tips later, we're both finally 30!" he wrote, while also posting an old photo of himself with Spears. Her response: "Next step for you are extensions!"

The pop star enjoyed reading many of the messages and watching the videos while in bed on her big day with her sons Preston, 6, and Jayden, 5. She also thanked many of her friends and fans on Twitter.

"Thank you girl. Max is so cute! Miss you. Xxoo," Spears responded to Christina Aguilera. Bass also got a special note: "You knew me when I was celebrating my 18th! Wow. Feels like yesterday," Spears wrote.

The birthday girl resumes her South American tour Saturday and plays a free show in Mexico City on Sunday before closing out her world tour next weekend.

Anatomy of a Pop Superstar: Happy 30th Birthday, Britney Spears!

That's right, Britney Spears has reached yet another milestone, this time of the birthday variety, and today turns the big 3-0. To help the Mouseketeer-made-good-then-bad-then-good-again celebrate, we're taking a look back at her life—and what a life it's been!—over the past three decades.

Where to start? Where not to start is the question…after all, it's Britney, bitch.

Dec. 2, 1981: Britney Jean Spears is born in Kentwood, La. The world doesn't know what hit it.

1993: Making good on her prowess for performing at a young age, Britney joins the cast of The New Mickey Mouse Club, alongside once and future contemporaries Keri Russell, JC Chasez, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling and, perhaps most notably, Justin Timberlake.

1996: At age 15, Britney lands her first solo record deal with Jive.

1998: Britney released her debut smash single, "…Baby One More Time," and while it was a massive hit, what really catapulted her into the public consciousness (and fantasy) was the accompanying now-iconic music video released several months later, which saw her wearing an ultra short schoolgirl skirt, donning pigtail braids and engaging in rather suggestive school-hall dance numbers. Soon after, she's linked to fellow Mousketeer and 'NSync runt Justin Timberlake, though the couple are urged by their management to both keep their relationship quiet and announce that they planned to abstain from sex until marriage. Um, best-laid plans.

1999: At 17 years old, Britney releases her first album and tests the bounds of both the stretching power of spandex and the patience of conservative parents everywhere. It's in this year that she nabs her first Rolling Stone cover, which not only sparks controversy for showing the teen reclining in her underwear, but sparks rumors that the bustier-than-remembered singer had gotten breast implants.

2000: Britney releases her second album, Oops!...I Did It Again, which sells more than 1.3 million copies its debut week. She also takes to the MTV VMA stage donning a nude, sheer, bedazzled body suit. Don't remember it? J.Lo sure does.

January 2001: Seven words: Britney. Justin. American Music Awards. Matching denim. Later that month, she performs alongside 'NSync and Aerosmith during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXV.

Fall 2001: Britney's third album, Britney, arrives, and while sales are still massive, they show signs of dipping from the strength of her previous two. Her watercooler quotient is as high as ever, though, which she ensures by taking to the VMA stage to perform "I'm a Slave 4 U," this time accompanied by an albino snake whose writhing is rivaled only by that of Spears herself.

2002: Britstin? Justney? Whatever they would have been called (and thank God they decoupled before the advent of the one-named wonders), Britney and Justin broke up. Teenage girls everywhere rejoice and Britney is villainized after Justin's "Cry Me a River" is released and seems to indicate that infidelity (paging Wade Robson) was to blame for their split.

2002: The same year, the newly single Spears takes on her first acting role, the widely panned Crossroads.

September 2003: For the third year in a row, Britney creates a sensation at the MTV VMAs, sharing the stage (and some saliva) with Madonna and Christina Aguilera. She also releases her fourth album, In the Zone and takes the opportunity to present a birthday cake to Michael Jackson, which he infamously misinterpreted as an award for Artist of the Millennium. Which doesn't exist.

Nov. 17, 2003: Spears receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jan. 3, 2004: The start of something not so good. Spears shocks the world by tying the knot with her childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander in a quickie wedding in Las Vegas. A few days later, the marriage is annulled.

June 2004: Her fourth world tour is canceled when Spears suffers a debilitating knee injury while filming the music video for "Outrageous."

Sept. 18, 2004: At the age of 22, she marries backup dancer Kevin Federline.

2005: Not content to let the tabloid press do the dirty work for her, Britney makes strides in taking herself off whatever pedestal she was on (inadvertent though that may have been) by turning her home video footage into the UPN reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic. And it was.

Sept. 14, 2005: She gives birth to her first son, Sean Preston Federline.

June 2006: After a string of questionable, caught-on-camera maternal missteps, Britney sits down with Matt Lauer for an emotional interview defending her mothering skills and her marriage. It doesn't help her case all that much.

Sept. 12, 2006: Her second child, son Jayden James, is born.

Nov. 6, 2006: Britney files for divorce from K-Fed and immediately begins making the social rounds with Paris Hilton—and thus begins a string of questionable moves, associations and an alarmingly long period of underwear aversion.

February 2007: Britney shaves her head and attacks a paparazzi car with an umbrella. The next day, she checks into rehab.

March 2007: She checks out. All better?

September 2007: Clearly not prepared to get back into the spotlight, she opens the MTV VMAs with a trainwreck performance of "Gimme More."

Jan. 3, 2008: A low point. Britney locks herself in her bathroom with son Jayden James. Police, ambulances and helicopters swarm the property and she's removed via gurney and taken to a hospital, where she forcibly returns under a 5150 hold and is ultimately stripped of her custody. Her parents blame Sam Lutfi, her self-styled manager, for drugging and confusing the star.

Feb. 1, 2008: Jamie Spears is granted a temporary conservatorship over his daughter and her affairs, which lasts to this day.

March 2008: Comeback time! Britney pops up in a guest-starring role as a receptionist on How I Met Your Mother.

July 16, 2008: Federline is awarded full custody of their two sons, with visitation rights only given to Spears.

September 2008: Britney's comeback album, Circus, is released. She spends much of the next year on a world tour.

May 2010: Spears confirms that she's coupled up with her former agent Jason Trawick by taking him as her date to the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Sept. 28, 2010: Britney guest stars on Glee.

March 29, 2011: Britney's seventh studio album, Femme Fatale, is released and becomes her sixth No. 1 album.

September 2011: Armed and scandalous! Britney and Trawick costar in Spears' "Criminal" music video, which causes controversy in London for depicting the duo ransacking a local store in the wake of the British riots.

August 2011: Britney's career is back in fine form as she accepts multiple awards at the Video Music Awards and even gamely appears onstage alongside Lady Gaga's alter ego Jo Calderrone.

Fall 2011: Rumors reach a fever pitch that Trawick is planning on becoming the third Mr. Spears and gearing up to pop the question to his longtime girlfriend. Both sides deny it. For now.

Dec. 2, 2011: Britney turns 30! Here's to another newsworthy decade.

Britney Spears's Boyfriend Is Ready to Pop the Question: Sources

A source close to the singer tells PEOPLE that an engagement is imminent for the pop star and longtime boyfriend Jason Trawick, 39, who sources say has picked out a ring.

"They?ve been talking about marriage for a long time," says the source. "It would be surprising if they are not engaged by the end of the year."

Adds the source: "Britney is really looking forward to turning 30. She is having one of the best times of her life."

Britney Spears Is Reading Up on Love & Romance

Asked by the U.K.'s Stylist what she's been reading recently, the pop star mentions The Mastery of Love, a meditation on love and relationships written more than a decade ago by Mexican spiritualist author Don Miguel Ruiz.

"It's basically an analysis of love and what it means to love," Spears says. "It goes through all the different aspects of love – who you are as a person, knowing yourself before you even attempt to love anyone else, that sort of thing. It's really well-written and thought-provoking."

So, she would recommend it to anyone in a relationship?

"Yes definitely, it's very cool," she says. "It's not so much about learning something; it's one of those things where you already know this stuff, but it's good to instill it in yourself again."

The loves of Spears's life are her boys Sean Preston, 6, and Jayden James, 5, as well as boyfriend Jason Trawick, her former agent. Asked what her dream holiday would be, Spears doesn't hesitate.

"It would be with my children, of course, and my boyfriend Jason, and really that's it," she says. "We'd probably just go skiing somewhere really beautiful and have hot chocolate – in a cabin."

But asked if she has a bucket list, she mentions a more hair-raising sport. "I would like to go skydiving," she says.

Britney Spears Enlists Fans to Help with Her Holiday Shopping

On Wednesday, the pop star Tweeted to her fans, asking what she should buy for her mom Lynne, 56.

"Since I'm on tour, I'm gonna do my Holiday shopping online this year..but I need ur help picking out gifts. Let's start w/ mom! Any ideas?" she wrote.

Almost immediately, her 11.2 million followers chimed in on Spears's feed with suggestions. "GET YOUR MOM A CUSTOMIZED SLAVE 4 U OUTFIT," one Tweeted.

"She would look so hot!" Spears replied, also commenting on the suggestion of a French beret: "She would definitely look fierce :)"

Spears laughed out loud at this suggestion: "Give her a picture of you as Mrs.Claus, Jason as Santa and Sean and Jayden as little elves!" And she liked a sweet, simple suggestion from follower @TylerWasBTW: "I think you should get a scrap book made for her! That way you can have it hand made!

Spears, who will ring in her 30th birthday on Dec. 2, eventually settled on the hairstyling tool EZ Curler for her mom. "I think I'm gonna go w/ the pink one! Shhhh....don't tell mom," she Tweeted.

Spears is currently on the road for her successful Femme Fatale Tour, but she'll have plenty of time to spend with her family and her boyfriend of more than two years, Jason Trawick, for the holidays. The tour wraps up on Dec. 10 in Puerto Rico.

Britney's leg bitten by fan

The pop superstar has taken her tour to South America and as part of her nightly routine, she pulls one reveller on to the stage to receive a saucy dance.

However, the singer was thrown into a panic when she wrapped her legs around a young male fan in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday and he tried to sink his teeth into her calf.

Spears quickly removed her legs from his shoulders and looked over to her security team, before carrying on with her routine at a safe distance.

Britney Spears Goes Green ... Bikini

The 29-year-old mother of two is doing her part to make the world a better place.

Britney Spears' Dad Scores Small Fortune For Femme Fatale Tour

We obtained court documents which reveal the judge in Britney Spears' conservatorship case awarded Jamie $537,987.37 as a base pay for his services on the tour. In addition, the judge allowed Britney's personal manager, Larry Rudolph, to give Jamie 20% of his10% commission because Jamie did so much on the tour. Jamie does not reveal the exact amount he gets from Rudolph, but in all Jamie will rake in a 7-figure payday.

And, Jamie is asking that the judge extend his conservatorship fee of $16,000 a month indefinitely.

But here's the real story ... Jamie did the job of 5 people on the tour, and even with Jamie's fee Britney saved more than a million bucks in salaries.

2012 People's Choice Award Nominations

Favorite Album of the Year:
21, by Adele
4, by Beyoncé
Born This Way, by Lady Gaga
Femme Fatale, by Britney Spears
Own The Night, by Lady Antebellum

Spears rocks out in London

The Toxic hitmaker is currently in the U.K. on her Femme Fatale tour, and she couldn't resist heading to the U.K. capital's famous theatre district to watch the rock-themed production at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Spears took in the show with her boyfriend Jason Trawick, before heading backstage to meet the cast, which includes British pop star Shayne Ward.

Ward took to his Twitter.com after the meeting, writing, "Met Britney Spears tonight. She was kind enough to come backstage and have a picture with us all. She was lovely and looks really well."

Spears to make acting comeback

The Toxic hitmaker made her feature film debut in 2002's Crossroads, which was panned by critics and only pulled in $61 million at the international box office.

Spears has stayed away from movies since the project, but now the pop superstar admits she's eager to give acting another shot - and has her sights set on playing against type.

She says, "Definitely next year I am going to take a different route. I see myself being a detective, assassin or even a bad girl."

Director: Britney Spears and Jason Trawick Sizzle On-Screen - and Off

"It's an interesting situation, filming intimate moments like that between two people who, off-screen, would be sharing moments similar to that," says Chris Marrs Piliero, who also directed Spears in her video "I Wanna Go."

"Off camera, Jason is a very cool, chill guy," he added. "Which goes really well with Britney because she's so much the same … she's a really sweet girl that, when the cameras aren't rolling, she's just chilling out. They would just [hang] out together."

In the video, shot over two days in London, Trawick plays the bad-boy love interest who takes Spears's character away from her abusive boyfriend. As they embark on a crime spree, the couple – who recently shot down rumors of an engagement – also finds time to show some skin in a few sex scenes.

"When you're looking at that final kiss for the shootout, it's a loving very passionate kiss," Piliero says. "That was important to the video and that was passionate and natural on their end. That's a real moment between them."

"It was really painless," he added of filming their clinches. "I feel like all three of us had a really comfortable level of communication and trust."

Early on, however, Piliero wasn't thrilled about having Trawick, who doesn't have an acting background, in the video. "I don't think I was ever psyched going into it," he says. "But he did an awesome job."

Trawick, 39, also showed up on the set with a new ripped physique, and his chiseled look attracted a lot of notice.

"He's been on a diet and he worked out," Piliero says. "I'm not sure what his secret is, but he went pretty hardcore with it and those are the end results."

As for Spears, 29, who helped develop the concept for the video and offered ideas throughout filming, Piliero says that after years in the business she's at the top of her game.

"Britney is stunning in the video. She's definitely keeping a workout routine – you can definitely tell she's doing a great job staying in shape," he says, adding, "She has these great expressions she makes and this charming sparkle on her face. She eats you up with her looks."

Spears' sexy dance for Jonas

The Jonas Brothers star is currently the opening act on the Toxic hitmaker's Femme Fatale tour, and the pair performed for thousands of fans at Wembley Arena in London.

However, Jonas' duties weren't finished when he completed his set - Spears ordered him back onstage and handcuffed him to a chair, before dancing around him provocatively and wrapping her legs around his neck while singing her track Lace and Leather.

Britney Spears Tweets Condolences After Concertgoer Dies in a Fall

After attending Spears' Femme Fatale concert, a 31-year-old woman was killed when she fell from a fairground ride set up outside Dublin's O2 arena.

"I was saddened to hear of the tragic accident in Dublin. My heart goes out to the family. -Britney," the singer tweeted today.

"We can't say [what happened], it all happened so quick," Kenneth McFadden, owner of fair operator McFadden Entertainment, told Dublin's Independent newspaper. "We are just in bits at the moment, we are just devastated."

The woman was identified as Siobhan Healy. She reportedly fell off of a ride called the Tip Top.

McFadden said that he had never had any problem with the ride in the five years he's been operating it. He said that it was possible the accident was captured by one of the CCTVs set up in the area.

Meanwhile, the National Police Service is investigating Healy's death, but a rep for the Health and Safety Authority says that they are not, as it did not appear to be a work-related accident.

Earlier in the evening, fans waiting to get into the show were caught in a heavy downpour that prompted severe weather warnings to be issued countywide.

Spears performed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, tonight and will play two shows in London this weekend.

Britney fan dies in ride fall

Siobhan Healy, 31, boarded the Tip Top ride after attending the singer's Femme Fatale performance and fell to her death minutes later.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fairground ride operator and owner of McFadden's Entertainment, Kenneth McFadden, has since confessed staff opted to keep running despite severe weather conditions. Irish police have launched an investigation into the accident.

A spokesman for the O2 arena tells the Daily Mail newspaper, "Kenneth McFadden, owner of McFadden's Entertainment, confirms that a tragic incident took place last night at one of the attractions we operate. It is being investigated by the gardai (police) and we are, of course, co-operating fully with them."

Britney Spears, boyfriend sexy in 'Criminal' video

Ladies & gents, I'm excited to present to you the video for one of my favorite songs off of Femme Fatale. Enjoy…

In the mini-movie, Britney catches her snooty boyfriend talking to another woman. They take their argument outside and he hits Britney.

In steps real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick to rescue her. What follows is a Bonnie-and-Clyde style crime spree and lots of sex - mostly Trawick showing off his buff, tattooed bod as Brit Brit sings, "Mama, I'm in love with a criminal."

Seems pretty personal! What do you think? (Video)

How Many Twitter Followers Does Britney Spears Now Have? (Hint: She's Bigger Than Michigan!)

Britney Spears has become the sixth person to hit the elusive 10 million Twitter mark, joining an exclusive club that includes fellow music superstars Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry.

To put it in perspective, that number is roughly equal to the population of Belgium, or a little more than the state of Michigan.

Who else is the rarefied tweet zone?

The Britster, who has 10,157,172 followers @britneyspears, is catching up quick to Kim Kardashian 's 10,356,472 Twitter followers in fifth place.

We'd say that's pretty good news for the 419,514 people Britney is following!

And Spears definitely delivers to her fans, having uploaded 1,095 tweets since launching her account, the latest a twitpic of her Femme Fatale road show in Paris.

Here's a rundown of the rest.

@ladygaga leads all Twitterers with a whopping 14,441,874 devotees. She's followed by @justinbieber with 13,365,355, @katyperry with 10,751,805 and President Barack Obama's 10,527,232 followers.

Shakira's feed is closing in on the 10 million mark—she has 9,154,900 followers for seventh place, just ahead of Taylor Swift's 8,458,688.

Rounding out the top 10 list are Rihanna with 8,317,546 fans and early Twitter booster Ashton Kutcher, aka the first person to break the 1 million barrier, who's up to 7,928,341.

Britney Spears Brings Son On Stage in Budapest!

During a stop in Budapest on her Femme Fatale tour, Brit was joined on stage by her son Sean Preston!

After she was lowered from the ceiling as confetti and fireworks rained during a rendition of "'Til the World Ends," the singer had another surprise for the audience: her son suddenly appeared with her.

How was his big debut?

Video

Her son was a hit!

Although he first seemed a bit shy, clutching a microphone and crouching down on stage with his mama, she quickly urged him to "stand up!" which he did, as the crowd cheered.

By the time the stage lowered them both back below, he seemed to be loving the attention. How cute.

Now let's see little Jayden James on stage at the next show!

Britney Spears Calls Jason Trawick Her Husband-but Does She Have the Permission?!

Sans umbrella in hand, of course. But our girl Britney Spears did make a small slip-up on KISS FM U.K. radio last week, calling boyfriend Jason Trawick her husband and gushing about their family time with her two sons.

So is there something preventing Brit from tying the knot? And why oh why is Papa Spears horning in on her tour?

Because even though Brit is doing better than ever, Daddy Spears is still her guardian, and manager Larry Rudolph is rewarding him for all his hard work as Brit's tour manager, a position for which he has yet to receive compensation.

And while we totally agree that her go-to guardian should get a few bucks for all his dedication, we have to wonder when Brit will finally take control of her own life, especially with her 30th birthday approaching in December.

But while 30 probably marks no slowing down in the life of Ms. Spears, it may mark the year to give marriage another go—a decision which both Jason and Brit will presumably turn to Jamie for permission.

Thirty and asking for daddy's permission? Seems a bit odd, right?

Well, no, from a conservatorship stance, as a guardianship generally governs all contracts, including marriage—meaning Brit most likely can't wed without her father's OK.

And with the recent birth of ex-hubby Kevin Federline's child, we're thinking Brit may have the desire to have baby number three, or perhaps at least wedding number two (and a half with the Vegas stint), if her most recent music video foreshadows the future.

For now, it seems like Brit is finally surrounding herself with people who have her best interest at heart (taking any hints, LiLo?), but we would still love to see Brit take another walk down the aisle.

Whether she's bald or with a snake in hand, our favorite Femme Fatale is sure to make the wedding a kill.

Britney's Dad Scores 7 Figures in Femme Fatale Tour

TMZ has obtained legal docs in Britney's conservatorship case, which show Britney's overall manager, Larry Rudolph, wants to give up 2% of his cut to Jamie, because daddy Spears has done such a great job -- Larry's cut is 10% of the gross.

We've learned Jamie has not gotten an extra penny for his work as Tour Manager -- a position he's held since February.

According to the docs, Jamie negotiated a sweet deal for Britney with Live Nation, the tour promoter. He's also coordinated Britney's personal schedule, and supervised her arrivals and departures. He's handled finances, managed Britney's security to protect her from the paparazzi and made 200 - 400 calls and other communications a day on Brit's behalf.

Even though Larry Rudolph is voluntarily giving 2% of his cut to Jamie, it still has to be approved by the court, but that's just a formality.

Armed and Scandalous! London Officials Demand Apology Over Britney Spears' "Criminal" Shoot

So what did our Brit-Brit do over in fair Londontown? And why are the authorities demanding an apology and substantial donation to make amends?

Well, last week, some fun but otherwise harmless paparazzi shots of Britney and her beau Jason Trawick on the set of her new music video "Criminal" surfaced, showing the couple getting their Bonnie and Clyde on, running from a convenience store with Britney brandishing a fake gun after they pretended to rob it. You know, for the purposes of an entertaining music video.

Well, guess who was none too entertained?

Local politicals on the Hackney Council (the area of London where the shoot took place) have come out—their own figurative guns a-blazing over the shoot—criticizing Spears and demanding an apology for her seeming insensitivity for waving around a fake pistol in the very area that was so devastated by the London riots this summer.

"I think she should apologize and make a sizable donation to a Hackney charity that deals with young people…for the rudeness and damage she's done to this community," city councilor Ian Rathbone told ITV's news show London Tonight.

And despite the fact that the city council approved the shoot in the first place—thus allowing "Criminal" to be filmed in the area at all—they say that they never gave the OK for a fake pistol to be used in the shoot. Though, in fairness, Team Spears probably never thought to ask.

Plus, one listen to the lyrics would probably have tipped them off: "Mama, I'm in love with a criminal…He is a sucker with a gun, gun, gun, gun."

"In this case, we did not agree that a replica gun could be used at Stoke Newington Town Hall and we are disappointed…We will be raising this matter with the production company."

Meanwhile, when asked if the Hackney government was perhaps overreacting to the situation, the local M.P. Diane Abbott held firm.

"It is only a music video, but it's images like this, with pop stars glamorizing gangs, which means that some young people…get drawn in. Britney should really know better."

Or perhaps the city council should know better—like the difference between fiction and real life?

Of course, it's not just the recent riots that have made officials in the area sensitive to the gun play. A large portion of the 2012 London Olympics will be held in Hackney, and, a year out, they are becoming particularly sensitive to the depiction and imagery associated with the area—particularly as it has suffered from gang and gun violence in the past.

Meanwhile, they also likely don't want to be seen as giving special treatment to Britney, as the council recently denied filming rights to British broadcaster Channel 4 to shoot the TV show Top Boy in the area, as the crime thriller revolved around gang crime set at a fictional housing project in the area.

That project's writer says their request was rejected to prevent any potential tourism deterrents ahead of the Olympics, and while the mayor of the city did not specifically comment on that charge, he did note that it was not fair for residents to have their neighborhood "stigmatized on national television."

Having it stigmatized on international television, on the other hand, was apparently just fine.

Spears' camp has yet to comment on the controversy, but didn't appear to be immediately aware of it, posting on her Twitter last week that she was "having a blast in the UK!...Love it here."

Too bad the feeling doesn't appear to be mutual.

Interview: Britney Spears looking forward to 30

The U.S. pop star will be on the South American leg of her "Femme Fatale" world tour as she celebrates the landmark birthday on Dec. 2.

"I hear the older you get, the wiser you get and the more you know what you want — so hopefully it'll be a good year," the woman who was once one of the Internet's most-searched names told The Associated Press.

Spears kicks off a string of European tour dates Thursday in St. Petersburg, but is not scheduled to play on the birthday itself. She has spent the summer performing across North America to generally positive reviews.

"The audiences have been just amazing, they've been so great to bounce off of and the energy I get from them, it's great, it's really cool," she said.

Her seventh studio album, "Femme Fatale," debuted at No. 1 in the U.S. Billboard charts and globally, and Spears targeted it at her female fans.

"With the big picture of being "Femme Fatale," I think it is really inspiring for girls all together feeling very empowered and having a voice and being heard," she said.

The singer was in London to promote her U.K. gigs, which include two in October at London's O2 Arena. After Russia, she tours across Europe — from Hungary and France to Sweden, Germany and Britain — before heading to South America in November.

With more than 35 gigs left to play before her final date — Dec. 10 in San Juan, Puerto Rico — it's a demanding schedule, and saying healthy and fit is high on her agenda.

"I have a good group of people around me, and we have the show at a certain time every night and we just try to stay consistent on having a routine and staying fit and healthy," she said.

A former child performer, Spears shot to international fame with her 1999 debut album, "Baby One More Time." The hits kept coming including "Oops!.. I Did It Again" and "Toxic," but her personal life spiraled out of control. She lost temporary custody of her two young boys, had spells in rehab and was admitted to a psychiatric ward.

Four years after that public meltdown, Spears is looking forward. And with more than 70 million albums already sold, she says the pressure is off.

"You know, I don't really have anything to prove at this point, so it's like I just do it for fun and just see what happens," she said.

Britney Spears Will Be Wearing an Engagement Ring-Here's Why!

For music video purposes, but still.

E! News has learned that the pop star who apparently gets a kick out of people thinking she's on the verge of retying the knot will at least play an engaged gal in her new video for "Criminal," with a big, fancy ring and everything.

But guess who has major objections and doesn't plan to forever hold his peace?

Spears' real-life boyfriend, Jason Trawick, plays the white knight who saves the day when Brit's make-believe fiancé gets abusive at a party, according to BreatheHeavy.com's Jordan Miller, who obtained a leaked copy of the casting synopsis.

Trawick shows up, punches out the bad dude and then he and Spears, who tosses her ring in the dust, hit the road on a motorcycle and end up on a crime spree.

Wild! (They probably just should have kept the bling and used that for cash, but...hey, that's just us.)

So, when more photos showing Britney wearing a diamond on that finger inevitably make the rounds, remember it's all for show. To think otherwise would be "Criminal."

Crotch Shot Alert! Britney Spears Still Can't Act Like a Lady

We're starting to think that Britney Spears wants us to see her precious (and highly publicized) area after being the culprit of one too many commando-gone-wrong scenarios, and it looks like she hasn't (fully) learned her lesson.

Before you start putting together a panty fund to cover this girl's kooka (as her Jersey Shore friends would say), Spears was actually wearing underwear this time!

That's a start.

Brit-Brit was photographed getting into a car wearing a short green dress after leaving her U.K. tour party at the Sanctum Hotel, when we got our little surprise (that she was wearing underwear, not that we saw her nether region).

Even though the star can't seem to get ladylike etiquette down, let's focus on the positive notes—at least her undies weren't see-through (at least we don't think so) and she didn't opt for a merkin like some other usual pantie-less characters.

So, for now, we're proud of her.

Baby steps.

Britney Spears Is Not Getting Engaged

Online reports that Britney Spears's boyfriend and former agent, Jason Trawick, is planning to propose are false, a rep for the singer tells PEOPLE.

Trawick, 39, was spotted meeting with high-end jeweler Pascal Mouaward in Los Angeles Monday afternoon, sparking rumors that they were discussing diamonds for the pop star.

"There is no truth to that report with regards to engagement rings," a rep for Spears said in a statement. "However, Jason was there to discuss other matters with Pascal, but nothing relating to him personally."

Spears, 29, recently wrapped up the North American leg of her Femme Fatale tour. She and Trawick have been dating since 2009.

Britney Spears Wants to Perform for Prince William & Kate

And apparently the feeling is mutual: The magazine told Spears that William had a poster of her on his bedroom wall as a teenager. Her reply? "Hilarious!"

Who's Britney Spears Taking to Europe?

Which is exactly what happened this week, when Minnie Driver's new boyfriend was identified (thanks to some public and full-on PDA)—and, just as quickly, the through-line to one Ms. Britney Spears became clear.

So what's the connection?

If you haven't guessed by now, Minnie's model beau Matt Felker is the very same ponytailed blonde who locked lips with Brit-Brit in her 2004 "Toxic" video.

The 31-year-old Felker looked nearly identical to his pop music video heyday when he stepped out with Driver on Sunday. The model, who was previously linked with Selma Blair, and the 41-year-old actress made out went out for a day at the beach, hitting up Paradise Cove in Malibu with a group of friends.

Father Time really does favor some people over others, doesn't he?

Who's Britney Spears Taking to Europe?

But it's all good.

We already know Joe Jonas is set to tour with Spears when she jumps the pond later this month, but there's more...

Pauly D will also be joining Brit overseas. The Jersey Shore star deejayed for her during several dates of the North American leg of the Femme Fatale tour. "I can't do the whole European tour, but I'm probably going to do the majority of it," Pauly told me at the VMAs. "I'm just loving life right now."

We don't blame him.

Perhaps he'll score another lap dance from Brit. "It was the most amazing night," he beamed of the unexpected surprise. "Who else could say that they got lap-danced by Britney Spears on stage in front of 20,000 people?"

Spears launches her European tour on Sept. 22 in Russia and wraps things up in Portugal on Nov. 9 before heading to South America.

Another tour returnee? Teen sister duo and former American Idol backup singers Destinee & Paris. "We found out a couple of weeks ago," Destinee said. "Paris called me and was like, 'Guess what! We got the European tour!' I was freaking out. I was like, 'Stop lying to me.'"

Safe travels, everybody!

Judge blocks effort to get Spears' med records

The pop star is still under court-ordered conservatorship after a bout of erratic behavior in 2008. Her father and attorneys control her personal and financial affairs.

Because of the conservatorship, she will not be required to give a deposition in the lawsuit from the company Brand Sense, which claims it helped negotiate a perfume deal for Spears but was cut out of the profits.

Brand Sense wanted to see medical records proving Spears couldn't testify. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz ruled Tuesday that Brand Sense Partners has no standing to see medical records.

Lady Gaga on Britney Spears

Jo put on quite the show in the pressroom. His behavior was just as bawdy as it was on stage. Even before getting his pic taken and taking some questions, he walked into the converted hotel ballroom and put his cigarette out on the carpet.

His cussed-filled answers for the press were highlighted by NSFW remarks about—who else?—Britney Spears...

"Well, maybe if she wants to, you know what I'm saying," Jo said when asked if he wanted to hook up with the pop princess. "She is f--king hot. Britney's f--king hot. I don't know. Gaga is my girl, but Britney's f--king hot—she's f--king Britney Spears! Didn't you jerk off to Britney when you were a kid?"

TMI, Mr. Calderone!

MTV video awards honor Britney Spears, Katy Perry

The R&B singer whose hits include "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" appeared visibly pregnant as she showed up on the red carpet outside the show, posing for photographers and outlining a baby bump with her hands under her long gown.

Beyonce, who is married to rapper Jay-Z, avoided reporters waiting to ask whether she is pregnant. For years, her fans and the media have speculated whether and when the pair might have a baby.

Lady Gaga, who showed up last year at the MTV video awards in a dress made of raw meat, did an about face this year, opening the program in a man's dark suit and T-shirt as her male alter ego, Joe Calderon who gave the audience a lecture in just who Gaga is -- high heels, wild hair and crazy costumes.

"When she gets on stage, she holds nothing back," Calderon said.

Lady Gaga then launched into a version of "You and I," backed by a group of dancers and legendary rock guitarist Brian May of Queen. She danced on her piano and spewed beer from a bottle into the air in celebration.

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) annually give out honors for the top music videos and performances to singers and bands, and each year, audiences can count on at least one surprise.

Beyonce's picture-perfect baby news will likely be this year's unexpected event.

EARLY WINNERS

But awards are the focus of the night and the first winner was Spears for best pop music video "Till the World Ends."

The pop star took the stage and seemed surprised, saying she hadn't expected to win and thanking her family and fans.

Along with Spears, Foo Fighters picked up an early honor for best rock video with "Walk," and Nicki Minaj picked up the "Moonman" winner's statuette for her "Super Bass." Katy Perry and Kanye West were named best collaboration with "E.T."

Another major award still to come is best new artist, and Tyler, The Creator figures prominently in that race, too, alongside Wiz Khalifa with "Black and Yellow," Kreayshawn for "Gucci Gucci," Foster the People with "Pumped Up Kicks," and Big Sean (featuring Chris Brown) for "My Last."

British singer Adele with her chart-topping song "Rolling in the Deep" is vying for the top award, video of the year, against Katy Perry ("Firework"), Bruno Mars ("Grenade"), the Beastie Boys ("Make Some Noise") and Tyler, The Creator ("Yonkers").

Early performances included a duet by Jay-Z and Kanye West, singing a song from their new album, "Watch the Throne."

Other singers still to come include Lil Wayne, and there will be special tributes to Britney Spears and late soul singer Amy Winehouse.

Will a Joe Jonas & Britney Spears Duet Happen?

Perhaps going into the studio together could be next?

Jonas sure hopes so. He exclusively tells me...

He'd love to record with Ms. Spears. "I would be honored," Jonas told me last night before going on stage at the House of Blues for the mtvU VMA concert benefiting Lifebeat (brother Nick Jonas was in the audience to support). "If the song was right, if the idea was right? Definitely!"

"It's been a thought before," the "See No More" singer continued. "It would be so cool. I think our music would work well together with what I've doing and what she's been doing for so long."

But for now, he's got touring and his debut solo album Fast Life (dropping Oct. 11) to think about. He'll soon kick off a 19-city tour with Jay Sean before jumping overseas with Brit.

"I love touring," Jonas said. "I'm looking forward to getting on the road again. It's such a fun process. I love it. You get into a routine: New city, workout, hang out with friends, sound check, chill a little bit and then do a show and get back on the bus."

I've got much more for you from Mr. Jonas. Make sure to come back here later on to find out what he told me about, well, so many things.

Britney Spears: People Don't Know the Real Me

In an interview with PopJustice.com the singer opens up about bedtime (she hits the hay at 10:30 p.m.), gray hairs (she has zero) and what she'd be doing if she weren't one of the most famous people on the planet ("I'd probably be a teacher," she says. "I'd specialize in reading and history."). But when it comes to the real person behind the pop star, Spears believes most people only know about "half."

"I can be pretty guarded with my personal life and I've learned that's okay," Spears, 29, says. "I think your personal life is your personal life, and that should stay private."

And keeping people guessing, she says, is part of her job. "Sometimes it's our secrets that define us," she says.

But it's no secret that Spears has had a wild ride in the music industry. So what would she do if her boys – Sean Preston, 6, and Jayden James, 5 – followed in her footsteps and pursued pop superstardom?

"I'd definitely keep an eye on them, but if that's what they wanted to do then I'd let them go after it. I'd just be very protective," she says. "I wouldn't want them to go into it feeling fearful, and also nobody can really prepare you for this industry and what you experience, so I'd just have to trust that they have the instincts to know what's right and wrong and help guide them along the way."

Learning to trust her instincts is not something that came easy for Spears. "The biggest mistake I've ever made [was] to not trust my instincts," she says. "It's just about listening to your gut in different situations. I've learned to trust my instincts over the years but it definitely took time."

Spears is nominated for two awards at Sunday's MTV VMAs (where she'll be seated next to Beyonce!).

Betty White voted America's most trusted celebrity: poll

White, 89, is both the most popular and most trusted celebrity with Americans and the person most likely to drive up the business of a brand she might choose to endorse, according to a poll released on Wednesday.

But the Reuters/Ipsos poll suggested that companies should stay away from Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen if they want to promote their products.

The socialite and reality TV actress, and the fired "Two and A Half Men" star topped the list of the most unpopular and least trusted personalities and were deemed most likely to damage any brands they choose to support.

White, the only surviving member of the key cast members of TV's "Golden Girls" 1980s comedy, has enjoyed a career resurgence in the last few years as a saucy senior in films like "The Proposal" and the TV show "Hot in Cleveland".

She also won an Emmy Award last year for hosting satirical sketch show "Saturday Night Live".

White scored an 86 percent favorable opinion in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, beating Oscar winners Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Clint Eastwood in the survey of the 100 most popular personalities. She easily edged out Britain's Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (5th), Oprah Winfrey (6th), and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (15th) in the most trusted personalities ranking.

Some 44 percent of those questioned said they would be more likely to do business with a company if White endorsed it.

At the other extreme, 54 percent of the 2,012 Americans questioned for the poll said they would trust a company less if it were endorsed by Sheen, with Hilton coming in second.

Pop star Britney Spears, actor Mel Gibson and golfer Tiger Woods -- who lost several major endorsements after his 2009 sex scandal -- also fared badly.

Below is a list of the top 10 most popular personalities with their "favorable" rating by percentage of voters.

1. Betty White ...........86 pct favorable
2. Denzel Washington .....85 pct
3. Sandra Bullock ........84 pct
4. Clint Eastwood ........83 pct
5. Tom Hanks .............81 pct
6. Harrison Ford .........80 pct
7. Morgan Freeman ........79 pct tie
7. Kate Middleton ........79 pct
9. Will Smith ............77 pct
10. Johnny Depp ...........76 pct

Below is a list of the top 10 most unpopular personalities with their "unfavorable" rating by percentage of voters.

1. Paris Hilton ..........60 pct unfavorable
2. Charlie Sheen .........52 pct
3. Britney Spears ........45 pct tie
3. Kanye West ............45 pct
5. Arnold Schwarzenegger..44 pct
6. Tiger Woods ...........42 pct
7. Kim Kardashian ........38 pct
8. Mel Gibson ............33 pct
9. Donald Trump ..........31 pct
10. LeBron James ..........29 pct

Live Review: Britney Spears in Toronto

The pop star – and TMZ.com magnet – is currently on her Femme Fatale tour, one which has garnered stronger than expected reviews. And on the opener of a two-night stand at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, Spears was quick and to the point during an 85-minute whirlwind of props, costumes and dance-house beats.

Following a video of an elusive, gun-wielding Spears being placed in a cop car, she emerged on a tall riser for Hold It Against Me, the first of many dance offerings the enthusiastic crowd lapped up. Yet moments later, Spears quickly exited for what would be the first of several costume changes.

“What's up Toronto? How you feeling?” she said before featuring choreography best described as Janet Jackson-like. But there were plenty of stunts, including her rising high above the crowd for the sugar-y and rather lyrically witty Piece of Me.

Despite idiotic video segments which meshed perfectly with the idiotic Big Fat Bass, the sweet, infectious How I Roll fared strongly, resembling something The Ting Tings could cover as she boogied on a small pink convertible.

Spears and her several dancers rocked out somewhat during Lace And Leather, picking a fan named Alex and cuffing him to a pole as she propped her legs on his shoulders. Meanwhile the big, brassy If U Seek Amy had a large number of the near-capacity crowd dancing more than usual.

The first huge prop was a ship appearing for the Egyptian-themed Gimme More. Taking the stairs to where her massive backing band – er, two keyboardists – resided, Spears hit the spot with the polished (Drop Dead) Beautiful which had some sexy, racier moments as did Boys.

Spears posed as a biker chick for a revamped ...Baby One More Time that caused a boisterous sing-along as it melded into S&M. By then, Spears kept her foot on the gas, making the beefy beats dominant over the rare ballad like Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know.

“Alright Toronto, are you guys ready for some more?” she asked before inviting fans up to shake some legs on I Wanna Go. From there the tight, swinging Womanizer shone as she skipped across the stage.

While she still has some distance to go before rivalling Janet or Madonna, Spears can certainly entertain as the high-aerobic pace of Toxic proved. Ending with Till The World Ends, Britney rose to the skies on a platform with angelic wings behind her before coming back down to earth.

Opening for Spears was hip-hop sensation Nicki Minaj who nearly upstaged the headliner with a high-energy set. Although nailing songs like Monster and Where Them Girls At, Minaj had a huge ace up her sleeve when Drake appeared onstage for Moment 4 Life to thunderous applause. Drake, who said “there was no individual he was more prouder of” than Minaj, later returned to see Minaj dance around him before they hugged again.

Britney Spears Gives DJ Pauly D a Lap Dance

Her boyfriend may have been called onstage for a sultry pole-dance performance earlier this month, but Jersey Shore star Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio was treated to an equally seductive, Seaside Heights-worthy serenade at Thursday night's Femme Fatale tour stop in Montreal.

Pauly D, 31, who is deejaying six stops of her concert tour this month, was handcuffed to the pole as the pop star launched into her steamy song, "Lace and Leather." Shaking and shimmying, Spears, 29, wrapped a pink boa around his neck before climbing on to his shoulders with the help of a back-up dancer.

"Wow Just Got A Lap Dance On Stage From @britneySpears!" he later Tweeted, alongside a photo of his ear-to-ear smile.

"Hope you enjoyed your dance!" Spears Tweeted. The only problem? "[It] Was tough getting my legs around that big blowout," she added. (Video)

Britney Spears filming her new VMA promo

Lady Gaga Hits the Jersey Shore for Britney Spears

Brit-Brit got the ball rolling from the stage by telling the crowd, "I have a very special guest tonight...Lady Gaga is here." Needless to say, the crowd went crazy.

But what did Mama Monster do in return?

Gaga, sitting up front in the floor section, stood and waved and a made a heart sign with her hands--and Britney hearted her right back. Awww, so cute.

Later, during "I Wanna Go," Gaga got on her feet and did a little fist-pumping. Clearly, she was enjoying herself as she double fisted drinks during the show.

During a break in the show, Gaga accidentally stole the show when the crowd started chanting her name and rushing over to snap pics.

Although she ducked out during the encore with security in tow to avoid the rush, her night wasn't over.

She was spotted hitting the blackjack tables at the Borgata Resort later that night.

Brit took to her Twitter post performance to give Gaga some more love, writing: "So amazing to have the beautiful @LadyGaga at the show in AC tonight. Love you girl."

So nice to see two of our favorite divas getting along!

Gaga wasn't the only familar face in the crowd. Brit's boyfriend Jason Trawick was also on hand, as was her dad and conservator Jamie, who was dipping tobacco during the show. Classy!

So True? So False? Is Britney Spears Questioning K.Fed's Parenting Skills?!

But it's her former hubby Kevin Federline who's in the daddy doghouse this time, according to recent reports by InTouch Weekly. The tabloid says Brit-Brit demanded her two sons be flown out to her on the East Coast after Jayden suffered an eye injury while in K.Fed's care.

Seems like Britney was "so upset" when she found that Jayden received stitches after falling face-first into a cabinet, that the pop star even went so far as to contact a plastic surgeon for a professional opinion.

So does Brit really think Kevin is a neglectful dad? And is Jayden really suffering a serious ocular war wound? Put your plastic surgery appointment on hold, because this one is…

So false!

Or as Britney's people put it, total "bulls#!t"!

Team Spears took to the songstress' official site to blast one of their BS Alerts rebuking the tabloid rumors that her son nearly lost an eye while K.Fed was fathering him.

Probably more damning was the nasty allegations within the story that the real reason Britney requested her kiddos make the cross-country trek was that she didn't want them around when Kevin's GF, Victoria Prince, pops out the couple's upcoming child.

Well then, good thing it's totally untrue!

Brit was even seen relaxing with Jayden—and elder son, Sean, too—this weekend as the family took to the high seas for an afternoon excursion on a boat in Long Island, New York. And for the whole "scary" ordeal that allegedly went down, Jayden didn't look any worse for the wear.

And you know what they say, pictures don't lie!

Britney Spears Takes Her Boys (and Boyfriend) on a Boat

Britney Spears took to the high seas Thursday in Long Island, N.Y., for a family outing with boyfriend and former agent Jason Trawick and her sons, Jayden, 4½, and Preston, 5½.

The pop star, 29, hung on tight to her man, while her brood hung out on the deck of the boat.

