Britney Spears News Archive Part 2

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Britney concert a feast for the eyes

Remember the head-shaving incident? The umbrella attack on the paparazzo? Losing custody of her children? Being taken to a psychiatric institute on a stretcher? The no-underwear photos?

When she performed at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2007, she was a shadow of her former self -- pale, plump and visibly intoxicated.

Back on stage now after five years away from touring, Spears seems to have found her groove. Her new Circus tour kicked off last week in New Orleans and came to Long Island on Wednesday night. She comes to Toronto next week.

With Madonna in the audience Wednesday, Spears had plenty of reasons to impress (even if the Queen of Pop left a little before the end of Spears' show, causing a small disturbance in the stands).

Circus, Spears' seventh tour, is above all a feast for the eyes.

There was no skimping on the visual side, and her costumes stole the show. Have there ever been that many sequins on such tiny bits of material? Circus must be her most erotic show to date. A very suggestive video inspired by the Kubrick movie Eyes Wide Shut must have had more than a few parental eyebrows raised. It could have been the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris.

As far as authenticity goes, the entire show is lip-synched. There are no musicians on stage -- none. The remixing is good, and her older hits have been updated with catchy electronic beats.

But the 15,000 people squeezed into the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum were there to see her smile and dance, not to hear her voice. The star only addressed the crowd after the ninth song, saying, "Peace, New York."

Physically, Spears doesn't have the same presence as she did during her years at the top of the charts. Her body is more muscled than a few months ago, but not like it was before her wild years. That's not forgetting the fact that she has given birth to two children.

The dancing is as smooth as ever, but her choreography is less aggressive and precise. Often Spears moves only the top part of her body. It's a long way from Madonna's onstage contortions.

The effect Spears still has on her fans was incredible. "No one is perfect, we knew she'd be back," said Louis, one of many enthralled men in the stands. The feeling was electric in the halls before the show began. People couldn't help shouting, and some belted out an improvised version of Stronger. A real circus.

There was no recession at the swag counter, as $40 T-shirts, $150 velvet ensembles and $30 knockoff top hats flew off the shelves. Brace yourselves for that, Britney fans in Toronto. She performs at the Air Canada Centre next Wednesday and Thursday.

Britney taunts press with sexy lyrics

The song has caused a storm of controversy, with family groups urging radio stations to ban the tune - because of its racy, suggestive lyrics. Broken down, Spears appears to be singing 'f**k me' in the chorus.

Spears debuted the clip online Thursday and she wasted no time addressing her headline-hitting lyrics, both opening and closing the video with a clip of a news anchor appearing outraged at the song's sexual undertones.

Dressed in cleavage-baring lingerie, Spears bounces to the lyrics in front of a team of scantily-clad backing dancers.

But the mother-of-two ends the video on a more wholesome note. She changes into an apple pie-baking 1950's-style housewife - joined by a doting husband and two young boys - as she walks to a white picket fence and blows kisses to the paparazzi outside her fictional home.

The video debuted online at 11 a.m. (EST) and will appear exclusively for 24 hours on the Virgin Mobile USA website, as well as on Britney.com and BritneySpears.com.

Britney Spears Debuts 'If You Seek Amy' Video

The video depicts Spears as two very different personas, from a sexy party girl to a preppy, Stepford-looking housewife.

In other Spears news, the pop star performed at Nassau Coliseum in New York Wednesday night to a packed house – including one very special V.I.P.

"Madonna made a surprise appearance in the audience at Britney’s New York concert," reads a post on her blog. "Britney was thrilled to have her there!"

Spotted

Britney Back in Miami for Retail Therapy - and Relaxation

After performing in Tampa and Miami over the weekend, Britney Spears retreated to the Mandarin Oriental hotel on Brickell Key Sunday and promptly hit the strip for some retail therapy.

"I couldn't believe I saw her at the mall," a staffer at the Bluemarine store at Merrick Park Mall in Coral Gables tells PEOPLE. "I ran over to her while she was at The Grape and gave her my card. I was so excited I was sweating. I asked her to shop with me the next time she is here. She was so sweet and southern."

After Spears, 27, had a salad for lunch Monday with a girlfriend-assistant and two bodyguards, the entourage walked around the tony Spanish Mediterranean-styled mall, stopping at various stores, including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, D' Nature and Jimmy Choo.

"Britney looked so fresh and was so nice," a source at the high-end shoe store tells PEOPLE. "She bought shoes, sunglasses and bags and thoroughly enjoyed the shopping experience."

Another mall retailer confirms: "Britney looked really relaxed and happy."

Later that afternoon, Spears took her boys – Preston and Jayden – for a swim in Mandarin Oriental pool.

Wednesday night, the star resumes her Circus tour up north – performing at Nassau Coliseum in New York before doing two nights in Newark, N.J.

Spears' dancers fired for drug use

Britney Not Clowning Around With Donation

The 27-year-old popstar, who's currently on her Circus world tour, is donating $100,000 to the Miami Children's Hospital's Big Apple Circus Clown Care program.

The mother of two made a surprise, 30-minute visit with 40 sick children at the hospital on Saturday before her show at the American Airlines Arena. Spears posed for photos with the kids and signed autographs.

The Clown Care program provides young patients with treatment — and laughs — from clowns with medical training.

Britney's tour, her first in five years, rolls into Tampa, Florida, tonight.

Britney Spears Visits Sick Children in Miami

The pop star paid a visit to 40 sick children at Miami Children's Hospital on Saturday. "She took pictures with the kids and gave them autographed pictures," hospital spokesperson Cristene Martinez tells PEOPLE. "The kids were so excited to meet Britney, and having her here was a great distraction for them."

She also made a donation to the hospital's Big Apple Circus Clown Care program, which features clowns who have medical training who visit the young patients on a regular basis, as well as attend special events at the hospital.

Spears, 27, who did not have her own children with her, stayed about a half hour, then left with her bodyguard to prepare for her show at the America Airlines Arena.

Britney Spears's Cheering Section Includes Family and Kevin Federline

"Britney's whole family was there, her parents, [sister] Jamie Lynn, [brother] Bryan, his wife, her cousins [including] Laura Lynn [Covington], friends from Kentwood – everyone thought it was a fantastic show and she just nailed it," says a source close to Spears, referring to her kickoff concert Tuesday at the New Orleans Arena, the first stop on her 36-show tour.

Adds the source: "They all thought Britney was so amazing – her energy, her spirit."

Also in attendance: the singer's sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, and their dad Kevin Federline. "He was there to support her as well," says the source, adding that the boys stayed backstage because "it's just too loud for them to watch."

The Cirque du Soleil-style show, which also got the thumbs-up from fans, marks the pop star's first tour in five years. New Orleans was the first stop for Spears, 27, who hits Atlanta on Thursday, followed by 10 shows on the East Coast.

"The show was completely sold out and it was just incredible," says the source. "Britney was just really happy."

Britney Spears puts on "Circus" for comeback tour

"Britney's my girl. I knew she'd be great," said Chris Peterson, 28, who drove to New Orleans from Pensacola, Florida, for the concert. "I've been a fan since I was 14."

The pop star, attempting a comeback after a high-profile meltdown, pulled out all the stops before a sell-out crowd of 16,400 to launch her much-anticipated world tour.

Spears, 27, became a worldwide phenomenon when she burst onto the music scene 10 years ago after breaking into show business on the "Mickey Mouse Club" television show.

But she has done only a handful of live concerts in recent years as her personal life careered out of control, including stints in psychiatric care, an ugly divorce, losing custody of her two sons, shaving her head and partying without panties.

Back on stage, Spears looked fit and dazzling dressed as a ringmaster as she performed more than a dozen songs in a parade of skimpy costumes.

The launch of her 44-concert tour, which heads to Britain in June, was heavy on spectacle and was met with wild applause and cheers.

The circus-themed production featured Spears strutting and gyrating through extravagant sets on three stages, surrounded by dancers, martial artists and performers who dropped from the rafters on fabric streamers and mechanical rings.

Launching her tour in New Orleans gave Spears the chance to mount her comeback near her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana.

She seems to have pulled herself together in the past year, with support from her father Jamie, who took control of her affairs in a court-ordered conservatorship after the singer's bizarre public behavior.

Spears has also focused on her family, spending more time with her children and insisting that her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden, be allowed to accompany her on tour.

Her return to the concert circuit and sales of her album appear to be a measure of her ability to still attract the attention she once garnered from fans around the world.

"Circus," her sixth studio album, debuted at No. 1 in the United States and five other countries when it was released in December and won her three MTV Video Music Awards.

But some fans at the New Orleans show were disappointed that she remained distant from her loyal supporters.

"I hoped she would talk directly to the audience, especially since this is her home, but she didn't say anything," said Kelly Dupont, who lives in nearby Baton Rouge.

New Orleans resident Stephanie Chandler, who saw a live performance by Spears eight years ago, was harsher.

"I was very disappointed. She's just not in it," Chandler said. "If you're going to lip sync, then you'd better bring on the dancing, but she didn't."

CONCERT REVIEW: Britney Yet to Hit Stride

While she avoided the train wreck that was her 2007 MTV Video Music Awards appearance, a visibly nervous Spears, performing in front of enthusiastic fans near her Kentwood, La., hometown, never really hit her old stride.

The circus-themed extravaganza, played out across an adventurous three-ring set, opened with an extended introduction featuring clowns, acrobats and jugglers, making it way too long before Spears finally hit the stage.

Descending from above in a red ringmaster-meets-dominatrix outfit to sing her hit "Circus," she showed that her body was tight, even if her dancing always wasn't. Indeed, throughout the show's four sections, there was a lot more strutting than real choreographic feats from Spears. And there was a decided lack of joy in her performance, which felt labored at times.

Lack of Engagement

It didn't help that she hardly engaged the audience, not addressing them at all until after her lone encore, "Womanizer," performed in sexed-up cop uniforms. Given that Spears probably doesn't do much live singing either, it left a definite chill in the air.

The show was all about the spectacle, with vibrant visuals, illusions, Cirque du Soleil-inspired aerialists and an army of dancers taking some of the focus – and the pressure – away from Spears. There was one major miscue, when Spears didn't join two backup singers for a rendition of Duffy's "I'm Scared" – apparently because the lyric sheet went missing onstage.

When she wrapped the concert about 90 minutes after emerging, she seemed more relieved than anything that it was all over.

Britney in concert: The Circus is finally back in town

The venue: New Orleans Arena, with 16,000 in attendance.

The merchandise: Black velvet jumpsuits are going for $150, but the most sizzling item is the $40 black T-shirt depicting a provocatively posed Spears beside the red-glitter wording "You want a piece of me." (It's a declarative statement, not a question.) Family-oriented gear includes a $20 toddler onesie branded in gold: "Oops I did it again."

Early start: Fans clutching tickets priced $95 to $250 begin lining up in the chill at 4:30 p.m. for an 8 o'clock showtime.

We're inseparable: "I feel closer to Britney wearing these," says Jenny O'Leary, 18, of Buffalo, after plunking down $20 for a pair of black Britney panties outside the arena. "This is her comeback from the chaotic life she's been living — her midlife crisis. I think she'll pull it off."

The crowd: Heavily female, mostly late teens to mid-20s. Super-short babydoll frocks are the uniform du jour.

Already jaded: "I've seen Miley Cyrus, but I'm more excited about Britney because of her comeback," says Isabella Healy, 13, of New Orleans. "Everyone's expecting really good things from her, and if she doesn't do a good job, it might affect her negatively. But I don't think she cares."

Opening act: The Pussycat Dolls prowl a round stage arranged with metallic platforms and pound out a 35-minute set of shriek-inducing pop, including their hits Don't Cha, Stickwitu and When I Grow Up.

Big-top tease: A three-ring circus arrangement dominates the center of the arena. As a thunderous pre-recorded track blares, a bare-chested male juggler appears on one of the two rotating side stages and does macho tricks with a giant metal cage. Then there's five jugglers tossing bowling pins; three black-clad martial arts performers doing a kung-fu routine; clowns on unicycles; more jugglers; a woman performing an incredibly athletic routine on a balance beam; and still more dancing clowns (including a dwarf). Finally, lights dimming, the red scrim shrouding the center stage lifts to reveal a 360-degree screen showing a video featuring celeb blogger Perez Hilton in Queen Victorian drag.

It's showtime: The screens rise, and Britney, attired in a red ringmaster's jacket, short-shorts and black spike-heeled boots and wielding a whip, descends from the ceiling in a small cage and launches into the title track of Circus. A dozen or more acrobats spin on giant rings in mid-air as jets of smoke burst from the stage floor.

Is it live?: Amid the spectacle, it's impossible to tell how much of the singing is real, but the crowd couldn't have cared.

Breather: The show is divided into segments with fast-paced intermezzos featuring martial arts performers, acrobats and magicians. During the Ooh Ooh Baby/Hot as Ice medley, Britney climbs into a magician's box and appears to be cut in half, then re-appears across the stage in another box that explodes in a shower of sparks. Looking trim and showing lots of midriff and cleavage, she commands attention amid the chaos surrounding her.

Bag of tricks: After the first few eye-popping numbers, the action becomes somewhat routine, as Spears prances center stage surrounded by a pair of bicyclists and a dozen strutting dancers. Current single If U Seek Amy draws a huge roar and sing-along from the crowd as Spears shakes her long blond mane and plays Whack-a-Mole with dancers popping up from the stage floor.

Ready for her close-up: Fans who couldn't see when she storms the side stages could immerse themselves in the dazzling videos projected in the round "ceiling" above the stage. Me Against the Music features a harem/Bollywood theme (love her turquoise I Dream of Jeannie get-up), and for the slower Everytime/I'm Scared segment, she grabs a giant parasol with a hook for a seat and sings while suspended far above the stage.

Hot mama: Spears, a 27-year-old mother of two, sexed it up during the Freakshow/Peepshow segment of the show, sending the black tassels attached to her silver-and-black bustier flying here and there as she led her dancers around a weird gauntlet of oversized furniture and picture frames. For Breathe On Me/Touch of My Hand, Spears shed more cloth, down to panties and a barely-there sheer top with strategically placed cones, and sang while suspended inside a giant picture frame that slowly spun around center stage. Landing on a couch adorned with men, she donned a blindfold and ascended halfway to the rafters again. Finally, it was just her grinding away with a muscleman. And there was music involved as well.

Singe-inducing: Given the massive size of the center stage (painted to look like a target — we get it, Brit) and the non-stop visual and sonic bombast, the pop princess sometimes got swallowed up. Spark-shooting guns and rings of actual fire couldn't save one-note songs like Do Something and Slave. Fan-favorite Toxic, however, staged mostly with sci-fi-green lighting effects and a minimalist jungle-gym contraption, succeeded because the focus was solely on the star. And her biggest early hit, …Baby One More Time, stripped away all spectacle, with just her and the dancers stalking the bare stage, and was better for it.

Fold up the tent: The Circus show packs 17 song segments and every under-the-big-top cliché except Siegfried & Roy's white tigers into a crowd-pleasing hour and 45 minutes. A comeback, certainly, and a solid one at that. But all the sex, fire and stomp-and-slither choreography can't disguise the fact that the production needs a bigger, purely musical core (a few more songs from the current album would have helped) — and some spontaneity. It wasn't until Spears finally called out "Thank you, New Orleans" after finishing her Womanizer encore that the crowd got a glimpse into the heart of their homegirl from Kentwood.

Next stops: Continuing her warm-up in the South, Britney plays Atlanta on Thursday, Miami on Saturday and Tampa on Sunday.

Britney's Circus Takes Off in New Orleans

The Circus Starring Britney Spears kicked off tonight at New Orleans Arena, where her adoring hometown fans—and members of the media—lined up for hours beforehand to get their hands on tour memorabilia and otherwise prove their loyalty to the fiercely comebacking pop star.

And the 27-year-old songstress didn't seem to disappoint, as evidenced by the concertgoers who Twittered away every moment of the show.

In addition to all the bells and whistles promised by her manager, magician, stylist, makeup artist, random folks, etc., Spears' desire to do good and make up for lost time was palpable, and that alone would have made for a thrilling experience.

Opening act the Pussycat Dolls got things rolling, whetting the audience's appetite for the sexy spectacle that was to follow.

A little more than an hour later, Spears descended from the ceiling and dove into "Piece of Me," off of 2007's Blackout.

The night's 16-song set list included "Radar," "Boys," a "Gimme More" remix, "Everytime," "Me Against the Music" backed by Bollywood-inspired dancers, "Do Somethin'," the more than suggestive "Touch of My Hand" and the pleasantly controversial "If U Seek Amy," made all the more carnivalesque when Britney wielded a big pink hammer and gave her dancers the whack-a-mole treatment.

And, as promised, earlier in the evening Britney was cut in half. (Though the question remains: Is she whole again?)

The greatest hits came toward the end, when Brit and her dancers polished of "Slave 4 U," "Toxic" and "...Baby One More Time" to close the show. "Womanizer" was tonight's encore selection.

Amid a shower of sparks, Britney then thanked the audience and wished them a good night.

It's Britney - One More Time!

"Ahhh Britney!" gushed one concert-goer via a Twitter message posted on Spears's Web site, which live-blogged the show in words and cell-phone photos.

As the pop star launched her first tour in five years, the 16-song set began with Spears, 27, being lowered from the rafters in a cage and breaking into the single "Circus," followed by "Piece of Me" and Radar" with stripper-pole dancing.

"Oh my god, she looks amazing," said Joshua Matassa, 23, from New Orleans. "And the show's a spectacle – it really looks like a three-ring circus."

Later, fire shot out of the middle of the stage during "Slave," and the nearly sold-out 19,000-seat arena broke out into an explosion of screams as Spears performed "Toxic" and "Baby One More Time" back-to-back.

To cap off the show, pyrotechnics made firey rain sprinkle down on Spears and her dance crew as they finished performing "Womanizer."

"Thank you so much," said Spears as she blew a kiss to the crowd. "You have a good night."

The performance marked a dramatic return to form for Spears, who's been rehearsing for the 32-city tour, and placed aside – for now – the issues that derailed her personal and professional lives: the messy divorce from Kevin Federline, losing custody of her children, and the self-acknowledged breakdown that followed.

Instead, Tuesday was a night of celebration and a chance for Spears, who hails from Kentwood, about 100 miles away, to bask in the glow of hometown fans.

Spears returns in first concert tour in 5 years

They bought T-shirts at red-and-white striped tents set up outside the arena where Spears' "Circus" tour was to getting under way Tuesday night.

"I love her," said 18-year-old Haley McInnis of Gonzales, La., wearing a circus-inspired ensemble that included a top hat and black high-heeled boots.

McInnis was among dozens of Louisiana fans out to support their hometown superstar, who in the past five years has gone through more tumult than many endure in a lifetime: She's been married and divorced, had two kids, gone to rehab, gone through a custody battle, found herself briefly committed, and been so out of control that her father, Jamie Spears, was appointed by a court to oversee her personal and professional affairs indefinitely.

But over the past year, Spears' life and career has rebounded. Her "Circus" CD, released in December, has already sold more than 1.3 million copies, and she's had two hits off the CD, "Womanizer" and "Circus."

"She's so strong, stronger than a lot of people give her credit for," McInnis said. "A lot of people wouldn't have come back from what she's been through."

Spears' comeback has been carefully orchestrated, beginning with well-received appearances on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" last year to her comeback appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards last fall following her disastrous performance on the awards show in 2007. She has given few interviews, and those that have been granted have been heavily managed.

Tuesday's "Circus" tour, which takes Spears to 27 cities in the United States before heading to Europe in June, is the pop star's biggest opportunity to connect with her still formidable fan base.

"We're so happy she's back," said 16-year-old Justin Scarbrough of New Orleans, wearing a T-shirt he designed himself that bears Spears' image and the words "I Support Britney Spears."

The tour is to feature a mix of her new material and some of the hits that made her one of the world's top-selling artists.

On Monday, MySpace Celebrity released snippets of video that gave a glimpse into what her show would look like: The circus-themed extravaganza includes dancers dangling from high wires, sultry dance moves and whip-wielding Spears dressed as the ringmaster, finally in control of her own circus.

Fan: Britney's Rehearsal Show Was Amazing

"She really delivered," said Libby Davis, 27, of Baton Rouge radio station WFMF, which gave away tickets to the late-night rehearsal. "There were only 150 people there, but she put on a great show."

As for how Spears looks, Davis says, "Her body is definitely back. We could see her arm and leg muscles from where we were sitting. In typical Britney fashion, the costumes were pretty scanty. It was Cirque du Soleil meets Moulin Rouge."

Davis's group waited through the first dress rehearsal for family and friends, which they could hear but not see. Once inside, "Everybody was chanting, 'Britney, Britney, Britney,' screaming, 'We support you, Britney,' " says Davis.

"She put on the entire show as if it were a full house. She catered to us," adds Davis. "She even stopped during 'Womanizer' because she realized we couldn't see her. She said, 'Let's do it over.' "

Manager Weighs In

Spears's manager, Larry Rudolph, told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Tuesday that fans should have high expectations for the tour, which is sponsored by Virgin Mobile.

"This is a full-out, full-blown Britney Spears show," he says. "It is everything everybody would expect from her and more."

In terms of how her life on the road has changed with motherhood, Rudolph says Spears benefits from having sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, with her. "[They] give her amazing inspiration and amazing strength."

Leading up to Tuesday's kick off concert Rudolph says Spears will sleep late, have breakfast in the early afternoon and arrive at the Arena about 4 p.m. where she'll get into hair and makeup. "And then, the performance," he says.

Davis feels lucky to have been able to see the intimate preview – even though the show happened so late that she didn't get home until 3:30 Tuesday morning.

"It was insane," she says. "But it was worth it."

Britney Ready for Circus "Spectacularness"

Luckily for the "Gimme More" singer, her manager and career svengali Larry Rudolph is a master of the hard sell. He describes The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 Tour, her first outing in nearly five years, with one appropriately hyperbolic—and neither Merriam- nor Webster-sanctioned—term.

"You can expect spectacularness," he told E! News Ryan Seacrest. "Is that a word? It is spectacular.

"This is a full-out, full-blown Britney Spears show. It is a pop extravaganza. It is everything that everyone would expect from her and more."

Yesterday, the star herself did her best to get the excitement flowing for tonight's New Orleans launch, releasing the pop hit-heavy, ballad-light playlist on her official website.

Rudolph said fans can expect Spears, who will be introduced to the audience in a video featuring none other than gossip hound Perez Hilton—so chosen because he's "controversial and interesting"—to go "full speed through the whole thing."

All 90 action-packed minutes of it.

"I personally think this may be the best one she's ever done," Rudolph, well qualified to judge such things having worked with Spears since she was 13 years old, said of the tour.

"We've been rehearsing this show for months now from concept to choreography rehearsals to where we are now. It's the show that everybody would expect and hope for."

Which means you can count on it for one thing…

"It's pretty provocative…it's actually very provocative," he said.

DSQUARED² twins Dean and Dan Caten have designed the big top-themed costumes Spears and her onstage support will don for the tour and, judging by what they wrote on their website this morning, don't intend to let the sartorial side down, writing that the costumes will be "sinister," and feature "sensualized 'sado' concepts."

Rudolph also revealed to Seacrest what has been hinted at in her video sneak peaks and well-timed insider leaks, namely that the concert will take place in the round and will feature performances by "circus performers, aerialists, dancers, martial artists, we have all kinds of things."

Asked whether Spears, who ran through the show twice yesterday from start to finish, has any preconcert jitters, Rudolph said she has handled herself like the pro she is—or at least, is on her way back to being.

"She always has a little bit of nervous energy, but she has this way of channeling it…When it comes to game day, nobody brings it like she does.

"She knows what to do. She's the consummate professional. She knows where and how to dig deep."

As for her game-day ritual, Spears will "probably sleep late today…probably until early afternoon" as she will not have her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James with her.

Thanks to a custody deal Spears hashed out with Kevin Federline last month, the boys are joining their mother on her tour.

"It helps a lot," Rudolph said of their presence on the road. "The boys give her amazing inspiration and amazing strength."

As do her loyal fans.

"She kind of defies demographics now…The day we put the tickets on sale it was just extraordinary. People just want to see her, they really just want to see her."

And starting tonight, in 27 cities, they can.

Spears returns in first concert tour in 5 years

But whereas her last tour was more like a coronation, Spears' "The Circus" tour — which starts Tuesday night at the New Orleans Arena — marks another step in the ongoing rehabilitation of Spears' image and her career.

In the past five years, Spears has gone through more tumult than many endure in a lifetime: She's been married and divorced, had two kids, gone to rehab, gone through a custody battle, found herself briefly committed, and been so out of control that her father, Jamie Spears, was appointed by a court to oversee his daughters' personal and professional affairs indefinitely.

But over the past year, Spears' life and career has rebounded. Her "Circus" CD, released in December, has already sold more than 1.3 million copies, and she's had two hits off the CD, the No. 1 "Womanizer" and the top five "Circus."

Spears comeback has been carefully orchestrated, beginning with well-received appearances on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" last year to her comeback appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards last fall following her disastrous performance on the awards show in 2007. She has given few interviews, and those that have been granted have been heavily managed.

Tuesday's "Circus" tour, which takes her to 27 cities in the United States before heading to Europe in June, is her biggest opportunity to connect with her still formidable fan base. The tour is to feature a mix of her new material and some of the hits that made her one of the world's top-selling artists.

On Monday, MySpace Celebrity released snippets of video that gave a glimpse into what her show would look like: The circus-themed extravaganza includes dancers dangling from high wires, sultry dance moves and whip-wielding Spears dressed as the ringmaster, finally in control of her own circus.

Britney's Family Excited and Anxious About Tour

"I am so excited for her, and I wish I could be there," Spears's aunt, Linda Ann Brandon-Kjos, tells PEOPLE. "All the family is there and supporting her. I'm sure that she is going to be just fine. I think it is going to be something really special."

After spending the weekend with family in Kentwood, Spears, 27, has arrived in New Orleans in advance of her show at the New Orleans Arena. The singer's set-list, which was revealed Monday, shows that she'll perform a mix of old and new hits. Spears, who is the new face of Candie's, also released a short video preview of the concert on her Web site, with a longer version on the Candie's site.

Sources close to the pop star have said that she has been working hard preparing for the show, which will include a three-ring circus set-up and magic tricks.

Britney Heads to Big Easy for High-Stakes Comeback

When Britney Spears takes the stage at the New Orleans Arena on March 3 – the opening night of her Circus tour – the stakes will never be higher.

After more than two years of personal drama, the tour will either make or break the professional comeback she began last fall.

According to sources, Spears, 27, who left Friday for Louisiana, has been hard at work preparing for the show, which will feature her signature sexy dance moves, a stage filled with three circus rings, and magic tricks.

"She's pretty determined," a friend tells PEOPLE. "She missed singing and performing and the freedom of that. It gives her an escape and it's what she loves to do, so she's definitely thankful to be doing that again."

Redeeming Herself

Though the pop star seemed to be back in old Britney form when she sang "Womanizer" on Good Morning America in December, the concert will be her biggest performance since her disastrous, out-of-shape appearance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.

"I've got to believe she's ready and will do a professional show," Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of the concert trade magazine Pollstar, says. "If she doesn't, it's over."

Spears's last tour, in 2004, was canceled after the singer injured her knee during a video shoot. (She spent her newfound free time with then-boyfriend Kevin Federline; they were engaged that summer.) So far, the buzz for the upcoming 31-city outing is strong.

"In general, the tickets have sold very well. Some shows are already sold out," Bongiovanni says. "Obviously, it means there is significant fan interest in seeing her do her live show. That fact that she's been off the scene for a while helps with the pent-up demand."

Lingering Issues

Of course, some interest may stem from the sideshow that has been her personal life. On Wednesday, her father, Jamie, was granted an extension on a restraining order against his daughter's ex-manager Sam Lutfi. (Jamie holds indefinite legal control over her life following her two forced hospitalizations in January 2008.)

In a hearing on Monday, Jamie testified that prior to his stepping in, Britney's life "was pretty well a disaster. She had nothing going on, just mostly [being] in the tabloids. [But now] weight-wise she's eating properly, she's very stable, making her meetings, taking care of her babies [Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2], doing things she's supposed to do," he said.

Jamie also testified that during her breakdown, Britney was "kind of wild" and "just very messed up."

Britney's current manager, Larry Rudolph, told PEOPLE in November that dancing and singing is what helped the singer get her life back on track. "She identifies with her career in a lot of ways and getting her career back is a great therapeutic thing for her," he explained.

Seconds the pal, "She's better when she puts her energy into that."

Still, legal experts say her father could remain in control for months or even years. She'll only regain her independence once she proves to the court – backed by doctors' opinions – that she can handle her own affairs.

Is She Ready?

The pop star's friend worries the tour may be too much for the singer to handle, but notes that "it's what her team thought was best."

What will make the trip easier is that Federline is taking the couple's kids on the road so they can keep up their regular visitation schedule with Mom.

"Having the boys with her is going to make all the difference," says a source. "They are the reason she can do this."

Britney Spears Heads East to Get Ready for Tour

The singer flew from Los Angeles to McComb, Miss. on Friday in anticipation of kicking off her Circus tour on Tuesday, March 3 in New Orleans.

Spears, 27, arrived in at the airport – about 15 miles from her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana – looking fit and pretty in a red top and black skirt. She was accompanied by an entourage of about a dozen people, including her two sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, and her brother.

The singer was met by her parents Lynne and Jamie Spears, who greeted Britney with a kiss on her forehead.

According to a twitter posting on the singer's Web site, she wrote that her status as of Friday afternoon was: "On my way to Kentwood … Five days left! So excited."

The tour is the last major step in Spears's comeback, which she started last fall. "She looks great, she's working out three or four hours a day," a source close to the family tells PEOPLE. "Everybody's pulling for her after all she's been through.

Judge orders three men to stay away from Spears

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb extended a restraining order against Sam Lutfi, the star's former self-styled manager, and Adnan Ghalib, a former boyfriend, until March 18.

The judge also extended a restraining order against attorney Jon Eardley, who once claimed to represent Spears, until April 1.

At the same hearing, Itamar Gelbman, a former member of Spears' security team, testified that Lutfi sent text messages to the singer's hairstylist in December asking her to relay information to the pop star.

Attorneys for Jamie Spears, the 27-year-old singer's father, have accused Lutfi, Ghalib and Eardley of trying to disrupt the legal conservatorship that gives him control over her personal affairs and replace her court-appointed lawyer.

The restraining orders against the three men require them to keep away from Spears and her family, and from helping others file legal proceedings on her behalf.

Bobb is expected to decide at hearings on March 18 and April 1 whether to further extend the restraining orders.

On Tuesday, Ghalib was charged with one felony count each of assault with a deadly weapon, battery and hit-and-run for allegedly using his car to ram a man attempting to serve the restraining order against him on February 11. Ghalib, a 36-year-old celebrity photographer, has pleaded not guilty.

Jamie Spears was granted temporary control over his daughter's affairs in February 2008, after the singer displayed bizarre public behavior for more than a year and was hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation.

Britney Spears's Hairstylist Testifies Against Sam Lutfi

"Someone kept calling me from a private number ... he said his name was Sam," Roberta Romero stated Wednesday. "He wanted information about Britney. He said he was on her side. I told him, 'Leave me alone, stop calling me.' "

Lutfi allegedly sent Romero a series of 11 texts within a four day period, saying things like, "Please relay the truth to her. I did not do this to her," apparently referring to Jamie Spears's indefinite control over the singer's life. Lutfi also allegedly texted Romero: "I've done everything I can to free her from this. Very close to getting her free now." On another occasion he allegedly wrote: "I went to court to free her." Romero says she repeatedly told Lutfi to leave her alone via text.

Restraining Order Extended

The hearing was held to determine whether to uphold a restraining order, filed by Britney's father, against Lutfi and ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. After three hours of proceedings, the restraining orders were extended to March 18, with the case to resume April 1 to hear more witnesses.

Romero testified about an evening on Dec. 27 when she and Britney went to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Lutfi had been sending text messages to Romero that evening, and later, the two women texted back, "Leave me the [expletive] alone."

At some point that evening, Lutfi texted Romero, "Can you wish her a Merry Christmas for me?" At 2 a.m., the women sought help from the singer's bodyguard, Itamar Gelbman, who also testified in court.

The Bodyguard Steps In

"[Britney] complained Sam was texting her, and that she's scared," Gelbman said in court. "She asked for more patrols [around the house]. She wanted me to do more, to make sure everything was locked. She couldn't fall asleep because of [Sam's texts to Romero]. She told me to make him stop." Gelbman says he immediately called Lutfi and told him to leave the women alone.

Lawyers for Jamie Spears said Lutfi had been subpoenaed Tuesday night for cross-examination in court. The process server taped a notice to appear on his car windshield, they said, but Lutfi failed to show up.

His attorney, Bryan Freedman, claimed that Lutfi wasn't properly served, and has denied that his client has been harassing the singer.

Illusionist Spills Britney's Circus Tour Secrets

So is this comeback for the serially-troubled Spears? "I don't know if I would call it a comeback," says Alonzo, a lead illusionist on MyNetworkTV's Masters of Illusion. "It's more of a continuation of the greatness she always had."

Britney Plays a Magician's Assistant
During one song (Alonzo won't say which one), Britney becomes part of his magic act. "She's incorporated into major illusions. She'll do dissection, where she's sawed in half, and transposition, where she's in one place and ends up in another place. She's doing all the classic elements of magic."

Yep, It'll be a Spectacle
"There are three giant [circus] rings with unbelievable things hanging in the air and flying around," says Alonzo.

Expect Outrageous Dancing
"She's dancing so hard in the show," Alonzo says. "It's elements of hip-hop, tumbling, it's really outrageous. The kind of choreography in the show is similar to the kind of stuff you see in America's Best Dance Crew."

Brit's Back in Shape
"She looks really incredible," says Alonzo, who played Max, the owner of the diner hangout, in the '90s TV hit Saved By The Bell. "She's really toned. Her stomach looks fantastic. This is the Britney Spears people remember from the past. Even stronger and better."

This Time, Britney's on Point
Forget her bungled performance at the 2007 MTV's VMAs. "She's really got it together," says Alonzo. "She's totally focused. And she's working her butt off."

Britney Spears to Get Sawed in Half and Other Circus Tour Secrets

"Right away, she got into the boxes and into the magic contraptions to learn the stuff, and she's so excited about this tour and all the elements that are in it," illusionist-comedian Ed Alonzo, "the Misfit of Magic" (and former Saved by the Bell diner owner) who will be doing a number with Spears on her Circus tour, tells E! News.

The pop star will serve as Alonzo's assistant in the bit.

"We're going to be doing the classics of magic but a little high-tech," he said. "We'll be doing a little dissection, transposition, a vanish, an appearance—and if I do a trick she doesn't just hold the props, she's actually getting inside the big boxes or I am slicing her up."

Sounds a bit risky, which is perhaps why Team Spears decided to leave the tricks to a professional.

I "made [the tricks] really easy for her...but there are some complicated things that she is doing that you would think a contortionist would have to do, or a trained magicians assistant," Alonzo said. "But because...she's a dancer, it really makes sense to put her in the magic, and it works and she's really really good at it."

"Some of it's pretty scary but she gets right in there with no reservations," he added.

Alonzo wouldn't divulge which Spears tunes would be accompanying his mini magic show, but—news flash—he did assure us that the overall show will feature "the best music of Britney that people have loved over the years and of course brand new favorites from the new album."

And, like us, Alonzo has only seen Spears in warm-up clothes and sneakers during rehearsals, although she has been testing out different pairs of heels here and there.

The three-ring circus-inspired set is "exactly what you would see in a big giant Vegas production show, but it's going to be on the road," he said, and anywhere from 75 to 100 crew members and performers are usually around at any given time.

"It's going to be an amazing concert for people to watch," he said. "It's like watching a big Cirque du Soleil high-tech circus but with a really focused star in the middle of all of this."

Dad Testifies as Spearses Seek More Restraint Over Lutfi, Ghalib

Attorneys for Jamie and Britney Spears, as well as ex-Spears second banana Sam Lutfi, congregated in a Los Angeles courtroom this morning for a hearing to determine whether to extend the temporary restraining orders against Lutfi, former beau Adnan Ghalib and lawyer Jon Eardley.

While no formal decision was made this morning, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb kept the keep-away orders in place until at least Wednesday while the legal drama plays out.

Today's hearing continued into the afternoon, when Jamie Spears testified as to why he believes the restraining orders are necessary. The paternal unit, acting as his daughter's conservator, went to court after Lutfi allegedly attempted to contact Britney through text message and via her hairstylist.

Jamie described how his security team discovered that his daughter had obtained her own cell phone after a nanny overheard Britney talking in hushed tones "in the wee hours of the morning." The Spears security team subsequently confiscated the phone when Britney went to dance practice, he said.

Britney was allowed use of an authorized cell phone, but "very restricted use of that cell," and "sometimes she is allowed, and sometimes she is not" to use it, the elder Spears continued.

According to Jamie, the phone the security team found was a prepaid Nokia phone that his daughter confessed had been given to her at the Peninsula Hotel. He immediately recognized numbers on the phone as belonging to Lutfi and Ghalib.

"It was very disturbing," Jamie said. "It felt like a threat. It felt like someone was trying to extort my daughter."

Prior to the conservatorship, when Britney was friends with Lutfi and Ghalib, she was not eating at all, wasn't sleeping and was in a very bad emotional state, Jamie testitied.

"It was pretty well a disaster. She had nothing going on at the time, mostly in the tabloids."

Now, his daughter is "physically very wonderful, body and weight-wise," Jamie said. "Very stable. Making her meetings. Taking care of her babies. Doing the things she is supposed to do."

Under cross-examination, Jamie stated that none of the calls or texts were, in themselves, threatening.

But, Jamie said, he believes that Lutfi "is a predator."

"He is very dangerous to my daughter. He causes disbelief in her mind. He is very controlling. We asked him to go away and he did. Now he is back."

The proceedings are scheduled to continue Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

Lutfi, who earlier this month filed suit against Britney for unpaid management fees and against Jamie and Lynn Spears for defamation and a host of other grievances, denies in court papers that his attempts at indirect communication were not threatening or harassing in nature.

"Any communication Lutfi purportedly had with Britney were conveyed by and between Lutfi and Britney through others, including, without limitation, Mr. Ghalib," he says in his filing.

"I have not, in any alleged communications with Britney, her hairdresser or any other person, threatened any act of violence against Britney or her family."

He goes on to say that he himself received anonymous text messages on Jan. 10 from someone going by the user name "CityGalin310," warning him that Jamie Spears was about to go public with "serious accusations."

Lutfi claims he then attempted to contact the Spears patriarch, who told him any conversation would need to take place in the presence of his attorney, Blair Berk.

Meanwhile, an attorney for Eardley, who attempted to get Spears' conservatorship case moved to federal court last year while supposedly under the employ of Lutfi, appeared in court to try and get the restraining order against his client dropped.

"He tried to get her case moved to federal court and he filed a notice of appeal on her behalf a year ago, but since then he has had no contact with her," attorney Roger Diamond said.

"He has not harassed her. He simply wants to be dismissed from this case."

Spears' Seek More Restraint Over Lutfi, Ghalib

Attorneys for Jamie and Britney Spears, as well as ex-Spears second banana Sam Lutfi, congregated in a Los Angeles courtroom this morning for a hearing to determine whether to extend the temporary restraining orders against Lutfi, former beau Adnan Ghalib and lawyer Jon Eardley.

While no formal decision was made at this morning's hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb kept the keep-away orders in place until at least Wednesday while the legal drama plays out.

Today's hearing will continue into the afternoon, when Jamie Spears will offer testimony as to why he believes the restraining orders are necessary. The paternal unit, acting as his daughter's conservator, went to court after Lutfi allegedly attempted to contact Britney through text message and via her hairstylist.

Lutfi, who earlier this month filed suit against Britney for unpaid management fees and against Jamie and Lynn Spears for defamation and a host of other grievances, has denies in court papers that his attempts at indirect communication were not threatening or harassing in nature.

"Any communication Lutfi purportedly had with Britney were conveyed by and between Lutfi and Britney through others, including, without limitation, Mr. Ghalib," he says in his filing.

"I have not, in any alleged communications with Britney, her hairdresser or any other person, threatened any act of violence against Britney or her family."

He goes on to say that he himself received anonymous text messages on Jan. 10 from someone going by the user name "CityGalin310," warning him that Jamie Spears was about to go public with "serious accusations."

Lutfi claims he then attempted to contact the Spears patriarch, who told him any conversation would need to take place in the presence of his attorney, Blair Berk.

Meanwhile, an attorney for Eardley, who attempted to get Spears' conservatorship case moved to federal court last year while supposedly under the employ of Lutfi, appeared in court to try and get the restraining order against his client dropped.

"He tried to get her case moved to federal court and he filed a notice of appeal on her behalf a year ago, but since then he has had no contact with her," attorney Roger Diamond said.

"He has not harassed her. He simply wants to be dismissed from this case."

Britney May Be Trying to Break Away from Daddy's Control

A woman claiming to be Britney left three voicemails last month asking an attorney for help to extricate herself from her ongoing conservatorship, according to audio recordings played to E! News.

On the recordings, the woman says she wants out of the arrangement and indicates that she is at odds with dad Jamie Spears.

In the first message, left at 1:34 a.m. on Jan. 19, she says, in a hushed tone, "Hi, this is Britney Spears. I want Jon Eardley...to represent me as coappointed attorneys for my best interest and best wishes. Goodbye."

A rep for Spears could not be reached for comment, though a source close to the popster says the voice on the recordings is "absolutely not her."

Eardley was the New York-based attorney, supposedly retained by Sam Lutfi, who last year tried to have Britney's conservatorship case transfered to federal court, claiming her civil rights had been trampled on by her parents and the L.A. Superior Court system.

All of his claims were denied, with a judge ruling that, because Spears had been found unfit to hire her own counsel, Eardley had no grounds on which to work on the singer's behalf.

In the second message, left 20 minutes later, the woman, who misstates the date, says, "Hi, this is Britney Spears. It's January 18th. I just want out of this conservatorship....I'm confined, restrained, stripped of my civil rights and I demand the State of California to review this case because I feel it is meaningful. Bye."

Britney's camp obtained a restraining order against Eardley, whom her father and attorneys have accused of being in cahoots with Sam Lutfi to undermine the conservatorship, on Jan. 30. The order is also in place against Lutfi and former Spears' paramour, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.

In the third message, dated Jan. 21 at 12:29 a.m., the woman says, "Hi, my name is Britney Spears. Um, I called you earlier. I'm calling again because I just wanted to make sure during the process of ending the conservatorship...I just want to be guaranteed that, um, everything will be fine with the process of, um, you guys taking care of everything and...things will be the same as far as...my custodial rights."

In the petition for a restraining order against Lutfi, Eardley and Ghalib, Spears' conservators alleged that the three men had been "working in concert to disrupt the conservatorship." They also attached a letter sent from Eardley to Britney a year ago informing her that "civil rights were violated" and offering his assistance.

In the Bedroom on Britney's Video Shoot

PEOPLE.com has your first look behind the scenes at the shoot Spears called "super sexy and really fun" on her Twitter feed last week.

Spears's dancers Willie, Jay and Luke gave BritneySpears.com a sneak peek at the boudoir choreography, but we'll have to wait for the premiere to see Spears out of the director's chair.

Top 20 best-selling albums of 2008 globally

Britney Spears Plays a Sexy Housewife in New Video

The singer, who plans to hit the road for her Circus tour next month, spent Tuesday filming the video for her upcoming single "If U Seek Amy," in which she plays a sexy housewife dressed in blonde '50s style wig, fitted pink top and white skirt.

"The video begins with Britney coming outside her house to hand the paparazzi an apple pie that she baked," says a source. "She acts like she wants to hook up. The video is very provocative."

In part of the video, Spears is accompanied by two adorable perfectly-groomed children and a straight-laced man wearing khakis and a sweater over his shoulders. But a source says there are also lots of dancers "dressed in skimpy outfits in metallic color" and revealing costumes for Spears included in the shoot.

According to several sources, Spears was very professional and upbeat on the set. "She was like the old Britney at the shoot. She was engaged and excited the whole day and seemed like her old self," says a source.

"If U Seek Amy" is the third single from the album Circus. Spears kicks off her new tour in New Orleans on March 3.

Britney, K-Fed and the Kids Ready to Hit the Road

Particularly for her kids.

A week after the pop star's premature proclamation that sons Sean Preston and Jayden James would be joining her for her North American road trip—and less than a week after Kevin Federline's attorney said otherwise—E! News has confirmed that a deal has, at last, been made for the Federtots to join their mother for Circus time.

Federline and Spears have hashed out a custody deal for their road tripping, which will more or less mirror the terms of their current arrangement.

K-Fed attorney Mark Kaplan tells E! that all necessary parties have signed off on the agreement, which will allow Spears to see Sean and Jayden on "pretty much the same schedule that she has now."

Spears will continue to have overnight rights to her boys three days and nights per week, with the caveat being that rather than having those visits transpire at her Los Angeles home, they will take place in one of three makeshift home bases which will be set up across the country and to which Spears will commute back to in between gigs.

In addition to L.A., Spears will be renting homes in New Jersey and New Orleans for the duration of the tour. Should he so wish, Federline has also received the green light to stay at the homes while Spears has custody in order to minimize travel and the potential uprooting of the boys.

"Kevin is working to make them accessible by going on various central locations in various areas of the country, and he is doing that because he wants her to be able to have the maximum positive environment around her to assure that the tour will be successful," Kaplan said.