The boat trip came on a break from the singer's busy tour schedule. Her Femme Fatale tour picks back up again Friday night in East Rutherford, N.J.

Joe Jonas Joining Britney Spears on European Tour

Now, the 21-year-old singer will be joining his childhood crush on her European tour starting Oct. 16, he tells PEOPLE.

"It's a dream come true," says Jonas, who will be opening for Spears and promoting his upcoming solo album Fastlife, to be released Oct. 11.

"She was the first girl I ever had a poster on my wall of, and her album was the first CD I ever bought," says Jonas. "It's so funny to think I had that on my wall and here I am about to perform with her."

Jonas first met Spears, 29, at an awards show a few years ago and says, "She's a very sweet lady."

He'll join Spears's Femme Fatale tour on Aug. 5 for one date in the U.S., then open her nine shows in Europe, with performances in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

"I'm really looking forward to being part of this," he says.

"I'll be playing more music than I have the past few times I've performed live so far," he adds. "It's going to be really fun to perform some of my music from the album."

Britney Spears's Niece Maddie Covers Her Song

Britney Spears's niece Maddie Briann, 3, made her You Tube debut Friday with an impromptu performance of her aunt's tune "Up N' Down" – off her latest album, Femme Fatale.

"OMG! Check out my niece Maddie covering Aunt Britney's Up N Down," Spears, 29, wrote. "Sooooo adorable!"

"The beat just dropped and the room got sexy/You're watching me like there's no one else around," sings the tot, who is the daughter of Britney's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears. "Up and down, up and down, up and down."

Britney Spears, Lady Gaga Aid Orphaned Victims of Texas Car Crash

They were heading home to Houston from vacation when another car veered into their lane and hit their minivan head on. The parents, Joshua and Robin Berry, were killed. Two brothers, Peter, 9, and Aaron, 8, were paralyzed and remain in hospital. A sister, Willa, 6, suffered broken bones.

The tragedy has touched people across the nation. And now, celebrities including Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga are stepping forward to help.

Those three stars, and countless others, have changed their social-media avatars to an image of hands making a heart shape, and are urging fans to "Show Your Hearts" with donations at showyourhearts.org and via text message (texting BERRY to 85944 donates $10).

"Change your profile picture today & make sure to #showyourhearts," Spears tweeted, with a photo of herself making the heart shape.

"It is a really sad story, but this is an opportunity for me and my friends to do something good for others," says Bieber. "We can use our influence to do good. We are just doing our part and I hope those kids get something positive out of it."

The boys suffered spinal injuries that caused permanent paralysis and will require long-term medical care estimated to cost millions of dollars. Fundraising efforts will benefit the Joshua and Robin Berry Children's Trust.

Sightings

'Jersey Shore' star to join Britney Spears on tour

DJ Pauly D - Paul DelVecchio - has just announced he will join the pop singer during part of her upcoming Femme Fatale tour dates.

"Britney is one of my favorite performers," he says in a statement, "and certainly one of this generation's most influential artists. Its an amazing platform to connect with my fans around the country."

Once season 5 of Jersey Shore wraps, Pauly will grab his turntable and hit the road. His dates:

Aug. 17 in Grand Rapids, Mich. - Van Andel Arena
Aug. 19 in Pittsburgh, Pa. - CONSOL Energy Center
Aug. 20 in Columbus, Ohio - Nationwide Arena
Aug. 22 in Indianapolis - Conseco Fieldhouse
Aug. 24 in Raleigh, N.C. - RBC Center
Aug. 25 in Charlotte - Time Warner Cable Center

2011 VMA Nominations

Best Pop Video
• Adele, "Rolling in the Deep"
• Bruno Mars, "Grenade"
• Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends"
• Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)
• Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack, "Give Me Everything"

Best Choreography
• Beyoncé, "Run the World (Girls)"
• Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends"
• Bruno Mars, "The Lazy Song"
• Lady Gaga, "Judas"
• LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & Goon,"Party Rock Anthem"

Sightings

Britney: My Ex-Bodyguard's Lying about Drugs, Farts

Sources directly connected with Britney tell TMZ, the singer has a simple response to Fernando Flores' allegations -- "He's a liar."

Flores -- who is suing Brit for sexual harassment -- now claims she uses methamphetamines, farts a lot, picks her nose and has terrible hygiene practices.

Flores only worked for Britney for a very short period of time.

2011 Teen Choice Award Nomination

Live Review: Britney in Winnipeg

OK, let me rephrase that: What could be more appropriate? Watching America's eternal dance-pop sweetheart do her thing on U.S. Independence Day is almost like seeing The Pogues on St. Patrick’s Day. Alice Cooper on Halloween. The Mothers of Invention on Mother’s Day.

Of course, with Britney, there was also a certain level of irony involved. Let’s face it, Spears isn’t exactly Miss Independent. Truth be told, she’s more like Miss Aging Pop Princess Who's Been Scarred by Fame and Now Seems to be a Puppet Trapped in a Waking Faustian Nightmare Where She Will be Forced to Lip-Synch Vapid Dance Music Like Some Overgrown Tween Until the Day She Dies. Not to put too fine a point on it.

Then again, maybe I’m just overthinking. After all, the rapturous, screaming horde of 10,000 teen girls, twentysomethings and parents who jammed a sold-out MTS Centre on Monday to see the local stop on Spears' Femme Fatale Tour weren’t there to discuss Britney’s relevance in a post-Idol popscape or debate whether she’s Exhibit A in the case against foisting global superstardom on kids no matter how much they crave it.

No, the girls just wanted to have fun. They wanted a show: A big-time, big-ass pop-music extravaganza loaded with eyepopping lights and videos, gargantuan production, costume changes, pyro, dancers and acrobatics.

That, they got. With no holds barred, no expense spared and no stone unturned. For $372 — the top price for floor seats — they got Britney appearing at the top of the stage and riding down on a little elevator. They got her dancing in a cage. They got her being hoisted up several metres above the stage in a little stand. They got Britney tooling around on a car — and then on a freaking Egyptian barge during Give Me More. They got trenchcoats and spy movies and laser beams, oh my. One lucky dude even got a lap dance.

What they didn’t get: Much artistic steak to go with all that sizzle. As everybody knows, Spears lip-synchs nearly two-thirds of her show. (Perez Hilton believes the fact that she may actually be singing some of the time — unlike previous tours — means that she’s “trying.” Clearly, Perez Hilton and I have different views on entertainment. And effort.)

The whole lip-synching thing might not have been so bad — honestly, on the few occasions when she actually seemed to be singing, it was nothing to write home about — had she compensated with an all-out danceathon of Beyonce-level intensity. But she didn’t.

Mostly, she posed, busted a few simple moves, shook her hair a lot, and bumped/ground/writhed in a series of skimpy, spangly ensembles (others have compared her to a stripper; I have far too much class for that). And every few songs, she retreated backstage while sets and costumes were changed and videos were screened, squandering what little momentum she was able to build while onstage. It was entertaining at times, but mostly because of everything going on besides Britney, not because of her. Not that the kids cared; they cheered every song, every move, every undulation, every Barbie Doll-like utterance.

Ah, well. So it wasn’t my cup of tea. At least there were fireworks. Plenty of fireworks. And hey, that’s what the 4th of July is all about, right?

Sightings

Britney Spears wows L.A. crowd in lip-synced show

Britney Spears proves just that in her new video for "I Wanna Go," which finds the pop princess doing battle with cyborg-like paps.

That is, when she's not dropping F-bombs at a press conference, flashing folks on the street and grabbing a fan's rear end.

Check it out after the jump and let us know what you think. And be sure to watch till the end for a cool little homage to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"...

Video.

Britney Spears wows L.A. crowd in lip-synced show

Among the tunes included in the evening were all five of her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits: "...Baby One More Time," "Womanizer," "3," "Hold It Against Me" and her Rihanna remix duet "S&M."

Most of the show, as expected, seemed to be lip-synced. Occasionally, especially in the early portion of the night, what sounded like live ad-libs from Spears could be heard.

Spears opened the evening with her Hot 100 No. 1, "Hold It Against Me," and then surprisingly segued into the new "Femme Fatale" U.S. bonus track "Up n' Down."

All told, Spears blazed through a 22-song set (four of those were blended into two separate medleys) that was contained within distinct Femme Fatale-inspired acts. A highlight was the bright and colorful segment that kicked off with the new "Femme" album track "Big Fat Bass." Spears seemed especially engaged with the audience and her dancers, smiling and playful whilst prancing about the stage. Her giddiness was amplified for "How I Roll," when she was rolled out into the center of the audience on a tricked-out, Mini Cooper-like car.

Throughout the evening, the diva was aided by an armada of impossibly athletic and acrobatic dancers. During "He About to Lose Me," Spears was surrounded by four especially daring male dancers, who did their best death-defying Olympian gymnast poses from atop cage-like contraptions high in the air. Their handstands and Cirque du Soleil-esque contortions drew gasps from the impressed crowd.

Fans went nuts after Spears recreated much of her original choreography -- including her memorable slide to the floor and the arms-in-the-air flings -- for a sensual "I'm a Slave 4 U," which was followed by a cover of Madonna's classic 1983 single "Burning Up." The crowd also reacted positively to "Boys," but for possibly a different reason: if you stitched together the fabric that Spears and her dancers were wearing for the slinky number, it might have made a scarf.

"Boys" was followed by the ballad "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know," which may have been the one song of the night that Spears sang completely live. (Though it was hard to tell whether she was singing along to pre-taped "live" vocals.)

Some aspects of the show were reminiscent of previous tours by Madonna and Kylie Minogue. Spears' Japanese anime-esque rendition of "Toxic," complete with battling dancers, brought to mind Madonna's "Sky Fits Heaven" performance from 2001's Drowned World Tour. Additionally, Spears' "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" came with pulse-racing projection imagery of beefcake models that echoed Minogue's "Red Blooded Woman" from her 2005 Showgirl trek.

In the final stretch of the show, the simple staging of her latest single, "I Wanna Go," brought the house down. From the floor to the rafters, the audience jumped up and down along with Spears onstage. Next up was the main-set closer "Womanizer," which seemed a bit flat after the crowd-wowing "I Wanna Go."

Spears' most recent Hot 100 top 10 single, the stomping "Till the World Ends," closed out the night. Opening act Nicki Minaj rose from the stage midway through the number to supply her "Femme Fatale Remix" rap before Spears herself ascended to the top of an elaborate multi-story set piece. The song came to a roaring end with an angel-winged Spears flying over the audience, while a brilliant curtain of sparking pyro rained down on the stage behind her.

The Femme Fatale Tour, with Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nervo, next hits Glendale, Ariz. on June 22, and returns to southern California for an Anaheim stop on June 24.

Nicole Richie Dedicates a Dance to Britney Spears

"In honor of my queen, @BritneySpears - Can't wait to dance tonight!" She Tweeted.

In the video, the mother of two showed some impressively fluid and sexy moves alongside her male friend – who didn't fare as well in the impromptu dance challenge.

The Winter Kate designer and reality star, 29, was dressed casually in tiny denim shorts and a white tank while her friends whooped and cheered her on in the background.

Britney Spears lashes out at photographers in new video

In her a short teaser for her new I Wanna Go video, Brit Brit goes all Lara Croft on paparazzi who are within striking distance. It's a subject matter that Spears knows quite well.

The Chris Marrs Piliero-directed video is set to premiere Wednesday.

Spears recently kicked off her North American "Femme Fatale" tour with Nicki Minaj. The two are slated to play Los Angeles tonight.

Britney Spears Kicks Off Tour with Support from Boyfriend Jason Trawick

Boyfriend of two years (and her former agent) Jason Trawick was at her side backstage, giving the costumed Spears an apparent good luck-hug in a photo she Tweeted before dominating the Power Balance Pavilion.

"It's Opening Night B–––!" she wrote.

Spears, 29, launched the show with her hit, "Hold It Against Me," bringing the glitz and the glam in her Zaldy Goco-designed ensembles.

"Can't sleep," she Tweeted after the show. "WAY too much Adrenaline right now. Sacramento was on fire tonight."

Critics seemed to share her excitement about the tour, which hits San Jose, Calif., Saturday night. "The night belonged to Britney," a Rolling Stone review read. Calling it her flashiest show yet, the report continued: "The pop star whose career seemed in danger of ending just a couple years ago has shown that she's back – hopefully this time to stay."

Sightings

When Joe Jonas Fell In Love With Britney Spears

The pop princess has a special place in his heart. They go way back.

Oh?

"The first CD that I ever bought was Britney Spears," Jonas told me the other day while promoting "See No More," the first single off his upcoming debut solo album. "It was at a 7-Eleven and I was like, 'Can I get this?' It was literally her EP and I picked it up and, of course, I fell in love with her. It was an early crush for me."

How serious was the young Jonas' crush? Well, he had a poster of Brit on his bedroom wall. "It was the innocent looking picture," he said with a smile. "I think she was in a pink T-shirt."

Jonas said his camp was talking to Spear's about hitting the road together for her Femme Fatale tour "At one point we were considering that," he said. "But they wanted to go with an all-girl tour, which is really understandable. Nicki Minaj is fantastic. So I have a couple of other options this summer that are looking pretty good. Nothing's really confirmed yet, whether it's going to be supporting someone on tour or just going out solo."

While Jonas isn't keen to talking about his private life, he admits the song, "I'm Sorry," is based on one of his relationships. "'I'm Sorry' is really honest," he said. It's saying, I screwed up. I didn't cheat on the person, but just I messed up and I wanted the person back. I'm just putting it all on the table saying, 'I'm sorry. I wish I could have you back.'"

He realizes that fans will scrutinize every word to try and figure out who he's singing about because he's famously dated Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Twilight's Ashley Greene and Camilla Belle. "Those kind of songs are really hard because you know that person is going to hear it," he said. "[But] I've never really reached out to somebody about a song. I feel every artist is entitled to write honestly. So I've never reached out to them unless they reached out to me."

That's not all I have for you from Mr. Jonas. Make sure to come back here later on to find out what he told me about who he'd love to sing with (besides Britney, of course), his secret movie project and so much more.

Now we want to hear from you. Should Joe Jonas and Britney Spears hit the recording studio together?

Britney Spears' Dad -- Bargain Basement Tour Director

TMZ has obtained legal docs that Jamie has filed with the judge in Britney's conservatorship case ... asking the judge to give him money for directing the tour and managing the logistics of the tour.

Jamie has not specified the amount of money he wants, and sources tell us it hasn't been calculated yet. Sources tell us the amount will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but it's crazy cheap for what Jamie is doing.

To give you some perspective, 5 people managed the 2009 Circus Tour. Although the amount they made is blacked out in the legal documents, we were able to discern the amount is in the 7 figures.

With Jamie on board for the Britney Spears/Nicki Minaj Femme Fatale Tour, 3 of the 5 positions will be eliminated. Thus, if Jamie gets a 6 figure salary for the upcoming 8-month world tour, everybody wins.

Whatever Jamie gets for the tour ... it will be in addition to the $16,000 a month he's pulling in for serving as Britney's conservator.

Even If Britney Spears Is Crazy, It's None of Sam Lutfi's Business

A judge has denied a bid from the former Britney Spears hanger-on to order an independent psychological evaluation of the pop star to assist in Lutfi's defamation lawsuit against the Spears family. Among other things, he claims Britney owes him unpaid management fees and that her parents raked his good name over the coals when their daughter ended up in the hospital.

But Lutfi's losses didn't end there.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Zaven Sinanian also refused his attorney's request to obtain child-visitation reports and drug test results from 2008 that he claims are key to defending Lutfi against the Spears' allegations that he was slipping Britney drugs back when he worked for her.

Sinanian determined that the psych eval request would run against sealed orders from fellow Judge Reva Goetz, who has been supervising Britney's conservatorship for the past three years, and that any records pertaining to her kids are under the jurisdiction of family court Judge Scott Gordon.

Britney's attorneys are maintaining that the resurgent Femme Fatale singer is not compenent to sit for the deposition that Lutfi's side is requesting. Lutfi's camp, in turn, believes that another doctor might disagree with that.

In addition to defamation, Lutfi is also suing for battery, claiming Jamie Spears punched him in the chest in 2008, as well as libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract.

The case is due to go to trial in January. In the meantime, the Spearses have a permanent restraining order barring Lutfi from coming within 100 feet of their daughter until April 28, 2012.

Britney, who may not be up to testifying but is excelling at performing these days, kicks off her Femme Fatale tour tomorrow in Sacramento, Calif. After the North American leg, she's off to Europe from September to November.

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Pink Among Those Skewered In "Weird Al" Polka Medley

"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
"Womanizer" by Britney Spears
"Right Round" by Flo Rida
"Day 'n' Nite" by Kid Cudi
"Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum
"Baby" by Justin Bieber
"So What" by Pink
"I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry
"Fireflies" by Owl City
"Blame It" by Jamie Foxx
"Replay" by Iyaz
"Down" by Jay Sean
"Break Your Heart" by Taio Cruz
"Tik Tok" by Ke$ha

Listen to the song here. It's from Yankovic's Alpocalypse album, which is out Tuesday, June 21.

Spears treats boyfriend to lapdance

A lucky fan will get up close and personal with Spears on the tour, which begins in Sacramento, California on Thursday, but it was Trawick who was selected for the Britney bonus onstage in Los Angeles - before a select group of bloggers.

Spears invited her man to join her during her rendition of How I Roll, and she tied him to a chair and straddled him as she performed.

The singer's father Jamie and her two sons, Sean and Jayden, joined the bloggers in the audience at the top secret run-through.

Spears' rep says 'not engaged'

British tabloid The Sun reported earlier this week that the pop superstar was secretly engaged to Trawick, who she has been dating for two years.

Trawick was said to have proposed to the Toxic hitmaker by writing a romantic poem and filling their Los Angeles home with candles and roses.

But Spears' representative has moved swiftly to dismiss the report, stating: "She is not engaged."

The mum-of-two, who has been married twice before, has previously refused to rule out tying the knot with Trawick, insisting, "I'd do it if the timing was right."

Britney Spears' New Concert Tour: Should You Go? (Answer: Hell Yeah!)

How do I know this? Because last night I was among just a handful of people invited to watch the pop princess' first—and very private—dress rehearsal of her upcoming Femme Fatale tour.

Before I give ya some of the highlights, just let me say that if you don't have tickets yet, run and get them now.

Why?

The show opens with a video of Spears in a sparkly leotard (one of many skimpy outfits that shows off her back-in-shape bod) being chased by cops through an industrial landscape. And yes, Britney's brandishing a gun. Think Salt meets Charlie's Angels.

The song list includes more than—ready for this?—20 songs. She starts with "Hold It Against Me," followed by, well, everything, including "…Baby One More Time," "I'm a Slave 4 U," "Toxic," "Gimme More," "(Drop Dead) Beautiful," "Big Fat Bass" and "Till The World Ends."

Spears covers Madonna's "Burning Up" while straddling a gigantic electric guitar. She sings Rihanna's "S&M" in a flamboyant motorcycle gear (denim, leather, studs, etc.).

Footage of a slightly older, grizzly faced fellow in what appears to be some sort of Cold War radio transmission bunker is shown throughout the show. He says things like, "Bring your best game because tonight you and I are dancing a vicious dance," and asks, "What man are you bringing to his knees?"

Other video highlights include shots of completely naked men (just butts—no full-frontal, people!) and her male dancers in what can only be described as S&M leather gear and toys, including facemasks and nipple clamps.

All of her dancers—male and female—help keep the energy (a lot of it sexual!) going with gyrations, contortions, the aforementioned nakedness and lots of sweating. Special shout-out to Marco Da Silva—holy ridiculousness of tattooed muscles!

During "I Wanna Go," a bunch of us were brought on stage to dance with Britney. Yes, I can say I danced on a stage with Britney Spears! And so can my pals from Pink is the New Blog, BreatheHeavy.com, Just Jared and Ellen K. from Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM morning show, among others. Who else was there? Spears' hottie boyfriend Jason Trawick (he even got on stage during "How I Roll" to be tied up and straddled by his girlfriend), dad Jamie and Brit's two adorable sons, Sean and Jaden.

The finale is insane. I won't tell you exactly what happens, but it includes big, white angel wings.

There's so much more to see and hear. Spears sings, dances and gives you some of her best work ever. Like I said, get your tickets now!

Now we want to hear from you. You going to see Brit in concert?

Britney Spears Files Suit in Stinky Perfume Case

Britney has filed a cross-complaint, claiming Brand Sense was all about radio silence when it came to accounting for how much money she was supposed to get for the sale of a perfume -- Radiance -- she was hocking. And there was a lot of money on the line, Brit claims -- millions of bucks worth of the fragrance were sold.

Brit says Brand Sense withheld Britney's share of the proceeds for months, failing to pay her interest on the delayed payments.

Brand Sense is suing Brit, claiming she cut them out of her deal with Elizabeth Arden. Britney says Brand Sense was not cut out of the deal.

Britney Spears -- Not Competent to Take Oath

Brand Sense Partners is suing Brit for $10 million, claiming she had a deal with the company but pulled a double-cross by trying to cut them out of a lucrative project with Elizabeth Arden.

Brand Sense wants to take Britney's deposition, but Brit's lawyers have so far refused, on grounds Brit is under a conservatorship and can't be forced to testify without the approval of the conservatorship's attorneys.

No word on whether the attorneys for the conservatorship will sign off on the depo, but Brand is tired of waiting and is now asking the judge in the perfume case to order Britney to sit for the deposition.

Britney and K-Fed Memorabilia -- Up for Auction

Kevin's grandfather, Earl Story, has put a slew of items up for auction on eBay from back when Brit and K-Fed were a happy couple. The highlights include: the wedding invitation, an invite to Brit's baby shower, a hat K-Fed once wore to an awards show (signed by Brit and K-Fed) and 14 wedding pics, some of which didn't make the tabloids.

K-Fed's aunt tells TMZ she is helping put the items up for sale because Earl's wife recently passed and the family encouraged him to sell off a few things and use the money to take a trip and help take his mind off things.

She says Earl is holding back a few things -- like some of the more personal photos -- and has K-Fed's blessing to make whatever money he can.

Britney Spears -- Ring Pics Spark Engagement Rumors

Brit Brit was seen with the ring poking out of her sleeve (see above) when she left a spa in the Valley on Wednesday. The rumor was ... she and Jason Trawick were set to get hitched and she was going to announce it on Twitter yesterday. Instead, she just announced a tour giveaway.

As you can see from tabloid pictures, Brit has been wearing the ring for the past six weeks, and it looks more like a flower of some kind than a giant diamond.

Doesn't seem like she's ready to walk down the aisle ... yet.

Britney Spears Asks Twilight Hunk for a Kiss

Oh? Yeah!

So does Spears' boyfriend Jason Trawick have anything to worry about?

No. Sources confirm that the Twilight hunk was offered to play the pop singer's steamy boy-toy in the video for her third single, "I Wanna Go." However, Mr. Lutz politely declined.

The news, first reported by Hollywood Life, comes just a couple of weeks after Spears and Lutz met for the first time when he attended her Beverly Hills fundraiser earlier this month for the St. Bernard Project's ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. (FYI: Lutz told me at the event that "Oops!...I Did It Again" is his favorite Britney song.)

In the video, being shot in L.A. today and tomorrow, Lutz apparently would have rescued Spears from pesky paparazzi before going on to lock lips in the backseat of a car. Oh, said hunky character also turns out to be a robot.

No word on who eventually snagged the part, but sources deny the report that Matthew McConaughy was also approached about the gig.

Parents council slams sexy Rihanna-Britney Billboard antics

The group issued a statement Tuesday attacking the singers' racy remix of Rihanna's "S&M" at the Billboard Music Awards Sunday in Las Vegas.

"What happened in Vegas should have stayed in Vegas, as the saying goes," PTC president Tim Winter said in a statement. "It certainly has no place at 8:00 p.m. on the publicly-owned broadcast airwaves."

Winter wants members file complaints to Disney, parent company of ABC, because he said he "cannot imagine what would possibly lead the ABC television network to air a profanity-laced, S&M sex show on primetime broadcast television."

"The overtly sexualized performance by Rihanna and Britney Spears was no accident or mishap, but a deliberate effort to target teens with images and lyrics that glamorize whips, chains and other sexual fetishes," the statement concluded.

ABC didn't air Britney-Rihanna 'Billboard' kiss

No, you didn't. Because ABC cut to the audience when it happened.

After giving a pillow-fight-filled performance of their remix of Rihanna's S&M, RiRi grabbed Britney's face and planted a big wet one on her cheek.

Shades of Madonna and that 2003 kiss with Britney at MTV's Video Music Awards, eh?

Rihanna, Britney kick off Billboard Awards

Rihanna got the show off to a steamy start, wearing a skimpy leather outfit for her hit song "S&M," and was joined at the end of the number by Britney Spears, who appears on a remix on the track.

Taylor Swift won the evening's first award, as top album artist, behind the multimillion sales for "Speak Now."

"The impact of an album is all determined by the fans," she told the audience. "You've just given me another reason to be completely in love with you."

Other award winners included Justin Bieber (digital artist) and the Black Eyed Peas (top duo/group).

Beyonce received a special Millennium Award for her career achievements: The 29-year-old phenomenon was lauded in a video by an array of legends and luminaries, including Stevie Wonder, Barbara Streisand, Bono, Lady Gaga and First Lady Michelle Obama.

"This is a moment I have to soak in because it's gonna be — and it is — one of the best moments of my life," said Beyonce after getting the award from her mother, Tina Knowles. Beyonce also performed her new song, "Run the World (Girls)."

This year marks the Billboard Awards' rebirth. The Billboard Awards had been a staple since 1989, but gave out what appeared to be its last award in 2006. This year, the show was brought back.

It was held in Las Vegas, broadcast live on ABC and hosted by "The Hangover 2'" star Ken Jeong.

The Billboard Music Awards are given out to music's most popular artists. The finalists and winners are determined by their rank on the Billboard charts and their "social and streaming activity."

Rihanna is the top finalist, competing in 18 categories. Among the awards she's up for include top artist, top female artist, and top radio songs artist.

Eminem's name appears in 16 categories, including top artist. He's also vying for top male artist as well as top social artist.

Britney Spears: "I've Always Loved Her," Says New Tour Pal Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj, or course.

Even more exciting? We'll get a little preview of the duo's love for one another tomorrow night, when they rock out together, performing along with Rihanna, at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, a source tells E! News.

So what's the colorful Trinidadian rapper have to say about joining forces with the pop superstar?

"Just seeing her in action," Minaj recently told us at the Samsung Infuse 4G launch party in L.A. "I want to see what she's done to really just stand the test of time for this long. You know, how's she's interacting with the people and with the dancers and the lighting and the props. I just want to get into the whole thing."

The Pink Friday singer also says she's a long time fan of Miss Spears.

"I've always loved her," Minaj said. "It's so funny because I had spoken about her in an interview a while back and I was like, 'I wish they would just leave her alone,' you know? And now she's back and it's Britney bitch!"

Jason Trawick -- Sayonara, Britney ...

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... they are still doing great together, but Jason has decided to step aside as her agent.

Trawick has left William Morris Endeavor to create an arts and entertainment division for a company called Famos LLC, whose partners include musicians Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger. The company will specialize in promoting artists who have a digital reach.

Please Jason … don't sign Rebecca Black.

Britney Spears Plans Happy Homecoming for the Troops

About a month ago, some very clever Marines posted a video on YouTube of themselves lip-syncing to the pop star's recent hit "Hold It Against Me."

How's Brit returning the love?

I can exclusively reveal that Spears has invited the troops to her upcoming Femme Fatale tour.

"I was so moved by the 'Hold It Against Me' video that the Marines of HMLA-169 and VMM-266 REIN made in Afghanistan," Spears tells me. "It warmed my heart to see our nation's soldiers enjoying themselves to my music. I am honored to have them as guests at my concert this summer. I hope they like my show as much as I loved theirs."

I'm told that Spears also sent care packages to the troops along with handwritten notes.

Shortly, after the video hit the web, Spears tweeted, "I am in LOVE with this. I always knew our soldiers were fierce! Thanks fore everything you guys do."

God bless America!

Britney Spears Reveals Tour-Ready Abs

But Britney Spears can't get enough. For the last six weeks, she's been training for 90 minutes a day, followed by another five hours of dance rehearsals in preparation for her North American tour, kicking off June 16 in Sacramento.

"I'm pumped up!" Spears tells PEOPLE inside her cozy dressing room on the Sony lot in Culver City, Calif. "We've been working hard. And the costumes are coming next week. This is the exciting part, when all the pieces – the masterpiece – come together."

During Spears's month and a half of prep time, trainer Derek DeGrazio has cooked, packaged and labeled meals (like baked fish and broccoli) and snacks (such as celery with almond butter) for the 29-year-old pop star, six days a week.

She does get a break from all the discipline, though. Sunday, says Spears, is her "cheat day."

But it's certainly not derailing her efforts. Spears's workouts and her 1,500-calorie-a-day nutrition plan have whipped her into top tour shape.

"You can see the tone in her muscles – her arms, legs and abs," says DeGrazio. "She looks amazing." (Photo 2)

Sweet teatime

Britney Spears: Marriage and More Kids on the Way?

The pop star—who's been dating boyfriend Jason Trawick for two years now, reveals in this month's Harper's Bazaar, "I've thought about both [marriage and kids], so if the timing was right..."

With a long-term relationship and another hit album, Britney's looking and feeling better than ever...

"I feel like I'm drinking a tall glass of homemade sweet tea on a really hot, beautiful day," the Southern star says.

So what else does Britney confess?

That she's got Justin Bieber fever!

"I think he's adorable," Brit said. "I just saw his movie, and I really didn't realize how big he was. He's enormous; he's just Mr. Man."

Would she want her boys with ex-husband Kevin Federline—Sean Preston, 5, and Jayden James, 4—to follow in the teen phenom's musical footsteps?

"If they have a love and passion for the arts and that's what they want to do, then so be it," the mom says. "They are both little actors and so charismatic, I wouldn't be surprised at all."

Looks like they inherited that gene from their mom's—not their dad's—side of the family!

Is Britney Spears Crazy on Not? The Battle Over Her Sanity

Yeah, those were sad times.

These days, the "Toxic" singer is back on top, but one bit of her past just won't go away—the singer's ex-manager Sam Lutfi. We already knew he filed a defamation lawsuit against Spears and her parents Lynne and Jamie, claiming they ruined him with claims he drugged and harassed the singer during her breakdown.

But now Lutfi, who is still under a restraining order to stay away from Spears, wants her to testify. But her parents are claiming she's "mentally incapable" of doing so.

So what's he planning to do?

Lutfi filed a motion last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, insisting Spears is well enough to testify when it goes to trial.

Lufti hired expert witness Joshua Pretsky, an assistant professor of psychiatry at UCLA, to break down the pop star's recent behavior, most notably take notes on her world tour, an interview with Ryan Seacrest and an MTV documentary she starred in.

And guess what? Based on those factors, Pretsky told the court that she seems more than capable of testifying in the case.

"In the Ryan Seacrest interview, which was recorded approximately two months ago, Britney Spears is interviewed at length, and she responds logically and coherently to questions, evidencing logical thinking and mental competency," the witness states.

"In my opinion, there is good cause to conduct an independent medical examination to investigate the conservators' claim that Ms. Spears is not capable of testifying, and the claim that she was not mentally competent to enter into a binding contract..."

According to his lawsuit, Lufti is asking the court to conduct the examination, but her parents will not produce her for a deposition on the grounds that she is "mentally incapable."

The ex-manager is asking that a doctor conduct a three- to five-hour interview with the singer to determine her mental state, and he is also asking for access to her medical records.

Spears' mom had detailed her daughter's time with Lutfi in the memoir, Through the Storm, claiming Lutfi drugged her daughter, cut off her phones and manipulated her before he got the ax.

For his part, Lutfi claims the singer's life was a wreck before he ever entered the picture, is still battling after an appeals court refused to toss the suit last November.

When you consider all this, maybe things still are a little sad for Britney.

Britney Spears -- Y'all Wanna Drive My Car?

Britney has one hell of a history in the 2008 Mercedes Benz SLK 320 -- she blew through red lights, wreaked havoc at all hours of the night and smashed into another car in a parking lot ... for which she was later arrested on a hit-and-run charge.

Now, the car is set to go on display at the Volo Auto Museum just outside of Chicago on June 26 ... the same day the museum will hold a drawing to let one lucky Britney fan drive the car around town for a day ...

... as long as the winner agrees to obey all traffic laws.

Britney to the rescue

Britney Spears subject of biographic comic book

The pop music star is the subject of a new one-shot comic book courtesy of Bluewater Productions Inc.'s ongoing "Fame" series that has seen it profile other celebrities, including Lady Gaga and actors Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, among others. The publisher has also done comic book bios of Sarah Palin, Hilary Rodham Clinton and President Barack Obama, and plans one about Donald Trump, too.

The Spears comic will focus on her rise to stardom, her documented private life and her efforts to be understood, said Patrick McCray, who wrote the issue.

"She is far more complicated than most people realize. No matter what preconceptions you have about her, there will always be more layers and surprises," he said in a statement. "Beyond the performer, there is a real human being there, struggling for a real life, struggling to connect with her art, and struggling to be understood."

Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis said Spears' life reflected the core of the company's "Fame" line of biography titles has tried to achieve.

"She was created in the Internet Age to be put on a pedestal, but no one can stand the glaring lights of celebrity that intensely," he said. "The title seeks to find the person within."

The 32-page issue, illustrated by Ricardo Jaime, comes out Wednesday in comic book stores and online retailers.

Katy Perry holds off Britney atop singles chart

Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" held at No. 2, and the Black Eyed Peas' "Just Can't Get Enough" slipped one to No. 4. Bruno Mars' "The Lazy Song" edged up one to No. 5, becoming his fifth top-five hit in as many tries.

Rihanna's "S&M" fell two to No. 6, Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor" held at No. 7, Ke$ha's "Blow" rose one to No. 8, Jeremih's "Down on Me" slid four to No. 9, and Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" dropped two to No. 10.

The "Glee" cast scores the top three debuts on this week's Hot 100, led by its mashup of the "West Side Story" song "I Feel Pretty" and TLC's "Unpretty" at No. 22. The ensemble's covers of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" followed at Nos. 42 and 44, respectively.

The "Glee" cast added a fourth Hot 100 debut, "As If We Never Said Goodbye," at No. 80.

The show whose premiere last Tuesday beat "Glee," and all competition, in its time slot, "The Voice," prompted the Hot 100 arrival of contestant Javier Colon, whose R&B-tinged take on Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" launched at No. 65.

Three other songs debuted on the Hot 100: alternative rock band Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" (No. 96); Minaj's "Super Bass" (No. 98); and, actress ("One Tree Hill")/country singer Jana Kramer's "Whiskey" (No. 99).

Britney Spears Is Cooking Up Something Hot

Pop music's comeback kid is gonna be hosting a big ole fancy dinner in Beverly Hills next week.

Why?

Spears is hosting An Evening of Southern Style on May 11 in Beverly Hills. The sit-down dinner at a private residence will benefit the St. Bernard Project, an organization that continues to help Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The group has already rebuilt homes for more than 350 families with the help of 32,000 volunteers, but there's much more to be done.

"I am so honored to be a party of this cause," Spears said. "Louisiana will always be a part of my soul."

And guess who's doing the cooking? No, not Britney, but her professional chef dad Jamie. Papa Spears' menu will include Louisiana shrimp and grits, jambalaya and soft shell crab fish fry, among other things.

It's certainly got me all hungry just thinking about it.

For tix, visit stbernardproject.org. The United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area has agreed to match the first $100,000 in donations.

Brit kicks off her tour on June 16 in Sacramento, California. The 26-city gig finishes up August 13 in Toronto. And as we all know by now, joining her on the road is the absolutely fabulous Nicki Minaj.

Kirstie Alley sambas to Britney's '... Baby One More Time'

And if there's a guiltier pleasure than Britney Spears' first hit, "... Baby One More Time," we can scarcely think of it. That was the song Kirstie Alley chose to lead off the night, dancing the samba with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Which she kind of nailed, by the way.

Despite much complaining in the rehearsal montage, Alley dropped one of her best performances of the season, drawing effusive praise from the judges and a pair of 9s from Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. Carrie Ann Inaba awarded Kirstie and Maks an 8, giving the pair a total of 26.

Here's their samba. What did you think?

So True? So False? Is Britney Spears Wearing an Engagement Ring?!

So does that shiny bauble on, to be clear, Spears' left-hand ring finger mean that the Femme Fatale singer's' boyfriend of two years, agent Jason Trawick, has asked her to take things to the next level?!

The couple are always, like, going on vacation with her kids and spending time together 'n' stuff, so it's not much of a leap for the Internet to think that they're engaged.

Hang on to your diamond cutters, folks, because this rumor is...

So false!

"Completely not true," Spears' rep tells E! News of any engagement rumors sparked by the pop star's piece of apparently random jewelry.

"It's not an engagement ring, not a story."

Or so they thought! But when Spears dared to flash a band with some sort of stone attached to it while catching up with future opening act Nicki Minaj Friday at The Factory in West Hollywood...

People are going to notice.

Britney Spears Causes "Pandemonium" at Nicki Minaj Afterparty

That's where Britney Spears decided to drop in on her Femme Fatale tourmate's shindig, and fans began hyperventilating to the point that bouncers needed to carry them out!

A source tells us, "[It] was complete pandemonium. Six people were carried out after hyperventilating. They literally fainted when Britney walked onto the stage where Nicki was hanging."

For those still conscious, their goal was to try and reach Britney.

"People were crowd surfing to get to the stage. Screams were so loud for Nicki and Brit you couldn't hear the music. Bouncers couldn't hold the crowd back."

Nicki showed up around 12:30 a.m. and hung out with her crew, taking a break from performing. Meanwhile, Britney showed up closer to 1 a.m. with boyfriend Jason Trawick, but stayed for 30 minutes.

Khloé Kardashian Odom also attended the event, but went solo.

Britney Spears Invades Afghanistan

And if you can't do that, make music videos during a war.

That's what some of our Marines have been doing in the Middle East. We've already seen troops lip-syncing and dancing to Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, but now it's time for Britney Spears.

You gotta check out the new video for "Hold It Against Me" that's coming to us via YouTube from "somewhere deep in the heart of Afghanistan."

God Bless our troops...and Britney Spears.

Spears' choreographer quits tour

The pop superstar has worked with Brian Friedman for many years - he famously created her moves for videos including Toxic, I'm a Slave 4 U and her recent offering Hold It Against Me, as well as a number of her live shows.

Spears is set to head off on tour this summer in support of her new album Femme Fatale, but she will now have to put the shows together without Friedman.

In a series of posts on his Twitter page, Friedman writes, "To put rumours and questions to rest... Due 2 (sic) scheduling conflicts I'm not able 2 (sic) work on Brit's FF tour. I'm so thankful 2 (sic) have had the opportunity 2 (sic) reconnect on videos & promo tho (though)!... Jamie King will be directing the tour again & has a great line up of new choreographers! Everyone make sure to go & support! I'll be there!"

Britney Spears Goes Undercover at L.A. Concert

On Tuesday night, the pop star made a rare public appearance with her boyfriend Jason Trawick as the pair hit the Digitour concert, featuring YouTube musicians, at L.A.'s El Rey Theatre.

But Brit's people made sure she wasn't seen as she headed home—she was covered by a blanket and hid in Jason's lap as her driver left the venue...

So what gives with her duck-and-cover act?

Was Brit-Brit embarrased to be snapped (possibly) taking inspiration from these up-and-coming artists? Was she having a bad hair day?

In any case, the superstar seems like she's all set for her own tour this summer.

After a snafu that caused previously announced performer Enrique Iglesias to bail on the very same day he supposedly joined the tour, Brit announced Nicki Minaj as her official opening act.

We can't really see Enrique as part of a Femme Fatale tour anyway, right?

Adele back at No. 1 on U.S. chart, Britney slides

Her second album, "21," sold 88,000 copies during the week ended April 10, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and total sales rose to 1.03 million. The album has been No. 1 in England for 11 weeks.

Last week's No. 1, Britney Spears' "Femme Fatale," fell to No. 2 with 75,000 units, a massive 73 percent drop.

Radiohead's "The King of Limbs" moved up three spots to No. 3 with 67,000, as sales from a belatedly shipped deluxe edition of the album reached consumers.

The chart's highest new entry came from rock band Hollywood Undead, as its second studio effort, "American Tragedy," bowed at No. 4 with 66,000. Its first set, "Swan Songs," debuted and peaked at No. 22 in 2008 off a 21,000 start.

The only other new entry in the top 10 was Asking Alexandria's "Reckless & Relentless" at No. 9 with 31,000. Its first full-length album, 2009's "Stand Up and Scream," spent one week on the list at No. 170.

Next week's chart should look a little more lively, with new entries from Foo Fighters' "Wasting Light," Alison Krauss and Union Station's "Paper Airplane," and Mana's "Drama y Luz," among others.

Wiz Khalifa's "Rolling Papers" fell three to No. 5 (59,000 copies), Chris Brown's "F.A.M.E." dipped two to No. 6 (51,000), and the "Songs for Japan" compilation dropped two to No. 7 (nearly 51,000), Mumford & Sons' "Sigh No More" rose three to No. 8 (34,000), and Kirk Franklin's "Hello Fear" dropped one to No. 10 (31,000). ("Sigh No More" is the year's second-biggest-selling album, with 645 units sold.)

Robbie Robertson's first album in 13 years, "How To Become Clairvoyant," debuted appropriately enough at No. 13, the best start of his solo offerings.

Overall album sales totaled 5.9 million units, down 11% compared with the previous week and up 11% compared with the comparable sales week of 2010. Year-to-date album sales stand at 83.7 million, down 4% compared with the same total at this point last year.

Britney drops out of No. 1

After coming in at No. 1 on the Canadian album charts last week with her beats-heavy "Femme Fatale," Brit slipped to No. 4 this week.

Her second week sales only reached 6,800, compared to 22,000 last week - a big drop of 68%, according to Nielsen SoundScan numbers.

Replacing her at the top was Adele's "21," which rang up 15,000, and has now sold 123,000 copies overall since being released seven weeks ago.

In between the two songstresses were Ginette Reno's "La Musique en Moi" (10,800) and the charity album "Songs For Japan," which came up one spot to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

The biggest debut of the week went to Hollywood Undead's "American Tragedy" at No. 5, Radiohead's "King of Limbs" came up one to No. 6, and DJ Tiesto's "Club Life: Las Vegas" premiered at No. 7.

Rounding out the top 10 was Robbie Robertson's "How to Become Clairvoyant" at No. 8, Ima's "Precious" at No. 9, and Rihanna's "Loud" at No. 10.

In the U.S., Adele returned to first, followed by Spears in second, Radiohead in third, Hollywood Undead in fourth, and Wiz Khalifa's "Rolling Papers" in fifth.

Dion urges Spears to do Vegas

Both stars are rumoured to be in talks for spectacular shows in the Nevada gambling Mecca, and the Aussie singer - currently on tour with her Aphrodite Les Folies trek - recently declared, “I’ve got my Las Vegas show right here. We’ve been talking about it so if I do a residency I definitely have the show for it.”

And stage veteran Dion, who is wowing critics with her latest Vegas residency, has told her fellow chart stars to “go for it” if they are offered a performance contract.

She tells Britain’s Daily Star, “If Britney and Kylie want to come to Vegas and do a residency like me, I say go for it. Vegas is changing. There is room for everyone - new singers and older ones.