As it happens, Federline will also be pocketing $5,000 a week in exchange for his tour-accommodating custody arrangement.

The kids will probably not be hanging out backstage anytime soon, however.

"I don't think the kids will be at venues," Kaplan said. "They will be available in her life when she is done with the rigors of performing."

The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 Tour, her first arena outing in five years, kicks off March 3 in New Orleans and runs through June. The Pussycat Dolls will serve as her opening act.

In other Britney news, a judge signed off Tuesday on her conservators' request to hire two more lawyers to fight the defamation lawsuit filed by former hanger-on Sam Lutfi.

Terry Boxer and Bonita Moore, the new additions to the Spears legal camp, will bill the popster an hourly rate of $550 and $385, respectively. (View the paperwork.)

Britney Brings Familiar Face Onboard

Former assistant Felicia Culotta, who most recently worked for the Jonas Brothers, has returned to Team Britney, just in time for the comebacking pop star's Circus tour.

"Britney has always held a special place in my heart, and over the course of the last year I have seen her work harder than she ever has in her entire life," Culotta said in a statement posted on Spears' website. "

"Sadly, I am really going to miss the Jonas boys, but I felt I had to be a part of this exciting time in Britney's career. I love Britney and missed her dearly."

We're going to have to assume Culotta has been sufficiently vetted by Spears' conservators, who still have control over the sort of company the artist keeps.

The Circus Starring Britney Spears kicks off March 3 in New Orleans.

K-Fed Lawyer: No Deal Yet on Britney Touring With Tykes

"We are working towards that," K-Fed attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan exclusively tells E! News.

"There can be an agreement reached in probably the next day, but there is not an agreement that is signed yet."

Kaplan says they are hammering out the last details, but the basic agreement will allow Spears to see her two sons on "pretty much the same schedule that she has now," which is around three days a week. For the sake of the tour, Federline will travel with the kids to tour areas.

"Kevin is working to make them accessible by going on various central locations in various areas of the country and he is doing that because he wants her to be able to have the maximum positive environment around her to assure that the tour will be successful," says Kaplan.

Sean and Jayden James will likely not be seeing any of mom's Circus shows nor will they be hanging out backstage.

"I don't think the kids will be at venues, they will be available in her life when she is done with the rigors of performing," says Kaplan.

As for reports that Spears was threatening to cancel the tour if an agreement wasn't reached for the kids to come, Kaplan says that did not influence Federline's decision to allow the kids on tour.

"That would be her decision, but it is not something that would compel Kevin to decide what is best for his kids," Kaplan says.

Kaplan says he does not know if Federline will be bringing his new girlfriend, professional volleyball player Victoria Prince, with him as he shadows his ex-wife's tour. Prince recently decided to take time off the pro volleyball circuit.

"I don't even know if they know yet, but she is a very solid person and they are really great together. She is very solid, responsible and very postive effect that she has had. "

Sam Lutfi Sues Britney Spears and Her Parents

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday, Lutfi is also claiming libel, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. "Jamie and Lynne launched a campaign of lies and intimidation designed to destroy Lutfi and drive him out of Britney's life," the papers read. "This campaign also provided Jamie with the opportunity he needed to obtain an appointment as Britney's conservator."

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges: "Despite seemingly accomplishing their objectives, Jamie and Lynne have nevertheless continued their smear campaign against Lutfi. Thus, having no other alternative, Lutfi brings this action to defend himself against Jamie's and Lynne's persistent attacks."

Last Friday, the pop star's father obtained a new restraining order against Lutfi, accusing him of harassing the Spears family. In papers, Jamie Spears and lawyer Andrew Wallet, who oversee the singer's affairs as co-conservators, alleged that Lufti and two other men "are now working in concert to disrupt the conservatorship with utter disregard for Ms. Spears's health and well being."

Lawyers for Lutfi and Jamie Spears weren't immediately available for comment.

Britney Spears Taking Her Sons on Tour

The pop star took to her blog Monday to knock down a report that her upcoming two-month tour was in trouble because of a snag over whether she could travel with her two boys.

"Both Sean Preston and Jayden James will, in fact, be joining Britney throughout the duration of her tour," says Spears's blog.

Spears ex, Kevin Federline, 30, has primary custody of the boys, ages 3 and 2, but Spears has nearly 50-50 access to them in visitation rights.

Her Circus tour kicks off March 3 in New Orleans and ends April 28 in Chicago. Spears, 27, says she spent the weekend lounging by the pool checking out sketches of costumes.

"Britney is so excited to kick off her tour," her blog says. "She has been enjoying every moment of rehearsals and is looking forward to performing in front of a live audience again."

Spears also revealed more details about the tour, including a description of the elaborate stage patterned off a three-ring circus with multiple acts taking place at the same time.

"It's sexy, fun, explosive, and full of surprises," says designer Jamie King. "While avoiding such traditional circus elements as live animals, we've created something innovative and exciting using contortionists, dancers, lighting, fire and other special effects."

Remember Sam & Adnan? Britney Wants Them Banished for Good

Attorneys for the resurgent star petitioned Friday for a restraining order against Spears' former manager, Sam Lutfi, and her onetime paparazzo boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib, both frequent companions of hers during the period she was known more for melting down than for catchy pop melodies.

Los Angles Superior Court public information officer Vania Stuelp confirmed that Spears' camp filed papers today, but said the judge assigned to the case wanted to review the documents before making them public.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Ghalib and Lutfi, who hasn't been welcomed at Casa Spears or anywhere else Britney can be found for some time, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

For several months last year, starting Feb. 1 when Spears was briefly commited to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for observationn, Lutfi quietly abided by a temporary order that mandated he stay at least 250 yards away from her.

In July, however, sources told E! News Lutfi was unwilling to agree to a permanent stay-away. And the ambiguity of such an arrangement has apparently finally gotten to Britney.

Per TMZ.com, Britney asked her conservators, including dad Jamie Spears, to protect her from Lutfi and Ghalib.

Lutfi was supposedly the one behind a campaign to overturn the conservatorship, which began Feb. 1 and has since been made permanent pending further action from Britney to dissolve it, early last year.

Kelly Clarkson Breaks Britney Spears's Record

Her new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," will break records on Thursday when it makes the largest leap to No. 1 in the Billboard chart's 50-year history.

The song moves to No. 1 from No. 97 on the Hot 100 chart after selling 280,000 digital downloads in its first week out, according to Billboard.com.

Clarkson, 26, has set the record once before: Her 2002 single "A Moment Like This" – the American Idol Season 1 victory track – jumped from No. 52 to No. 1 in a single week.

Since then, the largest-leap record has been broken five times, most recently by Britney Spears's "Womanizer," which jumped from No. 96 to No. 1 last year.

Fans got a sneak peek at Clarkson's new video during last night's Idol episode. It can be viewed in full at att.net.

The song is off Clarkson's album All I Ever Wanted, due in stores March 17.

Britney Works It During Rehearsals

In an exclusive rehearsal photo posted to Spears's Web site, Britney claps to the beat in simple, comfortable dance gear.

Jamie King, who choreographed her 2000 tour is back on duty, and the singer, 27, looks svelte and toned in a tank top showing off her arms, and even the mom-of-two's tummy!

The arena tour, her first in five years, kicks off in New Orleans March 3 with special guests The Pussycat Dolls.

Kevin Federline Joins Britney's Family for BBQ

Sources tell PEOPLE that Federline arrived at the new house Sunday at about noon to pick up sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, from their weekend visitation with Spears. Instead he was invited in by Spears's father, Jamie, for a family barbeque.

Federline left with Preston and Jayden around 5 p.m. and returned home.

Britney Spears Works Up a Sweat

In a series of new photos posted on BritneySpears.com, the singer – dressed in low-slung sweatpants and a barely-there cut-off T-shirt exposing her toned bod – is shown in rehearsals for her upcoming tour.

On March 3, Spears, 27, will hit the road for the first time in five years with her 27-city, North American The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 Tour, starting in New Orleans and guest-starring the Pussycat Dolls.

After a tough few years in which Spears got divorced, was hospitalized twice and has lived under the watchful eye of her father, Jamie Spears, she is back in fine form with a No. 1 album.

And her fans seem to be loving it. In December, 65 percent of readers who took a PEOPLE.com poll said the pop star is definitely ready for her close-up.

Britney Spears Shows Sons Her New House

"I just took my babies to our new home and they loved it! I can't wait to move in," the pop star says on her Web site.

Spears, 27, who has visitation rights – including overnights – with her sons Jayden, 2, and Preston, 3, put her six-bedroom, six-bathroom Studio City, Calif., on the market for more than $7 million. There was no official word on where the new house is.

SPEARS: IT'S NOT OK!

Billboard Single Review

Britney Spears' Not-So-Tweet Hacker

Someone has clearly hacked into the Circus star's Twitter account.

Her previous post was about loving Japan. This one, however, had a more (disgusting) anatomical bent.

The "Womanizer" wonder wasn't the only one hit by this recent security collapse on the social networking site. Unlikely tweets keep popping up among VIP members.

Barack Obama, who hasn't posted since Election Day, left a message wondering what you thought of him. If you clicked and took the survey, you could win a gas card!

Fox News noted that "Bill O'Reilly is gay," and CNN's Rick Sanchez said he's "high on crack and might not be coming in to work today."

Not surprisingly, Twitter staffers have removed the offensive messages.

"A number of high-profile Twitter accounts were compromised this morning, and fake/spam updates were sent on their behalf," the company says in a notice on the site. "We have identified the cause and blocked it. We are working to restore compromised accounts."

The company was reportedly struck with its first major phishing attack this weekend.

Brit's the hottest celeb on earth!

For the second consecutive year, the pop star topped USA Today’s annual Celebrity Heat Index, which tracks print and online media exposure.

Spears received more media exposure than any other star in 11 weeks this year. Behind Spears in USA Today’s Heat Index were Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.

Earlier this month, People magazine’s readers anointed Spears as the comeback entertainer of the year as well as the most talked-about celebrity.

Britney's Brother Bryan Spears to Wed

Britney Spears's big brother, Bryan Spears, 31, is newly engaged to Graciella Sanchez, 36, and the pair plan to wed soon – possibly over the New Year's holiday, sources tell PEOPLE.

The couple have been acquaintances for years, but only recently started dating seriously. Sanchez is the manager for Bryan's little sister Jamie Lynn.

A Yale graduate, Sanchez helped found One Talent Management, where she still works. Bryan Spears is a producer with credits including Jamie Lynn's star-making vehicle Zoey 101.

Britney, 27, who flew to Louisiana on Sunday with her two sons Jayden James, 3, and Preston, 2, is expected to attend the nuptials.

Britney's Bollywood Romance a Bust Before It Begins

Sources close to Britney Spears tell E! that despite U.K. tabloid babblings to the contrary, Britney did not fly off to Jodhpur, India, to spend a few days around Christmas with a new Indian boyfriend.

"Britney is not in India," says one Britney source, while another dubs the report a "total fabrication."

Among the erroneous info being shoveled, the U.K. tabloid noted that the Circus singer's supposed new boyfriend, Sandip Soparrkar, choreographed her "Womanizer" video. In fact, the video was choreographed by her longtime choreographer Andre Fuentes.

Sources tell E! News that Britney, who on Dec. 23 wished fans a "Happy Holidays" on BritneySpears.com by sending out a holiday card with her two boys, spent Christmas at home in Los Angeles.

Britney reportedly left L.A. via private jet on Sunday afternoon and headed to Kentwood, La., where, a Britney fansite reports, Sean and Jayden are with mom.

Though we haven't been able to confirm it yet, Britney is expected to stay in Louisiana for a reported Dec. 31 wedding in New Orleans between her brother, Bryan, and his fiancee, Jamie Lynn's manager Graciella Sanchez.

Britney's Still Got It - Ranks Top on Year-End Lists

Brit got more media attention than anyone else for 11 weeks this year, meaning she earned the top spot on the index for the second year in a row. That coverage included everything from her infamous breakdown last January to her best-selling album, just released on Dec. 2.

It's just another feather in Britney's cap, following her selection by PEOPLE readers as having the "best comeback" of 2008 as well as being the "most talked about celebrity."

Nipping at Spears's heels on the index were Angelina Jolie (No. 2), Jennifer Aniston (No. 3) and the man they have in common, Brad Pitt. Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith, meanwhile, dropped out of the Top 10 altogether.

Robert Pattinson, Blake Lively and Barack Obama made the index for the first time, and the divorce between Madonna and Guy Ritchie qualified as hottest breakup.

Online readers also said they wished they could get more of Reese Witherspoon and Patrick Swayze, who revealed he has pancreatic cancer in March.

Did Britney Spears Really Join T-Pain on Stage?

During his performance at the Universal Amphitheater last night, T-Pain brought out little person Terra Jole, a famed Spears impersonator, decked in the pop star's infamous VMA '07 getup.

"There's an artist I'd like to introduce," T-Pain said. "They have an album called Circus, and they've joined me on tour." As the hopeful crowd awaited a Spears appearance, Jole took center stage—which was set up as T-Pain's own circus (hence the name of his latest album, Thr33 Ringz)—and danced like only Spears (and an impersonator) can.

While it could be argued that Jole stole the show, attention shouldn't be taken away from T-Pain himself, who performed his set sans his signature Auto-Tune style, but also without blinged-out grill. The hip-hop artist belted out a number of his hit tunes and even showed off his piano skills.

And what about the headliner of the show, Lil Wayne?

What T-Pain lacked in oral bling, Lil Wayne made up. The gold-grilled rapper ended the show with his 45-minute set, which included performances of "Make it Rain," "Out Here Grindin'," "Duffle Bag Boy" and "My Life."

But it was the grand finale that proved the most memorable. Out of nowhere, Whitney Houston's 1992 hit "I Will Always Love You" played out. "I love you," Wayne shouted to the crowd as the lights went down.

Gym Class Heroes, Keyshia Cole and Keri Hilson also took the stage during the concert.

Check Out Britney Spears's Holiday Card

The pop singer, 27, whose career and personal life are on the rebound, wraps her arms around sons Jayden James, 2, and Preston, 3, under the Christmas tree in the card, posted on her Web site.

Sightings

Britney's Dad Gets a Comeback Raise

A Los Angeles court today signed off on a retroactive raise for Jamie Spears, who has been in charge of his daughter's affairs since Feb. 1 and, according to the gavel-wielders, has played a significant role in her return to Circus-caliber viability over the past year.

Jamie, who has been receiving weekly payments of $2,500 from Britney's estate for serving as guide and guardian, will now get $16,000 per month to cover his workload from last January to November.

"He has been working extra hours related to various activities related to her music and her tour and activities necessary to the conservatorship," L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz said during Monday's hearing.

As of Dec. 1, however, the $2,500-per-week was back in play, Goetz ordered.

None of this includes the extra $1,500 a month Jamie will be getting for new office digs to conduct conservatorship business in, and $200,000 "for services rendered prior to the conservatorship" that will be going to Britney's older brother, Bryan, who is a cotrustee of her estate.

The next Spears-business hearing is set for Feb. 3.

TASTE FOR SUSHI

Britney Spears & Benji Madden: Nothing to See Here

According to Spears rep Holly Shakoor, the answer is the latter.

“The claims made by In Touch are completely false,” she tells E! News. “There is not an ounce of truth to any of it.”

The tab’s claims involve Brit Brit’s dad, Jamie Spears, and manager Larry Rudolph creating a whole Circus of potential suitors, Madden, Chace Crawford, Jesse Metcalf and Michael Phelps, among them.

Meanwhile, the Good Charlotter spent Monday evening at the D&G store opening with his ex, Paris Hilton, and they were both spotted at Christina Aguilera’s birthday party again Thursday evening.

Britney's Circus #2 in Week 2

Lily Allen: Why I Covered Britney's 'Womanizer'

That's the simple explanation Allen gives on her MySpace blog for why she recently covered Spears's hit song "Womanizer."

"[It's] simple, really. I love Britney and I love the song," Allen writes.

The British singer, whose sophomore album It's Not Me, It's You is due out in February, adds, "Mark Ronson asked me for something no one had heard to play on his radio show and 'Womanizer' was the only song I had as an attachment on my BlackBerry and I couldn't get home to send him anything else in time."

Allen, 23, says she didn't intend for the cover song, a stripped-down, piano-backed version of Spears's synth-heavy original, "to have whizzed 'round the world like it has" after Ronson featured it on his East Village Radio show "Authentic S--" on Dec. 12.

She also quips, "I had asked [Mark] to talk all over it so it wouldn't get ripped, but he didn't, thanks Mark for getting me in serious trouble with my record company."

Britney Loves Japan for Its Tiny Cars

The singer recently took her three-ring Circus on the road to Japan, where she performed her now familiar routine on Hey! Hey! Hey!.

"I love Japan!" she said in a message posted on her Web site. "I think all the tiny cars are so cute!"

The singer, 27, also made time to play tourist, sampling local delicacies at an authentic Japanese restaurant with her dad Jamie and manager Larry Rudolph. (Spears posted a video of their culinary adventures.)

She also visited the country's oldest Buddhist temple, gushing, "It was so beautiful."

New fame, new fans and No. 1 for Britney and her 'Circus'

The singer's sixth studio album, released on her 27th birthday Dec. 2, sold 505,000 copies and is her fifth No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 chart. Circus' totals, the seventh-highest of 2008, dwarf sales of Spears' 2007 Blackout, which moved 289,000 copies in its first week and has sold only 926,000.

Two top 10 pop singles —Womanizer and Circus— and a spate of positive news have helped fuel the turnaround.

"People are just loving how she is doing right now," says Barry Weiss, chairman and CEO of the BMG Label Group.

Spears began the year being hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation after refusing to relinquish custody of her two sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Soon after, a judge placed her affairs under the co-conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, and she reunited with former manager Larry Rudolph. She also reached a custody settlement in July. Weiss credits her father and Rudolph for getting her back on track.

She made two appearances on TV's How I Met Your Mother and triumphed at MTV's Video Music Awards (2007's appearance was a disaster), winning three trophies. More recently, she performed Circus on Good Morning America and was seen on the MTV documentary Britney: For the Record.

Sean Ross, Edison Media Research vice president of music and programming, says Circus has benefited by more positive circumstances.

"By the time Blackout came out, (hit single) Gimme More was grinding to a stop at radio," he says. "The publicity around her was relentlessly negative. By comparison, we've had six months of 'Britney is back' publicity."

Kim Davis, programming manager for AOL Music, says Spears has been bolstered by an aggressive online campaign that has lured younger fans.

"And she's like old Britney with the long blond hair, toned-up body and making sexy videos, and that's resonating with her old fans," Davis says.

Weiss says the star deserves credit for knowing her audience well and changing with the times:

"Despite all the craziness and paparazzi and people chasing her around, she's not that dissimilar to a lot of the girls buying her records."

Rapper T.I., Britney Spears rule singles chart

With her former No. 1 single "Womanizer" at No. 10, down one place from last week, Spears placed two tracks simultaneously in the top 10 also for the first time in her career. Both tracks come from her new album, "Circus," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Wednesday.

T.I.'s "Live Your Life" rose one place to No. 1 on the Hot 100 to log its sixth non-consecutive week at the top. Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" slipped to No. 2.

Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis rose one place to No. 4, trading places with T.I.'s "Whatever You Like." Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" fell three to No. 6, as Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" inched up one to No. 7.

Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" jumped five places to No. 8, and Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" fell two to No. 9.

The top debut was Akon's "Beautiful" featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall, at No. 19.

Cult rock combo Kings Of Leon scored its first No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart with "Sex on Fire," which ended the 11-week reign of the Offspring's "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid." On the Mainstream Rock chart, Apocalyptica's "I Don't Care" featuring Adam Gontier rose one place to No. 1 to dethrone AC/DC's "Rock'n'Roll Train" after three weeks.

Britney's Son Interrupts Her Season's Greetings

"I want to wish everybody out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year," Britney Spears says in a video greeting posted Tuesday on her Web site. "And I want to thank all of my fans for making my album, Circus, No.1."

Standing with her two boys in front of a lavish Christmas tree, the singer then turns to Jayden. "Thank you," she repeats, "as my son burps!"

Before the camera fades to black, Spears is seen kissing him sweetly on the forehead.

Sightings

Britney Spears is ringmaster with "Circus" album

"Circus," the sixth studio album for Spears, sold 505,000 copies in the United States during the week ended December 7, one of the biggest debuts of the year. She becomes the only artist in tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan's 17-year history to have four albums sell 500,000 copies or more in their first week.

The album also hit No. 1 in Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Switzerland, said Jive Records. It made the top 10 in seven other countries, including Britain where it opened at No. 4.

The Metacritic.com website, which assembles reviews from multiple sources, gave "Circus" an overall score of 66 out of 100. The New York Times said "her new songs are crisp, cunning dance-pop."

In the United States, Spears has reached No. 1 five times. But her previous album "Blackout" -- released in November 2007 in the midst of her lengthy public breakdown -- debuted at No. 2 with 290,000 copies.

Spears, 27, last week announced she would begin her first world tour in five years next March in New Orleans.

North American fans snapped more than 400,000 tickets since they went on sale on Saturday, promoter AEG Live said, and 12 shows have been added to the itinerary.

Spears became a worldwide phenomenon when she burst onto the pop scene 10 years ago. But her life careened out of control in 2007 and she made headlines for shaving her head, being rushed to hospital for psychiatric care, losing custody of her sons and partying without panties.

In the past nine months, Spears has pulled her life around with her father overseeing every aspect of her daily routine as her court-appointed conservator.

Music industry watchers were waiting for album and concert sales figures to establish whether Spears could retain the appeal she once held for millions of fans around the world.

Record sales have been falling across the board for several years, ticket prices are rising and Spears has done only a handful of live performances since 2005.

Jive Records is a unit of Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment.

Peta Bosses Slam Spears Over Circus

But a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is disgusted by the move - insisting the singer should not have used the animals in the film. PETA's Christine Dore says, "How quickly America's sweetheart fell from grace. And it wasn't pretty. Now, at the bottom of the barrel, she's sporting elephants dressed in circus attire for her new video titled - what else - Circus.

"As Britney is such a victim of the paparazzi and always complaining and crying about how she hates to be held up in her guarded house and can't feel free, she of all people should be able to relate to the horror that captive animals go through when they're used for entertainment. Except Britney chooses to perform, and the lifestyle just comes with it. Animals are ripped away from their mothers at a young age, kept in chains, and prodded with electric shock devices to make them perform".

Label: Spears' 'Circus' lands her at No. 1

Her label, Jive Records, says the singer's comeback CD will top the album charts. Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks sales figures, does not release its official figures until Wednesday.

"Circus" was released almost a year after her last CD, "Blackout." That was designed to be a comeback CD, but the singer's year of chaos was in full-swing at the time and she barely promoted it.

Now on the rebound, Spears has made several high-profile appearances for "Circus" and plans a nationwide tour in March.

Katy Perry: Britney Spears "Not on the Top of My List"

Oprah Winfrey says she wants Britney Spears to be on her show. Madonna loves working with Spears. And now fans have made the comeback pop princess' new album, Circus, a hit.

So you’d think that fellow pop rocker Katy Perry would jump at the chance to work with Brit, right? Well, actually, no.

"She wouldn't be the girl I would collaborate with necessarily," Perry said Saturday at KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball concert outside of L.A. "She's not on the top of my list. There are other people I'd much rather work with first. I love John Legend's record. So how about I collaborate with him?"

But Perry knows never to say never, explaining she needs some face time with Spears before making any final calls. "I work with people I love," Perry said. "I only work with them if I love them. If we click, we click, but if we clash, we clash...So I’d have to see. I'd have to meet [Spears]."

Meanwhile, Perry is taking the high road when it comes to the Grammys. Much to everyone's surprise, she received only one nomination: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her megahit "I Kissed a Girl." No doubt she should have also gotten noms for Best New Artist and Record of the Year.

"This is my first year being up for nominations, so I'm just happy that I even got the one nod," Perry said. "I mean, I could have been left with no nominations!"

Britney's Dancers Getting Drug-Tested

A source tells E! News that, in an effort to keep the on-track pop star free from negative influences, her camp is requiring that all of her backup dancers submit to drug tests.

"They all had to be drug-tested and, if they didn't pass, they were fired," the insider says.

"I think they only do it for her because she is under strict watch. I think they just want good influences around her," the source added, noting that drug testing is not common practice.

Considering Britney spends a hefty chunk of time with her fellow performers—and is going to be heading out on tour next year with a number of them—it's understandable that those who look after the Circus star want to screen her stage mates ahead of time.

"It's going to be a pretty big tour," said Robert Baker, the studio director at Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, where Spears frequently rehearses. "They're going to have a three-ring circus with live animals, so it's probably stricter liability."

"I don't think it's a common practice, but each artist is different," Baker told E! News, referring to the drug-testing issue. "Everyone is just trying to safeguard against any foreseeable problems."

A rep for Spears didn't respond to requests for comment.

Sighting

Britney's album on target for No. 1 debut

"Circus," the pop singer's latest comeback attempt, sold about 330,000 copies in the first three days since it went on sale on Tuesday.

The tally is derived from sales at Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Circuit City, iTunes, Starbucks, Borders, Target and Anderson Merchandisers. Billboard estimates the eight merchants account for about 80% of all U.S. album sales.

On Tuesday's street date, Spears appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America," where she unveiled plans for a circus-themed tour starting next March.

"Circus" would be Spears' fifth No. 1 album. Among female artists, only four have racked up more chart-toppers: Barbra Streisand (eight), Madonna (seven) and Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson (both with six).

Spears' last release, "Blackout," bowed at No. 2 with 290,000 copies in November 2007.

Britney Spears Launches L.A. Christmas Tree

Sighting

GUYS DROOL OVER BRITNEY

Jeremy Piven, fresh from "Speed the Plow," sipped Diet Cokes while Josh Lucas, Dan Abrams, Lance Bass, Simon Ham merstein and Men's Health editor Dave Zinzcenko all proved that guys are still fans of the starlet. Spears, who's been under the control of her father Jamie Spears, seemingly had no close friends on hand as she blew out her birthday candles alongside her new pub licist, mom Lynn Spears, and her longtime manager Larry Rudolph. Svelte in a tight, low-cut dress, she eventually took to the dance floor surrounded by bodyguards and rocked out to DJ Mos for almost an hour.

Britney marriage broke over kids, Federline says

Federline, 30, the dancer and wannabe rapper who married Spears in 2004, told People magazine in a rare interview he fought hard for custody of their two young sons.

But he said he was now rooting for Spears and left open the possibility of a reconciliation some time in the future.

"That's the mother of my children. Just because I'm not in love with her doesn't mean that I don't love her. I'm definitely rooting for her. There's nothing more that I want than for her to be in the best health and doing what she loves to do," Federline told People.

"I'm one to never say never," he said, when asked about the chances of a reconciliation. "I mean, I'm not going to sit here and say I'm geared up to go that route, but who knows what the future holds for anybody."

Federline's interview in the Friday edition of People appeared as Spears marked her comeback after two years of personal woes, releasing a new album, announcing an international tour and celebrating her 27th birthday with a performance in New York.

Spears became a world-wide music phenomenon almost 10 years ago but her life slid out of control after she split with Federline in September 2006.

Federline said the marriage got more complicated after the birth of their first child, Sean Preston. He also has a young child with an ex-girlfriend.

"For me, I'd become more concerned with my children. Not that I ignored Britney, but my kids are always most important ... I mean, we were having complications. I didn't give her an ultimatum, but I was trying to work stuff out with her, and she didn't even talk to me or anything and went behind my back and filed. completely blindsided," he told People.

Federline rejected suggestions that he fought for custody of Sean Preston, 3 and Jayden James, 2 because of money. He was awarded sole custody earlier this year.

"My first question to was, 'Am I ever going to be able to see my children?' I told him that I would spend every last dime that I had to make sure that my children are okay. That's all that mattered. I didn't know how much power Britney had. That really scared me," he told the magazine.

Spears now has visiting rights three days a week.

"It's totally turning around...It doesn't have to be completely perfect, but the foundation is there," he said.

Birthday Girl Britney's Big Night Out

But first, she helped NBC ring in the holiday season.

Spears (wearing a coat that covered her sexy party dress) taped a special greeting for the opening moments of Wednesday night's star-studded Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2008 (airing on NBC at 8 p.m. ET), then headed to the top of Rockefeller Center for a quiet dinner at The Rainbow Room with her father, Jamie, manager, Larry Rudolph, mom, Lynne, and sons Jayden, 2, and Preston, 3, a source tells PEOPLE.

Afterward, Spears ventured downtown for a combined birthday and album release party at the club Tenjune. Guests at the Big Top-themed bash – a nod to her new album, Circus – included Tyson Beckford, Jeremy Piven and Lance Bass.

One star who didn't make it in? Ugly Betty's Eric Mabius, who was turned away from the jam-packed club when he arrived with an entourage of friends.

Next up: Spears returns to L.A. where she will reportedly help light a 52-foot digital Christmas tree at the new L.A. Live entertainment complex Thursday night.

Lance Bass Says Britney's Poised for 'Comeback of All Time'

"This is going to be the biggest comeback of all time," he told PEOPLE Monday during a party in his honor at New York's Citrine.

"I don't think she needs any advice from me," added Bass, 29. "She's doing an amazing job right now and I'm so proud of her."

Spears released her sixth studio album, Circus, on Tuesday – which was also her 27th birthday – and celebrated with a performance on Good Morning America. Spears is also going back on the road with a 27-city North American tour that will kick off in March.

Bass also offered congratulations to his former bandmate (and Spears's onetime boyfriend) Justin Timberlake, whose romance with Jessica Biel is going strong.

"They're just really great people," he gushed. "She's just one of the guys when it comes to him, and that something that he really loves, a girl that can just hang and get along with all his friends."

As for Bass, don't look for him on the dance floor again anytime soon.

"I'm lucky that I don't have to dance the samba anymore," he said laughing. "But it's definitely opened my eyes to a lot of new things and different styles of music, which is really cool. I can say I can danced those different styles, which is something I never thought I'd be able to do."

Kevin Federline: My Side of the Story

Since splitting with Spears in 2006 – and then watching in fear as she went through her very public breakdown – the former backup dancer, 30, has channeled all of his energy into their sons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2. (Federline also has two kids, Kori, 6, and Kaleb, 4, with ex-girlfriend Shar Jackson, 32.)

Now that Spears, 27, is getting her life back on track, they're sharing parenting duties again – and Federline is ready to tell his side of the story exclusively to PEOPLE.

Do you remember when you first met Britney?

I met her at a club in Hollywood, Joseph's. Our eyes met and that was it. We just hit it off right away. I learned real fast how much of a whirlwind the press and everything was.

What are your happiest memories of the marriage?

Well, getting married. I never thought that I would get married but it wound up happening. That was a really, really, happy, exciting moment. I pretty much realized that I was giving my life to her, and I was doing it without question.

What went wrong?

It's hard enough to be in a marriage, and then have a kid, then kids, it changes everything. For me, I'd become more concerned with my children. Not that I ignored Britney, but my kids are always most important ... I mean, we were having complications. I didn't give her an ultimatum, but I was trying to work stuff out with her, and she didn't even talk to me or anything and went behind my back and filed [for divorce]. [I was] completely blindsided.

A lot of people assumed you fought for custody of the kids because of money.

My first question to [my lawyer] was, "Am I ever going to be able to see my children?" I told him that I would spend every last dime that I had to make sure that my children are okay. That's all that mattered. I didn't know how much power Britney had. That really scared me.

How did you react in January when Britney locked herself in the bathroom with Jayden and was later taken to the hospital on a gurney?

That whole night is a blur. You want to talk about one of my lowest points of depression, that was probably one of them. I was very, very worried for her 'cause I care about her. That's the mother of my children. Just because I'm not in love with her doesn't mean that I don't love her. I'm definitely rooting for her. There's nothing more that I want than for her to be in the best health and doing what she loves to do.

Are things getting better?

Oh, man, it's totally turning around. It works out that [the kids] get to see her. There's structure over there, there's structure at my house. We're trying to keep the same type of schedule. It doesn't have to be completely perfect, but the foundation is there.

Britney Spears: Inside Her New York Birthday Party

Not only did she have a candle-covered cake at a London nightclub on Saturday, but just this morning she was serenaded by celebs like Hugh Jackman after her "Womanizer" performance on Good Morning America.

And as I type this, the doors are about to open for her big circus-themed bash at New York's Tenjune nightclub.

Heidi Klum, Lance Bass and Lipstick Jungle's hot guy Rob Buckley are already there, and the lady of honor should be arriving in the next hour or so. But I've already got some VIP details for you.

Inside, according to a partygoer, the place is done up like a circus tent with a hot-dog stand and popcorn and cotton-candy machines emblazoned with the pop star's name. And outside, there's a huge screen projecting circus imagery.

There's even a dude on stilts.

If you haven't heard by now, Brit-Brit's new album is called Circus.

Make sure to click back later for more details. No doubt the party will be going until the wee hours.

Britney's Former Pal: "I Can't Talk to Her Right Now"

"I can't talk to her right now," she said when asked if she was prohibited from talking to Britney by her father, Jamie Spears, and the lawyers. "Maybe that will change at some point."

Sources tell E! News that Britney's dad, who is coconservator of his daughter's affairs, will not allow Alli to have any contact with Britney. Prior to Britney's meltdown earlier this year, Sims, 27, along with Sam Lutfi, was a near-constant companion of the pop star.

Even though she hasn't been able to talk to Spears in some time, Sims still remembered it was Britney's big day.

"I hope she has a great birthday," Sims told E! News. "Happy birthday. I love you."

Britney Spears Bigger as a Train Wreck

Sunday's MTV low-key confessional special, Britney: For the Record, averaged 3.7 million viewers, per the network.

The audience was larger than what MTV usually draws on Sundays—the network boasted of triple-digit gains in key demographics. And it was bigger than MTV's usual No. 1 show, The Hills.

But compared to train-wreck Britney of the 2007 Video Music Awards, a show tha drew 7.1 million, or dramatic-comeback Britney of the 2008 Video Music Awards (8.4 million), the all-too-human Britney of For the Record was just, well, human.

Which, all things considered, isn't a bad thing.

Britney Spears Celebrates 27th Birthday Under the Big Top

Dressed as a ringmaster, Spears made her entrance atop a circus wagon – accompanied by clowns, jugglers and performers dressed as circus animals. For her second number, "Womanizer," Spears smashed through a fiery hoop.

Afterwards, she announced that her concert tour would begin in New Orleans March 3. Then came the cake.

The appearance, inside the Big Apple Circus tent within New York's Lincoln Center, also marked the launch of Spears's sixth studio album, Circus – her first CD since her 2007 comeback step, Blackout.

Mother and Sons Attend

As Spears announces on the title track (and delivered on GMA), "There are only two types of people in the world, the ones that entertain and the ones that observe." GMA's Robin Roberts called Spears's appearance "our concert event of the year."

Claimed cohost Diane Sawyer about those gathered inside the circus tent, "There are about a gazillion people [here]."

Among them: the pop star's mother, Lynne Spears, and Britney's two young sons, Preston and Jayden.

Interspersed with the promos for Spears's performance during Tuesday's GMA were birthday greetings from the likes of Reese Witherspoon, John Travolta, Nicollette Sheridan, Teri Hatcher and PEOPLE's newly named Sexiest Man Alive, Hugh Jackman – who sang "Happy Birthday" and blew her a kiss.

"You look great," Witherspoon relayed to Spears, "and I hope you have a great day." Added Taylor Swift: "You have been officially awesome for 27 years."

On Sunday, Spears's MTV special, Britney: For the Record, which documented some of her personal problems of the past year, was watched by more than 3.7 million viewers, according to the cable music network. Those are high numbers for MTV.

Britney Spears to Take Circus on the Road

After a five-year hiatus from touring, Britney Spears is going back on the road with a 27-city North American tour that will begin in March, the singer announced on Tuesday's edition of Good Morning America, where she also celebrated her 27th birthday .

The singer – whose sixth studio album, Circus, was also released Tuesday – will kick off The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 Tour in New Orleans on March 3, with guests the Pussycat Dolls.

After wrapping the North American leg in Chicago on April 28, she'll also play London on June 3 and 4.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6.

TOUR DATES
3/3/2009 NEW ORLEANS, LA New Orleans Arena
3/5/2009 ATLANTA, GA Philips Arena
3/7/2009 MIAMI, FL AmericanAirlines Arena
3/8/2009 TAMPA, FL St. Pete Times Forum
3/11/2009 UNIONDALE, NY Nassau Coliseum
3/13/2009 NEWARK, NJ Prudential Center
3/16/2009 BOSTON, MA TD Banknorth Garden
3/18/2009 TORONTO, ON Air Canada Centre
3/20/2009 MONTREAL, QC Bell Centre
3/24/2009 WASHINGTON, DC Verizon Center
3/26/2009 UNCASVILLE, CT Mohegan Sun
3/27/2009 PITTSBURGH, PA Mellon Arena
3/30/2009 HOUSTON, TX Toyota Center
3/31/2009 DALLAS, TX American Airlines Center
4/2/2009 KANSAS CITY, MO Sprint Center
4/3/2009 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Target Center
4/6/2009 EDMONTON, AB Rexall Place
4/8/2009 VANCOUVER, BC GM Place
4/9/2009 TACOMA, WA TacomaDome
4/11/2009 SACRAMENTO, CA ARCO Arena
4/12/2009 SAN JOSE, CA HP Pavilion
4/14/2009 SALT LAKE CITY, UT EnergySolutions Arena
4/16/2009 LOS ANGELES, CA Staples Center
4/19/2009 ANAHEIM, CA Honda Center
4/24/2009 PHOENIX, AZ Jobing.com Arena
4/25/2009 LAS VEGAS, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
4/28/2009 CHICAGO, IL Allstate Arena
6/3/2009 LONDON, UK The O2
6/4/2009 LONDON, UK The O2

Britney Spears tops Yahoo searches

Spears bested World Wrestling Entertainment, Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus and the online game "RuneScape" as the five most-searched terms of 2008, the Web portal and search company announced Monday, a day before the singer released her new album "Circus."

Jessica Alba, the anime series "Naruto," Lindsay Lohan, Angelina Jolie and "American Idol" rounded out the top 10 list. To compile their year-end review, Yahoo editors analyze search queries based on "absolute volume and growth versus previous periods, to see which themes and trends bubble to the surface." Users and their search queries remain anonymous.

Spears also continues to be a ratings draw on television, too. The Saturday episode of the British talent show "The X Factor," which featured an appearance by Spears, attracted 12.6 million viewers, the show's biggest audience, The Guardian reported Monday. Ratings for the Sunday premiere of Spears' MTV special, "Britney: For the Record," weren't yet available.

YAHOO TOP 10 OVERALL SEARCHES FOR 2008
• 1. Britney Spears
• 2. WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment)
• 3. Barack Obama
• 4. Miley Cyrus
• 5. "RuneScape"
• 6. Jessica Alba
• 7. "Naruto"
• 8. Lindsay Lohan
• 9. Angelina Jolie
• 10. American Idol

Billboard CD Review: Britney Spears - Circus

Britney Spears: Getting Back in Shape Took Hard Work

A lot of hard work, the pop star says.

"I have had to work hard at getting [my body] back to where it used to be," Spears tells Glamour in its January issue. "I used to be obsessed with working out ... But I can't get motivated right now because I'm so focused on my music."

What about her workout regimen?

"It isn't fun [for me], so to do it every day would be horrible," Spears say of going to the gym. "Three days a week is cool, even two. It makes me feel good and feel like I've done something. It's important to take care of your body."

Still, Spears, who will turn 27 on Tuesday, says that with her efforts comes a new appreciation for her body. "Recently I started to appreciate my body a bit more from before I had kids," the singer says. "But it completely changed."

Family Time

Spears will release her sixth album, Circus, which she describes as "really personal," on Tuesday as well – and will continue her media blitz, performing on Good Morning America. But despite her recent world travels, and whirlwind schedule, the singer says she likes being home and spending time with her sons, Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2.

"I fix breakfast for my kids when they're here," she tells Glamour. "And then we'll go for walks. During the day I spend most of the time with my children. At night is when I go to work."

With motherhood in mind, Spears passes along some tips for her sister, Jamie Lynn, who is a new mom.

"As a mother, the one thing that always goes through your head is, 'You're never enough. You never can be enough – or do enough – for your kids,'" she says. "It's a never-ending issue for me. I had to learn: Don't beat yourself up so much ... You have to take it one day at a time, do the best that you can and enjoy yourself.

"I notice that if there are some times I've been stressed ... that affects your kids," she says. "So you have to make sure you're a happy mom so they can be happy."

As for her own wishes for her family, the singer, who also spoke out about her tumultuous relationships ("I have good days and I have bad days," she says) in an MTV documentary that aired Sunday, tells Glamour she has a five-year plan.

"In five years I would like to be married and have a father figure for my kids, someone who is a provider and can be really stable," Spears says. "It's hard doing it on your own."

Second Spears comeback almost as good as the first

It's time for another Britney Spears comeback: Call this one the remix version.

It was only last year that our damaged diva attempted to put the focus back on her once spectacular music career with "Blackout." A tight collection of sexy club-oriented grooves, "Blackout" was a delight, and had so much hit-worthy material even Janet Jackson could have been resurrected with it.

But "Blackout" never had a chance at success because its star wasn't as well put together as the album. (It's hard to generate hits when your personal life is in turmoil.)

Now Spears — while still very different from her previous superstar incarnation, circa 1998-2003 — seems on the road to recovery, thanks to court-appointed guidance from her dad and other positive developments. She seems ready for a rebirth, so it's fitting that "Circus" — her sixth studio album — makes its debut as she celebrates her 27th birthday.

And like any good circus, Britney's version will leave you thoroughly entertained. Though "Blackout" was a gem, it seemed like the album was mainly due to the creative and technological wizardry of its producers, with minimal vocal effort from Spears. This time around, her pleasant yet thin voice comes through more clearly, not aided by as many layers and studio manipulations. She is also credited with co-writing two tracks.

Spears spends much of her energy trying to get people in the mood to groove, and it works on fun disco tracks like "Womanizer," "Shattered Glass" and the cleverly titled "If U Seek Amy" (say it fast and you might need your mouth washed out with soap). She teams up with former collaborators like Max Martin (who wrote her career-making hit "... Baby One More Time") and Nate "Danja" Hills, who was responsible for some of the best music on "Blackout." But newcomers also help out, like the Outsyders (on "Womanizer").

A few songs hint at the media circus her life has become, including "Kill the Lights," where Spears takes on the paparazzi.

But she strikes the most personal and emotional chords on the slower tracks, most notably on the dreamy, synth-centric "Unusual You," on which she coos, "Baby you're so unusual, didn't anyone tell you you're so s'pposed to break my heart, I expect you to, so why haven't you?" Though she didn't write the song, it's hard not to wince in empathy when you think about the string of users who have filtered in and out of her life.

The most poignant track is the ballad "My Baby," co-written by Spears. On it, she sings to her "precious love." It's an ode to one of her sons, with lines like, "How did I get through all of my days without you?" Considering she doesn't have full custody of her two boys and is trying to strengthen her parental bond after a period of turmoil, it's especially touching — so much so that we can forgive the song for being just a little bit sugary. After all her recent drama, Spears deserves something sweet in her life.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Acknowledging that many fans probably didn't hear her best work on "Blackout," Spears includes "Radar," one of the standout tracks from that CD — as a bonus track on "Circus." She should have included the whole CD and done a double disc.

Britney Spears: Looking for a Husband?

“In five years I would like to be married and have a father figure for my kids, someone who is a provider and can be really stable,” Spears says in the new issue of Glamour magazine.

In another apparent jab at K-Fed, Ms. Spears says, “It’s hard doing it on your own.”

But potential suitors beware—Spears is not the wild child party girl you may want her to be. Even though she had an early birthday celebration last night at club G-A-Y in London, the comeback pop princess swears she’s over that scene.

“I don’t like going out,” Spears tells writer James Patrick Herman. “I hate clubs. I hate being around too many people. I love my home and staying in bed and watching Dancing With the Stars or reading a Danielle Steel novel. I’m kind of boring.”

We beg to differ. The last year or so has been anything but boring.

With headshaving and hospital visits behind her, Spears' life really took a turn for the better when she picked up three moonman statues at the MTV Video Music Awards in September. “When I received the awards and [the audience] stood for me, it showed how much love is out there,” she says.

For now, Spears moves on with her international promotional push for her new album Circus before launching a world tour sometime next year. She’s also got some New Years resolutions to take care of.

“I would like to stop worrying so much, because I worry all the time,” she says. “And to learn how to be happier, just in general. I have to learn to take things not so seriously. And to stop biting my nails.”

As I was the first to report, Ms. Spears was shot for the January issue, on newsstands Dec. 9, by Patrick Demarchelier in Los Angeles. This won’t be her only Glamour cover. A rep for magazine says she will also appear on several international editions.

Lighter, brighter 'Circus'

Calling Britney Spears' life a circus is like saying Hurricane Katrina was a bit of a downpour.

In the past year or so alone, the dance-pop diva has been institutionalized, lost control of her finances and children, and derailed her career with that atrocious MTV VMAs performance.

Of course, that was then and this is now. A year is an eternity in pop. And Brit-Brit's all better now. Or at least, that's what she and her handlers would have you believe.

Circus -- which arrives Tuesday on Spears' 27th birthday -- is a somewhat brighter, lighter and tighter affair than 2007's dark, desperate and slapdash comeback effort Blackout. The beats are bouncier, the lyrics are more positive, and more often than not, Britney sounds like she's enjoying herself -- or at least somewhat engaged in the process.

Having said that, Circus is still about as unoriginal and predictable as its title. There are a few decent club bangers, plenty of forgettable filler, a couple of so-so ballads, and some embarrassing dreck. And it still feels more like a piece of generic, assembly-line product than a unified artistic statement.

But hey, if you're looking for high-class entertainment, you're in the wrong place. Like the circus, Britney is all about cheap thrills and easy laughs.

Womanizer 3:43- An irresistible bump 'n' grind electro-boogie topped by a sultry stammering vocal. We'd say it vaguely echoes Hey Big Spender -- if we thought anyone involved had heard that.

Circus 3:12- "I'm a put-on-a-show kind of girl," confesses Spears over pulsing synths and a big stomp-clap groove. Really? We hadn't noticed.

Out from Under 3:54- Three songs in, and we're already at the first swirly, tinkling ballad? We'll say this for Britney; she doesn't waste her time. As for ours ...

Kill the Lights 3:59- Sometimes Britney loves the paparazzi; sometimes she loves them not. But it's hard not to love this slick, futuristic and vaguely ominous dance-floor filler.

Shattered Glass 2:53- Surprise! It's another four-on-the-floor disco beat and more buzzy bass synths. Thankfully, a sparser arrangement and some staccato notes bump this closer to electro-pop.

If U Seek Amy 3:37- If you don't get the joke, don't worry -- Britney will spell it out for you on this regrettable slice of rubbery sleaze-cheese from Swedish hitmaker Max Martin.

Unusual You 4:23- "Nothing about you is predictable," says Britney, floating over a lush atmospheric synth-pop soundscape reminiscent of '80s Eurythmics. Fittingly, it's one of the most distinctive cuts here.

Blur 3:09- The pumping beats and swagger of the night before are replaced by the off-balance wooziness and husky vocals of the morning after. Based on a true story, no doubt.

Mmm Papi 3:22- Britney goes Latin! Between the hip-swivelling groove, the twangy guitar, the surfy organ lines and the silly vocals, this might be the most enjoyable cut on the disc. Pure fun.

Mannequin 4:06- This Underdogs number is dressed up with a syncopated rhythm, stabbing string synths, some vocorders and a lot of falsetto vocals, but it's still pretty lifeless.

Lace and Leather 2:48- A finger-popping bassline, some slinky synthesizers, a thwacking beatbox, sexy lyrics and even a squirrely solo -- it's like a Prince-penned Vanity Sixx track from the '80s. Not bad.

My Baby 3:20- Britney coos a self-indulgent, syrupy lullaby to her children ("My baby boo / Gotta thank you") for the mandatory closing ballad. Ick.

Britney Rocks Comeback Performance

Britney Spears slipped back into her hotpants Thursday at a German awards show – her first live performance since her disastrous turn at the 2007 VMAs.

Looking remarkably like onetime B.F.F. Madonna, the 26-year-old donned black patent leather boots, a sheer blouse and a top hat for a live rendition of "Womanizer" at the Bambi awards in Offenburg, Germany. (Like many pop stars, she seemed to be either lip syncing or singing with the assistance of a loud backing track.)

"Britney looked a little nervous," said an onlooker. "[But] she had the audience excited."

After the elaborate routine, legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld emerged to present Spears with the Pop International Bambi (which is, naturally, in the shape of a deer).

"I admire you ... not just for your art, but for your energy," he told her at the podium. "[You are] coming back not only as a phoenix, but as a bird of paradise."

Spears, still winded from her performance, smiled brightly and waved at the crowd saying, "Thank you, Germany!"

That was the first stop on the singer's comeback tour, as she promotes her new album, Circus, and continues to put the troubles of the past year behind her.

Even before the awards show had ended, Spears and her dancers hopped a flight to France, where she reportedly holed up at Paris's luxurious Hotel Plaza Athénee. On Friday, she'll reprise the "Womanizer" routine on the top-rated Star Academy, France's answer to American Idol.

Then it's on to London, where she'll perform on Simon Cowell's hit X Factor.

The singer – who turns 27 on Dec. 2 – will be back in the States in time for her special "Happy Birthday" appearance on Good Morning America.

It's 'Britney,' the documentary

"I think I wanted to make the film because I wasn't seen in the light I wanted to be seen in," she says softly. "I don't know what light that is."

The documentary Britney: For the Record airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. The production company @radical.media followed the singer for three months, beginning Sept. 7, the day she appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards. Tuesday, her 27th birthday, her new album Circus goes on sale.

A 30-minute clip shown to journalists — the film runs 90 minutes — included interviews with Spears, footage of a meeting she had in New York with representatives of Jive Records, a trip to see the Broadway show In the Heights, and the obligatory paparazzi in pursuit.

There are more intimate moments, such as her father making cheese grits the morning before the MTV awards.

"If I wasn't under the restraints that I'm under right now … with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me everyday … I'd feel so liberated and feel like myself," she says.

Since January, she has lost custody of sons Jayden and Sean Preston and was hospitalized twice for psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Her father and attorney were given control of her assets.

She cries when talking about how jailed her life is now. "Like going out and doing stuff and seeing a guy and hanging out. The way I used to live, I was a pretty cool chick. I'm not really that way anymore."

Although she released Blackout last year, Circus is still seen as a comeback. "I don't really like it when they say 'the comeback.' I've been here this whole time. I haven't been completely in the spotlight, but I've been doing what I've always done."

She also talks about her romances, including Justin Timberlake, whom she dated for three years. She married Kevin Federline in 2004 and divorced in 2007.

"With Justin, he was a part of the magnitude of what I'd become. So when he was gone, it was like, what am I supposed to do with myself? … I became a party girl."

"I think I married for the wrong reasons. Instead of following my heart and doing what really made me happy, I just did it for the idea of everything. And when it ended … I felt so alone. I didn't want to really think about the reality of it. It was like I'm OK, I can do this, it's going to be OK. But I never really faced it, and I just ran."

Lynne Spears: Britney Is a 'Wonderful Mother'

In the past year, she has watched her famous daughter Britney crawl back from the brink.

Just how did the 27-year-old singer rebound from her pair of forced hospitalizations and a long string of erratic behavior, including her quickly annulled Vegas wedding in 2004 and her infamous head-shaving in 2007?

"With a lot of love and care and help," Lynne said Thursday, speaking to the U.K.'s GMTV via satellite from New Orleans. "Sometimes you have to just settle down. You have to stop, think. And there's a lot of people that care about Britney and love Britney – and Britney's doing great now."

And while the singer still hasn't regained custody of her two sons, Lynne had nothing but praise for her daughter's parenting skills.

"Oh she's a wonderful mother – she's funny, she's extremely affectionate," said the Spears matriarch, who was promoting her memoir, Through the Storm. "[At] home, where there's nobody around, she's very normal."

Britney – fresh off the success of her first single, "Womanizer" – is currently in Europe promoting her new album, Circus. And she's scheduled to go on a worldwide concert tour next year.

"I think Britney's just ready to get started again," said her mom. "I think this is when she's most in her element."

Britney Spears to perform in UK

She also is giving two concerts in London in June. A Spears' representative announced those concerts Wednesday and said they will be her only European stops on a world tour.

Spears is expected to sing "Womanizer" on television this Saturday. The popular single was recorded for a soon-to-be-releasd album.

Famous singers often coach "X Factor" contestants during the show, but the representative says Spears will only be performing — not coaching.

The British singing contest is similar to "American Idol" in the U.S.

Spears is now on a comeback from a two-year downward spiral that included a divorce, a custody battle and public meltdowns.

Britney Spears maximizes her pop appeal in 'Circus'

She gives raspy, robotic voice to this duality over a series of electro-pop grooves aimed at maximizing her pop appeal. This is the album that's supposed to get her career back on track after last year's Blackout began her recovery from a train-wreck life that has included custody battles and public breakdowns.

To a point, it works as artistic rehab. Britney is in control as the dismissive ex on hit single Womanizer and the hot boy magnet on Radar. She seems most at ease when she's playing the teasing tart. But there's plenty of tension underneath that blithe spirit.

Kill the Lights finds her snapping at the omnipresent paparazzi like a piranha baring its teeth at fingers pressed against the fishbowl. If U Seek Amy mocks onlookers' morbid fascination with the downward spiral of celebrities.

Spears tosses in a couple of ballads along the way, but these really aren't her forte. The slew of top-flight producers — including Max Martin, The Outsyders, Danja, Bloodshy & Avant and The Underdogs — bolsters her vocal variety of echoes and gimmicky effects, but they don't really help the breathy Out From Under or saccharin Unusual You. She shines much better on the dance tracks, especially when she's in naughty-girl mode on Lace and Leather or trying to come out of a morning-after fog on Blur.

The pop star frequently has been written off, and here she again shows her resiliency. She knows who she is as a singer, and she doesn't waste time searching for artistic direction or overthinking her appeal.

Considering the daggers that come out whenever she rears her head, her ability to laugh at her foibles — and other people's reaction to them — is one of her more endearing qualities. Of course, you can't always tell whether she's doing it with tongue in cheek or smiling through gritted teeth.

>Download: Womanizer, Radar, If U Seek Amy, Shattered Glass, Blur

>Skip: Out From Under, Unusual You

Britney Spears Blames Fed-Ex for Teaching Son the F-Word

In the Dec. 11 issue of Rolling Stone, the "Womanizer" singer claims that her former husband has taught her son Sean Preston some unsavory language, including the F-word.

"[My sons are] staring to learn words like 'stupid,' and Preston says the F-word now sometimes," Spears, 26, reveals. "He doesn't get it from us. He must get it from his daddy. I say it, but not around my kids."

Spears has been focusing more on motherhood to Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2, now that she won more visitation time with the boys. In the interview, she opens up about her bad dating experiences and how she prefers to stay at home instead.

"I feel like an old person now," she says. "I do! I go to bed at, like, 9:30 every night, and I don't go out or anything."

Even though Spears isn't partying, she's still getting out in public in a bid to win back her pop princess tiara. She's been promoting her album "Circus" (dropping Dec. 2) diligently and will even spend her Thanksgiving break in Europe to woo overseas audiences. Her first single, "Womanizer," has been climbing the charts.

Britney Opens Up About Her Dating Disasters

"I feel like an old person now," she says in Rolling Stone's next issue, out Friday. "I do! I go to bed at, like, 9:30 every night, and I don't go out or anything."

And when she does find time to go on a date, Spears says the experience makes her wish she had just stayed home.

"Right when we got there, we just knew it was just bad," Spears tells Rolling Stone of one recent bad date. "He looked like an older version of Harry Potter, but skinnier. … So I had to get dessert first.

"And the other date I had, the guy was really, really tall and a lot older. … We're trying to ask him questions, like, 'OK, you're into martial arts, so what kind of martial arts are you into?' And he was like, 'Oh, all kinds.' "

So instead of partying and dating, Spears is focusing on promoting Circus, which comes out Dec. 2 – her 27th birthday – with a live performance that day in New York City on Good Morning America. Her first single, "Womanizer," has been slowly climbing the charts, and Spears debuted the album’s title track Tuesday on Elvis Duran’s Z100 morning show in New York City.

She’s not taking a break for Thanksgiving, either. The pop star boarded a plane Monday, headed to Europe to promote Circus overseas.

Spears has also been busy spending time with her two sons, Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2. After winning more visitation time with the boys earlier this year, Spears recently took her sons to visit her home state of Louisiana.

The boys spend most of their time with dad Kevin Federline, and Spears says she is critical of some of his parenting choices.

The children "are starting to learn words like 'stupid,' and Preston says the f-word now sometimes," she says. "He doesn't get it from us. He must get it from his daddy. I say it, but not around my kids."

Britney tells 'Rolling Stone' she has picked up the pieces

To be exact, "I feel like an old person now," she says in Rolling Stone's next issue, out Friday. "I do! I go to bed at, like, 9:30 every night, and I don't go out or anything."

Spears turns 27 on Dec. 2, the same day her album, Circus, hits stores. "This is going to be the album that cements her legend status," says her manager, Larry Rudolph.

Indeed, the pop star has come a long way from her two trips to hospital psychiatric wards this year, the magazine says. After the last trip, in early February, her father, Jamie, filed for legal conservatorship so that he and attorney Andrew Wallet would oversee her finances and personal affairs.

Interviewing the star is a "rigorously micromanaged process," according to Rolling Stone.

"We were never left alone together, and my questions had to be submitted ahead of time for approval," reporter Jenny Eliscu writes.

Rudolph says, "Her job is to be Britney Spears, and unfortunately, that job bleeds into her personal life and creates this odd situation where she needs to have security people around her all the time."

That goes for dates, too. Recently, Spears was accompanied by her assistant, Brett, and Rudolph's colleague, Adam Leber. "Right when we got there, we just knew it was just bad," Spears says. "He looked like an older version of Harry Potter, but skinnier. … So I had to get dessert first. And the other date I had, the guy was really, really tall and a lot older. … We're trying to ask him questions, like, 'OK, you're into martial arts, so what kind of martial arts are you into?' And he was like, 'Oh, all kinds.' … But you know how silly we are, so we were just cracking up."

She turns serious on the topic of her children. Despite losing custody of her sons, Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, to her ex-husband Kevin Federline, Spears has been able to see them more often, thanks in part to the conservatorship.

"Every time they come to visit me, I think about how they're such special people," she says.

She is critical of her ex and says the children "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' "Circus" act caught on Web

The album features 13 tracks by the pop star, including the now familiar "Womanizer," which was previously released, as well as other songs such as "My Baby," "Unusual You" and "Kill the Lights."

Releasing songs on the Web increasingly is being used to promote musicians and their work ahead of an album release, and Spears' "Circus" is among the most anticipated CDs of this year as she rebounds from a tumultuous 2007 and early 2008.

Spears, 26, went through a bitter custody battle over her two sons last year, exhibited strange behavior in public and by early 2008 was hospitalized twice for psychiatric evaluation.

But in recent months her father, Jamie Spears, has assumed control of her business and personal affairs, and Spears seems to have turned her life around. The ability to complete and promote "Circus" is an indicator of her apparent health.

The full album will be released in stores on December 2, Spears' 27th Birthday.

Imeem (http://www.imeem.com) has previously released music from recording artists including Fall Out Boy, U2, Lil Wayne and The Rolling Stones.

Britney Spears Heads to Europe for Circus

The singer boarded a flight from Los Angeles to Frankfurt, Germany on Monday for several appearances in support of the album, which is scheduled to be released Dec. 2.

Spears is traveling with several close associates and family members, including her father, Jamie, and manager Larry Rudolph. According to an eyewitness, the singer – dressed in a brown fedora, black sweatpants and a pink top – jumped out of her white Cadillac Escalade smiling and holding her dad's hand at the airport.

After a short time in Germany, Spears is expected to appear on the French program, Star Academy, and on Simon Cowell's X Factor in England before returning to the U.S. next week. She is scheduled to go on a worldwide tour in the spring of next year.

Spears's candid new MTV documentary, Britney: For the Record, airs Nov. 30.

Britney's Manager Says She's Ready for a Comeback

"She's definitely ready," Larry Rudolph tells PEOPLE, following a sneak peek of Spears's riveting MTV documentary, Britney: For the Record, airing Nov. 30, in Santa Monica, Calif.

"She loves to work," he says. "She's a very strong person. Everybody goes through setbacks in their lives. [But] every day, I see her getting happier and stronger."

One of her biggest victories this year? Regaining visitation with Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, her sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

So while her musical comeback is important, Spears has made it clear that motherhood comes first, says Rudolph.

"Her kids and balancing her life with her kids is an incredible priority – the No. 1 priority in terms of how I operate with her," he says.

Spears's boys can be seen in the film, which follows the pop star over three months as she records her upcoming album Circus, wins big at September's MTV Video Music Awards, and speaks frankly about her problems – including her failed relationships with Federline and Justin Timberlake.

The idea for the candid documentary sprung up during a conversation Spears and Rudolph had over dinner several months ago.

"It evolved and became a question of, What will she do? What will she say? How will she say it?" he says. "How will people view her after what she's been through and after all that they've seen in the tabloids over the past year or two?"

Adds Rudolph: "This became sort of a great way for her to say what she needs to say on her terms."

Next Stop for Britney: The American Music Awards?

It would certainly make sense. She does, after all, have her soon-to-be-released new album, Circus, to promote.

But don't ask show host Jimmy Kimmel about it. If he knows anything, he's not saying. "They have these surprises that 75 people on the crew know about, but they won't tell the host," Kimmel insists. "Apparently, there is some big surprise. I sent...the producer an email yesterday and he was like, I can't tell you."

The pop princess last appeared on the AMAs two years ago, around the time she had filed for divorce from Kevin Federline.

But things didn't go so smoothly...

Spears presented an award immediately following a skit in which Kimmel throws Federline (well, a lookalike K-Fed) into a box and dumps him in the ocean. "She didn't think that was funny," Kimmel remembers.

Spears or no Spears, Kimmel says everyone is a target for his jokes—even the young ones. "I feel like a babysitter with all these kids," Kimmel says. "It's like being a counselor at summer camp. Aren't the Jonas Brothers like 10, 11 and 12? Miley Cyrus is only 16—but then again she sounds like she's 38."

And being the self-deprecating comic that he is, Kimmel promises not to attempt another dance performance like he did oh-so-horribly last year. "I really try tried to learn that stupid 'Soulja Boy' dance," Kimmel says. "I really had it down, but as soon as I got on stage I could not follow it at all."

The AMAs broadcast live Sunday night from Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre. Among the scheduled performers are Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis,Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

Let's hope Spears is added to the lineup. Don't ya think it's time for a live "Womanizer" performance?

Britney Spears: I Lost My Way, Myself

Among what's in store:

The riveting, 90-minute documentary kicks off at Spears's home on the morning of the MTV Video Music Awards, with her tank-top-clad dad, Jamie, in the kitchen making his daughter cheese grits (with Velveeta) as she preps for the show. In the kitchen, her manager, Larry Rudolph, proclaims it "the official beginning of the comeback."

Though Spears says she doesn't like the word "comeback," she admits, "I had totally lost my way, lost focus, lost myself."

Loneliness Led to Wrong Choices

Early in the film – which premieres on MTV Sunday, Nov. 30, two days prior to the release of her new CD, Circus – the pop star, 26, explains why she agreed to let a camera crew follow her: "I wasn't being seen in the light that I wanted to be seen in. ... There's a lot that people don't know about me."

Spears takes topics ranging from her failed romances with Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline ("I never really faced it, and I just ran," she says of divorcing him) to why she let "bad people" into her life. Her excuse: "Because I was lonely."

At one point, Spears – whose father has permanent legal conservatorship over her affairs – bursts into tears while discussing her situation. "It's bad," she says. "I'm sad."

Misses the 'Excitement'

Later, she complains that her life is "too in-control. There's no excitement. There's no passion."

The cameras follow Spears to New York City, where she meets with execs from her record label, goes shopping (she picks out a blouse and calls it "very Katie Holmes") and sees the Broadway musical In the Heights – all the while being hounded by photographers who she says cramp her style.

"I was a pretty cool chick," she says, "and I'm really not that way anymore."

Still, she tries to keep things in perspective. "I think, it could be a lot worse. … People have it a lot worse than I do."

Britney Spears craves freedom amid career upswing

In an upcoming behind-the-scenes documentary, the 26-year-old pop star says: "If I wasn't under the restraints that I'm under right now, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day and all that kind of stuff ... I'd feel so liberated, and feel like myself."

The 90-minute film, "Britney: For the Record," airs Nov. 30 on MTV and the LOGO network. She is shown backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards; recording her new album, "Circus"; dodging the paparazzi; and goofing off with her father, Jamie, who controls her personal and financial affairs.

Britney Spears Says New Life Has 'No Passion'

"I have really good days, and then I have bad days. Even when you go to jail you know there's the time when you're gonna get out. But in this situation, it's never ending. It's just like Groundhog Day," the 26-year-old singer said in a new 90-minute documentary, Britney: For The Record, to air on MTV in the U.S. on Nov. 30 and on Sky1 in the U.K. on Dec. 1.

The singer's comments in the documenttary were first quoted by the British newspaper The Sun.

Spears, 26, was hospitalized for mental evaluation in January. Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was granted sole custody of their sons, Preston and Jayden, and her father, Jamie Spears, was granted legal control over her affairs.

"If you do something wrong in your work, you can move on, but I'm having to pay for a long time," she said. "I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free."

"If I wasn't under the restraints that I'm under right now, I'd feel so liberated," she says in the film, in which a camera crew followed her for three months as she tried to rebuild her life in anticipation of her new album Circus.

"I think I've learned my lesson now," she said, "and enough is enough."

Britney Spears Calls Her Life Worse Than a Jail Sentence

"I have really good days, and then I have bad days," the singer, 26, admits in a new fly-on-the wall, 90-minute documentary, Britney: For The Record, to air in the U.S. Nov. 30 on MTV and in the U.K. Dec. 1 on Sky1.

Struggling to gain control of her life again after her public meltdown earlier this year, she says candidly: "Even when you go to jail, y'know, there's the time when you're gonna get out. But in this situation, it's never ending. It's just like [the Bill Murray movie] Groundhog Day."

She adds, "I'm having to pay for it for a really long time."

Spears was hospitalized for mental evaluation in January, which resulted in her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, being granted sole custody of their sons, Preston and Jayden. Her father, Jamie Spears, also gained legal control over her affairs.

Not Being Heard

"If I wasn't under the restraints that I'm under right now, I'd feel so liberated," she says in the film, which follows the singer as she records and promotes her new album Circus. "When I tell them the way I feel, it's like they hear me, but they're really not listening."

A camera crew followed the singer for three months as she moved to pull her life back on track. "I wanted to make this film because I started to feel like I wasn't being seen in the light that I wanted to be seen in," Spears said. "This is an opportunity to set the record straight and talk about what I've been through and where I'm headed."

Overall, she says, "I think I've learned my lesson now, and enough is enough."

Preview Britney's New Album!

The six-track mix features the hit single "Womanizer," plus new songs "Circus," "Out From Under," "Kill the Lights," "If U Seek Amy" and "Unusual You."

Spears, who recently took the stage with Madonna, will celebrate her 27th birthday the day her album is released.

One Final Request: Britney to Appear on TRL Finale?

Stars of TRL past and present will be on hand to bid adieu to the iconic scream-fest countdown show on Sunday, and one of them could be Britney Spears, host Damien Fahey revealed to TVGuide.com.

"We actually do have something with Britney, but I can't exactly say what it is," he said.

An MTV rep tells TVGuide.com that Spears is "not going to be there" live at the New York studio in Times Square for the closing ceremony. But how about a pre-taped segment?

"That's not confirmed, but it has been discussed," Melissa Barreto said.

The show served as the launching pad for Spears' career with her provocative Catholic school girl-clad video "Baby One More Time" and triggered the late '90s pop craze. A decade later, Spears, who holds the record for the most retired videos with 13, still dominates the countdown with her latest tune, "Womanizer," off her upcoming album, Circus.

Hey, girl's got a disc to promote, so she should drop by, right?

Two familiar faces on TRL expected to make the New York soiree are Spears' ex, Justin Timberlake, and his former bandmate, JC Chasez. "I don't think 'N SYNC will make it. I know Justin will show up," Fahey said. "I wouldn't bet money against [an 'N SYNC reunion], but at this point, it's not looking likely. But you never know, that's the beauty of TRL."

Fahey, a one-time runner-up for The Late Late Show hosting gig, will co-host the two and a half hour extravaganza with original TRL host Carson Daly. Others slated to join in on the fun are Diddy, the Backstreet Boys, Hilary Duff, Fall Out Boy, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Travis Barker, who recently was released from the hospital after surviving a September plane crash.

Total Finale Live will air Sunday at 8 pm/ET on MTV.

ABC Special Flashes Back on Superstars' Early Years

Viewers will be presented with proof positive as part of Rediscovered, an ABC special airing late next month and hosted by former child stars Donny and Marie Osmond, TVGuide.com has learned.

Rediscovered is primarily fashioned as a showcase for five people who as kids had stars in their eyes but went on to lead "regular" lives. They then are given the chance to perform in front of an audience at the famed Orpheum Theatre, vying for a $50,000 prize as well as "an additional surprise."

But the real draw for pop-culture junkies will be the chance to witness the onset of the careers of several familiar faces wowing the entertainment world we know now. Matt Casella, a veteran casting director whose "finds" include Britney, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell and JC Chasez, is an executive producer of the hour-long special, and as such he will unveil audition tapes — some nearly 20 years old — of those half-dozen destined stars.

The footage of Britney singing at age 9, I am told, is "absolutely amazing," while a young JT serves up quite the showstopper, too.

Rediscovered airs Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 9 pm/ET.

Hospital Run Could Cost Britney Custody

On her first trip with her sons back to Louisiana since she lost custody, Britney Spears' youngest son, Jayden James Federline had to be rushed to the hospital for having what Spears' reps deemed a "reaction to something he ingested."

Although the 2-year-old tyke since been released and declared "fine," it's possible an even worse reaction could transpire—should Kevin Federline seek to restrict Spears' remaining custody rights for the duo's two sons.

"If she was negligent, for example he couldn't eats nuts or shrimp and she fed him that, then Kevin could go in and get an order modifying custody," L.A.-based family law attorney Lynn Soodick tells E! News.

There was no immediate comment from Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, about whether he will seek any restrictions, but Soodick suggests Federline might have several options.

"Perhaps they'll put a monitor back in, or maybe it might even be the children can't be with her without the father around," Soodick continues. "But then they have to show that she really put them at risk."

Whether it was food or prescription medication, Soodick says it will really come down to whether Spears knew her son had an allergy and if she was negligent by leaving something out that he could get into.

"I would assume if its something he's allergic to that nobody knew or a reaction that any child could have, no one is going to do anything because it's something that could happen to anyone."

If she did know, however, it could spell some much unneeded trouble for the pop star.

"She'll have to pay the piper."

Britney Spears son released from hospital: report

Earlier in the day, Spears' family posted a statement on her official website, www.britneyspears.com, saying Jayden James was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, and "doctors concluded he had a reaction to something he ingested."

The statement said the boy would be discharged on Tuesday, but TMZ posted a picture of Spears departing the hospital while holding the child on Monday evening.

People magazine, quoting a source close to the family, said that Jayden had suffered "a terrible allergic reaction. He had hives, was itchy and irritable."

The source told the celebrity magazine that Jayden "is doing fine" and Spears, 26, and her mother, Lynne, spent Sunday night at the hospital with him.

The trip by Spears to Louisiana, her childhood home, was the first time she had been allowed to leave California with sons Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden since their father Kevin Federline was given full custody in July.

Nominees for the 2009 People's Choice Awards

FAVORITE SCENE-STEALING GUEST STAR
Luke Perry on "Law & Order: SVU"
Britney Spears on "How I Met Your Mother"
Robin Williams on "Law & Order: SVU"

Source: Britney's Son Hospitalized, 'Doing Fine'

"He's doing fine," the source tells PEOPLE. "They kept him overnight."

Jayden was taken to the hospital after suffering "a terrible allergic reaction. He had hives, was itchy and irritable," according to the source, who says that Britney Spears and her mother, Lynne, spent the night at the hospital with Jayden.

As for what caused the reaction, "They're just not sure," said the source.

Monday afternoon, Spears's team posted this statement on her Web site: "Jayden James Federline was admitted to the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center on Sunday, November 9th. Doctors concluded he had a reaction to something he ingested. He is expected to be discharged tomorrow."

Just prior to the incident, Britney, Jamie Lynn, Bryan, Lynne and Jamie Spears were enjoying a fun afternoon at the family's Serenity mansion, the boys' first trip out of California with their mother since she lost custody.

A rep for Britney's ex-husband Kevin Federline had no comment.

Britney Spears Working on 'Top Secret Project'

The pop star, 26, released four exclusive photos on her new celebrity MySpace page of auditions for male dancers for the new project "in anticipation of next month's Circus."

The new page launched Monday and features pictures from Spears' wins at this year's Video Music Awards and a video of the director's cut her Circus single "Womanizer."

Spears recently took the stage at a Madonna concert in Los Angeles. She also is planning her own concert tour next year.

Sighting

Britney and Her Boys Louisana-Bound

E! News has confirmed that the Circus performer, her two little boys and her ever-present pop Jamie hopped a flight to Louisiana Friday morning to get a jump on a little holiday-season togetherness with the rest of the Spears clan, in what Brit's camp has recently referred to as her hometown of choice.

And not only will Britney be reunited with little sis Jamie Lynn and niece Maddie, but this is the first time she's been allowed to leave California with her brood in tow since Kevin Federline was awarded full custody of 3-year-old Sean Preston and 2-year-old Jayden James.

A source tells E! that Britney was "tearful"—in a good way!—when she got the OK to travel with her sons.

The group took off from Van Nuys Airport in a private plane, according to OK! magazine, which first reported the crosscountry venture.

While the number of passengers may have been up in the air until recently, this trip has been months in the making. One family insider said in June that Britney was hoping to get all the Spears spawn together as soon as the court would allow it.

LITERARY BUST

It's Human Nature: Britney, Justin Keep Their Distance at Madonna Show

The pop über-star's Sticky & Sweet tour was made all the more saucy Thursday when long-ago couple Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake joined her onstage—albeit not at the same time.

Spears, clad in black pants, a white tuxedo-style shirt and black heels, shared the spotlight with Madonna on the third song of the night, "Human Nature"—which, incidentally came pretty late in the evening because the show started nearly three hours late.

The delay possibly had to do with Wednesday's lighting and technical difficulties, which halted construction on the Material Girl's set.

"Half of my stage is missing...which is why we're in the dark," Madonna informed the crowd later on.

"The absence of light makes it very hard to look into the audience eyes and that's what makes performing such a joy. So come close. And thank you for your understanding."

Meanwhile, Madge's erstwhile makeout partner skedaddled from the stage long before Timberlake appeared to duet with the belle of the ball on their Hard Candy tune "4 Minutes."

We hear that Spears, surrounded by bodyguards, immediately took off following Timberlake's appearance. So much for the face time, but perhaps the two of them breathing the same rarified air is as good as it's going to get for awhile.

Adding to the evening's A-list quotient were audience members Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Carrie Underwood, Dennis Quaid, Hayden Panettiere, Fergie, Kate Moss and Amanda Bynes.

Madonna Orchestrates a Britney-Justin Reunion

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake will be performing alongside the Material Girl Thursday when her Sticky & Sweet tour touches down at Dodger Stadium, E! News' Ryan Seacrest has learned.

"They are going to be onstage performing with Madonna," Seacrest said on KIIS-FM host DJ BoyToy Jesse's Wednesday-afternoon show.

Of course, while Timberlake and Spears have both collaborated with Madge individually, the exes haven't been spending much quality time together in recent years.

"If Justin and Britney end up on that stage with her...I don't know if I've ever seen anything quite like that before," Seacrest said. (And he's seen a lot—remember Celine Dion performing with hologram Elvis on American Idol?)

Seacrest said that he should have more details on his KIIS morning show tomorrow: "Expect some real serious surprises."

Madonna has a history of sharing the stage with hot young thangs: It was the veteran diva who brought Spears and Christina Aguilera together at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, when the popster duo teamed up for "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" and then took turns smooching the queen bee.

Now, if Madonna ends up working that kind of magic with Brit and J.T.—watch out.

Sightings

Britney Spears Unveils Album Cover

Britney's Dad Named Permanent Conservator of Her Affairs

"I've met several times with [Britney] and she requested that I not object to the permanent conservatorship," the singer's court-appointed lawyer Samuel Ingham said in open court.

Commissioner Reva Goetz stated that the permanent conservatorship was "necessary and appropriate."

Experts say, however, that the permanent status doesn't necessarily mean forever.

"People shouldn't read too much into the word 'permanent'" explains Terry K. Wasserman, a mental health lawyer not involved with this case. "In many cases, it's just a formality to avoid having to renew a temporary status over and over again."

A source close to Spears concurs, saying, "This is by no means something that's going to last forever. The conservatorship being made permanent in name is primarily to ensure increased time with her children, and provide support for her music and work goals."

Adds Wasserman: "Ms. Spears can regain control of her life anytime – as long as her doctors feel she's able to manage her own affairs."

Britney's Fitness Regimen Revealed

Spears is getting in top shape as she prepares for the Dec. 2 release of Circus, her latest album. The singer is also expected to begin a worldwide tour – her first since 2004 – in the spring of 2009. And earlier this month, Spears showed off her buff bod in the sexy video for "Womanizer."

Sightings

Britney's Trial Victory a 'Turnaround' for Singer

"It marks a turnaround for her. This case was a thorn in her side for more than a year, a reminder of the bad old days," he said. "She's thrilled the court system, for once, worked in her favor."

The trial – which heard only one day of witness testimony – failed to convince a jury that Spears broke the law by driving without a California license, stemming from a 2007 fender-bender. It ended Tuesday in a hung jury, 10-2 in favor of her innocence, and a dismissal of the case.

Said jury foreman Gary Moy, 45, "There were lots of questions about lack of evidence, whether Spears had a Louisiana license or not, what the definition of residency was. We felt we were never given all the facts in the case."

Spears's father, Jamie, provided key testimony that his daughter had a Louisiana license on the day in question, and that she considers that state her permanent home.

Father's Guidance

Following her two forced hospitalizations last January, the singer remains under legal control of her father until a Dec. 31 hearing.

"Her father is doing a sensational job for her," Flanagan says. "And with his guidance, she's really gotten her life together."

Her exoneration tops a growing list of personal victories: Spears has gained significant visitation with her sons after losing all custody earlier this year, won three VMA awards in September, and has a new album, Circus, due out on Dec. 22 (her 27th birthday).

Spears' driver's license case dismissed

Jurors remained deadlocked 10-2 on whether she was guilty of driving without a valid California license Tuesday. A mistrial was declared, prosecutors said they wouldn't pursue the matter further — and Spears was spared a criminal record when the judge ultimately dismissed the case.

Ten of the 12 jurors favored outright acquittal for Spears, who never appeared in court. Her attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, declared victory and criticized prosecutors for bringing a "fix-it ticket" to trial because his client is famous.

But Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian said blame for the case getting this far belonged to Spears, who rejected two plea deals — one that included probation and another that would require her to pay a $1,000 fine. Flanagan has said Spears fought the charge to keep her record clean.

The jury's deadlock could not be broken Tuesday, even after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Steele permitted attorneys to make additional closing arguments in the morning. The jury struggled with the case since resuming deliberations Monday, telling a judge they couldn't reach an unanimous decision after five votes going back to Friday.

Steele thanked jurors for their time and dismissed them, and prosecutors told him a couple of hours later that they were dropping the matter, prompting him to dismiss the case.

Gary Moy, the jury's foreman, said Tuesday afternoon that he thought prosecutors did enough to convict Spears, but that the majority of his fellow jurors could not be swayed and thought the case was a waste of time. Moy added that he believed some jurors favored Spears because of her fame.

Amerian said the result was another example of the challenge of trying the famous in Tinseltown.

"It just goes to show, I think, how difficult it is to convict any celebrity of a crime here in Los Angeles," Amerian said. "For whatever reason, jurors are reluctant to do that and I think history shows that."

But Flanagan said Spears fame drove the case to trial, and that she should have been allowed to pay a small fine rather than face the maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Deliberations lasted longer than the case, which featured only three witnesses and roughly a day's worth of testimony and arguments. The defense had argued that Spears didn't meet the state's residency requirements, and that her Louisiana license was all she needed to drive legally.

Jurors posed a pair of questions Monday before declaring themselves deadlocked: One sought to clarify the charges against Spears, and whether she should be considered guilty if she possessed a valid Louisiana license.

The other: "Why was she stopped in the first place?" In fact, there was no traffic stop that precipitated the case; she was cited later, after video of the accident surfaced.

Attorneys on both sides agreed that Spears was behind the wheel in August 2007 when she hit a parked car. That kept jurors from hearing any mention of the hit-and-run — or any narrative elements to explain why she faced a criminal charge.

Amerian initially put up only one witness and entered one piece of evidence during the trial, showing that Spears did not have a valid California license more than a week after the accident.

In all, only three witnesses testified. After Flanagan called Spears' father to the stand, Amerian introduced signed papers from the singer's divorce that indicated she had been a California resident since at least 2006.

Amerian said he thought he did enough to prove the case, but that pursuing it further wouldn't be "prudent."

Flanagan said he spoke to Britney Spears' father and conservator, Jamie Spears, after the dismissal and described him as "ecstatic" with the result."

Spears is in the midst of a comeback, recently earning three MTV Video Music Awards. As her trial started last week, Billboard announced that her new single, "Womanizer," was No. 1 on its charts.

The trial featured flashes of insight into Spears life, with a paparazzo witness for the prosecution telling jurors that Spears had recently tried to sneak out of her hilltop home in a gardener's truck, but he spotted her between the plants.

Flanagan repeatedly said Spears intends to return to her home state of Louisiana and is building a new house there. He said those plans are on hold because she still has not regained custody of her two young sons from ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Despite a litany of legal woes this year, including her ongoing conservatorship, Flanagan said Spears is making progress.

"Things are going in the right direction for her," he said.

Britney Dinged With Mistrial; Jury Dismissed

After three days of deliberations, a mistrial has been declared in Britney Spears' misdemeanor driving without a license case after the eight-woman, four-man jury was unable to break their deadlock.

"This does feel like a victory," Spears' attorney, Michael Flanagan, told E! News.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge James A. Steele dismissed the jury just moments after the prosecution and defense were allowed to deliver additional closing statements to the jurors.

After four votes, the jury foreman confirmed they were deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting the pop star. It's unclear if Spears, who was charged with misdemeanor driving without a California license stemming from an August 2007 accident, will be retried.

All told, the jurors deliberated slightly more than eight hours over a verdict.

Instant Ratings

Judge orders Spears jury to keep deliberating

The jury deliberated less than two hours Monday at a San Fernando Valley courthouse. They posed two questions, including one that sought to clarify what Spears was charged with.

Shortly after being read more instructions, jurors indicated they were deadlocked.

The judge ordered the panel to give him an update before lunchtime.

The eight women and four men are sifting through roughly a day's worth of testimony and arguments in the case, which was filed last year after the pop star hit a parked car and left the scene.

Spears hasn't appeared in court and didn't testify during the trial.

The jury deliberated for about two hours Friday.

Jurors coming back in Britney Spears's misdemeanour driver's licence case

Jurors deliberated for a little over two hours Friday at a San Fernando Valley courthouse before recessing for the weekend. The jury listened to roughly a day's worth of testimony and arguments in the case, which was filed last year after Spears hit a parked car and left the scene.

Twelve jurors would have to agree to convict the 26-year-old pop singer, who faces jail time and a fine if she's found guilty.

Spears hasn't appeared in court and didn't testify during the trial.

A prosecutor said Spears was obligated to obtain a California driver's licence, but her lawyer said Spears's primary residence is in Louisiana and she was properly licensed by that state.

Spears jury leaves for weekend without verdict

Jurors left a San Fernando Valley courthouse late Friday afternoon after deliberating the misdemeanor charge for slightly more than two hours. With no verdict reached, the jury of eight women and four men adjourned and were told to return Monday.

Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian declined to say what punishment he would seek if Spears is convicted. She faces up to six months in jail and a fine, though her lack of a prior criminal record means a lighter penalty is likely.

Jurors are weighing whether Spears was required to have a California license when she hit a parked car and left the scene in August 2007. Amerian contended that Spears was ostensibly a Los Angeles resident because she chose to get married here, got divorced here, and her two sons were born at LA-area hospitals.

He acknowledged Friday that it was "extremely rare" for misdemeanor driving without a license cases to go to trial, but said that was Spears' decision and pursuit of the case was justified.

But he noted the case stemmed from Spears hitting a parked car and leaving the scene of the accident without leaving a note. The case originally included a hit-and-run charge, but Spears settled that count with the car's owner.

Amerian said Spears rejected two offers for a resolution. Spears' attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, has said she refused the deals because she didn't want a criminal record, and plans to appeal if convicted.

Flanagan told jurors that Spears had a valid Louisiana driver's license at the time of the accident and considered that state home. She takes a homestead exemption on her house there and registered to vote there.

He tried to explain that it would be normal for her to have multiple residences in different states and that she could legally retain her Louisiana license. Jamie Spears testified that his daughter intends to return to Louisiana once she regains custody of her young boys, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

But father Jamie Spears' appearance allowed Amerian to tell jurors that Spears' voter registration had lapsed, and that she signed, under penalty of perjury, a document stating she was a California resident when filing for divorce in Los Angeles.

Billboard singles review

Spears' driver's license case goes to jury

Prosecutors and defense attorneys made their final arguments Friday morning in the pop singer's driving-without-a-license case. The jury of eight women and four men began deliberations shortly thereafter.

Spears hit a parked car last year while driving in California on her Louisiana license. Her attorney says she didn't meet the state's residency requirements and was within the law.

But prosecutors say the 26-year-old had gotten married, had two children and filed for divorce in Los Angeles, and was ostensibly a California resident.

Spears did not attend any of the two-day trial.

Spears fends off red-hot T.I. atop singles chart

Pop singer Pink's "So What" slid one rung to No. 4, while Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" inched up from No. 6 to No. 5. Rihanna's "Disturbia" dropped two position to No. 6, and Kevin Rudolf's "Let It Rock" featuring Lil Wayne fell from No. 5 to No. 7.

T-Pain's "Can't Believe It" featuring Lil Wayne slid from No. 6 to No. 8, as Ne-Yo scored a second top 10 hit from his album "Year of the Gentleman" with "Miss Independent," up from the eleventh spot to No. 9.

M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" fell one slot to No. 10 to round out the top tier.

Beyond Spears, the biggest debut during the week was Akon's "I'm So Paid" featuring Lil Wayne at No. 40. Wayne had seven songs in the top 40 of the week's chart for a third time this year; the Beatles are the only other act to have achieved this.

Prosecution rests in Britney Spears driver's licence trial

Spears' defence consisted solely of the testimony of Jamie Spears, who told jurors his daughter intends to return to Louisiana once she has custody of her children. The singer's lawyer, J. Michael Flanagan, said in his opening statement that she was exempt from having a California driver's licence because she didn't meet residency requirements.

On cross-examination, however, Jamie Spears acknowledged that his daughter got married, had two children and divorced in California.

Both sides rested their cases Thursday afternoon and jurors will return for deliberations Friday morning.

Throughout the day Thursday, the prospect of the 26-year-old testifying during the trial remained. That prospect was quashed Thursday afternoon when Flanagan asked Jamie Spears whether he would allow his daughter to take the stand.

"No," he replied.

The singer's trial on a misdemeanour count of driving without a valid licence began with jury selection Wednesday. The case is the last remnant of an August 2007 incident in which Spears was photographed hitting a parked car and leaving the scene.

While Spears settled a hit-and-run charge, Flanagan rejected a plea deal that prosecutors offered Spears on the driving-without-a licence charge because he said Spears did not want a criminal record.

Prosecutors relied on testimony from Jamie Spears and two witnesses, a Department of Motor Vehicles investigator and a paparazzo assigned to Britney Spears around-the-clock, to build their case that the singer's home is in Los Angeles. The paparazzo, Sondro Rodregues, told jurors Britney Spears spends roughly 80 per cent of her time in the area.

Flanagan tried to establish that Los Angeles is a temporary home for Britney Spears and that she will likely leave once she has custody of her young sons. Ex-husband Kevin Federline currently has full custody of the couple's children, and Spears remains under the conservatorship of her father, who controls the singer's personal and financial affairs.

Flanagan gave jurors three examples of her ties to Louisiana: she is registered to vote there; she takes a homestead exemption on her property taxes there and until late last year, she had a Louisiana driver's licence.

Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian chipped away at those ties, however, including revealing that Spears' voting registration in Louisiana had lapsed due to inactivity. He then introduced divorce records that Spears signed in 2006 and a couple weeks before the hit-and-run accident that stated, under penalty of perjury, that she lived in California.

Jury selection concluded Thursday morning with the seating of eight women and four men, and brief opening statements followed. Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian took only two minutes to give his statement, calling the case "very straightforward."

The prosecution's first witness, Gary Edmonds, said records indicated that Spears had not applied for a licence as of Aug. 15, 2007, more than a week after the hit-and-run.

Flanagan also told jurors that Spears had attempted to apply for a California licence months before the accident, but the DMV was unable to take her photo.

If convicted, Spears faces jail time and a fine, although she has no prior criminal record so her penalty is unlikely to be severe.

Britney Spears Wants to 'Connect With Y'all'

"I wanted to create a place where I could connect with y'all and share what's really going on in my life," she says. "I'll be sharing videos, stories, music, photos, and lots of other cool stuff."

Spears, 26, will release her new album, Circus, in December.

Jury Seated in Britney Spears Traffic Trial

The 12-person panel, with two alternates, includes eight women and six men.

Of these, at least eight expressed some form of sympathy for the pop star when asked their opinion of her, although most felt neutral in their overall impression of Spears.

Said Juror No. 1, "I think she's a train wreck, but it's not her doing. She has some not good people around her. It's a sad situation."

At least three of the seated jurors expressed sentiments that Spears was under "too much pressure" from the constraints of fame. Juror No. 18 said Spears had "enormous success at a young age."

In addition, juror No. 13 stated that Spears suffers "medical problems, but with the right help, she'll be okay."

Several who had negative views of Spears, as well as many with no opinion, were dismissed in the court's effort to seat a fair jury.

Father to Be Called

Opening statements are expected to be heard later Thursday. The trial is expected to last several more days.