“When I first came here in 2003, people said my career was over. I’m here because I love singing, and this allows me to be with my family.”

Word Up: Britney Spears Writes a Song for Selena Gomez

Spears' rep tells E! News that reports the pop princess will cowrite the song "Whiplash" for fellow Disney alum Selena Gomez's upcoming third album are...true!

Talk about an honor!

The collaboration is good news for the 18-year-old Gomez who worships the ground Spears walks on.

In fact, the "Round & Round" singer told Ryan Seacrest last month on his radio show that Britney was the first concert she ever went to.

And to show her deepest affection for her idol, Gomez confirmed that she and her band, Selena Gomez & The Scene, will perform a lengthy tribute to Spears on their upcoming summer tour, which will likely include covers of the latter's hits "Baby One More Time" and "Toxic."

For Britney, putting pen to paper is something of an event these days given that she has not a single cowriting credit to her name on her new album, Femme Fatale.

Instead, Spear has left the dirty work to an ever-expanding cadre of composers—one of whom by the way is rising pop rival Ke$ha who cowrote her latest single "Til the World Ends"—while she sticks to performing. Though it should be noted that Brit did write her hit, "Me Against the Music."

Whatever she's planning for Selena, let's hope it's a good one. Gomez's yet-to-be-titled new album drops on June 28.

Rihanna: 'I Want to Spank Britney Spears'

"I hope so," Rihanna said during an interview with New York's Z100 Monday morning. "I want to spank Britney."

The "S&M" singer appeared on Elvis Duran's radio show to talk about the world premiere of a new remix of the song that features Spears.

"It's very strange. Britney never does features. It was really amazing that she really wanted to be part of this song," Rihanna said. "She really liked the song to begin with, but it was a different story when she had to sing it, and she really wanted to be a part of it. It made it really, really special, because you never see two pop female artists doing songs together anymore."

The collaboration, according to Rihanna, was an idea that came from the fans. "In order to do a remix, it had to be major," she said. "I asked my fans last week who they wanted me to collaborate with, and Britney was one of the most popular names."

Though both Spears and Rihanna are likely to remain solo acts, Rihanna has a pretty good name picked out for if they wanted to form a girl group. "Just call us R&B," she said.

The remix of "S&M" will be available on iTunes, but you can listen to it now here.

Listen Now: Britney, Rihanna Team Up for Sexed-Up "S&M" Remix

Two superstars of pop, Rihanna and Britney Spears, have teamed up for a remix—excuse us, "RIHmix" of Ri-Ri's already smash (and sexy) hit "S&M." Just seems greedy, right? All that hotness in one song?

In addition to adding her breathy tones to the chorus, Britney also contributes an all-new verse to the hit, cooing about her own bad-girl ways.

The single, released through New York's Z100, was first teased by the duo over the weekend, when Rihanna tweeted, "I got a #SEXY collabo comin your way supa dupa soon!!!! OH YEAH!!! By popular demand…"

Britney quickly replied with, "You're such a tease! I like it, I like it…" And so do we.

Britney Spears Signs Nicki Minaj for Concert Tour

Sources involved in the negotiation tell TMZ ... the deal was signed several days ago, and Britney is elated. Everyone involved in the concert is relieved Enrique Iglesias' ego couldn't handle opening for Britney and feel Nicki will be infinitely better.

Minaj, who is on tour with Lil Wayne until the end of the month, currently has two singles on the Billboard Top 100 -- "Moment 4 Life" and "Did It On'em"

Everyone connected with the concert series thinks Nicki will create even more heat for the tour, which kicks off on June 17 in Sacramento, CA.

TMZ broke the story Nicki and Britney were in serious negotiations.

Right after we posted that story, the comments and emails were almost unanimous that Nicki is an infinitely better choice than Enrique.

Songwriter defends Britney Spears

The Toxic hitmaker has been a part of the songwriting process for at least one track on each of her last five discs, contributing the most to her 2003 project In the Zone, including her Madonna duet, Me Against the Music.

Spears is not credited as a writer on any of the tunes from her seventh studio album, prompting some detractors to take aim at the singer for relying on the talents of others to produce hits for her.

But collaborator Heather Bright, who co-wrote Femme Fatale's Trouble for Me, insists few pop stars actually come up with their own lyrics and Spears should be applauded for not forcing her songwriters into giving her credit just so she can take a cut of the royalties.

In a post on her blog, Bright writes, "I would just like to address one thing! The media is talking trash about how Britney didn't write any of the songs on her album ... HELLO! Wake up everybody! NONE OF THESE ARTISTS WRITE THEIR OWN SONGS!!!!!! (there are a few exceptions ... lady gaga, will.i.am/BEP, chris brown is starting to write a lot of his own stuff...)

"Anyway... Britney could have come to me, like all these other A-list artists, and said ... 'Hey, you wanna be on my album? I'm gonna need writing credit for that song AND part of your publishing (royalties) even though I didn't write anything! And then I'm gonna go on tour and gross $150 million in ticket sales and not give you any of that, even though I'm performing your song!' I could rattle off a laundry list of artists who I've had that conversation with!"

And Bright has nothing but praise for Spears and her creative team.

She adds, "Britney's one of the few artists I've worked with who didn't try to take something that wasn't hers. In my experience, from a business standpoint, her entire team is nothing less than a bonafide class act!"

Britney tops U.S. album charts despite weak sales

"Femme Fatale" sold 276,000 copies copies during its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the period ended April 3. Last week, prognostictors were looking at a start in the 280,000 to 300,000 range.

Moreover Spears' last effort, "Circus," sold 506,000 copies during its first chart-topping week in 2008. Only her 1999 debut, "... Baby One More Time," began with a smaller figure (121,000 at No. 1). The only Spears album that did not reach the top was 2007's "Blackout" (No. 2, 290,000 copies).

Rapper Wiz Khalifa arrived at No. 2 as his major-label debut "Rolling Papers" sold 197,000 copies.

Adele's "21" held at No. 3 (94,000), reigning champ Chris Brown's "F.A.M.E." slid three places to No. 4 (91,000), and the "Songs for Japan" charity compilation rose one place to No. 5 (71,000).

Britney notches another No. 1 in Canada

Her seventh studio effort, "Femme Fatale," led by her latest single, "Till the World Ends," shot to No. 1 on the Canadian album charts, selling 22,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan numbers.

However, the album didn't match the sales figures of her previous disc, "Circus," which rung up 51,000 back in December 2008.

Britney also snagged the top spot stateside, selling 276,000 copies of "Till the World Ends," according to Billboard.com.

Back here, Adele's "21" was stuck at No. 2 for a third straight week, Ginette Reno's "La Musique en Moi" slipped two spots to No. 3, and the charity album "Songs For Japan" dropped one to No. 4.

Radiohead had the second best premiere with "King of Limbs" at No. 5, rapper Wiz Khalifa's "Rolling Papers" rolled in at No. 6, and Ima's "Precious" spent its first week at No. 7.

Robbie Robertson's "How to Become Clairvoyant" entered at No. 8, Sum 41's "Screaming Bloody Murder" had a less than stellar debut at No. 9, and Rise Against's "Endgame" sank five spots to No. 10.

In the U.S., Wiz Khalifa placed second, followed by Adele in third, Chris Brown's "F.A.M.E." in fourth, and "Songs For Japan" in fifth.

Watch Now: Britney Goes Apocalyptic in "Till the World Ends" Video

And after a series of sneak peek teases, the Britster finally let loose this morning with the first of two planned music videos for "Till the World Ends" (the second will feature Spears' own choreography), and let's just say, it's a little, well, dirrty. Christina will be so proud!

So, incidentally, will be whoever conceived the idea for her 2001 "I'm a Slave 4 U" video, which ticks many of the same boxes, and to which the video has already drawn comparisons—sweaty dance party? Check! Leather-clad pulsating dancers? Check! World awash in eerie (yet flattering!) golden light? Check!

Still, nothing wrong with a little nod to vintage Britney. Plus, sweaty dancers in underground tunnels pulsing and writhing in sync to the music? Seems like as good a way as any to survive the apocalypse.

Britney Spears' Drug Tests Wanted by Ex-Friend

In the motion -- filed in L.A. County Superior court -- Lutfi claims he needs the tests to support his defamation lawsuit against Britney, her mom and her dad.

He's suing over several claims Lynne Spears made in her book, "Through the Storm" -- among them that he tried to "drug Britney into a coma."

In the docs, Lutfi also asks for access to reports filed by Britney's child visitation monitors -- claiming they can refute accusations he cut Brit's phone wires and disabled her cars.

The top 10 albums on iTunes - week ending April 4, 2011

Sighting

Ke$ha Wants to Skinny Dip with Britney Spears

"Skinny dipping," says Ke$ha, suggesting too that the splash could follow a spin on jet skis and a themed party they'd throw together. "It would be a dress-up-like-Ke$ha-or-Britney party," she says. "Either her place or my place, it doesn't matter."

Perhaps the 24-year-old's new Nashville pad would be the prime spot for such a shindig, especially since she's recently installed an underwater stereo.

"I have a small, salt-water pool that has laser beams in it and a stereo so you can be under water listening to music," says Ke$ha, who's only had time to furnish her new place with a mattress, a Budweiser lamp and a grand piano. "It's really magical."

But until Ke$ha and Spears's schedules align, Ke$ha plans to embrace her raunchy side in another way – by extending her "Get $leazy" tour into the summer months.

"I hope people are ready to come and take their clothes off," says the singer, who will tour with electro hop act LMFAO and rapper Spank Rock on her Mad Max-inspired fete that will see her add more than 30 extra dates following her sold-out spring tour. (Details are available on her Web site.)

"The venues will be bigger and we're going to be outside for a lot of the shows," she adds. "It's going to be the biggest dance party of the year."

What's Wrong with Britney Spears?

MTV's 30-minute Femme Fatale special (referring to it as a "film" would be a stretch) featured a visit to the set of Britney's "Till the World Ends" video, behind-the-scenes and onstage footage of her recent Vegas performance and a sit-down interview with the unstoppable Sway. Both of them spoke so slowly to each other, they sounded like they had either made a joint pact to enter a coma, or were out to induce one.

The thing was joyless, from Britney's inert performances to her pause-filled declarations ("I was just like...really kinda...like...just really creative and just really just, y'know, like that," said Spears on her childhood). Granted, it was hilarious that when describing her video set, she said, "It felt like there was poop everywhere when there really wasn't." But for the most part, the goofy Britney of the past was nowhere to be found. We learned very little outside this brief list of things she says she likes or loves:

- Tea
- Vanilla candles
- Will.i.am
- Will.i.am's production on Femme Fatale's "Big Fat Bass"
- Choosing songs that empower people and make them feel good about themselves
- Songs that she records
- Her assistant's heels
- What she does

Why so languorous? Last week on Showbiz Tonight, Dr. Drew Pinsky weighed in on Britney's state of mind, saying that if rumors of bipolar disorder are true, the medication she's potentially taking to treat it could leave her stiff and robotic. That speculative explanation doesn't make Britney's awkwardness any more bearable. One of the last questions Sway asked her regarded whether she thought she'd be still working at age 50, like Madonna. Britney is no fortune-teller, so she couldn't say, but she did mutter that it's a possibly, as is "maybe just doing nothing." Watching her, you can't help but wonder if the latter possibility is the light at the end of her tunnel.

What do you think? Is Britney acting strangely to you?

Couple Watch

Usher? Jonas? Minaj? Who's Really Joining Britney's Tour?

But after the embarrassment that was Enrique Iglesias unceremoniously bailing on a coheadlining jaunt with the "Oops!" girl earlier this week, what's a songbird to do?

E! News has learned that Spears' camp has now entered into negotiations with rising hip-hop diva Nicki Minaj to replace the Spanish crooner on the Britster's upcoming summer trek.

Given it's called the Femme Fatale tour, we'd say this is a good choice.

"There are talks going on with Nicki Minaj about joining the tour," a source close to Spears tells E! News.

As for reports that Britney is looking to woo Usher and Joe, the insider hasn't heard anything about that. (We'd imagine getting the "Yeah!" singer would be tough unless the pop stars agreed to joint billing and she opened for him!)

Spears' rep could not be reached for comment.

The Trinidad and Tobago-born Minaj's career has been on the fast track since the release last November of her debut album, Pink Friday, which topped the Billboard 200 Chart earlier this year and has gone platinum, largely on the strength of her joint single with Will.i.am, "Check It Out." The crooner also appeared on Saturday Night Live in January, where she performed her hits "Right Thru Me" and "Moment 4 Life," and wowed the red-carpet crowd at the Grammys with her mile-high hairdo.

Britney Spears set to top U.S. chart despite sales slump

"Femme Fatale," released on Tuesday, is on course to sell between 280,000 and 300,000 copies by week's end on April 3, industry prognosticators suggest.

It will likely rank as the second-largest sales week of the year after English pop singer Adele's "21" bowed with 352,000 earlier in March.

The Billboard 200 chart will be published on Wednesday. Chris Brown is the current chart champ.

Spears' last studio release, 2008's "Circus," blasted in at No. 1 with 506,000 copies. In all, five of Spears' six studio albums have topped the chart; only her fifth, "Blackout," fell short, starting at No. 2 with 290,000 copies in 2007.

A sixth No. 1 album would place Spears in rare air, tying her for the third-most No. 1s among women with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Only Barbra Streisand (nine) and Madonna (seven) have earned more No. 1 albums.

Spears won't be the only big news on the Billboard 200 next week. Rapper Wiz Khalifa is looking to enter at No. 2 with his first major label album, "Rolling Papers," with perhaps 200,000 to 225,000 copies. Other new entries will include Radiohead's "The King of Limbs," Snoop Dogg's "Doggumentary" and Mary Mary's "Something Big."

Spears eyes Rihanna, Gaga song

The Toxic star is a big fan of her chart rivals and wants to team up with her fellow singers to record a powerful pop anthem.

When asked her thoughts on Rihanna and Lady Gaga, Spears tells London’s Capital FM, “I feel like the genre of women today musically is astounding... that we can do that.

“I feel like we actually need to come together and do a song that can actually show how much power we do have - an idea like that would be astounding. That would be fun. A song together like that would be fun.”

Britney Spears Goes 'Femme Fatale' in Dolce & Gabbana

Who Thinks Britney Spears' Perfume Really Stinks?

The resurgent Femme Fatale singer and her conservator-father Jamie Spears have been sued for $10 million by a brand-marketing company that claims the Spears camp went behind the Brand Sense Partners' back in a "sneaky, under-handed effort" to screw them out of a cut of the profits from Britney's Elizabeth Arden fragrance deal.

And the alleged treachery came after Brand Sense did Britney a huge solid, according to the plaintiff.

View the lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, states that Spears hooked up with Brand Sense in 2003 to look for possible licensing opportunities. The following year, the company brought Elizabeth Arden to the table to get Britney into the celeb-fragrance market.

In 2005, the suit continues, their deal was modified to ensure that Brand Sense get a 35 percent commission from "any and all products" Britney worked on with the cosmetics company, including her Radiance fragrance.

The suit further alleges that Britney secretly contacted Elizabeth Arden in 2010, instructing them to send all fragrance royalties straight to her. Later, when "caught red-handed," Jamie Spears acknowledged the 35 percent deal, but then proceeded to "[complain] that the commission was too high and said that Britney did not want to pay it."

Yeah, they're still holding it against her.

Brand Sense says it has received its proper share up until February 2011, when Britney cut a direct licensing deal with Elizabeth Arden. But, the plaintiff insists, its deal with the Spears is still in effect, the new Arden deal is a "fraud" and Brand Sense has suffered at least $10 million in damages and wants its 35-percent cut as long as Elizabeth Arden is making scents with Britney.

Spear's rep has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Britney is back, but can she compete with Gaga?

Her younger rivals' dominance this week may be coincidental -- indeed, Spears also topped the ranking recently with "Hold It Against Me." -- but the chart is a reminder of how crowded the pop diva market has become since Spears rose to fame as a teenager.

There is little doubt her fans will ensure brisk sales -- Spears has sold nearly 70 million albums, according to label Jive Records -- and her music is making headlines again instead of personal meltdowns, a custody battle and rehab stints.

Spears kicked off a string of promotions for the album on Friday with a performance at a Las Vegas nightclub. On Sunday in San Francisco she will record a sold-out mini-concert to be aired on ABC's "Good Morning America" TV show on Tuesday.

Yet after more than 10 years in the music business, Spears, now 29, may have to do more to remain relevant in the era of Gaga, critics say.

"As far as novelty goes, her natural demographic now has an icon as quirky and characterful as Lady Gaga to fascinate and fuss over," said Andy Gill of Britain's Independent newspaper.

"Gaga's music, let's be frank, is not that much better than, or even different to, that on 'Femme Fatale', but she knows the lingering appeal of playing dress up," he added in a two-out-of-five star review of Spears' record.

Adrian Thrills of the Daily Mail added: "The one-time gymslip diva has had to contend with the emergence of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna -- a brash new wave of female performers who have made their mark while seemingly exercising far more creative control."

REVIEWS RANGE WIDELY

Reviews of "Femme Fatale" have been mixed.

Among the most positive was Rolling Stone Magazine, which awarded the album four stars. "Femme Fatale may be Britney's best album," wrote Jody Rosen, describing it as "a party record packed with sex and sadness."

Hitmaking producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin were responsible for seven of the 12 tracks, while the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am was behind "Big Fat Bass" and Sweden's Bloodshy worked on "How I Roll" and "Trip To Your Heart."

Critics singled out "Hold It Against Me," with its dubstep influence, and "Inside Out," as well as "Till the World Ends," which Spin magazine called Spears' "first truly synapse-sizzling single since (2004's) 'Toxic.'"

While there was broad agreement that the electro-pop, ballad-light record would be a dancefloor hit, critics felt Spears was in danger of disappearing as a voice and personality.

Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper awarded the album three stars, giving much credit to the producers for creating music that was "genuinely exciting."

But he reflected negatively on Britney's voice, saying it was "as anonymous as ever, a state of affairs amplified by the lavishing of Auto-Tune."

Spears' has said little about the album that has been two years in the making, although she has called "Femme Fatale," "my best work yet" on a recent radio appearance and stressed its dance roots.

"It's definitely something that you want to work out to," Spears said. "I'm a dancer so it's definitely something I can work with. It's just really fun."

Sighting

Enrique Iglesias: My Ego Couldn't Handle Britney

We're told lawyers and agents for Britney and Enrique were hammering out an agreement for weeks, and the terms were finessed to make Enrique appear to be a co-headliner. We're told both sides agreed to the deal and that's why the announcement was made Tuesday.

But just hours before Britney's camp went public, Enrique was burning up the phone lines and the Internet, engaging various people connected with the tour in lengthy conversations in which he made it clear -- he was, in reality, Britney's opening act and he wanted out.

One source says the deal was actually very favorable to Enrique ... "great terms and great placement." But we're told it all came down to taking the stage before Brit -- too much to handle.

Control Freak

Enrique Iglesias not touring with Britney Spears

Earlier in the day, Spears had said the two would hit the road for a North American trek beginning in June. But her announcement was greeted almost immediately with skepticism.

Iglesias has dates scheduled in Europe up until six days before the planned tour kickoff in Sacramento on June 17, not giving him much time to coordinate logistics for a brand new trek.

It was also not clear who would be opening for whom, and indeed what musical similarities the two artists have.

His spokeswoman issued a statement later in the day confirming that the tour would not happen.

"Unfortunately, Enrique Iglesias and Britney Spears will not be touring together. Despite initial reports based on formal discussions of the possible run, Enrique will continue on his solo tour in support of his new album 'Euphoria.'"

"Enrique has great respect for Britney and is a longtime fan of her work. He is very sorry for the confusion this might have caused to anyone," the statement said.

His spokeswoman declined to comment further. Reaction from the Spears camp was not immediately available. A representative for the tour's promoter, Live Nation, referred queries to Iglesias' people.

Spears, 29, announced the proposed Iglesias trek during an appearance on the TV talk show "Good Morning America" to promote her seventh album, "Femme Fatale," which was released worldwide this week.

The snafu is rare at a time when publicity campaigns for albums, movies, TV shows and other entertainment products are highly structured.

Indeed Spears started her career as a Mouseketeer in Disney's vaunted marketing machine, and rose to fame in the late 1990s as a wholesome teen idol with bubble gum hits like "... Baby One More Time" and "Oops! ... I Did It Again."

After some highly publicized setbacks a few years ago, Spears' handlers mastered a career comeback that saw the singer play sellout shows on a world tour to promote her 2008 release "Circus." Even allegations that she lip-synced her songs could not dampen fans' enthusiasm.

As for the new album, critics were unimpressed. USA Today said Spears' voice "swamped by the fastidious production, is thin and colorless." The Los Angeles Times said the album "never invites more intimate listening."

Is Britney Spears Going on Tour with Enrique Iglesias?

The singer's seventh album, Femme Fatale, is officially out and Spears announced a summer co-headlining tour with Enrique Iglesias during her pre-taped appearance on Good Morning America, which aired Tuesday.

It turns out she was half right.

First, Billboard.com reported that Iglesias had pulled out of Spears's summer tour.

Then a rep for Iglesias said that that despite "initial reports" based on "formal discussions" the pair would possibly tour together, Iglesias is now continuing on his own for his new album Euphoria.

"Enrique has great respect for Britney and is a longtime fan of her work," the rep says. "He is very sorry for the confusion this might have caused to anyone."

Spears's trek is scheduled to kick off on June 17 in Sacramento, Calif., and wraps up Aug. 13 in Toronto. For a full list of tour dates, visit this link.

Is Britney Spears Going on Tour with Enrique Iglesias?

The singer's seventh album, Femme Fatale, is officially out and Spears just announced a summer co-headlining tour with Enrique Iglesias during her pre-taped appearance on Good Morning America, which aired Tuesday.

"I'm going on tour with Enrique Iglesias in June," the singer told Robin Roberts in an interview backstage.

However, after Spears's GMA appearance aired, Billboard.com reported that Iglesias had pulled out of Spears's summer tour, though tour promoter Live Nation declined to comment.

Either way, Spears's trek is scheduled to kick off – with or without Iglesias – on June 17 in Sacramento, Calif., and wraps up Aug. 13 in Toronto. For a full list of tour dates, visit the pop star's official Web site.

In addition to her tour announcement, the pop star also performed several new songs on GMA, including "Till the World Ends" and her hit "Hold It Against Me," during the mini-concert, which was taped at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium over the weekend.

Britney Spears Announces Tour with Enrique Iglesias

The singer's seventh album, Femme Fatale, is officially out and Spears just announced a summer co-headlining tour with Enrique Iglesias during her pre-taped appearance on Good Morning America, which aired Tuesday.

"I'm going on tour with Enrique Iglesias in June," the singer told Robin Roberts in an interview backstage.

Spears also performed several new songs, including "Till the World Ends" and her hit "Hold It Against Me," during the mini-concert, which was taped at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium over the weekend.

Spears and Iglesias's trek kicks off June 17 in Sacramento, Calif., and wraps up Aug. 13 in Toronto. For a full list of tour dates, visit this link.

Can Britney Spears' 'Femme Fatale' seduce us again?

She'll perform three songs in a pre-taped segment on Good Morning AmericaTuesday, she graces the covers of V and Out magazines, and she's scheduled to stop by Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards Saturday.

Early response to the album has been strong: Hold It Against Me, the first single, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, while the second single, Till the World Ends, hit No. 9.

For 29-year-old Spears, whose last album, 2008's Circus, went platinum, the stakes are high. Interest in her remains strong, partly because Spears — who broke out as a precocious teen with 1999's chart-topping ... Baby One More Time and went on to generate as many hits as headlines — is a survivor.

"I think the expectation for her is huge. People really want to hear quality from Britney," says Gillian Sheldon, vice president of programming at Buzzmedia, which owns the celebrity news site Celebuzz.com. Sheldon, who has worked at TMZ.com, has been watching Spears for a decade. "Coming up, she was this fresh-faced, new talent who burst on the scene who had this amazingly bright career, and then she had some troubles. And I think what she did is what some other celebrities really should do: She really stepped back, walked away from the limelight and really focused on herself, and I think people really respond to that."

Those troubles, of course, remain intrinsically a part of Spears' image, which veered from bubbly songbird to wobbly mess with two failed marriages. There's 2007's shaved head. Her 2008 standoff with police in her own home over her sons Sean Preston, now 5, and Jayden James, 4. Her subsequent hospitalizations.

But the Spears of today is older and appears wiser. She remains under the conservatorship of her dad, Jamie Spears, who retains the power to make life decisions for his oldest daughter. And she has almost entirely retreated from the public eye. (Wendy Washington at Spears' label, Jive, and Spears' manager Larry Rudolph both did not respond to phone calls.)

Spears told V magazine she has become more guarded. "I think it's easier to let people in when you're younger, but when I became a mother I wanted more privacy for myself and my children. A life away from my life," she says.

Her peers Lady Gaga and Katy Perry tirelessly hype their new releases. But this time, Spears is mostly letting her music speak for itself. So far, the response has been positive. Rolling Stone awarded her album four out of five stars because, says critic Jody Rosen, "the beats on the record are incredible throughout. All of the songs are very strong. It's one of those rare pop-diva records that consistently, top to bottom, has strong songs."

Rosen calls Spears' disc "pretty musically adventurous" and describes the singer as "a grown dance diva. What struck me with this record is that they're club songs. They're just good pop songs. I'm an unabashed fan of this album."

Can she deliver?

The pressure is on for Spears to deliver another multi-platinum album, which she hasn't had since 2003's In the Zone. Her muted publicity campaign for Femme Fatale presents its own challenges, causing industry watchers to wonder if Spears still has what it takes.

"We really haven't seen her out there the way (we've seen pop stars promoting). You don't see that with Britney," says Ken Baker, E!'s chief news correspondent. "For her to really grow her audience, kids want to see her and reach her and interact with her. There's a wall up around her, and maybe we don't know. There are sealed court documents, and I can only presume that a lot of answers to those questions of why is she under a conservatorship are inside those sealed documents."

Spears' current aversion to the spotlight applies to every facet of her life and is a change from the woman of yesteryear who courted attention, even if it was the wrong sort. These days, Spears makes rare outings with her sons and her low-key boyfriend, talent agent Jason Trawick. She told Ryan Seacrest in a radio interview on March 4 that her life is quiet, mostly focused on working out, watching movies and going on walks.

"We're really normal," she told Seacrest.

The few interviews she does are often performed via e-mail, such as the chat with Out magazine, which enables her to exercise more control over her message. And while she remains paparazzi fodder, Spears finds herself doing the near impossible: living a subdued life.

"I think she's become less tabloid material because she's living a very quiet life right now. Which is good. She's focusing on being a mom, on working," says Bonnie Fuller, editor of HollywoodLife.com.

Still a big draw

Despite her ups and downs, Spears has managed to remain relevant in the ever-shifting musical and celebrity landscape. While she has tried to keep a low profile in the past year, Spears takes the No. 1 spot cumulatively on USA TODAY's Celebrity Heat Index, which measures media exposure, since its inception in January 2007. Last fall, she appeared in a Glee episode dedicated to her music. Her last tour, 2009's extravagant and elaborate Circus, was a sell-out. Anticipation remains high for her new release, and fan interest in her remains rabid.

"It's amazing. If I go on Twitter and I mention something about Britney," says Baker. "How many artists have the ability to say they are going to make an announcement tomorrow and have the world completely drooling? She still has that power. She's got to deliver."

Chances are good that she will. Even at the height of her personal turmoil, Spears still managed to move 994,000 units of 2007's Blackout.

Her secret? A fierce professionalism when she's in the studio, say those who have worked with Spears. Producer Jim Beanz, who worked on Spears' Blackout and Circus albums, says that in the studio, Spears is in total control.

"She's a super-perfectionist. If she has to do it over and over again, as long as she's pleased and you're pleased, she's in there until it's done. She's very focused and driven," he says. "She knows what she likes. She's determined and she knows what she wants to do. That's why she is who she is."

Unlike her formerly super-sexed image, Spears is actually shy and reserved.

"She wasn't too outgoing. She wasn't super talkative. She was there to work. We didn't get too personal or buddy-buddy," says D-Roc of the Ying Yang Twins, who recorded the song (I Got That) Boom Boom from In the Zone with Spears: "She's a little quiet. I'm a very outgoing person. She keeps to herself. At that caliber of her career, you don't want to let too many people in."

Even kept at a distance, some of Spears' fans remain loyal to her. "I've stuck with her over the years because of her overall qualities: musical giftedness, beautiful voice, and, to me, her desire to build a meaningful life. Her musical future is unlimited," wrote 60-something musician Ed Smith, from Medford Lakes, N.J., via e-mail.

Yes, but Spears re-enters a dance floor that's become ever more crowded, thanks to such hitmakers and chart-toppers as Perry, Ke$ha, Gaga and Rihanna. Does Spears still matter?

Sure, says E!'s Baker.

"Britney is not only a contemporary performer, she is a legacy performer. If she wanted to be like Celine Dion and play Caesars every night, she could sell out a show every time. Lady Gaga and Katy Perry are contemporary acts. They've only been on the scene a short time. I'm not saying Britney is a more gifted singer or dancer. She's just proved over a long period of time that she can bring it," he says.

Rolling Stone music critic Jody Rosen calls Spears "a pioneer of a lot of the sounds we're hearing. ... American pop radio right now is really dominated by European club sounds, songs that are less hip-hop and more Euro dance music and techno. In that sense she's leading the way. In terms of where she fits in the marketplace, it sort of remains to be seen. ... She's obviously iconic."

"It's just like ice cream," says Gillian Sheldon, vice president of programming at Buzzmedia. "You may have a favorite flavor of ice cream, but you also enjoy chocolate and vanilla. The world is big enough for several different pop divas."

Britney Spears Continues Femme Fatale Fireworks With San Francisco Show

Just days after the comeback queen surprised fans with two shows at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Spears dazzled fans with a performance in San Francisco.

So, what did the Femme Fatale do this time?

Writhing around the stage at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for Good Morning America taping, Spears kicked off the show in a skintight bodysuit to perform "Hold it Against Me," according to ABC.com. As she did for the Vegas shows, she also performed "Big Fat Bass" and "'Til the World Ends" and included some pyrotechnics as well.

"I love my music," Spears told fans upon finishing her last song. "It's my world. It's my everything."

The concert is scheduled to air on GMA Tuesday, which is the same day Femme Fatale drops.

Britney Spears Hits Sin City for Surprise Performances

The Femme Fatale headed to Las Vegas last night for two surprise shows at the Palms.

The concert wasn't even announced until yesterday by Brit-Brit herself...

"Looks like my little secret isnt a secret anymore. Whos coming to watch me take the stage TONIGHT at @RainLasVegas at @PalmsLasVegas?" Brit tweeted yesterday.

The pop star first performed a private show at 8 p.m., followed by a midnight performance open to the public.

Brit performed three songs at Rain nightclub for more than 1,000 fans who paid $60 a ticket to see her.

On the set list? Her first single off Femme Fatale "Hold It Against Me," as well as "Till the World Ends" and "Big Fat Bass".

Pauly D from Jersey Shore deejayed before her shows. MTV cameras were filming the shows for a special to coincide with her album's release on Tuesday.

"They're doing a behind-the-scenes documentary," a source tells me.

Brit has quite a history with the Palms and MTV: She did a surprise performance at the hotel in 2003 and bombed during her first performance post-meltdown at the 2007 VMAs, which were held at the Palms.

Luckily, her performance last night seemed to be a hit!

Britney Spears -- Hits the Stage in Las Vegas

Brit performed three songs during the mini-concert at Rain nightclub in the Palms Casino & Resort -- "Hold It Against Me," "Big Fat Bass" and "Till the World Ends." During "Bass," Brit can be seen climbing up and down various props and sitting down on boxes -- not a lot of choreography going on here.

Draw your own conclusions.

Britney Spears Wows the Crowd in Las Vegas

The pop starlet, 29, took to the Palms Casino Resort's Rain Nightclub stage in Las Vegas Friday night, previewing three of her new songs from her upcoming Femme Fatale album, which will hit shelves on Tuesday.

During a 45-minute set that included three short breaks for costume and stage changes – during which Jersey Shore's Pauly D, resident DJ for the Palms, kept the crowd of about 1,500 warmed up – Spears performed "Hold It Against Me," "Big Fat Bass" and "Till The World Ends."

Spears did little talking to the crowd during the mini concert, asking only, "What's up, Vegas? How you guys feeling? You guys having a good night?"

The performance was being filmed for an MTV special, to air next week in conjunction with the release of the album.

In her first public performance since her successful Circus tour in 2009, Spears appeared on stage in front of a prop electric chair while singing "Hold It Against Me." With her boyfriend, Jason Trawick, and father, Jamie Spears, looking on from a VIP area, she later appeared inside an oversized boombox during the "Big Fat Bass" number, outfitted in a tight black outfit and policeman's cap.

To wrap up the show, Spears sang "Till The World Ends," dressed in a one-piece brassiere with her breasts highlighted by blinking red lights. Moving to the tune beside her backup dancers, Spears walked up to an elevated steel beam, dancing to the song before fireworks, then Spears raised her arms to signify the end of the performance.

Britney Spears's Secret Is Out: She'll Perform in Vegas Tonight

Britney Spears is headed to Las Vegas Friday to perform a mini concert at Palms Casino Resort's Rain Nightclub, which will be filmed for an upcoming MTV special.

Spears, 29, took to Twitter Friday morning to confirm the rumors that she'll indeed be onstage in Sin City.

"Looks like my little secret isn't a secret anymore," Spears Tweeted, before asking who of her more than 7 million Twitter followers will be attending. "You're all invited. Be there or be square bitch!"

Hotel and nightclub executives have been tightlipped about what the show will entail, but PEOPLE has learned that Spears will take to the stage twice Friday – once at 8 p.m. in a ticketed event, then again at midnight for a performance that will be open to the public.

The appearance in Sin City comes just days before the release of Spear's new studio album, Femme Fatale, which will debut Tuesday.

BRITNEY SPEARS PERFORMANCE ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE (3/29)

Wake Up and Go to Bed with Britney on ABC Britney Spears comes to ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" for an exclusive late-night performance, TUESDAY, MARCH 29 at MIDNIGHT, to coincide with the release of her album "Femme Fatale," out the same day.

Only ABC offers Britney fans an exclusive chance to start their day with a performance on "Good Morning America" Tuesday morning, and keeps the momentum going with an energetic late-night finale on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" outdoor stage the same night.

Spears perform hits from her seventh studio album, "Femme Fatale," including "Till the World Ends" and "Hold It Against Me."

Tuesday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" also welcomes appearances by "Jackass 3D" star Johnny Knoxville and the first eliminated contestant from "Dancing with the Stars."

Brit's 'Femme Fatale': Plenty fun but nothing fresh

With seventh studio album Femme Fatale (* * * out of four), attention finally may settle on Brit's respectable, if not extraordinary, abilities as a pop artist.

Shunning most media and hidden from paparazzi, Spears now surfaces as a sleekly manufactured musical brand, with its new sugary, addictive product line rolled out one mouth-watering bonbon at a time through leaks and official singles.

The teasing buildup toward Tuesday's release of Femme Fatale, now streaming on AOL, isn't a matter of hype over value. Spears delivers the goods. That is to say, she and her posse of skilled producers, particularly Max Martin and Dr. Luke, have crafted a trendy, infectious and engaging ballad-free batch of electro-pop tunes.

Spears isn't spearheading a beat revolution here. None of the 12 songs (16 on the deluxe edition) are groundbreaking or challenging. This is synthetic, assembly-line dance music that pulls the strongest elements from 2007's Blackout and 2008's Circus.

Spears' appeal can be baffling. Her voice, swamped by the fastidious production, is thin and colorless.

Still, her babyish coo and seductive breathiness prove appealing on such pop-tastic thumpers as Hold It Against Me and Inside Out.

Femme's flaws, none fatal, crop up in reheated Eurotrash beats, scattered inane lyrics and bombs like the annoyingly dumb Big Fat Bass and annoyingly syrupy Seal It With a Kiss. Mostly, Femme unfurls a buzzy, muscular disco party likely to give Lady Gaga's upcoming disc some noisy competition this summer.

What it's not: a substantial contribution to pop culture. Essentially built by committee, Femme Fatale may light a fire under Rihanna and Katy Perry, but it won't burn eternally in pop's memory.

A phenomenon without phenomenal talent, Spears has beguiled and bewildered the planet since 1999, drawing persistent comparisons to Madonna, dance-pop's original femme fatale. Spears feels like a creation (check out her mechanical, lethargic delivery in the Hold It Against Me video).

The Material Girl is a self-creation. Of course, on the dance floor, it's immaterial.

Download:Inside Out, Till the World Ends, Criminal, Hold It Against Me

Change of venue for Britney Spears San Francisco performance for ABC's GMA (airs 3/29)

WHEN: Spears' performance will be taped on Sunday, March 27 at noon PT to air Tuesday, March 29 on "GMA" ("GMA" airs 7:00-9:00 a.m., ET/PT)

WHERE: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

AUDIENCE: Due to limited capacity, this will be a ticketed event. Please visit www.abcnews.com/gma after Noon ET/ 9:00 a.m., PT tomorrow for ticket information. You MUST show your printed Ticketmaster receipt to enter the auditorium. All seating is General Admission and doors will open to the public at 10:30 a.m., PT.

Review: Britney Spears ' Femme Fatale' shows spark

Even when Britney Spears was in the midst of her Charlie Sheen-esque breakdown, she was putting out grooves to wear out the dance floor; 2007's "Blackout" is the best album she ever made, though the drama of that time overshadowed it.

Since then, she's continued to pump out taut jams that have kept her musically relevant, even if she's turned into sort of a Howard Hughes in private. The larger-than-life persona that morphed from jailbait to sex kitten to wild child has been rendered bland, perhaps the most dangerous thing that can happen to a pop star. The mother of two, whose personal and financial affairs are controlled by her father, is rarely heard from, and when she is, every move seems to be calculated by an army of handlers instead of determined by her own will: Any edge or personality she demonstrated seems to have been permanently dulled.

Thankfully, there is one place where she still shows her spark — in her music. On "Femme Fatale," the follow-up to 2008's "Circus," Spears — with plenty of help from megaproducers like Dr. Luke and will.i.am, and longtime collaborator Max Martin — shows that she can still give the Lady Gagas and Rihannas of the pop world a serious challenge on the dance floor.

"Femme Fatale" is a nonstop party, starting off with a fun flourish with the poppy "Till the World Ends" and winding down with the dark, downbeat "Criminal." There's nothing especially original on the tracks in between, but Spears' vocals give already catchy tracks even more appeal. While she's never been on a par with Beyonce or even Gaga, her voice, though thin and occasionally nasally, does have a pouty charm. On the throbbing "Inside Out," she sounds like a sexy cougar; "Trip to Your Heart," with its electronic synths, has a dreamy disco feel.

The driving "Hold It Against Me" is one of the album's better tracks, though it suffered from the nonsensical, product-placement video that accompanies it. In it, Spears looks listless and off her game, and it's a reminder that she's not the Brit who wowed us just a few years ago.

But when you block out the visuals and focus on the songs, Spears once again sizzles, and her flame burns as bright as ever.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Some of the best songs on "Femme Fatale" are on the deluxe disc: "Up N' Down" is a naughty teaser that should be the 2011 theme song for pole dancers everywhere.

Britney's Backup Dancers -- Don't Feed Her Drugs!

TMZ has obtained a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that dancers were required to sign before working on her latest music video. It specifically states, "Contractor acknowledges that it is essential that [Britney] not be exposed to any alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances."

The NDA even goes on to say that the dancers can be subjected to drug testing at any time and can be fired for failing a test or even refusing to take one.

With Britney comes much responsibility.

GMA EXCLUSIVE: BRITNEY SPEARS PERFORMANCE TO AIR MARCH 29

This is believed to be the first time Brit and K-Fed have been photographed together since they split back in 2006.

GMA EXCLUSIVE: BRITNEY SPEARS PERFORMANCE TO AIR MARCH 29

Taping Performance in Historic Castro District on Sunday, March 27

WHO/WHAT: In a "Good Morning America" exclusive, Britney Spears will perform songs on "Good Morning America" to coincide with the release of her highly-anticipated album, "Femme Fatale."

WHEN: Spears' performance will be taped on Sunday, March 27 at 12:00 noon, PT

WHERE: San Francisco's Historic Castro District

AUDIENCE: Audience will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The audience area will open at 9:00 a.m., PT; those arriving earlier will be turned away: no lining up will be permitted. PLEASE NOTE: There will NOT be wrist bands or tickets of any kind being issued, nor will they be necessary to attend. Do not accept wrist bands from any media outlet.

Britney Spears Get Sexy in Black & White - and Confesses Shoe Envy!

Britney Spears Talks Sex, Plastic Surgery and Gay Marriage

And let me tell ya, it's a good thing. Read on to find out what Brit told the gay magazine about sex, plastic surgery, gay marriage and so much more...

Now 29 years old and the mother of two boys, Spears says her mom taught her about the birds and the bees when she was 12 years old. "I was confused and disgusted," she admits.

Her idea of hell is being on a diet, she'll probably consider plastic surgery "when it's time to pull and tuck" and if she wasn't a singer, she might have become...an attorney?!

"I was in seventh grade and it was career day and I remember thinking that I wanted to be an entertainment lawyer," Spears said. "I always knew I would be in this business somehow. I think this path worked out way better."

Spears isn't about to switch teams. Asked if there are any women who could make her think twice about being straight, Spears said, "I only have eyes for men."

If one of her sons turned out to be gay, no problem. "I love my boys no matter what.," she said.

And she said of gay marriage, "I think everyone should be treated equally."

Rock on, Britney.

Britney's comeback is moving up in the 'World'

Like lead single Hold It Against Me, World leaked online Thursday, prompting a digital stampede and Friday's rush release by label Jive. Bits of Femme tracks Inside Out, Criminal, (Drop Dead) Beautiful and Big Fat Bass have also found their way to cyberspace in recent days, fueling the frenzy (and suspicion that the trickled tunes are part of a carefully crafted rollout).

All signs suggest Lady Gaga won't be the only multiplatinum blonde bestriding charts and bewitching critics this year. "Watch me move," Britney commands on World, a sleek and impossibly catchy slab of dance-pop written by party animal Ke$ha. Producer Dr. Luke's unmistakable beats and textures span this World, but Brit holds her own with confident, kittenish vocals about "dancing till the world ends."

This isn't U2's Until the End of the World. It's the non-thinking fan's all-access pass to mirror-ball escapism. And it's another canny step forward by a downgraded icon angling to reclaim her pop-princess tiara.

Britney Spears Calls New Album Her "Best Work Yet"

"I think it's my best work yet," she said of her upcoming album Femme Fatale when she swung by Ryan Seacrest's radio show this morning. "I actually listened to it on the way over here. It's definitely something that you want to work out to. It's definitely upbeat."

The disc, which drops March 29, features the new sure-to-be-a-hit single "'Til the World Ends" and it's, by far, Brit's favorite track.

"It's just good energy," she says of the tune cowritten by Ke$ha. "I'm a vibe person, I love 'good mood' songs and if it puts me in a good mood, it clicks for me."

Britney also apparently clicked pretty well with will.i.am, who worked on part of the album with the pop star.

"Oh my God, he's amazing!" she exclaimed. "He's so much fun and he's funny and he's a charm. I love him, he's great."

And last, but certainly not least, when the subject of a possible tour came up, Britney and her manager Larry Rudolph hinted at one beginning "early summer."

Hmmm, any chance we could just skip over spring?

Britney Spears Raves About Jason Trawick's 'Ripped Abs'

"We're really normal," Spears, 29, told Ryan Seacrest Friday on his KIIS-FM morning show. "We just like to watch movies. We work out a lot. We love to work out. We do stuff together like that. We take walks."

Spears, whose new album, Femme Fatale, will come out March 29, gushes that her agent beau's abs are "definitely ripped." But according to Seacrest, who has known Trawick for a long time, this muscular physique is new.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I knew [Jason] when he was hairy and pudgy," Seacrest told Spears, asking too if she was the influence behind Trawick's shaping up. "But now he's fit and he's got zero percent body fat."

Spears, who sounded embarrassed by the comments, giggled, then stood up for her man. "No," she said, "he wasn't pudgy."

As for the Spears's own workout routine, she's just as focused as Trawick.

"I have a trainer," she said. "I'm on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and we do a lot of cardio and running. He kicks my butt. You pay to hate your trainer. It's so odd."

All of Spears's hard work may come in handy soon. According to her manager Larry Rudolph, she plans to go on tour in "early summer."

Britney single 'leaks'

Tracks leaking online has long been a problem for musicians seeking to control the release of their records, although Spears quickly took to Twitter to promote the “formal premiere” of the track on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show on Friday.

Her record label also brought forward the single’s digital release, making it available on iTunes on Friday, several days earlier than originally planned.

Britney has announced the full track listing for Femme Fatale, which goes on sale on March 29 and will test the public’s appetite for the latest Spears comeback.

The new album will feature 12 tracks, with four extra songs available on the deluxe edition.

“I think Femme Fatale speaks for itself ... I wanted to make a fierce dance record where each song makes you want to get up and move,” Spears said.

Early reaction to Till the World Ends, written by fellow popster Ke$ha and produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, suggests that the 29-year-old’s rollercoaster career is on the up again.

“Like its predecessor ‘Hold It Against Me’, Spears’s main intention with her new single seems to be keeping the dance floor pulsating with sweaty bodies,” wrote Gerrick D. Kennedy on the L.A. Times music blog “Pop & Hiss.”

“And we don’t blame her, as the catchy song does make you want to grab some glow sticks and hit the clubs.”

Music channel MTV opined: “Britney Spears’ new single ... sounds poised to be a club smash.”

The electro-pop song’s message is predictably simple, summed up in the refrain: “Keep on dancin’ till the world ends.”

And while critics agree that it could be the work of any number of pop stars, some say Spears, whose torrid personal life has often overshadowed her musical success, has the confidence and “breathy” vocals to pull it off.

The first track from the album, “Hold It Against Me,” debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January, breaking digital download records on the way.

Britney Spears: "The Bitch Is Back and Better Than Ever"

"The bitch is back and better than ever," the pop princess informs the public at large in a new cover story for V magazine.

"I wanted to make a fierce dance record where each song makes you want to get up and move your body in a different way," Spears explains. "That's what I want from the music I listen to."

Hence all the Black Eyed Peas and M.I.A. on her iPod.

"This record," she continues, "is for the clubs, or something you play before you go out at night. It's definitely my edgiest and most mature sound yet."

Allowing that Femme Fatale is both an "evolution" and a "revolution," Spears says the album "expresses where I am today as a woman and is an evolution of who I am."

A "femme fatale" is a woman "who is sexy and strong, dangerous and mysterious, cool and confident."

Sounds like Britney, bitch. (Video)

Britney's Songwriter Sues Over 'Hold It Against Me'

In a federal lawsuit filed today, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald says The Bellamy Brothers launched a "smear campaign" by claiming Brit's hit -- co-penned by Gottwald -- was just a knockoff of their 1979 song ... "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?"

Gottwald also claims the Brothers' attack was "a publicity stunt aimed to increase their record sales ... and to combat their dwindling relevance." Ouch.

In addition to damages for defamation ... Gottwald wants a court order stating once and for all Britney's song has nothing to do with the BB's song.

The Bellamy Bros. rep didn't immediately return a call for comment.

Cover Return

Britney Spears -- The Financial Explosion

TMZ has obtained legal documents in the conservatorship case, showing that in December 2008, the assets controlled by Britney's conservators totaled $2,826,362.68.

Now get this ...TMZ has learned ... exactly one year later -- in December, 2009 -- the assets controlled by the conservators swelled to $27,500,000 ... almost a 10 fold increase in 1 year.

Most of the gains came from Britney's wildly successful Circus Tour.

As for the assets at the close of 2008, there's an interesting breakdown. Britney's "furniture and equipment" was valued at $1,551,026. Her jewelry, furs and antiques totaled $264,988.

Now the figures are deceiving. The conservators only control a portion of Britney's total estate. She has a lot of money and property in various trusts and other business entitites, which the conservators do not control.

Katy Perry vs. Britney Spears: Is There Really a Feud?

The "Teenage Dream" singer is firing back at reports claiming she was dissing the "Hold It Against Me" hitmaker for excessive product placement in her music videos.

Here's how this supposed spat got started.

Last week, Perry responded to a query from indie pop darling Marina & The Diamonds: "As a fan, do you prefer product placement if it means bigger budget vid?"

Perry responded: "do it w/style & grace...Not so in ur face like some. U hv to get creative w/it. Some artists don't care tho, & u can tell."

Various gossip bloggers interpreted that post as a knock on Britney, whose "Hold It Against Me" video reportedly netted her $500,000 in product-placement fees. And that prompting a series of tart replies from Perry correcting the record.

"Dear tabloid media aka FILTH: pls note I expressed an overall feeling bout product placement, their roles in vids & the art of them being. . .complimenting or sticking out," she tweeted. "Most, if not ALL popsters welcome deals w/products 2 offset costs of big budget vids in these recessional music industry times.

"I've used them in my vids before & am happy 2b able 2 make a better vid because of. Once AGAIN, stop pitting artists against artist for ur sensational satisfaction & stick to what ur best @: lying, gossiping, exaggerating & overall lending a hand 2 the deterioration of a generation."

Now that's some "Fireworks." No response yet from Spears.

Hear a Teaser of Britney Spears's New Song, 'I Wanna Go'

Only last week, Britney Spears debuted the new music video for her single "Hold it Against Me." Now a snippet from another new song from her upcoming album, Femme Fatale (to be released March 29), has hit the Web.

In a 20-second clip of the song "I Wanna Go," Spears sings along to the fast dance beats, while a whistle helps add to the fun.

Listen here, and tell us what you think.

Britney Spears Scores Six-Figures Off Music Video

Sources connected to Britney's video tell TMZ ... Spears netted a cool $500,000 for various product placements in her "Hold It Against Me" video.

We're told the dating site Plentyoffish.com, one of several companies featured in the vid, forked over six figures to feature their site on Brit's computer during the vid and saw immediate results ... a 20% spike in traffic the day after the video premiered.

Britney facing legal action over single

American country rock duo the Bellamy Brothers - comprised of David and Howard Bellamy - claim the song is "too close" to their 1979 ballad If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?

David Bellamy has previously insisted they won't be taking Spears to court, but he admits he and his brother are now reconsidering their options and are in talks with lawyers over plagiarism claims.

He says, "We will without doubt take the appropriate legal action if our attorneys agree we've been ripped off. Surely there is more original stuff out there to do rather than rehash old titles."

A spokesperson for Spears says, "If this is now a legal matter then I am afraid we would have nothing to say until our lawyers have been alerted."

Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" Video Is Here!

The still-chugging pop sensation released her video for "Hold It Against Me" tonight, and it's standard Spears: black leather, a couple of skimpy outfits and one princess gown to hammer home the innocent-naughty dichotomy that is the theme of pretty much all of her songs; backup dancers who can't get enough of her and a futuristic, space-agey theme.

She also threw in a high-heeled fight scene against herself, snippets of an old Britney video and plenty of hair-whipping, perhaps figuring it worked for Willow Smith!

Perhaps not so weirdly these days, all the eye candy came with random close-ups of her signature fragrance, as well as Sony and Makeup for Ever products and the website PlentyOf Fish.com. (Oh yeah, Brit does some online dating in the video, too.) We were waiting for her to start chugging a Pepsi or, in keeping with the song's message, whip out a pack of Trojans.

But overall: Vintage sexed-up Britney, who just wants to be taken seriously as a woman, dammit. And you can't hold that against her, no matter how much she may want you to.

Spears voted ultimate gay icon

The Toxic hitmaker saw off competition from U.S. President Barack Obama and veteran performer Cher to take 31 per cent of the vote in the Orange County Equality Project’s poll to find the quintessential gay icon.

Spears’ idol Madonna came second with 25 per cent of the vote, but a poll spokesperson insists it was a close call between the two superstars.

The Equality Project’s Joel Waddell says, “When Madonna puts out a new album, she will be on top again. Madonna is the greatest icon the gay community has ever had.”

Lady Gaga was voted in third with 22 per cent, while 12 per cent of respondents picked Katy Perry.

Spears eyeing comedy role

The Toxic hitmaker has already shown her comedy chops in guest appearances on hit TV series How I Met Your Mother, Will and Grace, and Glee, and the singer admits she's now setting her sights on working with the directors behind The Hangover and Knocked Up.

In a question and answer session with fans on her Twitter.com blog, she writes, "I love to act and would love to be in a Todd Philips (sic) or Judd Apatow movie."

Keri Hilson Talks Spears, Tarantino and (of Course) Being on Glee!

Those were the hot topics during our exclusive chat with sexy singer-songwriter Keri Hilson. We sat down with the 28-year-old R&B star when she stopped by E! to shoot a guest spot on Fashion Police (airing tonight at 10:30 p.m.).

So will we be seeing her Gleek out on the hit Fox show? And why is she talking about kicking ass in a Taratino film?

Let's start with the most important question of all: do you want to be on Glee?

I would absolutely love to do Glee or for them to, like you know, do something on me, do one of my covers. "Pretty Girl Rock" maybe. I think it'd be really awesome. They're very talented kids.

You wrote a couple songs for Britney Spears' Blackout. Did you work with her on her upcoming album?

No, I was busy, but I would've loved to! I got the call to write for her again. Yeah, I'm sad... I want to see if we can top "Gimme More."

And you recently sang for Quentin Tarantino at the Critics' Choice Awards. Are you a big fan of his?

I am! I mean, who isn't? Think of like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...his work is just incredible. He's like, he's a legend already.

What's your favorite film of his?

Kill Bill definitely... I like seeing women portrayed in like a very strong light. I love seeing that. So like Uma Thurman and everybody else were incredible.

Maybe you can do some ass kicking yourself in one of his films...

I would! I'm pretty athletic. I'm very athletic actually, so I would love to play like a femme fatale.

That's the title of Britney's new album, Femme Fatale!

Is it? I didn't know that! [Laughs] Hilarious. Maybe I should write for it. That's a good sign.

Valentine's Day is coming up, do you have any special plans?

I'm working. I'm doing Jimmy Kimmel, right? Isn't that the day of Jimmy Kimmel? And Rap-Up magazine's cover... So I'm busy Valentine's Day.

So are you dating anyone?

Not at the moment... [I'm] single, but not ready to mingle [Laughs].

Don't Hold Your Breath for Britney Spears Grammy Performance

Taking to Twitter today to answer dozens of fan questions, Britney Spears took the opportunity to clear the air about whether we will see her at the Grammys this weekend.

Take it away, Brit...

"Will you YOURSELF give us an answer about the Grammy rumor?" asked Spears fan @themrspears. "I won't be there and was never planning on going," she tweeted back.

Another fan asked when we could expect to see Britney perform again and start promoting the new album. "I'm doing a lot of promo. There will be some major announcements in the next few days," she replied.

Britney's video for the lead single "Hold It Against Me" off her new Femme Fatale album will premiere next Thursday on MTV before Jersey Shore. Femme Fatale will drop March 29.

Although Britney isn't going Grammy, we learned a few other people will be in the house Staples Center.

Eva Longoria announced via Twitter this morning that she will be introducing the Justin Bieber- Usher combo.

"Just found out that i'm presenting @justinbieber and @usherRaymondIV performance at @thegrammys on Sunday! i'm so excited!"

Meanwhile, show producers announced a new batch of performers, including Bob Dylan playing with the Grammy-nominated Mumford & Sons and the Avett Brothers, and Dr. Dre, making his first live TV performance in more than a decade, dueting with Eminem.

Spears teams up with will.i.am

The Toxic hitmaker took to her Twitter.com page on Tuesday to announce the joint project, which will reportedly be included on her forthcoming Femme Fatale release.

In a post to fans on her official page, the singer writes, "In the studio with @iamwill... you guys are gonna love this one."

Spears' seventh studio album is due to hit shelves next month, but reports suggest the pop star is still recording tracks for it.

And the Title of Britney Spears' New Album Is...

Careful observation of the quick cuts in the brief clip shows what appears to be Britney in a Cinderella-worthy ball gown singing before a sea of TV monitors. A worded message at the end of the clip reads: "13 Days to Go."

"Hold It Against Me" is the pop star's first single since 2009. The track features hard-driving verses and an airy chorus to tell the story of a romantic encounter she can't resist, no matter the consequences.

As she sings: "If I feel my heart was beating loud/If we could escape the crowd some how/If I said I want your body now/Would you hold it against me."

The number is produced by Spears's longtime collaborators Max Martin and Dr. Luke and is the official lead single from her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale, due in March from Jive Records.

"It's way more edgy than the last album," songwriter Claude Kelly, who composed several tracks for the album, recently told PEOPLE. He added that Spears, 29, is returning to the grittier sounds of 2007's Blackout. "[It's] more in the vein of the album before," he says.

And the Title of Britney Spears' New Album Is...

Then again, not every pop star is Britney Spears.

Just weeks after releasing her smash single, "Hold It Against Me," the 29-year-old is sharing with the world that her next collection of songs will be titled…

Femme Fatale!

"I've poured my heart and soul into this album over the last 2 years. I've put everything I have into it," tweeted Britney, who also posted a pic of the cover art as well.

"This album is for you, my fans, who have always supported me and have stuck by me every step of the way! I love you all!" she added.

While no official release date has been announced for her seventh studio album, Brit did seem to hint at it with this simple tweet.

Britney rep: No dance double used

Spears' new track has proved a hit around the world, and sold a record amount of downloads for a female artist when it debuted on America's Billboard Hot 100 last month.

The singer teamed up with Jonas Akerlund, the man behind Lady Gaga's Telephone promo, to create a fitting video, but reports suggested the Swedish director was disappointed by Spears' lack of practise and brought in a dancer to take over the star's steps.

A rep for the Toxic hitmaker has quickly denounced the claims, insisting the singer worked hard for weeks before the shoot to perfect her moves.

The spokesperson says, "The accusations could not be further from the truth. Britney worked extremely hard on this video and rehearsed for six weeks prior to shooting. Fans will immediately see how inaccurate these claims are once they see the video."

And Akerlund has backed up the denial - revealing he has never seen a star work harder than Spears.

He adds, "(Britney's) been great throughout the entire process. At the end of the shoot I got the warmest hug I ever got from an artist, and I look forward to hugging her again very soon! I've been around long enough to know when an artist gives it their all, and to me it doesn't get better than this.

"This video is gonna be f----ing awsome. It's all Britney."

Additional Heat

Britney Spears Walks Down the Aisle - for a Friend's Wedding!

She and boyfriend Jason Trawick flew in Thursday to partake in the weekend wedding festivities of her assistant and close friend Brett Miller.

They bunked down in an oceanfront room at the Newport Beachside Hotel where members and friends of the wedding party were staying, a source tells PEOPLE, but she didn't make it to the kickoff event.

"During Thursday night's rehearsal dinner, Britney ditched the reception and ordered room service for herself, Jason and her bodyguard," the source tells PEOPLE. "They had spaghetti bolognese, turkey burgers, chicken noodle soup, a fruit plate and one turkey sandwich."

Leaving her parents and friends at the Sunny Isles hotel Friday, Spears and Trawick moved into the Frank Sinatra Suite at the Fontainebleau in Miami beach because the Newport hotel's "pool wasn't private" enough.

Their new digs were reportedly a $35 million penthouse that rents for $15,000 a night, is four bedrooms, has a kitchen, whirlpool, piano and a large balcony overlooking the ocean.

After a few hours shopping, Spears and Trawick headed back to the Newport for another wedding party. "At one point, during the early evening Jason took Britney's hand and twirled her to a cool Frank Sinatra sound," the source tells PEOPLE. "It was cute and romantic."

The couple left the party after Spears she noticed that a group of kids spotted her in the ladies room, and headed for the Fontainebleau club LIV.

"Britney and Jason were dancing and laughing and having a great time at LIV," another source tells PEOPLE. "He was very sweet and affectionate with her. And she got very excited when her favorite songs came on."

Miller's wedding took place Saturday at Miami's Spanish Monastery where she married her sweetheart, Frank Lionetti.

Britney Spears album confirmed for March 15 release

Also confirmed are various producers and songwriters who worked on the album, which still does not have a title. In addition to Dr. Luke and Max Martin -- who together helmed lead single "Hold It Against Me" and are the album's co-executive producers -- Rodney Jerkins, R&B singer Avant, Stargate, Fraser T. Smith and Bloodshy are listed as collaborators.

Other details mentioned on the sales-solicitation sheet include a description of Britney's highly-anticipated music video for "Hold It Against Me," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week.

The one-sheet sums up the video as "a sexy, edgy dance piece directed by Jonas Akerlund and showing Britney at peak form and ability."

Spears seventh studio album, the follow-up to 2008's "Circus," will be available in both standard and deluxe versions, according to the sheet, with the latter including additional liner booklet pages and three or four extra tracks.

Fans can also expect "a major TV event to launch the album," worldwide online contests and a "LGBT/lifestyle campaign" to market it to fans.

Spears' manager, Adam Leber, recently spilled a few details involving her photo shoot for the album via Twitter, describing the shoot as "pure glam." Fans should be on high alert for another leak, as Leber added, "Photos are nothing less than spectacular. We'll share some soon."

Britney Spears Returning to 'Edgy' Sound on New Album

"It's way more edgy than the last album," songwriter Claude Kelly, who composed several tracks for the as-yet-untitled album, tells PEOPLE at a New York NARAS reception. He adds that Spears, 29, is returning to the grittier sounds of 2007's Blackout. "[It's] more in the vein of the album before," he says.

Though Kelly admits he's not completely sure what the "final product is going to be," he does say, "the last album [2008's Circus] was more clean pop. [Its purpose] was to reintroduce Britney to the world as the pop princess."

As the first single also indicates, Spears, who Tweeted from her "Hold It Against Me" video shoot this weekend, has new tunes are definitely club-worthy.

"She's always ready," Kelly says. "Dr. Luke and Max Martin are running the show, and it's all about the beats. It has a heavier bass line and it's much harder, more urgent, more club. She's ready again!"

Britney Spears' Boyfriend Promoted Back Up to Agent

The duo was professionally paired before, but decided to focus solely on their romance last May when they amicably cut all business ties. In fact, it was so amicable a parting that their relationship didn't skip a beat.

There was no word on why they scaled back their professional relationship then, just as there's no official word on why now seems the right time to ramp it back up—though Spears' professional life has hit a stride of late, thanks to the success of her latest single, "Hold It Against Me."

Regardless, sources confirm to E! News that Brit-Brit is not only fully back with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, but that Trawick is indeed part of her team. Aw, like Cheetos and Mountain Dew, there's just no keeping these two apart.

Britney Spears debuts at No. 1 on singles chart

Spears previously came in at No. 1 with "3" in 2009. The only other act with multiple No. 1 starts is Mariah Carey with "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day" in 1995 and "Honey" in 1997.

"Hold It Against Me" is Spears' fourth No. 1 on the Hot 100. Prior to "3," she reigned with her debut single "...Baby One More Time" (1999) and "Womanizer" (2008). The new track sold 411,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It marks the highest first-week tally for a lead female artist, besting the 325,000 downloads sold by Taylor Swift's "Today Was a Fairytale" in February 2010.

Two other tracks stormed the upper reaches of the Hot 100. "What the Hell," the first single from Avril Lavigne's fourth album, "Goodbye Lullaby," due March 8, opened at No. 13.

At No. 23, Kanye West and Jay-Z debuted with "H*A*M.," the first single from the superstar pair's upcoming collaborative album, "Watch the Throne."

Directly below "Hold It Against Me," three titles dipped one notch each: Bruno Mars' "Grenade" (No. 2), Katy Perry's "Firework" (No. 3) and Rihanna's "What's My Name?" (No. 4).

Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" rose two to No. 5; Enrique Iglesias' "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" held at No. 6; and Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" fell three to No. 7.

Pink fell three to No. 8 with "Raise Your Glass," the Black Eyed Peas' "The Time (Dirty Bit)" and Mars' "Just the Way You Are" each slipped one place, to Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.

The top 10 singles on iTunes - week ending Jan. 17, 2010

Britney Spears' latest song soars onto pop chart

The first single from Spears' forthcoming ninth album storms the survey at No. 16 with 4,071 plays, the highest detections total by a debuting title in the chart's 18-year history.

"Hold It Against Me" also ties Madonna's "Frozen" (No. 16, March 7, 1998) for second-highest launch in the list's archives. Only Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover" began at a higher rank, having rocketed in at No. 12 the week of August 14, 1993.

The Pop Songs chart lists the most-played songs on 130 mainstream top 40 radio stations, according to Nielsen BDS.

"Hold It Against Me" received airplay on all 130 reporting stations in the chart's tracking week (January 10-16). The song's first-week airplay translates to 36.4 million listener impressions, the week's 10th-highest mainstream top 40 audience total.

KHOP (@95-1)/Modesto, Calif., led all pop reporters with 104 opening-week plays.

"Over the last decade, Britney Spears has had her ups and downs. But, every time she drops new music, it is an event for the format," says KHOP program director MoJoe Roberts.

"We often tend to wait for audience research to come back strong to power up certain hits. This, however, is one of those rare tracks, like Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' or P!nk's 'Raise Your Glass,' that I put right into power rotation after one listen.

"Audience reaction to her new single has been nothing short of amazing. This is another pure pop smash from Ms. Spears."

The cut concurrently debuts on Dance Airplay at No. 24, Rhythmic (No. 37) and Adult Pop Songs (No. 40).

"Hold It Against Me" is likely to make further historic headlines this week when it's expected to become just the 18th song to debut at No. 1 since the Billboard Hot 100 began in 1958. As previously reported, the song is projected to exceed 400,000 in first-week download sales, according to industry sources.

Kanye West Starts Twitter War With Britney Spears-Then Takes it Back!

Not so fast.

At first glance Friday, it looked like the super fun start to a Twitter beef between the loquacious rapper and Britney Spears, when West sounded off that Spear's "Hold It Against Me" sat at No. 1 on the charts, while his and Jay-Z's "H.A.M" rested at No. 2:

Alas, however, it appeared to be just a bad attempt to poke fun at Spears.

"Yo Britney, I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you be #1, but me and Jay-Z's single is one of the best songs of all time!" West wrote, referencing his infamous Taylor Swift diss.

He later added "LOL" on the end of that sentence to signify, in no uncertain terms, that he was kidding. But it appeared Spear's manager didn't find West's tweet so funny.

"Thanks for 'letting us be #1,'" Adam Leber tweeted to West. "Much appreciated".

The so-sensitive Monster rapper later removed the tweet altogether and replaced it with:

"On a serious note I'm truly happy for Avril Lavigne and Britney Spears. No hate in 2011...I thought LOL signified a joke....I didn't get the 2011 LOL doesn't signify a joke anymore memo."

Perhaps West should keep his jokes to himself—LOL! Just kidding Kanye, right!?

Spears track breaks radio record

Spears released her highly-anticipated track on Monday and the new single became an instant success, shooting to the top of iTunes digital chart on the first day it was available, before falling to second place.

The song also shattered all previous one-day airplay records in America on Monday.

A spokesperson for radio analysts Musicrunch says, "Top 40 outlets across the country immediately put Hold It Against Me in rotation and received instant-reaction airplay at America's most-influential stations including Z100 and WXRK in New York and KIIS and KAMP in Los Angeles."

Will Britney Spears Be Performing at Grammy Awards?

Contrary to reports online Tuesday, the pop star, 29, who just released her new single, "Hold It Against Me," which already rose to No. 1 on iTunes charts, has no plans to sing live on the Feb. 13 telecast.

Adds a source: "I really doubt it."

A full list of Grammy presenters and performers is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The awards show will air live from L.A.'s Staples Center on CBS.

Single review: Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me"

It's easy to see why the pop star didn't want to wait: with its throbbing bassline and pulsating kick drum, this Max Martin/Dr. Luke mind-meld is in a hurry to get where it's going.

The track's balance between club-ready verses and a soaring pop chorus (which melodically recalls the verse from Dido's "Thank You" sampled in Eminem's "Stan") is more reminiscent of the Black Eyed Peas' recent hits than anything in Brit's formidable singles catalog.

While lyrics like, "If I want your body now/Would you hold it against me?" don't earn points for originality, "Hold It Against Me" is a winner and a tantalizing teaser of Spears' forthcoming, still-untitled album, due in March.

Britney Spears' new single blasts on to radio

The first single from Spears' forthcoming ninth album ranks at No. 16 in plays - and No. 7 in audience - on Billboard's Pop Songs building chart, to be released on Billboard.com on January 17.

The survey lists the most played songs on 130 mainstream top 40 radio stations, as monitored by BDS.

"Hold It Against Me" logged 595 plays on Monday on 114 of the chart's reporting stations, or 88% of the panel. The song's first-day airplay translates to 7.8 million in audience.

KIIS (102.7)/Los Angeles and KHTS (Channel 933)/San Diego led all pop reporters with 18 first-day plays each.

"In 24 hours, 'Hold It Against Me' instantly shot to number one in station requests," says KIIS assistant program director/music director Julie Pilat. "Looking at the feedback we got on Twitter, the responses range from 'BEST SONG EVER' to 'Can't get enough of the new Britney' to 'I need this song to breathe!' Undoubtedly, Britney is back and on her way to another No. 1 single."

Fellow mainstream top 40 programmers report that early listener reaction to the song has been overwhelmingly positive.

"It's another home run for Britney," says Sharon Dastur, program director of WHTZ (Z100)/New York, which spun "Hold It Against Me" eight times yesterday. "The Tweets, texts and Facebook posts are overflowing with listeners that are excited that Britney is back with another smash."

"Instant listener reaction in Miami has been massive," says WHYI (Y100)/Miami program director Alex Tear. "We are already playing the song in heavy rotation, in addition to offering instant access to hear it on Y100.com. It sounds great on the radio."

"With all those pickup lines in the song, how can it not get 'picked up' to play on the radio?," muses John Reynolds, WNKS (Kiss 95.1)/Charlotte, N.C., program director. "It's another Spears hit."

With the song's debut on Pop Songs, Spears will up her count to 25 chart entries. It's a sum bested only by Mariah Carey (29) and Madonna (26) in the chart's 18-year history.

Does Britney Spears' Song Rip Off a Bellamy Brothers Classic?

“Back in 1979, I wrote a little song called ‘If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me,’” recalls David Bellamy. “That little song went No. 1 and has since become one of the defining songs of our career. If you listen to the lyrics of Britney Spears’ new single, ‘Hold It Against Me,’ you’ll find some major similarities.”

The “hook” in Britney’s song is this: “If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me.”

David and Howard Bellamy picked up on the news when their YouTube video for “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me” was up 270,000 views, nearly overnight. In addition, several visitors on the PerezHilton.com and EW.com discussion boards noticed the similarities, leaving comments like “Bellamy Brothers rip-off” and “the Bellamy Brothers used the same lyrical hook in 1979.”

“Howard and I have no personal beef with Britney, says David. “She’s a talented gal. But professionally, well, in all honesty, we feel completely ripped off. Where’s the originality?”

“Hey Brit… If I said you ripped off our song, would you hold it against me? Thanks,” said Howard.

Technically, if the Bellamys have a beef, it should be with the writers, Max Martin, Lukasz Gottwald, Bonnie McKee and Mathieu Jomphe. Britney and/or her producer(s) simply recognized a great hook and recorded the song. And it’s not the first time a pop hit has caused a double take with country fans. Remember “American Idol” alum Kris Allen and his 2009 hit, “Live Like We’re Dying”? Remind you of a certain 2005 Tim McGraw tune, “Live Like You Were Dying”?

Maybe someone out there can create a Britney/Bellamys mashup. In the meantime, tip your hat to the Bellamy Brothers and take a look at this country classic.

Bellamy Brothers Feel "Ripped Off" by Britney Spears' New Single

Sighting

Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me' is an easy pickup

Britney Spears, Hold It Against Me
* * * DANCE-POP COME-ON

Though built on one of the dumbest pickup lines in bar-hopping history, Britney Spears' new single delivers enough dizzying dance-pop ecstasy to ensure another chart-topping ride and to get fans amped for the March arrival of her seventh studio album.

This soulless thumper gets its synch-heavy production courtesy of Max Martin and Dr. Luke, who drench her Auto-Tuned vocals in slickly crafted electronic/propulsive beats.

"If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?" Spears warbles in her signature monotone on a tune as frothy, cold and mindless as a Creamsicle martini. Bottoms up.

Britney Spears debuts "Hold It Against Me" single

Produced by pop hitmakers Dr. Luke and Max Martin, Spears' "Hold It Against Me" is streaming on the "American Idol" and radio host's official website and is the lead single from the star's upcoming seventh studio album, slated for March.

"It's hot, it's gonna be sick in the club," gushed Seacrest, who added that filming of the song's music video is already underway.

After a demo of "Hold It Against Me" leaked last week featuring different vocals, Spears confirmed that demo was for her single on Twitter but promised that the final version would be even better.

"Heard an early demo of my new single leaked," she tweeted. "If u think that's good, wait til you hear the real one Tuesday."

Today, Spears sent out another tweet apologizing for bumping up the premiere at the last minute. "Don't #HOLDITAGAINSTME for coming out early," she wrote. "I couldn't wait any longer. Hope you don't mind."

Hear Britney Spears's New Single, 'Hold It Against Me'

Pop star Britney Spears drops her first single since 2009 this week. Titled "Hold It Against Me," the track features hard-driving verses and an airy chorus to tell the story of a romantic encounter she can't resist, no matter the consequences.

She sings: "If I feel my heart was beating loud/If we could escape the crowd some how/If I said I want your body now/Would you hold it against me."

The single, which goes on sale Tuesday at midnight EST, is produced by Spears's long-time collaborators Max Martin and Dr. Luke. It's the official lead single from her as-yet-untitled seventh studio album, due in March on Jive Records.

Eager to hear the song? Listen to it here!

Britney Spears and Paris Hilton Hang Again!

The blonde babes were on hand at Palihouse in West Hollywood for a birthday party, but Brit actually came as a guest of her boyfriend Jason Trawick.

And it turns out Brit and P have more in common than their party past...They also share Brit's man! How so?

Jason is Paris' agent and long-time friend.

And despite their rough patch right before Brit's birthday, the twosome seemed happier than ever. "You can tell that she and Jason are really in love," a source tells me, "He is a great guy and they make a great couple."

Britney, who wasn't drinking, stuck by Jason's side for the most part during the intimate 20-person party.

"Britney was shy with most of the people there. But she and Paris hugged and talked for awhile," the source says.

It was a big deal for the pop star to attend the low-key dinner, according to an insider.

"Britney hardly ever goes out so it was a major undertaking for her security," they tell me, "Her team came over yesterday afternoon and scoped it out to make sure everything was safe."

Also on hand was Ryan Phillippe sans Amanda Seyfried. Instead, the actor attended with two of his male friends.

Clearly, Brit and Paris have calmed down since their wild times with Lindsay Lohan back in the day, as they both called it an early night. Brit departed with Jason. Paris, who'd been shooting her Oxygen series with Brooke Mueller and her sister Nicky at Palihouse before the party started, turned in before midnight.

Maybe this reformed twosome can get together with LL for game night soon?

Britney Spears Tweets Deets on New Single

Oh well, even though she's only peering through her fingers, Brit looks hot in the artwork accompanying her new single, "Hold It Against Me." Which, she revealed today via Twitter, comes out next week!

"Heard an early demo of my new single leaked. If u think that's good, wait til you hear the real one Tuesday. -Brit," she tweeted.

Way to make lemonade out of leaky lemons, lady.

This is Brit's first new single since 2009's "3," off her second greatest hits collection.

Britney Spears inspires "Country Strong" character

In fact, it was only last year that we were celebrating "Crazy Heart," the male version of this drama, with Jeff Bridges in the lead role for which he won an Academy Award.

And while "Country Strong" also looked to Nashville for authenticity, shooting the bulk of the movie in Music City, recruiting established producers like Byron Galimore (Tim McGraw, Sugarland) and Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift) and working with local musicians and crew, inspiration for the main character came from the pop world. Specifically: Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.

"We build these artists and celebrate them, then at the first sign of weakness, we rally around their downfall," writer-director Shana Feste told Billboard. "Then we want to build them back up for a comeback. How difficult to live life like that in public."

Feste wrote the bulk of the screenplay in 2008 as Spears was undergoing a series of personal -- and public -- dramas. She was finishing the script when news of Michael Jackson's death broke. "I wanted to present these characters as messy, complicated and conflicted," she said. "Everybody is flawed."

5 most famous ex-Mouseketeers

Back in the early '90s, when he was only 11, Gosling spent a couple years singing and dancing alongside some other performers who would go on to achieve a bit of their own fame. A YouTube search provides video evidence of this: There's Gosling crooning some non-threatening love song, dressed in baggy clothes with way too much product in his hair.

Now 30, he's considered one of the most intense, fearless actors of his generation, having earned an Oscar nomination for 2006's "Half Nelson" and now a Golden Globe nomination for "Blue Valentine." The raw, heartbreaking drama, which co-stars Gosling and Michelle Williams as a couple whose marriage is collapsing, opens this week. But hey, that's as good an opportunity as any to revisit the perky, early careers of the five most famous ex-Mouseketeers:

• Britney Spears: Famous, infamous ... it's all the same thing when it comes to Britney Spears. Teen pop phenomenon, tabloid queen, twice-divorced mother of two — well, actually, one of the marriages was annulled after just 55 hours — there just isn't enough time or space here to discuss the full breadth of Spears' tumultuous career. She's been an international superstar, one of the highest-selling artists in the world, and a total mess. She could have had whatever she wanted, but so often it's seemed as if she couldn't do anything right. Her first starring movie role post-Mouseketeers, "Crossroads," was a joke. But she's redeemed herself somewhat with bit parts on popular TV shows such as "How I Met Your Mother" and "Glee."

• Justin Timberlake: He can sing. He can dance. He can act. He writes and produces songs and designs clothing. He's bringing sexy back. He dates strong, gorgeous women. He hosts celebrity charity golf tournaments. He even pokes fun at his own pretty-boy image on "Saturday Night Live." Is there anything JT can't do? Timberlake went from "The Mickey Mouse Club" to the boy band 'N Sync to a hugely successful solo career and beyond. Charismatic as hell, he's shown off his own acting skills in films including "Alpha Dog" and "Black Snake Moan," and he's excellent as Napster co-founder Sean Parker in the year's best film (according to yours truly), "The Social Network."

• Christina Aguilera: Her acting career is a bit more fledgling by comparison. Aguilera made her dubious film debut in this year's cliched campfest "Burlesque" as a small-town girl with big dreams and an even bigger voice. Hey, at least she has the looks to pull off those dramatic, revealing outfits — and, of course, the pipes to blow away an enormous auditorium. That massive voice has been on formidable display from her earliest days, from "Star Search" and "The Mickey Mouse Club" to multiple Grammy Awards and No. 1 hits. But if we're being honest, her performance in the "Dirrty" video, using her naughty Xtina persona, is her most convincing on-screen work to date.

• Keri Russell: Even back in 1993, she had that trademark mane of long, gorgeous curls. Long before she became a pop-culture sensation on TV's "Felicity," Russell was a part of the same Mouseketeer cast that launched Spears, Timberlake, Aguilera and Gosling, as well as Timberlake's 'N Sync bandmate JC Chasez. She's gone on to amass an eclectic body of work on television and in film: Beyond J.J. Abrams' "Felicity," which made her a star and earned her a Golden Globe, she's brought her natural beauty and infinite likability to such varied films as "Waitress," "The Upside of Anger," "Mission: Impossible III" and the musical "August Rush."

• Annette Funicello: The original superstar Mouseketeer, she was the picture of wholesome adorableness during the show's primary run in the 1950s, and she's maintained that sunny persona throughout her life. Just try picturing her without those mouse ears and that sweater with her name emblazoned across the chest. She went on to star in several Disney pictures, including "The Shaggy Dog" and "Babes in Toyland." But she most famously appeared alongside Frankie Avalon in all those beach movies of the early 1960s, along with recording several top-40 pop singles. Now 68 and battling multiple sclerosis, Funicello has founded The Annette Funicello Teddy Bear Company, with proceeds from sales going to raise money to fight neurological disorders.

Heading Out

What Was Heather Morris' Homemade Gift to Britney Spears?

Well, I caught up with Heather today to find out just what present she gave Brit and what other major project she just launched:

"I made her a cheesy mug with our picture on it from the set," she told via phone from NYC today. "There was an arrangement in it, too."

But has she gotten any feedback from Brit on the gift?

"No, I haven't heard from her yet," she told me.

We're sure the pop star appreciated the heartfelt, handmade gift, but she's probably had her hands full trying to quiet that pesky Jason Trawick scandal.

Heather's been busy herself with another new, non-Glee related project these days. She's just been named the celebrity style ambassador for FLIRT! cosmetics.

"Every day, I'm performing and putting on tons of makeup and I'm stoked that they asked me to do it," she said of the new venture, "I was excited that they wanted to show my face and not my character or anything."

And with all of the Globe and SAG nominations her hit Fox show has, she'll surely be ready to put her best face forward come awards season in January.

Britney Spears' "Amazing" Birthday With Jason Trawick-and a Photographer!

Despite allegations of abuse by Star (which Brit herself and her rep adamantly denied) right before her big day, Britney Spears still managed to have "the best birthday" of her life during a romantic Mexican getaway with Jason Trawick.

And just in case you wanted proof, Brit has happy, happy pictures of her and Jason on their trip for you to see:

In one photo on Us Weekly's site, Jason and Britney are all smiles as they pose together on the balcony of their private rented mansion overlooking the ocean. Jason even packed Brit's favorite cake for their south-of-the-border trip: red velvet!

But did Brit wish for some damage control when she blew out her candles?

Because if you take a deeper look at the new photos (which aren't available for online outlets until Friday), it seems that they might not be a paparazzi job.

First of all, the two are shot smiling at very close range—so unusual for candid pics. Did they know the photographer was there, and so cooperated?

If these were pap shots, they'd be further away, too, and wouldn't look so totally posed.

Secondly, the photos were taken by a well-known photographer based out of Vegas, who often covers red carpet events for a major photo agency—but not a paparazzi outlet.

The odds that she just so happened to be vacationing at the villa right next to Brit and Jason seems pretty slim—though possible, we guess. Add it all up, and we're seriously wondering if she was hired by the couple to snap smiley shots of their vacation.

And why would they do that, you ask? To try and counteract all the bad press Jason just got, of course.

Is it working for you? Smile like you mean it, Brit!

Inside Britney Spears & Jason Trawick's 'Super Private' Mexican Villa

In a spacious, beautiful villa overlooking on the ocean, the couple had a chance to be completely alone while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"It was super, super private," a source tells PEOPLE of Spears and Trawick's stay. "They didn't worry about paparazzi or anything. It was just them being able to be themselves, together."

Adds the source, "In a huge, amazing house, it was a total romantic birthday getaway."

But aside from the romance, food played a major role in the duo's getaway.

"The fridge was stocked with local fruits because Britney likes to have smoothies in the morning," the source says. "And they had a private chef to cook them whatever they wanted."

Being in Mexico, the lovebirds enjoyed authentic treats of the country. "[The chef's] specialty is Mexican," the source says. "So they had some great Mexican dinners."

Britney Spears & Jason Trawick Enjoy Romantic Mexican Getaway

"When they landed, she got to the [private] villa and was blown away," a source tells PEOPLE of the couple, who arrived on Dec. 2, Spears's 29th birthday. "Jason had arranged a red velvet cake for her birthday."

Last week, Spears's camp denied a tabloid report that Trawick "beat on" the pop star. And their intimate getaway, which included a private chef and a fridge stocked with fresh fruit, seemed to prove their point.

"They suntanned and did a lot of relaxing and decompressing," says the source. "They seemed very much in love. "

Indeed, a source close to Spears told PEOPLE last week that "the couple's relationship is better [than ever]. Britney and Jason lately have been very happy together."

Britney Spears Fights Back: 'Kiss My A--!'

Addressing her missive to "Star Magazine, Radar Online, Jason Alexander and the rest of you liars," Spears Tweeted Thursday: "Ya'll can kiss my lily white southern Louisiana ass!"

The sentiment was prompted by a tabloid report that Spears – who turned 29 Thursday – was abused by boyfriend Jason Trawick.

The allegation came from Spears's one-time husband, Jason Alexander, whose 55-hour Las Vegas marriage to her was annulled in 2004. In the report, Alexander says Spears told him Trawick "beat on me," and RadarOnline posted an audio clip of the alleged conversation between Alexander and Spears. The singer's reps, however, deny the woman's voice on the tapes belongs to the pop star.

Spears, who announced she has a new album coming out in March, also Tweets she is "off on a romantic weekend with Jason for my birthday. xoxo Brit."

Star: Britney Beating Story Is True. Really

Despite strong denials to the contrary from Britney Spears' reps, Star magazine put out a statement today defending its supposed bombshell cover story that quoted ex-hubby Jason Alexander saying the popster confided to him that her agent-turned-boyfriend, Jason Trawick, got violent with her and that she was trapped in an abusive relationship.

"Star magazine stands by its story that Britney Spears told her ex-husband, Jason Alexander, that her boyfriend, Jason Trawick, beat her," the magazine's statement reads. "In a taped phone conversation lasting for more than one hour, Ms. Spears can be heard repeatedly telling Mr. Alexander how Mr. Trawick "went crazy" and hit her, giving her a black eye."

"Mr. Alexander passed a polygraph test administered by Star, where he was specifically asked, 'Did you record a phone conversation that you had with Britney Spears?' Moreover, there is information in the tape, which Star may reveal at a later date, that would be known only by Ms. Spears."

The shocking claims were perpetuated by corporate sibling RadarOnline (both Star and Radar are owned by American Media Inc., which also owns the National Enquirer) posted a clip of the alleged recording Wednesday morning in which the person ID'd as Alexander asked if Spears was engaged to Trawick and a female voice replies, "Was that before or after he beat on me?"

The reaction from Spears ' camp was instant. First, her longtime manager Larry Rudolph shot down the story, calling the voice purported to be the pop princess fake and vowing to take legal action against those spreading the vicious rumor. Her website also posted a message calling the statements by her husband of little more than two days "a complete fabrication" and promised that all appropriate parties will be held accountable in a court of law.

Adding fuel to the fire, various audio experts have since weighed in and ruled that the voice on the tape is not Spears and that the recording had been eletronically doctored.