Among the witnesses expected to be called are Spears's father Jamie, a photographer, a DMV investigator, and several police officers.

If convicted, Spears faces a maximum six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. She isn't required to attend the hearings as it is only a misdemeanor case.

Day 1 in Spears case ends without jury

Potential jurors expressed a range of opinions on Spears and the matter during initial questioning. One man labeled the idea of a trial "ridiculous," while another potential panelist indicated he blamed the paparazzi, not Spears, for her troubles.

Only one person was dismissed from the jury pool on Wednesday. The woman indicated she had some previous contact with Spears' business manager.

Questioning was scheduled to restart on Thursday morning, and opening statements could begin later in the day if a jury is seated.

The charge is the last remnant of a case that stemmed from an accident last August in which Spears, who did not have a valid California license, hit a parked car and left the scene. Drivers are supposed to get a California license within 10 days of establishing residency.

Spears, 26, did not appear in court on Wednesday, and may not attend the trial. Her attorney said Wednesday that no final decision on Spears' participation in the trial had been made.

Her father, James Spears, may be called as a witness in the case, which is expected to last three days. Other potential witnesses include police officers and an online producer for gossip site X17online.com.

Britney Spears' Return to the Glamour-ous Life

The pop princess will appear on the cover of Glamour magazine's January issue, several sources exclusively tell me.

Back in early September, there were reports that Spears was shot by photographer Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue magazine. But as I told you, speculation eventually focused in on Glamour after a rep for Anna Wintour's fashion bible shot down the Vogue rumors.

A January issue of a major women's magazine like Glamour makes perfect sense. It will hit newsstands just about the same time Spears' new album, Circus, is released Dec. 2. Spears has also just signed a deal with live entertainment company AEG to produce her upcoming world tour.

She has appeared once before on the cover of Glamour, back in 2003 for its annual Women of the Year issue.

A music label rep for Spears did not comment. A rep for Glamour would not confirm or deny a Spears cover because the magazine has a policy of not commenting on upcoming issues.

Britney Spears Goes on Trial for Traffic Offense

The pop star, who faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, is not required to attend because it's only a misdemeanor case.

Barring any last-minute legal moves, the trial will begin with jury selection and is expected to last several days.

Spears, 26, opted for the jury trial after rejecting a plea deal of one year's probation and a $150 fine.

"My client will never plead guilty to this charge, which should be reduced to an infraction," said her attorney Michael Flanagan, who twice turned down prosecutors' plea deals. "We'll appeal any conviction."

The charge stems from Spears's fender-bender in August 2007. A hit-and-run charge was eventually dismissed after she compensated the other driver for damages, but the driving-without-a-license charge remained.

Spears had a Louisiana license at the time of the accident, but prosecutors contend she has long made her home in California and therefore was legally required to have California license. She has since gotten one.

Britney Spears to tour next spring

The arena trek will help promote her new album, "Circus," due December 2 via Jive Records. The first single, "Womanizer," is expected to leap into the upper reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 this week after first-week download sales are factored into the chart. The chart will be published on Thursday.

Spears' 2004 tour grossed more than $34 million, according to Billboard Boxscore. In the ensuing years, her career was derailed by a litany of personal and professional woes.

Britney Debuts "Womanizer" Video

In the video, which made its worldwide premiere on ABC's 20/20 and can be viewed on britneyspears.com, the pop star shows off her newly buff body and does a little role play – as a wife, a working woman and a sexy waitress.

"Womanizer" is the first single off Spears's upcoming album, Circus, which is due out on Dec. 2 – the pop star's 27th birthday.

Watch the video here.

Britney Spears: 'What the Hell Was I Thinking?'

"I sit there and I'll look back and I'm like: I'm a smart person. What the hell was I thinking?" the pop star says in the 90-minute film, tentatively titled For the Record, produced in partnership with MTV.

In a video clip from the film, the 26-year-old Spears alludes to her tumultuous past: her divorce from Kevin Federline, forced psychiatric hospitalizations and loss of custody of her two sons.

"I've been through a lot in the past two or three years, and there's a lot that people don't know," she says.

"Sometimes I think I get kind of lonely because you don't open the gate up that much, you know I mean?" she adds. "You're guarded. You have to be that way, so I'm kind of stuck in this place and it's like: How do you deal? And you just cope, and that's what I do. I just cope with it, every day."

The documentary airs on MTV on Nov. 30, two days before the release of her new album, Circus.

Spears involved in another crash

The star - who is due to stand trial after she was caught driving without a license last year - was being chauffeured through West Hollywood when a photographer's car collided with her vehicle, reports celebrity website TMZ.com.

It is not the first time Spears has been involved in a car crash; in May she allegedly drove her white Mercedes-Benz coupe into a car in Beverly Hills and in September last year (07), she was charged with hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence after crashing into a parked car in a Los Angeles car park.

Spears rejects plea deal in driver's license case

Attorney J. Michael Flanagan says Spears would consider an offer that reduces the charge to an infraction and requires her to pay a $10 fine. He says if the case does go to trial as scheduled later this month, he will appeal any conviction.

He says the 26-year-old singer is being unfairly targeted because she is a celebrity and doesn't deserve a blemish on her criminal record.

The charge is the last remnants of a criminal case that city prosecutors lodged against Spears after she hit a parked car in August 2007 and left without notifying the owner.

FRIDAY'S 20/20 (10/10)

Britney Trial Passes Another Roadblock

A three-judge panel has refused to throw out a year-old misdemeanor charge against the popster for driving with an invalid license, a case that's finally scheduled to go to trial Oct. 15 after months of legal wrangling on Spears' behalf.

No explanation was given in the one-page ruling, but the decision was unanimous. A pretrial hearing is set for Wednesday.

Spears' attorney, Michael Flanagan, filed a 51-page motion in Los Angeles Superior Court Sept. 29 to "immediately stay all proceedings" with the hope that the appellate judges would move to dismiss the charge, which Flanagan has disputed as an example of Spears' celebrity being used against her.

Lynne Spears: 'Things Are Looking Up Again'

"Really wonderful things are happening now," Spears, 53, said Saturday. "It looks like things are looking up again."

PEOPLE caught up with Spears at the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) 20th annual convention in Grapevine, Texas, where she was a surprise guest speaker. She shared with the crowd of 4,500 mothers what it's like to face criticism for the way she raised Britney, 26, and Jamie Lynn, 17.

"I had a perfect little plan," she said, explaining the parenting journey chronicled in her memoir, Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World. "But, you can't control the [kids]' peers, you can't control society and you do the best you can."

Lynne is making plans for the whole clan to get together. She especially loves doting on her three grandchildren, who call her "Me Maw."

"The seasons are changing and things are good this year," she says. "I am so happy where we are right now."

Spears, who appeared at the MOPS convention with co-author Lorilee Craker, said her deepest wish for the future of Britney and Jamie Lynn, is simple: "I would like smooth sailing for my children."

Britney's Back On Camera

"It's going to be a big album," he told PEOPLE at the VH1 Save the Music Hip Hop Honors after party in New York Thursday night. "Britney is very intelligent and she's really set up [for success]," says Jon, who is one of the album's producers. "She is focused and she wants it again, so it's definitely going to happen for her."

He also expects the record to be a mainstay in the clubs. "Her stuff is all about making people party," he says.

Spears's last album, Blackout, stalled due to her much-publicized personal drama. Rapper Fabolous, who remixed the single "Break the Ice," told reporters at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors taping earlier in the night that "we weren't able to do a video because of her condition at the time."

He adds: "A lot of people count her out, but she's been able to bounce back from adversity. She's back looking, if not as good as before, even better. I would love to do more remixes for Britney."

Spears is set to release Circus on Dec. 2, her 27th birthday. She debuted the first single, "Womanizer," last month on New York's radio station Z100. She told the radio show that a tour is "definitely" in the works for next year.

Commish to Brit: Pay Lawyers, Sell House

According to court documents released today, the "Gimme More" singer has been ordered to advance $200,000 to her conservatorship legal team to cover a portion of fees. L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz made the ruling during a Sept. 25 hearing. (Another hearing regarding the balance of Spears' legal tab is set for Oct. 28.)

In addition, Goetz also granted Spears’ father and coconservator Jamie the authority to sell her Beverly Hills-area home with the assistance of Realtor Tomer Fridman of Ewing & Associates in Calabassas. According to the court terms, the purchase price must be equal or exceed the value or property as appraised by the court. And if Fridman sells the house, his commission can not exceed 5 percent of the selling price.

Earlier this month, the Spears home went on the market for an asking price of $7.9 million.

Britney's Back On Camera

And not just by the ever-present pesky paparazzi.

Sources close to Britney confirm that the pop princess has been mic'd for her own cameras during various stops in the city (including her recent visit with a gaggle of Bronx middle school kiddies).

So what's all the footage for?

"It's part of Britney's image rehab plan," a source close to the Spears camp tells E! News. "They want to shoot footage of Britney in her best light, showing her looking happy and healthy, and then parcel out the film however and whenever they want."

Some of it may show up on her newly revamped website, which is launching any day now. And the rest could possibly show up as a montage during her music tour or parceled out to entertainment television shows.

"It's all about controlling the images and messages out there about Britney," says our source. "It's old-school public relations, really. It's about finding ways to reintroduce her as that sweet, happy girl, the one people remember before her problems began."

Missing Britney

Britney's ex denies sex tape

Earlier this week, a British magazine reported that Adnan Ghalib had confessed to taping the pair having sex during a vacation in Mexico - with Spears wearing nothing but a pink wig in the video.

But now Ghalib, who dated the star last year, tells America's Star magazine the story is a lie, and he is threatening to sue over the "false reports".

He says, "There is no sex tape and I've never claimed there is one.

"I don't know where these quotes I'm supposed to have said have come from.

What I do know is they certainly didn't come from me and they are completely false. I'm extremely upset and distressed and I'm taking legal action... This story has caused a lot of hurt to my family and people close to me.

"There is no sex tape. That is the end of the matter."

Britney Spears Goes Back to School - for a Cause

The pop star dropped by John Philip Sousa M. S. 142 in The Bronx on Wednesday to present a $10,000 check to be used as an endowment for the school's year-old music program.

As she entered the school (which was not in session due to the Jewish holiday), she was treated to a performance by the Sousatones, the school's eight-piece band, led by director Sal Mazzola.

"When you're ready to take us on the road for an opening act, we're ready," he told Spears.

Spears, who plans to tour in 2009, replied: "You'll be the first people I call."

Mazzola told the students in advance they would be playing for a "high-profile" guest, but they only learned it would be Spears earlier that morning. (Some kids guessed it would be P. Diddy or Barack Obama.)

Spears was also serenaded by a chorus of seven girls, including soloist Rachel Lewis, 14, who sang "I Am Woman."

The donation came from Elizabeth Arden, which is behind Spears's fragrances, Believe, Fantasy and Curious.

"I really enjoyed the time I spent at the John Philip Souza Middle Schoo," Spears tells PEOPLE. "I've been working with the people at Elizabeth Arden for the last five years, and I know how passionate everyone is about the school. I loved hearing the school orchestra and the children sang so beautifully. The fact that Elizabeth Arden made such a large donation for the school music studio in my name was so generous."

Britney Spears files appeals in driving case

Lawyer J. Michael Flanagan filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday seeking a stay in the criminal case. Flanagan also wants an appellate judge to order the judge overseeing the case to grant Spears' motion to dismiss.

Flanagan has twice requested a dismissal of the case, saying that Spears should be allowed to pay a $10 fine and not face a criminal trial.

The 26-year-old singer is scheduled to go on trial in October on a single misdemeanor charge that she did not have a valid California license when she hit a parked car in August 2007 and left the scene.

Flanagan also argues in Monday's filings that Spears is unable to meaningfully participate in her defense because of her conservatorship. Since February, her father has controlled the singer's personal and financial affairs.

Also Monday, the pop star told a New York radio station that her clip "Piece of Me" leaves room for improvement - despite winning three MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month.

"It's a cool video, but I think by far I've done videos that are way better," the singer said in an interview with top 40 radio station Z100. "So I was really shocked that ... it got the award."

Spears called her triple victory "inspiring, though, because now going forward with the videos that I'm doing now, I can really go there and do something crazy and see what happens."

Spears, whose new album "Circus" drops Dec. 2, plans a possible world tour next year.

Britney Spears: No Sex Tape

British-based Heat magazine reported earlier Monday that photographer/Spears ex Adnan Ghalib confirmed to them he has a sex tape of himself with the pop star.

However, a source close to Britney Spears is throwing cold water on the Heat story.

"The story is completely false," the source tells E! News.

Spears' rep at Jive Records has not responded to calls seeking comment.

Ghalib is also playing hard to get. His cell phone number is disconnected. His former photo agency JFX tells E! News that Ghalib "never worked for us" and was not able to provide any contact information for him.

Britney Spears: I can do 'way better' than 'Piece of Me'

"It's a cool video, but I think by far I've done videos that are way better," the singer said Monday in an interview with New York's top 40 radio station Z100. "So I was really shocked that ... it got the award."

The 26-year-old Spears called her triple victory "inspiring, though, because now going forward with the videos that I'm doing now, I can really go there and do something crazy and see what happens."

Spears, whose new album "Circus" drops Dec. 2, plans a possible world tour next year.

Britney Spears Calls New Song 'A Girl Anthem'

"It's basically saying, 'We know what you're up to.' It's about guys cheating on girls," the singer told New York's Z100 radio station on Monday. "It's a girl anthem. That's why I like it."

The song is the first single from Spears's upcoming album, Circus, due for release on Dec. 2, her 27th birthday.

As for her recent victory at MTV's Video Music Awards, where she won three Moonmen (including video of the year for "Piece of Me"), Spears expressed surprise.

"It's a cool video, but I think by far I've done videos that are way better, so I was really shocked that it got the award," she said. "It was just inspiring, though, because now, going forward with the videos that I'm doing now, I can really go there and do something crazy and see what happens."

Another part of the singer's comeback? A tour is "definitely" in the works, she said. "Oh, definitely next year," she said on the radio show. "Probably around the world."

To listen to the complete interview, click here.

MTV Europe Music Awards Nominations

Album Of The Year
- Alicia Keys ("As I Am")
- Britney Spears ("Blackout")
- Coldplay ("Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends")
- Duffy ("Rockferry")
- Leona Lewis ("Spirit")

Act of 2008
- Amy Winehouse
- Britney Spears
- Coldplay
- Leona Lewis
- Rihanna

Spears' ex shopping sex tape?

The British snapper dated Spears on and off for several months during the last year, and claims to be in possession of raunchy video footage in which she wears nothing more than a pink wig.

The two-hour long tape was allegedly recorded while the couple was on vacation in Mexico, just days after Spears was hospitalized following a stand off with Los Angeles police when she refused to hand back her sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline after a scheduled visit.

And according to the U.K.'s Heat magazine, Ghalib is now looking to make money from his time with Spears - but will only go into detail about the supposed sex tape for "the right price".

He says, "There is such a tape, but I won't discuss prices for hypothetical enquiries. Unless there is a locked-in deal, I will go no further."

Britney's New Song Hits the Radio

Listen to the track here.

The song is the first single off of Spears' upcoming album, Circus, due for release Dec. 2, her 27th birthday.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Spears shot the video for "Womanizer," in which she wears a black wig and plays a waitress.

Britney Spears Works as a Waitress - in Her Video

Filming took place Wednesday at Elevate Lounge, a club located within Takami Sushi & Robata restaurant on the 21st floor of an office building in downtown L.A., says a source. In the video, directed by Joseph Kahn (who worked with Spears on "Toxic" and "Stronger"), she plays a waitress.

Dancers arrived at the shoot Wednesday morning dressed in waiter uniforms of white dress shirts, skinny ties, and black pants or leggings.

"Womanizer," the first single off Spears’ upcoming album Circus will hit radio soon, says a source, and Spears will start practicing live performances next month.

Spears' Video Features Snake-Charming

But fans will have to wait longer than predicted to see the sexy film, after Spears' record label put the track's release date back because the song needs more work. The tune, featured on the star's upcoming new album 'Circus', was slated for release earlier this week, but won't be out until at least the end of the month.

For Sale: Britney Spears's Home for $7.9 Million

Described in the real estate listing as an "exquisite gated Italian Renaissance-inspired villa," the 7,500-square-foot home has three garages and a "grand entrance foyer."

The pop star, 26, has lived in the hilltop home for less than two years – and had to leave the house twice early this year to be forcibly hospitalized.

Spears's father Jamie, who remains in legal control of his daughter until Dec. 31, sought permission from a court in June to sell the home.

"Having more privacy and wide open spaces for her to raise her boys has been a goal for some time," a source close to Spears previously told PEOPLE.

The singer is rumored to be eyeing a new home an hour drive north of Los Angeles in Calabasas, Calif.

All Mixed Up: New Britney Single Delayed

According to label sources, the official premiere of "Womanizer," Spears' first single off of her upcoming album Circus, has been pushed back due to an undisclosed issue with "the mix"—i.e. not Britney's vocals, per se, but rather how all facets of the track sound together.

Originally set to drop this morning, the masterminds at Jive Records' Zomba Label Group are holding the song for at least another week, meaning radio stations won't be spinning the tune until Sept. 29 at the earliest.

"The mix was not finalized," a source told E! News.

Meanwhile, "Womanizer" isn't a complete mystery to fans anxious for Brit to give 'em more. A fuzzy 40-second clip hit the Internet last week after an intern at a Nashville radio station recorded the tune while previewing it over the phone and posted the snippet on the station's website.

Which promptly removed it at Zomba's behest.

Spears' sixth studio album, Circus, is being prepped for a Dec. 2 debut to coincide with the comebacking pop star's 27th birthday.

Symbolic, no?

Trial likely in Spears driving case

J. Michael Flanagan, the pop singer's attorney, said the matter is going before a jury due to unfavorable "special treatment" by prosecutors and a judge. Because the violation is a misdemeanor, Spears is not required to attend the trial.

A judge rejected Flanagan's attempts Thursday to get the case reduced or the charge dismissed.

Flanagan has repeatedly argued that the singer is being treated more harshly than other people who have been caught driving without a valid California license. He said under normal circumstances, Spears should be allowed to pay a $10 fine and not face criminal prosecution.

He said Thursday that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James A. Steele cited Spears' celebrity status during an in-chambers meeting as a reason for not reducing the case to an infraction.

"He says, 'But I've never done that before. I'd hate to do it the first time and do it for Britney Spears because then it would appear like she's getting special treatment,'" Flanagan recounted Steele telling him.

Steele said through a clerk that he could not comment on the conference in his chambers. A court reporter was not present for the meeting. Flanagan said he will appeal a previous ruling by the judge denying Spears' motion to dismiss the case.

If the case begins as scheduled on Oct. 15, Flanagan said he doesn't plan to present any witnesses or do anything more than make opening and closing arguments to jurors.

"I'm just going to sit there," he said. If Spears is convicted, he said he will appeal that judgment.

The charge is the last remnants of a criminal case city prosecutors lodged against Spears after she hit a parked car in August 2007 and left without notifying the owner. She was originally also charged with hit-and-run, but Spears settled that charge through an agreement with the other car's owner.

Steele is not the only one Flanagan accused of treating Spears, 26, unfairly. On Thursday he said Michael Amerian, a city prosecutor handling the case, is trying to use the matter to boost his own profile because he running to become City Attorney.

"I am right on this issue and I'm not going to bow down to this guy because he's running for City Attorney," Flanagan said.

Amerian vehemently denied Flanagan's contention.

"We're treating her fairly in light of the facts in this case," Amerian said. He said he has never mentioned his bid for elected office when discussing Spears' case. He said prosecutors have been consistent on how they've handled the case since it was filed last summer.

"We're trying to treat her as we have anyone else who's been charged with a hit-and-run as well as driving without a valid license," Amerian said.

Flanagan said prosecutors have gone to unusual lengths to try to keep the case alive, including citing Spears' divorce from ex-husband Kevin Federline. Flanagan said prosecutors noted that when Spears filed for divorce in November 2007, she had to certify she had been a California resident for at least six months.

The criminal case was filed in August 2007.

Drivers are supposed to get a California license within 10 days of establishing residency in the state. But Flanagan said Spears had a valid license in Louisiana, which is one of several states where the singer has homes.

The case has been repeatedly postponed since Spears was placed under the conservatorship of her father, James, in February. That arrangement means that he controls the singer's personal and financial affairs and was a result of several high-profile incidents of erratic behavior, including two hospitalizations.

Sightings

Britney Spears' New Leaked Single?

Titled "Candy from Strangers," and supposedly featuring rap duo Laze & Royal, the track certainly sounds like the pop star, even down to that girlish giggle of hers.

Meanwhile, Brit's music label, Jive/Zomba, announced earlier this week that the actual first single off her new disc will be "Womanizer," set to hit radio airwaves September 22.

So take a listen. Do you think it's really her, and if so, will it eventually find a home on your iPod?

Lynne Spears Opens Up About Britney on Today

"It's been a wild ride for everybody," she told Meredith Vieira. "She's out there, she's with the crowds and with her peer groups, and she's doing things. She's a celebrity, for heaven's sake…I have sat for hours, thinking about everything that's happened."

When asked if, in hindsight, she wishes she could go back and do things differently during those early stages of her career, Lynne says, "Of course!" But, she qualifies, it wasn't "feasible" to always be with Britney given that, as a single mother, she had Britney's sister, Jamie Lynn, to raise.

As for Britney's eventual unraveling, Lynne says, "It was so crazy. We were just trying to do what we could do at that moment in time. We were praying very hard. It seemed like we had no control over what was happening."

In spite of it all, though, Lynne says things have definitely turned around for the better.

"She's strong. She's resilient. She's had some big bumps in the road, but Britney's fine. Britney is headed to the top once again, and I have no fears about Britney."

Watch a clip here!

Britney's Legal Team Fans Out

But the wheels of justice move slowly and the pop princess has other things to concern her.

While Spears plots her latest comeback—her new album Circus is coming to town Dec. 2, her 22nd birthday—her army of lawyers deployed to various courthouses in Southern California today to attempt to tidy up her docket.

First up, attorneys representing Spears and her temporary conservatorship overseen in part by father Jamie turned up in downtown Los Angeles to meet behind closed doors to haggle over legal bills stemming from the case.

"Lawyers for [Britney] were in chambers for about an hour and a half. Two items were filed but sealed," a court clerk tells E! News.

No word on exactly what financial matters were being debated. The bills have piled up in recent months, however, with her lawyer, Laura Wasser, alone seeking as much as $100,000 for representing Spears during the last three months ($33, 037.19 for June and July and $60,075 for work performed in August).

Spears did not attend the session. The next court date in the matter is set for Sept. 25.

Nearly 20 miles away in Van Nuys, meanwhile, a pretrial hearing was scheduled with regard to her misdemeanor charge of driving with an invalid license.

Earlier this month, Superior Court Judge James A. Steele refused Spears' petition to dismiss the year-old charge, leaving the door open to a trial which could start as early as October.

Britney Spears due to release another comeback album in December

"Circus" is set for release Dec. 2, a little over a year after she released last November's "Blackout," which was perhaps her most critically acclaimed CD, but came during her infamous year of erratic behaviour, rehab, custody battles and at least one hospitalization. She barely promoted it and the album - though it was certified platinum - was one of her least successful.

But these days, Spears has been in the spotlight for all the right reasons. She won three MTV Video Music Awards for her clip "Piece of Me" and appeared on the Sept. 7 awards show looking fit and stunning, a reversal of her dishevelled, widely panned appearance in 2007. She also drew praise for her guest appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother."

Spears' life seems to have rebounded after her father, James Spears, went to court and took control of her personal and professional life as her conservator. She also resolved her custody battle with former husband Kevin Federline, with Federline retaining custody of their two young sons and Spears receiving visitation rights.

Among the producers on Spears' new CD are Nate "Danja" Hills and Max Martin, who produced some of her biggest hits, including her first, "Baby One More Time." The first single, "Womanizer," will be released to radio Sept. 22, her record label, Jive/Zomba, announced Monday.

Spears' Mum: 'Breakdown Was Triggered By Depression'

Lynne writes in her forthcoming book Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, "Having two children within a year of each other would be overwhelming for any woman. She had post-natal depression.

"Added to her broken-hearted spirit over the end of her marriage to Kevin and the enormous pressures of her career, it brought her to breaking point. It was hard for me to believe this much-loved daughter was enduring such pain and I couldn't be there to help her heal. I felt hopeless."

Britney Spears Throws a Car & Truck Themed Birthday Bash for Her Boys

And the party was truly a family affair.

Spears celebrated her boys' special days – Preston turns 3 on Sept. 14, and Jayden turned 2 on Sept. 12 – with sister Jamie Lynn Spears, her newborn niece Maddie Briann, dad Jamie and mom Lynne.

Held at close friend Adrienne Maloof-Nassif's Beverly Park house, the outdoor party drew some famous guests, including Jenny McCarthy with her son Evan, and Gwen Stefani's son Kingston, 2, who came to the bash from an equally starry affair: He celebrated Heidi Klum's son Henry's 3rd birthday at the model's Beverly Hills house along with all three of Victoria Beckham's sons.

But the guests of honor seemed to be having the best time. Preston and Jayden drove around the party in mini motorized cars, which were customized Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier. The cars featured tattoo-inspired decals, Ed Hardy air fresheners and personalized license plates. To keep with the party's theme, the cake was in shape of a yellow truck.

"The boys received tons of birthday gifts," a source told PEOPLE. "Britney and her family really made the party special for the boys."

Britney Spears Donates Painting for Charity

The 5-by-4-foot oil painting of the pop star was given to the L.A.-based Promises Foundation, which provides behavioral health services to low-income women and their children.

"The Spears family gave us this painting out of their generosity," says the organization's director, Lisa Rogg. "It was their idea for the auction."

The eBay page shows several photos of Spears standing next to the artwork, as well as a letter of authenticity from her father, Jamie, which states: "I hereby verify that the portrait of my daughter, Britney, has been in our home since it was completed by the Daniel Maltman Studio."

Where Will We See Britney Spears' Spread?

Now that we know Patrick Demarchelier is not shooting the comeback kid for Vogue, what could it be for?

Maybe Brit's getting an early jump on Christmas by posing with Sean Preston and Jayden James for their annual holiday card?

Um, probably not...

Most industry insiders I've spoken to put their money on Glamour.

Why?

"Patrick shoots for Glamour all the time," one insider explains. "She's perfect for Glamour. If it's not Vogue, who else could it be for?"

A rep for Glamour would not confirm or deny an upcoming appearance by the "Oops!...I Did It Again" singer. "We don't comment on upcoming issues," the rep said.

While known primarily as Vogue's main shutterbug, Demarchelier is allowed to shoot for other mags like Glamour as long as they're within parent company Condé Nast's empire.

Besides, another insider says, Spears has a good history with Glamour. She appeared on the cover of their Women of the Year issue in 2003 and "it sold very well," the insider says.

Spears then appeared at the annual Women of the Year awards alongside other honorees like former POW Jessica Lynch and Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand.

Demarchelier has also shot Spears in the past for Rolling Stone and CosmoGirl.

A long-shot prediction? Vanity Fair. Editor-in-Chief Graydon Carter has made some unconventional choices in the past, including a much-criticized cover of Paris Hilton and, to a lesser degree, Lindsay Lohan.

But a V.F. spokesperson says she doesn't think a Spears story is in the works: "It's not something that I've been told or heard about."

A rep for Spears at her music label did not comment, and emails sent to Demarchelier's office went unanswered.

Britney and Jamie Lynn's Family Reunion

The 17-year-old flew from Louisiana – along with her baby and her mother Lynne (whose memoir comes out next week). The whole family then headed to Britney's Studio City house, where the singer was enjoying a regular visitation day with her two boys, Preston, who turns 3 on Sunday, and Jayden, who turns 2 on Friday.

Britney’s ex, Kevin Federline, came to pick up his sons himself, and stayed for about an hour to take part in the reunion.

Britney Spears Is Not In Vogue

In fact, it ain't happenin' at all!

So what gives? Read on to find out how this rumor got started...

The confusion began this morning when gossiper Liz Smith reported that "Vogue's celebrated Patrick Demarchelier has come to the U.S. from London to photograph Britney Spears."

Sure he shoots for Vogue, but Spears must be posing for another magazine, a source tells me.

Spears' first and only appearance on a Vogue cover was back in November 2001 for an issue dedicated to American fashion (it hit stands just weeks after Sept. 11). The issue was a flop, according to the source.

Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour "will never put her on the cover again," the source says. "She's just not a Vogue kind of girl."

No matter because Ms. Spears is still a hot commodity. And no doubt there are plenty of other editors doing backflips and more to get the comeback pop princess on their covers.

See ya on the newstand, Brit!

Lynne Spears: 'Every Mother Makes Mistakes'

"I think you have to let them follow their dreams," she says in a new interview with PEOPLE. "I think it would be worse in the end if you didn't."

But she does express regrets about not listening to her "gut" at times: "Was I the perfect mom? No."

In an exclusive excerpt from her new memoir, Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, Lynne, 53, details the highs – and lows – of her family's journey from Kentwood, La., to the harsh international spotlight. "Every mother makes mistakes," she writes, "and I'm no different."

"I wanted the truth out in my own words for myself and my family," she tells PEOPLE of writing the book, which chronicles Britney's highly publicized troubles and Jamie Lynn's pregnancy at 16. The latter, says Lynne, "was probably the hardest time in my life."

What do her kids – Britney, 26, Jamie Lynn, 17, and Bryan, 31 – think of the book?

She says Britney and Bryan have yet to read it, but "Jamie Lynn loved the book. I started to cry because I told her, 'I wanted so much for you to like it.' And she got up and kissed me on the cheek and said, 'Mama, thank you so much.'"

Lynne's once-troubled relationship with Britney "has undergone tremendous healing," she says. "We are back to four or five phone calls a day."

These days Lynne is also a doting "Me Maw" to her grandsons Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, and granddaughter Maddie Briann, 2 months. Of Britney's boys, she says, "They are the cutest! The biggest personalities you've ever seen. Preston is the older brother and he's protective, but Jayden is tough as nails."

For more on this story, including Lynne's memories of Britney's early career and her hopes for Jamie Lynn's wedding, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

Hilton Eyes Spears Duet

She says, "My new album's out soon and it would be hot if I could do a duet with Britney. It is really poppy and sounds a bit like Kylie Minogue." Hilton also recently announced plans to collaborate with her boyfriend, Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden.

Britney's Other Conservator Weighs In

With papa Jamie Spears getting all the attention this year for his hands-on involvement with his 26-year-old daughter and the $2,500 he's been getting each week for all that paternal management, coconservator Andrew Wallet has remained in the shadows.

But now he's submitted his bill. (View the documents.)

The Los Angeles-based attorney, who has been on the more financial, business-minded end of things—while Jamie has squired his daughter everywhere from Koi to Costa Rica—has filed paperwork requesting that L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz approve payment of another $141,961 from Britney's estate for services rendered.

Coupled with the fees he has already received, Wallet's services have cost the popster $324,961.

He is also requesting that Goetz approve additional payments of up to $30,000 per month for future investigating, wrangling, deal-making and paper-shuffling on Britney's behalf.

A host of other legal eagles who have been advising Britney and Jamie Spears since the conservatorship was formed Feb. 1 filed transaction requests last week, asking for fees that collectively totaled nearly $350,000.

Britney's New Album: Who's In and Who's Out

The über-producer, who's worked with some of the biggest names in the music biz—Mariah Carey, Usher, Kanye West and girlfriend Janet Jackson, to name a few—had an unexpected response when I asked him why.

"I don't think she needs me," Dupri told me yesterday. "Her last album was a good album. She probably would have sold three million records if everybody wasn't paying attention to her babies and all that."

Ne-Yo, on the other hand, says he'd hook up with Ms. Spears, because they were supposed to work together on her last album. Plans got sidetracked, because of Brit's then-troubled private life. "It's entirely up to her now," Ne-Yo said at the House of Hype's VMA festivities this weekend. "I'm not calling them. They can call me this time…Once she gets focused, I think she'll be alright."

While Akon is working with Spears on her upcoming album, he is thinking about some other things these days, like acting. He said, "I'm definitely going to be doing some movies."

Also hitting House of Hype were Michael Phelps, Jaime Foxx, Robin Thicke, Ludacris, Missy Elliott, Solange Knowles, Busta Rhymes, Audrina Patridge and Brody Jenner with his new girlfriend, Playboy Playmate Jayde Nicole.

Lynne Spears: You're still my brave little girl

Lynne Spears writes of her famous child and her other celebrity daughter, Jamie Lynn, in "Through the Storm," to be published Sept. 16 by Thomas Nelson, a leading Christian publisher. The Associated Press obtained an early copy.

The 211-page book, which includes several pages of family photographs, tracks Britney Spears' life through her precocious early years — she was singing and dancing by the time she was 3 — through her explosive rise to her pill-addicted, near-tragic fall.

Lynne Spears describes young Britney as a confident, outgoing girl whose talents were so obvious that family friends would insist she would one day be on Broadway. Spears rejects the image that she pushed Britney into show business, and writes that the singer was always focused on achievement and would constantly practice to the music of Madonna, Whitney Houston and others.

In "Through the Storm," Lynne Spears presents herself as a loving, selfless (she gave up her job as a school teacher for her daughter's sake) but increasingly powerless parent. After the jolting, but pleasant surprise of Britney Spears' debut smash, " ... Baby One More Time," Lynne Spears says she felt she was losing control when a 1999 Rolling Stone magazine story featured a racy cover of the singer in panties and a bra.

Lynne Spears recalls feeling "shock and dismay" at seeing her daughter shave her head, at her brief marriages to childhood friend Jason Alexander and dancer-rapper Kevin Federline, and her highly publicized custody battles over her two children. She also recalls feeling she had been "punched in the stomach" when she learned that Jamie Lynn Spears was pregnant at age 16.

She praises Federline as a "caring daddy" and says Britney Spears is "an amazing mother," but only when at her best. Lynne Spears also writes warmly of her daughter's former boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, but says the willful nature of the young couple helped break them up.

The bottom came in the past two years with Britney Spears' increasingly disturbing public behavior and her drugged private life in her Malibu, Calif., house. Lynne Spears writes that she was distraught as then-manager Sam Lufti told her he was grinding pills and putting them in Britney's food, hoping to induce a coma that would enable doctors to cure her of all addictions.

Britney Spears was hospitalized twice this year, the second time in February, when paramedics took her to the psychiatric ward of the UCLA Medical Center, where her mother says she finally received the care she needed.

It was, Lynne Spears writes, a "turning point" for the entire family.

On Sunday night, Britney Spears had clearly recovered from last year's fiasco at the MTV Video Music Awards, when she bumbled her way through a performance of "Gimme More." This time, Spears nabbed three VMAs, including video of the year.

"Wow, thank you, I'm in shock right now. I was not expecting this," Spears, looking spectacular in a shimmering silver dress, said as she accepted her third trophy of the evening for "Piece of Me."

Mother and daughter are close again, Lynne Spears writes, and Britney remains a "brave little girl who sang to the skies" so long ago.

Britney Spears's Price for Privacy

In legal papers filed Friday, her lawyers sought a one-time reimbursement of $25 for use of a private room at L.A.'s Stanley Mosk Courthouse, where the pop star's conservatorship case and her former custody battle have played out.

The room was "needed for privacy from reporters eavesdropping," Spears's lawyers wrote.

In addition, nearly $5,000 was spent in a six-month period for overnight mailing and courier services alone.

"Because of (Spears's) celebrity status, overnight and messenger serves were used in lieu of regular mail to maintain control and confidentiality of the documents," her lawyers added.

While the majority of courthouse activity is considered public record, much of Spears's case has been sealed by the court's discretion.

Brit Snit

Winners of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards

Chris Brown busy writing songs for Britney Spears

Brown, who won best male video for "With You," wrote, "Disturbia," the song his rumored girlfriend Rihanna performed to open Sunday's show. The 19-year-old singer-songwriter is also crafting tunes Spears may record, he said.

"I actually wrote a couple songs for her now," Brown said, noting that Spears hadn't yet heard the new songs.

"We're on the same label, so all the executives heard the records and they love the records, so hopefully she'll cut it," he said. "But if she doesn't, oh well, we'll go back in the studio and still do some more records for her."

An in-demand collaborator, Brown appears on upcoming tracks by Nas and Ludacris.

Britney Spears fails to surprise at MTV awards

After weeks of hype, the pop singer took the stage simply to deliver four sentences, shielding her lower face with her microphone.

"Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I'm here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday, the 25th anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now."

And that was it. While MTV had said Spears would not be singing, it had promised a fun surprise. The audience barely had time to digest her perfunctory delivery before R&B singer Rihanna belted out the show's first musical performance.

Spears did return to the stage a few minutes later to accept the first award of the night, best female video for her tune "Piece Of Me." It also represented the first MTV "Moonman" statuette of her career.

She thanked God, her family and dedicated the award to her fans. Spears is also in contention for video of the year and best pop video, both also for "Piece of Me," which stalled at No. 18 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart earlier this year.

Spears inadvertently stole the show last year. Clearly unsteady and out-of-shape, she badly lip-synched to a song, drawing bewildered stares from the high-wattage audience and universal derision in the messy aftermath.

But the tabloid target seems to have avoided any calamities in recent months. While she puts her life back together, her ex-husband has full custody of their two sons, and her father and a lawyer have taken control of her business affairs.

The show was hosted by British comedian Russell Brand, who implored Americans to elect Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Brand described U.S. President George W. Bush as a "retarded country fella ... In England, George Bush wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors."

Perhaps best known to mainstream audiences for his scene-stealing turn as a lovably sleazy rock star in the romantic comedy feature "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," Brand also ripped Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, and described the British royal family as "inbred nitwits."

The awards are being held in Los Angeles for the first time in a decade, on the historic studio lot of MTV's corporate sibling, Paramount Pictures. The lifestyle cable network is using the faux city streets, rooftops, and sound stages all over the Paramount lot to show various performances.

Besides Spears, other video of the year nominees are: R&B singer Chris Brown's "Forever," teen idols the Jonas Brothers' "Burnin' Up," girl group the Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up" and English pop duo the Ting Tings' "Shut Up and Let Me Go."

Last year, 7.1 million MTV viewers watched the festivities, according to Nielsen Media Research. While viewership was up from 5.8 million the year before, the numbers were a far cry from the record 12 million viewers for the 1999 version.

Britney Wins First Video Music Award

A nervous Britney Spears opened the 25th edition of the VMAs, live from Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, in a vintage silver Versace mini-dress after being escorted from her nearby dressing room.

Spears took center stage, clutched the microphone tight, and announced, "I'm here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday." Continued Spears: "This is the 25th Video Music Awards – and it starts right now."

With that, the pop star was gone, ceding the stage to a futuristic-looking Rihanna, who launched into her hit "Disturbia" with a goth-themed entourage touting glow sticks and leather.

Moments later, Spears was back to accept her first VMA ever.

Nominated for 16 Moonmen in the past, the pop star nabbed best female video for her song "Piece of Me." A grateful Spears gave a brief speech, thanking God for "just blessing me like this," calling out her two sons and dedicating the award to her fans. "This is for you," Spears said.

And her fans were everywhere Sunday night. Haley Williams from Paramore saw Spears backstage and was overheard remarking to a bandmate, "Man, Britney looks really pretty."

Host Russell Brand seemed to stun the audience with his high-minded, political comedy, making jokes at the expense of President George Bush ("In England, George Bush wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors") and remarks about nominees the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings.

Second award of the night went to Chris Brown – best male video for his "With You" video.

One unique factor about this year's show: The diversity of performance spots. The Jonas Brothers offered a stripped down, acoustic version of their song "Love Bug" on a city street set, before launching into an electric finale on a stage that was mobbed by adoring teenage fans.

Rockers Paramore performed from legendary rock club Whisky A Go Go, but were bested by Linkin Park for best rock video honors.

One More Time: Britney returns to MTV VMAs

The rebounding pop queen is hoping to complete a do-ever of sorts as she kicks off Sunday's awards ceremony, not with a performance, but with an appearance MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler has described as "fun and unexpected."

If she manages to pull it off, Spears — who is up for three awards, including video of the year for "Piece of Me" — will come away with the most improved award after bombing in spectacular fashion at last year's festivities in Las Vegas. Though heavily hyped as a comeback for a troubled diva in decline, Spears delivered one of the worst performances in VMA history, stumbling her way through her song "Gimme More" looking disheveled and disinterested.

But Spears comes into this year's ceremony on an upswing: The disturbing behavior that defined her last year has dissipated, she's working on a new album, and made well-received appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" earlier this year.

At least one of her fellow celebrities is rooting for her to complete the comeback this time around.

"I wanna see Britney," said actress Tori Spelling on the eve of the awards. "I think she'll be great."

Spears won't be the only act of the night looking for a second chance after a disappointing VMA experience last year. Kanye West is expected to close the two-hour ceremony; in Vegas, he had a Kanye-sized hissy fit backstage and vowed never to appear at the VMAs again after he didn't get a Moonman trophy despite being nominated several times. He also lashed out for being confined to performing at one of last year's suite parties instead of on the main stage.

Kid Rock is looking to make headlines for his music instead of his fighting. The rocker wasn't even a performer last year but became part of one of the most talked about moments of the ceremony when he got into a fight with fellow rocker Tommy Lee, also a fellow ex-husband of Pamela Anderson, in the audience. Though cameras did not capture the fight for viewers, it was the source of onstage fodder for the likes of Jamie Foxx and Diddy.

T.I. is another performer giving a noteworthy performance, since the last time he was due to perform at an awards show, he was arrested instead. T.I. was apprehended in October, shortly before the start of the BET Hip-Hop Awards, accused of trying to buy machine guns and silencers; he was sentenced earlier this year to serve about a year in prison after completing at least 1,000 hours of community service.

He is due to perform with Rihanna, who also appeared on last year's show. But the dazzling singer is hardly in need of any second chances, coming into the VMAs as one of music's hottest singers thanks to two No. 1 hits of the summer, "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia."

Other performers slated for Sunday's show include the Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Christina Aguilera and Paramore and Katy Perry. Perry, who had one of the summer's biggest songs with "I Kissed a Girl," is slated to perform not only her own hit but a snippet of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" as MTV pays tribute to some of its more memorable moments as it celebrates its 25th year.

"I'm just excited to have a great seat," said the 23-year-old Perry. "I'm excited to change looks and to have fun ... I'm excited to be a part of something that I would sneak over to my friend's house and plan my whole week around."

Presenters include Olympic darling Michael Phelps and "High School Musical" stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu.

The show will be held this year in Los Angeles, at Paramount Studios, where its various movie sets have the potential to be an interesting backdrop for the show and its performers. The show's host for the evening is British comedian Russell Brand.

Britney's Not Rehearsing for the VMAs

Talent manager/producer Larry Rudolph, who is working with Britney, tells E!: "She is definitely not performing!"

Turns out, the video was just a general dance rehearsal as Britney gets back in shape for performances.

Britney Spears 'Excited' to Kick Off Video Awards

"MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs?" Spears tells PEOPLE in a statement. "I'm excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated."

Spears – who has been nominated 16 times and never won a Moon Man – is up for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me."

It's still not known how she'll open the show. A source confirms that the opening segment will not feature a musical performance by Spears.

Adds MTV Networks Music President Van Toffler: "Britney has done everything from perform with a snake, lock lips with Madonna and prove that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas," he says, referring to her lackluster performance at the awards show in Sin City last year. "I can't wait to see what she does to kick off this year's show."

The VMAs air on MTV at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday from Los Angeles.

Britney's License Trial Stuck in Park

The judge tasked with deciding whether the singer will need to stand trial on a a misdemeanor count of driving without a license has once again postponed the inevitable, delaying for the last time (fingers crossed) his ruling on whether Spears will be heading back to court.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James A. Steele was supposed to decide during a pretrial hearing today whether a trial was merited for Spears' August 2007 hit-and-split incident, but he rescheduled until Sept. 16—coincidentally, the same day mama Lynne Spears' memoir, Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, is due out.

Could be a banner day for the ladies Spears. Or not.

Britney Spears, who has been on her best behavior of late, seemed unconcerned with any court dates over the holiday weekend as she made the rounds in Las Vegas .

Spears' attorney Michael Flanagan has long been a proponent of dismissing the case, and today's scrapped hearing was the latest in several postponements. Just last month the pretrial hearing was delayed while Spears worked on her mental-health fitness.

Flanagan blames the ongoing saga a result of Spears' celebrity, arguing that she was in possession of a valid Louisiana license when she dinged a parked car last year and that the incident should have come to a much swifter, not to mention less costly, resolution.

Britney's Sin City Labor Day Getaway

After touching down in a private jet, Brit headed to the Mirage Hotel and Casino, where she and her entourage (including hairdresser Kim Vo) had a luxury villa with a private pool. But instead she chose to sun herself at the Bare Pool Lounge in the VIP area.

“She was in her bikini and looked awesome," an onlooker tells E! News. "She looked really thin and happy."

Britney also took in the hotel's Cirque du Soleil show, Love, on Saturday night with her bodyguard and her assistant Brett. But did she ever meet up with Adnan?

Although the paparazzo was seen walking through the lobby of the Mirage, the two weren't seen together...in public, at least.

"I don't think it was a coincidence that he was there," a Vegas source says. "What are the odds?"

Britney's Relaxing Vegas Weekend

Their visits to Vegas, however, couldn't have been more different. While Kevin Federline bounced around from several clubs last weekend, Spears's trip was more low-key, consisting mainly of relaxing by the pool and taking in a show over Labor Day weekend.

After arriving via private jet on Saturday night, Spears headed to her plush room at the Mirage Hotel and Casino's exclusive villas, complete with a private patio and private pool.

On Sunday, rather than staying by her private pool, Spears made her way to Bare Pool where she sipped Fiji bottled water and sunned in the VIP area.

"Her body looked great," an onlooker said. "It looks like she's getting her body back, back to the old Britney."

Staying an hour and a half, Spears texted from her phone and rarely moved from her lounge chair, getting up only to take a quick dip in the pool. Wearing a bikini top and jean shorts, Spears hung out with a group of friends that included her hairstylist Kim Vo.

While Spears basked in the high Vegas heat, a familiar face meandered through the Mirage – her ex boyfriend, photographer Adnan Ghalib. The paparazzo and Spears did not see each other in public though they were within a few yards of each other several times.

After lounging by the pool, Spears made a quick run to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and headed to her room for several hours. She later took in Cirque du Soleil's Love show before calling it a night.

The singer, who recently appeared in ads for the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, is rumored to make an appearance on the Sept. 7 show. Spears is nominated for three Moonmen this year – video of the year, best female video and best pop video for "Piece of Me."

Pharrell Williams: Britney Spears 'Made Her Mark'

"She's made her mark with her career," Williams told PEOPLE at Wednesday's Pepsi 500 Running Wide Open party in Hollywood, which he co-hosted. "She's super-talented. She's an entertainer."

Williams, 35, collaborated with Spears on her hits "I'm a Slave 4 U" and "Boys."

"It was cool, it was fun," said Williams, who is currently working on new music with Common and Fall Out Boy.

Besides video of the year, Spears's nominations include best pop video and best female video. She has never won a MTV Video Music Award, despite 16 nominations in her career.

While Williams is rooting for Spears, her musical success does not hinge on success at the awards show, he says.

"I'm not sure [if she will win]," Williams said. "I don't even know if it really matters whether she wins or not."

Spears's live MTV VMA performance of "Gimme More" last year was a notorious disaster. This year, Spears has appeared in taped VMA commercial segments with host Russell Brand, but is not scheduled to perform.

She competes with the Jonas Brothers, Chris Brown, the Pussycat Dolls and the Ting Tings, for video of the year.

Manager says Britney Spears not slated to perform on MTV's VMAs

"Contrary to media reports, Britney was never slated to perform on this year's VMAs," Larry Rudolph, Spears' manager at Jive Records, said in a statement.

"She's in the middle of recording her next album, which is going amazingly well, and her focus remains on the studio."

Spears' "Gimme More" comeback performance during last year's VMAs was one of the most-talked-about moments of 2007. The tabloid queen is currently appearing in spots promoting this year's ceremony.

In June, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said the network wasn't ruling out giving viewers another dose of Spears at the VMAs.

MTV later confirmed they were in talks to have Spears appear in some capacity. The rebounding pop queen is nominated for video of the year for "Piece of Me."

This VMAs will air live Sept. 7 from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles. Previously announced award show performers include Kid Rock, Lil Wayne, Pink, Rihanna, Paramore, T.I. and the Jonas Brothers.

Pete Wentz Rocks the Vote - & Votes for Britney

Talking backstage to PEOPLE before their concert, bassist Pete Wentz and singer-guitarist Patrick Stump say they don't want to preach from the stage, although Stump admits this is a "political record, but it's never going to say outright 'Vote for Obama.' "

In terms of their own leanings, Wentz, 29, says they are all "liberal democrats from the suburbs of Chicago," adding that his parents met when they were both working on a Joe Biden campaign.

Then, apparently trying to appear non-partisan, he says in the next breath, "I'm definitely not against voting for a Republican."

The two musicians were a bit more forthright on their choice in the VMA race, specifically why they voted for Britney Spears's video in the MTV competition, to be held Sept. 7.

Supports Britney Spears

Wentz was there when Spears made a promo for the awards show. "I got to meet the elephant [in the video]," he says. "It was awesome. Britney really proves how much the fans really matter, because the fans really want to see Britney win and turn it around."

Even though the Fall Out Boys plan to attend the VMAs and have won in the past (and even hope to win again), they actually voted for videos oter than their own. "To be honest, I don't think this is the Fall Out Boys's year," says Wentz.

And while he didn't want to talk about the impending birth of a child with his wife, Ashlee Simpson, Wentz did admit he wants to live somewhere outside of Los Angeles, "because L.A. has become pretty boring to me."

Ultimately he says, the Wentzes want to end up in Chicago. "But," Pete insists, "we don't have plans tomorrow."

Our Bad, Britney Will Not Perform at the VMAs

Brit's manager Larry Rudolph released this official statement today: "Contrary to media reports, Britney was never slated to perform on this years VMAs. She's in the middle of recording her next album, which is going amazingly well, and her focus remains on the studio."

Of course, we went back to check with Vo if this was accurate and not some cover for a surprise peformance, but he confirmed:

"Any ideas that we have about her hair are always theoretical. And we always have to be prepared. But she is not performing and so we don't have to worry about that."

So, it looks like we'll just have to wait for next year’s VMAs for Britney to redeem herself.

Britney Is 'Pulling It Together,' Says JC Chasez

"As far as Britney getting back in the studio, [it's] obviously a good thing," the former 'N Sync star – and current judge on America's Best Dance Crew – told PEOPLE after Thursday's live season finale. "If she's doing what she loves – because she's had a love for music for such a long time – [then] I'm all for it."

Spears, 26, has had a rough few years, including a bitter divorce, well-documented mental health issues, and a protracted custody battle for her kids. (As of now, ex-husband Kevin Federline has sole custodyof sons Jayden, 1 1/2, and Preston, 2 1/2, while Spears has visitation rights.)

But Chasez says it's not fair to judge Spears for her mistakes.

"I'm glad she's pulling it together, because everybody falls down in life at one time or another," he said. "The toughest part is, how do you pick yourself up again? It looks like she's on the path to doing that – and it's a good thing to see."

More Rumblings of a Britney VMA Performance

Lucky for us, that chatty hairdresser is our very own Kim Vo, the Daily 10’s resident hair guru, who told E! News exclusively that he just may be creating three VMA looks for the “E-mail My Heart” singer.

What could Britney possibly need three different hairstyles for? That info's way too valuable to be included before the jump...

The first look would obviously be for the red carpet. Vo says he and Brit are still “feeling out” ideas about how that will look.

The second style would be for the show itself, probably something “more chic, like a side ponytail.”

And look No. 3 would be for her PERFORMANCE! That’s right, we said performance. For such an event, Vo and Brit want something “more quintessential Britney.” "Performance" and “quintessential Britney” said together could only mean our girl is definitely coming back to us.

Before running off to his other hair guru gig, Sheer Genius, Vo also offered some valuable advice on how to achieve Britney’s current look. It’s called S-curl, in which he adds "more golden highlights and less platinum” and tops it all off with a conditioning mask.

Overdue Duet

Britney Spears' Bikini Bod Secrets

Sure enough, the pop star reveals just that in the latest issue of OK! magazine, talking about how she's cut out sugar and that her meals consist of things like chicken, salmon, rice, avocados, egg whites and turkey burgers.

"I try to do just 1,200 calories a day," says Brit, who also happens to work out five days a week. "It may sound like it's not much, but it's actually a lot of food if you eat the right things."

Valuable information indeed. Not that anybody out there is really going to use it, but valuable nonetheless.

Britney Owes Big Money in Custody Battle

Stacy Phillips, one of the shorter-term members of Britney Spears' legal team, has let it be known that shoring up one's defenses can be downright bank-breaking.

According to a declaration filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the "Sometimes I Run" songstress owes $338,414.87 to Phillips for $700-an-hour services rendered between March and June—and there are rumors of a lawsuit in the works because Spears' camp is objecting to the hefty sum. (View the declaration.)

But that's a discount, says the attorney, who states that the tab includes "time already deducted as a courtesy," time "written off" and $75,000 that she expects to get next month. (A court commissioner earmarked that sum for Phillips in April while poring over Spears' bills.)

Phillips was dismissed before Spears' custody settlement was reached last month with the help of her recently reinstated family lawyer Laura Wasser, who broke ranks last fall but returned in time to help Spears obtain more visitation privileges with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James (although Kevin Federline still has sole physical and legal custody).

Wasser's most recent bill, encompassing two months of counsel, totals $60,075, per court documents filed on behalf of the law firms of Wasser, Cooperman & Carter and Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra.

But, because her firm has already applied Spears' $25,000 retainer fee toward her bill, she's requesting no more than half of.

Why so high, you might ask?

Phillips says that Spears' conservatorship arrangement, which has gotten much of the credit for her 180-degree turn for the better over the last five months, made her case more complex.

Indeed. Attorneys for dad Jamie Spears indicated in court last week that they intend to contest his litle girls legal bills.

Meanwhile, the firm of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps is requesting $110,000 of the $220,600 it says its owed for 402 hours of representing the conservatorship.

Sightings

Britney snags MTV Awards nod

The rebounding pop queen is nominated for video of the year for "Piece of Me," a clip that had fun with her reputation as a tabloid queen.

Other nominees included the Jonas Brothers for "Burnin Up," Chris Brown for "Forever," the Pussycat Dolls for "When I Grow Up" and newcomers The Ting Tings for "Shut Up and Let Me Go."

Other nominees announced Friday - Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Slipknot, Linkin Park and Foo Fighters - were in the category of best rock video.

This is Spears third nomination for this year's VMAs.

Earlier, fans nominated her for best pop video and best female video, both for "Piece of Me."

Spears' nominations are ironic considering neither the song nor the album from which it came, "Blackout," were significant hits; both were released amid Spears' spectacular public decline over the past year, and her performance at last year's VMAs in Las Vegas represented one of the lowlights of her fall from grace. She was universally ridiculed for her unkempt look and sloppy performance, which kicked off the VMAs and instantly became one of pop's classic moments.

In recent months, though, Spears has been on an upswing. Since her father James took over her personal and professional affairs after being appointed by a court as her conservator, her erratic behavior has virtually stopped; she settled her custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their two sons; and made appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," which were critical and ratings successes.

There's a possibility she'll get a chance to redeem last year's bad performance at this year's VMAs, to be held Sept. 7 in Los Angeles; MTV has confirmed they are in talks to have Spears appear in some capacity, and she's appearing in two video ads to promote the show.

Russell Brand has been selected to host this year's VMAs, which is to include performances from Kid Rock, Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers. Other nominees include Kanye West, Jordin Sparks, Madonna, Rihanna and Katy Perry.

Britney Writes New Song For Her Sons

And she has written the new track to thank the tots for inspiring her to get her life and career back on track. She tells OK! magazine "I actually wrote a song for my new album called My Baby. It's a real beautiful song." Spears confirms the comeback album is due for release in the next "six to eight months".

Britney Spears: Happy being a mom and an aunt

"She's going to come out here for the kids' birthdays," Spears, who lives in Beverly Hills, Calif., says of Jamie Lynn in the Aug. 25 issue of OK! "It will be the first time the cousins meet. I'm sure the boys will be like big brothers to Maddie," who was born June 19.

Spears, 26, flaunts her maternal side in photos with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James on the cover and inside pages of the magazine. There are shots of the family in Spears' pool, including one showing the pop star enjoying a swim with her once-estranged mother, Lynne.

After several years of custody battles, estrangements and high-profile meltdowns, Spears reports life with all family members is calm and pleasant.

Her relationship with her mother, soon due out with a book about the family's life, is "really, really good. I went through a stage when I was in high school when it wasn't so good, but now I'm at a stage where I really appreciate her a lot more."

She says she's also getting along with her father, James, who's been in control of her personal and professional matters as her legal conservator.

As for being an aunt, it did take a little getting used to, says Spears, who was a little "shocked" while visiting her 17-year-old sister and actress Jamie Lynn in the hospital for the birth of her newborn daughter.

"That was special, but it was also strange because she's always been the baby, and now the baby was having a baby," Spears says. "It was mind-boggling. I was shocked a little bit. "

Spears appears to have cleaned up her act in recent days. Last month, she settled a long-running custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline, which allows her additional visits with her children.

She also appears fit and confident in promotional ads for the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards — the opposite of her widely panned appearance at last year's ceremony. MTV has said they are in talks to have the singer appear at this year's Sept. 7 ceremony.

Britney Spears says new album is "best work ever"

In an interview with OK! magazine released on Wednesday, the 26-year-old says she has written more for the new album than her previous five studio albums, and describes it as having an "urban" feel.

"I'm writing every day, right here at the piano," said Spears, one of the world's most successful pop stars of the early 2000s. Her last album, "Blackout," debuted at No. 2 on Billboard 200 last November, but quickly slid down the chart.

Spears has given few interviews in recent years as her life spiraled out of control and she lost custody of her two sons.

Over the past 18 months she has been involved in an ugly divorce from Kevin Federline, entered rehab treatment several times, and exhibited erratic behavior like shaving her head and attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella.

But in the past six months, her father Jamie Spears has taken over management of her affairs and she was also mentioned as a possible Emmy award nominee for guest appearances on U.S. TV series "How I Met Your Mother."

When asked by OK! if she would like to do more acting, Spears said: "I'd love to, if I can find the right movie."

"Actually, I have a part that just came up. We're just trying to work it out with my schedule, with the children," she said.

A court recently extended Jamie Spears control over his daughter's affairs, which he shares with Los Angeles attorney Andrew Wallet, until the end of 2008.

Spears and her former backup dancer Kevin Federline, 30, were divorced last summer after two years of marriage. The couple have two children together, Sean Preston, 2-1/2, and James Jayden, 22 months.

She told OK! she would rather her sons did not pursue a career in entertainment.

"But I'd love them unconditionally if they wanted to. I'd just as soon they have a more normal childhood," she said.

Spears also spoke of being shocked at her sister Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. She was at the hospital when the 17-year-old star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101" TV show gave birth to a girl, Maddie Briann in June.

"That was special, but it was also strange because she's always been the baby, and now the baby was having a baby. It was mind-boggling. I was shocked a little bit," Spears said.

Britney Spears: A Calmer, Cleaner Interview

Well, apparently, the mag has since made peace with the pop star. That, or it simply realized the revenue potential of having her on the cover of the latest issue.

Inside, Brit talks about her recent comeback as well as what life is now like with her two boys.

"Well, when I have my children, I'll get up and make them pancakes," she says.

Ah, but, more important, what kind?

"Plain pancakes, with sausage." (Aren't you glad they asked?)

And while Brit says she would love her sons "unconditionally" if they wanted to follow in her entertainment footsteps, she adds she would "just as soon they have a more normal childhood."

Like dressing them up in little white tuxedos and pimp-daddy hats and having them join you on the cover of a magazine. Normal indeed.

Kid Rock on Britney Collaboration: Hell, No!

Britney Spears says new album will be out next year

In an interview with OK! magazine released on Wednesday, the 26-year-old says she has written more for the new album than her previous five studio albums, and describes it as having an "urban" feel.

"I'm writing every day, right here at the piano," said Spears, one of the world's most successful pop stars of the early 2000s. Her last album, "Blackout," debuted at No. 2 on Billboard 200 last November, but quickly slid down the chart.

Spears has given few interviews in recent years as her life spiraled out of control and she lost custody of her two sons.

Over the past 18 months she has been involved in an ugly divorce from Kevin Federline, entered rehab treatment several times, and exhibited erratic behavior like shaving her head and attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella.

But in the past six months, her father Jamie Spears has taken over management of her affairs and she has also been mentioned as a possible Emmy award nominee for guest appearances on U.S. TV series "How I Met Your Mother."

Spears and her former backup dancer Federline, 30, were divorced last summer after two years of marriage. The couple have two children, Sean Preston, 2-1/2, and James Jayden, 22 months.

Britney in MTV ads, but not confirmed for VMAs

Widely panned for her glazed-over performance at last year's show, Spears is now in negotiations with MTV to make an appearance at the Sept. 7 ceremony, a spokesperson for MTV said Tuesday. While the network said nothing has been finalized — only Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers are confirmed so far — Spears is already appearing in promotional ads for the telecast.

"This is for real," Spears tells VMA host Russell Brand in one of two spots for the VMAs, which were taped last week, according to MTV. In the ads, Spears, dressed in black with blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, giggles as she and Brand banter flirtatiously. She looks sexy, confident and fit — the antithesis of her appearance at last year's ceremony.

Spears' 2007 performance was heavily hyped to be her comeback after months of negative publicity and erratic behavior. Though her disheveled look and bleary routine during "Gimme More" only became the new benchmark for Spears' decline, it was also the most talked about performance not only of the show, but perhaps the year.

Since then, Spears, 26, has appeared to have cleaned up her act. Her father James has been in control of her personal and professional matters as her legal conservator, and she drew high ratings and reviews when she made guest appearances on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" earlier this year.

Spears is working on a new album. If she were to perform, it would surely be a ratings bonanza; last year's VMA's was up 23 percent over the 2006 show.

Van Toffler, head of MTV Networks Music Groups, admitted as much in June when he said there was a possibility that Spears could appear at this year's event, to be held in Los Angeles.

"I'm not sure how we top Britney opening the show," said Toffler.

A Britney sequel just might work.

VIDEO: Britney's VMAs Promotional Spot

You can believe your eyes – that's really Britney Spears joking with MTV's Video Music Awards host Russell Brand in new ads for the upcoming show.

"You are Britney Spears, right? I'm not dreaming this am I," asks the British comedian in the ad, which also includes a 9,000-lb. elephant in the background.

"No, this is real," Spears assures the show's host – and pinches him to prove it.

In the second spot, Brand, who is well known in the U.K. but not in the U.S., presses Spears to remember his full name – which she doesn't.

"You will remember that name because I think pretty soon it's going to be your surname," he quips. "Britney Brand." While MTV cannot confirm whether Spears will appear on the show airing on Sept. 7, Spears's promo appearance is a promising sign. The singer, who has been nominated 17 times, has yet to walk away with a win and is nominated for two this year. She is up for best female video and best pop video.

Britney's License Trial Still Idling

The popster's trial on a year-old misdemeanor charge of driving with an invalid license has again been pushed back, this time to Sept. 8. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.

A lawyer for Spears has characterized the case, stemming from the singer's 2007 run-in with a parked car while only toting a Louisiana driver's license, as another instance of a public figure being punished for her fame.

"Anyone can see this is not the case of the century. The fact is that Britney is being treated differently," attorney Michael Flanagan told E! News in March. "This should be just treated as a fix-it ticket or an infraction."

Court dates pertaining to this case have been shuffled multiple times this year, with her legal camp using her early-'08 mental-health troubles to argue that she couldn't quite grasp the repercussions of her situation.

Sightings

Britney Spears Makes a Return to MTV's Big Night

The well-on-her-way-to-a-comeback pop princess will appear in a television promo for this year's VMAs.

Read on for all the deets...

She shot the spot on Tuesday at the Paramount lot in Hollywood (the site of this year's show) with first-time host, British bad-boy comedian and Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Russell Brand.

"It was mostly ad-libbed, with Russell asking her for advice about hosting the show," a source tells me. "There's also a 9,000-pound elephant in it, as in 'the elephant in the room.' "

So, does this mean Ms. Spears, who is up for two VMAs this year, will be performing on the big night when it airs live on Sept. 7?

A rep for MTV declined to comment on the possibility.

Britney and Quentin Together? Pure Pulp Fiction

The tab claimed the songbird of dubious acting talent (Crossroads, anyone?) was being stalked by the Pulp Fiction filmmaker to headline a remake of the 1965 Russ Meyer exploitation flick Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

The story got credulous play all over the Interwebs yesterday, including Daily Variety ("If true, she would be purrrrfect.") and the Los Angeles Times ("Hey, it kinda makes sense.").

And, of course, it's bunk.

E! News has definitively learned that Spears and Tarantino aren't hooking up.

"It's just a silly rumor," says a source close to Tarantino. "A funny rumor. But it's false."

There you have it, pussycat. Another London tab story killed, killed.

Britney's in the Swim

Dolly Parton on Britney & Lindsay: Give 'Em a Break

"Poor little Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan," Parton told the crowd at the Greek Theatre, reports E! Online. "Ain't it awful? If those little girls slept with as many men as they say in the tabloids, why their little butts would have more fingerprints than the FBI!"

Parton, who belted out most of her hits during the two-hour show, further acknowledged, "I kinda feel sorry for them. We should give those two a break."

The ever-voluptuous country queen, 62, also talked about sharing the screen with Miley Cyrus, a star she has praised in the past.

Having played the role of Aunt Dolly on Cyrus's hit show Hannah Montana, "a lot of little kids come up to me and say, 'Aunt Dolly!' " Parton told her concert audience. "And I say, 'Would you little girls like an autograph?' And they say, 'Oh yes! When you see Miley, please get us one!' "

Britney's Dance Partner Revealed!

Not exactly. The two were spotted dancing and clowning around in Cabo this week, but it's purely platonic, according to the guy's brother.

"It’s strictly work," Kobi Adato tells E! News of his brother, Tsour Lee Adato, a former Israeli army soldier.

"He was her bodyguard, but now he’s her photographer."

Kobi would not reveal why his brother is now serving as Spears' designated photographer.

Even so, Tsour might make a good match for Britney. According to his MySpace, he is currently single, 31, 5’8" with an athletic build, a Taurus, Jewish and is a college graduate.

He also says on the page: "like to make people Laugh & enjoy when i see them Happy...I always tell people that even when things are difficult they should always see the light and positive in life."

Tsour also lists his occupation as a music engineer.

Sounds like a match made in studio heaven.

Court extends Britney Spears' conservatorship

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz extended James Spears' conservatorship over his daughter Thursday morning until the end of 2008. The pop singer's father assumed control over personal life and finances earlier this year after a series of high-profile incidents of erratic behaviour that twice led to her being hospitalized.

Spears has since shown signs of improvement, settling a custody dispute with Kevin Federline, making successful TV cameos and working on an album this summer.

Atty: Britney wants no contact with Sam Lutfi

"Britney has made clear to everyone that she does not want to be further harassed or contacted in any way by Osama 'Sam' Lutfi, now or at anytime in the future," Spears' attorney Samuel D. Ingham III said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Attorneys for Spears and her father James are expected to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday morning to give an update on the conservatorship. A hearing on a temporary restraining order barring Lutfi from having contact with the pop singer was also scheduled for Thursday. The order issued earlier this year required Lutfi to stay 250 yards away from Spears or her homes.

Lutfi represented one of the strangest twists in Spears' downward spiral earlier this year. The singer's mother accused Lutfi — who described himself as a friend and sometime manager — in court papers of keeping Spears a hostage in her own home, drugging her and taking over her finances.

A phone message left Wednesday evening on Lutfi's cell phone was not immediately returned. His publicist did not immediately respond when contacted by e-mail.

Lutfi was a fixture in Spears' life during a period when the star exhibited erratic behavior, including being photographed without underwear, shaving her head and occasionally looking dazed in public.

Spears' father has control over his 26-year-old daughter's personal life and finances.

That power negates the need for a restraining order against Lutfi since James Spears' role as conservator allows him to decide who sees his daughter, according to Ingham's statement.

He serves as a court-appointed counsel representing Spears' interest in the ongoing conservatorship case.

"During the temporary conservatorship, the conservators have the power to insure that Lutfi will not harm Britney anymore," Ingham wrote.

Thursday's hearing had originally been scheduled to decide whether the conservatorship should be made permanent, but Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz decided weeks ago that she would instead consider other issues.

It is unclear how long Spears' affairs will remain under her father's control, but Ingham wrote that he does not expect her feelings about Lutfi to change.

"If Mr. Lutfi makes any future attempt to contact Britney after the temporary conservatorship has concluded, Britney has made clear she will take all appropriate legal action," Ingham wrote.

Expert: Britney Spears's Father Likely to Remain in Control

"I would be very surprised if the court ends her father's control so soon," says Terry K. Wasserman, a mental health attorney not involved in her case. "It's rare for someone to regain their capacity in just 60 days."

Two months ago, Spears's attorney Samuel Ingham testified that the pop star was unfit to take part in legal proceedings. "In fact, they could be harmful to her," Ingham said.

Jamie Spears, 56, was named temporary conservator of her affairs on Feb. 1 following his 26-year-old daughter's two forced hospitalizations in January.

He has sole authority over whom she has contact with, and has hired security guards to watch her 24 hours a day. Her father also shares control with another lawyer over her multimillion-dollar estate.

Conservatorships can last anywhere from several months up to a person's lifetime.

"Britney can only regain control of her life if she proves to the court – backed by medical experts – that she's regained her health," Wasserman says.

Thursday's hearing will also determine whether a restraining order will be renewed against the singer's former pal Sam Lutfi.

Last week, Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline, 30, ended their custody battle, reaching a settlement in which Federline retains sole custody of sons Preston, 2 1/2, and Jayden, 1 1/2. Spears, with visits by Spears.

Spears Sparks Romance Rumours

Spears and the unnamed male laughed and joked as they mock ballroom-danced around the pool - with the singer showing off her newly toned and tanned body as the man put her through her moves.

An onlooker tells Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, "Britney looked great in her bikini. She was having a whale of a time with this bloke, they seemed close."

Sam Lutfi Won't Agree to Permanent Britney Barrier

Sources tell E! News that the former member of preconservatorship Team Spears is willing to fight the restraining order that's been keeping him at least 250 yards away from his popster pal since Feb. 1.

A hearing on conservatorship issues, including whether to make the Spears family's order against Lutfi permanent, is scheduled for July 31.

"Sam won’t sign a permanent stay-away," a Lutfi insider says.

So far, Lutfi has "quietly" allowed the current order to be extended twice without appearing in court to object, with the last rollover occurring April 16.

"He just agreed to it," Lutfi spokesman Michael Sands said at the time. "Sam and the family are communicating and cooperating, trying to do what's best for Britney."

But while the onetime flashbulb target "just wants the whole case to go away," he is apparently eager to at least clear his name, considering 2 a.m. shopping sprees and other questionable bonding experiences are a thing of the past.

"If they want to go to trial, he will go to trial," the source said. "He did nothing wrong."

Fans Nominate Britney Spears for Video Award

The pop star was nominated in online voting for best female video for her Piece of Me at the 2008 VMAs.

Fans also nominated Katy Perry for I Kissed a Girl, Jordin Sparks for No Air, Rihanna for Take A Bow and Mariah Carey for Touch My Body.

The big question is whether Spears, 26, will make an appearance at show on Sept. 7 at Paramount studios in L.A. The singer will have to shake off her lackluster performance at the 2007 show in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, for best male video, fans nominated Lil Wayne for Lollipop, Usher for Love in this Club, Chris Brown for With You, Flo Rida for Low and T.I. for No Matter What.

Next week, voting opens online for Best Pop Video and Best Hip-Hop Video.

Britney Spears to pay $20,000 a month child support

The monthly child support payment is a $5,000 increase over what Spears and Federline, a dancer and rap singer, agreed to last year, the court papers showed.

The agreement formally settles the custody case between Spears, 26, and Federline, 30, said Allan Parachini, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Superior Court.

The custody portion of the settlement was not made public. In an order filed on Friday, an August custody trial for the case was called off.

Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, last week told several media organizations the agreement would allow Federline to retain sole custody of his children with Spears -- Sean Preston, 2-1/2, and Jayden James, 22 months.

Kaplan and Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser, did not return calls on Friday.

Spears' $250,000 payment for Federline's legal expenses is due July 30.

Spears and Federline married in 2004, split up in late 2006 and their divorce was finalized last year. Spears lost custody of the boys in January after two brief hospitalizations for psychiatric evaluation.

During the divorce and custody battle last year, Spears displayed increasingly bizarre behavior in public such as shaving her head and going after the paparazzi with an umbrella.

But Spears in recent months has been credited with turning her life around and last month she was given court permission for overnight visits with her sons.

Spears To Return To The VMAS?

The star has been nominated by network bosses in the category of Best Female Video for her hit single Piece of Me, competing alongside a list of music's top female rockers. The full list of nominees in the category is scheduled for release on Friday.

The Toxic hitmaker has rocked audiences with a series of shocking performances at the outlandish awards show. Five years ago, she wowed viewers when she locked lips with Madonna during a duet. And she made a disastrous comeback attempt at last year's show, baring her belly and stumbling across the stage.

LA police arrest photographers near Spears' home

Alexandre Passos of Canoga Park and Eduardo Ravalha of Los Angeles, both 35 years old, were arrested around 6 p.m. Monday after being warned to leave an access road near Mulholland Drive and Coldwater Canyon Avenue, police spokeswoman April Harding said.

The road is near the exclusive gated neighborhood that Britney Spears and other celebrities, including Ed McMahon, call home.

Ravalha's car was also impounded, Harding said. The pair were released, she said.

They had been warned once about leaving the road but were still on it when officers returned about 45 minutes later, Harding said.

Britney Spears Steps Out For a Cause

"She looked great and seemed really happy," says a partygoer of the Snow Queen Vodka-sponsored shindig at the couple's home in Brentwood. Though she kept close to her assistant Brett and didn't speak to other guests, "She smiled and clapped during the video about autism. She was very into the information and watched a little bit of the dancers from Dancing with the Stars, sneaking out during one of the performances."

Also at the bash were newlyweds Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller ("The honeymoon isn't over!" remarked one guest), a "lovey-dovey" Robert Rodriguez and Rose McGowan, who kissed and danced all night, and of course the host couple.

"Jenny and Jim were adorable," says the guest, "She kept saying, 'I love you honey' to him when she thanked him from the stage." Carrey, not to be outdone by the DWTS folks, soon took to the dance floor, even challenging another guest to a playful dance-off.

Says the guest, "Jim was hilarious."

Get To Work!

Britney to Pay K-Fed $20,000 in Child Support

A source close to the singer confirms she'll now pay Federline $20,000 a month in child support, an increase from $15,000.

Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, also demanded and received $250,000 for his work on the case, the source adds.

"All Britney was seeking was a formalization of her increased visitation that she's obtained over recent weeks, and the additional overnight," the source said. "She won both of those requests."

Spears, who is represented by lawyer Laura Wasser, currently sees her sons twice a week with one overnight. The source adds that she will get an additional overnight by year's end, barring any setbacks.

At a press conference following Friday's hearing, Kaplan declined to address any monetary settlement. "This has been a long ordeal [for Kevin]," Kaplan said, "and for it to be over makes him very happy."

Spears granted additional visitation with boys

The agreement was announced following a closed-door session between lawyers for both sides and a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner. Neither Spears or Federline appeared in court, and the attorneys declined to discuss specifics about the agreement.

A court spokesman says no formal settlement has been filed, but Federline's attorney, Mark Kaplan, said the agreement averts a trial on custody issues that had been scheduled for late August.

Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser, says the agreement will give Spears more time with her young boys, Sean Preston and Jayden James. While Federline still has full custody, Wasser says Spears may get expanded rights by the end of the year.

Spears lost custody last year following several high-profile incidents of erratic behavior. She has since been under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears, who retains control of her personal affairs and finances.

It's Over: Britney & Kevin Reach a Custody Settlement

According to the agreement, which still needs to be signed off on by the court, Federline retains sole custody of the couple's two sons, Preston, 2 1/2, and Jayden, 1 1/2. Spears – who's currently allowed two visits and one overnight per week – will keep her visitation rights.

"The case has been settled," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan tells PEOPLE. "This is the end of a two-year journey."

Both parties are due in court Friday.

The legal saga, which began with shared 50-50 custody in July 2007, culminated in the most dramatic of public downfalls: Spears – the pop powerhouse worth an estimated $100 million – was twice forcibly hospitalized early this year for mental health issues. (Her father Jamie stepped in to take legal control of her affairs.)

However, a judge can always modify custody settlements – and a source close to Spears tells PEOPLE the singer will likely get increased visitation as time goes on.

"Until the kids turn 18, we can expect in years to come that Britney and Kevin will be back in court," says L.A. family lawyer Lynn Soodik, who is not involved with the case. "Britney will have a better chance of winning more custody once she regains her health. This is just the end of Round One."

E! was first to report the couple's settlement.

Expert: Britney & Kevin Will Likely Settle Custody Case

"If Britney goes to trial, it's a gamble," says L.A. family lawyer Lynn Soodik, who's not involved with the case. "Yes, she could win more time with her kids, or she could lose what's already in place."

The former couple, who are parents to Preston, 2 1/2, and Jayden, 1 1/2, are due back in court Friday for a routine custody hearing.

Spears currently has monitored visitation with her sons twice a week with one overnight. In January, after a forced hospitalization at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Spears lost all visitation rights with her kids until the following month.

"It's extremely rare for a parent to be under conservatorship during a custody battle," adds Soodik. "Because of this, it's in her best interest to fight for more custody only after she regains her health. A settlement can happen at any time."

A source close to Spears says the singer will likely get increased visitation as time goes on.

She remains under her father's legal control until July 31, when a court will decide whether to extend his powers.

Spears spending summer in the studio

The faded pop star is working with an unidentified "team of top-notch producers and songwriters" for the follow-up to last year's "Blackout," which has sold 879,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

No release date was indicated in the statement from Jive Records and Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph.

Spears' career has been overshadowed in recent years by her chaotic personal life -- marriages, divorces, kids and health problems. "Blackout" was billed as a comeback of sorts, but its prospects were not helped when Spears disastrously mimed her way through the first single during the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas last September.

Britney Spears Working and 'Having Fun' on New Album

"Britney Spears is spending her summer in the recording studio, working on a brand new album," manager Larry Rudolph announced Tuesday in a statement released by Jive Records.

"She's working with a team of top-notch producers and songwriters, and we're very excited about what she's accomplished so far. No album release date has been confirmed yet."

Spears spent time in and out of the studio in the spring, fueling rumors of an upcoming album. But at that time it was "recreational," Rudolph insisted.

"She's been going to the studio, she's been having some fun. But it's all recreational for her," he told PEOPLE in May. "She's like, 'I want to go to the studio because I want to have some fun' and that's what it's all about. There's no schedule, there's no agenda, there's no anything. She is just enjoying herself."

In the studio, "She's giggly," he added. "Some days she'll go in and get nothing done. Some times she'll just play around a little bit."

Planning Ahead

But Rudolph said there was a reason behind the playtime. "She's the type of person who has the eye of the tiger," he said. "She'll likely wake up one day and decide she wants to do more than that. Whether that is a day from now, a month from now or a year from now or five years from now, I have no idea."

Lucky for her fans, she woke up sooner rather than later.

After a difficult year that included an ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline and two well-publicized visits to the hospital, Rudolph says Spears is feeling strong and her old self again.

"She's got people around her that really care about her and are there to point her in the right direction in respect to the things she should be concentrating on – her life."

Last week, Spears filmed a video segment in Hollywood that is expected to be part of Madonna's upcoming Sticky & Sweet tour.

"Britney is getting back in touch with Britney," Rudolph said in May. "And she's doing an amazing job at that."

Britney Shops for Baby Maddie

The singer went shopping at the True Religion Warehouse with her mom Lynne on Friday—and Jamie Lynn's little girl was first and foremost on her mind.

Britney specifically picked out items for her new niece, Maddie Briann, from the toddler collection. Everything from T-shirts and hoodies to jeans for the little girl, a source tells E! News. She also selected some similar clothes in boys' styles for Sean Preston and Jayden James.

For herself, Spears picked up tank tops, T-shirts and jeans, to name a few. She loved True Religion's new puffy jackets for fall, scooping up a vest and a hooded jacket, both in red. She also liked the headwear—she chose some baseball hats as well as a winter-weight fedora.

"She was very happy," says the source. "She loved trying everything on. She looked great."

According to a source, Britney did not mention Madonna or the video shoot she's been busy with. She was focused on shopping and was very gracious.

"They had a great time—they thanked us when they left," a source tells E! News. "They were very polite and sweet."

After shopping, Britney and mother Lynne headed to ABH, the new rooftop hot spot at the Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel. The mother-daughter duo munched on sushi rolls and sipped soft drinks from Bond St., the restaurant downstairs, along with an assistant and bodyguard.

"Britney was very mellow, normal, grateful and sweet to staff," an onlooker tells us.

Lynne Spears Helps Britney with Her Boys

In town since Wednesday, Lynne and Britney have been enjoying some mother-daughter bonding, shopping at the True Religion warehouse and Pottery Barn on Friday before enjoying a "girls dinner" of salad, sushi rolls, and fish at Bond St. restaurant with two of Britney's pals.

"Britney walked in with a big smile and introduced her mom to the staff," says an observer. "She looked gorgeous, and I have never seen her in a better mood. She was laughing the whole time she was here. Britney seemed to have the best time hanging out with her mom and friends."

Meanwhile, dad Jamie spent the weekend at his new house in Santa Monica.

Britney 'Excited' to Work with Madonna Again

The pop icons are teaming up to film a segment that is expected to be part of Madonna's upcoming Sticky & Sweet tour. "Britney is excited, but in a grown up way," says the source, who has seen the singer through her recent ups-and-downs. "She has come a long way in the last year."

In fact Spears, who has gone to a lightened baby blonde hair color for the shoot, arrived at 9 a.m. Wednesday to begin filming her segment at The Lot in West Hollywood.

According to the source, Spears, 26, who used to make headlines for her late-night outings and reckless driving, has been showing new signs of maturity. "She has settled down and is full of life but not childish," says the pal. Under the supervision of her father, Jamie, Britney regained overnight visits with her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, and has also re-teamed with her former manager, Larry Rudolph.

"Working with Madonna is a dream, but I think she feels like it's one she’s earned," says the pal. "She’s respectful but full of her own ideas about the work."

The friend also maintains that Spears has also regained her focus, both mentally and professionally. "I think that so many people have no idea that Britney is fully aware of what’s going on. She may not always have been, but she is now," says the pal. "And she is – if not in control – in partnership with her father and her managers in her future."

Set Issues Derail Britney's Madonna Shoot

Spears had been scheduled to begin shooting a video montage for Madonna's upcoming tour this morning at the Lots soundstage in Hollywood. But production insiders say that because the set was not finished in time, cameras will not roll until tomorrow.

The set features an elevator, in, around and on which Spears will dance.

"The video will be very deep," a source in the Spears camp tells E! News. "You've never seen Britney like this before. It will blow your mind."

Madonna reached out to Britney to do the project, says the source.

The Material One's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, would only say that "there is footage being shot of Britney some time this week in conjunction with Madonna's upcoming tour" and that the segment was not a music video.

"That is all the information I have available," the rep added. "The rest is a secret."

Britney Spears to Film Segment for Madonna's Tour

"Britney is going to film something for Madonna's show in the next week or so," Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, tells PEOPLE.

As for details about what they will be doing – and where it will be filmed – Rosenberg says, "I don't know. It's a secret."

Contrary to published reports, Spears is not in New York to film the video segments, nor has she already shot anything.

This isn't the first collaboration for the pop stars. The two famously teamed up during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, sharing the stage – and one memorable kiss – during the broadcast.

Spears is not expected to perform with Madonna, whose tour kicks off in Wales next month. The U.S. leg of her tour starts Oct. 4 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Britney's Wardrobe Headed to Auction

Seven articles of clothing once worn by the pop star are among the pieces being offered to the public by online auctioneers Gotta Have It! as part of their upcoming Rock & Roll Pop Art Auction.

One of the featured pieces is a T-shirt worn by Spears, 26, while she was a cast member on the New Mickey Mouse Club and signed by her costars, including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Keri Russell. (Spears had given the shirt to her grandmother.)

"Something like that has never come up for auction before," Gotta Have It! owner Ed Kosinski tells PEOPLE. "We expect it to go for between $15,000 and $20,000."

Other Spears items include costumes from her "Drive Me Crazy" and "Oops, I Did it Again" tours, a blue and white sexy Santa dress she wore in a Christmas ad for Pepsi in 2000, and the orange coat and pants she wore to the Billboard Music Awards that same year.

Also on the block: a pair of jeans that Marilyn Monroe wore in the film River of No Return, which Spears had received as a gift from Tommy Hilfiger. Kosinski expects them to sell in the range of $60,000 to $80,000.

Proceeds from the sale of the Spears memorabilia, which was provided by Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group on behalf of the singer, will go to a charity of Tri Star’s choosing. The company’s owner, Lou Taylor, is a spokesperson for the Spears family.

In addition to the Spears items, more than 500 lots will be offered – everything from an Elvis jumpsuit to Madonna's 1987-1988 datebook.

The datebook is "all hand-written and what she did day-to-day – if she had dinner, if she had rehearsals," says Kosinski. It even includes phone numbers for Madonna's then-husband, Sean Penn, and her Dick Tracy costar, Dustin Hoffman. Estimated selling price: $6,000 to $8,000.

The online auction will be open from July 21 until Aug. 6.

Producer Says He's Helping 'Reinvent' Britney Spears

"I'm trying some new things [with Spears] … I've always worked with Britney and I love working with her," Jerkins told Rap-Up TV last week at Interscope Geffen A&M's Creme of the Crop dinner in Los Angeles. "I'm try to reinvent her and reinvent myself with her project."

Jerkins, who will produce two tracks on the untitled record, last worked with the pop star seven years ago on her self-titled Britney album, producing the remix for the track "Overprotected" and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll."

Despite the pop stars's rocky year – including an ongoing custody battle with her ex-husband Kevin Federline and two hospitalizations – the producer stresses that one thing has remained the same about Spears: "She's always professional." He adds that while some artists take a long time to record a song, during a recent studio session, "[Britney] walked in at 8:30 and was out by 10:30."

As far as Spears's mind-set, Jerkins says she's, "working on the positive side." Producer Sean Garrett, who has not yet gone into the studio with Spears but is set to work on her new record, also recently told PEOPLE, "I know she's been doing a lot better … You just want to give her the opportunity to get things back together."

And it would seem that Spears is getting back on track. Over the weekend she engaged in some happy mommy time when sons Preston and Jaydenhad a sleep-over at her Studio City home.

Adds Jerkins: "It's about to be her time again."

Britney goes house-hunting for bigger backyard, quieter area

Documents released Monday show that Spears seeks a house with a larger yard that's closer to parks and recreation areas for her children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. She also wants a "less trafficked" locale than her paparazzi-stalked Beverly Hills home, which she bought for nearly $7 million early last year.

Spears' father, James, requested the sale in mid-June, and a court commissioner agreed. James Spears is acting as his daughter's conservator following several incidents of erratic behaviour by the 26-year-old singer.

The children's father, Kevin Federline, has custody.

Britney and the Boys Have a Sleepover

E! News can confirm that Britney had a 12-hour overnight visit with her two sons Saturday night at her Los Angeles home.

"The kids were picked up before noon on Sunday," says a source.

It was Spears' first overnight visit since she lost visitation rights with Sean Preston and Jayden James following her infamous visit to the UCLA psych ward in January. Commissioner Scott Gordon, after being presented evidence that Britney's mental health has improved, modified the terms of her visitation last week to allow overnight visits.

Meanwhile, K-Fed picked up where he left off in Las Vegas two weeks ago and partied at Miami nightclub Mansion on Friday night. Federline, who's reportedly working on a new song tentatively titled "Daddy's Home," was scheduled to return to L.A. on Sunday.

VMAs would consider second chance for Spears

"Everyone deserves a second or third chance, right?" Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group, playfully told The Associated Press during a telephone interview Friday. When asked if he was just joking, Toffler said "sorta."

"Who knows?" he said.

Spears' out-of-it "Gimme More" comeback performance during last year's MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas was one of the most-talked televised moments of 2007. The drama-filled VMAs drew 7.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Another Spears redux could equal even more eyeballs.

"I'm not sure how we top Britney opening the show," said Toffler. "We are working on it every minute of every day."

This year's MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7. (MTV and Paramount are corporate cousins within Viacom Inc.)

Toffler said the award show's performances will occur on the lot's various sound stages, rooftops and faux city streets.

"The backlot gives us versatility," said Toffler. "You can do street performances, on-top-of-building performances, on-the-side-of-a-building performances, inside-of-a-studio performances, so we're pretty excited."

Spears, Federline in mediation over child custody

erline still wants to maintain sole legal and physical custody of the boys while allowing Spears to be involved in their lives "in a very substantial and meaningful way," Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan told the entertainment show E! News (www.eonline.com) on Friday.

Spears, 26, lost custody of Sean Preston, 2/12, and James Jayden, 21 months, in January after two brief hospitalizations for psychiatric evaluation that marked a new low for the former teen pop star after a year of increasingly bizarre behavior.

But Spears has since won credit for turning her life around and this week was given court permission to spend overnight visits with her sons in addition to the two daytime visits per week she already enjoys.

The issue of permanent custody is due to be decided in a family court trial in Los Angeles in August but the divorced couple began mediation talks this week.

"Kevin is seeking to maintain the sole legal and physical custody that he presently has. There's nothing magical about 50-50.," Kaplan told E! News in an interview that is set to air on cable TV channel E! on Friday evening.

wants to have an order ... that takes into account a certain stability and structure for the kids ... regardless of whose house they happen to be in at any given moment," Kaplan added.

Kaplan said the mediation had not yet resulted in an agreement that would avoid the August trial. But he said the mood was "comfortable, positive and it was a mood that was consistent with opening at least a great dialogue."

Spears, one of the world's most successful pop stars of the early 2000s, and her former backup dancer Federline, 30, were formally divorced last summer after two years of marriage.

In the past six months, Spears' father Jamie has taken over management of her personal and business affairs and the singer is reportedly working on a new album. She has also been mentioned as a possible Emmy award nominee for two guest appearances on US television sitcom "How I Met Your Mother."