For her part, the Britster isn't too happy about the whole fiasco. On Wednesday afternoon, Spears turned up at the William Morris-Endeavor agency for a powwow with Trawick and presumably her management team about taking said legal action. An eyewitness on the scene told E! News that Spears "looked very serious" on her way in.

"Not sad. Just serious. Totally blank-faced," said the onlooker.

Considering the seriousness of the allegations, Star's editors better hope they're right.

Spears to sue over abuse report

The Toxic superstar's relationship hit the headlines on Wednesday when America's Star magazine ran an article featuring quotes attributed to her ex-husband Jason Alexander, who she was famously married to for just 55 hours in 2004.

In the publication, Alexander reportedly claimed Spears had reached out to him in a desperate plea for help after allegedly suffering a beating at the hands of her new beau in October.

He is quoted as saying, "Britney is in an abusive relationship! Britney doesn't know what to do or whom to confide in. I'm really concerned for her..."

Alexander alleged Spears and Trawick's relationship hit rock bottom when she reportedly confronted him about cheating on her with another woman.

Audio tapes purportedly featuring the singer speaking to Alexander have since surfaced online, but Spears' publicists have blasted the footage as "so obviously fake as to be laughable".

In a statement, her representatives go on to slam the "irresponsible" tabloid report, insisting the singer has "never" been struck by Trawick.

The press release continues: "Suffice it to say, Jason Trawick has never laid a hand on Britney.

"This is just another example of the irresponsible nature of the tabloid media relying on shoddy sources and false information for the sole purpose of selling magazines, without regard to the truth and without regard to who they hurt in the process.

"The statements attributed to Jason Alexander are a complete fabrication as Britney has not had any form of communication with Mr. Alexander in years.

"These irresponsible statements are defamatory and Britney Spears' legal team will be taking legal action against all of the appropriate parties."

Spears reportedly 'beaten' by beau

The Toxic superstar has found herself back in the headlines this week after Star magazine published Alexander's account of the alleged beatings he claims she has suffered at the hands of Trawick.

Spears has been dating her new beau since early 2009 and he quit his job as her representative over the summer to concentrate on their romance.

But Alexander, who she was famously married to for just 55 hours in 2004, claims Spears has reached out to him in a desperate plea for help after reportedly suffering a black eye during a fight with Trawick in October.

He tells Star, "Britney is in an abusive relationship. Britney doesn't know what to do or whom to confide in. I'm really concerned for her..."

Alexander alleges Spears and Trawick's relationship hit rock bottom in October, when she reportedly confronted him about cheating on her with another woman.

He says, "She accused Jason of having sex with this girl, and it sent him into a rage. She said it was like a switch flipped. He went crazy and started hitting her...

"Britney called me and told me that he hit her so hard it gave her a black eye. She said she couldn't even leave the house for a week because of the bruising."

He has even pinpointed paparazzi snaps of Spears on October 19, sporting what appears to be slight bruising around her eye, as evidence of his claims.

Star magazine editors insist Alexander passed a polygraph test to prove he was telling the truth, but reps for both Spears and Trawick have blasted the tabloid report.

BP oil spill swamps Yahoo search engine in 2010

BP PLC's massive oil spill in the Gulf Coast drew the most interest among the tens of millions of people that used Yahoo's search engine during 2010. The Internet company released its top 10 rankings Tuesday.

Michael Jackson was Yahoo's most requested subject in 2009, the year that the entertainer's death stunned the world. Britney Spears, another star-crossed singer, held the No. 1 position on Yahoo's search list from 2005 through 2008.

After falling to No. 5 last year, Spears dropped to No. 10 on Yahoo's list this year.

Although Yahoo's search engine is the second most used on the Web, it's not the best barometer of people's online interests. That's because Google fields billions more search requests than Yahoo, Microsoft Corp.'s Bing and AOL Inc. combined.

Bing and AOL released their top searches earlier this week, with reality TV star Kim Kardashian topping Bing's list and golfer Tiger Woods leading the pack of celebrities at AOL. Kardashian came in fourth on Yahoo's list and seventh in AOL's celebrity rankings; Woods was third on Bing and didn't appear among Yahoo's Top 10.

Google doesn't plan to break down its top searches until later in December so it can get an even better handle on what piqued Web surfers' curiosity this year.

As usual, pop culture dominated the rest of Yahoo's Top 10. Other celebrities on Yahoo's list included teen singer and actress Miley Cyrus (No. 3), singer Lady Gaga (No. 5), actress Megan Fox (No. 7), teen heartthrob Justin Bieber (No. 8) and TV's top-rated show, the American Idol talent competition (No. 9).

Soccer's World Cup, which drew huge crowds and television audiences in June, grabbed the second spot on Yahoo's list while Apple Inc.'s most hot-selling gadget, the iPhone, came in sixth.

Spears' sexy 'Glee' gets complaints

The pop superstar made a cameo appearance in the musical in an episode which aired in September, and newly released documents from the Federal Communications Commission reveal the program attracted a series of grievances about the "sexual" nature of some of the scenes.

One of the letters processed by the watchdog, obtained by Thesmokinggun.com, brands the episode "obscene and indecent", while another slams the nudity and the highly sexual content of the show, calling the episode "extremely inappropriate and sexually provocative".

A number of the complaints call for schedulers to move the series to a post-watershed slot to keep the saucy scenes from kids.

Britney Spears' mom loses defamation case appeal

The Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles refused to rule that Spears' former confidante, Sam Lutfi, had such a tarnished reputation that he could not sue for defamation.

Lutfi sued Spears and her mother, Lynne Spears, for libel and defamation in February 2009. The case cited numerous passages from Lynne Spears' book, "Through the Storm," in which she accused Lutfi of drugging and controlling her daughter.

The allegations were also contained in court filings that led a judge to establish a conservatorship involving the Grammy-winning singer.

Lynne Spears' attorney, Michael Adler, declined comment.

Sighting

Britney Spears's Divorced Parents Reconciling

"They are back together and are doing well and happy," a source tells PEOPLE. "[They're] not remarried but back together."

The couple, who divorced in 2002, were looking friendly on Saturday at Los Angeles lounge Boudoir. Onlookers at the lounge spotted Lynne and Jamie cheering and dancing as DJ Mr. Best spun Britney's hits, like "Toxic" and "Gimme More."

"They were in a great mood together," says an onlooker. "They were laughing together – dancing and laughing [and] totally having fun."

"Lynne is a dear, sweet person," a family friend tells PEOPLE. "She deserves happiness. As her friend, my wish for her would be a happy ending."

In 2002, shortly after the breakup of her parents' 30-year marriage, Britney told PEOPLE it wasn't a bad thing.

"It's the best thing that's ever happened to my family," says Spears. "My mom and dad, bottom line, do not get along. When I was a baby, they argued."

Britney, 28, also has been doing well romantically, and is currently dating Jason Trawick, 38.

Lynne and Jamie have been back together as a couple since last summer, according to Gossip Cop, which first reported the news of their reconciliation.

Hollywood's highest-earning women

Fair or not, the entertainment industry's highest-earning men collectively raked in an estimated $1.2 billion between June 1, 2009, and June 1, 2010, compared to the $835 million the women pulled down during the same period. In fact, after Oprah Winfrey, who at $315 million out-earned everyone--male or female--Hollywood's second-best-paid woman, Beyoncé Knowles, would place ninth on the men's list. And the remaining top-earning females wouldn't have placed at all.

Blame the industry's lack of high-ranking female directors, a category that dominated the men's list. Having built billion-dollar empires on the backs of massive franchises like Star Wars, Transformers and Avatar, top-earners like George Lucas, Michael Bay and James Cameron respectively banked $95 million, $120 million and $210 million.

But the profession, particularly at the upper echelon, tends to be light on women, which explains the hoopla surrounding the Oscar win by Kathryn Bigelow (who was once married to Cameron) earlier this year. Too bad critical acclaim didn't translate to commercial success--her flick TheHurt Locker made peanuts compared with Avatar's $2.8 billion haul. Needless to say, she didn't make the cut for our rundown of top-earning women.

Actually, the only woman on our list with a true film career is No. 6, Sandra Bullock. With two hit movies (The Proposal and The Blind Side) and an Oscar win this year, Bullock raked in $56 million thanks to her on-screen work, as well as her off-screen role as a producer.

To determine how much the women on our list earned we talked to agents, managers, producers and lawyers. Though some of these leading ladies come from the worlds of film, television and talk shows, musicians dominate our ranking. Global appeal is what sets apart women like Lady Gaga (No. 4), Madonna (No. 5) and Taylor Swift (No. 9). Unlike stars of stateside TV shows, the popularity of which rarely extends far beyond U.S. borders, these musicians are making the bulk of their income touring around the world.

Consider Beyoncé, who pulled down an estimated $87 million in the last year. Though her collection of endorsement deals, fashion line and debut fragrance helped pad her pocketbook, it was her 32-country, six-continent I Am... tour that took her around the globe and earned her many millions along the way.

Britney Spears, who much of the entertainment universe had written off only a few years ago, translated her international appeal into $64 million in earnings over the 12-month span. She logged the fifth-highest-grossing tour in the world, bringing in $130 million in gross box office receipts by playing nearly 100 dates. Spears' résumé also includes a high-profile endorsement deal with Candies and a collection of lucrative fragrances from Elizabeth Arden. All of it was enough to garner her a spot at No. 3 on our list, and continued presence in the limelight.

Lady Gaga, too, has a global tour to thank for much of her $62 million income this past year. The songstress, who premiered on this year's Celebrity 100 and ranks No. 4 on this list, remained on the road with a 106-date tour that grossed $95 million. Like her top-earning peers, she also booked a slew of marketing and endorsement deals, with companies like Polaroid, Virgin Mobile and MAC's Viva Glam, and cashed in on album sales and music video tie-ins. She's often recognized for maintaining and feeding that international fan base through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, where she touts more fans than any other star.

And then there's Madonna, who rounds out the top five with an estimated $58 million. At 52 she is not yet ready to concede her spot in pop music's hierarchy to the genre's younger set. In addition to publishing royalties and a handful of fashion-related endorsement deals, the original Material Girl generated the fourth-highest-grossing tour of 2009, bringing in $6 million a night and $138 million overall. Up next, she's launching a series of gyms, appropriately dubbed "Hard Candy" after her 2008 album, around the world.

People's Choice Awards 2011 Nominees

FAVORITE TV GUEST STAR
Betty White - Community
Britney Spears - Glee
Carrie Underwood - How I Met Your Mother
Demi Lovato - Grey's Anatomy
Neil Patrick Harris - Glee

'Life is complete' for Pauly D after meeting Britney Spears

Britney fears shakedown by ex-bodyguard

Fernando Flores is suing the pop star over claims she repeatedly exposed herself and made sexual advances towards him while he worked as her personal bodyguard.

Flores wants the case to be heard in civil court but representatives for the pop superstar fear he will use the public forum to divulge her secrets - and extort a settlement, reports TMZ.com.

They have requested the matter is moved into a probate court where his accusations would be shielded from the spotlight.

According to legal documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Spears' conservators believe "there is a real possibility that Ms. Spears will be exposed to danger by the release of confidential and personal information".

A hearing on the matter will be held later this month.

Sighting

Britney Spears: "Mind-Bendy and Trippy"?

How's that coming along? Well, I just got word that her team recently put together a "writing camp" of top music producers and writers. They were apparently flown to Dallas for a few days to brainstorm and collaborate on new songs for Spears...

"I know that 'Usual You' off the last album [Circus] has been tossed around like, 'Use this as kind of a jumping off point,' " OneRepublic frontman and über-hitmaker Ryan Tedder told me last night at Ralph Lauren's Big Pony Collection fragrance launch event at the Chateau Marmont hotel.

Even though Tedder—who's produced megatracks for superstars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Leona Lewis and Kelly Clarkson—didn't take part in the writer's camp, he says Spears producer Max Martin is considering a song he produced with Dan Black.

"It's mind-bendy and trippy," Tedder said, adding, "I applaud the label for saying, 'We're not going to do what's always been done.' I think Britney's such an innovator. She needs to be in the forefront, you know what I mean? You can't come out with something sounding like someone else."

OneRepublic recently finished touring with U2 and is now on the road with Maroon 5. Tedder also just produced two new tracks for "Chasing Pavements" songstress Adele. "She personifies authentic," he said. "She is authentic in every sense of the word. I would rather listen to my least favorite Adele song on repeat than 99 percent of the songs on the radio right now."

The Chateau Marmont event included a five-song acoustic set by OneRepublic, a viewing of a Bruce Weber-directed Big Pony video featuring the band's hit single "Secrets" and a four-course dinner prepared by chef Carolynn Spence.

Did Britney Spears Stiff Her Nanny?

Apparently Britney Spears pays $35,000 a month to have Jayden James and Sean Preston tended to. Or not.

See, according to a new lawsuit filed by an ex-nanny, Spears never paid that amount for the woman's whopping one month of service.

Read the court documents

Ferial Zaltash says in court papers that she got hired as a personal assistant and nanny in September of 2007 and resigned a month later.

The lawsuit is light on details as to why Zaltash only lasted a month a Chez Spears, but the nanny is clear on how much she believes she's owed for services rendered: $35,202.

Even after demanding payment, the former nanny says Spears refused.

But that's not all!

Zaltash is also asking for $19,940 for penalties for unpaid wages and overtime work.

But the experience of working for Britney has to be priceless…um, right?

Britney Spears making movie comeback?

No end to Spears conservatorship after meeting

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reva Goetz also met Thursday with the singer's father Jamie, who retains control with attorneys over his daughter's personal and financial affairs.

Wearing a black dress and black boots, Spears was ushered into the judge's chambers by deputies.

Goetz later said in open court, "We had a very nice conversation."

She then said no changes were being made to the 28-year-old singer's conservatorship, which was established in February 2008 after Spears was involved in several high-profile incidents of erratic behavior.

Britney Spears is a ratings grabber for 'Glee'

Tuesday's episode that featured the star in some dream-sequence cameos drew an estimated 13.5 million viewers. The Nielsen Co. says it was the second most-watched episode of the show ever, behind last spring's return from a hiatus.

That's also an increase from the 11.1 million people who had tuned in to the "Glee" season premiere a week earlier. Spears was also a trending topic on Twitter during the telecast, exemplifying one of TV's biggest new trends: viewers using social media to correspond with friends while watching.

The show's cast performed five Spears songs during the episode, including "I'm a Slave 4U" and "Stronger."

Britney Spears praises "Glee" tribute

Fox television said Tuesday's episode, which featured cover versions of five of Spear's biggest hits and a brief cameo appearance by the singer herself, drew the second biggest audience in "Glee" history.

"I loved it! Thank you guys SO much for making this happen," Spears, 28, said in a series of Tweets to her fans.

"Glee" is the darkly comic tale of a high school show choir that sings cover versions of pop, Broadway and hip-hop tunes. Tuesday's episode was the show's third affectionate tribute to pop icons. The music of Madonna and Lady Gaga was featured earlier this year but neither appeared on the show.

By Wednesday, four of the five "Glee" cover versions of Spears music were among the top 10 songs on the iTunes charts.

But Britney's "Glee" drew only mixed reviews. Entertainment Weekly's Margaret Lyons said on Wednesday that although the episode "rocked some dead-on Britney Spears recreations...it wasn't the slam-dunk I had hoped it would be."

Spears praised the performance of "Glee" actress Heather Morris, who sang, danced and recreated the pop videos for "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Me Against the Music".

And Britney tweeted that watching actress Lea Michele's cover version of her flirty schoolgirl pop video debut "...Baby One More Time" in 1999 -- "brings back so many memories! Feels like yesterday."

The "Glee" episode focused on the highs of Spears' career and her place as a worldwide pop culture phenomenon who has sold over 100 million records.

Spears suffered a personal and career meltdown in 2007 and 2008 after a short-lived marriage and two children. She made her comeback with the 2008 album "Circus", followed by a successful world tour, but has adopted a lower public profile since then.

'Glee': Which Britney Spears song was the best?

Spoilers!

Before delving into the songs though, let's take a look at Spears herself. She has a couple tiny cameos, and they aren't bad. The first is an appearance in Brittany's (Heather Morris) nitrous oxide fantasy, complimenting her. Okay, nothing special. But the second makes us laugh. She appears in Artie's (Kevin McHale) fantasy, and since he's a dude, of course she's wearing a Cheerios uniform for no reason. Fantasy for sure.

In the "Britney/Brittany" episode we get treated to five Spears songs plus a bonus contemporary number, which we discuss later.

"I'm a Slave 4U" - Brittany wears three of Britney's classic outfits -- the green bikini number, red "Oops I Did It Again" catsuit and the super-sexy nude/sparkle body suit. Besides the fact that Heather Morris looks amazing in those outfits, she's an incredible dancer, and these sequences are so dance-heavy, we really have to give her props for her performance and completely drawing the eye. Oh, and you know she did her own singing, right? Overally, this was such a visual treat. We're sure John Stamos thought so too!

"Me Against the Music" - Brittany and Santana (Naya Rivera) take on the Spears and Madonna collaboration, and once again, the look and dancing are great. Santana isn't quite Madonna in attitude or wielding the cane, but she makes a good effort. Once again, a fun number, but maybe not as eye-popping as the first.

"Baby One More Time" - We have to say that the kids in the hallway weren't the only ones getting whiplash from Rachel's (Lea Michele) fashion makeover. Somehow, it felt a little wrong to be looking at Rachel like that, but Michele did a really good job, even over-exaggerating the mouthing parts of the singing and getting those growly parts that Spears does.

"Stronger" - We're usually totally down with and Artie number, especially if it ties into the storyline, but for some reason, this fell a little flat for us. The closeups and weightlifting parts worked better than the stuff on the field, so maybe it was something about the lighting or how remote it feels. This was just okay, but we're glad it gave Artie some resolve about trying for the football team again.

"Toxic" - This is probably as good as the first number but for different reasons. Not only is it set in "reality" -- the school's Homecoming pep rally -- but its slower arrangement that makes the most of the song's sinuous qualities. Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison) and Mike Chang (Harry Shum, Jr.) can move, and it's no wonder they start a Britney Spears sex riot. This is the New Directions we love.

Which Britney Spears song/performance did "Glee" do the best?

'Glee' cast talks Britney Spears episode

In this latest video, it's fun to watch how excited the actors are about working with Britney Spears or at least performing her music on the Tuesday, Sept. 28 episode.

Naturally, Heather Morris who plays Brittany is the most psyched. Not only does the episode showcase her dancing, but she actually dances with Ms. Spears herself. Watch how cute it is when Morris illustrates this with her fingers? And we're still shocked about how good she looks dressed like Spears in that nude bodysuit.

And wait, they were still selling cassette tapes when "Baby One More Time" was released?

We're not going to forget John Stamos either, and he's a good sport about Spears stealing his thunder. Is it possible that his fun performance, kissing Emma and talking about dental hygiene with Mr. Schue could steal the show?

Are you ready for "Britney/Brittany"?

Britney Spears guests on 'Glee'

Spelling differences aside, pop icon Britney Spears makes a cameo appearance in a new episode of Glee, airing Tuesday, Sept. 28 on Fox and Global.

The episode actually is titled Britney/Brittany.

Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) insists that the glee club opts for adult contemporary music at the school assembly, but the kids have secret plans. As they gear up to perform Britney Spears’ hits, they learn that their own Brittany (Heather Morris) has a connection to Spears.

Brittany has taken on a bigger role as Glee has entered its second season, as fans of the show clearly love her clueless-but-humourous random comments.

Also, John Stamos guest-stars as a new love interest for Emma (Jayma Mays).

'Glee' Britney Spears episode: Harry Shum did a 'double take' with Heather Morris

"I'm actually really happy for Heather Morris because this is her breakout episode," Shum tells Zap2it about the "Britney/Brittany" episode airing Tuesday, Sept. 28, in which Cheerios Brittany (Morris) gets gassed at the dentist and imagines herself as Spears in music videos.

"People are going to go nuts when they see her do her thing," he continues. "She looks like Britney in the musical numbers. It's crazy. You have to do a double take. Me and Kevin [McHale] walked into her doing a musical number because some of them we weren't in that she was in. We had heard that Britney was coming on set, so we were like, 'Wait, is that her?' We had to look really closely to see it wasn't."

We've already seen Morris in her "Me Against the Music" outfit, and the latest "Glee" photo shows her dressed as Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards in the skimpy green outfit, complete with a snake as an accessory.

"I'm in some Britney numbers," reveals Shum. "It's insane, if you saw in the previews. They made it look like Britney music videos."

Shum, who's 28, was particularly psyched to do this episode because of the nostalgia and familiarity involved with the song list.

He explains, "You know, some songs on 'Glee' you kind of have heard of but we don't really know the lyrics, so it was really fun to do these songs and not even have to look a the lyrics sheet and be able to know all the songs by heart. It's funny because back in high school when her songs came out, whether you hated her or loved her, you knew her songs by heart. So that was really fun.

He falls into the fan category and readily shares his favorite Spears song: "I love 'Toxic.' I think it's a great song."

Listen to the Cast of Glee Sing "Toxic" from the Britney Spears Episode

Well, it's the Britney Spears episode of Glee, anyway.

And if you thought the season premiere had you singing and dancing, just wait for next week's highly anticipated show.

Or don't wait at all and enjoy PEOPLE's exclusive first listen to the entire cast of Glee singing the Spears classic "Toxic."

LISTEN here!

In addition to "Toxic," Tuesday's episode will feature "I'm A Slave 4 U," "Me Against the Music," "Stronger," and Paramore's "The Only Exception."

For more on the music of Glee, check out gleethemusic.com.

Sighting

Spears tops worst cover song poll

The singer released Joan Jett's track in 2002 but music fans were unimpressed with Spears' rendition - NME readers have voted it their least favourite cover.

Ronan Keating's Fairytale of New York by The Pogues came second in the shameful survey, while Celine Dion's version of AC/DC's You Shook Me All Night Long was named third.

Muse's rendition of Feeling Good by Nina Simone was branded the best cover of recent years in the poll.

Britney Spears on Engagement Report: 'Bull--!'

Responding to an online report that boyfriend Jason Trawick recently popped the question during their Hawaiian getaway, the pop star's Web site warns fans with a "BS ALERT!"

While the two, who've been dating for more than one year, aren't engaged yet, they did have (someone else's) marriage in mind during their island vacation.

Spears, 28, and Trawick, 38, toured a wedding chapel at a Maui resort and watched a wedding from their hotel balcony.

As for their romantic future, says a source, "They're really taking things day by day and really enjoying their time."

Britney Spears Celebrates Sons' Joint Birthdays at Disneyland

The pop star, 28, treated Jayden, who turned 4 on Sunday, to Johnny Rockets in Calabasas, Calif., and also celebrated son Preston's fifth birthday.

"Spent the boys' bday weekend at Disney and had a blast," Spears Tweeted Tuesday. "I can't believe my boys are getting so big! Happy birthday JJ and Preston. – Brit"

The brothers, a source tells PEOPLE, "went wild" at the theme park in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday before having a small bash at home.

Also on the agenda for the birthday boys? Having yet another party. "The boys also brought a cake to school and celebrated with their friends," says the source.

Britney Spears "More Than Ready" to Take Care of Herself?

While lawyers kept mum on the details after spending more than two hours in judge's chambers this afternoon, a source close to the Circus attraction tells E! News that the court is gearing up to end Britney's conservatorship, in place since February 2008.

"Everyone involved believes she has the necessary proof that she is competent to be in charge of her affairs," says the source, and "she's more than ready."

But while the consensus appears to be that the 28-year-old divorced mother of two deserves to hold her own purse strings once again, will...er...that new tawdry lawsuit hurt her chances?

"One has nothing to do with the other," attorney Andrew Wallet, who's been overseeing Britney's affairs along with her dad Jamie Spears, tells E! News, referring to the sexual harassment suit filed by Britney's former bodyguard, who also claimed he witnessed her being abusive to her children.

Spears' legal camp has thumbed its nose at the allegations, and today conservatorship attorney Geraldine Wyle told E! that the singer is doing extremely well. (Neither Britney nor her pops was in court today.)

"She went on a wonderful vacation and is doing great things with her kids," Wyle says.

Britney & Co. celebrated 4-year-old Jayden's and 5-year-old Sean's birthdays at Disneyland over the weekend.

"I can't believe my boys are getting so big!" she tweeted yesterday.

As far as todays' closed hearing went, Britney's court-appointed lawyer Samuel Ingham did confirm that he requested permission for the pop star's bond holdings to be reduced from $25 million to $5 million.

The assets of the conservatorship are stable, he explained, but all money matters, including fund transfers between accounts, require the court's approval. L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz has been overseeing the case since Day 1.

Speaking of money matters, Britney's Beverly Hills home, where all the ambulance-and-cop craziness went down in '08, is still on the market after more than two years. The asking price has dropped more than $3 million since and now all that luxe lore can be yours for $4.85 million.

Another hearing to address more Spears-centric issues was set for Sept. 30.

Britney Spears "Could Get a Little Freaky"

And we're not talking about the pop princess' upcoming Glee episode. We are very happy to report...

Brit is back in the studio making some new music. Uber-producer Sean Garrett tells us he's set to reunite with Spears on a song or two. He co-produced and sang on "Toy Soldier" from her 2007 album, Blackout.

"I'm going into the studio with her," Garrett told us yesterday at the VMAs. "I love Britney. I want to help her grow. I want to do stuff that's going to be able to travel around the world."

Spears' last album, Circus, was released in November 2008 and was followed by a world tour. "I'm glad to see her back," Garrett said. "I really would like to get into her mind and find out what loving Britney is all about."

He added with a very big smile, "It could get a little freaky."

Perhaps Garrett can get Spears in the studio with…Justin Bieber?!

"I got two big records with Justin," Garrett said. "I'm really hyped about it. We're about to record. I met him three years ago. He was a superstar then and he hasn't changed."

Who's looking forward to new music from Britney? Should she work with The Bieber?

Mamma Mia! This Britney Bodyguard Says Spears Is No Abuser

Now, in an exclusive interview with E! News, another former protector of the pop tart has a strikingly different account of Spears' mommying prowess.

"In our time with Britney, we've never seen anything in a negative sense," Mark Chinapen, who worked for the pop star in 2007-08, tells E! News.

Chinapen says that he often saw Spears with her two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and that he never saw anything as described in the lawsuit filed this week by former bodyguard Fernando Flores, who claimed to have seen Spears "savagely hit" one of her boys.

"If there was an issue, we would have said something to her or authorities when it came to the kids," says Chinapen, CEO of Big Time Affairs, who has also provided security for Carmen Electra and Lindsay Lohan. "But we never saw anything negative."

Chinapen says that during his tenure the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services conducted an investigation into alleged abuse, "but at the end of the day, there was no issue. They came, were happy with the results, and walked away."

Chinapen says that his time with Spears was relatively calm—nothing like the erratic, harassing behavoir Flores accused the singer of.

"It was very normal. Starbucks runs, going for lunch, driving, shopping, buying clothes, and going out to events. That's it," Chinapen says.

"Britney is one of those people that likes to conduct her own business and go around and do her thing around town. She's not looking for someone to be in her face 24/7, just someone to assist when they're needed."

Adds Chinapen of life as a celebrity bodyguard, "You're taking care of someone, protecting them from the outsiders, whether it be the paparazzi or a fan that is getting too close, and that's it. There's nothing bigger than that."

Kevin Federline Defends Britney Against Security Guard's Claims

"He is satisfied that the allegations are a product of economic motives," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, tells the Associated Press. "They are as baseless as they seem."

Among other claims, the guard alleges that Spears, 28, engaged in sex acts in the presence of her and Federline's two young children – something Federline also does not believe.

Kaplan said Federline, 32, who has custody of Sean Preston, 4, and Jayden James, 3, takes the kids' welfare extremely seriously, and that an investigation into Fernando Flores's claims prior to his lawsuit turned up nothing.

Federline and Spears were married in 2004 and split two years later. After a long court battle, their custody settlement was finalized in 2008.

Britney slams sexual harassment claims

In a shocking new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Fernando Flores accused the Toxic hitmaker of exposing herself and making sexual advances towards him while he worked for her.

Flores had previously claimed that Spears was a terrible parent to her two sons, alleging he once witnessed the star "savagely hit" her son Sean Preston with a belt.

An investigation was launched after the bodyguard reported her to the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services earlier this year, but officials rejected the claims in July.

Now a rep for the superstar has taken to Spears' website to dismiss the latest lawsuit as nothing more than a publicity ploy by a disgruntled former employee.

On the site, a statement reads, "This lawsuit is another unfortunate situation where someone is trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself.

"The Department of Children and Family Services conducted a proper investigation surrounding Mr. Flores' accusations and have closed the case without any further action. Ms. Spears and her attorneys have every expectation that this matter will be dismissed by the courts."

Security Guard Accuses Britney Spears of Sexual Harassment

That's the picture painted of her by a former security guard, who alleges in a sexual harassment lawsuit that the pop star emotionally scarred him by exposing herself, insulting him and threatening to fire him over a Slurpee.

Fernando Flores, hired by the singer in February, is seeking an undisclosed amount for being "humiliated and traumatized" by Spears, whose life has been under the control of her father since a series of breakdowns.

In the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, Flores claims Spears "made repeated unwanted sexual advances" and summoned him to her room at her house "for no other purpose or reason than to expose her naked body or near-naked body."

Spears also "engaged in numerous sexual acts" in front of him, during which he would immediately leave, the lawsuit alleges. Spears also engaged in sex acts in the presence of her two young children, Flores claims.

When she wasn't exposing herself to him, she was hurling profanities and insults at him, the suit says.

During an excursion to watch Alice in Wonderland at a Hollywood theater, Spears asked Flores to fetch him a Slurpee. When he told her there was a 15-minute wait, she allegedly snapped, "I want my [expletive] drink! God! I'm gonna fire your ass!"

The security guard claims he was ignored or mocked by his supervisors when he made complaints about her alleged sexual behavior. "You know you liked it," one of his bosses allegedly told him.

An attorney for Flores didn't immediately return a call for comment. A rep for Spears didn't return calls for comment.

Behind the Scenes of Britney Spears' Candie's Ads

Now check out the video footage of Britney Spears's photo shoot for Candie's latest ad campaign, featuring famed photogs Terry Richardson and Annie Leibovitz—and with cameos from a donkey, a "baby horse" and more!

No Wedding Bells for Britney Spears and Jason Trawick - Yet

In addition to soaking up the sun with boyfriend Jason Trawick during their recent Hawaiian getaway, the pop star toured a wedding chapel at Maui's Grand Wailea resort on Thursday and, two days later, teared up while watching a wedding below their hotel room balcony.

While the couple, who've been dating for more than a year, are going strong, they don't have any immediate plans to tie the knot just yet, a source tells PEOPLE.

"They're really taking things day by day and really enjoying their time," says the source, adding that Spears, who turns 29 in December, and Trawick, 38, "of course" talk about the future.

Another source credits the couple's relationship for helping the singer – who was previously married to Kevin Federline – to mature.

Trawick, who was previously Spears's agent, "really cares for her, deeply cares for the kids and loves her," says the second source.

For more on Britney and Jason's romantic Hawaiian getaway, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick's Romantic Hawaiian Getaway

Britney Spears, who's been busy working on new music and taping Glee, "was very excited to go on a vacation with Jason [Trawick]," a source tells PEOPLE. Staying in an luxury suite at a stunning, oceanfront resort on the island's Wailea coast, the couple – between spa treatments and gourmet meals – hit the beach.

"Britney and Jason seem completely in love and happy," says an onlooker. "Britney has not stopped smiling since she arrived in Maui, and she seems to have the best time with Jason.

"Even in the ocean, they kept smooching. ... Britney also looks fabulous in her different bikinis, and Jason is in great shape as well."

While Spears's sons Preston, 4, and Jayden, 3, stayed in L.A. with grandparents Jamie and Lynne, the boys did get some surf and sand fun of their own in Santa Barbara.

"Preston and Jayden had a blast on the beach. Jamie and Lynne seemed to very much enjoy spending time with the boys, and together they built sand castles and played tag," says an onlooker. "The boys looked so cute and were beyond excited about the beach. Jamie and Lynne looked very happy together as well."

Adds a source, "Britney told Preston and Jayden that she was going to the beach and promised the boys that they would get to go also. The boys had the best time in Santa Barbara with their grandparents."

Britney Spears Heats Up Hawaii!

Rather, it's the sight of the songstress strutting her sexy stuff in a skimpy yellow bikini on the beaches of Hawaii on Tuesday.

Brit's enjoying a little R&R in paradise with her boyfriend, Jason Trawick.

Aloha indeed!

Britney Spears Goes Bridal-With a Twist

It's all in the name of art, though, so that makes the crazy OK...right?

The simmered-down songstress graces the September cover of Britain's Pop magazine in full-on Japanese manga costume: sweet white lace dress, big eyes, looking like a young girl. Bubble insets show Brit dressed as a bride and a schoolgirl.

The comic-book-inspired shoot was directed by legendary artist Takashi Murakami, and Brit was pretty pleased with his work.

She tweeted yesterday: "I just saw the photos for the first time and they are beautiful...Thanks @TakashiPom."

Britney Spears may return to "Glee"

Show co-creator Ryan Murphy hinted at a potential return engagement of the music star in a chat with television entertainment news show "Access Hollywood."

Asked if "Glee" and Spears fans can expect to see more of her in the future, Murphy said: "Probably, yeah...probably."

"Glee" has also had success with getting access to music from famous singers and bands, even though Kings of Leon recently rejected the show.

Kings frontman Caleb Folowill said the band has also rejected previous requests from Hollywood folks looking to use their music.

Lady Gaga Battles Britney Spears for Twitter Supremacy

The Bad Romance singer surpassed the reigning Twitter queen momentarily on Friday, but that same afternoon, Spears received more followers and secured her spot at the top – temporarily. By Saturday morning, Lady Gaga had regained her position, besting Spears by approximately 6,000 followers.

The pop star is also the most popular on Facebook with more than 16 million friends – more than Spears and President Obama.

Lady Gaga to steal Britney Spears' Twitter crown

According to social media statistics service Famecount.com, Gaga recorded 5,635,460 followers earlier today, while Spears had 5,646,028.

With current growth rates, the "Bad Romance" singer should pass Spears' count on Thursday or Friday at the latest.

Spears' brief run at the top of Twitter began less than three months ago, when she overtook actor Ashton Kutcher for the top spot.

Famecount.com confirmed that Gaga's Twitter followers, 16 million Facebook friends and YouTube popularity currently make her the most popular entity online. However, the singer's Twitter crown is far from secure.

With Justin Bieber adding 800,000 new Twitter followers a month to his existing 4.5 million, the teen star could pass Gaga within six months.

Britney Spears Corners Brittany On 'Glee' Set

On Thursday, the pop superstar Tweeted a picture of herself cornering the cheerleader and McKinely High School Glee club member Brittany (played by Heather) in a hallway.

In the photo, the two Brits appeared to be recreating a moment from the pop superstar's "Me Against The Music" video, where she corners Madonna in a club.

Britney even hinted at the song in her Twitter post, writing, "All my GLEEKERS in the crowd, Grab a partner take it down -Brit."

Earlier this week, Britney hit the set of the hit FOX show, Tweeting another photo - of herself and assistant/pal Brett Miller, behind the scenes.

Ryan Murphy, co-creator of "Glee," previously told Access Hollywood that it was Britney herself who came up with the clever way she'd appear in the episode devoted to her music.

"It's a tribute to her and her music and it was her idea to sort of come on and do a couple of fun, sort of, 'Where's Waldo?' moments, but instead of 'Where's Waldo?' It's 'Where's Britney?' That was her idea," Ryan said.

Season 2 of "Glee" premieres on FOX on September 21 at 8 PM. The episode featuring Britney airs on the 28th.

'Glee': Britney Spears Gleeks out, tweets from set

"About to do my first shot of the day for Glee tweeties! Here we goooo!" she wrote.

She also shared a Twitpic in which she and an unknown semi-lookalike are rocking librarian glasses. We'll say this: Spears is looking happy, healthy, and there's no sign of a bad weave as far as we can tell.

We know that everyone is sick of stunt casting and guest stars taking screen time away from regulars, but word is that Britney's appearance on "Glee" will be very background - more of a "Where's Waldo" game than a Chenoweth-style guest role. We're thrilled that the episode focuses on Heather Morris' character, Brittany -- she's one of the best characters on TV today and deserves more spotlight.

Molly Sims talks Heidi Montag, Britney Spears and Jennifer Aniston

'Glee': Ryan Murphy says Britney Spears is '100 percent' appearing in her episode

Murphy tells Ryan Seacrest this morning, "I think Britney, 100 percent, is going to be on the episode."

But how is Ms. Spears getting to Lima, Ohio? Well, she's not. New Directions' pleas for Britney tunes fall on deaf ears with Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison), so when they pay respective visits to the dentist (John Stamos), anesthesia-induced fantasies bring out the musical numbers and the all-but-official Britney cameo.

And if you're worried these rumors of a shaven Mr. Schu might dissuade Britney from dropping by, relax. Murphy says there won't be any references to Spears' personal life or darker days. "[This episode] is so reverential, so kind and about her music," he says. "We're handling Britney with kids gloves."

Will Britney Spears Appear on Her Glee Episode?

“Britney’s not in it,” Jane Lynch told reporters today at her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussaud’s in Hollywood. “It’s a tribute to her music."

Even though Spears herself will be absent from the episode, Lynch promises that tales from entertainer’s real life will be tied into the show’s storyline.

“It’s kind of [about] how Matt [Morrisson]‘s character Mr. Schuster doesn’t see any value in her and the kids really do,” she says. “And at the end [of the episode], he comes around and he likes [her music] so much, he shaves his head.”

Speaking of Spears, her long-ago ex Justin Timberlake has been rumored to appear on the musical series also. But it doesn’t sound like any plans are actively in the works to make that a reality.

“I love him,” the show’s co-creator Ryan Murphy told reporters last week at TCA. “But I think somebody just said, ‘Do you want him?’ And I think Lea [Michele] said, ‘He’s my favorite,’ and then suddenly it was that he was on the show.”

As for other rumored A-list guest stars, remember when Murphy hinted a while back that Jennifer Lopez may come on the show to play a lunch lady? Well, that may not be happening either. “Yes, I’d love for her to do it,” he says. “[But] I don’t know if this American Idol thing is happening and if she can.”

Britney Spears Can't Commit...to a Hairstylist?!

Hollywood watchers wondered what the eff her hairstylist was thinking after the pop tart was snapped last week with a giant bald spot on the back of her head.

Well, apparently, Brit-Brit's a serial stylist switcher because management won't let her commit to just one.

"They don't want anyone getting close to her," a source tells E! News. "They won't use anyone who has done her hair in the past and won't let any current stylist see her more then three times."

We still say that's no excuse for looking bad! But, regardless, who are the star stylists who've tried to tame the messy mane only to be tossed aside?

Stylist George Papanikolas from Andy LeCompte salon, who worked directly with Brit during her Circus tour, tells E! he hasn't seen her since the tour ended.

Former stylists Rick Henry, Kim Vo, Roberta Romero (of Kim Vo) and Chris McMillan are no longer on the pop star's messy tresses either.

During the past year, Brit's been spotted at various salons including Nine One Zero salon and Byron & Tracey but doesn't appear to have a regular haunt.

Whichever mystery hair master did her 'do for her latest fragrance ad gets a gold star. We just wish Brit would start seeing them regularly (or at least get in three good visits).

Britney Spears Tweets Her Radiant New Fragrance Ad

Britney Spears's Dinner Date with Jason Trawick - and His Parents!

Before heading to L.A.'s Pantages Theatre for a show, the pop star and her former agent, had a double dinner date with Trawick's mother and father at the Grafton on Sunset Hotel's Olive Kitchen + Bar.

They dined from about 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on meatballs and margarita pizza, and an onlooker at the restaurant says Spears enjoyed the quality time with his folks.

"She seemed to fit in very well with his family," the source tells PEOPLE.com. "She seemed very comfortable. She was very warm to them."

As for Spears and Trawick, who have already fended off engagement rumors, they appeared to be a happy couple, keeping it romantic but low-key.

"Britney and Jason were really affectionate," the source says, "but at the same time very respectful."

Britney Spears declared a fit mom

Spears' ex-bodyguard Fernando Flores - a former cop - recently revealed he had reported Spears to the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services over fears she was too unstable to look after her boys - Sean Preston, four, and Jayden James, three.

The allegations caused Los Angeles social workers to launch an investigation into the Toxic hitmaker.

But they have now ruled in favour of the star, insisting there was "absolutely no truth" to the claims, reports Britain's The Sun.

A family source tells the publication, "Flores is an opportunist."

The bodyguard claimed he quit after Spears strutted around naked in front of him, and is said to be considering launching a sexual harassment suit against his former employer.

Glee's Brittany Sings Britney Spears in Season Two

Of course!

Series creator Ryan Murphy tells TVGuide.com exclusively that McKinley High's deliciously ditzy Cheerio Brittany will be at the center of Season 2's tribute to Spears.

And it gets better. Brittany will be belting out not one, but two of the pop star's tunes. "Heather's actually got a terrific voice," Murphy says.

No word yet on which numbers they'll be, but just imagine the possibilities: Brittany could sing "Boys" (because she's hooked up with everyone, even Kurt) or "Toxic" (which could be her ode to Kurt!)

Would "Oops!...I Did It Again" be too obvious? Hmm...

Morris already seems sold on the idea. "I heard there's a Britney Spears episode coming up and fingers crossed that I get to sing, because I play Brittany and I'm like, 'Oh my god, it's insane,'" Morris told E! Online last month.

Glee fans won't have to wait long to find out how Morris sounds. Murphy said the Spears-powered hour will be the second episode to air next season.

Gleeks, what do you think Brittany should sing? And in what scenario?

'Glee': Britney Spears episode in the works

Like the Madonna-themed episode in "Glee's" freshman season, an episode revolving around Spears' music is getting prepped, reports ET.

The show's creator Ryan Murphy tells the newsmagazine that the show is currently writing the Spears episode.

We can already hear one of the heart-heavy Gleeks, or perhaps Miss Pillsbury, singing, "Oops, I Did It Again," whether Matthew Morrison likes it or not. So far, there' s no indication one way or another if Spears herself will appear in the episode.

On the subject of tribute episodes, Murphy also hints that the post-Super Bowl episode will feature the music of an artist that isn't Michael Jackson ... but that guess is "close." Hmm, we think Prince would fit the bill.

"Glee" led the Emmy Awards series nominations Thursday (July 8) with 19 nominations.

Britney Spears: I Won't Let My Sons Be in Showbiz

"If my sons told me they wanted to be in the entertainment business, I'd lock them in their rooms until they turned 30," she tells the August issue of Cosmopolitan, according to the Huffington Post.

Spears, 28, wants sons Preston, 4, and Jayden, 3, to avoid the downsides of fame that she's had to deal with since her youth – like having paparazzi trail her every move, though acknowledges the attention is "something I always knew would come with the job I chose."

Another topic she isn't looking forward to discussing with her two boys: the birds and the bees. "I'm dreading the moment when my sons ask me how babies are made," she tells the magazine.

But for now, Spears is just enjoying life with her boys who recently graduated from preschool.

"Things are pretty quiet right now," she says. "I've been spending a lot of time at home with my boys. They just started karate class, which is super cute!"