K-Fed Attorney: Mediation With Brit "Positive" Step

K-Fed's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, spoke exclusively to E! News in the wake of Thursday's all-day mediation session, in which both sides were seeking to hash out a custody agreement in advance of an August trial.

"Kevin is seeking to maintain the sole legal and physical custody that he presently has," Kaplan said. "There's nothing magical about 50-50. There's nothing magical about 60-40. What's magical is that whatever order is in place, it's the order that best suits the best interest of the children."

Which, ideally, would give the 30-year-old Federline full custody, simply making permanent the present temporary order.

"Kevin has had sole legal custody since January. He wants that to become the permanent order at trial, and the visitation to be consistent with what the court expanded it to this week."

Namely, allowing Spears, 26, overnight visitation with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, which will begin Saturday night. In addition to the sleepover, she is also allowed two day visits per week.

For his part, Kaplan said Federline is more than happy to give the stabilized Spears not only more custody rights but the ability to be "involved in their lives in a very substantial and meaningful way," and credits the conservatorship with her recent turnaround.

"He wants to have an order...that takes into account a certain stability and structure for the kids...regardless of whose house they happen to be in at any given moment.

"When the conservatorship was imposed, it brought a certain sense of structure and stability to an environment that seemed to be continually in flux. And in flux is not a description of what you want for a child's environment."

while Thursday's mediation didn't result in any brokered accords—it would have been surprising if it had—it did get both parties started on the right path to like-mindedness.

e mediation didn't result in an agreement that would avoid the trial set in August...The mood was comfortable, positive and it was a mood that was consistent with opening at least a great dialogue, which is necessary."

for what would call off this summer's planned court date...

e trial in August is going to determine two primary issues," Kaplan said. "Custody and visitation, and attorneys' fees...In order to avoid the trial in all respects, there would have to be an agreement between the parties to resolve the attorneys' fees, and to put in place a custody arrangement that would carry forward...an expansion of the visitation.

"If the existing arrangement was acceptable to both parties, we would have an agreement and we wouldn't have to go to trial...But that didn't happen."

'Train wreck' female stars studied

European and American academics met Wednesday to examine society's fascination with "train-wreck" female celebrities and why the public and the media seem to get a kick out of Britney's meltdown, Lindsay's drink and drug arrests and Amy Winehouse's rehab struggles.

Diane Negra, one of the organizers, said participants wanted to study why we take "pleasure in seeing women brought low."

"The massive coverage these women draw is only a little bit about themselves," said Negra, a professor of film and television at the host university in Norwich, 185 kilometres northeast of London. "These women operate as lightning rods for a lot of other concerns."

There's nothing new in society's fascination with celebrities. But the Internet and the spread of "tabloid" culture into the mainstream have created a whirlwind in which rumour, claim and rebuttal swirl and feed off one another.

A Google News search for troubled soul diva Winehouse on Wednesday produced almost 10,000 stories. In British newspapers, the story of the singer's erratic public appearances, struggle with drugs and health worries is played out almost daily.

There are plenty of male celebrities, from Pete Doherty to Robert Downey Jr., whose personal and legal difficulties also make headlines.

But Negra claimed the coverage of women is more judgmental, casting wayward female celebrities as "cautionary tales." She said coverage of female celebs is less likely to celebrate a troubled star's triumphant comeback, the way Downey has been lauded for "Iron Man," or Owen Wilson has been shown returning to work after a reported suicide attempt.

"We seem to have a lot more fixed ideas about what women's lives should be like than we do of men," she said.

"When we use female celebrities this way, we see them failing and struggling, they serve as proof that for women the work-life balance is impossible. Can you have it all? The answer these stories give again and again is 'absolutely not."'

Unsurprisingly, celebrity journalists disagree. Gordon Smart, who edits the Sun newspaper's celebrity pages, said the preponderance of troubled female stars in the news was a coincidence.

"I just think at the moment there just happens to be cluster of female celebrities that are going through difficult times," Smart told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.

Cary Cooper, a professor of psychology and health at Lancaster University in England, said negative celebrity coverage is not the media's fault - readers and viewers want to watch celebrities struggle.

"It makes people feel good," Cooper said. Celebrities "look like they lead a golden life, and yet it doesn't make them happy. So in a way it justifies our humdrum existence."

Negra suggested the negative tone of much coverage reflects public concern about the growing number of celebrities with no obvious talent - people like Paris Hilton or the stars of reality-TV shows, who are famous simply for being famous. The criticism is a way of addressing troubling questions about the link between talent and fame.

"Do we expect people who are famous to be talented?" she said. "How do we deal with the ubiquity of reality TV?"

She thinks much of the hostility to Paul McCartney's ex-wife, Heather Mills - depicted as a self-serving gold-digger by the British press - arose "because of the sense that her fame was unearned," in comparison to that of the former Beatle.

Veteran celebrity publicist Max Clifford doesn't believe women get a harder time from the media. He thinks the knives are out for all celebrities.

"The media don't mind whether it's a male or a female - if they can assassinate them and sell newspapers, they will," Clifford said. "The sad thing is, bad news is news and good news isn't.

"When I started out in the business in 1962, it was all about promotion. Now most of my job is about protection - protecting celebrities from an ever-more vicious media."

Court Orders 'Change' in Britney's Visitation with Sons

The new terms were not revealed, but Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini suggested that the closed-door hearing, in which Spears's parenting coach answered questions from the court, went well for the pop star.

"There was a change in [Spears's] visitation status that was ordered," he said. "Britney's demeanor in court was businesslike. I think any judge is pleased to see progress being made by parties in a case."

Another hearing was set for July 15.

Britney & Kevin Return to Court for Custody Hearing

Spears, 26, is apparently seeking a change in her visitation schedule, but details weren't immediately known.

At 8:40 a.m., a somber-looking Federline, wearing a beige suit, entered the courtroom along with his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Spears, also looking somber, entered shortly thereafter with her father. Her blonde hair was straight and long and she wore a white shirt, beige pants, and wedges. She took a seat in the right side of the courtroom, while Federline was seated on left side.

Laura Wasser, Spears's original divorce lawyer, is reportedly rejoining the singer's legal team. Wasser was seen entering the courtroom along with a lawyer working for Spears's conservatorship.

The pop star currently has monitored visitation with her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, three times a week.

The ex-couple faces a custody trial in August if they're unable to settle their case out of court.

"Our goal is to settle what we can without a trial to achieve what's in the best interest of the children," Kaplan tells PEOPLE. "But whatever can't be resolved with a private mediator will be brought to trial."

Spears's father remains in legal control of his daughter's affairs until a July 31 hearing.

Spears' return to LA begins with scuffle at airport

Within moments of arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday evening, Spears' entourage was involved in a scuffle with a paparazzo.

Airport police say between 30 and 35 photographers swarmed her vehicle outside the terminal before a bodyguard pushed a camera into a photographer's face.

They say the paparazzo complained that the shove left a slight mark on the cheek, but cooler heads prevailed and no charges were filed.

The 26-year-old pop star was unscathed, and police say she was able to leave the airport safely.

More Shocking Details About Britney Book

The award-winning journalist says, "I saw a lot. I partied with her and was able to really monitor what type of stuff she was using. It's very concerning. (But) the book is mainly about her handlers, how sleazy and destructive they are toward her. The people around her are like vultures."

Halperin insists his book won't be a hatchet job on a troubled star - he witnessed enough to make him realise that Spears is basically a good person: "She's actually a very caring mum." But he worries she's in danger of suffering a "catastrophic relapse" of her bipolar issues.

Britney Arrives in Louisiana for Jamie Lynn Birth

Like her future niece.

While Spears' criminal attorney was in court in Van Nuys, Calif., asking for another extension in the pop star's pending criminal case regarding her driving-without-a-valid-license charge, Spears herself was on a Delta flight heading to Louisiana to be by sister Jamie Lynn's side for the birth of her first child.

In an apparent cost-cutting effort, the "Gimme More" singer, who typically jets around on private planes, flew commercial. She quietly slipped out of her gated community around 5 a.m. and headed with her dad, Jamie, and brother, Bryan, to Los Angeles International Airport, where they boarded a Delta flight to New Orleans, an hour ride from the Spears homestead in Kentwood.

Her flight landed at 12:53 p.m. CT, and Britney headed straight to mother Lynne's house.

Jamie Lynn, 17, is having a child (reportedly a girl) with fiancé Casey Aldridge, 19, and is set to give birth any day now, sources tell E! News.

Britney, 26, had previously been somewhat estranged from her little sister. But on May 3, she flew to Kentwood to attend Jamie Lynn's baby shower.

Because her visitations with her own children are still limited, Britney will miss visits with her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Spears is expected to return to Los Angeles on Monday.

Spears' next court date for her August 2007 hit-and-run accident, which occurred in front of the paparazzi's every-ready cameras, is now scheduled for Aug. 11. Due to the fact that Spears is under the care of a conservatorship, Spears' attorney Michael Flanagan, who has been working to try to get the charges dismissed entirely or reduced to an infraction, asked that the case be continued.

Court delays sorting out Britney Spears' financial issues but OKs house sale

A Los Angeles court commissioner on Tuesday agreed to allow Spears' representatives to sell her home, the same paparazzi hotspot from which authorities have twice escorted the singer in protective custody.

The decision required a court's approval because the 26-year-old's finances and personal affairs remain under the control of her father.

James Spears became conservator of his daughter's affairs in February after several highly publicized mishaps. A trial about whether he will maintain that role was also delayed on Tuesday.

One of the main reasons: Britney Spears remains on vacation and won't be back in time to participate in crucial meetings about her finances and mental health. The pop star and her father weren't in court Tuesday.

Britney Plans Trip to Sister's Side

The pop star and her dad, Jamie, are ready to hop a flight at a moment's notice to be by pregnant Jamie Lynn Spears' side in Mississippi, sources tell E! News.

The 17-year-old, who's expecting her first child with fiancé Casey Aldridge, 19, is due to give birth any day now.

“Jamie and Britney are standing by to get a call and when they do, they are jumping on private jet,” a source said.

Sources say Jamie Lynn was scheduled to deliver naturally, but may opt for a C-section for health reasons.

Britney’s court-appointed lawyer, Samuel Ingham, announced at this morning’s probate hearing regarding Spears’ conservatorship that the pop star will be out of town until next Monday.

The "...Baby One More Time" singer had reportedly been somewhat estranged from Jamie Lynn but, on May 3, she flew back to her hometown of Kentwood, La., to attend her little sis' baby shower.

2008 Teen Choice Award Nominees

Choice Music: Female Artist
Britney Spears
Fergie
Mariah Carey
Miley Cyrus
Rihanna

Dad Details Billable Hours Spent With Britney

Following up on his petition to collect "replacement compensation" for the month of February for being the coconservator of his daughter's estate, Jamie Spears stated in a declaration filed June 6 that, starting Feb. 1, when he was first given control over Britney's affairs following her second hospitalization this year, he was with her "on a near-twenty-four-hour basis to ensure her safety and well-being."

A court commissioner did not allocate $2,500 a week for the elder Spears—plus funds to lease a car—until March 3.

"After Britney was released from the hospital, I brought Britney home and secured her living and care situation," Spears said.

"Throughout the time period, I ran errands, including buying groceries and cooking supper on a daily basis. I talked frequently with Britney about her health status...I arranged for Britney’s transport and security to go shopping and so that she could teach a dance class."

The Spears family's current arrangement is in effect until at least July 31, when the conservatorship issue is due to be revisited in court.

Jamie Spears also included time spent with the kids—grandsons Jayden James and Sean Preston and ex-son-in-law Kevin Federline—as well as meetings with Britney's lawyers and doctors, in his list of billable accomplishments over the month of February.

“I visited with Britney’s children and their father, Mr. Federline,” he stated. “I met and consulted attorneys. I also continued to consult with and meet Britney’s doctors and care providers.”

In his original petition to collect what more or less amounts to back pay, Spears' attorney wrote that his client, who had been working as a caterer, had "been forced to forego [sic] other employment in order to devote his full time and attention to Britney and her affairs" and had "lost his regular source of income from which to pay his living expenses."

Blame for Spears hit-run on the other foot

After reviewing police records and a videotape of the incident last year, deputy district attorney Joseph D. Shidler wrote that the "only way the victim's foot could have been where the video indicates it to be was by the victim placing it in that location."

The photographer, who was not identified in the report, filed a criminal complaint against Spears in early May, nearly six months after the alleged incident. A copy of the police complaint was not immediately available Monday, but it sought a felony charge of failing to stop after an accident involving an injury.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office reviewed a videotape and photos of the incident, which don't show the photographer being hit. The report also describes a chaotic scene surrounding Spears, with photographers on all sides of her car and "a lot of noise and confusion."

The report describes Spears as "driving at an extremely slow rate of speed and in a straight path."

The 26-year-old pop star has had her share of trouble behind the wheel, including a highly publicized incident in 2006 where she was photographed driving with her young son on her lap.

A misdemeanour hit-and-run charge stemming from a 2007 parking lot crash was dismissed after she settled with the car's owner. In October, she pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanour charge of driving without a valid licence and earlier this year was involved in a minor fender-bender on a Los Angeles freeway.

Also Monday, documents were released detailing a request from Spears' father for payments relating to his conservatorship arrangement.

The document filed on behalf of James Spears seeks an undisclosed amount of money for helping his daughter shop for groceries, handle custody issues with her husband, Kevin Federline, and visiting her in the hospital in February and March. The filing also states that he held meetings to shore up security at Spears' homes and occasionally cooked meals.

James Spears has temporary control of his daughter's finances. A hearing about that conservatorship is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.

Kevin & Britney's (Separate) Vegas Weekend

While Spears, 26, relaxed and sipped water in a cabana at the Cinevegas party at the Palms Place, Federline drank Jack Daniels at Strip House only a few miles away. And while Spears's night ended early, her ex kept the party going past 3 a.m. at Prive Las Vegas, where he was honored as "Father of the Year".

Looking dapper in a black suit and red tie, Federline, 30, arrived at Prive just before 1 a.m. with an entourage of about 30, including his divorce lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan. At a VIP table, Federline nodded his head to several hip-hop songs and paid little attention to the risqué fashion show that was happening on top of the club’s deejay booth.

At around 2:30 am, Federline headed to the back kitchen of the club, where he was presented with a “Father of the Year” trophy out of the public eye, an honor he told reporters "surprised" him.

Spears, celebrating Father’s Day weekend with her dad Jamie, ate fresh fruit and sunned herself for three hours Friday at the newly opened Palms Place pool. Later, she began her night with a low-key dinner with a friend and a member of her security staff at the Palms restaurant Nove, where she feasted on an artichoke dish.

After donning a short black cocktail dress, the singer attended the Cinevegas party with her father, Palms hotel owner George Maloof and his business associate Jon Gray. In a private cabana, Spears showed little emotion as she sipped water and chatted with her group for two hours.

Spears is reportedly staying the weekend in Las Vegas, while Federline is expected to head back to Los Angeles on Saturday to spend Father's Day with his children, including his sons with Spears, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

Hastily-called hearing held in Spears custody case

The hearing was closed and all documents were ordered sealed until a hearing later this month. A court spokeswoman says no rulings were made.

Spears' attorney declined to comment after they concluded Friday. Mark Kaplan, an attorney representing Spears' husband, Kevin Federline, attended the hearing via speakerphone.

Neither Spears nor Federline appeared.

Last month, a court commissioner granted Spears expanded visitation with her children. Federline took control of the toddlers after several highly publicized instances of erratic behavior by the 26-year-old singer.

Britney, K-Fed Swoop Into Sin City

E! News has confirmed that the singer flew to Las Vegas Thursday, just after visiting her kids at her home in Studio City.

Although Spears was seen at the Palms hotel, a source close to the singer tells E! she is not there to record in the Maloof brothers' recording studio. Equally unlikely is the possibility of her rolling into town to support Kevin Federline, who's in Sin City to tend to some business of his own.

Though the exact purpose of her trip has not yet been revealed—though she is not, as rumored, in town to perform with the Pussycat Dolls—a source close to the singer said it is "not a business trip."

People, meanwhile, corroborates that the trip is indeed one of pleasure, claiming she's in town for a long Father's Day weekend with papa Jamie Spears.

One joint they may want to avoid in their would-be father-daughter bonding session: Privé Las Vegas.

None other than K-Fed himself is set to receive a Father of the Year honor at the club later tonight.

Pal Says Britney Is Doing 'Great'

"She's doing great," Palms Casino Resort owner George Maloof tells PEOPLE.

Maloof, who recently had dinner with Spears twice in L.A., says that the two are "good friends," and adds it would be fantastic to have her perform at his Vegas venue.

"I'd love to have her here at the Pearl [Theater]," says Maloof, who stopped by the premiere of The Rocker, starring Rainn Wilson, at the Cinevegas Film Festival. "It would be great."

Maloof says the idea of a Vegas concert "didn't come up" when he saw Spears in L.A. But it turns out Spears flew there Thursday for a different reason altogether.

"Britney left L.A. for Vegas for an extended Father's Day weekend with her dad [Jamie]," a source tells PEOPLE. Despite reports that Spears' cameo in the upcoming Pussycat Dolls video was cut, Britney is still plugging away at her other projects: She's scheduled to work on songs with Sean Garrett in three weeks.

Meanwhile Spears's ex, Kevin Federline, is also headed to Sin City on Friday for Father's Day purposes: K-Fed will be there to accept his "Father of the Year" honors from Prive Las Vegas.

Britney and Mel's Cigar Club Rendezvous

"When Jamie Lynn got pregnant, it was put on hold," says a spokesman for Thomas Nelson, which publishes inspirational books and Bibles. "Lynne never stopped working on it because she wants to express her love for her children and tell their stories through a mother's eyes."

Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" is likely to be released in September, says the spokesman.

Spears's manuscript "will not be a parenting book," he says. "It's her story of what it was like being a mom and raising two very famous people. It's a memoir."

Britney and Mel's Cigar Club Rendezvous

For more than two-and-a-half hours, the singer, 26, and the actor-filmmaker, 52, met in what was confirmed to PEOPLE as a more of an ongoing guidance session than a business pow-wow.

For their rendezvous at the members-only Havana Club, both showed up separately shortly before 7 p.m., well into the third game of the NBA finals between the L.A. Lakers and the Boston Celtics, which was playing at the bar. As for the smoking and watering hole itself, habitués include Ben Affleck, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Danny DeVito.

When Spears arrived, her bodyguard drove a Jeep Commander into the underground parking garage, and she exited with her blonde hair up and pulled back by a white headband. Also with Spears were her assistant Brett and a bodyguard.

"She looked pretty in her new Capri jeans a blue blouse, white shoes and a brown bag," says a photographer. Earlier in the day, Spears was seen shopping at the Lisa Kline boutique in Beverly Hills, where she purchased the new jeans and tried on several necklaces.

"Britney looked like a doll with bright red lipstick," added the photog, who described her as "very quiet" and "with a serious look on her face as she walked in to the Havana Club."

By contrast, an upbeat Gibson left his silver Lexus with the valet and walked in holding what was described as a "man-purse" up to his face and a look of "okay, you got me" as paparazzi snapped his picture.

Around 9:30, Spears left the club for home, while Gibson hung around until about 11.

The two – once neighbors inside a Malibu enclave (Spears now lives in a gated community in Studio City) – began being seen in public together in March, at dinner in a restaurant. It was then learned that Gibson and his wife, Robin, had been looking in on Spears once she had checked out the hospital in February.

In May, Gibson and his wife, and Spears and her father, all vacationed together in Costa Rica.

Britney Making a Pussycat Dolls Cameo

"It's a small part," says a source about the popstar's visit to the L.A. set of the group's video shoot for their new single, When I Grow Up, on Wednesday. Possibly saving her trademark moves for her own album, Spears was not expected to dance or perform with the girls in the video.

While her recent TV meetings (she was spotted exiting the Merv Griffin offices last week) were strictly exploratory, How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris told PEOPLE at an Academy screening of the show at McGee's Bar & Grill in Manhattan, they would be happy to have her back for a third time saying, "The door is open for her."

Neil Patrick Harris: 'Door Is Open' for Britney's Return to HIMYM

“The door is open for her,” Harris told PEOPLE at an Academy screening of the show at McGee’s Bar & Grill in Manhattan. “We would love (guest stars) who get in the show’s world to stick around if they want to … but I don’t know what the writers have planned.”

Spears played Abby, a ditsy receptionist dating Barney (Harris’s character), but interested in Ted (Josh Radner’s character). Based on some foreshadowing in the script, the pop princess may very well return in season four, says Harris.

“I gave her the address to Ted’s apartment at the end of the last episode, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she showed up again,” he told PEOPLE.

During a Q&A post-screening, the cast reminisced about Spears’s time on set.

“Carter [Bays, the creator] had a great line at the table read. He introduces all the guest cast. He said, ‘And I hope I pronounce this correctly, ‘Britney Spears,’” Josh Radner told fans at McGee’s, the bar that helped inspire the series.

“There were wristbands that we wore on set, so that people didn’t come on to the set. In her world, people go up in the rafters and take pictures,” Harris said.

“We wanted to give her the freedom in a closed environment to be as free to act, and fail, and succeed as she wanted to because that’s the process of doing this,” he continued. “She was lovely, and those two weeks were actually quite swell for us.”

Sour Deal

Supernanny 'More Than Happy To Help' Britney Spears

In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, Frost offers her childrearing expertise to Britney Spears. "I do believe she loves her children very much and I'd be more than happy to help her," she says in an interview scheduled to air Friday.

"To be able to put her on the right track and feel more empowered as a parent." Frost adds, "Importance in motherhood is about really relating to other mothers, being able to have support groups and it's about Britney being in a place where she's feeling secure and confident in herself, so that she is able to take care of her little ones and give them what they need from her, which is their mother around."

Frost's hit ABC show takes to her people's homes across the country, where she helps parents deal with their children's behavioral issues. Frost tells ET the key to her advice comes from imbuing parents with "the confidence to raise their baby in a healthy and content way."

Lawyer: Spears 'not yet fit' to take part in case

Samuel Ingham, Spears' court-appointed attorney, and attorneys for the pop star's father and conservator, James Spears, spent 90 minutes in Commissioner Reva Goetz' chambers Thursday.

Ingham told the court afterward that Spears' medical condition is "fluid" because her treatment is changing.

Spears' probate case is scheduled to go to trial July 31, but Ingham said it could be "harmful" for her to participate. Goetz agreed and said Spears' diagnosis is not complete.

The 26-year-old singer and her estate have been under the conservatorship of her father for four months.

Britney's Ballyhoo Explained

A number of exercise buffs at Bally Total Fitness were denied their daily dose of endorphins earlier this week because Spears was scheduled to work out at the same time in the same room.

John Wildman, chief marketing officer for the fitness chain, explained to E! News:

"What happened was we mistakenly double-booked the exercise room. Spears was in there for a 7 p.m. workout with her trainer, who booked the room. He did not realize that there was a 7:30 p.m. exercise class to start a half-hour later."

Naturally, in a Celebrity vs. Civilian matchup, the A- (or even usually the B- or C-) lister always wins. Brit kept at it while the sweat-deprived civilians were plied with water, nutrition bars and gift certificates, and sent on their way.

They were assured the mixup would never happen again.

Britney's Fashionable Night Out - With Dad

Spears, in a black dress and sun-kissed blonde hair, told PEOPLE she's doing "good" at designer pal Christian Audigier's 50th birthday party at L.A.'s Petersen Automotive Museum.

Spears, 26, hung with two girlfriends in a roped-off VIP area at Audigier's blowout gala. Fergie, Snoop Dogg, Pamela Anderson and – surprise! – Michael Jackson also made appearances.

Jamie Spears joined his daughter, sitting on a couch about five feet away with his head resting on his hands.

Spears stayed about an hour and a half, smoking cigarettes on an outside patio, nodding her head to a live performance from Macy Gray, and abstaining from alcohol. When she left for the evening, her father joined her.

"I am friends with Britney," Audigier told PEOPLE before the party. "She was at my office, I believe, three weeks ago. She got some presents for Jamie-Lynn and herself too. She got a ton of T-shirts, a ton of caps. She loved it."

Spears left the party before Jackson, clad in a shiny blue shirt, came onstage to wish Audigier happy birthday.

Jamie Spears' full-time job is now working for his daughter as conservator of her estate, court papers show.

The pop star returned home from a Costa Rican vacation at Mel Gibson's house earlier this week.

Producer: Britney Is 'Really Shaping Up'

"She's great," Rotem told PEOPLE at the BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. "She's like a master at what she does. She's a lot more experienced than most people. She just has the 'it' factor that not every artist has. So it's always nice to work with her."

Although Rotem, who briefly dated Spears in 2007, would not reveal any details of the project, a Spears family source tells PEOPLE that the pop star is in the early stages of a follow-up to her last album Blackout, which was released last October.

"Britney is in the experimental stages of a new album," says the source. "She's trying to find the sound and direction she wants to go in, but nothing is set in stone just yet. She has been playing the piano a lot and just singing. She says she misses 'just singing.'"

Producer Sean Garrett was mum on specifics but says that he and Spears, 26, have "a few things in the works." At the BMI Pop Awards, Garrett told PEOPLE: "I'm just happy to see her back and recovering. She's really shaping up and getting her whole situation back together. I'm really proud and happy to see her."

A rep for Spears's record label had no comment.

Sweet Tooth

Britney Spears Back on the Scene After Vacation

The pop star, 26, first got down to some important business: Spending time with her sons, Jayden, 1, and Preston, 2, who came to Spears's Studio City home for a visit early Tuesday.

That evening, Spears joined pal George Maloof, who owns the Palms Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, for dessert at the West Hollywood Italian eatery Il Sole. Though the singer tried for a low-key entrance through the back of the restaurant, she was caught in the glare of paparazzi flashes.

Still, a smiling Spears, dressed a long strapless sundress, appeared to be in a good mood while sharing dessert, listening to her friend and chatting.

Dad Working for Britney Spears Full Time

As a result, Jamie Spears was given $10,000 in back pay to cover the first month of his co-conservatorship of her estate, which started Feb. 1, according to the documents. He was awarded a $2,500 weekly salary beginning in March.

"The responsibilities he has assumed as conservator ... have required [his] full-time attention," says the request for "replacement compensation." "As a result, he has been unable to continue to his prior employment and he has lost his source of income which he needs to pay his living expenses."

Since Jamie Spears took over his daughter's personal and professional affairs, the singer has secured expanded visitation with her two sons, who live with Spears's ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Britney Comes in for a Landing

The popster touched down Monday night at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank after a long weekend of fun in the sun at Mel Gibson's beachside digs in northern Costa Rica.

Sources close to Spears tell E! News the rested mother of two had to be back in Los Angeles early this week to prep for a meeting with Kevin Federline to work on an even more evolved custody arrangement. Both sides' attorneys will be present and the heat is on—L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon has said he will set a trial date in August or September if they can't move forward on their own.

Meanwhile, it's unclear whether Jamie Spears was on his daughter's private flight back to the States, but we do know her William Morris agent—and designated ATV driver—Jason Trawick was along for the ride.

And still might be...

Update: Brit 'n' Mel Become Bon Voyage BFFs

Upon arrival, Britney looked calm, albeit tired, from the trip. Along with Gibson, his wife, Robin, and Britney's father, Jamie Spears, some unidentified youngsters also got off the plane.

An immigration executive boarded their jet to complete the necessary paperwork and, about an hour later, the group took off on a smaller private plane for the province of Guanacaste, in the northwest part of Costa Rica bordering Nicaragua.

Local press are reporting the pop star will be vacationing on Gibson's coastal property along Playa Barrigona.

Britney Spears and Mel Gibson Vacation Together

"They're just going away for a few days to relax," says a source.

The group plan to stay at Gibson's Costa Rican home. They will be back early next week.

The unlikely pair were first spotted together back in mid-March when they dined at Russian restaurant Romanov in Studio City. However, it wasn't their first meeting. Gibson and Spears and their families met a number of times after the pop star was hospitalized in February, a different source told PEOPLE at the time.

"Mel and his wife Robin clearly saw a woman in crisis and wanted to extend themselves in any way possible," the source said.

Gibson and Spears used to be neighbors when the singer previously lived in Malibu. "There are no expectations, there is no agenda," the source added. "It's simply an act of human kindness – one neighbor reaching out to the other."

Madonna: Don't Blame Britney

"I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she was never allowed to have a childhood," Madonna told the BBC in an interview that aired Tuesday. “She didn't get to grow up and make mistakes privately and try things out and just be a kid and be innocent. She's been watched, judged and been under a microscope since she's been a teenager. It's hard to evolve that way."

Thankfully for Madonna, her own kids seem uninterested in mom's fame. "They come to the rehearsals. But they're sort of over it. They like to skateboard around."

In fact, they clamor for a "normal mom." Asked if they give her a hard time for working so much, Madonna say, "Yeah! 'When are you coming home?' 'Why are you always working?' 'Why can't you just be like a normal mom?' I just remind them about all the things that they have, and that if I didn't do what I did they wouldn’t have those things."

So what are the perks? "They get to travel a lot, they get to do a lot of interesting things and meet a lot of interesting people. Usually that shuts them up."

Britney Spears Involved in Minor Car Accident

"I think she was just distracted," said a witness. "She just tapped the other car in front of her."

Spears, 26, was at the wheel of her white Mercedes-Benz SL65 when she left her Studio City home for an afternoon drive. Shortly thereafter, she rear-ended the SUV.

Her bodyguard, who was sitting shotgun, got out and apparently gave a business card to the other driver, a female. Police were not involved.

Witnesses say the driver of the Explorer followed Spears back to her gated community to exchange information, apparently suggested by the bodyguard to avoid press attention.

Spears was involved in a fender bender in L.A. just last month on April 12.

PEOPLE Critic Reviews Britney's Return to HIMYM

The fact that Britney’s second guest spot really didn’t work was no fault of hers. She’s not at all bad at playing clunkily-sweetly dumb. I liked the way she tried to vent her conflicted feelings of anger and love for Ted while lying in bed and staring dreamily at the ceiling: “You know what I hate most about Ted? His stupid hair … His stupid, lame, awesome hair. It’s so stupid and awesome,” she said with a cute, singsong lilt.

But the script was an awful piece of specialty construction. Abby’s reverie occurred in a bed shared with Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), who was also feeling rejected by Ted — as a friend. His and Abby’s mutual annoyance turned them both on, so they slept together.

Then they decided to pose as a couple to annoy Ted. Then Barney carried the joke too far by proposing to Abby. Then Abby suddenly thought Barney really loved her. Then, to get out of the engagement, Barney told Abby that their romance had done the trick and now a jealous Ted did love Abby. And then Abby got this crazy love-hungry Shelley Winters-like gleam in her eye, setting up the possibility for a third guest spot.

Well, that’s a lot to cram into the subplot of a 20-odd-minute show. It would have taken me less time to type out the synopsis of Dangerous Liaisons. The twists felt arbitrary and perverse, even for a so-so sitcom, which is what HIMYM is.

It’s time for Britney to move on to her next cameo project. Ugly Betty would have been a good fit, but Lindsay Lohan is already there.

K-Fed's Attorney: Britney & Kevin's Relationship Improved

Spears, who last week was awarded more visitation time with her sons by Federline (Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1), was the topic of discussion for Kaplan, on Monday's Today show.

Kaplan said that the judge's decision at last week's ruling reflected an "improvement" in Spears's condition. She spent full days, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., on both May 8th and Mother's Day with her sons.

Asked about the current status of the relationship between the couple – including the rumor they would again star together on a TV show – Kaplan sidestepped any direct answers, instead saying that any potential reconciliation between Spears and Federline would be for the sake of their sons. (Britney makes her second appearance on CBS's How I Met Your Mother Monday night.)

"If you're going to have two parents participate in the lives of raising their children," said Kaplan, "there has to be some camaraderie between them for that to be a meaningful expectation and reality."

But are things better between the ex-husband and wife?

"When you go from where things were, when there was no visitation, to where they are now," said Kaplan, "there will be some contact … there'd be some ability to exchange a camaraderie that is necessary and a function of co-parenting together."

Will Britney Go Home Again?

Yes, we hear exclusively that the popstress has promised her little sister that she'd return home to Kentwood, La., when Jamie Lynn gives birth. We hear the official due date is June 29.

"At the baby shower, she told her little sister she wanted to be there for her the entire time," said a friend close to the Spears family. "I'm not sure how Casey is going to feel about that. But Jamie Lynn seems pretty excited."

There’s just one hitch.

Britney has to ask her daddy for permission to go.

"She had to ask him if it was OK to go back for the shower," said the friend, adding that the baby shower was the first time Britney had been home in 16 months. "He has to give her permission to travel, and the money to do it. It's not that he doesn't want her there for her little sister. It's just that he thinks it's best to keep Britney close to home right now."

Well, we understand that, given Brit's recent mischief-making past. But do our insiders really think he might stop Brit from going?

"Oh, probably not," said the Britney pal. "It would be pretty coldhearted to say no."

Sounds like Jamie Lynn may be getting some help from sis when the baby comes.

Britney's Surprise Visit to Rock the Cradle Finale

Wearing a brown leather jacket and an animal-print dress, Spears, 26, peered into the audience but opted for a more private seat behind the wings. Flanked by security, the singer texted during performances and played it cool, even when Blaze Snider (Dee’s son) sang a rendition of her hit “…Baby One More Time.”

Rudolph denied requests for a photograph of Spears, who later went to Sur restaurant in L.A. for dinner.

Earlier that day, Spears enjoyed an extended visit with her two sons, Jayden and Sean Preston, the first after being granted extended visitation rights on May 6 at Los Angeles Country Superior Court. “We are so pleased with Britney’s progress,” her parents Jamie and Lynne Spears said in a statement. “We are appreciative of the court’s recognition of this progress.”

Spears granted expanded visitation rights

Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for the pop singer’s ex-husband Kevin Federline, said the longer visits are ‘recognition of the progress that has been made.’

Speaking after the hearing concluded, Kaplan said there’s been no change to orders granting custody of both boys to Federline, but that Spears would see them for longer periods.

Spears smiled briefly but did not address questions as she left the hearing, which was closed to reporters.

Another hearing was set for July 15 to get a progress report on the new arrangement. Spears arrived quietly in court earlier Tuesday and was sworn in for the hearing, a departure from the spectacle of previous appearances that included screaming fans with banners, frenzied paparazzi and the troubled pop star dressed in cocktail-party attire.

Wearing a brown polka-dot dress and white sweater, a sombre Spears entered the courtroom flanked by a handful of people, including her parents and lawyers. Ex-husband Federline arrived about 15 minutes later in a beige pinstriped suit with Kaplan and spokesman Elliot Mintz.

Moments after Commissioner Scott Gordon swore them in, Spears lawyer Stacy Phillips asked that the hearing be closed and Gordon ordered reporters to leave. Both Spears and Federline re-emerged a short time later for a break and went to separate rooms. Spears walked hand-in-hand with lawyer Blair Berk, speaking in a low voice as they got into an elevator.

The dozens of people who witnessed Spears’ courthouse arrival as a front-seat passenger in a white Land Rover waited outside. But even this collection of photographers, reporters, sheriff’s deputies and prospective jurors didn’t compare to the circus that surrounded Spears’ January trip to the courthouse, when she arrived in a black minidress and gold platform shoes, then left before the hearing began.

It’s been three months since Spears left a psychiatric ward a week ahead of schedule and stirred up a paparazzi car chase, a scene that looked like the beginning of even more erratic behaviour. But in the weeks that followed, she lay low and largely avoided the cameras, spent time with family members and even found success in a cameo appearance on CBS’ ‘How I Met Your Mother.’

During that time, the 26-year-old pop star has been under the conservatorship of her father. The court-ordered arrangement put James Spears in control of his daughter’s personal and financial affairs.

Federline has had full custody of his two sons by Spears, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James, since January, when police were called to Spears’ home after she refused to relinquish one of the boys to a Federline bodyguard. Spears was taken by ambulance to UCLA Medical Center.

Her visitation rights were suspended at the time but have been gradually restored in recent months. Tuesday’s hearing was to include discussion of a psychiatrist’s evaluation of Spears, a person close to the case told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and requested anonymity.

Gordon could modify the couple’s visitation agreement Tuesday based on Spears’ recent conduct, the person said.

Spears was a constant media presence before the conservatorship took effect.

Photographers captured her every visit to Starbucks and gas stations around Los Angeles, and documented a bout of bizarre behaviour that included appearing in public without underwear, shaving her own head and beating a car with an umbrella.

Since James Spears took over her affairs, the pop star has been relatively invisible to photographers, only occasionally snapped shopping or having dinner with her mother, Lynne. A traffic accident last month turned out to be a minor bump in which no one was injured, and for which no one was cited.

Spears’ public appearances have been limited to a well-received cameo on ÒHow I Met Your Mother,’ a role she reprised during a taping last week, a CBS spokeswoman said. The episode is set to air May 12.

“We’re thrilled to have Britney joining us once again,” series executive producer and co-creator Craig Thomas said in a statement last month. The show’s audience increased by a million viewers the week Spears appeared.

The pop star also made news last month when she took on full-time exercise and nutrition coaches from Bally Total Fitness. Once known for her flawless figure, Spears was widely ridiculed for her flabby form in September during a universally panned performance on the MTV Video Music Awards that was meant to herald her comeback.

Spears has been elusive at recent court hearings, her every anticipated appearance drawing a circus of media and paparazzi.

A lawyer for Federline said the spectacle of her arrival in January - and subsequent quick departure - may have played a role in the commissioner’s decision that she remain barred from seeing her sons. Federline has allowed Spears limited visitation rights since Feb. 22.

Spears arrives at L.A. court

Dozens of photographers, reporters, sheriff's deputies and prospective jurors saw her arrive as a front-seat passenger in a white Land Rover. Then she disappeared into the garage.

It has been three months since Spears left a psychiatric ward and promptly stirred up a paparazzi car chase, a scene that looked like the beginning of even more erratic behaviour for the troubled pop star.

In the weeks that followed, Spears started acting out of character, all right: She lay low and avoided the cameras. She spent time with family members. She found work, and succeeded at it.

The troubled 26-year-old pop star has been under the conservatorship of her father since her one-week-early release from UCLA Medical Center.

Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, was also expected to attend the custody status hearing, said his spokesman, Elliot Mintz.

Federline has had full custody of his two sons by Spears, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James, since January, when police were called to Spears' home after she refused to relinquish one of the boys to a Federline bodyguard. Spears was taken by ambulance to a hospital after the incident. Her visitation rights were suspended at the time, but have been gradually restored in recent months.

Tuesday's hearing was to include discussion of a psychiatrist's evaluation of Spears, a person close to the case told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and requested anonymity.

Commissioner Scott Gordon, who will preside over the hearing, could modify the couple's visitation agreement Tuesday based on Spears' recent conduct, the person said.

Spears was a constant media presence before the conservatorship took effect. Photographers captured her every visit to Starbucks and gas stations around Los Angeles, and documented a bout of bizarre behaviour that included appearing in public without underwear, shaving her own head and beating a car with an umbrella.

Since Spears' father, James, took over her affairs, the pop star has been relatively invisible to photographers, only occasionally snapped shopping or having dinner with her mother, Lynne. A traffic accident last month turned out to be a minor bumper-to-bumper incident in which no one was injured, and for which no one was cited.

Spears' public appearances have been limited to a well-received cameo on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," a role she reprised during a taping last week, a CBS spokeswoman said. The episode is set to air May 12.

"We're thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," series executive producer and co-creator Craig Thomas said in a statement last month. The show's audience increased by a million viewers the week Spears appeared.

The pop star also made news last month when she took on full-time exercise and nutrition coaches from Bally Total Fitness. Once known for her flawless figure, Spears was widely ridiculed for her flabby form in September during a universally panned performance on the MTV Video Music Awards that was meant to herald her comeback.

Spears has been elusive at recent court hearings, her every anticipated appearance drawing a circus of media and paparazzi. In January, she arrived at the courthouse wearing cocktail-party attire - a black minidress and gold platform shoes - and left before the custody hearing began.

A lawyer for Federline said that behaviour may have played a role in the commissioner's decision that she remain barred from seeing her sons. Federline has allowed Spears limited visitation rights since Feb. 22.

Britney & Kevin Expected at Custody Hearing Tuesday

"It's a hearing to discuss the status of her case," said court rep Allan Parachini.

Asked if her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, would show, his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan replied, "Kevin has been at every important hearing. I view Tuesday as an important hearing."

Spears, 26, returned to Los Angeles Sunday night after flying to Kentwood, La., to attend a baby shower for her expectant 17-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn, over the weekend.

Britney currently has monitored visitation rights with her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, several times a week, but no overnight privileges.

Recently, a report was completed by the ex-couple's child custody evaluator, which could heavily influence future visitation arrangements.

The pop star's father, Jamie, and a lawyer remain in legal control of her affairs until a July 31 hearing.

With Help from Britney, Jamie Lynn Celebrates at Baby Shower

About 30 guests were invited – including big sis Britney – to Kentwood for a ladies-only, catered celebration for the 17-year-old at the family's Serenity mansion. (Spears hadn't been back to her hometown since her aunt's funeral early last year.)

"Jamie Lynn opened every gift," says a source, adding that mom Lynne and fiancé Casey Aldridge's mother lent a hand. "We all sat in a circle and she opened gifts and thanked every person. It was just a good old fashioned baby shower."

In March, the Zoey 101 star registered for baby booty at Babies "R" Us.

Though sheriff's deputies were posted at the gate and paparazzi circled in helicopters, "it was a normal shower," says the source. "A wonderful, sweet occasion."

Britney Spears Returns Home to Kentwood

Also in town is Spears's father, Jamie, who remains in legal control of her affairs until a July 31 hearing.

The singer's arrival in her home state comes as sources say there is a planned baby shower over the weekend for her 17-year-old sister Jamie Lynn, who announced her pregnancy in December.

Spears, 26, last visited Kentwood in early 2007 for her aunt's funeral.

Britney Gets The Kids For Mother's Day

Federline was given full custody of the kids after Spears staged a stand-off with police, emergency services officials and childcare experts when she refused to handover her sons after a scheduled visitation in January.

The couple have been battling the custody order ever since, but now Federline appears to have cooled on the issue - and he's agreeing to let Spears spend more time with their sons. A family friend tells Life & Style magazine that Federline is considering granting his ex overnight visits with the kids, after Spears filed a formal request with the courts.

Spears' Parenting Skills Scrutinized

But we're just going to have to wait a little bit longer to find out if she gets a thumbs up or thumbs down from the court.

E! News has confirmed that a child custody evaluation report detailing the pros and cons of Britney Spears' mothering has been completed.

The report, commissioned by a Los Angeles family court in Spears' ongoing battle with ex-hubby Kevin Federline over young sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, was filed Friday by Dr. Jane Shatz.

Lawyers for both Spears and Federline declined to comment on the substance of the document.

While no specific positives or criticisms have been made public, the report's findings are expected to get a full airing at the next hearing in the case, set for May 6, when attorneys are planning to debate merits of a modified custody arrangement.

Spears, who has typically avoided courtroom showdowns in the matter, may actually show this time to defend herself.

Britney Spears Returning to 'HIMYM'

The return of the pop tartlet to "HIMYM" had been rumored since her first appearance on March 24 drew nearly 10.7 million viewers and generated relatively positive reviews.

Spears begins production on Monday (April 28) for an episode titled "Everything Must Go," set to air on May 12.

[It should be noted that rather serious spoilers are about to follow, so take your leave if you must.]

The episode finds Spears' increasingly less meek-and-mousy receptionist Abby bonding with Neil Patrick Harris' Barney over their hatred for Josh Radnor's Ted (a turn of events that suggest definite blowback from the events that closed last week's "HIMYM"). In order to cause Ted a little pain, Barney and Abby decide to pretend they're dating and begin pushing their "relationship" to get a rise out of Ted.

As per usual, hilarity ensues.

"We're all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," says series co-creator/executive producer Craig Thomas. "And just to head it off at the pass this time around: Yes, Mom, Britney's very nice and no, I can't get her autograph for you."

Wig out. Kids in. No news is good news for Britney

It has been a barren couple of months for scandal about Spears, 26, whose life became a front-page disaster in 2007 and early 2008 when she lost custody of her children, shaved her head, was seen distinctly underdressed at parties and was twice hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation.

Out of the limelight and under the guardianship of her father, Spears appears to be making so much progress that some people are even talking about a comeback.

"She has almost come back from the dead," said Harvey Levin, managing editor of celebrity Web site TMZ.com which still reports on her every move.

"She is happy again, she seems stable. She is seeing her kids again, she is trying to get her recording career back. The crazy conduct is not there anymore. She is a different human being from how she was three months ago," Levin told Reuters.

Apart from a minor traffic incident on April 12 -- the kind of "fender-bender" experienced by virtually every Angeleno with a car -- the only recent news about Spears has been good.

She's been regularly working out at the gym and taking dance classes. She surprised critics with a sassy guest appearance in the TV sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" and has been photographed playing happily with her two sons after striking a visitation deal with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Spears also has reconciled with her ex-manager Larry Rudolph, the man who was responsible for taking a 16-year old kid from Louisiana and making her the world's best known pop star at the turn of the 21st century.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

"I've seen her probably about three or four times over the past couple of weeks and she's in great shape," Rudolph said in a MySpace Celebrity blog. "I think she's really well on the road to getting back to the Britney everybody knows and loves."

Spears' father appears to have been key in bringing about the transformation.

In February -- after Spears was taken by ambulance to a psychiatric unit for the second time in a month -- Jamie Spears was appointed by a Los Angeles judge to take control of his daughter's personal and business affairs until July 31.