Sighting

Pal: Britney Spears Is a 'Great Mom'

"Britney is quite the opposite – she doesn't discipline them enough and she will do anything to keep the boys happy," says one source close to Spears. "There are issues with Britney, but her abusing the boys are not one of them."

Fernando Flores told a British tabloid that he had witnessed Spears, 28, hitting her children, Preston, 4, and Jayden, 3, in March or April 2009, but another source tells PEOPLE the allegations are untrue.

"It's ridiculous what the guy is claiming. It never happened," says the source.

The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services sent social workers to the singer's home, according to RadarOnline, but the visit was routine since California law requires a welfare check anytime a report is made to child protective services.

"Everything is fine," says the second source. "Britney has done nothing but be a great mom to her kids."

Spears's rep did not return requests comment.

Britney Spears Turns Designer with her First Collection for Candie's

Oprah Regains the Power in Celeb Land

The multimedia mogul regained her throne at the top of Forbes' 2010 list of the world's 100 Most Powerful Celebrities, rebounding from last year's ignominious slip to No. 2.

So what has become of last year's No. 1?

Angelina Jolie slid to 18th place because, per the powerful list makers at Forbes, though she still maintained a solid media presence over the last 12 months, she didn't release any major films. (Look for a rebound in '11 after The Tourist and Salt come out.)

Anyway, though Oprah's sitting pretty, No. 2 Beyoncé is nipping at her heels, followed by James Cameron (absent from the list last year) and first-time powerbroker Lady Gaga.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, comfortable at No. 5, is still the highest-paid athlete in the business thanks to Nike, despite his inability to sell watches, Gatorade and cell-phone service at this time.

Rounding out the top 10 are an ascendant Britney Spears, 2009 absentee U2, Sandra Bullock (who made a whopping one-year leap from 92nd to 8th), a stationary Johnny Depp and a slightly slipping Madonna.

Out of the top 10 but still lurking close by are Kobe Bryant, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Aniston, Steven Spielberg and Brad Pitt (30th to Jen's 27th).

Making their Most Powerful list debut are Robert Pattinson (50th) and Kristen Stewart (66th), both landing ahead of Daniel Radcliffe, who slipped from 70th to 82nd while waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 to come along.

Also hitting the list for the first time is E!'s own Chelsea Handler, debuting at No. 98, though she has some catching up to do to equal Ryan Seacrest's two-years' running spot at No. 44.

Check out Forbes.com for the complete list.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Reunite for Sons' Preschool Graduation

The pop star, who was joined by parents Jamie and Lynne Spears, and her ex-husband arrived separately at a San Fernando Valley school Thursday, but met up briefly. Preston, 4, and Jayden, 3, were later treated to McDonald's Happy Meals after the ceremony, says a source.

Spears, 28, "was very excited about her boys' graduation and she dressed them up for the festive occasion," the source says.

The exes, who tied the knot in 2004, split in late 2006 before finalizing their divorce a year later. A custody settlement reached in 2008 gave Federline, 32, sole custody of the kids while Spears, who is under the conservatorship of her father, was allowed several weekly visits.

Britney Spears' ex-manager, mom escalate legal feud

We're, of course, talking about "Britneygate" -- the entertaining dispute between Britney Spears' ex-manager and Britney Spears' mother that's now landed on the doorstep of a California appeals court.

In 2008, ex-manager Sam Lutfi filed a defamation lawsuit against Lynne Spears for things she wrote about him in her memoir, "Through the Storm."

Last August, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge refused to dismiss the case. A few weeks ago, Lynne Spears appealed that decision, and on Monday, Lutfi filed papers, presenting his argument why the case should continue.

Now the Court of Appeal of the State of California gets to hear "Britneygate" and the two widely different tales of who is responsible for the singer's collapse.

Lynne Spears claims that Lufti was a master manipulator who secretly drugged her daughter, cut off her communications and mobility, and set himself up as "gatekeeper" before he was fired.

In contrast, Lutfi says Britney's life was already in turmoil before he got involved. His proof: Two failed marriages, losing custody of her child, shaving her head, a reckless driving arrest, drug rehab, etc.

That aspect of the case is really a sideshow, though, to the interesting legal questions.

In pressing her appeal, Lynne argues that Lutfi's reputation was so low at the time the book was published, he's "libel-proof" as his reputation couldn't possibly be damaged further.

Au contraire, says Lutfi's lawyer.

In his brief to the appeals court, Lutfi points out he's never been convicted of anything and if his reputation was so badly injured based on a series of tabloid articles, it's a decision that can only be made by a jury. In addition, he points to the case of Howard K. Stern, who sued for defamation after being accused of having a hand in Anna Nicole Smith's death. A judge ruled in that case that just because Stern might have been falsely accused doesn't mean he could not be further injured from false accusations again.

The entire brief is pretty entertaining. For instance, there's a discussion about whether accusing someone of being "evil," a "predator," a "fake" and a "shifty man" are "opinions" or descriptive of "acts of misconduct" that are actionable as libel. There's also an argument submitted by Lutfi that Lynne Spears is engaging in bigotry because of his ethnicity.

Britney Spears fights beau

FHM Magazine: 100 Sexiest Women for 2010

Spears sets Twitter record

The "Toxic" hitmaker overtook actor Ashton Kutcher, the first member to reach one million supporters, as the most popular celebrity on the forum last week, but she set a new record by Saturday with a fan following of 5,015,346.

And Spears has already been thanking fans for their support - she invited devotees to send in their questions via her Twitter blog and she responded to them throughout the week.

Sorry Ashton Kutcher, Britney Spears Rules Twitter

Well, time has caught up and now Britney has surpassed Demi Moore's hubby with 4,948,848 followers to his 4,943,297...and all he has to say is "I don't care."

Actually, he twittered his response during a press junket for his and Katherine Heigl's new movie Killers (you know, the one that looks like Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz's new movie Knight & Day):

"2nd most pop Q 'What do U think about Brittney having more followers than u?' Answer 'I don't care. Aren't u suppose 2B a movie reporter?'"

And how did Britney respond to the big news? By actually twittering. It's a big deal since only a couple of tweets a month are actually from the pop singer, (the rest are just from her manager disputing our stories). She celebrated the Queen of Twitter honor by thanking her fans on this momentous occasion and promising to answer questions:

"WOW!!!!! #1 on Twitter! Thank you! Tweet me some questions this morning! xoxo -Brit"

Followed by: "This is really amazing! I love you all! I better get busy writing 4,947,608 thank you notes! U guys make me sooo happy! -Brit"

We hope Britney enjoys her Twitter reign while it lasts; it's only a matter of time until Justin Bieber finally and officially rules it all.

Britney Spears Hits Hollywood (Sans Boyfriend)

Britney arrived around 9 p.m. with a handsome, dark-haired guy who was NOT her on-again-off-again boyfriend and former agent Jason Trawick. She spent most of the time on a couch chatting with Maloof, a longtime friend and part owner of Palms Casino in Vegas.

The identity of the gentleman who was with her is unknown but he may have been a bodyguard.

"She stayed for about an hour and had fun," says a party source, who didn't witness anything romantic between Britney and her mystery male. "She didn't mention Jason."

Also at the party (but arriving separately): her father, Jamie.

The VIP bash, held in Victor Drai's private lounge on the first floor, was sponsored by Maloof's new Black Star Beer, but our sources say Britney didn't have any.

"She was mellow but in a good mood," says a source. "She never would drink in front of her dad."

Is Ashton Kutcher's Reign as Twitter King Ending?

After famously beating CNN to 1 million followers last April, Ashton Kutcher has been the undisputed king of Twitter, gaining more followers than anyone else on the micro-blogging site. But are his days as Twitter's most popular user numbered?

Britney Spears is slowly closing in on Kutcher – and the gap between their number of followers gets smaller every day. (At the time of this posting, Kutcher had 4,890,797 followers; Spears had 4,878,516). While Kutcher is the only person who Tweets on his account (several times each day), Spears only sporadically posts on her Twitter account, along with her manager Adam Leber.

Now, the big question remains: If Spears does beat Kutcher, will she ding-dong ditch his doorstep the way Kutcher promised to do to CNN honcho Ted Turner?

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick Split - Professionally

The two "have decided to end their professional relationship and focus on their personal relationship," a Spears rep tells PEOPLE. "Since wrapping her recent world tour, Spears has been busy in the studio working on her next album."

The singer and Trawick began dating last summer and have dodged engagement rumors for months. "They are very happy," a source said of the couple. "Things are really good with them."

'Glee': Matthew Morrison is anti-Britney Spears

The singer's manager has been lobbying for a special Britney-centric episode like the recent Madonna one, but Matthew Morrison isn't so keen on the idea.

Morrison, who plays show choir director Will Schuester on "Glee," was asked what he thought about a possible Britney-themed episode happening.

"That's a rumor her manager started," he told Us Weekly on the red carpet of the May 1 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. "I hope our show doesn't go along that route."

Oh, Mr. Schue, that was a wee bit harsh. But we can't say we disagree altogether.

Is Morrison right? Or do you think Britney's songs are iconic enough for her own "Glee" episode?

Britney Spears Goes (Lady) Gaga-Do You Like It?

Producer Rodney Jerkins doesn't want you to think anymore. It is indeed Britney Spears singing on the debated leaked recording of Lady Gaga's "Telephone", he confirms in a UStream video posted Monday.

As the story goes, Gaga wrote the track for Circus star, who recorded the track as a rough demo before passing on it. A site called iLeaks reportedly got a hold of it and sold it for $750 over the weekend.

"I was caught off guard last night with this 'Telephone' leak of Britney," Jerkins says. "I've been asked to leak the version, and I haven't leaked the version, and then last night, there was a version leaked. I really don't know who leaked the version. It was an early demo stage of the version. It wasn't even a mixed version. I would never leak something without Britney's approval, without [her manager] Larry Rudolph, without Jive Records."

BritBrit herself has yet to comment.

For our part, we're diggin' the sound. Sure, it's not Lady Gaga and Beyoncé and their parade of a million costumes, but it sounds like a hit Spears track that could-have-been.

In the end, though, Britney's wrong number definitely turned out all right for Gaga.

Spears' camp in financial trouble

The Toxic singer launched the Britney Spears Camp for the Performing Arts, a 10-day program for "economically disadvantaged" children, in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, in 1999.

It was renamed the Summer Stars Camp in 2004 after Spears separated herself from the foundation, and has since been run on donations from stars including rapper 50 Cent and the Jonas Brothers.

But the camp is now facing closure while bosses struggle to find the $250,000 needed to keep it open.

The executive director tells TMZ.com the camp is so desperate for funds, bosses have entered a contest run by soda giant Pepsi in a bid to win a grant.

Pamela Anderson: Naked Dancing With the Stars

The crazy fun began when the former Baywatch babe and some friends hit the music video shoot for "Gettin' Over You," David Guetta's latest single with Fergie, LMFAO and Chris Willis.

Ms. Anderson had jaws dropping when...

"She undressed as soon as she got there," a source tells us. "The hysteria continued as she climbed onto a ladder, wearing only lingerie. She practically brought production to a halt. Everyone on set stopped in awe."

We're told that after the video wrapped, the barely-dressed bombshell and her friends headed over to her photographer BFF David LaChapelle's studios. About a dozen party-goers, including fellow DWTS-ers Cheryl Burke and Evan Lysacek and publicist pal Avo Yermagyan, sipped Fortune vodka while Anderson gave a surprise dance performance.

"By the end of the night, Pam was dancing around in nothing but her birthday suit," our spy says. "Everyone was shocked, but everyone was having fun."

Fingers crossed Pammy invites us to her next night out on the town.

Spears and Love set for Glee?

Following the success of the show's tribute to Madonna, which aired in the U.S. on Tuesday, Murphy admits he's considering tackling Spears in a future episode.

He tells EW.com, "I'm interested in the Britney Spears idea. I've always loved her. I'm entertaining it. I think young kids would like that."

And Murphy also wants a shot at the Hole rocker, adding: "I actually ran into Courtney Love the other day and talked to her. She's interested. I would love to have the kids do a Courtney Love episode one day... The key is the songs in the catalogue have to have a certain degree of theatricality."

The Madonna special, which featured the Glee cast performing the pop superstar's songs, was a big hit among TV viewers - 13.5 million people tuned in to see the episode.

Murphy reveals he's also considering the music of Billy Joel and Led Zeppelin for upcoming shows.

Britney Spears' Unretouched Candie's Ads

Spears to lose millions on home

The singer put the six-bedroom mansion on the market for $7.9 million back in September, 2008 but the property failed to attract any buyers.

And now Spears has dropped the price - she relisted the home on Monday for $5.5 million - a loss of $2.4 million , according to TMZ.com.

The home, which features three garages, a library, a spa and a media room, is where the Toxic hitmaker suffered a series of meltdowns in 2007 and 2008, most notably being removed from the house and transferred to a psychiatric hospital ward after refusing to hand her sons back to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Britney Spears Back to the Circus of Single Life

The 28-year-old pop princess and her talent-agent boyfriend Jason Trawick called it quits at the end of February after about a year of dating, a source exclusively tells E! News.

"They were fighting a lot and have not been getting along," the source says.

William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, where Trawick plies his trade, confirmed Tuesday that the 38-year-old agent is still representing Spears. A rep for the blonde-again Circus star has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, this isn't the first time the business-and-pleasure-mixing duo have required some time apart.

Spears and Trawick cooled off over the holidays in December, but rekindled the flame in time to attend the Grammys together on Jan. 31, where Spears was nominated for Best Dance Recording for "Womanizer."

They were last seen in public together on Valentine's Day at a McDonald's drive-thru in L.A.

"They both just needed to take a break from each other," the source says. "It wasn't working out."

Just as it wasn't the other time they split up within the last three months, but, as our insider says, reconciliation remains on the table.

Sighting

Ke$ha and Britney Spears: Future Feud Made in Heaven?

It seems Ke$ha doesn't appear to think too highly of pop predecessor Britney Spears and isn't afraid to gab about it.

Even though she's been featured on one of Brit's songs, the 23-year-old "Tik Tok" singer is vehemently against her lip-synching.

"I don't think that's fair at all for people who are going to see the show," she tells the Scottish Daily Record. "I think if you war going to be a singer, you should sing. If you are going to be a dancer, you should dance. If you are going to do a combination of the two, you should make it very clear when you are singing and very clear when you are dancing."

Here's where she gets a bit more personal…

"No offense to her specifically, but people have asked me before to mime," she says. "I have been up at three in the morning for a television show with jet lag but I refuse to mime."

In other words, she doesn't care what she sounds like, as long as it's her voice in the microphone and not a recording.

"It's treating people as if they are too stupid to realize you are not actually singing," her rant continues. "Sometimes it is hard to sing and dance at the same time but I would rather be off and be real and genuine about it to my fans. I don't want to treat my fans like they are stupid…When I am singing, I may sound s*** sometimes, but at least you'll know I'm singing."

So much for that party when she walked in.

Britney, it's your turn. Feel free to remind her that you already taught the lesson on the importance of wearing underpants.

Spears rep denies album coming

Online gossips speculated that the Toxic hitmaker was back in the studio recording her seventh album of original material, which she was planning on debuting in May this year.

The star had reportedly roped in top producers including Darkchild, David Guetta, Cisco Adler and Sean Garrett for the material, and planned to send out a new single to radio stations as early as this month.

But a spokesperson for Jive Records, Spears' label, has denied the rumours, saying, "There has been zero discussion about it."

Spears released her sixth studio album, Circus, in 2008, and celebrated a decade in the spotlight with 2009's The Singles Collection.

Sighting

Britney Spears Takes Her Spidey Sons to the Movies

Make that two pint-size superheroes.

Britney Spears and her new blond 'do were clearly safe from harm Monday night while going to the movies with her two sons, Sean and Jayden, as both boys decided to step out in their Spidey suits.

Two bodyguards were also there, but with these comic book cuties on hand, who really needs 'em, right?

Britney Spears is Blonde...Again!

And not only did she change up the color but also got some fresh new extensions. While the choppy shorter hair on top brings back bad memories of another recent hair disaster, Brit does look happy and, really, isn't that all that matters?

Of course the following day, Britney emerged for a braless Starbucks run. Her hair color may change every two months, but Frappuccino love is forever.

U2 No. 1 on Money Makers list

The veteran act leads Billboard's 2010 Money Makers list, earning more than $108 million in 2009.

Bruce Springsteen is second with $57 million and Madonna follows with $47 million. AC/DC and Britney Spears round out the top 5 with $43 and $38 million, respectively.

Billboard compiles the list from monies earned through tours, CD and digital sales, publishing royalties and more.

Madonna topped the list last year; Springsteen came in third. Both U2 and Madonna have touring deals with Live Nation.

Britney Spears Goes "Through the Lens" For New Candie's Ads

Britney Spears Not Rushed to Hospital

Despite reports that Spears was "rushed" to the hospital today, her rep tells E! News she was simply there for a routine checkup.

"Everything is fine," says Spears' rep. "Britney is there for an annual physical."

Photogs claimed Brit-Brit was accompanied to UCLA Medical Center's Mattel Children's Hospital earlier today by two cars and a police escort.

And Perez Hilton had the Twitter world in a tizzy when he posted: "I'm hearing that @BritneySpears is in the emergency room right now. Hope it's nothing major and everything is okay! Maybe her kids?"

Imagine that, the blogosphere blowing something out of proportion.

Sighting

Spears shows off boyfriend

Cameron thankful that Brit's gone

But there’s one person he’s thanking only in private — and that’s pop star Britney Spears.

Yes, he’s thanking the cute, oft-troubled blond — for leaving him alone!

During a backstage conversation with actor Mel Gibson at the Golden Globe awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel a few weeks back, talked turned to the neighbourhood where they both live — a community called Serra Retreat, a private enclave of multi-million dollar mansions perched above the Pacific Ocean in Malibu.

“I’m so thankful she finally left,” Cameron, 56, was heard telling Gibson and a crowd of others who nodded and rolled their eyes, knowing exactly what he meant.

Cameron and other famous residents, including actors David Duchovny and Tea Leoni, had repeatedly complained to their home owner’s association (and the Malibu sheriff’s office) after Spears and then husband Kevin Federline moved to the ’hood — and right across from Cameron — in October 2004.

Cameron, who quietly lived there since 1992, refused to be neighbourly; but Gibson (no stranger to his own problems) said he felt sorry when Spears became so unravelled that she shaved her head and entered rehab.

Said Cameron at the time: “My neighbourhood loathed that she was there because we had all the paparazzi hanging around and climbing over the fence.”

In an interview with Maxim, the Ontario-born Cameron said he didn’t hate her, just the excess media attention.

When Spears had a hard time selling her Serra Retreat home in 2007 while divorcing K-Fed and arguing about child custody issues, a real estate source said the community was thinking about raising the money to buy it from her, just to get her out.

Well, she ultimately did find a buyer — and the peace and quiet Cameron (who lives with wife, Suzy, and their three young children) craves was returned.

Spears, now 29 and thankfully looking like her perky old self these days, moved to neighbouring Calabasas last year — about 10 miles inland from Cameron — and so far, there has been no complaints, at least publicly, from her new neighbours.

LOVEFOOL: Is Pam Anderson swearing off men? Is that even possible? After the sexy Ladysmith, B.C., single mom actress broke up with electrician boyfriend Jamie Padgett over Christmas, she mused about her “shame” of having too many different boyfriends around her two growing boys.

“... Not mentioning the men I’ve dragged into the picture and dragged out. That’s my shame, but love is seductive,” she wrote to fans on her personal website. “I’ve been a fool for love but I’m turning a corner.”

Good luck with that resolution, girl. If you’ve ever seen the 42-year-old Anderson in person, you know every guy in the room is throwing themselves at her and promising the world.

Sighting

Donation of Spears' dress OK for Haiti relief

A court commissioner on Friday approved a request allowing the singer to donate the dress she wore to the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards so it can be auctioned, with the proceeds going to help Haitian earthquake victims.

The court's permission was needed because the pop singer remains under a court-ordered conservatorship. Her father, Jamie, who will oversee the donation, controls his 28-year-old daughter's personal and financial affairs.

The court also granted her father authority to get rid of some of Spears' property that was used during last year's "Circus" tour. The items are described as being "valueless" and occupying several storage containers.

The 2008 MTV VMAs were the start of a public comeback by Spears, who retreated from the public eye after being placed in the conservatorship in February 2008. She won three awards at the show, including video of the year for "Piece of Me."

No other changes to the conservatorship were announced during a brief open session after Spears left the courtroom.

It was Spears' first meeting with Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz since the singer concluded a world tour promoting the "Circus" album last year.

Before the hearing, she smiled as she walked in through the courtroom's backdoor and stood next to her father and an attorney.

Spears did not speak before Goetz closed the courtroom to the public and reporters, stating that medical and sensitive personal information would be discussed.

Spears' father and others have controlled the singer's personal and financial affairs for nearly two years.

The conservatorship was created after a series of high-profile hospitalizations and incidents of erratic behavior by the "Womanizer" singer.

Britney Spears has since experienced a career resurgence and had substantial weekly visits with her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

Smiling Britney Spears Attends Court Hearing

The judge wanted to see the pop star face-to-face for a progress review since her father took legal control of her affairs following her mental breakdown two years ago.

Lawyers for the singer also sought court permission to auction off her 2008 MTV Video Music Awards dress to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief, as part of "property no longer useful for her estate."

Spears "is very enthusiastic about the idea for a donation to Haiti," her court-appointed attorney Samuel Ingham told the judge, adding that the singer "is appreciative of the extra time and effort" showed by the court in her ongoing case. The judge approved the dress donation.

The singer, 28, wore a gray jacket and black skirt with her hair dark brown and long with a few blonde streaks. She entered the courtroom at 1:45 p.m. from the judge's hallway door following her father, Jamie.

Spears smiled at Ingham as she stood at the attorney table next to him. After Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz took the stand, Spears's conservator lawyers requested to seal the courtroom because the hearing involved personal medical information.

The judge granted the request and ordered reporters and other audience members to leave for most of the two-hour session.

Experts say it's normal procedure for the judge to want to check in with her. However, Spears won't regain control of her own life until she proves to the court – backed by doctors' opinions – that she's able to manage her own affairs.

Britney Spears Due in Court for Progress Review

It's been nearly two years since the pop star's father Jamie gained legal control over her affairs, and experts say it's normal procedure for L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz to want to check in with the singer.

"The commissioner just wants to see with her own eyes how Britney is doing, and to get a feel for whether Britney fully understands what's going on in her case," says L.A. probate lawyer Jeffrey S. Cohen, who's not involved in the case.

Experts add that Spears, 28, won't regain control of her own life until she proves to the court – backed by doctors' opinions – that she's able to manage her own affairs.

Spears was ordered to appear in court last Friday but pulled a no-show after a misunderstanding occurred with the court.

Sighting

Sighting

Britney Spears to Remain the Face of Candie's Through 2010

No pain, no gain for Brit

Spears tops star of decade poll

After shooting to fame at the end of the 1990s, Spears has dominated the charts and newspaper headlines throughout the past 10 years, convincing visitors to PopEater.com she is the 00s' top celebrity.

Thirty-five per cent of more than 25,000 voters placed the singer above actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie, who drew 26 per cent of the votes.

Beyonce Knowles came third ahead of Spears' ex Justin Timberlake, Tom Cruise and Paris Hilton.

U2 tour tops annual rankings in North America

The band sold $123 million worth of tickets to its stadium tour, while Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band came in second with $94.5 million, said trade publication Pollstar.

Among all-time tours, the U2 trek ranks at No. 5, Pollstar said. The Rolling Stones hold the record with $162 million from their 2005 outing. U2's 2005 tour is No. 3 on the all-time list with $138.9 million.

Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni said the overall concert business bucked the recession, mirroring a similar phenomenon at movie theaters. He said most people go to only one or two shows a year, and are willing to pay a premium for good seats.

U2 hit the road to promote its latest album, "No Line on the Horizon," which failed to generate any hit singles and sold a relatively modest 1.06 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Pollstar said the band played to 1.3 million people at 20 shows on the North American leg of its world tour, and charged an average of $93.77. The average price on the band's 2003 tour, when it played 78 shows, was actually higher at $97.

Piano men Elton John and Billy Joel's latest co-headlining stint came in at No. 3 in 2009 with $88 million, followed by rehabbed pop princess Britney Spears at No. 4 with $82.5 million, and hard-rockers AC/DC at No. 5 with $77.9 million.

Country star Kenny Chesney made the top 10 for the sixth consecutive year, landing at No. 6 in 2009 with $71.1 million.

As in years past, veteran rockers dominated the rankings, in part because they are able to charge more than developing acts. But the fresh-faced Jonas Brothers made No. 7 after selling $69.8 million in tickets to their young fans.

Fellow Disney star Miley Cyrus was No. 13 with $45 million, and country-pop starlet Taylor Swift was No. 35 with $25.5 million. Bongiovanni said he expected Swift to make the top 10 next year on the heels of a three-month North American tour that kicks off on March 4.

The top 10 was rounded out by the Dave Matthews Band at No. 8 with $56.9 million, Fleetwood Mac at No. 9 with $54.5 million, and Metallica at No. 10 with $53.4 million.

Britney Spears Goes Back to Being Brunette

Brunette has always symbolized independence for the pop star, who spent most of her preconservatorship days with darker locks. And also sometimes pink. Really anything that wasn't blond.

Brit debuted her new 'do as she was dropped off at the Mondrian in West Hollywood. We'll see how long her dye job lasts this time—her summer one was short-lived, after all. And the second it changes, you know where to find the latest on Britney's hair! (Right here.)

Do you prefer Brit's locks light or dark?

Cameron & Britney are neighbours

The filmmaker has grabbed his fair share of headlines, thanks to the Terminator movies, Titanic and his current box office blockbuster Avatar, but he had managed to avoid the attention of the paparazzi until the pop princess snapped up a multi-million dollar house adjacent to the Malibu, California home he has owned since 1992.

Cameron tells Maxim magazine, "I never met her. My neighborhood loathed that she was there because we had all the paparazzi hanging around and climbing over the fence."

But the filmmaker insists he was more intrigued than incensed by Spears' presence: "It never really bothered me. I thought it was kind of interesting. I went over a bunch of times and knocked on the door and left notes. I was on good terms with her household staff and her security people."

Spears named top search on internet

The Toxic hitmaker shot to fame in 1998 with her debut track Baby One More Time, and during her time in the limelight she has been married twice, given birth to two children and suffered a very public meltdown, which saw her hospitalised on an involuntary psychiatric hold in 2008.

And her drama-filled personal life has resulted in her being named the most popular celeb on the web, according to search engine Ask Jeeves.

U.S. leader Barack Obama, who was elected president last year, came in second, while soccer ace David Beckham was the third most searched for star.

Late British Royal Diana, Princess of Wales and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair rounded out the top five.

Sightings

Britney Spears Ranks 2009's Most Ridiculous Britney Stories

The pop star has introduced a new "Bulls#!t Alerts" page on her Web site, meant to deliver "the inside scoop straight from Britney and her team on what's true and what's bull."

The page launches by focusing on the bull, and lots of it. A post titled "The Year in BS" presents a list of the 75 most outlandish media stories reported about Britney over the past year, as determined by the Spears team.

"There were more then 13,000 stories written about Britney in 2009," says the post. "We ranked the ones we believe were the most ridiculous. Either because they were factually inaccurate, because they reported the patently absurd, or because we believe they are simply offensive to the sensibilities.

The No. 1 story on the list, from the Mirror in the U.K., claimed that Britney was dating Indian choreographer Sandip Soparrkar.

Also in the top 10: reports that Spears, 28, wasn't prepared for her world tour, that she thought her father was drugging her, that she was dating music producer Dallas Austin, and that she filmed a music video topless.

Sightings

Britney Spears's Family Portraits

Spears walks the line between glamorous and sweet and sexy in the pictorial, which features her two sons with ex-hubby Kevin Federline, Preston, 4, and Jayden, 3.

In one photo, she peeks out from under the covers of a fluffy bed and in another she props herself on the kitchen counter as one of her sons plays in mess of cupcakes and frosting.

In her real life, things are going swimmingly for the singer, who recently wrapped the Australian leg of her Circus tour. While sources shot down rumors of an engagement to boyfriend Jason Trawick, the couple are "very happy," a source tells PEOPLE. And besides spending her birthday with her favorite boys, Spears got an extra special B-day gift: A Grammy nomination for best dance recording.

For more photos of Spears – and all the dish on her relationship with Jason Trawick – pick up PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.

Britney Spears Gets BMW at Her Sober B-Day Soiree

The singer, who turned 28 yesterday, received a shiny new white BMW convertible with a ribbon on it and balloons inside during a party at her Calabasas home.

Birthday girl Brit was in good spirits, a source tell E! News. She was dressed sexily, in a blue velvet blazer, shorts and fishnet stockings.

She had a cake presented to her around 10 p.m., but there was no champagne toast, since no alcohol was served at the soiree, the insider tells us.

"It was really mellow," says the source.

So who was on hand to help her celebrate?

BF Jason Trawick (who went shopping with her earlier), dad Jamie, her two boys, manager Larry Rudolph, as well as some backup dancers and friends.

If you didn't get an invite, don't feel bad. Less than 20 people attended.

No word on where her mom and sister were.

THE 52nd ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARD Nominations

DANCE FIELD
Best Dance Recording:
"Boom Boom Pow" - The Black Eyed Peas
"When Love Takes Over" - David Guetta & Kelly Rowland
"Poker Face" - Lady Gaga
"Celebration" -Madonna
"Womanizer" - Britney Spears

Britney Spears Spends 28th Birthday with Her Beau and Boys

The singer and her agent beau Trawick, 37, started the celebration a day early Tuesday night at L.A.'s Mondrian hotel, where Spears also enjoyed spa services, a source tells PEOPLE.

That night, the couple went to the Sunset strip, visiting both the Saddleback Ranch restaurant and Chateau Marmont. The next day, they shopped at West Hollywood's Fred Segal boutique before reuniting with the pop star's sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, at her home in Calabasas.

"Britney looked so happy," says an eyewitness. "She seemed very excited to spend her morning with Jason."

Spears was also thrilled to get to be with her two boys on her B-day, says another source. "Britney is very happy to spend the day with Preston and Jayden. The kids know it's her birthday … [They] are very excited about Britney's cake too."

Britney Spears 'Very Happy' - but Not Engaged

Although she was in fact embroiled in a lip-syncing controversy, reports that her agent-boyfriend Jason Trawick abruptly left the country after rejecting her wedding proposal are "100 percent absolutely false," says a source close to the couple. "There was no proposal and they were never engaged."

The couple of more than six months had spent time together across Australia with her two boys, Preston and Jayden, while Spears performed on stops of her Circus tour. When Trawick headed back to L.A. instead of spending the holidays it was simply a matter of logistics. "Jason spent more time in Australia than originally planned," says the source. "They are very happy."

Britney's tour bus crashes

The Toxic hitmaker is currently touring Down Under with her Circus shows and her equipment bus was travelling to Melbourne on Thursday ahead of her concert at the Rod Laver Arena on Friday night.

Police reports state the accident occurred in Parkes, New South Wales after strong winds whipped the truck off the road.

The driver was admitted to hospital, where his condition was unknown as WENN went to press. All of Spears' equipment was undamaged, according to TMZ.com.

Spears was not involved in the accident and is expected to take the stage as scheduled on Friday night.

The news comes just days after Miley Cyrus' tour bus was involved in a fatal accident in Virginia, which left the driver dead and nine members of her crew injured.

Lady Gaga snubbed by Spears

The Poker Face hitmaker carved out a career as a songwriter, penning tracks for artists including the Pussycat Dolls, before she shot into the limelight with her 2008 debut The Fame.

Lady Gaga admits one of her tracks, Telephone, was originally written for Spears, but when the Toxic hitmaker rejected the song, she recorded it herself - and brought new pal Beyonce on board to give it a superstar makeover.

She tells E! Online, "I wrote it for her a long time ago and she just didn't use it for her album - it's fine because I love the song and I get to perform it now."

Buble defends Spears' lip-syncing

Spears has come under fire since she took her Circus tour Down Under, with many media outlets blasting her decision not to sing live.

The pop star was subsequently forced to dismiss rumours of a mass walkout at her gig in Perth earlier this month when the press reported hordes of fans had left in disgust after they realised she was lip-syncing.

But now Buble has come out in defence of the Toxic hitmaker, insisting her fans can choose whether to see her gigs or not.

He says, "You'd think she killed someone. As an artist, and a human being, some of what has been written about her is so nasty. OK, she lip-syncs her show, people know that, they make the decision if they want to go and see her do that."

Spears targeted by hackers again

The singer's fans received a message from Spears' online account on Thursday which swapped her usual light-hearted banter for talk of Satan worship.

The Toxic hitmaker's Twitter.com homepage also turned an unusual shade of red as the pranksters wrote, "I give myself to Lucifer every day for it to arrive as quickly as possible. Glory to Satan! I hope that the new world order will arrive as soon as possible! - Britney."

Within hours, the post had been removed and Spears' photo on her page was replaced with a standard Twitter logo.

The star's account was previously hacked last January when naughty pranksters posted an obscene message on the page.

Britney Spears tells critics read my lips: it's for fans

Spears' manager and tour promoter rushed to defend the U.S. pop singer after it was reported that people walked out of her first Australian performance last weekend, describing it as boring, stiff, mimed and lacking interaction with the audience.

Now Spears, 27, whose is rebuilding her career after a high profile meltdown and roller-coaster personal life, has responded to the furor.

"I hear there is a lot of controversy in the media about my show," said Spears in a widely reported statement.

"Some reporters have said they love it and some don't. I came to Australia for my fans."

The promoter of Spears' Australian tour, Paul Dainty, earlier this week said the criticism about Spears lip-synching and a lackluster performance had left her "extremely upset" and it was a total fabrication to suggest that fans stormed out.

He added that it was well known that part of Spears' circus-themed concert was lip-synched as the singer danced her way through the spectacular show that promotes her sixth studio album "Circus."

Spears has been at the center of a debate over lip-synching since she arrived in Australia last week.

The Fair Trade Minister for the state of New South Wales, Virginia Judge, called for concert tickets to carry disclaimers about whether parts of concerts were pre-recorded and mimed.

Thousands of Australian fans flooded Spears' personal website and Twitter account to congratulate her on her comeback, describing her performances as "amazing," "awesome" and "brilliant."

Her manager Adam Leber used Spears' Twitter account on Thursday to post a link to a rave review for Spears' latest concert on Wednesday night in the city of Melbourne.

"Britney rocked it in Melbourne last night! And for the controversy, take a look at this!" he wrote.

Spears' tour of Australia ends in Adelaide on November 29.

Rihanna hit voted decade's best

The 21 year old has admitted she's wracked with nerves as she prepares for a show in London next Monday - her first solo concert since her violent bust-up with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in February.

But the pop star will be pleased to know her British fans have picked her song and music video for Umbrella as the best of the last 10 years, beating competition from Britney Spears and Madonna.

The top 10 list, which was voted for by BT media customers, is as follows:

1. Rihanna featuring Jay-Z - Umbrella
2. t.a.T.u - All The Things She Said
3. Avril Lavigne - Sk8r Boi
4. Britney Spears - Everytime
5. Oasis - The Importance Of Being Earnest
6. Will Young - Leave Right Now
7. Katy Perry - Hot N Cold
8. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
9. Madonna - Hung Up
10. Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

Britney Spears Weighs In on Lip-Synching Flap - Sort Of

"I hear there is a lot of controversy in the media about my show," the singer said in a statement. "Some reporters have said they love it and some don't. I came to Australia for my fans!"

While scrutiny about whether or not Spears's singing would be live or pre-recorded arose last week, it was actually report of fans walking out of her concert that put the singer on the defensive.

"It's the biggest lie I've ever heard," Spears's tour promoter Paul Dainty told The Australian about the reports. "I'm so angry. We can take heat if there's something wrong and people can review shows badly – that's something you have to live with – but to say people stormed out of the show was an absolute fabrication."

Meanwhile, the Musicians Union of Australia released its own statement in response to the lip- synching controversy, saying that concert-goers should be told if they're buying tickets to a lip-synched performance.

"It's not right that people are going to the concert when they are being misled," Terry Noone, the union's federal secretary, told ABC News Online. "That's the issue. It's not about music, it's about false advertising.”

Spears is set to perform three shows in Melbourne this week before continuing across Australia for the rest of her "Circus" tour, which will conclude at the end of November.

2010 People's Choice Awards nominees

"Twilight" and "True Blood" were among the top nominees announced Tuesday. Fans cast more than 18 million votes online to select the nominee slate and will also choose the winners in 35 categories.

The People's Choice Awards lets the general public vote for their favorite stars and works of popular culture.

"Twilight" is up for favorite movie, franchise and on-screen team for its trio of stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Stewart and Pattinson were also nominated individually for favorite movie actress and actor, and Lautner is up for breakout movie actor.

"True Blood" was nominated for favorite TV obsession and sci-fi/fantasy TV show, plus star Anna Paquin earned a nod for TV drama actress.

Fans can vote for their favorites online at www.peopleschoice.com.

Queen Latifah is set to host the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre. The ceremony will be broadcast live on CBS on Jan. 6, 2010.

The complete list of nominees:

TV drama: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Lost," "NCIS."

TV comedy: "Desperate Housewives," "How I Met Your Mother," "The Big Bang Theory," "The Office," "Two and a Half Men."

TV drama Actor: Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Harmon, Matthew Fox, Patrick Dempsey.

TV drama Actress: Anna Paquin, Blake Lively, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Katherine Heigl, Mariska Hargitay.

TV comedy Actor: Alex Baldwin, Charlie Sheen, Jim Parsons, Neil Patrick Harris, Steve Carell.

TV comedy Actress: Alyson Hannigan, America Ferrera, Amy Poehler, Eva Longoria Parker, Tina Fey.

TV obsession: "Dexter," "Gossip Girl," "The Hills," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," "True Blood."

TV talk show: "Chelsea Lately," "Live with Regis & Kelly," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Tyra Banks Show."

TV sci-fi/fantasy: "Heroes," "Lost," "Supernatural," "The Vampire Diaries," "True Blood."

TV competition show: "American Idol," "Dancing With the Stars," "Project Runway," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Survivor: Samoa."

Animal show: "Animal Cops," "DogTown," "Dog Whisperer," "It's Me or the Dog," "Rescue Ink."

New TV drama: "Eastwick," "FlashForward," "Melrose Place," "Mercy," "The Forgotten," "The Good Wife," "The Vampire Diaries," "Three Rivers," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "V."

New TV comedy: "Accidentally on Purpose," "Brothers," "Community," "Cougar Town," "Glee," "Hank," "The Cleveland Show," "The Middle," "Modern Family."

Movie actor: Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, Ryan Reynolds.

Movie actress: Anna Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Kristen Stewart, Sandra Bullock.

Action star: Christian Bale, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman, Shia LaBeouf, Vin Diesel.

Comedic star: Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Jim Carrey, Ryan Reynolds, Vince Vaughn.

Breakout movie actress: Anna Kendrick, Emily Osment, Ginnifer Goodwin, Miley Cyrus, Zoe Saldana.

Breakout movie actor: Chris Pine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sam Worthington, Taylor Lautner, Zachary Quinto.

On-screen team: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"; Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, "The Proposal"; Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, "The Twilight Saga"; Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"; Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, will.i.am, Dominic Monaghan and Daniel Henney, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

Family movie: "Hannah Montana: The Movie," "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," "Up," "Where the Wild Things Are."

Independent movie: "(500) Days of Summer," "District 9," "Inglourious Basterds," "Paranormal Activity," "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail."

Franchise: "Harry Potter," "Star Trek," "The Twilight Saga," "Transformers," "X-Men."

Comedy movie: "17 Again," "Bride Wars," "He's Just Not That Into You," "The Hangover," "The Proposal."

Favorite movie: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Star Trek," "The Hangover," "The Proposal," "Twilight."

Male artist: Eminem, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw.

Female artist: Beyonce, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Pink, Taylor Swift.

Country artist: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift.

Breakout Music Artist: Adam Lambert, Demi Lovato, Kris Allen, Lady Gaga, Susan Boyle.

Hip-hop artist: Eminem, Flo Rida, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, T.I.

Rock band: Daughtry, Green Day, Kings of Leon, Muse, Paramore.

Music collaboration: Cobra Starship & Leighton Meester, "Good Girls Go Bad"; Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat, "Lucky"; Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West, "Run This Town"; T.I. & Rihanna, "Live Your Life"; The Lonely Island & T-Pain, "I'm on a Boat."

R&B artist: Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey, Usher.

Pop artist: Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, the Black Eyed Peas.

Web celeb: Andy Samberg, Ashton Kutcher, Miley Cyrus, P. Diddy, Will Ferrell.

Wedding bells for Britney?

The pop superstar has been romantically linked to Trawick for months, but has refused to comment about her relationship with the businessman - but now sources claim she's planning a third wedding.

An insider tells Life & Style magazine, "Britney told (dad) Jamie and (mum) Lynne she wants to marry Jason. They weren’t shocked, but they’re worried Britney is confusing close friendship with romance."

But Spears is smitten and according to the source, "She says Jason makes her feel safe and loved."

The pop star's first marriage to Jason Alexander lasted just 55 hours and her second - to dancer Kevin Federline - ended in a messy divorce in 2007.

Britney Spears "upset" over Australian tour complaints

Australian media reported that fans walked out of the first of Spears' 14 Australian performances that was staged in Perth on Friday after just a few songs, describing it as "boring," "stiff," mimed and lacking interaction with the audience.

But the promoter of Spears' Australian "Circus" tour, her manager and some fans rushed to her defense, saying this savaging has left the U.S. pop singer traumatized.

"Britney is aware of all this and she's extremely upset by it," Paul Dainty, Spears' tour promoter, told The Australian newspaper on Monday.

"She's a human being. I'm embarrassed, with such a big international entourage here with Britney, to be part of the Australian media when I see that kind of totally inaccurate reporting."

Dainty said it was a total fabrication to suggest that fans had stormed out of the show as early as the third song after paying between $200 to $1,500 to see the 27-year-old singer who has rebuilt her career after a high-profile meltdown.

Before her world tour started in March to promote her sixth studio album, Spears had only done a handful of live concerts in recent years as her personal life ran out of control.

This included stints in psychiatric care, an ugly divorce, losing custody of her two sons, shaving her head and partying without panties.

Spears has been at the center of debate over lip-synching since she arrived in Australia last week, even though it's no secret that she mimes as she dances in her circus-themed show.

The Fair Trade Minister for the state of New South Wales, Virginia Judge, ignited the debate by saying Australians would not tolerate a "Mickey Mouse" performance by Spears, who rose to fame as a member of Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" TV series.

Judge suggested concert tickets should carry disclaimers about whether parts of concerts were pre-recorded and mimed.

Dainty said it was well known that part of Spears concert was lip-synched and blasted any inference that this was hidden.

"It's been all over the Internet for nine months," Dainty said. "This show is about an incredible spectacle, which it is."

Spears' manager Adam Leber took to Spears' Twitter account to defend the singer to her 3.7 million followers.

"Its unfortunate that one journalist in Perth didn't enjoy the show last night. Fortunately the other 18,272 fans in attendance did. - Adam" he wrote.

The management from the Burswood Dome in Perth, where Spears' show was staged, told local reporters that they had not received any complaints from the 17,000 people who were at the show. A similar number attended Spears' show the next night as well.

Thousands of fans flooded Spears' personal website and Twitter to congratulate her on her comeback, describing her Perth performances as "amazing," "awesome" and "brilliant."

John Mayer Tweets About Britney Spears Lip-sync Scandal

On Saturday, Mayer, who happens to be Down Under to promote his own album, Tweeted the following: "If you're shocked that Britney was lip-syncing at her concert and want your money back, life may continue to be hard for you."

Why all the fuss?

On Friday, about 100 angry fans reportedly stormed out of Britney's concert at the Burswood Dome in the Western Australia city of Perth, saying they were disappointed by the lackluster performance and Spears's lip-synching during her two-hour show. Spears gave Perth fans a generic welcome, never mentioning their city by name. "What's up Australia?," she said from the stage. "How you feeling tonight? It's so good to be here tonight. Your country is beautiful."

One disgruntled concert-goer, Wendy Di Renzo, 36, said she paid $148 for her ticket. "It was so impersonal. She did not interact with her audience," she says. "There were no big TV screens projecting the action, so if you didn't know Britney, you might have even doubted it was her."

Meanwhile, politicians in three Australian states – Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales – have called for new laws to force music promoters to disclose whether a concert will be live or lip-synched.

Yet Britney clearly left many of her fans satisfied. They have flooded her Web site with messages of support, and praised her for putting on a good show. "I paid $AUS 1,500 [nearly 1400 U.S. dollars]," wrote one. "To see a fantastic artist perform and sing in front of me is my dream come true. I love you Britney."

Another fan, Scott Bown, 16, tells PEOPLE the concert was "great" and Britney was "amazing." "People should stop being nasty about her and get a life," he says.

Spears, who is traveling with her father, will perform in Melbourne on Nov. 11.

Fans walk out on miming Britney

The exodus began just three songs into her Aussie tour debut - after fans made it clear they were unhappy with the star's lacklustre performance and miming.

One fan, Josh Blee, tells the Sydney Daily Telegraph, "It was cr*p... She has let us down."

Other concertgoers complained they couldn't even see the singer miming on the big screens above the stage because she mostly performed with her back to the cameras. And she never addressed the fans who had paid for expensive tickets.

Friday night's outrage came just 24 hours after Virginia Judge, the New South Wales Minister for Fair Trading, urged ticket agencies to warn fans about touring stars who don't sing live.

Taking aim at Spears in particular, Judge said, "Live means live. If you are spending up to $200, I think you deserve better than a film clip. The NSW Government would be happy to look at options, such as a disclaimer on a ticket which would warn consumers a performance is pre-recorded."

Outrage over Britney lip-synching

Spears is currently performing Down Under as part of her Circus world tour, but critics have slammed the star for failing to sing live during the shows.

Now the New South Wales Minister for Fair Trading, Virginia Judge, has waded into the debate - insisting ticket agencies should publish a disclaimer to stop gig-goers feeling cheated when an artist fails to provide any live vocals.

Judge has branded Spears' shows a "Mickey Mouse performance", adding: "Let's be clear - live means live. If you are spending up to $200, I think you deserve better than a film clip. The NSW Government would be happy to look at options, such as a disclaimer on a ticket which would warn consumers a performance is pre-recorded."

Britney Spears Lands Down Under

"Longest flight ever but we had a great time ... So excited to be here," the pop star, 27, Tweeted upon landing in Sydney just after 6 a.m. Thursday morning.

Spears then promptly boarded another jet, a private one this time, to head across the continent for Perth, where she will perform the first concert of her 15-show Circus tour in the country on Friday.

This being Britney Spears, she has already brought controversy with her. She's getting criticism in the Australian media for lip-synching much of her shows while charging up to $1,360 for tickets.

And she didn't leave Los Angeles without causing one last American ruckus, either. On her way to catch the Australia flight, photographers caught her getting through security at LAX airport while sucking down a huge Big Gulp drink – a big no-no for any average Joe.

The media have also noted that she's bringing quite an entourage with her: 225 crew members, 45 band members and dancers, and 15 circus performers travel with her for the concert, along with the 150 local workers the tour hires in each city it performs in.

Britney Spears' Blink and You'll Miss It Video Clip

Newton-John pities Spears

The 61 year old was propelled to stardom after her turn in 1978 movie Grease and graced the covers of magazines worldwide.

Newton-John refused to take her pin-up status seriously at the time, and claims the decision kept her grounded.

But the actress feels sorry for Spears, who found fame as a teenager in the late 1990s - because the amount of press coverage sexy stars receive nowadays is unprecedented.

She tells Britain's Attitude magazine, "The poor girl. She has lived in a time where the paparazzi reign and we didn't have that problem at all. We'd have occasional intrusion, you know I had a few incidents, but it was nothing like it is now.

"I don't think you realize it (early fame) until you look back because it doesn't really feel like reality in the time. I never really took it too seriously, which is healthy."

Britney Foots a Bill For Squishing Shutterbug

The chart topper has settled a lawsuit brought against her by a paparazzo whose foot she ran over with her car outside a Beverly Hills medical building in 2007 (not to be confused with the feet she squished that year belonging to a sheriff's deputy and a different shutterbug), according to paperwork filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Ricardo Mendoza, who was pounding the pavement when the accident occurred, had been seeking nearly $230,000 in damages and medical expenses.

Mendoza sued in May for an unspecified amount, then followed up with an amended complaint last month.

Perhaps it was the big round zeros that finally caught Britney's lawyers' attention.

Attorney Benjamin C. Alvarez's rebuttal papers had described Mendoza as a "self-serving, profit-hungry paparazzo" who "positioned and placed himself in the roadway in front of Ms. Spears' vehicle."

Britney Spears done with junk food

Britney's agent romance back on?

The pair's brief romance came to an end in August, because Spears was concerned it was getting too serious.

A source told OKMagazine.com, "She told him she needed to get back on her own two feet before moving forward. Jason was disappointed, but he understood."

Two months on, the couple was spotted shopping together in California on the weekend and onlookers claim the star and Trawick were "flirty and cuddly".

And a source tells Star magazine the relationship is back on.

The insider reveals, "Britney missed Jason so much while they were apart. They barely spoke. Now he's planning to join her on her Australian tour next month."

"3" to 1: Britney beats odds to debut atop Hot 100

Her new track, a racy paean to the joys of three-way sex from the upcoming hits set "The Singles Collection," due November 24, shifted 255,000 downloads in its first week of release, also propelling it to No. 1 on Digital Songs.

"3" is the first title to debut at No. 1 since Taylor Hicks' "American Idol" victory song, "Do I Make You Proud," did so on the chart dated July 1, 2006. In fact, the last four songs to open at No. 1 were all "American Idol"-related. Before Hicks, Carrie Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven," "I Believe" by Fantasia and Clay Aiken's "This Is The Night" each debuted at No. 1.

The last non-"Idol" song to open at No. 1 was Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.

"3" is Spears' third Hot 100 No. 1. Her debut single, "...Baby One More Time," spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1999, and "Womanizer" spent one frame at the top, a year ago this week.

Britney Spears' fake names to watch

Britney Spears Buys a Parakeet

During a trip to the California Pet Center near Calabasas, Calif., the singer decided to procure a pet. "Britney had just picked up some dog food when she spotted the parakeets and decided to buy one," an eyewitness tells PEOPLEPets.com. "She settled on a yellow parakeet and bought a big, white cage and several toys for the bird." Though she didn't reveal an intended name for her new feathered friend, the source says she "seemed excited about her new family addition." Most recently, Spears was known to own a Yorkie named London, as well as another perky parakeet.

Parakeets, which mainly eat seeds and fruit, are popular as family pets. Though they stay small in size, they're related to parrots, and in some cases, can mimic the words of their owners. Perhaps Spears's bird soon will be singing along with Mom's greatest hits?

Britney: Gimme more...Apologies

The U.K.'s more! magazine has become the latest glossy-paged publication to eat crow and issue an apology, this time to Britney Spears over a June cover story billed as an exclusive one-on-one conversation with the singer.

Instead, the "interview" was more like a greatest-hits collection of every publicly issued statement Spears had delivered over the past year, with such banal revelations as, "I'm just not that into going out late at night or going to clubs anymore," and "There are so many things that I am grateful for."

Hardly seems worth the effort, really. Unfortunately, more! couldn't open the door of apology without throwing someone out the window...

And that someone was the article's author.

"more! would like to apologize to our readers and to Britney Spears for having wrongly described the Q&A with Ms. Spears we published in our June 8, 2009 issue as an 'exclusive,' " the magazine said.

"The article was brought to more! by a freelance contributor, Jan Janssen. We now understand that Ms. Spears' quotes were given to the press generally and not exclusively to Jan Janssen. The article was not a more! exclusive as we had been led to believe, nor was it authorized by Ms. Spears. We apologize to Ms. Spears for any distress and damage caused."

But not, we're guessing, for the free publicity.

Britney Spears's Latest Single Released

The song had its premiere airing on the radio station Z100 Tuesday morning.

To listen to "3", click here.

Jive Records is releasing the album to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her debut on the music scene. Spears, 27. has had five albums debut No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100, and 23 Top 40 hits. This past weekend she wrapped up the U.S. leg of her Circus tour, which will resume Down Under in November.

The Singles Collection contains all 29 of the pop star's singles.

Britney Spears Wraps Circus Tour in U.S.

"Hey Vegas, how y'all feeling?" the headliner, 27, asked the crowd in one of the only times that she spoke during the 90-minute show at Mandalay Bay also attended by Lance Bass and Barry Manilow.

Bass didn't stay in his seat for the entire show, though: He was given a brief lap dance by Spears during the song "Breathe on Me," in which an audience member is invited on stage. Bass was seen singing as Spears smiled at him during the sexually charged choreography.

Sunday's show was the second of Spears's Vegas concerts over the weekend. On Saturday, Miley Cyrus and Spice Girl Melanie Brown attended the concert.

It wasn't all work for Spears in Vegas. Sunday afternoon, the pop star was spotted at Mirage's Sugar Factory with sons Sean Preston, 3, Jayden James, 2, and beau Jason Trawick.

"She spent about $3,000 and walked out of the store with 10 bags," a source tells PEOPLE. "She got a bunch of candy and shirts for her kids and got a bunch of the couture lollipops to give to her backup dancers." Following the purchase, the store sent another $2,500 in merchandise to her room at the Mirage Villas, according to the source.

Though she is finished with the United States leg of the tour, Spears is set to play several shows in Australia in November.

Spears' custody deal extended

The superstar singer negotiated a deal with ex-husband Federline earlier this year, which allowed her to take her two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, around the world while she undertakes her latest global trek.

Federline - who has primary custody of the children - travelled with Spears' entourage, and the deal worked out so well for all parties that Spears was granted extra time with her kids, splitting custody equally with her ex.

The deal was initially agreed until the end of August, but lawyers for both parents have agreed to extend the order until the end of 2009.

The Toxic hitmaker will still be allowed 50/50 custody, and even more at certain times, according to TMZ.com.

Pap Socks It to Britney One More Time

Shutterbug Ricardo Mendoza, whose foot fell victim to the tire of Britney Spears' Mercedes in 2007, has updated his accusation against the rejuvenated pop princess.

When he sued her for assault, battery and negligence in May, the damages were unspecified. But now, they're specified: Mendoza wants $195,000 in general damages, $16,533.59 for medical bills and $10,000 for any future foot problems.

Or Italian leather boots or something.

Mendoza, who was clicking away for TMZ at the time of the incident, let the website auction off the treaded-upon sock he was wearing two years ago, saying that would be that—but apparently it was not.

P.S. Someone bought that nonsense, too—for $585! The proceeds were donated to the Children's Defense Fund, so at least some good came out of the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Britney's busy concluding the North American leg of her wildly successful Circus tour. She finished up in Vegas Saturday and Sunday before heading off to Australia in November.

Michael Jackson vs. Britney Spears: Pop Go the Singles!

That's right, just in case a feature-length documentary, unrelenting media coverage (you're welcome?) and a tribute milkshake weren't enough to slake the public's thirst for the King of Pop, Sony Music Entertainment today announced it will be releasing Michael Jackson's first posthumous single, "This Is It," on Oct. 12.

We're guessing if sales go as hoped, this definitely won't be it...

Little is being revealed about the track, including when or where it was recorded, though Jackson had seemingly spent the last few years perpetually prepping for a comeback, with Will.i.am and Akon among his confirmed in-studio collaborators.

And as with all things Jackson, the new single will be a family affair.

Jackson's brothers provided the background vocals on the song, which will play over the closing credits of This Is It.

"This song only defines, once again, what the world already knows—that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts,"said Jackson estate coexecutor (and longtime music exec) John McClain.

Clearly, the man has been taking promotional lessons from Papa Joe.

The single will also launch a new two-disc greatest hits collection set for release this October. In addition to the track, the set will include one album of Jackson's greatest hits and another featuring unreleased versions of said hits. The second album will also feature a spoken-word poem from Jackson, "Planet Earth."

As for Brit-Brit, she's been keeping a relatively low profile lately, but expect that to change soon. Like, next week.

Next Tuesday, Spears is releasing "3," a brand new single that will hopefully also help springboard her own greatest hits album into the charts.

The Singles Collection will be released on Nov. 24 and marks 10 years since the risqué pig-tailed schoolgirl wedged herself into our pop culture consciousness.

The album will be available in two editions, both standard and an ultimate fan box set. The bonus-packed latter will feature b-sides and remixes, additional artwork and a DVD of Britney's video career in chronological order. It also boasts 29 tracks compared to the standard set's 17.

2009 MTV Europe Music Award Nominees

Best Live Act - Beyonce; Green Day; Kings of Leon; Lady Gaga; U2

Best Group - Black Eyed Peas; Green Day; Jonas Brothers; Kings of Leon; Tokio Hotel

Best New Act - Daniel Merriweather; La Roux; Lady Gaga; Pixie Lott; Taylor Swift

Best Female - Beyonce; Katy Perry; Lady Gaga; Leona Lewis; Shakira

Best European Act- Nominations announced October 12

Best Push Artist - Daniel Merriweather; Hockey; La Roux; Little Boots; Metro Station; Pixie Lott; The Veronicas; White Lies

Best Male - Eminem; Jay-Z; Kanye West; Mika; Robbie Williams

Best Urban - Ciara; Eminem; Jay-Z; Kanye West; T.I

Best Rock - Foo Fighters; Green Day; Kings of Leon; Linkin Park; U2

Best Alternative - Muse; Paramore; Placebo; The Killers; The Prodigy

Best Video - Beyonce/Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It); Britney Spears/Circus; Eminem/We Made You; Katy Perry/Waking up in Vegas; Shakira/She Wolf

Best World Stage Performance - Coldplay; Kid Rock; Kings of Leon; Lady Gaga; Linkin Park

Yoko Ono praises Britney Spears

The singer has revived her career with a hit album and successful world tour following her 2008 meltdown, which led to a stint in hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

And 76-year-old Ono believes mother-of-two Spears deserves respect.

She says, "I think that the world was not fair to her, and they're just using her and not dignifying her. I think she's a survivor and she's doing very well."

List of video music award winners

VIDEO OF THE YEAR: Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."

BEST FEMALE VIDEO: Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me."

BEST ROCK VIDEO: Green Day, "21 Guns."

BEST POP VIDEO: Britney Spears, "Womanizer."

BEST MALE VIDEO: T.I. featuring Rihanna, "Live Your Life."

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO: Eminem, "We Made You."

BEST NEW ARTIST: Lady Gaga.

BEST VIDEO THAT SHOULD HAVE WON A MOONMAN: Beastie Boys, "Sabotage."

BEST BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO: Matt and Kim, "Lessons Learned."

Sightings

Sightings

BRITNEY SPEARS' 'TOO SEXY' FANS

SPEARS' TOURING PAL

Live Review: Britney Spears in Ottawa

For the next two hours, all 17,500 sets of eyes at Scotiabank Place last night were fixed on her. The stage set up, three large bull's-eyes in the middle of the arena, made her easy to see from every angle.

And if you looked away for a second, chances are you'd see someone who resembled her.

Like, OMG, never before have I felt so old and overdressed. Me in jeans and a T-shirt, and nearly everyone else -- average age about 22 and 90% female -- in skimpy shorts and tank tops. Even some of the men. (It was, after all, the unofficial kick-off to Gay Pride Week.)

A few gum-chewing gals were even dressed in Britney's signature schoolgirl outfit from her Baby One More Time video.

Right then, I should have texted my BFF for a change of clothes, but Fridays are his bowling night.

So instead, I popped in a stick of Dentyne, and tried not to look like a pervert.

Call her what you want: Lip-syncher, pop tart, train wreck, whatever. Spears knows how to entertain a crowd.

Especially when she brings the Circus to town.

What's she going to do next? Kiss the clown? Marry the midget? Grope the trapeze artist?

What will she do when she sings Get Naked?

Cover your ears if you want, but don't blink. The frantic pace never let up.

To be honest, Spears might have been the least talented person performing on stage last night. The dancers and gymnasts were spectacular.

But it didn't matter. They aren't Britney Spears. They weren't the ones gyrating in a gold cage.

And they weren't the ones singing. But then again, neither was Spears. She appeared to be lip-synching on at least a few songs, including the opener, Circus.

But it was clearly Spears speaking when she addressed the crowd with the predictable "What's up Ottawa? How you feelin'?"

She's not the only musician guilty of that. Can't they come up with something more original?

Britney again asked us "What's up?" about 20 minutes later.

Well, since you asked twice, I'm watching this incredibly sexually charged circus show, trying to figure out if you're actually singing the songs.

And since nobody else seems to care, neither do I.

Britney Peeper Guilty of Peekaboo-boo

The woman who was arrested in April outside Britney Spears' Calabasas home after security guards caught her peering into a ground-floor window was cleared of trespassing Thursday but found guilty of misdemeanor peeking.

For real! We didn't know that existed, either!

Tozier-Robbins told E! News at the time that there was "no obsession with Britney"; rather, she had been practicing documentary filmmaking, paparazzi-style (which, to her apparently, meant in an invasive and illegal manner).

For peeking, the 26-year-old has been sentenced to three years' probation, fined $100 plus penalties and ordered to continuing staying at least 100 yards away from Spears, her kids and her residence, as per the terms of a previous restraining order. Tozier-Robbins must also perform 240 hours of community service.

We're thinking window-washing might be in order.

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick: Keeping Their Relationship Casual

"Things are fine – they still maintain a great working relationship and he's in her life as a great friend as he's always been," a close source tells PEOPLE.

Contrary to recent reports that the two ended their romance, the pair continue their relationship, according to the source. "Jason did not break up with Britney. That's totally false."

So while they are not exactly headed for the altar, the pair have a great mutual respect for one another.

"Things are casual … Britney really listens to what he has to say. He's been with her a long time, he gets along with the family," says the source. "He has her best interests at heart, and he cares about her."

Britney Spears Does Top 10 List on Letterman

No, actually, that is not one of the ways in which the United States would be different if Britney Spears were president.

She would, however, would be the first commander in chief since Nixon to wear eye shadow, and there would be a heck of a lot more pie to go around. (That's southern hospitality for you.)

Looking pert and pretty in a string bikini and handling the teleprompter like a pro, Spears tackled The Late Show With David Letterman's nightly Top 10 list Tuesday—her first late-night TV appearance since a Late Show cameo in 2006, which was before the...unpleasantness.

Other reasons to vote Britney in 2012: "We would only invade fun places like Cabo" and "Three words: Vice President Diddy."

And don't forget the No. 1 way in which this would be a total alternate universe if Britney were in charge, according to the pop princess: "The media would pay attention to me and care about what I'm doing."

The economy's looking brighter over on our end already.

Britney Spears to Present Letterman's Top 10 List

Sightings

Britney's kids have potty mouths

The Toxic hitmaker has cleaned up her wild antics following her very public meltdown in 2008 in a bid to win back custody rights of her two sons, Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, from ex-husband Kevin Federline.

But it seems the superstar's maternal mantle is slipping - onlookers were shocked when she failed to discipline the tots when they repeatedly shouted, "Oh s**t," at a celebrity event, according to the New York Daily News.

An insider tells the publication, "She was too busy picking out freebies to chastise the boys for misbehaving.

"We were all surprised by their potty mouths (swearing), but it was actually pretty funny."

Spears has previously blamed the boys' bad language on Federline, insisting they pick up naughty words from their dad.

She said, "(The boys) are starting to learn words like stupid, and Preston says the f-word now sometimes. He doesn't get it from us. He must get it from his daddy. I say it, but not around my kids."

Britney Spears is (not) performing at the Teen Choice Awards

Britney Spears to Receive Ultimate Choice Award at Teen Choice

Spears, the female artist with the most Teen Choice surfboard awards, will be honored with the ultimate choice award for her "extraordinary contributions to the entertainment industry," FOX says in a statement.

Spears is nominated for three awards – choice music single, choice female artist, choice music tour – and is up against stars like Cyrus, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson.

Teen Choice Awards 2009, hosted by the Jonas Brothers, airs on FOX Monday, Aug. 10, at 8 p.m.

Britney Spears to Perform at Teen Choice Awards

Spears joins the Black Eyed Peas, Sean Kingston and Miley Cyrus, who will each be performing at the show, which tapes Sunday at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif.

Spears is nominated for three awards – choice music single, choice female artist, choice music tour – and is up against stars like Cyrus, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson.

Teen Choice Awards 2009, hosted by the Jonas Brothers, airs on FOX Monday, Aug. 10, at 8 p.m.

Beyonce, Lady Gaga top MTV music award nominees

All three will compete for the honor of video of the year, with Beyonce earning a bid for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Lady Gaga for "Poker Face" and Britney Spears for "Womanizer."

They square off against rappers Kanye West with "Love Lockdown" and Eminem for "We Made You" in the video of the year race. Honors will be given out at New York's Radio City Music Hall on September 13 in a show hosted by British prankster Russell Brand.

Beyonce has enjoyed a hugely successful solo career since leaving the all-female group "Destiny's Child." Her third solo album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," had the No. 1 hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."

"I've been blessed this year to have 'Single Ladies' become a video people really connected with and responded to," Beyonce said in a statement released by MTV.

The annual awards are one of the cable TV channel's most-watched programs, as much for the celebrity antics and performances as the awards themselves.

At the height of Spears' early career in 2003, she and Madonna famously kissed on the show. Later her personal life veered out of control and her father took control of her business affairs. But recently she has rebounded.

Spears is currently on tour and her video for the song "Circus" was nominated for best choreography.

'GET WASTED AND MAKE ART'

New Yorker Lady Gaga's 2008 debut album, "The Fame," included the hit single "Just Dance" and was among the top five CDs in countries including the United States, Britain and Germany.

"Poker Face" earned Lady Gaga not only a video of the year nomination but also a nod for best female video, a category that pits her against Katy Perry with "Hot N Cold," Beyonce with "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," Kelly Clarkson with "My Life Would Suck Without You," Taylor Swift with "You Belong With Me" and Pink with "So What."

Lady Gaga thanked MTV "for being our video flagship, and for supporting this bunch of inspired kids, who love to get wasted and make art, together."

Eminem ("We Made You") and Kanye West ("Love Lockdown") will square off in the best male video category against hip hop star Jay-Z with "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," rapper T.I. (featuring Rihanna) with his "Live Your Life" and Ne-Yo with "Miss Independent."

First-time nominees include U.S. rockers Kings of Leon as well as rappers Drake and Asher Roth. Both rappers were nominated in the best new artist category.

Other categories include best hip hop video, best pop video and best rock video.

K-Fed approves of Brit's new man

Spears, who divorced Federline in 2006, has recently been rumoured to be dating her longtime agent Jason Trawick.

Trawick has been at Spears' side throughout her ongoing Circus world tour and was spotted joining the star on a family break in the Bahamas earlier this year.

Federline has now confirmed his wife is enjoying a new romance - and insists he is pleased she has found a stable relationship.

He tells OK magazine, "I think it's great. I'm happy for her. I'm glad she's doing good. The whole situation is good right now."

Spears' conservatorship nears end

Spears' father was made conservator of her estate after her 2008 meltdown which led to the star being taken to hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

Jamie filed a legal document last month certifying he had obtained a $1.5 million bond to keep her assets from being pillaged and ensure he would remain her financial guardian until the end of the year.

A judge will then review the terms of the arrangement - and a new report from TMZ.com suggests the elder Spears believes his daughter, who is currently touring the world with her Circus show, has proved she can now take care of herself without the legal arrangement.

Vendors on Spears' tour have been told the conservatorship will remain throughout the trek, which ends in November.

SPECIAL FRIEND

Publicist: Britney Spear's Warsaw stop canceled

The singer, whose hits include "...Baby One More Time" and "I'm a Slave 4 U," has been playing a series of shows this summer in Europe, including in Britain, France and Sweden.

The July 24 show in Warsaw was canceled because of a contractual dispute that could not be resolved, a statement released by her publicist said Wednesday.

Phone calls to the concert organizer in Warsaw, Agencja Akwarium, went unanswered. An official Web site devoted to Spears' Polish stop, http://www.britneykoncert.pl, said only that the show was canceled and that it would soon post information for ticket holders.

The Warsaw concert was to have been Spears' second-to-last show in Europe before the "Circus" tour returns to the United States. She is scheduled to play at the 02 Arena in the German capital, Berlin, on July 26.

The 27-year-old "Womanizer" singer is scheduled to embark on an Australian tour in November after performing a series of shows in the U.S. and Canada.

Swedish papers plan photo boycott of Britney show

Spears is scheduled to perform in the Swedish capital on July 13.

Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet, Expressen and Aftonbladet say they won't send photographers to the show unless Spears agrees to scrap certain conditions on how the images can be used.

The contract bars the papers from reselling the pictures and from publishing them more than 30 days after the concert.

Dagens Nyheter photo editor Roger Turesson said Friday "the next step would be to tell critics they can't write anything critical."

Local representatives of Spears' record label Sony BMG did not immediately answer phone calls seeking comment.

Sightings

Behind-the-Scenes at Britney Spears's Candie's Shoot

Spears' dad to continue legal control

Spears' father was made conservator of her estate after her 2008 meltdown which led to the star being taken to hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

The Toxic hitmaker's dad filed a legal document on Sunday certifying he has handed the cash over to the court so he can remain Spears' legal guardian until at least the end of this year (09).

The $1.5 million bond, reportedly made up of Jamie's own money, has been put in place in a bid to prevent the singer's assets being pillaged, according to RadarOnline.

It is unclear why the bond was filed so long after the court-ordered conservatorship was introduced last year.

Spears, DeGeneres Twitpic accounts hacked

Britney Spears "Devastated" by Jackson's Death

The duo performed "The Way You Make Me Feel" together for Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration, which aired on CBS in 2001.

"I was so excited to see his show in London," Spears said in a statement today. "We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him. He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I'm devastated he's gone!"

Britney on Ed McMahon

Britney Spears Peeper Pleads Not Guilty to Trespassing

The would-be documentary filmmaker acccused of donning camouflage and sneaking onto Britney Spears' property in hopes of capturing the Circus star on video proclaimed her innocence in an L.A. court today.

Miranda Tozier-Robbins, 26, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor trespassing charges which could net her a maximum of six months in jail.

Representing herself, the onetime American Idol hopeful entered the plea after briefly meeting with the prosecutor in Judge Jay Ford III's chambers following a dispute over one of the charges.

"I was detained at the residence, your honor. I wasn't asked to leave," she told the judge in response to an allegation that Spears' private security guards asked her to go away and she ultimately refused.

A pretrial hearing set was scheduled for July 17, but Ford indicated he expected some sort of plea deal to be worked out before then. The judge did not rule on whether to return Tozier-Robbins' confiscated video footage.

Ford remains subject to a temporary restraining order prohibiting her from coming within 100 yards of the "Toxic" singer and her home.

Spears, meanwhile, just returned to L.A. after wrapping up her tour of Britain and Ireland. It was during her concert in Manchseter, when per the Telegraph, Spears took the stage and welcomed the crowd with a hearty "What's Up, London?"

Nice to know that even if Brit doesn't know where she is on a day-to-day basis, her overzealous fans do.

Spears' city confusion on U.K. trek

Source: Britney Spears Is Not Engaged

Despite rumors that the singer plans to wed her boyfriend, agent Jason Trawick, the couple are not engaged, a source tells PEOPLE.

"There's no truth to it at all. Britney is not engaged," says the source.

Rumors of impending nuptials for Spears, who has been married twice before, began to surface Wednesday after Star magazine reported that the singer planned to "walk down the aisle again" with Trawick.

Spears, 27, and Trawick have been spending lots of time together lately – including taking a trip to the Bahamas with her two sons last month.

"They're very sweet together," a source told PEOPLE earlier this month. "He makes Britney really happy, and he's great with the boys."

Britney Spears's Peeper Gets Restrained

A temporary restraining order was issued today against Miranda Tozier-Robbins, the woman busted for trespassing on the Circus star's property back in April.

Tozier-Robbins must stay at least 100 yards away from both Spears and her spread in Calabasas, Calif.

The 26-year-old onetime American Idol hopeful was originally due to be arraigned this morning on two misdemeanor charges, but the hearing was put off for one week after she showed up more than two hours late to the Malibu courthouse.

Los Angeles Superior Judge Jay Ford III even went so far as to issue a bench warrant for Tozier-Robbins' arrest, but recalled it when she finally arrived—at 10:45 a.m. for the 8:30 a.m. hearing—with an excuse in hand. She had to take a bus from Inglewood, about 25 miles away, in L.A.'s notorious rush hour traffic.

Tozier-Robbins also announced she would be defending herself in the proceedings, but Ford advised her against entering a plea until the next hearing. He also waived the $5,000 bail provided she return to court next week, which she agreed to do.

Preferably, on time.

Meanwhile, one ruling made in court today was to the apparent dismay of Tozier-Robbins.

Although she was informed during her initial booking that she would get back the confiscated footage she shot at Spears' abode, the judge said he'd wait a week before he decided to return it.

It was bad news for Tozier-Robbins, who became visibly upset upon hearing the news…which probably accounted for her brusque refusal to comment to reporters on her way out of court.

"I don't talk for free," she said.

Spears was not and will not be present for the proceedings, as she's currently in the U.K. with her boys in the midst of a recently-expanded world tour.

2009 Teen Choice Award nominations

Choice Music: Single
"My Life Would Suck Without You," Kelly Clarkson
"The Climb," Miley Cyrus
"Poker Face," Lady Gaga
"Hot N Cold," Katy Perry
"Circus," Britney Spears

Choice Music: Female Artist
Miley Cyrus
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Britney Spears
Taylor Swift

Choice Music: Tour
American Idol
Jonas Brothers
Demi Lovato / David Archuleta
Britney Spears
Taylor Swift

K-Fed and Britney Rework Their Time With the Kids

Lawyers for the pop princess and ex-hubby Kevin Federline have reconfigured the details (i.e. time of day, which days) of their existing custody arrangement for the remainder of her summer tour. But the amount of time they each spend with sons Jayden James and Sean Preston will not change, according to longtime Federline attorney Mark Kaplan.

"As a matter of fact, there was a lot of effort put into the arrangement that was agreed upon to make sure that, although the days might change and the hours might change, that when she has to be on a particular venue, the amount of time doesn't change," Kaplan said when asked about a report that Spears was going to be in charge of the boys more than 50 percent of the time.

"You have to look at the overall time and not just a very limited focus on a particular week," Kaplan said by way of explaining the time-frame misunderstanding. "That is really just an accommodation to ensure that she can meet her commitments for performing and meet her obligations and desires as a parent."

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon signed off on the deal, which was filed under seal.

"The whole plan and structure of the tour as it's related to custody was that the venues are in a hub...so that Kevin can be in that area [on] days where the kids are going to be with Britney," Kaplan said. "They don't sacrifice her commitments to a particular venue and...the kids, while the house might look different, the scenery might look different, the custodial time with the parents doesn't look different."

Whether or not the agreement will apply to Spears' just-announced Australian leg of her tour, Kaplan couldn't say just yet, but he expects it to be similar.

"Whatever conditions existed before the tour, as far as when and under what particular circumstances custody will be exercised, they are the same here as they would be in Europe, Australia, anywhere—so the whole plan is to have the parents accommodate each other without making the kids have any kind of adjustment."

Spears has booked a new slew of North American dates to take her through September, after which she'll move the show Down Under.

Britney's Circus Back to U.S.A., Then Down Under

On the heels of news that Britney Spears will for the first time ever be taking her musical spectacular to Australia this fall comes word that she's not quite done with her home crowd, adding a second leg to her U.S. and Canadian tour dates to resume this summer.

"I'm so excited to bring The Circus back to North America," the songbird, currently touring the U.K., said in a statement on her website. "I've made some really cool changes to the show that I think my fans are really going to love.

"I also get to bring the show to some new cities we missed the first time around."

And make some return engagements to some of her most welcoming cities...

Anticipating another ticket windfall, this time around Spears is adding two dates to New York's Madison Square Garden and will be hitting most corners of the country (sorry, Pacific Northwest).

Meanwhile, the new dates ensure Spears will be on the road through the end of November.

Yesterday, she announced that she will be bringing the Circus Starring Britney Spears tour to Oz for six shows this fall, with the blessing of the courts.

"I've wanted to tour Australia for quite some time and now it's finally happening," she said. "My Circus tour is the best show I have ever created and I can't wait to perform it for all of my Australia fans. See you guys soon!"

Tickets for Spears' North American dates go on sale June 19. Australian fans can purchase their seats now.

Click here for a complete list of Britney's expanded tour dates:

Britney Spears Is Dating Her Agent

Confirming Internet rumors, a source tells PEOPLE that Spears, 27, is romantically involved with her agent, Jason Trawick. "They are totally and definitely dating," the source says. "Her dad loves him. He's the best thing that happened to her."

In recent months, Trawick has often been photographed with the pop star, including during her May trip to the Bahamas with her sons, Preston, 3, and Jaden, 2.

"They're very sweet together," the source says, adding that Spears "always had a crush" on Trawick, who is also one of her brother Bryan's best friends. "He makes Britney really happy, and he's great with the boys."

Spears's rep had no comment.

Britney Spears Sets First Australian Tour

The Australian leg of The Circus Starring Britney Spears begins in Perth on Nov. 6 and continues through the month. Spears, 27, is taking the tour worldwide – it began earlier this year in her native Louisiana and she is currently performing eight dates at London's O2 Arena. She will continue in continental Europe through the end of July.

Having staked her career comeback on this tour – her first since 2004 – Spears says on her Web site, "My Circus tour is the best show I have ever created, and I can't wait to perform it for all of my Australian fans."

Photog defends Spears topless pics

Snaps first published on Sunday by Britain's News of the World tabloid show the pop star wearing temporary tattoos over her breasts as she grinds to her hit 2007 song in a strip club setting.

The photos have since surged online, sending gossips into a spin.

The photographer's agent, Alec Byrne, refuses to identify his client but insists Spears brought the photographer to the video shoot and posed for the topless snaps, taken at a Los Angeles studio.

Byrne tells the New York Post, "These pictures were (Spears') idea. She was going to use this in the promotion of the video - but obviously, after (she) saw the content, decided not to. These weren't sneak pictures."

A lawyer for the conservatorship overseeing Spears' assets, controlled by her father Jamie Spears, had not returned requests for comment as WENN went to press.

Britney Settling Up With Ex-Manager

Attorneys for the touring poptart have settled a lawsuit brought by a manger Spears worked with in the early aughts who complained that she broke her agreement to pay him commissions until 2008.

The "Toxic" singer worked with Johnny Wright until 2003, according to the suit, and she stopped cutting him checks at the end of 2006.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, per the Los Angeles Times.

Also in court today, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz, who has been overseeing Spears' conservatorship and approving money exchanges right and left, signed off on another $193,000 in legal fees to be paid by Spears' estate mainly to the attorneys who handled this case.

Meanwhile, Spears had the night off Friday in between shows at London's O2 Arena, where she's set to perform eight times before moving the Circus to Manchester's M.E.N. Arena on June 17.

Britney Spears Nurtures a New Pair of (Adorable) Backup Dancers

They may only be two and three years old, respectively, but Jayden James and Sean Preston are already workin' hard on their skills.

In videos taken during rehearsals for the London leg of Brit's Circus tour, the mop-topped tots performed their inspired choreography to "Baby, One More Time" and "Toxic." The pair drew applause from the crowd and raves from the critics (mom) the moment they stepped into the (hoola-hoop) rings.

As alike as the two boys appear, their styles of movement are considerably varied. Jayden clearly takes inspiration from the martial arts with his rhythmic chopping. S.P. has more of a street style and undeniably is looking to become a break dancer, especially with his signature, one-legged downward-facing dog move. Even mom was impressed with that one (you can hear her comment in the second "Toxic" clip)!

So You Think You Can Dance's Kasprzak brothers had better watch out! We give the Federline boys a loud, Mary Murphy scream, but we're wondering what Nigel Lythgoe would have to say about them.

Fans, Critics Split over Britney's London Gig

But the critics were less than unanimous in their reactions to the initial gig in the European leg of her Circus tour under a perfect big top – London's tented O2 Arena, where Michael Jackson will stage his comeback concerts in July.

At least Spears pronounced herself happy, tweeting on her official Web site, "Just wrapped my first show in London. I love all the remixed tracks and new costumes!"

The updated tracks included "Baby One More Time" and "Womanzier," which served as a raunchy encore, with Spears playing provocative policewoman to boss her prone dancers.

The show saw her cut in half in a classic illusion, play the master of ceremonies in the three-ring circus and perform – often in skimpy underwear – while suspended from the ceiling. But it wasn't until about 40 minutes into the highly choreographed act that she demonstrated any verbal interaction with the crowd, hollering, "What's up London? How are you guys feeling tonight?" before singing the ballad "Everytime" to a rousing rapture from the estimated 20,000 fans.

Critical Reaction

Afterwards, the best-selling Sun tabloid, under the headline "All A Brit Dull," called Spears "completely uninspiring … A girl walking around, flicking her hair and miming to some average pop songs."

The Daily Mirror's gossips, the 3am girls, however, loved "Britney's Sexy Circus," saying "Anyone … expecting a new wholesome-as-mom's-apple-pie image are in for a rude awakening. A very rude one!"

The Guardian was less enamored, saying "there's something unsexy about all of it, possibly because there's something weirdly characterless about the woman at its centre," while the Daily Mail, noting some of her well-documented troubles, praised Spears for staging of one of pop's most "remarkable comebacks."

Daily Telegraph rock writer Neil McCormick writes: "Lipsynced, autotuned and double tracked, her vocals are as unashamedly pre-recorded as her backing tracks," calling it "the most perfectly plastic pop show ever staged."

The Circus tour – Spears's first in five years – began in New Orleans in March. She is set to remain in London for another seven dates and will also perform in Manchester before heading to Dublin, Paris and Scandinavia for a series of scheduled performances through summer.

Britney's cousin explains 'breakdown'

Spears caused a media circus when she allegedly locked herself in the bathroom of her Hollywood Hills home with her youngest son Jaden.

But Sims, who was dismissed and sent packing from the family compound when the singer's father Jamie took control of her affairs, is adamant that neither her cousin nor her son were in any danger - and those that gathered outside the home should have been more understanding.

Sims tells U.S. news show Access Hollywood, "She had kids fast, there was a divorce going on and that's a lot for a young person to handle."

And the former Spears assistant insists the singer confided in her about her decision not to hand over the boys to their father Kevin Federline's security guards.

Sims adds, "She was just like, 'I just wasn't ready for them to go home.' It was a mom just being protective... It's weird when you have kids three days a week and you're used to having them all day, every day."

And the pop star's cousin has dismissed reports Spears suffered a breakdown before she was committed to a UCLA Medical Center psychiatric ward, adding, "She was fine, honestly."

And, despite the fact Sims is no longer close to Britney, she'll never say a bad word about the pop star or her mothering skills.

Even when she was subpoenaed to testify at Spears' "brutal" child custody trial, she insists, "There was nothing bad to say."

Casa Britney Going for Cut-Rate Price

Despite having quietly shopped around her Italian Renaissance-inspired villa for the better part of a year, the pop star has yet to unload the six-bedroom, six-bath, 7,500-square-foot estate in the gated celeb-heavy Summit neighborhood.

Spears purchased the home for $7.1 million back in December 2007. Since then, the place started picking up bad juju as ground zero for her infamous gurney-strapped ambulance ride, among other embarrassing episodes during her public meltdown in early 2008.

The singer, who is currently touring the U.K. with her Circus act, dropped the sale price of her home to a measly $6.5 million on Tuesday, the lowest the ever asked for the property. When it was first officially placed on the market by Sotheby's Realty back in September 2008, it was priced at $7.9 million.

And while Spears has yet to unload her old digs, it's hardly kept her from moving on up. She's currently leasing an even larger 10,300-square-foot home in Calabasas.

Britney Sued for Squishing a Shutterbug

A grieved paparazzo has sued the Circus star for rolling over his foot with her Mercedes convertible in 2007, a headline-grabber that was captured on video and was one of a trio of incidents in which a vehicle being driven by Spears left a tire tread on someone's tootsie, including one belonging to a sheriff's deputy.

Shutterbug Ricardo Mendoza, who was employed by TMZ at the time, did not press charges; instead, he filed a lawsuit Friday claiming assault, battery and negligence.

Spears "intentionally, deliberately, wantonly, maliciously and with a conscious disregard for the rights, health, and safety of others" drove her car in a way that caused her to "drive, push, ram and/or barrel through a crowd of people...severely injuring plaintiff," the complaint states.

View the lawsuit.

He's asking for unspecified damages for the Oct. 18, 2007, incident, which occurred as he tried to get a shot of Spears as she was leaving the parking lot of a medical office in Beverly Hills.

No charges were ever filed in any of Spears' three rollover cases but, as hindsight is 20/20, it was a sure sign that something was amiss. Sure enough, Spears was hospitalized twice that following January, the second time resulting in her existing conservatorship.

Britney Sill A Mess

Britney Attends Cousin's Wedding in Louisiana

"When her brother walked her down the aisle, she looked stunningly calm and beautiful," says one wedding guest. "She was very pretty, low-key. She was not the center of everything, just pretty and calm and collected.”

The wedding took place at the First United Methodist Church, the same church where the funeral for Covington's mother Sandra, who died of ovarian cancer, took place in January 2007.

Later, at the wedding reception, the pop star hung out with her sister and fellow bridesmaid, Jamie Lynn, who toted baby Maddie, and "sat at a table off to the side and visited with local people she knew," says the guest.

"There was no fanfare," noted the guest. "With all the star power Britney and her family command, it was still the bride's day."

Britney's Splashing Good Time in the Bahamas

The pop star, 27, (who posted vacation photos on her Web site) and sons Jayden, 2, and Preston, 3, also pet a dolphin and visited a lagoon where they fed and touched conch, baby rays and starfish.

Spears's tour resumes June 3 in London.

Bodyguard Sues Brit Over "Toxic" Workplace

So says a former bodyguard who claims in a new lawsuit that he's been injured—both physically and psychologically—during his tenure providing security for the pop princess.

Per the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, security guard Kerry Vine alleges Spears "negligently operated her home and business thereby causing injuries to [him]" and her "extreme/outrageous conduct intentionally and or recklessly caused [him] severe emotional distress."

While he doesn't elaborate on the details of his dings in his court docs, he does calculate that he's due money to cover hospital and medical bills, as well as lost wages and other expenses.