The Spears family also won a restraining order against Sam Lutfi, the former self-styled manager accused by Britney's mother, Lynne, of drugging her daughter to take control of her life and finances.

In recent weeks Lutfi's spokesman has said his client and the family are cooperating, while the restraining order stays in effect until July 31.

A recent survey by E-Poll Market Research, which polls fans about stars, shows Spears' negative appeal falling to 19 percent from 29 percent in January.

Her medical problems have never been clarified, but she is widely reported to have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at New York's Presbyterian Hospital, warned that it was too soon to declare Spears out of the woods.

"All the issues that one suspects may be going on -- and those we know like divorce and child custody -- are not resolvable in a few weeks. People can appear to get better for a while and then relapse," said Saltz.

Spears has been spotted in recent days inside a Los Angeles recording studio for the first time in a year.

"I think everybody is rooting for her.... And when she comes back, I think it is going to be huge," Rudolph said.

Britney Mired in Red Inc.

A document obtained by E! News show that Britney Online Inc., one of Britney Spears' numerous name-brand companies, owes $23,589.17 in state taxes on the entity's 2004 earnings. (View the lien.)

"Further interest and fees will accrue" if the sum is not paid, according to the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California.

There's no word yet on how Britney Touring, Britney Brands, Britney Films, Britney Television and FairyZone Productions are doing as far as the state—or the IRS—is concerned.

But isn't it inevitable that a court commissioner will solve the problem by simply pointing Spears' attorneys in the direction of her bottomless bill-paying pit, aka her estate, to take care of the back taxes?

Megan Fox wins sexiest woman title

The “Transformers” co-star tops FHM’s annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll of FHM readers. The 21-year-old model-actress beat out the likes of Angelina Jolie (No. 12), Rihanna (No. 14), Kim Kardashian (No. 17), Paris Hilton (No. 77) and last year’s champion, Jessica Alba (No. 3).

Fox debuted on the annual list in 2006 at No. 68 and ranked at No. 65 in 2007. Joining her in the top 10 this year are — in descending order — Jessica Biel, Alba, Elisha Cuthbert, Scarlett Johansson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hilary Duff, Tricia Helfer, Blake Lively and Kate Beckinsale. Britney Spears came in last place at No. 100.

The women from MTV’s “The Hills” duke it out on the list with Heidi Montag (No. 44) beating out Audrina Patridge (No. 80) and Lauren Conrad (No. 95). Current “Dancing with the Stars“ contestant Shannon Elizabeth (No. 46) returned to the ranking after being absent last year, joining professional dancers Cheryl Burke (No. 40) and Karina Smirnoff (No. 78).

FHM said nearly nine million votes were cast for the 14th edition of the annual poll.

Britney Returning to How I Met Your Mother

“The show is ecstatic and so is Britney,” a source said. “She had so much fun the first time around she really wanted to come back. It was a mutual decision to work together more.”

The singer/actress will do one episode, the source says. Fox studios would not confirm the appearance.

Spears, 24, appeared on the March 24 episode, playing a receptionist at a dermatologist’s office who fell for one of the show’s main characters, played by Josh Radnor. She received wide accolades for the spot.

“She was hilarious in the table-read, and I got to see her do the run-through as well, and she was great,” cast member Jason Segal said.

Spears' Romance With Ghalib Is Still On?

Comedienne Kathy Griffin recently filmed a segment with Ghalib for her show My Life on the D-List, and she insists the 'former' couple is still a hot item.

And the funnywoman reveals she knows the pair is still close by "the astonishing number of calls Adnan took from a 'private caller' whose name rhymes with Prlitney Splears," during the afternoon she spent with Ghalib last week.

Britney to pay lawyers $372,500

Commissioner Reva Goetz ordered the attorneys paid from Spears' assets, which are under the control of her father, James Spears, and attorney Andrew Wallet. They have had control of the pop star's finances and estate since she was hospitalized twice in January.

Goetz scheduled the next conservatorship hearing for May 29.

Britney Hits the Studio "Just for Fun"

E! News has confirmed that the "Gimme More" singer is taking voice lessons and has spent the last two days in a Burbank, Calif., recording studio to work on getting her voice back into fighting shape.

Spears, whose 2008 didn't exactly get off on the right foot, careerwise, is not working on anything official, a source close to the 26-year-old comeback kid told E! News, but instead is just looking to enjoy herself right now.

"She's doing it just for fun," the source said. "She's just sitting at the piano, singing a little. She's just in there to have some fun. It may lead to something down the road, but right now this is just part of her staying on the right track."

Spears is also said to be spending time under the tutelage of voice coach Ron Anderson, who, according to his professional website, has worked with the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis, Chris Daughtry, Avril Lavigne, Björk, Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul, Pink, Shania Twain, Usher and Tori Amos, among others.

Blackout, Spears' fifth studio album and her first in four years, was released in October and sold 290,000 copies its first week out of the gate to land at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the first time one of her studio efforts didn't debut at No. 1.

Sam Sitting Out Britney-Restraining Hearing

E! News has exclusively learned that Britney Spears' erstwhile manager and right-hand man will not be appearing in court Wednesday to fight the restraining order that keeps him away from the pop star.

"He's not going," says a source familiar with the case.

Papa Jamie Spears originally requested a restraining order against Lutfi on Feb. 1 barring him from coming within 250 yards of Britney or having any contact with her.

In a declaration accompanying the restraining order application, mother Lynne Spears accused Lutfi of attempting "to take control of [Britney's] life, home and finances."

"Mr. Lutfi drugged Britney," Lynne Spears' affidavit read. "He has cut Britney's home phone line and removed her cell phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything—Britney's business manager, her attorneys, and the security guards at the gate."

Attorneys for Jamie Spears attempted to find and serve Lutfi but failed to track him down for weeks. Finally, after he was properly served, Lutfi agreed on March 17 to have the restraining order against him extended until Wednesday's hearing.

"He respects Britney, he respects the temporary restraining order, and everyone is beating him up for no reason," Lutfi's publicist said after the hearing. "Enough is enough."

Meanwhile, attorneys for the conservatorship overseeing Britney's estate signaled there might be a détente.

"Mr. Lutfi and Mr. Spears are in discussion that may resolve the issues presented in the TRO application," they wrote in a court filing last month.

While Lutfi has filed a motion stating he objected to having Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz presiding over his restraining order hearing instead of full-fledged judge, he has done little to argue against the allegations raised in the restraining order in court.

And with Lutfi not planning on attending Wednesday's hearing, it appears again that once again these charges will go unanswered—and his chances to reconnect with Britney anytime soon slim.

Britney Spears in minor accident in stop-and-go freeway traffic; No citations issued

The pop star was involved in a minor traffic accident late Saturday, but no one was injured and no vehicles were damaged, authorities said.

Spears was driving her 2008 Mercedes on the eastbound Ventura Freeway just east of the 405 freeway about 8:20 p.m. when the mishap occurred, said California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Kimball.

Spears was in stop-and-go traffic when her car struck a 2006 Nissan in front of her that had stopped. The Nissan then pushed forward into another vehicle. No damage was noted to any of the vehicles.

The CHP took a report and no one was cited.

An after-hours e-mail sent to Spears' publicist was not returned early Sunday.

In 2006, Spears was photographed driving with her son on her lap.

A misdemeanour hit-and-run charge from an August 2007 parking lot crash was dismissed after she paid an undisclosed amount to the car's owner.

In October, she pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanour charge of driving without a valid driver's license and later obtained a temporary California license.

Britney Spears in Minor Highway Accident

The pop star was driving northbound on the 405 connector to the 101 freeway when the collision occurred, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Big Expectations For Britney

Harris clarifies Britney Spears remarks, says she's welcome back on 'Mother'

"In fact, we are all hoping that she returns rather soon to reprise her role," he said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly's website about Spears' cameo on the show.

Harris was responding to a story featuring earlier comments he made to The Associated Press. Asked in that interview, "why does such a gem of a show need Britney to get any attention," he responded, "I'm in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed.

"We've done a good three and three-quarter seasons with guest stars that we feel like are exactly perfect for the characters that (were) written ... by the crack writing staff," Harris told a reporter visiting the set of the Monday night CBS sitcom. "I worry that if they start 'Will and Gracing' us too much, that the show will suffer. And we're all really proud of the content of the show. I mean viewership is not our game. It's the network and the studio's game, you know. It's the promotion department's game. We wish we weren't opposite an awkward reality dancing competition. But we have no say about that. I just am a real fan of our content. I think we have a great show going and I hope it's not screwed up by the desire for 700,000 more viewers."

In his statement Friday, Harris said that "a writer took some quotes of mine and speculated an opinion about their intent."

The original AP story stated that Harris believed Spears should not appear on the program any more.

"I am just very protective of our show, and its content. I have a high standard of quality, and hope to maintain it on every level. Television is big business, I understand that. I have great faith in our casting department, as well as (Twentieth Century Fox Television) and CBS, to find the appropriate person for every role on our show. I was remiss in speculating otherwise."

Spears has been the most high-profile guest star on "Mother," following appearances by Mandy Moore, Enrique Iglesias and Heidi Klum. Her well-reviewed March 24 cameo as a bubbly receptionist drew 10.6 million viewers, up one million from the previous week. The show has averaged eight million viewers per episode this season, including reruns.

The show concluded with Spears' secretary flirting with Barney, the scene-stealing womanizer played by Harris.

Could she return? If so, Harris is fine with that.

"My job description is to act," his statement said, "and I should really do just that."

Neil Patrick Harris: Say no to Britney!

Nothing against the pop singer personally — he just doesn't think the show should bring guests aboard for a ratings boost alone.

"I'm in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed," Harris declared during a break from taping the Monday night CBS sitcom, which has grown a cult following since its 2005 debut.

"I worry that if they start `Will and Grace'-ing us too much, that the show will suffer. And we're all really proud of the content of the show. I mean, viewership is not our game. It's the network and the studio's game, you know. It's the promotion department's game," the actor, who plays womanizer Barney, told The Associated Press in an interview last week.

Spears has been the most high-profile guest star to visit the set, following past appearances by Mandy Moore, Enrique Iglesias and Heidi Klum. But her capable March 24 cameo — feverishly promoted, anticipated, blogged-about, critiqued, analyzed and, ultimately, well-reviewed — gave Harris pause to voice a concern: Was the show selling out?

"We wish we weren't opposite an awkward reality dancing competition," he said. "But we have no say about that. I just am a real fan of our content. I think we have a great show going, and I hope it's not screwed up by the desire for 700,000 more viewers."

Make that 1 million more viewers for the Britney episode, which grabbed an audience of 10.6 million tuning in as Spears filled her small role as a bubbly receptionist. Among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic, it was the most-watched episode of the series ever.

The show has an average viewership this season of 8 million per episode, including reruns; last season, it attracted an average of 8.5 million viewers each showing. It returned with all-new episodes last month following the writers strike, capturing 9.6 million viewers the week before Spears' appearance and slipping back to 9.5 million the week after.

Executive producer Carter Bays told the AP he'd be open to another Spears guest spot. As it happened, the pop star's camp approached the show, and Bays is proud of the result: "We had no illusions about what the stakes were. And if it was classic stunt casting, like, `Oh, my tour bus broke down outside' and I just go, `Wow, Britney Spears, what are you doing here?' then, like, we're just flying over that shark real fast. It was a great character and I think she played it well. ... I'm glad that we didn't sensationalize the character in any way."

The show concluded with Spears' secretary flirting with Barney. The following episode, which aired last Monday, introduced a "mystery woman" who's been warning other women not to date the single-minded cad. Asked if Spears might turn out to be the secret slanderer, Bays said: "Could be. There's no reason why not." He also suggested the talented actress Sarah Chalke, who guest starred alongside Spears.

Asked for his guess, Harris said: "No telling, but based on the stunt casting we've done in the past I'm guessing Tara Reid."

"How I Met Your Mother" stars Harris, Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel as an urban family of twentysomething New Yorkers. A familiar premise (see: "Friends"), yet the show has stood apart through its own brand of clever writing and in-jokes, cast chemistry and signature use of flashbacks.

Still, it lacks the broad appeal of shows like "Friends," which had a celebrity cast and a string of celebrity guest stars, and fellow CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men." It doesn't have the industry recognition of NBC critical darlings "30 Rock" and "The Office." Its only major Emmy nomination went to scene-stealer Harris last year for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.

"The challenge for the show has always been to get more eyeballs on it," said Radnor, who portrays unlucky-in-love architect Ted. "The only thing — and this is not a slam on any of the other shows on CBS on Monday — but the only thing we have in common with those shows is we're half an hour, multi-camera shows with a laugh track."

Radnor compared the show to an under-the-radar, yet-to-be-discovered band.

"That's why the people who love this show looooooove this show because I think it's like your favorite band that hasn't gotten popular enough for you to start hating it," he said. "So you can still kind of love it and wear the T-shirt and speak in code with the other people who are on to it, but it hasn't tipped into this kind of phenomenon where you start to turn on it."

Britney In Furniture Biz

Britney and Her Boys Still Day-Tripping

While the time she's spent with her two children over the past month has seemingly proved beneficial to all parties involved, overnight visits with Sean Preston and Jayden James are still a ways off, according to Kevin Federline's resident legal eagle, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

The attorney told E! News Monday that the monitored visits between Spears and her sons "have been nothing out of the norm," but that "there has to be consistency over time.

"I don't think 30 or 40 days is the magic number," Kaplan said.

After nearly two months of separation, Spears' visitation privileges were restored Feb. 22—after her father, Jamie Spears, and his attorneys reached a deal with K-Fed's camp—and she saw them the following day for the first time since Jan. 3, when she was briefly hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a custody-fueled standoff with police at her Beverly Hills home.

Kaplan continues to credit Jamie Spears' newfound presence in his daughter's life for this noticeably more amiable state of affairs.

"All we know is that since Jamie Spears has been involved it has been a very stabilizing force," he said.

The elder Spears has been serving as coconservator of the pop star's estate since Feb. 1, when she was admitted to UCLA Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation. Jamie and a court-approved psychiatrist are required to be present when Spears spends time with her sons.

Kaplan said that the next custody-related hearing is expected to take place in May, and he's still anticipating a trial, in preparation of which he has deposed a number of Spears' friends and associates, including off-again, on-again manager Larry Rudolph.

Regardless of what anyone says about him, it's still Federline's intention to do the right thing for his children, the lawyer said.

"The goal is to have a stabilizing and consistent order for the kids," Kaplan said. "His hope is that would involve the participation in a substantial way by their mother."

Federline has had primary custody of Sean and Jayden since October, when Spears was stripped of her 50-50 deal after a court commissioner determined she had violated numerous directives, including his orders that she make herself available for random drug testing and acquire proper insurance and a California license before getting behind the wheel with her kids in the car.

Madonna: 'Britney Is Suffering Like Africa'

The Holiday hitmaker - who famously kissed Spears during a performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards - wants the paparazzi to stop following the 26-year-old, because it's distressing to see her life documented in such detail.

She says, "It's very painful (seeing pictures of Spears). When you think about the way people treat each other in Africa, about witchcraft and people inflicting cruelty and pain on each other, then come back here and, you know, people taking pictures of people when they're in their homes, being taken to hospitals, or suffering, and selling them, getting energy from them, that's a terrible infliction of cruelty. So who's worse off? You know what I mean?"

Britney Spears: Children's Clothing Designer

Producer: Britney Spears Welcome Back on Sitcom

“We always said, ‘You know, if her character pops, we’ll bring her back,’” the CBS sitcom’s executive producer Carter Bays tells the Associated Press. “I thought she was great. I was very proud of that episode.”

On the March 24 show Spears, 26, played at receptionist at a dermatologist’s office, opposite Josh Radnor. Costar Neil Patrick Harris said Spears was “really funny”.

“It was totally weird,” Bays said of having Spears on the set. “I think we have a very, like, kind of Midwestern homey vibe here on the show, and it was strange to suddenly have helicopters circling.” he said.

The episode wrapped up with Spears’s character flirting with womanizer Barney (Harris). The following week, in an episode in which Spears did not appear, a “mystery woman” sabotaging Barney’s usually successful attempts to pick up ladies was introduced into the plot.

Asked if Spears might end up to be the saboteur, Bays replied “Could be. There’s no reason why not” — though he also suggested it could be Spears’s guest costar Sarah Chalke.

So, will Britney come back or won’t she? “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know the answer to that.”

Britney Spears's Birthday Shopping for Jamie Lynn

The singer was "in good spirits" according to Nicole Irving, a representative for the store. Spears stopped in the afternoon to visit designer Christian Audigier and browse the new spring collection.

"Christian and she were laughing as she tried on Ed Hardy sunglasses and checked out the bathing suits," says the rep.

For her sister (and mom-to-be), Britney, donning a pink Ed Hardy shirt, picked out a large selection of Christian Audigier handbags, scarves, and Crystal Rock T-shirts. She also snagged items for her father and brother.

Earlier Thursday, Spears, 26, spent the morning visiting sons Preston and Jayden at her Studio City house.

Larry Rudolph: Britney Spears Is in 'Great Shape'

"I've seen her a few times over the past week or two. I've spent some time with her just socially. I've gone up to the house. I've sat with her. She's in great shape," he said Thursday while promoting his latest project, Rock the Cradle, on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS FM radio show. "I couldn't be happier to see the condition she's in. But this is not a time to talk about business with her."

Addressing Spears's recent troubles, Rudolph said: "What she needs now is she needs the public to be on her side and root for her, because she deserves it and that means a lot to her."

One thing's clear: Rudolph is in Spears's corner. He praised her recent appearance on How I Met Your Mother, and told Seacrest that if he was advising Spears, he'd suggest that she "do another little thing like that" soon.

When Seacrest asked about other forces back in the singer's life – namely her parents – Rudolph replied: "She needs people around her who are there for the right reasons."

In terms of Spears's future, he said "I can't think of a situation where somebody's been set up for a bigger comeback than that girl."

Britney Spears in talks to return to CBS sitcom: report

TVGuide.com cited multiple sources as saying producers are seeking her return for at least one more episode as a dermatology office assistant named Abby, who falls for the show's lead character, Ted, played by Josh Radnor.

The report quoted one insider as saying, "It all depends on her availability."

CBS and the studio that produces the show, 20th Century Fox Television, declined comment on the report.

Spears' appearance on "Mother" last month drew 10.6 million viewers -- up from its season-to-date average of 7.8 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Her performance also elicited mostly positive reviews, providing the singer with a rare bit of upbeat publicity amid a torrent of marital, health and legal woes in recent years. And she said in a statement issued weeks ago while shooting her scenes that she was "having a blast."

It was her first prime-time acting role since she made a guest spot in March 2006 playing a Christian conservative talk show host on "Will & Grace."

Spears, 26, rose to fame as a child star on the Disney channel and scored numerous hit songs as a teenager, including, "Oops ... I Did It Again."

In 2002, she was named the world's top celebrity by Forbes magazine after earning $39.2 million in a single year.

But in late 2006, Spears split from her second husband, Kevin Federline. Since then she has been in and out of rehab, lost custody of her two young sons to Federline, and was hospitalized twice in January for psychiatric evaluation.

Her highly publicized comeback performance on the MTV Video Music Awards in September last year was widely panned as a flop. Her new album, "Blackout," debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 last November, but quickly slid down the chart.

Federline's Lawyer: Full-Recovery Reports Premature

"Jamie is doing a really good job," Mark Vincent Kaplan tells PEOPLE. "There was a situation and that seems to be stabilized. Does that mean she’s cured? Of course not."

Kaplan has noticed that the Spears's negative press has diminished noticeably, and that her successes – from her appearance on How I Met Your Mother to reports Tuesday that she is working again with former manager Larry Rudolph – are making news right now.

He calls Jamie Spears's steps to improve Britney's well-being and diffuse her once tumultuous lifestyle "smart," adding that, "Obviously before Jamie, it wasn't a question of what was going to happen – it was a question of when."

A healthy, happy Spears is something that Federline has always yearned for, says Kaplan. As for his own professional interest in the Spears case, which is no longer dominating Los Angeles's family court system? Says Kaplan: "I look forward to the time when I can be bored."

Britney, Larry Back in Business

The pop star is bringing erstwhile manager Larry Rudolph back into her inner circle.

The duo, whose relationship has undergone well-chronicled ups and downs, most recently with the pair parting ways after Spears publicly blamed him for forcing her into rehab, is apparently back in business.

"It's true," a source close to the pop star told E! News. "They are working together."

It's unclear when Rudolph reentered the picture, but Spears' career has already been on the upswing, particularly in the wake of her fairly well-received, ratings-grabbing guest-starring turn on How I Met Your Mother last week.

Rudolph is the eagle-eyed manager credited with discovering Spears and crafting her career from small-town Louisiana ingenue to mouse-ear-wearing Disney star to international pop icon. They were together for roughly nine years, ultimately splitting around the time Spears wed Kevin Federline.

Just one day after her 2006 split from K-Fed, however, Rudolph was back on her arm. Their second professional go-round was much less lengthy—and successful—than their first, ultimately disintegrating in early 2007 after Spears let loose a series of caustic on-camera rants about Rudolph being the reason she was tricked into entering rehab and for turning her family against her.

Jamie Spears, however, has always been a public Rudolph supporter. While Papa Spears is currently holding (very tightly) the reins of his daughter's life, it's unclear whether he had any part in reforging the partnership.

Regardless, Rudolph's resumes his position after succeeding who might be Spears' most infamous manager to date, former pal Sam Lutfi.

Keep Her Busy

Madonna on Britney: `Let's go save her'

"They need to step off," she told the "Yo on E!" satellite radio show. "For real ... Let's go save her."

Madonna, 49, said her daughter, Lourdes, 11, feels the same way.

"She knows Britney, (but) she doesn't really watch TV or read gossip stuff," the pop star said in the interview. "I think she sort of gets the drift of what's going on, and I think she feels very protective of Britney."

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie have a son, Rocco, 7, and are raising a Malawian boy they want to adopt.

"He's the life of the party," she said of David, who she brought home from Africa in 2006. "He loves music, he's an amazing dancer. ... He's a character."

She said caring for David is no different from her raising her biological children: "I thought it was gonna be, but it feels the same to tell you the truth."

As for speculation that her marriage is on the rocks, Madonna said: "It is ridiculous. ... I don't pay much attention to it."

The singer's spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg recently dismissed media reports that the Ritchies have split up, saying they "remain happily married." Rosenberg said that Madonna and filmmaker Ritchie, 39, were "joyfully back together at home in London" after living in separate countries for work purposes.

Madonna, whose new album "Hard Candy" arrives April 29, told "Yo on E!" that she plans to spend the summer in New York, and that she might kick off a tour this fall.

Britney Getting a Bum Rap?

Legal eagle Michael Flanagan tells E! News he's not planning to let the beleaguered singer cop a plea on a misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid California license, saying it's who his client is and not what she did that's keeping this case on the docket.

"Anyone can see this is not the case of the century. The fact is that Britney is being treated differently," he said. "This should be just treated as a fix-it ticket or an infraction."

"Her mother, father, sister all have Louisiana licenses," Flanagan added. "It is a Louisiana family. In California, you have to get a license within 10 days if you are domiciled here.

"But whether you are domiciled is a state of mind. She had a valid Louisiana license at the time of the accident without a mark on her record."

Spears is scheduled to go to trial June 18, a court date her camp is looking to avoid.

Flanagan has drafted a motion to have the case dismissed but, because it's Britney, he'll have to take at least one extra step before he files.

The defendant needs to sign a declaration permitting him to move forward, but Flanagan figures he'll have to get the go-ahead from the 26-year-old divorcée's conservatorship, considering Britney has been ruled temporarily incapable of entering a plea on her own behalf.

"It may be that Jamie or Lynne have to sign for her," the lawyer said. Lynne Spears, Britney's mom, is not part of the conservatorship, however, so it's dad Jamie Spears and his coconservator, attorney Andrew Wallet, whose signatures would be needed to seal the deal.

Britney's vehicular troubles stem from her August 2007 run-in with a parked car that was captured ever-so-efficiently by the ubiquitous paparazzi. Although she eventually settled up with the car's owner, a complaint had already been filed, leading to the invalid license charge.

Fabolous Helps Spears' Musical Comeback

He tells MTV.com, "I didn't get to kick it with (Spears), but the people from her record label was on top of that..." And after all her personal troubles at the start of 2008, Fabolous hopes she will soon be back to her best: "I don't know what condition Britney is in right now. Hopefully - more power to her - she'll get in a better space and position. Somebody needs to sit her down, let her know what the deal is."

Spears has since returned to work for the first time since her mental breakdowns in January - on Monday she was spotted at Hollywood's Alleycat Recording Studio, the same day her cameo appearance on U.S. TV's How I Met Your Mother aired in the States to glowing reviews.

Britney Spears Earns HIMYM Its Highest Rating Ever

Monday’s episode of How I Met Your Mother featuring the pop star earned the CBS comedy its highest rating ever — netting a 4.5 preliminary rating among adults 18-49, according to the Hollywood Reporter. That means about 10.6 million viewers tuned in to watch Spears, making Mother the fourth-highest-rated show of the evening.

On the sitcom, Spears played a receptionist at a dermatologist’s office who develops a crush on a patient played by Josh Radnor.

Review of Britney Spears's Comeback Role

Her challenge was clear: Demonstrate that, even though she seems in recent months to have been traveling through life on the roaring, ragged edge of a tornado, she could still stop and stand still long enough to perform on camera, be as naturally charming as the role permitted, and let the audience conclude: “Well, she SEEMS all right. She seems like Britney.”

And she did all that in the space of a few mild comic moments. At least she balanced out that weird MTV awards appearance last fall where she looked like a Bond girl who’d come out of a coma.

Her part on the CBS sitcom wasn’t as cartoonishly flamboyant as her 2006 appearance on Will & Grace, as Amber-Louise, the Southern conservative co-host of a gay talk show. This time she played Abby, a humdrum receptionist in the office of a dermatologist.

In fact, the very first shot of the half-hour was of Britney at her receptionist’s desk, staring off like some girl in a Vermeer painting, or perhaps more precisely like Scarlett Johansson in a movie about Vermeer.

Frankly, I would have made the entire half-hour an ingenious stunt: Everything was happening IN THE HEAD of this sad, dreamy girl. But that was not the plot: Ted (Josh Radnor), undergoing a series of laser treatments to remove a tattoo, had a crush on the dermatologist doing the zapping (Scrubs’s Sarah Chalke), but the doctor kept resisting his efforts at flirtation.

The receptionist, meanwhile, developed a crush on Ted.

The script didn’t make much of this potential triangle. Britney mostly smiled with a sort of likable, hopeful pathos (except for one brief moment, when she handed the doctor a file with a bluntness that seemed inexplicably hostile).

Well, what’s wrong with likable, hopeful pathos? Plenty of celebrities would kill for even that.

But her best scene came at the very end: Abby, letting herself be seduced by the ridiculously rakish Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), unexpectedly and enthusiastically upped the ante. It was a sort of fantasy validation: This loser secretary, who tried to find herself reading self-help books, was transformed into a fun girl with thoughts only of uncomplicatedly naughty good times.

As she bolted from the office with Harris, it was as if Britney were rushing out to meet her former self.

Spears goes for laughs on CBS' 'Mother'

Problem is: Ted only has eyes for Abby's boss Stella (Sarah Chalke), a dermatologist. Ted's goal: to win a date by his 10th session with Stella. Nothing's working.

Finally, he figures: "The receptionist — that's my way in."

So he brings Abby coffee in a bid to impress Stella, but it charms Abby even more. During one visit, Abby trails him and Stella into an office to deliver a book — a self-help tome called "The Power of Me" — that he left behind in the waiting room.

The 26-year-old pop star, who previously was on a 2006 episode of "Will and Grace," appeared fresh-faced and relaxed, capably filling the small role. She was also the host and musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" in 2000.

Of course, she's made news in recent months not for being Britney the Performer but for her split with ex-husband Kevin Federline in late 2006, their subseqent custody battle, Spears' bizarre behavior and two hospitalizations.

Spears' cameo on the CBS sitcom may mark the beginnings of a more successful comeback attempt than last September's MTV Video Music Awards.

She remains under the conservatorship of her father, James.

Britney Case Not Very Appealing

A three-judge panel tossed out an appeal of Britney Spears' conservatorship filed March 11 by New York-based attorney Jon Eardley, who persists in fighting for the songstress despite having been told he has no authority to work on her behalf.

Supposedly in collaboration with Sam Lutfi, Eardley first tried to have the Spears family drama removed to federal court, alleging Britney's civil rights had been violated because she never received notice of her father's intent to petition for control of her estate, but a judge ruled Eardley was out of line.

"Mr. Eardley fails to explain why he can bring this claim for her in the first instance. He cannot," U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez wrote in his decision. "Mr. Eardley had no authority to remove the case from state court. He is neither a party nor a defendant. While he claims to be Ms. Spears's attorney, the probate court...found that she was incapable of retaining her own counsel."

And although Eardley bolstered his appeal with a declaration from a UCLA law professor who agreed Britney was not properly notified before Jamie Spears was temporarily handed the keys to his daughter's estimated $100 million fortune, the appellate court determined the arrangement laid out in probate court was perfectly kosher.

"An order granting letters of temporary conservatorship is specifically excluded from those orders made appealable by the Probate Code," read the 2nd District Court of Appeal's decision.

L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz named Jamie and attorney Andrew Wallet coconservators of Britney's estate on Feb. 1, the day after she was admitted to UCLA Medical Center's neuropsychiatric ward for evaluation. Earlier this month, she extended the order until at least July 31.

'Mother' gooses up Britney's comeback

Spears was unavailable for comment, but she is said to be a fan and learned of the role this month when casting notices went out to agents.

"I thought I was hallucinating when I got the call," says executive producer Carter Bays. "Our intention was to give a funny little part to an up-and-coming actress. Instead, we got the most downloaded person in the world."

Series star Josh Radnor says the cast tried to provide "a nice safe place" for Spears, whose erratic behavior, child custody disputes and other issues ranging from hairstyles to driving have long been gossip fodder.

There were no shenanigans on the Mother set, where Spears spent two days filming. Her character, Abby, is transformed from prim mouse to sexpot. "It's a cute, funny role, and she ended up being great in it," Radnor says. "She's actually very vulnerable and sweet."

Despite Spears' star status, there was normalcy during her few days with cast and crew. "There were no diva moments. She's a professional," Bays says. "Her people … her parents were there. She seemed to have a good time. I think she was grateful to be here."

But Mother got a taste of Spears' paparazzi appeal as helicopters flew above the 20th Century Fox lot. Security was beefed up to keep onlookers away, and cast and crew had to wear security wristbands, says Radnor, who disputed rumors that the cast had to approve Spears' appearance first.

"We both screwed up our lines (during taping) and made fun of ourselves," Radnor says. "She definitely has comedic instincts. She made funny line readings (during script read-throughs). That's the sign of a good comedic actor."

PR experts say Spears' guest shot — her first on a sitcom since Will & Grace in 2006 — should do a lot to polish her tarnished media image.

"This will be remembered as the beginning of the return of Britney as an actress, a personality, as someone trying to be normal in a pretty crazed world," says media and crisis management consultant Robbie Vorhaus. "Good for her."

The oldest trick in Hollywood

"Just how desperate is CBS?" they're asking rhetorically.

Welcome to the wacky world of TV stunt-casting.

Of course, Britney's little upcoming acting gig is nothing new to a medium that has relied upon celebrities infamous and merely famous as a handy little ratings-booster ever since Lucy Ricardo spotted William Holden at The Brown Derby over half a century ago.

And let's not forget presidential candidate Richard Nixon's legendary reading of "Sock it to Me?" on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In back in the late 1960s.

Comedy's always a good place to start when testing the waters of public forgiveness, which is why shows such as Saturday Night Live are quick to welcome the likes of a Joey Buttafuoco with open arms.

Over the years we've seen Zsa Zsa Gabor playing a thinly veiled version of Zsa Zsa Gabor on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air making reference to a certain cop-slapping incident or Patty Hearst popping up on Frasier, Boston Common or Veronica Mars.

Mike Tyson has both Who's the Boss and Webster on his acting resume, while Pete Rose paid a visit to Veronica's Closet.

Paris Hilton (pre-incarceration) marked time on Veronica Mars, The O.C. and George Lopez; American Idol runnerup Clay Aiken appeared on Scrubs, and late last summer Britney's ex, Kevin Federline, made some chat room waves of his own after it was announced he landed a recurring role on One Tree Hill.

Over on the Great White Way, where the streets are paved with stunt-casting, the practice has been regarded as much less of a stigma.

In fact, ever since a leather-jacketed Rosie O'Donnell slipped into Grease, many a Broadway musical has seen its life extended indefinitely thanks to the appearance of familiar faces late in the run.

If you flipped through a recent copy of the Sunday New York Times you might have noticed that Aiken's in Spamalot, American Idol first season runnerup Tamyra Gray is earning Rent money, John Schneider is currently in Chicago or that George Wendt has joined the cast of Hairspray.

While plans for K-Fed to make his Broadway debut in the musical version of Legally Blonde fell through, you will be able to see Mario (Saved by the Bell) Lopez strut his Dancing with the Stars stuff next month when he steps into A Chorus Line.

Meanwhile, back in Hollywood, Britney's TV gig will likely pale in comparison to what is bound to follow.

Given the sorry state of a TV season that was already showing signs of trouble before the writers strike, stunt-casting, which was once reserved for top TV shows such as Friends and Will & Grace, is destined to spread throughout what's left of the 2007-08 schedule like a bad flu bug.

At this very moment in Beverly Hills there's probably a producer of an upcoming Christmas-themed TV movie trying to figure out a way of getting O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake and Phil Spector together to play the Three Wise Men.

You laugh now ...

TV STUNT-CASTING WE'LL PROBABLY NEVER SEE

1. Eliot Spitzer on The Biggest Loser.
2. Dawn Wells on Weeds.
3. Danny DeVito on Smallville.
4. Keith Richards on Men in Trees.
5. Mary-Kate Olsen on Bones.

Britney Spears' TV wardrobe up for sale

Spears' wardrobe from her guest-starring stint on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" will be sold at an online auction to benefit the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental organization.

The weeklong auction begins Monday night, just after the episode featuring the pop star is set to air. Spears plays a flirty receptionist who falls for show's main character.

A half-dozen Spears-worn items will be available, including a navy print Juicy Couture dress, a yellow Nannette Lepore dress and a cream Nannette Lepore cardigan with blue flower details.

CBS and 20th Century Fox Television, which produces the show, are sponsoring the auction.

Britney's Bro Tackles the Trust Factor

Britney Spear's 30-year-old brother and Ivan Taback, the attorney sharing cotrustee duties of Britney's SJB account, have filed a motion seeking to confirm that her living trust also owns the majority of the 26-year-old's various companies.

Taback helped Britney establish her trust in 2004, appointing her as the sole trustee, but in light of the pop star's recent hospitalization and loss of control of her estimated $100 million fortune to a conservatorship, a court commissioner named the lawyer and Bryan cotrustees.

A hearing is scheduled for Apr. 17. If Los Angeles Supreme Court Commissioner Reva Goetz approves their request, the SJB trust will be the confirmed owner of, among other Brit-centric companies, Britney Brands Inc., Britney Films Ltd., Britney Online Inc., Britney Television LLC and Fairy Zone Productions. (Britney Touring Inc., however, has already been turned over to father Jamie Spears as part of his responsibilities as coconservator, duties he shares with attorney Andrew Wallet.)

The trust already holds most of her financial assets, including hefty bank and brokerage accounts, but her interest in her companies was not automatically transferred, according to court documents filed Monday.

Bryan and Taback also state that some of said companies need immediate attending to, whether because they're conducting ongoing business, owe taxes or are parties to litigation, and ownership needs to be established.

Taback claims that he and his fellow trustee are well within their rights to petition for the transfer.

In 2004, "Britney confirmed to me her desire that all of her material financial assets, including…her right title and interest in and to all legal entities which she then owned, be transferred and vested in the trust," the attorney stated in a declaration included with Monday's filing.

Meanwhile, Jamie Spears' temporary conservatorship has been extended until at least July 31. He has been granted a $2,500 weekly allowance from his daughter's estate, plus a car allowance, while Britney gets $1,500 a week for "walking around" money, which does not have to be used for legal fees or other major bills.

Britney's vocal recording 'secret'

Rollins was talking about how it always is a good idea to befriend the sound engineers at any music studio, because they're the ones with the best stories.

"They have the black chick come in and sing, and Britney sings over it, and they mix them together," said Rollins, who has his own talk show on IFC.

"(Britney) gets her phrasing basically from this older R&B woman. I found that out talking to an engineer.

"Britney apparently isn't actually the worst singer, she just has no feel. So they bring in this older black woman who sings the song, then Britney sings to it, and they kind of make a mix of the two voices, and that's what you hear on the records."

Britney's License Trial Parked Again

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Thursday postponed the troubled pop star's long-pending trial on the misdemeanor charge until June 18.

The continuance was expected, as Spears is currently unable to enter a plea on her own behalf, due to being under the control of a legal conservatorship.

Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Michael Amerian told E! News on Wednesday that he anticipated "no fireworks" in court.

"I don't expect anything to happen, especially with her not being able to enter a plea," he said.

Spears' criminal attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, was reportedly unable to attend the hearing because he was in trial, but sent an associate from his firm on his behalf. Judge T.K. Herman, who has been presiding over the case, was also absent and was replaced by a substitute.

Spears herself was neither required, nor expected, to be present.

The driving-without-a-license charge stems from the pop star's August 2007 hit-and-run accident, which occurred in front of the paparazzi's every-ready cameras.

Though Spears eventually reached a settlement with the owner of the other car, it was later discovered that she was not in possession of a valid California driver's license at the time of the incident. She did, however, have a valid Louisiana license, which has led to confusion over which law she specifically violated.

Britney, Miley Toon In to South Park

The life and times of the beleaguered pop star got even more cartoonish Wednesday night, when Spears was given the full-on South Park treatment, with her animated alter ego suffering through a botched suicide attempt and, ultimately, death by camera flash.

More thought-provoking than hilarity-inducing (though featuring a fair amount of yuks), the episode not only skewered Spears as the Comedy Central show had done with Tom Cruise and Marilyn Manson before, but also targeted the relentless media attention on the Blackout star and the indifference to her plight by her many hangers-on.

The episode, dubbed "Britney's New Look"—available to watch in its entirety on FunnyOrDie.com—begins with a "Britney Watch" breaking news update interrupting a Democratic presidential primary debate: Spears, camping near South Park, has been caught on camera peeing on a ladybug.

After learning of the hefty payday that results from such an embarrassing amateur snap, Cartman, Kyle, Stan and Kenny pass themselves off as Spears' sons and a squirrel, respectively, and sneak into the singer's local hotel room, where she is desolate over her newly perceived hatred of the red-and-black bugs.

Still passing themselves off as her Federtots, the boys enter her room and, after Spears learns she's been tricked and her beloved boys are not there after all, she sticks a rifle in her mouth and pulls the trigger, blowing off more than a majority of her head and leaving the foursome in stunned silence.

Quick to spot an opportunity for reinvention, Spears' manager, after learning the singer survived the gunshot wound with little more than a chin and a garbled, incoherent way of speaking, fast-tracks the star back into the recording studio and on to the stage at the MTV Music Awards, where her suicide attempt is ignored, but where she is roundly criticized for being "chubby," "lip-synching"—despite having no lips—and her "crazy, radical, no-top-of-head look."

To give her some semblance of peace, Kyle and Stan hatch a plan to take the headless singer to the North Pole, only to learn en route of a mass public conspiracy aimed at killing Spears. The reporters, photographers and "Britney Watch" voyeurs explain they need Spears to die so they can offer her up as a human sacrifice for their annual corn harvest.

After a last-ditch, unsuccessful plea from Kyle ("You guys are going to end up killing her. I know watching celebrities go down can be fun...but maybe it's time to let this one go."), the mob descends on Spears and ultimately kills her with the relentless flashes from their cameras.

Only after the headless Spears lies lifeless on the field does the group agree "it's time...to leave the poor girl alone."

As the screen cuts to shots of the year's bountiful corn harvest and the South Park citizens reaping the benefits in their local supermarket, the store's television just happens to switch on to Entertainment Tonight, which features a segment on 15-year-old Hannah Montana superstar and pop culture's newest princess, Miley Cyrus.

Britney's Dad to Sell Some of Her Cars

A court granted the singer's father on Monday the power to "sell or dispose of" an undisclosed number of her seven cars, documents show.

Lawyers for Jamie Spears stated that the cost of maintaining the fleet of vehicles was too expensive and that the sale of "a certain of" her cars "will save substantial expense to the conservatorship estate."

Among the singer's cars are two white Mercedes (a SL65 and a CLK350), a white Mini Cooper convertible, and a black Audi.

Also on Monday, a court spokesman clarified that the pop star's $1,500 a week allowance "is not her only source of (personal) income," but did not give further details.

Spears's father and a lawyer will remain in control of her affairs until a July 31 hearing.

Expert Agrees Britney Case Not Quite Kosher

New York-based lawyer Jon Eardley filed a new batch of documents Monday related to his appeal of the legality of Britney's conservatorship, including a declaration from a UCLA law professor that supports his theory that the 26-year-old pop star never received proper notice—as mandated by state law—that her father was seeking control of her estate.

A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner named Jamie Spears and attorney Andrew Wallet coconservators of Britney's estimated $100 million fortune on Feb. 1, a day after she was committed to the neuropsychiatric ward at UCLA Medical Center for observation.

Since then, Commissioner Reva Goetz has ruled that Britney was not fit to hire her own counsel and, most recently, allocated a $1,500 weekly spending allowance for the "Toxic" singer and a $2,500-per-week stipend for her dad while he's managing her affairs and authorized Jamie and Wallet to sell some of Britney's cars. The conservatorship has been extended until at least July 31.

Meanwhile, professor William McGovern stated in a declaration filed Monday that Britney should have been personally served notice of the court proceedings occurring while she was in the hospital because her case was not one where the rule of offering at least five days notice did not apply. In Britney's case, she was not facing imminent substantial harm.

Because Britney wasn't notified, due process law dictates that Jamie's heightened status should have been good for no more than 30 days, the declaration says.

Britney's right to pick her own lawyer was infringed upon by the appointment of her father as conservator, which allowed him to restrict and limit her visitors and who she can contact, McGovern continued.

He stated that he arrived at his conclusion after reviewing Goetz's temporary conservatorship order and corresponding documents filed by Jamie and Lynne Spears.

After a federal judge refused to remove the case from probate court, Eardley appealed the conservatorship and Jamie's court-ordered allowance on Mar. 11, despite U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez's previous finding that he had "no authority" to go to bat for Britney.

Meanwhile, documents obtained by TMZ shed some light as to why Jamie's camp is looking to liquidate his daughter's vehicular fleet.

Apparently Britney owns seven rides of various shapes and sizes and unloading the cost of maintaining, insuring and storing the vehicles will "save substantial expenses to the conservatorship estate."

Britney pal fights restraining order

Lutfi filed the papers Friday but was not present for a hearing Monday at which Commissioner Reva Goetz extended a temporary restraining order against him until April 16.

His one-sentence filing said: "Please take notice that Osama (Sam) Lutfi will not stipulate to the above-referenced case being heard by Reva Goetz, commissioner presiding, to whom the above-entitled case has been assigned."

The document was signed and indicated Lutfi was representing himself.

Although the document was filed Friday, it did not reach the courtroom in time for Monday's hearing, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini said Tuesday.

Parachini said Lutfi can appear in court April 16 to ask for the case to be reassigned to a judge.

Commissioners perform many of the same duties as judges but all parties have to agree to a commissioner hearing a case.

Michael Sands, a spokesman for Lutfi, said during the weekend Lutfi agreed to abide by the terms of the restraining order for another month.

The order directs Lutfi to stay at least 250 metres away from the pop star and her homes.

The order was requested by Spears' mother, Lynne, when Spears was in hospital on a psychiatric hold at UCLA Medical Center.

How I Met Your Mother

"Can we have sex and then go shopping?"

As you've heard, the pop star plays a receptionist at a dermatologist's office, opposite Josh Radnor. The promo features Spears opposite Neil Patrick Harris (who called Britney "really funny").

It's just the latest promising step in Britney's life post-hospitalization. She also met with Mel Gibson over the weekend – and a source tells PEOPLE the two have been meeting "regularly." Watch the clip here!

Source: Mel & Britney Have Been 'Meeting Regularly'

The pair and their families have met a number of times since Spears checked out from her second hospitalization last month, a source tells PEOPLE.

"Mel and his wife Robin clearly saw a woman in crisis and wanted to extend themselves in any way possible," the source says.

"There's just a handful of people in the world who understand the kind of intense attention that Britney goes through, and how to raise a family with some semblance of privacy and how to keep one's family intact and out of the limelight," the source adds.

"There are no expectations, there is no agenda. It's simply an act of human kindness – one neighbor reaching out to the other."

Gibson and Spears used to be neighbors when the singer previously lived in Malibu.

Britney Spears Ordered to Pay $375,000 in K-Fed's Legal Bills

Los Angeles Court Commissioner Scott Gordon called the legal billing "reasonable," in large part because "the actions of [Spears] caused the great majority of litigation."

Last week, the pop star's lawyer, Stacy Phillips, complained that Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, had over-charged Spears, and asked that Federline be ordered to contribute to his own legal bills in the former couple's ongoing custody case.