Lawyers for Spears' camp were unavailable for comment.

Vine also names his former employer Advanced Security Concepts for assigning him a job that put him in danger.

Last week, court documents showed that the "Womanizer" singer shelled out more than $447,000 for a 24/7 security detail from Feb. 2 to Dec. 31, 2008.

Spears is getting ready to launch the monthlong European leg of her Circus tour June 2 in London. She's also due to play dates in Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Warsaw and Berlin.

Britney's Bills as Hefty as Ever

Sure, Spears' estate shelled out more than $3 million in legal fees between Feb. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, including the $625,000 she was ordered to hand over to Kevin Federline for his family court expenses.

But she had plenty left over, considering she racked up bills of $447,634 for security; $49,387 for home repairs and maintenance; $105,000 to rent her Malibu digs; and $178,818 for childcare.

Other expenses that qualify Spears' status as rich: $188,556 on assistants and other employees; $285,594 in mortgage payments; $5,998 for "decorations"; and $1.06 million in "miscellaneous business expenses."

All told, Spears spent upward of $10 million during those 11 months.

It's good to be the pop princess. (View the documents)

Britney Going Pond-Hopping With Her Boys

Kevin Federline's longtime attorney tells E! News that K-Fed and his ex-wife will be extending their current custody arrangement when Spears' blockbuster tour crosses the Atlantic.

Meaning, Federline will also be making the trek to Europe so that Spears can continue to be close to sons Sean and Jayden—and the boys' dad will be around to take care of them when mommy is onstage.

"They worked out an arrangement to facilitate her being able to go on tour without having to sacrifice her abiltity to see the kids," attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan says. "She'll go on tour, she'll go to the venues, but Kevin will be there with the kids. There won't be any change in the custody schedule in Europe or anywhere she is on tour."

The once estranged exes first hammered out a modified joint custody deal when Spears embarked on her Circus tour in March in New Orleans.

"Kevin is happy with how the kids are doing and he's happy that he's been able to work out an arrangement where Britney is pursuing her professional goals and Kevin is rooting for her all the way," Kaplan says.

My, how far they've come.

"The kids are great, they're really happy," Kaplan added. "They're very well adjusted kids, as well adjusted as you can expect. They will always push the envelope but I think that they have the absolute privilege of having two parents who absolutely love them. Everyone has worked for making sure that they're not a product of all of the attention and commotion."

As for Federline's current squeeze, volleyball player Victoria Prince, Kaplan wouldn't confirm whether she'd be a member of the overseas entourage, but he said that she has spent time with Sean and Jayden and "they have a good relationship."

The Circus Starring Britney Spears is off to London in time to kick off an eight-show engagement at O2 Arena, after which it's off to Dublin, Paris, Stockholm, etc. before the tour wraps up July 26 in Berlin.

Meanwhile, as the money rolls in from Brit's comeback extravaganza, her estate has noticed that an awful lot of dough has been rolling out, as well.

Hence the motion filed by Spears' legal camp Friday requesting that Sam Lutfi be ordered to reimburse Spears for $123,142 in legal fees to cover what it cost to fight for the three-year restraining order that was, after a drawn-out struggle, put in place against Lutfi last month.

They would also like another $129,922 from fellow restraining order target Jon Eardley and $72,292 from Britney's ex, Adnan Ghalib, all of whom have been ordered to stay away from the popster until April 2012.

Sam Lutfi May Have to Foot Britney's Legal Bill

Britney Fan Busted for Making a Move on Stage

Sam Lutfi Still Bugging Britney Spears

Just one day after a judge extended Britney Spears' restraining order against her former manager through 2012, Lutfi has filed an appeal challenging the ruling and denying that there is a legal need to keep him 100 feet from the star.

Lutfi's attorney Bryan Freedman told E! News that his client is fighting the order as "there was absolutely no evidence whatsoever that Britney Spears was suffering substantial emotional distress as required by the statute."

"In fact, the evidence was just the opposite—it was that she was reaching out for Sam's help, and all Sam did was get her a lawyer. There is no evidence of threats or stalking or anything whatsoever."

Freedman argued in the appeal, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, that Lutfi never threatened or harassed Spears, and claimed that he in fact was laboring at her behest.

"We believe the appellate court will overturn the ruling," Freedman said.

"Restraining orders were created for stalkers and for people who make threats, and truly the only evidence that existed in the whole case was that Sam sent 10 text messages to the hairdresser—none of which were threatening or a vulgar word or mean or anything else."

He went on to say that Lutfi was simply looking out for Spears' best interests and that he doubted the singer herself felt there was a need for the permanent order.

"Sam got her a lawyer, and facilitated his sister, and she requested getting her a cell phone," he said.

"If Britney Spears wanted this restraining order herself than why didn't she testify, come to court, send a letter to the judge or do anything."

A judge ruling that she "lacks the capacity" to testify is apparently not a good enough excuse for him.

While Lutfi is so far alone in his appeal, he wasn't alone in being told to keep away: Jon Eardley, the attorney who made an unsuccessful attempt at dismantling Spears' conservatorship last year was also named in the restraining order.

Britney's 'Circus' tour traveling Europe

Britney's Family Keeps Sam Lutfi Away for Good

A judge on Tuesday granted the singer's request for permanent restraining orders against Lutfi and Jon Eardley, the attorney who tried unsuccessfully last year to fight Britney's conservatorship.

According to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb's ruling, neither man can contact the Circus star or come within 100 feet of her home, work, car or family until April 28, 2012.

The Spears camp, headed up by dad Jamie, has been looking to keep Lutfi out of Britney's life for nearly 15 months ago, since her father was appointed coconservator of her affairs and Lutfi admitted to medicating Britney by crushing up pills in her food.

He had originally agreed to lay low, but ultimately fired back in February with a defamation suit, accusing the Spears family of dragging his name through the mud.

Both he and Eardley had fought the bid to keep them restrained for years at a time, arguing that there was no evidence of harassment on their part.

Bobb issued a similar order against shutterbug Adnan Ghalib, Britney's ex from her less productive days, last month.

Ghalib is currently facing felony charges for allegedly hitting a process server with his car when the man tried to hand him notice of the once-temporary restraining order against him. The sometime-paparazzo, who has pleaded innocent, is also being sued by his alleged victim.

Britney Brings the Party to Vegas

Brit threw an exclusive bash in Phil Maloof's 15,000 square foot Sky Villa at the Palms Place Hotel & Spa for 50 people. Besides her backup dancers, the Pussycat Dolls (who open for Brit) came to party, minus Nicole Scherzinger.

"Everyone kept asking 'Where's Nicole?' And the answer was that she hardly ever hangs out with the group any more," says a source at the soiree.

While Paul Oakenfeld deejayed, guests got to watch a juggling act and contortionist performances. On the menu for late-night revelers, who hung until 3 a.m.? Sliders, peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, brownies, cotton candy and caramel popcorn.

Brit wasn't the only celeb spotted in Sin City this weekend...

Paris and Doug Reinhardt were sitting right by the stage watching Brit's show early Saturday. Later they joined Nicky Hilton to hit up Tao, where Jamie King was celebrating her 30th birthday.

Their group later headed to XS at Encore around 3 a.m., where Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson were also hanging out. Wonder how that panel would rate Brit's Circus?

Britney suffers hair malfunction

In a new YouTube.com video of one of her most recent shows in the U.S., a suspended dancer clearly yanks off a clump of Brit's hair extensions as he attempts to pull her into the air with him.

Meanwhile, insiders claim Spears is struggling with her energetic dance routines.

A source tells Britain's The Mirror, "The choreography is insane - it's so fast it is really taking its toll on her. There is one move during (the song) Touch Of My Hand, where two guys dangle from the ceiling and pick her up upside down, which is really getting to her.

"She spins around for nearly five minutes some nights. The blood rushes to her head and when she gets down she complains of nausea and dizziness. There have been a couple of times when she ran off stage and vomited."

Seacrest starts Britney baby rumour

Britney tops concert tour list

TOP 20 CONCERT TOURS
1. (1) Britney Spears; $2,287,230; $100.69.
2. (2) Elton John / Billy Joel; $2,185,634; $115.84.
3. (3) Celine Dion; $2,029,095;$108.17.
4. (4) Eagles; $1,691,056; $130.12.
5. (5) AC/DC; $1,409,211; $85.12.
6. (6) Fleetwood Mac; $1,169,580; $99.27.
7. (7) Nickelback; $787,420; $58.38.
8. (8) Rascal Flatts; $656,209; $61.08.
9. (9) Lil' Wayne; $582,663; $66.26.
10. (10) Brad Paisley; $454,374; $48.30.
11. (11) Motley Crue; $382,436; $54.11.
12. (12) Jeff Dunham; $272,548; $44.17.
13. (13) The Killers; $265,429; $42.01.
14. (14) Slipknot; $249,015; $37.83.
15. (15) New Kids On The Block; $231,931; $54.03.
16. (16) Avenged Sevenfold / Buckcherry; $186,182; $36.94.
17. (17) John Legend; $173,355; $55.28.
18. (18) Larry The Cable Guy; $172,301; $32.82.
19. (20) Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles; $168,160; $47.40.
20. (21) Bill Gaither & Friends Homecoming; $143,407; $34.84.

Closing Arguments Heard in Britney Restraining Order Case

The singer's father Jamie, who initially filed the request on Jan. 30, alleges that both men have continuously harassed his daughter, adding that Lutfi smuggled a cell phone to her at a hotel.

Samuel Ingham, a court-appointed lawyer for the pop star, 27, told Judge Aviva Bobb, "My client's situation has improved dramatically over the last 14 months. [A permanent restraining order against them] is in my client's best interest ... She has suffered emotional distress."

Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for Lutfi, 34, has denied his client committed any wrongdoing, saying Lutfi was merely responding to Spears's "cries for help," alleging she was seeking to overturn her father's legal control over her life. "Not one threat or act or violence was directed at Britney Spears," Freedman argued.

An attorney for Eardley, Roger Diamond, continuously questioned the validity of Jamie's conservatorship, and argued that Britney authorized Eardley to represent her, although a court has previously ruled that Spears "lacks the capacity" to hire her own lawyers.

The hearing will continue on April 28.

Sightings

Britney Spears' Peeper Defends Her Snooping

Tozier-Robbins, 26, is a former American Idol hopeful who says she has been in Los Angeles for about a month and a half and is actively pursing a an entertainment industry career in numerous fields, one being paparazzi-like documentary filmmaking.

According to Tozier-Robbins, Britney's house was simply chosen because of it's convenient location and perfect timing—she knew Spears would be in L.A. for her tour this week and apparently her address is available online. "The documentary is more or less just, you know, on the way to Britney's house, going the bicycle ride, the camping out in the woods.

While she confesses to being a fan of Spears, Tozier-Robbins claims that she is in no way a stalker. "There's no obsession with Britney. Somebody else can go ahead and claim the title of Britney's stalker, because I sure as heck don't want it you know!"

Once on the property, Tozier-Robbins was immediately caught by a Spears security guard and arrested for trespassing. She received a citation and was released, but surprisingly Tozier-Robbins tells E! that she would do something like this again in the future—minus the trespassing.

"I learned my lesson. What I was doing was paparazzi work preparation. I'd like to do some paparazzi gigs—it's a start."

Unfortunately for Tozier-Robbins, the type of work she claims to want to do—music, movies, TV—are not easily achieved through this kind of start in the biz. Moreover, other interviews she has given about the Spears break-in don't always provide precisely the same rationale given to E!.

TMZ reported that Tozier-Robbins was attempting to show the lengths the paparazzi go to get a good shot for a documentary she is filming, while she told Billy Bush that it was all a joke in the beginning, one that "everyone knew about."

For now, Tozier-Robbins awaits her day in court, though so far no date has been set. But the trespasser is eager for it to arrive so she can reclaim her confiscated "documentary" tape.

Woman says she snooped at Spears' home for film

Miranda Tozier-Robbins says she wanted to show the efforts paparazzi go through and she chose Spears because it "might as well be someone I'm interested in."

Deputies arrested the 26-year-old Thursday after security guards caught her peeking into windows at the singer's Calabasas home, wearing camouflage and carrying camera gear.

The Fitchburg, Mass., native responded electronically to a series of questions from The Associated Press on Friday, and confirmed her identity in a phone message. She says she wasn't expecting Spears to be home, but would have tried to sell pictures of the singer if she got any.

Camo-wearing woman arrested at Spears home

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested Miranda Tozier-Robbins on Thursday morning after security guards stopped her at Spears' suburban Calabasas home. Deputies say the 26-year-old was issued a citation for trespassing and disorderly conduct and released.

A sheriff's spokesman said it was unclear what the woman was up to. Jail records did not indicate whether Tozier-Robbins has an attorney.

Spears recently moved from her hilltop home in Los Angeles. Her former home was prone to spying by the paparazzi, who occasionally staked out a fire access road to try to get shots of the 27-year-old.

Britney Knows the Way to San Jose, Just Not Its Name

Fresh off flipping the bird to Edmonton and informing Vancouver to both refrain from smoking weed and rock out with their you-know-whats out, Circus ringmaster Britney Spears has released another bon mot upon a capacity crowd, this time in San Jose.

Roughly 40 minutes into her set in the California city last night, Spears addressed the audience—the San Jose audience—for the first time.

"What's up, Sacramento?!" she yelled…albeit probably not loud enough for anyone in Sacramento, about 90 miles away, to hear her.

The San Jose crowd, on the other hand, was probably doing a tad better before she asked the question. Undaunted—or, more likely, unaware—Spears carried on, quickly launching into "Everytime" and finishing out the remainder of her 90-minute set without incident.

Sightings

Bad Economy May Fold Britney Spears's Circus Tent

Britney Spears's father has been seeking permission from a judge to expand the pop star's current Circus tour – but the dour economy may hamper those plans, it was revealed in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday.

The pop star, 27, is halfway into a 49-show tour through the U.S., Canada and the UK, with hopes to add more dates through Europe, Australia and a possible second U.S. tour.

"It hasn't yet been determined whether it's feasible to expand tours to the Europe or Australia legs," L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz said following a closed-door discussion with Jamie and his lawyers.

"That will be determined in the future after everyone's seen the analysis, in terms of the economy and value of the dollar," Goetz added.

Jamie and another lawyer hold indefinite legal control over his daughter following her two forced hospitalizations last year.

"Britney's loving being onstage again," says a source close to the singer. "Health-wise, she's progressing every week, it's amazing. Britney was the single force for wanting to go on tour in the first place."

Jennifer Aniston Earned $27 Million in 2008

Newly single Jennifer Aniston pocketed a cool $27 million in 2008, according to Parade's annual "What People Earn" issue. Aniston bagged the same amount in 2007.

The actress is no match for Jay-Z and Beyonce: The power couple combined for a household income of $162 million ($82 million for him; $80 million for her).

On the other side of the spectrum, comeback queen Britney Spears earned $2.25 million (must have spent a lot on lawyer fees, huh?). Country-pop princess Taylor Swift earned $5.5 million.

One-woman comedy machine Tina Fey made $4.6 million, but Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin only reeled in $125,000.

Other celebrities on the list include Will Ferrell ($31 million), Kelly Ripa ($8 million), Patrick Dempsey ($3.5 million), Alex Rodriguez ($34 million) and Tiger Woods ($125 million).

Trumping them all? Barbie. The plastic babe took in a whopping $3.3 billion.

Britney sorry for stopping concert

Spears temporarily halts concert in Vancouver, citing smoke in the air

Spears walked off the stage briefly during her performance at the arena, citing smoke in the air. A spokesperson for Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment said Spears returned to the stage after the smoke cleared. The spokesperson said the smoke was from cigarettes and not marijuana, although smoking cigarettes indoors is illegal.

The pop star is on her current 'Circus' tour that includes stops in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

The tour may be expanded later to include Europe and Australia.

The tour is currently scheduled to end in Manchester, England, on June 17.

Live Review: Britney in Edmonton

All she has to do is show up, dress in one sexy costume after another, pretend to sing, pretend to dance and pretend to perform the fizzy pop songs that have been created on her behalf. Other people - dancers, musicians, sound engineers, lighting techs - do most of the actual entertaining. In fact, I'm beginning to think that it wasn't the real Britney Spears performing in front of 18,500 delirious fans at Rexall Place last night. It was a Britney-bot, or perhaps a highly trained clone - while the real Britney was relaxing in rehab.

Does it sound far-fetched? From the widespread acceptance of lip-syncing in a supposedly live concert, it's a slippery slope to pop star simulacrums.

Just wait.

Last night had a circus theme, with a three-ring circus "in the round" stage, in honour of Britney's latest album, which is called Circus, and the title track also called Circus, which is about how Britney's life has been a circus, which opened the show. So you can see how it all ties together.

After a brief interlude of acrobats, the star descended in a cage as a whip-wielding dominatrix ringmaster, flanked by her dancing "slaves." The first words out of the speakers (if not her mouth) were: "There's only two types of people in the world, the ones that entertain and the ones that observe."

That set the tone for the evening. What followed was a riot of activity - acrobats, dancers, magic tricks, bicycle stunts, blasts of steam, props, smoke, blinding strobes, you name it - talk about sensory overload.

There's Britney writhing in a cage. There she is wrapped around a stripper's pole. Then she appears in a magic show in a sparkly cocktail dress. Now she's risen out of one of the many stage holes in an outfit with her butt cheeks hanging out. Later is a belly dancer, a leather-clad cop, a dominatrix again, must be one of her favourites. You never knew when or in what guise she would appear next.

The songs - canned or not, I couldn't tell, though I thought I heard a drum kit being tested before the show - stayed upbeat for the first while, heavy on newer material. Numbers included Piece of Me, Hot As Ice, Freak Show, Get Naked - I'm sensing a theme here.

Drawing a huge cheer from her opening "whassup, Edmonton!" She wasn't actually on stage for a third of the time. Like I said, her squad of dancers did a lot of the heavy lifting. The only time I wasn't sure if she was lip-syncing was in Everytime, during which she sat suspended on a giant umbrella. For the most part of this concert, the star was just another prop - OK, the central prop - in a thundering din of special effects.

This is the state of modern pop music.

Think of the opening act Pussycat Dolls as the new and improved Spice Girls. Anyone there last night remember the Spice Girls? Girl power? Well, never mind.

Thundering beats of such tunes as When I Grow Up, I Hate This Part and I Don't Need a Man filled the arena as the girls writhed and dirty danced around the stage, assuming one provocative pose after another, their radioactive sexuality blasting in waves from the stage.

Five super hot chicks dressed like strippers promote female empowerment - now there's a novel concept.

And we come to another confusing element to last night's show. Yet again, are witness to hot female performers flaunting their sexuality for a largely female - and gay male - audience. Are they all lesbians? Unlikely. Have these girls and women elevated Britney Spears to the very model of femininity they strive to emulate? Is this a sign of the decline of civilization as we know it? Am I asking too many deep questions about what is, at its core, complete fluff?

The fascination with Britney Spears isn't about role models. She is fascinating because so many people are fascinated by her - simple as that. Some people might come to see the potential train wreck, but remember that the Britney-bot is indestructible: No amount of head-shaving, rehab-bolting, Red Bull-guzzling, paparazzi-attacking, spoiled pop star behaviour will stop her from conquering and devouring all that she sees.

Spears tour may head to Australia

Lawyers for the pop singer and Spears' father and conservator, James Spears, discussed the idea of expanding her current "Circus" tour to include dates in Australia and Europe during a Wednesday hearing. Nothing was decided in court, and another hearing was scheduled for April 14. Spears is currently touring the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The tour is currently scheduled to end in Manchester, England, on June 17.

The 26-year-old singer and her estate have been under the conservatorship of her father since last year.

Attorney: Britney Living "in Prison," Wants Out from Daddy's Control

That was the big storyline today as a lawyer took the stand as a Los Angeles court heard testimony on whether to extend the restraining orders barring former manager/sidekick Sam Lutfi ahd other hangers-on from having contact with the "Toxic" singer.

Attorney John Anderson took the stand this morning told Superior Court Commissioner Aviva K. Bobb that he was asked to represent the pop star in a battle to free her from the conservatorship controled by her father, Jamie Spears.

"A person who purported to be Lutfi told me that all of Britney Spears' phone rights were cut off," he said, adding that he was also told that the mother of two was under tight control by her father and virtually "in prison."

Anderson testified that he drew up papers to be retained as counsel and in turn received copies back allegedly signed by Spears herself.

He said that he was made aware that another court-appointed attorney had already been assigned to Spears, but was told that the singer was "not confident" in the other legal eagle's abilities and wanted to hire a new representative in the courtroom.

Eventually, Anderson told the court, he did contact the attorneys representing Spears' conservatorship, who dissuaded him from attempting to further pursue working for the star.

Anderson said that he voluntarily ended his involvement in the Spears legal debacle on Jan. 28 of this year, after learning Jamie Spears and the conservatorship were getting temporary restraining orders against Lutfi, former Britney boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and Eardley.

The orders were obtained Jan. 30. During his testimony in February, Jamie Spears said he had evidence the trio was trying to undermine the conservatorship, and he labeled ostensible mastermind Lutfi a "predator."

For his part, Lutfi has filed suit against the Spearses—Britney, for unpaid management fees, and Jamie and Lynn for slander as well as a host of other grievances.

Last month, Bobb extended the restraining order against Ghalib to three years after the former paparazzo failed to show at any of his three previous hearings on the matter. Today's hearing will help the commissioner determine whether to do likewise for Lutfi and Eardley.

Britney Spears's Hot New Ads for Candie's Revealed!

Britney's call for help leaked

The tape, which surfaced earlier this week, appears to show the troubled singer venting her frustration at her father's conservatorship order.

Jamie Spears was put in charge of his daughter's legal, financial and personal affairs last year following a public breakdown which saw the star hospitalised for a mental evaluation.

But the phone message, reportedly left by the star in January, which was leaked on the Internet earlier this week, indicates the singer has been attempting to fight her father's control.

In the audio clip, a female voice allegedly belonging to the star, leaves a message for her lawyers making them aware of her dad's threats to take away her sons - Sean Preston and Jayden James, her children with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

A transcript of the call is as follows: "Hi, my name's Britney Spears. I called you earlier. I'm calling again because I just wanted to make sure (it is known) that during the process of eliminating the conservatorship that my father has threatened me several times, you know, he'll take my children away.

"I just want to be guaranteed that everything will be fine with the process of you guys taking care of everything - that things will stay the same as far as my custodial time. That's it, bye."

The tape's emergence comes amid reports the singer, currently on her global Circus tour, has been romancing a back-up dancer when away from the watchful eye of her dad.

A source tells the New York Daily News, "Britney was a bad girl. Literally as soon as her dad left, she started getting cosy with a dancer named Gio. It wasn't serious. They had a few romantic interludes, and she bought him a few things - a pair of shoes and some clothes - even though she's on an allowance."

But the star reportedly put her wild behaviour to an end - once the elder Spears returned from a business trip to Los Angeles.

The source adds: "Britney was definitely getting jiggy there for a hot minute, but they've slowed down since Jamie got back in the picture. It's basically over now."

Sightings

Jamie Spears Squashes Britney Fan Site

In a note to readers, the purveyor of the "Number One Britney Spears Fansite," stated that the popster's father has demanded that he shut the website—which has been critical of Britney's present conservatorship arrangement—down, calling him "an über fan who has gone too far."

"I have been battling the conservatorship Britney is currently placed under for months now," wrote BreatheHeavy owner Jordan Miller. "When I did not conform to the requests and demands Britney's management and father, Jamie Spears, recently put upon BreatheHeavy to stay quiet, they in turn became angry and malicious, launching, what I feel is an unjust attack, against me and my website."

According to Miller, he received a notice from Jamie's legal camp pressuring him to make the site go away by 3 p.m. PT today, or face an injunction.

The legal missive charged Miller with various copyright and trademark violations for posting Britney song lyrics, photos, videos and audio clips without permission.

But Miller, for one, isn't buying it.

"The real issue, in my opinion, is hidden behind these Copyright Infringement claims, rather management, particularly her father/conservator, Jamie Spears, who makes $18,000 a month off his daughter, is desperately trying to hide the truth about Britney's imprisonment, and shut anyone up who disagrees with their conniving and selfish exploitation of an innocent mother of 2 pushed back into the lime-light just several months after a hospitalization," Miller writes.

Per the terms of the conservatorship, Jamie collects $2,500 per week from Britney's estate, plus funds to lease a car.

Miller claims that Jamie Spears threatened over the phone "to destroy [his] ass" if he didn't wipe the site clean.

"They are saying that I am using Britney's name and image without her consent to make money, even though the money is going back into the website," Miller, a Las Vegas college student, told E! News Friday. "The lawyers don't care whether or not I'm making [a] profit. They say that any image of Britney I use is infringement and in violation of her right to publicity and privacy."

The Spears lawyers wouldn't give him specific examples of the so-called violations, however, he said. But they have offered to let him keep the site up so long as they have a final say over everything he posts.

"But if they do that it's not my website, it's just another website they can manage and control," Miller said.

BreathHeavy.com is currently up and running, but all links lead to Miller's farewell letter.

"I...want to thank you with all my heart for the loyalty and support you've shown over the last 5 years BreatheHeavy has been open," Miller wrote.

A rep for Spears did not immediately return a request for comment.

Britney Spears Condemns Rowdy Roadies

Rockey Lee Dickey Jr., 34, and Alex Montes, 23, are free on $100,000 bail following their arrests by Pittsburgh authorities after the pair allegedly went after two officers trying to break up a fight between Dickey and another man. Police used a Taser to nab Dickey, then chased after Montes who allegedly ran off.

"Both [men] had very strong odors of alcohol, slurred speech and bloodshot eyes," police said in a statement. "[They] will be charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, simple assault, public drunkenness and possible additional charges."

On her blog, Spears distanced herself from the men, saying they were "two employees of a company contracted to provide equipment for The Circus [tour] and were not employees of the singer.

"The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour does not support or tolerate this type of behavior," she says.

Britney's Legal Tab Breaks the Bank

According to court documents filed yesterday and obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the singer's estate has shelled out upwards—most likely, way upwards—of $2.7 million in legal fees for the first 11 months of her conservatorship.

Although it has been 14 months since the 27-year-old Spears was first placed under the court-ordered control of her father and an outside attorney, the fees from this year, already considerable thanks to ongoing litigation with Sam Lutfi and Adnan Ghalib, have yet to be submitted to the court.

Per the documents, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Britney's six-figure and rising bounty has been divvied up among 17 lawyers and firms.

Attorneys representing father Jamie Spears submitted yesterday's filing. Among the line items was their own fee of $1 million. The figure, they claimed, reflected that the singer's mental health had continued "to mend," that she had regained "substantial visitation" with kids Sean Preston and Jayden James and that her once-waning career "has been revitalized" under their watchful—and expensive—eye.

"Since the initiation of the conservatorship, as a result of the concerted efforts of Mr. Spears as well as the professionals involved, all aspects of Ms. Spears' life have been stabilized and continue to improve," attorney Geraldine Wyle writes.

Wyle further backed the bill by adding that Spears continued to face "complex and challenging issues" which require outside counsel.

Here's a rundown of some of Spears' more notable legal costs:

$460,000: Cost of divorce and custody proceedings with Kevin Federline
$113,000: Cost of a Florida civil suit brought against Spears by her former manager
$26,000: Cost of Spears' headline-grabbing driving without a California license trial
$7,000: Cost of a legal dispute over mold in Spears' leased Malibu property
$102,000: Cost of Jamie Spears' attorneys during the first six months of conservatorship
$4,600: Cost to hire a private messenger service to confidentially deliver legal documents
$25: Cost to reserve private courthouse for legal proceedings to avoid media coverage (in retrospect, money not so well spent)

Fred Durst: My Relationship with Britney Spears Was 'Taboo'

Fred Durst, who publicly bickered with Britney Spears about their reported relationship in 2003 (she's always denied it) and then claimed he was going to "put [the feud] behind me," is once again speaking out about the pop star – and saying they were indeed a couple.

"It just became a fiasco of madness," Durst, 38, tells MTV News about their fight. "[But] I always stay true to my heart and true to everything I did and my intentions, and I am in no way a liar."

The Limp Bizkit singer and Spears, who was 21 at the time, reportedly became an item at the 2003 American Music Awards in L.A. To express his feelings, he wrote on his band's Web site at the time that he had "never felt this way," but Spears never acknowledged the relationship.

Even with Durst going on Howard Stern's radio show and swearing on his son's life that he was telling the truth, Spears rarely commented on his remarks. She did, however, say the relationship was one-sided.

"I think him for me, but not me for him," she told the British version of Glamour magazine. "He's said some pretty amazing things about me. But, um, I think he leaped in too deep, too quick."

Durst says he's still a bit confused about how everything unraveled but describes it as an episode of her bizarre behavior.

"I look back on it as very interesting [in terms of] how things have been sort of unraveling for her since," he says. "[But] it is what it is. I can sleep at night knowing I made decisions that I wanted to make. [Still] I'm a supporter. I was then, I guess I am now."

"I just guess at the time it was taboo for a guy like me to be associated with a gal like her," he adds.

Live Review: Britney Spears in T.O.

Just hours before the 27-year-old pop princess took the stage of the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night in support of her latest album, Circus, for the first of two back-to-back shows, a restraining order was issued against Spears' former boyfriend (and paparazzo) Adnan Ghalib back in Los Angeles.

At least the latest development in a year-and-a-half-long saga strong probably made Spears feel better, not worse, at this point.

Touring for the first time in five years in support of her latest album, Circus, Spears is clearly back in business after a meltdown that included rehab, a custody battle over her children, shaving her thread, attacking a photographer with an umbrella, and being strapped down to a gurney and carted off for psychiatric care.

Before Spears took the stage an army of little people, magicians, jugglers, contortionists, acrobats, and gymnasts performed on two smaller circular stages on either side of her impressively large, in-the-round stage.

Then it was time for the main attraction as her mostly young female fans chanted "Britney! Britney!" before Spears' arrival.

Website kingpin Perez Hilton, in "Elizabeth" drag no less, did the video-taped introduction and heralded "the return of Britney Spears."

At least Spears knows how to make an entrance even if it did seem ripped off from Cher's Las Vegas show.

Descending from above on a golden platform in a sexy lion tamer outfit - all of her costumes are courtesy of Canadian duo Dean and Dan Caten of star-favorite label DSquared2 - Spears dramatically appeared while her dancers moved around her, some spinning on rings hanging from above.

After opening with the title track from Circus she segued into Piece Of Me, from her 2007 album, Blackout, trapped inside a lion's cage that was wheeled around by four guys in bondage-inspired gear.

With all of the state-of-the-art lights-and-video, eye-catching skimpy, sequined costumes, tight choreography (the band was broken up into different segments on the floor around the stage) , there wasn't much time for the crowd to take a collective breath and that was probably the point.

So much was going on - there were also martial artists, bicyclists, etc. - there was no time to really assess Spears other than she looked great - sort of a blonde bombshell cross between Madonna and Pamela Anderson - could lip-synch the words (one can assume) and strut around the stage well enough but there was little in the way of genuine passion, joy, or excitement on her part.

A prolonged display by her dancers later in the show proved just how far from inspired she currently is as a performer.

And a promising Bollywood-influenced take on Me Against The Music - the song that featured Spears opposite her obvious role model Madonna - fizzled despite bright costumes and animated dance moves.

Even when she was raised up in the crook of a huge umbrella to sing the ballad, Everytime, it just wasn't that interesting.

"What's up Toronto?," said Spears, adressing the audience for the first time about a half hour into the 95-minute-show. "How you guys feeling tonight?"

The use of Marilyn Manson's cover of the The Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams while a provocative video of Spears cavorting Eyes Wide Shut-like on the circular video screen just seemed forced as did her pasties-adorned outfit during Freakshow and Get Naked (I Got A Plan).

As for the guy getting plucked out of the crowd to be used as Spears' plaything during Breathe On Me, The Spice Girls' Mel B and Janet Jackson have done it way better.

It's as if her influences outshine her excecution of their best bits.

The two guys in bondage oufits forming a sex swing type thing for a blindfolded Spears to sit upon during the masturbation ode, Touch Of My Hand, finally closed in on Madonna territory but it was fleeting.

So far the only drama on the tour has been the firing of three of her dancers for using drugs and a not intentional crotch shot after Spears costume split during a show in Tampa during I'm A Slave 4 U. (There wasn't a repeat of the event on Wednesday night but a ring of fire materialized below her as she was raised up again on yet another platform.)

For pure fun, Toxic and ....Baby One More Time were probably the standouts, along with show-ending Womanizer, the latter featuring Spears and her female dancers dressed as saucy police officers and her male dancers as thugs while an explosion of fireworks and confetti.

Burlesque troupe-turned-musical group Pussycat Dolls opened for Spears with a 40-minute set that found the scantily clad vixens in various versions of black, silver sequined and red and black plaid outfits consisting of tiny tops, short shorts, black leather boots.

Poised on a spiral staircase in the centre of Spears' circular stage, they began their show with their big hit, Don't Cha (Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me) before seguing into Beep and I Don't Need A Man.

The Dolls - fronted by Hawaiian stunner Nicole Scherzinger whose solo career never materialized - are currently riding the wave of success of their second album, 2008's Doll Domination, and hits like, When I Grow Up, and more a recently recorded an English version of Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar-winning song, Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny), featuring J.R. Rahman that just came out last month.

The Dolls rounded out their set with Stickwitu and When I Grow Up but other than providing amazing eye candy, their performance was hardly memorable.

Britney Spears's Ex Ordered to Stay Away for Three Years

The paparazzo, 36, is forbidden from communicating with the singer, 27, or getting within 100 yards of her for the next three years, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb ruled Wednesday.

The orders also prevent Ghalib from contacting Spears directly or indirectly through phone, mail or e-mail, as well as forbid him to claim that he represents her interests. Others protected by the order include Spears's parents, siblings and her children.

The singer's father, Jamie Spears, who requested the order in January, has accused Ghalib and ex-manager Sam Lutfi of trying to disrupt his daughter's life. Before Jamie gained legal control over Britney, the pop star was hospitalized twice.

Ghalib is also facing felony charges for allegedly trying to run over a process server.

Britney gets it together for tour

That would be Britney Spears' aptly-named Circus tour -- also the title of her latest and sixth studio album -- which pulls into the Air Canada Centre for the first of two back-to-back shows as part of her first roadtrip in five years.

So what to expect?

Yes, there have been a few hiccups and some drama since the March 3 launch in New Orleans, including the firing of three dancers for allegedly using drugs, and a wardrobe malfunction in Tampa during which her costume tore in the crotch area and her microphone remained on. Spears could be heard backstage declaring that her privates were "hanging out."

More recently, reports say her father, Jamie, has been instructing her to read the Bible for an hour every day before she goes on stage and banned her from using the Internet. Also, there's rumours she's dating her agent of the past four years -- although that's being denied by the Spears camp.

But mostly the Circus tour has been the continuation of a major comeback for the 27-year-old pop superstar who has sold 62 million albums worldwide in the past decade but has been in the headlines for the past 18 months for things other than her music.

Her bizarre behaviour has ranged from shaving her head, to a deranged attack on a photographer with an umbrella and finally being strapped down on a gurney and carted off for psychiatric care.

She was also involved in a custody battle for her two children with ex-husband Kevin Federline, did some time in rehab and flashed her underwearless nether regions for the paparazzi one too many times for it to be an accident.

Last November's 90-minute documentary, Britney: For the Record, which was filmed in the 60 days following the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards -- during which she won three awards -- cleared up some of what Spears was going through personally at the time.

"(Kevin) had just left me and I was devastated. And people thought that it was me going crazy and stuff like that but people shave their heads all the time. I was going through a lot, but it was just kind of me just feeling a form of a little bit of rebellion, or feeling free, or shedding stuff that had happened."

By all accounts, the Circus tour sees Spears back in form after a disastrous 2007 MTV Video Music Awards performance in which she appeared out of shape and stumbled around the stage.

She claimed in Britney: For the Record that dancing has been her salvation in recent months leading up to video shoots and for the Circus tour.

"If I have a lot of nervous energy when I start dancing, it all goes away and I just feel emotion. It's like a rollercoaster ... People think that you go through something in your life, and you need to go through therapy. For me, art is therapy because you're expressing yourself in such a spiritual way sometimes you don't need to use words to go through what you need to go through. Sometimes it's an emotion that you need to feel when you dance."

Reviews for the Circus tour have ranged from fair to good -- if not great.

"A tightly choreographed, if perfunctory performance," wrote The Associated Press, claiming parts of the two-hour performance was lipsynched.

Still, working certainly seems to be a better alternative than idleness for Spears. In Britney: For the Record, she comes across as hardworking, sweet, sad, vulnerable, fragile, lost, funny, and naive.

At one point, she proclaims to one of her doubting managers: "I'm going to get married next year and have babies, watch!" As if that's going to be the answer to all her problems.

At another time, she starts crying to the interviewer about being watched too closely by lawyers and doctors. Her father has been appointed by a court to oversee his daughters' personal and professional affairs indefinitely.

"I'm sad," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Even when you go to jail, there's always the time when you know you're going to get out."

Let's just hope that her out-of-control phase is now a thing of the past for the sake of her two kids and herself.

"That was just a really, really bad time in my life," she says in Britney: For the Record. "It was crazy. I'm not going to sugarcoat it and say I was okay."

BRITNEY WEARING CANUCK-MADE DUDS

Britney Spears' costumes, and those of her backup dancers, on her latest Circus concert tour come courtesy of the Canadian design duo Dean and Dan Caten, who are behind star-favourite label DSquared2.

"We wanted to create something much more provoking and indecent ... something animalistic and primal," the duo told Women's Wear Daily about the look for the show.

"We are confident that this tour partnership, an autobiographical tribute for one who has always been in the spotlight: scrutinized, watched, imitated, photographed, criticized and loved, will be an enormous success."

In the past, the design duo have worked with Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Usher, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.

Spears 'not dating' her agent

As part of a motion to have portions of the libel lawsuit Lutfi filed against them last month dismissed, attorneys for Jamie, Lynne and Britney Spears called the first seven pages of Lutfi's complaint "a calculated attempt to exploit the court system by turning a legal pleading into a fanciful public relations press release with no factual or legal moorings."

Tops on the Spearses' list of Lutfi's objectionable claims—that Britney has been under her parents' thumb since becoming famous.

The passage in Lutfi's complaint states that since Britney "burst onto the scene as a pop superstar, every aspect of her life and more importantly, her fortune, has been controlled by her parents.

The Spearses would like that section excised from Lutfi's suit, as well as the claim that, after Jamie and Lynne divorced, their "stranglehold on Britney's life and career began to loosen. This posed a serious threat to Jamie and Lynne, who had become accustomed to the fame and fortune afforded to them as the parents of Britney Spears."

Such statements are "irrelevant, false or improper," state the Spearses' filing.

Britney's father has had legal control over his daughter's finances, career and medical care since Feb. 1, 2008, when a judge signed off on a conservatorship arrangement following the pop star's admittance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for psychological evalutation.

The legal wrangling at the time also resulted in a restraining order against Lutfi, which Jamie Spears is looking to make as permanent as possible, also obtaining orders against Brit's ex, Adnan Ghalib, and Jon Eardley, an attorney who fruitlessly tried to fight the conservatorship on Britney's behalf when it was first in place.

Lutfi sued the family Feb. 3 for libel, defamation, battery (claiming Jamie shoved him at one point), intentional infliction of emotional distress and breach of contract.

Meanwhile, those who have been invited to come as close to Britney as possible include Madonna, who is rumored to be planning to join the "Toxic" singer onstage when her Circus tour touches down in New York City this weekend.

Spears 'not dating' her agent

The Toxic hitmaker recently sent internet gossips into a spin after she was spotted enjoying a romantic meal with her agent Jason Trawick in between the singer's Circus tour dates.

Reports suggested the pair had recently begun dating, after four years of working together.

But insiders have hit out at the rumours, insisting the pair's relationship is one that is purely professional and platonic.

A source tells UsWeekly.com, "They are absolutely, 100 per cent not dating. He is her agent, and that is it.

"They have never gone out on a date. He has been her agent for four years, and they are very close friends.

"Jason was on the road with Britney for three of her tour dates, but that is because that's what agents do -- they support their clients. Any stories of them being together are completely and utterly made up."

Reinvigorated, lip-synching Spears wows N.Y. fans

Beyonce, Pink, Justin -- none of them would dare use pre-recorded vocals during their live shows, despite the complex choreography of their performances.

Madonna and Janet are guilty of using backing tracks to carry some of vocal weight, but certainly not all of it. Hell, even the Pussycat Dolls sing live.

But Britney? She is, and always has been, about blatant, unapologetic lip-synching. Case in point: at the New York stop of her anticipated comeback tour, Spears used her actual vocal chords only three times -- twice to thank the crowd, and once to sing a ballad (though the vocals during that number were questionable, as well). Even the spoken bits in the show came from a DAT. Somewhere, Ashlee Simpson has a dartboard with Brit's face square in the bull's-eye.

Of course, none of this bothered the 16,000 fans that turned up to cheer the resurrected icon at Nassau Coliseum Wednesday night. Britney merely paid lip service to her songs, but the audience members screamed the words to every hit at the top of their collective lungs -- even if it was obvious they were the only ones really singing.

Why does Britney get a pass when so many other pop stars keep it real? Has her audience become more forgiving after watching their heroine publicly wrestle with her personal demons over the last few years? Perhaps, but sympathy alone doesn't fill arenas to the rafters.

The truth is that vocal prowess has never been the fuel that powers the Britney Machine. Singing simply isn't the point. Spears is an entertainer; a put-on-a-show kind of girl. And despite what happens behind the curtain, Britney's Circus tour is indeed quite a show.

Focusing largely on material from her last three albums, Spears' first outing in five years is a dazzling, racy, in-the-round spectacle that's a little Cirque de Soliel, a little Skinemax, but all Britney at its core. Designed to play up her biggest strengths (i.e., her well-honed dance skills) and distract from her shortcomings, the highly choreographed show features an over-the-top array of acrobats, magicians, clowns, and no less 12 dancers on stage at any given time. The scale of the concert is so massive, in fact, it at times threatens to eclipse its star. Still, despite all of the smoke and mirrors, the most alluring aspect of the show remains Britney herself.

Looking more lively (and more fit) than she has in half a decade, Spears donned 12 costumes as she shimmied and shook her way through a 17-song set that featured some of her biggest hits, including "Piece of Me," "Toxic," "Womanizer," and funky new remixes of "Slave 4 U" and "Baby One More Time."

After years of studying the playbooks of Madonna and Janet Jackson, Britney has learned a thing or two about showmanship When not strutting her scantily-clad stuff from one end of the arena to the other, Spears had plenty of other tantalizing ways to keep the crowd captivated.

One minute, she was being sawed in half. The next, she was a straddling dancer suspended 20 feet in the air. If she wasn't writhing around in a gilded cage, she was giving a center-stage lap dance to one very lucky audience member.

But entertainment wasn't Britney's only goal. More than anything, she wants this tour to prove to the world that she's stronger than yesterday, and that she's back in control of her own circus. Her assortment of authoritative costumes (Sexy Ringleader! Sexy drill sergeant! Sexy policewoman!) helped to drive the point home, but the biggest evidence of Spears' rebirth was simply the confidence and vigor behind her performance. For the fir