Citing Federline's tip of $2,000 on a recent $365 dining tab, Phillips contended that Federline could afford to help pay "for the diligent work being done on his behalf." She also criticized Kaplan for raising his hourly fee.

Family courts have the power to order one party to pay for the other's fees, based on income and needs.

Federline had previously declared in court papers made public last year that he had no steady income, while Spears takes in more than $700,000 a month.

Spears pal agrees to stay away from her

Lutfi and conservators for Spears' estate agreed to have the restraining order extended for 30 days, said a person close to the pop star who spoke on condition of anonymity because the extension had not yet been formally approved.

A judge was expected to approve it Monday.

Lutfi did not immediately return a phone message Sunday seeking comment. Phone messages and e-mails to lawyers for Spears and her estate co-conservators, which include her father, also were not immediately returned.

A Superior Court commissioner last month ordered Lutfi to stay 250 yards from Spears and her home.

Spears' mother, Lynne, requested the order based on allegations that Lufti - Spears' frequent companion and sometime manager - had held the singer hostage in her own home, drugged her and taken over her finances.

Spears' father, James, was named one of two co-conservators of her estate after the singer was hospitalized twice in January. The conservatorship has been extended until July 31.

Conservatorships are granted for people deemed unable to take care of themselves or their affairs.

Before her hospitalization, Spears had shown increasingly erratic behaviour. She shaved her head, was seen in public without underwear, ran over a celebrity photographer's foot and attacked a vehicle with an umbrella.

Spears has since had very limited contact with her toddler sons who are under the sole physical and legal custody of her ex-husband, Kevin Federline.

Britney's Surprise Dinner Date: Mel Gibson

The actor and the pop star – once neighbors in an exclusive Malibu community – were part of a two-hour group dinner at the Romanov restaurant in Studio City on Saturday.

"It was exciting to have both of them here together," says one restaurant source. "We heard they hit it off and that Britney seemed excited."

Clad in jeans, a green top and boots and chewing gum, Spears arrived at the Romanov restaurant with her friend Victoria. Gibson, accompanied by a few friends, soon joined them in the restaurant's private dining room, which features a 24-karat gold leaf ceiling, an ornate fireplace and a library stocked with such works as Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. For two hours the group dined on filet mignon and Russian specialties, and drank water and soft drinks.

Leaving the restaurant for her Studio City home around 8:15, Spears "looked happy," says an observer, "so it seems the meeting was a success."

UCLA fires employees for snooping into Spears' medical files

Jeri Simpson, the Santa Monica's hospital's director of human resources, confirmed the centre's action but could not say how many employees were affected.

The Los Angeles Times reported on its website Friday that more than 13 employees are facing firing and another six will be disciplined. The paper said a half dozen doctors are also facing disciplinary action for looking at her computerized records.

Spears was admitted to UCLA in February under a state law allowing patients to be held against their will for up to 72 hours for evaluation if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. Spears was released on Feb. 6.

Kim Kardashian Wants to Give Britney a Makeover

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star and stylist says in a new video blog post that she would love to give the pop star a little help in the fashion department.

"I would love, love, love to give Britney Spears a makeover," Kardashian says. "I think everyone wants to give her a makeover. But I think that she is so cute and sweet and has a great style. But it's all fallen apart and it's a mess now. I would love to bring her back to where she used to be."

Kardashian, whose E! show recently returned for its second season, also turns her attention to other celebrities in the three-minute video. She cites Jennifer Lopez as her biggest fashion inspiration. "I just love everything about her," the reality TV starlet says.

And when it comes to her football player beau Reggie Bush, well, Kardashian says he dresses himself just fine.

"Reggie has great style," she says, adding, "So, he doesn't really need much help."

J.C. Chasez on Britney

Chasez: I think everybody who's had the opportunity to appeal to her has, but this world isn't perfect and not everybody who has crossed her path has done right by her. I just know that she's been nothing but kind to me and... I hope that she comes out of this in a positive way.

Neil Patrick Harris on Britney: 'She's Really Funny!'

"She has a good sense of comedy, and has interesting choices," he tells PEOPLE. "It wasn't like she has just been told to stand up there and deliver those lines. I was really surprised by that. She's really funny!"

Harris, who will be on set Thursday filming with the pop star, added, "She seems to be doing very well … No strange accents. She seemed comfortable."

Harris tells PEOPLE that when the pop star's team approached the show producers for the part, "everyone was flabbergasted. We didn't think she wanted to act." But, the cast welcomed the opportunity. "I want to allow her to show a different side of herself. We're proud of her desire to change her image."

Spears 'having a blast' on show set

Spears has been taping her much-hyped cameo on the CBS sitcom for the March 24 episode, in which she portrays a receptionist in a dermatologist's office named Abby who crushes on Ted (Josh Radnor).

"Working at 'How I Met Your Mother' has been so terrific," Spears said in a statement Thursday. "Everyone, including the cast, the crew and the producers, has been wonderful and Abby is such a fun girl to play. I'm having a blast!"

CBS spokesman Kelli Raftery said Spears attended a table reading with the cast on Monday, did a "run-through" on Tuesday and filmed scenes Wednesday. She was scheduled to shoot scenes Thursday and Friday.

Radnor told People.com that "on the first day of the shoot, Britney knew her lines better than I knew mine. She's been great to work with."

Spears has previous TV sitcom experience playing a character on a 2006 episode of "Will and Grace." She was also the host and musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" in 2000.

"How I Met Your Mother," returning Monday with all-new episodes following the writers strike, co-stars Radnor, Jason Segal, Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris as twentysomethings living in New York City.

Spears has been under the conservatorship of her father, James, following bizarre behaviour and two hospitalizations. She is also locked in a custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over the former couple's sons, Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2.

Britney Spears's New Video: Cyborgs and Thigh-High Boots

"It's been a while. I know I shouldn't have kept you waiting. But I'm here now," sings Spears, 26, in the video as her animated character dons a short black body suit and knee high boots to take on cyborg-like attackers. (Britney fan site breatheheavy.com is currently featuring the clip.)

Just as she seems to be surrounded, Spears's character sets off a bomb and jumps out of a high-rise building, with the words "To be continued..." leaving viewers wondering what happens to Spears's character.

After viewing the video, fans could chat live with others about the clip in a "cyber party".

Earlier, her label Jive Records announced the posting of the clip directed by Robert Hales, of Gnarls Barkley "Crazy" video fame.

Britney Spears is animated superhero in new video

The music video will premiere on Wednesday on dedicated Web site (www.BlackoutBall.com) at 6:30 p.m. EDT and accompanies her latest single "Break The Ice" -- the third from her 2007 album "Blackout."

The release of the video, along with an upcoming acting role on U.S. television comedy "How I Met Your Mother," marks something of a comeback for Spears, 26, whose career has been sidelined by psychiatric problems and months of bitter child custody battles.

Spears' Jive record company said the video was made in South Korea in Japanese anime style. Spears last year released two singles from the "Blackout" album which has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide but whose commercial success pales in comparison to the singer's heyday six years ago.

In the past year, Spears has been in rehab, lost custody of her sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline and been hospitalized twice for psychiatric evaluation.

Management of her personal and business affairs have now been handed over by court order to her father.

Television executives said on Monday that Spears had been cast in an episode of "How I Met Your Mother." The episode is expected to air on March 24 and according to insiders Spears will play a receptionist in a doctor's office.

Spears got her first role in a prime-time U.S. television series in March 2006 when she played a Christian conservative talk show host in a guest appearance on "Will & Grace."

Brit Concerns, Impresses Mother Stars

With Britney Spears on hand to rehearse her upcoming guest spot on the CBS sitcom, most people can't approach the sound stage without the proper security clearance, which came in the form of a color-coded wristband, according to Neil Patrick Harris, who plays the suit-wearing, skirt-chasing Barney on the CBS sitcom.

Harris told E! Online's TV blog Wednesday that even he was denied at one point, although he ultimately made it past the guards, considering he's the castmember with the Emmy nomination and all.

"I did eventually make it on set, because I just kept going through," the actor said. "But there were lots of 'Hey, hey—I need to see your wristband,' and I said, 'Lady, I'm actually on the show, so I don't have a wristband.'

"So, that's the kind of excitement there is on Stage 22 right now, mid-Britney."

Spears arrived at the Fox Studios set in a chauffeured black Cadillac Escalade at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday with her usual two bodyguards in tow.

Shortly before noon, Spears' car was dispatched back to her Beverly Hills home to pick up mom Lynne Spears, who had just returned to the gated Summit community after spending the morning visiting with her grandkids at Kevin Federline's house.

Lynne was spotted outside her daughter's trailer several times once she arrived at the studio (she had the right wristband, apparently), but reporters were hard-pressed to get another glance of Spears after her initial drop-off.

Harris—who more or less agreed with "quite impressed" costar Alyson Hannigan that Spears was doing a "good job" in her bit role as a sweet-natured receptionist at a dermatologist's office (where Ted is finally going to get his "tramp stamp" removed)—said the only thing that concerned him about the pop star's very prominent presence was what the casting coup implied about the show's status.

"It wasn't like CBS or How I Met Your Mother is trying to get ratings and said, Who can we star-cast to get attention," Harris said. "We were literally just filming last week and told, 'You're not going to believe who just called and said they wanted to be on the show.'

"So, that's sort of how it all went down…My only reservation about her being on the show at all is that it appears that we are desperate for ratings, and that's not the case, we're sort of in a good comedy groove. So, my only concern is one of appearance."

Asked how Barney would handle Spears if the two came face to face, Harris maintained his character's signature cockiness.

"He'd definitely trump Osama Lefty," Harris concluded. "Barney would out-Adnan Adnan."

Hannigan, meanwhile, had nothing but praise for the scene-stealing Spears.

"I have been quite impressed by Britney’s performance," the erstwhile Buffy the Vampire Slayer witch told E! Online. "The character she is playing is very sweet and endearing, which seems to come naturally to her. Not to mention, she has good comedic timing, which helps, given we’re a sitcom.”

The onscreen dermatologist temporarily employing Spears as a receptionist is being played by Scrubs star Sarah Chalke, a last-minute replacement for Alicia Silverstone, who opted not to appear at the same time as Spears in order to avoid what she assumed would be a totally chaotic scenario.

Denied Britney Lawyer Tries Again

The New York-based attorney who was already ruled to have no authority to work on Britney Spears' conservatorship case went ahead Tuesday and appealed the establishment of said conservatorship.

In documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Britney's behalf, Eardley objects to, among other things, court commissioner Reva Goetz allowing Jamie Spears and attorney Andrew Wallet to assume shared control over Britney's finances without giving the 26-year-old singer a requisite five days notice of intent.

Goetz made Jamie and Wallet temporary coconservators of Britney's estate on Feb. 1, the day after she was hospitalized for psychological evaluation at UCLA Medical Center, and then last week extended the arrangement until at least July 31.

In addition to the conservatorship as a whole, Eardley is appealing its prolongation, maintaining the Mar. 5 unscheduled hearing was "conducted in secrecy and without notice of counsel."

He's also looking to reverse Goetz's approval last week of a $2,500 weekly stipend for Jamie and $58,000 in attorney's fees for Britney's court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham—both sums that will come out of Britney's estimated $100 million fortune.

Supposedly at the behest of Britney's once-constant companion, Sam Lutfi, Eardley previously tried to get the pop star's conservatorship case transferred to federal court, arguing that the state court had trampled her civil rights by imposing her father's authority without properly investigating Jamie and Lynne Spears' outspoken concerns about Britney's welfare.

U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez shot down Eardley's motion on Feb. 26, ruling the attorney had failed "to explain why he can bring this claim for her in the first instance."

"Mr. Eardley had no authority to remove the case from state court," Gutierrez wrote in his decision. "He is neither a party nor a defendant. While he claims to be Ms. Spears's attorney, the probate court...found that she was incapable of retaining her own counsel."

Gutierrez did do a good turn for Eardley, however, ruling he didn't have to fork over $43,000 in compensatory attorneys' fees to Jamie Spears for engaging the conservatorship in the superfluous struggle.

In the meantime, a temporary restraining order has been keeping Lutfi at least 250 yards away from Britney and any of her property. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Monday, when the order is set to expire.

Britney Drawn to Perfection

Although she's supposedly busy whipping herself into camera-ready shape for an upcoming video, the 26-year-old pop tart has opted to skip a step and order up an animated version of her sleek self instead.

Photos released Tuesday by Jive Records depict Spears in anime superhero mode, replete with long blond tresses and an angular jaw. In two of the shots, the singer is suited up in different futuristic, body-hugging outfits.

Another is a hazy close-up of cartoon-Spears' face, while a fourth is a shot of a skyscraper with the word "Victory" printed vertically on its side, flanked by what looks like the moon.

Jive would not comment on where the pictures came from, but Britain's Sun tabloid is reporting that they're stills from Spears' video for the upcoming single "Break the Ice," off of 2007's Blackout, and that the "Toxic" chanteuse came up with the idea.

As far as her fans previously knew, Spears has been logging numerous hours in a North Hollywood dance studio rehearsing routines for her "Hot as Ice" video, having enlisted a couple of top L.A.-area choreographers to help her bust a move, not to mention bust out of her slump.

While Blackout has sold over 2 million copies worldwide, Spears' attempt to recreate the "Gimme More" magic onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards did not go over well, with critics slamming every aspect of her performance, from her outfit to her attitude.

Friends of Spears have said that she is finally serious about a comeback, now that the drama surrounding her physical and mental health, her parents, her driving record and her children has somewhat settled down.

Neil Patrick Harris 'Shocked' By Britney Casting

“I was shocked that Madame Spears was willing to come and do some acting,” Harris, 34, tells Entertainment Tonight.

Noting “she hasn’t acted in a while,” Harris goes on to say, “This is a very interesting role. It is very not like her at all in real life in any of her previous chapters.”

In April 2006, Spears guest-starred on NBC’s Will & Grace as a two-faced conservative talk-show host alongside Sean Hayes’s flamboyant character Jack.

On How I Met Your Mother — set to air March 24 — “She plays the secretary to another girl that Ted [Josh Radnor] is after. So, it will be very unlike any Britney we have seen before, and we have seen a lot of Britney recently.”

Harris also tells ET that paparazzi will not be a problem when Spears, 26, shows up, because the series is shot on the secure FOX lot.

But he jokingly muses: “What if she shows up on set and she is absolutely, totally normal and that whole thing has been a big ruse?”

As he imagines it, “She is smoking a cigarette and [says], ‘Oh yes, it is all a big bit. I have a master plan.’ ”

Britney Spears Alicia's Guest Spot

Sources who work on the set of the critically acclaimed show confirm to E! Online's TV blog that would-be guest star Alicia Silverstone has pulled out of her planned stint on the series after learning that Spears would be appearing on the same episode.

Neither producers nor the network has commented on the role reneging.

But our sources say Silverstone's exit has nothing to do with bad blood with Spears. Instead, the Clueless alum feels the atmosphere would be "too chaotic" with Spears on the set.

Scrubs' Sarah Chalke has stepped in to fill Silverstone's vacated role of Stella, a hottie dermatologist lead character Ted (Josh Radnor) falls for. Spears has signed on to play Abby, Stella's "sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy" secretary.

As a longtime fan of the series, Silverstone will still try and squeeze in a guest spot on the show at a later date, though no new deal has been set.

As for Spears, she attended the table read for the episode on Monday.

The episode is expected to air sometime next month.

Britney Bound for the Boob Tube

Britney Spears has signed on to guest star in an upcoming episode of CBS' critical darling sitcom How I Met Your Mother. A rep for show runners Carter Bays and Craig Thomas tells E! Online's TV blog that the casting coup "is true."

Spears' role is, for the time being, slated to be a one-episode endeavor, and will likely air toward the end of April.

The casting coup, first reported by Pink Is the New Blog, accounts for why the Blackout artiste was not present for her morning custody hearing. Spears instead spent the morning hours on the Fox lot along with her agent for a read-through of the episode.

Sources tell E! News that Spears will play a character called Abby, who works in the doctor's office of Ted, the main character played by Josh Radnor. Spears' role is described as "sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy—a female Michael Cera."

Papa Jamie Spears no doubt approves of the paying gig. As the coconservator of her estate, he has final say over any contracts or deals his star spawn may enter into, at least until July 31.

The Britney Spears-starring episode of the CBS sitcom will be the third the cast and crew will film since returning from the writers' strike-imposed hiatus, and the 14th of the season. New episodes begin airing next Monday.

How I Met Your Mother, which also stars Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal, is currently in its third season. It revolves around Ted, who recounts to his children the shenanigans of, as the title suggests, how he met their mom.

Judge Rules: Britney Gets $1,500 Allowance

The pop star, who is worth an estimated $100 million, has been approved for a $1,500-a-week allowance on a debit card, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz ruled Monday.

In addition, Goetz approved the hiring of two specialist attorneys to help the singer and her lawyers sort out her affairs while Spears is under a temporary co-conservatorship.

One, Jorge Hernandez, will get a $25,000 retainer to be an around-the-clock consultant on all questions pertaining to the co-conservatorship. The other, lawyer Tom Hansen, will receive $15,000 a month for his services as an entertainment lawyer consulting on Spears's entertainment deals and contracts.

The ruling comes the same day as a separate hearing in which lawyers for Spears said that her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, should take responsibility for some of his legal bills in the former couple's ongoing custody battle.

The question of who will pay the legal fees "is under submission," according to court spokesman Allan Parachini. "When the judge will rule, I don't know."

Britney lawyer fights K-Fed legal fees

Attorney Stacy Phillips told a Los Angeles court commissioner Monday that Federline's lawyers are only entitled to about $150,000 to $175,000.

She also says Spears' ex-husband can pay his lawyers on his own.

Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan says the case is unusually complicated and all the billing is legitimate.

Commissioner Scott Gordon had not yet ruled on the matter Monday as the hearing continued behind closed doors.

Britney Forwarding Mail to the Feds

A source close to the songstress tells E! News that Spears has been the recipient of a number of disturbing letters and packages, including at least one letter mentioning "how to bomb" and others containing threatening language and "weird gibberish."

The situation has become so off-putting that Spears' camp is planning to hand the unwelcome mail over to local law enforcement and the FBI, the source said.

Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Officer Ana Aguirre told E! News that no specific investigation has been launched in connection with Spears' postal drama, as yet, but that authorities "have been looking at allegations that have cropped up in the past couple of months."

An FBI spokesperson says the bureau doesn't comment on ongoing investigations.

According to the Spears insider, the offending communiqués have been sent to multiple locations associated with the "Gimme More" singer. And in addition to the previously mentioned creep-outs were a letter than mentioned Israel and the Middle East (obviously sent by someone confusing Britney Spears, Pop Star, with Britney Spears, Diplomat).

"A lot of it was disturbing stalker kind of stuff," the source said. "But to be safe her security team is turning it all over to the police and FBI."

Court Orders Britney to Cut Dad a Check

According to documents from Wednesday's impromptu court hearing, Jamie Spears will now be paid a weekly compensation of $2,500 from his daughter's estate for acting as her conservator. He has also been authorized to lease a car on the estate's dime.

Before taking charge of his daughter's estate, Jamie Spears most recently worked as a caterer.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz ordered the payments in documents signed Wednesday but released by the court on Thursday. The court docs do not make it clear what the money and car are to be used for.

Jamie Spears' control over his daughter's affairs was extended Wednesday through July 31. Prior to the hearing, his temporary conservatorship had been scheduled to expire on Monday.

In addition to setting up Papa Spears' compensation package, Goetz ordered the troubled pop star's estate to make a $58,800 payment to her court-appointed attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, who represents her in the conservatorship case.

Goetz also gave Spears' psychiatrist the go-ahead to hire two additional doctors and pay them a $9,000 retainer from the estate.

On Monday, lawyers for Spears and Federline are due back in court to hash out the latest issues in the ex-couple's child custody case. A hearing in the conservatorship case also remains on the docket for Monday, despite Wednesday's events.

As part of a deal hammered out between by her conservatorship lawyers and Kevin Federline's legal eagle, Mark Vincent Kaplan, Spears has recently been permitted occasional visits with her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. However, she is still not allowed to spend time with the boys without supervision.

Spears' father retains control of estate

Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz extended Jamie Spears' control until July 31, said court spokesman Alan Parachini. Parachini wasn't immediately able to provide more information.

James Spears was named co-conservator of the pop star's estate after she was hospitalized twice in January. His temporary authority to handle her affairs was to expire March 10.

In the year leading up to the hospitalizations, Spears had been caught on camera by paparazzi engaging in increasingly bizarre behavior. She shaved her head, beat a vehicle with an umbrella, wore skirts sans underwear and left her car on a busy thoroughfare after getting a flat tire.

The strange outbursts and hospitalizations contributed to the 26-year-old losing custody of her young sons, Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2. Ex-husband Kevin Federline continues to have full custody.

Spears was allowed brief visits with the boys beginning in late February after not seeing them for nearly two months. That happened after Spears and Federline "agreed to a modification of the court's order" that had stripped Spears of her visitation rights, according to Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Spears' parents came to Los Angeles around the time of her second hospitalization. They pushed to restore visitation rights with the boys.

Britney Spears Earns Raves as a Dance Teacher

And her pint-sized pupils are singing her praises. "I like Britney," 5-year-old Elissa Bouganim, who has taken three classes with the pop star, tells PEOPLE. “Today, first we were dancing slow, and then faster and faster ... Then we did the fish-move and lots of other fun things."

The troubled 26-year-old has become a semi-regular instructor at the Millennium Dance Complex in the past month – as she has settled into an uncharacteristically quiet routine overseen by her dad Jamie.

"It's just amazing to watch Britney with the kids," says Elissa's mom, Pam. "Elissa won't stop dancing now, that's all she wants to do. Britney has really inspired her."

In fact, Elissa has grown so fond of her new teacher, she even gave Spears a gift during Tuesday's class. "It was a picture of [Peter Pan's] Tinkerbell," she says. "And she gave me a hug."

These days, Elissa would be happy if Spears taught all her classes. "Britney is nice," she says. "I want to dance with Britney all the time because it's so much fun."

Britney Gets a House Call

Two UCLA psychiatrists paid Britney Spears a house call at her Beverly Hills residence Saturday afternoon, one week after a court commissioner granted the "Baby One More Time" songstress permission to see sons Sean Preston and Jayden James for the first time since Jan. 3.

A source tells E! News that Spears' bodyguard escorted the doctors from the Westwood-based medical center to her home in the posh, gated community of Summit Circle at approximately 2 p.m. They subsequently met with her for two hours before departing around 4 p.m.

No word on the nature of the checkup.

However Mark Vincent Kaplan, the attorney for the popster's ex-hubby Kevin Federline, told E! News last week that as part of her agreement to retain visitation rights with her kids, Spears is obligated to undergo "custody evaluation" by medical experts among other requirements.

The "Toxic" singer's privileges were reinstated after a deal was hammered out between Federline's camp and lawyers for Luce Forward, the law firm which is handling Britney's temporary conservatorship for her dad, Jamie Spears.

A court awarded the elder Spears the conservatorship on Jan. 31, giving him control over her assets on the very same day his 26-year-old daughter was forcibly admitted to UCLA's psych ward on a 5150 hold. She remained there a week before quietly being released.

Since regaining face-to-face contact with two-year-old Sean and 17-month-old Jayden, Spears has reportedly seen them on three occasions since last Saturday. But not without supervision. A court-appointed monitor, her father, K-Fed's security guard and an attorney for Luce Forward were on hand to observe the visits.

After reconnecting with her boys again yesterday, Britney then put her pop star skills to good use, turning up two hours later at the Millennium Dance Complex where she taught an hour-long dance class for kids.

Nearly six months following her disastrous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, Spears is also reportedly on the comeback trail.

The "Gimme More" purveyor has purportedly been holed up in a North Hollywood dance studio rehearsing moves for a new video for her next single, "Hot as Ice," off her latest album, Blackout, which is set to shoot in the coming weeks.

Britney Headed Back in the Zone

E! News has learned that the "Gimme More" songstress, who has been logging numerous hours in a North Hollywood dance studio recently, is gearing up to start work on a video for another tune off of her latest album, Blackout.

"She wants to do the single 'Hot as Ice' as her next video and is ready to take the next step," said a source close to Spears. "She's been working a chair routine out in the studio and is ready to animate it."

To get herself camera-ready, Spears is going to start rehearsing up to four days a week and is looking to hook up with some top local choreographers.

The 26-year-old divorcée, who spent another three hours at home with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James Thursday morning as part of her new visitation arrangement, is "very clear" and focused on her dance training, the source said.

While her much maligned performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in September was also referred to as a comeback, the troubled popster—who at that point hadn't yet lost joint custody of her boys—apparently was fated to face far more serious issues before she could worry about the ol' song and dance.

"Now that a lot of the drama is behind her, she's really getting serious about making a comeback," the source said.

And what of Spears' physique, which as all of her critics know isn't quite what it was back in her heyday?

"Once she gets working out more in the studio, the pounds will come off," the insider added. "They always do."

Spears saw her children for the first time in nearly two months on Saturday, although, per the deal hammered out by attorneys overseeing her father's conservatorship and longtime Kevin Federline counsel Mark Vincent Kaplan, mother and sons were far from alone.

Jamie Spears; a lawyer from Luce Forward, the firm handling his coconservatorship of his daughter's estate; and one of Kevin Federline's security guards were on hand Saturday and are believed to have been present for another visit Monday, as well.

Britney's 'Affectionate' Visits with Her Kids

Preston, 2, and Jayden, 17 months, spent more time at their mother's house on Wednesday morning – the third visit Spears has had with her children since lawyers for the singer and her ex-husband Kevin Federline reached a visitation agreement on Feb. 22.

Spears's recent visits with her boys have been full of hugs and affection, PEOPLE reports in its new issue (on newsstands Friday). "Kids this age are amazingly resilient, and the very close bond that Britney has with her children is apparent," a source tells PEOPLE.

On Saturday, Spears reunited with her sons for the first time since she was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Jan. 3. She also had another visit with them Monday.

According to the source, Spears's father, Jamie, and psychiatrist Dr. Lee Sadja have been monitoring the visits between the boys and Spears, who has had two stints in the hospital this year. Sadja began treating the singer during her most recent hospitalization at the UCLA Medical Center psych ward.

Police reviewing alleged Spears drugging

Police Capt. Kyle Jackon said in a statement Wednesday that the allegations "are being considered" by the Robbery-Homicide unit to determine if laws have been violated.

Jackson says no suspect has been identified.

Spears' mother claimed in recent court papers that the pop star's sometime companion Sam Lutfi drugged Spears and tried to take control of her life. Those claims led to a restraining order against Lutfi.

Spears is currently under a court-ordered conservatorship.

Lynne Spears 'Sings Praises' of Britney's Dad, Jamie

"Jamie had to change his whole routine. Lynne sings his praises. He has been such a rock. He has stepped up to the plate," a family friend tells PEOPLE.

"He's gathered a team of reputable people who are around [Britney] now. She's not well, but for the first time in a long time she has people around her who really care about her."

As for how Lynne is coping with having her daughter in and out of the hospital, the friend says, "She's up and down. It's a roller coaster ride as a mother."

Plus, Lynne also wants to spend time with her pregnant 16-year-old daughter, Jamie Lynn, who lives in Kentwood, La., the source says. "She has to spend time between L.A. and Kentwood. As a mother she feels needed in both places. She's doing whatever she can to help both girls. She's got that maternal instinct, and it's in high gear."

One positive step for the family has been Britney's recent visits with her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

"Lynne talked to Jamie, and he said it was a good visit," says the source. "[Britney] slipped into that motherly mode. They picked up right where they left off. She still has a long way to go [to get better], but that's what we hope and pray for ... Lynne and Jamie want their child to be whole again."

Judge Rejects Civil Rights Challenge in Britney Case

U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez returned the case to state probate court and sent a rebuke to the lawyer who launched the challenge, Jon Eardley, who had claimed to represent Spears.

"Mr. Eardley fails to explain why he can bring this claim for her in the first instance. He cannot," Gutierrez said in his three-page ruling. "Mr. Eardley had no authority to remove the case from state court. He is neither a party nor a defendant. While he claims to be Ms. Spears's attorney, the probate court ... found that she was incapable of retaining her own counsel."

The ruling means that Spears's father, Jamie, remains firmly in control of her $100 million estate and day-to-day affairs. Jamie had been named as a temporary co-conservator of her estate.

Spears' dad, lawyer trade legal barbs

Attorney John Eardley, who told The Associated Press he was the "only person who represents Britney Spears," filed documents in federal court asserting that she is being held by her father in a situation that violates her civil rights.

A lawyer for James Spears said in papers filed Monday that Eardley cannot represent the singer because a probate judge in state court found that Britney Spears "lacks the capacity to hire an attorney, and Mr. Eardley cannot remove the conservatorship proceedings on his own behalf."

The pop star, 26, and her estate were placed under a temporary conservatorship after she was taken to UCLA Medical Center on Jan. 31, her second hospitalization in a month. Conservatorships are granted for people deemed unable to care for themselves or their affairs.

Eardley took aim at James Spears in legal documents filed Friday.

"Mr. Spears has now moved into her house and has taken control of her financial assets, as well as her physical custody, all without the benefit of a hearing where Ms. Spears would be present," he said.

Eardley said that Spears has never been on good terms with her father and said he was "concerned for the emotional and physical safety of Britney under these circumstances."

In his motion, Eardley said Spears had "been in a form of private confinement for nearly a month. Certainly, at this point, it is likely that circumstances have changed and it is time that the conservatee be brought into court for a hearing, where the court can evaluate her in person and hear testimony directly from her."

The document suggests she be allowed to retain her own medical professionals to evaluate her condition.

"There are financial issues which involve the possible misappropriation of assets," Eardley said but did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, attorney Jeffrey Wexler, representing James Spears, filed a response Monday complaining that the effort to move the case to federal court is without legal basis and is draining James Spears financially.

Wexler said that the conservator has already incurred more than $42,898 in legal fees to fight the effort launched by Eardley. Wexler argued the law being cited by Eardley applies only to cases of racial discrimination.

James Spears has asked to send the matter back to state court and to award him attorneys' fees.

In the phone interview Eardley said he had filed additional documents under seal Monday and expected a hearing to be set soon.

Asked when he last consulted with Britney Spears, Eardley said, "I talked to her a few days ago and someone wrestled the phone away from her. I've not talked to her since then."

Britney Spears Gets a Visit From Her Sons Again

The singer's children Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, were driven to her Studio House by Kevin Federline's bodyguard for a three-hour visit.

It was the second visitation in three days; on Saturday, Spears saw her children for the first time since Jan. 3 after working out a structured visitation arrangement with Federline.

Meanwhile, attorneys for Spears's father Jamie filed another round of papers in federal court on Monday, urging a judge to quickly end a civil rights challenge to Jamie's control of his daughter's $100 million estate and keep the co-conservatorship case in state court.

Lawyer Needs More Time

Jon Eardley, an attorney who claims to represent the pop star, had been asked by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Gutierrez to file papers by Feb. 22 explaining the civil rights challenge. Instead, Eardley on Friday told the judge he needed more time to formally file.

In legal documents, Eardley claims that Britney retained him Feb. 12 before her phone was taken away and the line disconnected. Eardley also continued to maintain that the conservatorship case in state court violates her constitutional rights.

But in motion filed Monday, the conservatorship attorneys say Eardley, in addition to failing to meet the court's filing deadline, has not proven that he even qualifies as Britney's attorney or addressed the most fundamental legal issues in the case.

The conservatorship motion asks that the case be immediately returned to Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz, and that Eardley be forced to reimburse $43,000 in attorney fees.

While the civil rights issue remained unresolved in federal court, the conservatorship case in state court is stalled.

"There's nothing for this court to do today. We're in a holding pattern," said Goetz at a hearing Friday.

Britney's Night Out with Dad

Just before 8 p.m., the pop star and her dad were joined by an assistant, a family friend and two bodyguards for dinner. Clad in a purple silk dress, Spears smiled and appeared in good spirits as she headed inside.

"Britney looked stunning and everyone turned around to get a glimpse of her," says a witness at the restaurant, adding that the group lead Spears to a private dining room. "Everyone seemed extremely protective of Britney."

The party of six dined on a seafood tower with lobster, steak, french fries and lobster mashed potatoes. But Spears's good mood seemed to diminish over dinner. According to an observer, "She seemed quiet." After numerous bathroom and cigarette breaks, Spears and co. left the restaurant around 9:30 p.m., making their way through a pack of photographers with the help of restaurant staff.

Asked if he'd ever helped a celebrity exit the restaurant, a chef told PEOPLE, "Never! It was like being in a war zone. I almost lost my [chef's] hat."

Brit and Boys: Reunited!

For the first time in nearly two months, the beleaguered pop star had face-to-face contact with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, during a Saturday morning, court-monitored visit, sources confirm to E! News.

The boys, who have primarily resided at Federline's home in Tarzana since October, were packed into his gray Dodge Viper truck by a bodyguard and shuttled to Spears' home on the Studio City-Beverly Hills border around 9 a.m.

The visit lasted until noon, at which point the boys were driven back to Federline's, wearing smiles on their faces.

Aside from Spears and a court-appointed monitor, there were several other key personnel on hand, including: Britney's father, Jamie Spears; a Federline security guard; and a lawyer from the Luce Forward law firm, which is handling Britney's conservatorship for Jamie Spears.

According to an insider, the 26-year-old pop star was not permitted to take the boys, ages two and one, into another room without the others watching.

The ground rules for the visitation were hammered out Friday night, by lawyers for Luce Forward and ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"None of this would have happened if Jamie Spears had not been involved. That's for sure," Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told E! News Friday. "He gets a lot of credit for helping make this happen. But we've worked very hard with the conservator lawyers, as well, to make this all work."

Federline has had sole custody since October, and Spears hadn't seen Sean and Jayden since Jan. 3, after she refused to allow Federline's bodyguard to pick up the boys after one of her monitored visits and ended up under observation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The troubled songstress was stripped of her visitation privileges and has only been allowed to contact the boys by phone, but even those conversations have been few and far between, sources tell E! News.

Spears is not slated to see the boys tomorrow, according to a source, and plans to stay home and watch the Oscars in the company of her dad and Adnan Ghalib.

Commish Puts Britney on Hold

At a brief hearing Friday regarding Jamie Spears' conservatorship status, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz said the case was in "a holding pattern" until a federal judge determines whether there's cause to move the proceedings to U.S. District Court.

"There's nothing for the court to do today," Goetz, who earlier this week extended the temporary control over Britney's estate until Mar. 10, said after Spears' legal camp briefed her on the parallel proceedings. "We are in a holding pattern until the district court decides which jurisdiction should continue with the case."

When Jamie Spears' attorneys offered to hand over copies of all documents filed so far in federal court, Goetz said, "You keep them. I want to keep the line of demarcation clear so no one thinks I'm overstepping my bounds."

U.S. District Court Judge Philip Gutierrez is planning to review arguments from both sides on Monday.

First there's Jamie Spears and coconservator Andrew Wallet, who called the transfer request a "brazen—but vain—attempt to strip a probate court of jurisdiction." And then there's New York-based attorney Jon Eardley, who had his (and Sam Lutfi's) publicist file the petition and who may or may not be legitimately acting on Britney's behalf.

Papa Spears' side will continue to argue that, because Britney was previously found to be unfit to hire her own attorneys, Eardley's hiring is bogus and any motion he filed in connection with the conservatorship case is invalid.

Late Thursday, Gutierrez approved Jamie's request to extend until Mar. 17 a temporary restraining order against Britney's self-proclaimed protector, Sam Lutfi, who was finally served yesterday, a day before the order was set to expire, after successfully dodging process servers for three weeks.

"Despite our very best efforts, and I mean our very best, Mr. Lutfi did not surface until after the deadline had passed," attorney Geraldine Wyle said in court, explaining why Lutfi wasn't served at least 48 hours before the order expired.

But although they managed to keep Lutfi away, regardless, Jamie's legal team from the firm of Luce Forward said they would prefer the case stay in L.A. Superior Court because "the federal process doesn't really suit a conservatorship."

K-Fed Opens Door for Britney Visits

Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said Friday that the two sides have worked out a modified agreement that will soon allow the singer to spend time with her sons for the first time in almost two months.

He didn't go into details but sources say Britney will have limited monitored visits with two-year-old Sean Preston and 17-month-old Jayden James.

The court commissioner still has to sign off on the deal and fax it over, Kaplan told E! News Friday. When that happens, "Ms. Spears will be seeing her boys very soon after that. But it's not a total done deal yet."

As for reports that father Jamie Spears and a psychiatrist will also be along on those proposed visits, Kaplan said, "It will involve many more specific terms to be met than just those two people in the room. We have put lots of specific terms, conditions and protections in place to make visitation happen in the safest way possible.

"None of this would not have happened if Jamie Spears had not been involved. That's for sure," Kaplan added. "He gets a lot of credit for helping make this happen. But we've worked very hard with the conservator lawyers, as well, to make this all work."

Score one for the conservatorship, apparently. While Britney may be simultaneously trying to retake the control she lost to her dad when she was hospitalized Jan. 31, her custody-related legal team has also been working hard this week to get her some face time with her kids.

"I think that both sides agree that visitation would be what's best for the children," Kaplan told E! News earlier Friday, before the deal was announced. "Certainly that's something that she keenly desires to have start as soon as possible."

All parties just want to "assure that there will be continuity and stability," he said. "They say the devil's in the details, so that's what everyone's working on right now."

Federline has had sole custody since October, and Spears hasn't seen Sean and Jayden since Jan. 3, after she refused to allow Federline's bodyguard to pick up the boys after one of her monitored visits and she ended up under observation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The troubles songstress was stripped of her visitation privileges and has only been allowed to contact the boys by phone.

But while Federline seems to have things under control—"A hands-on dad…He's with the kids 24/7," Kaplan said—the consensus is that Sean and Jayden shouldn't be without their mom for too long.

"Kevin looks forward to developments in the future whereby the children will have a mother who will participate in their lives," said Kaplan, who has been meeting with Britney's outgoing and incoming family attorneys, Anne Kiley and Stacy Phillips, to fashion a visitation game plan. "That's his goal, that's [Jamie Spears'] goal, that's her lawyer's goal. So, in that regard, we are all on the same page."

And the fact that Jamie is temporarily in charge of his daughter's finances and general welfare hasn't exactly been a bad thing, as far as Federline's camp is concerned.

"With Jamie as the conservator, it puts a lot of different dynamics into the case that were necessary but not present before," Kaplan said.

"Obviously, Jamie is somebody who is reliable, that has the best interest of the petitioner in mind. He has, so to speak, cleaned house and got everyone away from her that he didn't feel were necessarily acting in her best interests."

So, it seems pretty clear as to where Kaplan stands as far as Britney pal Sam Lutfi, who under a temporary restraining order is prohibited from approaching the singer until at least Mar. 17, is concerned.

"The fact that he's served is a good thing," Kaplan said. "I think it just gives the conservator more control over the situation and certainly protects against outside contact that probate court is trying to stop."

But as far as Britney's time with Sean and Jayden is concerned, Jamie's increased influence in the Blackout popster's life is a good thing, not least because Jamie and Lynne Spears have already been cultivating their relationship with the kids while they've been staying at K-Fed's house.

"I think that his presence in the case is an extreme positive, and it helps to stabilize a situation that was wildly in flux," Kaplan said. "At least I don't have to be nervous about what [the] situation is over at the residence where visitation might be taking place.

"When I'm nervous, it's not necessarily a good thing. You have children in the middle and you always have to keep a view of that. You can't go into court, regardless of how impassioned your plea is, with something you know is not reasonably going to be perceived as what is best for the children."

And perhaps with mom back in the picture, dad will be able to pursue some of the film, TV and even stage offers Kaplan says is coming Federline's way these days.

"I don't think it will affect the kids, because what he takes will be based in part on his availability to be there," he said. "That's extremely important to him. He certainly wouldn't take any offer that would deprive the children of his presence."

The next hearing in the Spears-Federline custody case is set for Mar. 10.

Britney has yet to undergo a court-ordered evaluation, the report from which must be turned in 10 days prior to the hearing, Kaplan said. The evaluation will be a "key ingredient" in determining Britney's readiness to care for her children.

Sam Lutfi Served (Finally)

After three weeks of dodging process servers, Britney Spears' former sidekick was officially bestowed with a temporary restraining order barring him from any contact with the Blackout songbird.

Lutfi, 33, was served Thursday at about 11 a.m., as he left his apartment on the west side of Los Angeles, according to court documents obtained by E! News.

The order was immediately requested by Spears' father, Jamie, after he and lawyer Andrew Wallet were appointed temporary coconservators of her estate on Feb. 1.

In an affidavit submitted in support of the restraining order, mother Lynne Spears alleged:

"Mr. Lutfi drugged Britney. He has cut Britney's home phone line and removed her cell phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything—Britney's business manager, her attorneys, and the security guards at the gate."

The order, preventing Lutfi (whose full first name is Osama) from having any interaction with Spears or coming within 250 yards of the ex-Mouseketeer or any of her properties, was initially good for 21 days, but may be extended.

At a hearing a week ago, a lawyer for Jamie Spears said her firm had spent more than 200 hours trying to hunt Lutfi to no avail.

"He's intentionally avoiding service," groused attorney Jeryll Cohen. (Cohen apparently wasn't scouring the clubs—Lutfi managed to attend a Paris Hilton party at an L.A. hot spot days earlier.)

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz said Lutf must be served 48 hours prior to a hearing on the order, previously scheduled for Friday. A court public information confirms the hearing is still on the docket for 1:30 p.m.

The commissioner had been willing to postpone if Cohen's crew couldn't find Lutfi, who served as Britney's right-hand man, personal manager and gatekeeper before her meltdown brought her parents back into the picture.

Lutfi's not going without a fight. The tug-o'-war over the 26-year-old Britney between her parents and Lutfi has continued to play out behind the scenes.

Sources have told E! News that Lutfi has been responsible for trying to circumvent Jamie Spears' conservatorship, helping arrange New York-based lawyer Jon Eardley to attempt to have the conservatorship dissolved and the case relocated from Los Angeles Superior Court to federal court on the grounds of Britney's civil rights being violated.

Indeed, the elder Spears suggested Lutfi was pulling the strings in a filing seeking to block the venue change.

Stating that Britney isn't capable of hiring counsel and, therefore, Eardley is "an attorney without a client"—Jamie filed a motion Tuesday objecting to Lutfi & Co.'s "brazen—but vain—attempt." (View the motion.)

So far, the federal judge has agreed, expressing skepticism at Eardley's request. However, the judge did give the lawyer until Mar. 17 to come up with a viable reason.

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Paparazzi arrested in West Hollywood

All four men were arrested for misdemeanor violations of obstructing a public walkway and released with citations, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said Wednesday.

Photographers David Tonnessen and Christian Shostoe were arrested around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday in front of West Hollywood's B2V Hair Salon, where 50 paparazzi tried to get shots of Spears, Whitmore said.

The two men did not comply with deputies' requests, Whitmore said.

"They were repeatedly asked to disassemble in front of the entrances and they were obstructing traffic as well, going into the street," he said.

About 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, in front of the nearby Villa nightclub, deputies arrested photographers Christopher Gonzalez and Vagn Rauch, who were there along with 20 other photographers on the sidewalk, Whitmore said.

The celebrity news Web site TMZ.com reported that Lindsay Lohan was at the club.

Shostoe and Gonzalez, who both work for TMZ, were "fine" after the arrests, TMZ Managing Editor Harvey Levin told The Associated Press.

Levin said Shostoe was held in a sheriff's car for an hour and then released and Gonzalez was detained for six hours at the West Hollywood sheriff's station. Levin alleged that a deputy broke one of the men's cameras.

"They are a little mystified," Levin said. "These are people who are instructed not to chase, and don't. For better or worse, the Sheriff's Department wanted to make examples of them."

Attempts to contact Tonnessen and Rauch were unsuccessful.

"We've been saying for a long time that law enforcement needs to crack down, that they've closed their eyes to a lot of dangerous things happening," said Levin. "The danger is blowing lights, running people off the road. ... This was not one of those situations."

He said it was "kind of bizarre that for a while now they've been watching these chases, and this is their first stand."

Dad Fights "Brazen" Attempt to Move Brit Case

A U.S. District Court judge has given attorney Jon Eardley—the latest legal eagle enlisted by the "Toxic" songstress to battle her father's conservatorship status—until Feb. 29 to provide a legitimate reason to remove the case from Los Angeles to federal court.

A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for Mar. 17.

Sam Lutfi's publicist filed a petition on Feb. 14 to transfer the case on behalf of the New York-based Eardley. The complaint alleged Britney's civil rights had been trampled by the court's refusal to properly investigate her family's claims that she's unfit to manage her finances, choose what company to keep and make various other decisions regarding her welfare.

Michael Sands, acting as spokesman for both Lutfi and Eardley, said last week that he had filed the documents before a court commissioner extended Jamie Spears' temporary conservatorship until Mar. 10, thereby making the action null and void.

Meanwhile, an L.A. Superior Court spokesperson said Friday that all Britney business remained under their jurisdiction.

"Jon Eardley is very happy that the judge will look at the explosive documentary evidence in the Britney Spears conservatorship railroad," Sands told E! News Tuesday.

"This is a very positive step that the judge is concerned. Jon Eardley will have court papers filed by Feb. 29...This is the first step in the victimization of Britney Spears by L.A. Superior Court."

But just in case Eardley can come up with an argument to sway U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez, Britney's father has cooked up plenty of reasons to block the switcheroo.

Jamie Spears' camp—arguing that Britney isn't capable of hiring counsel and, therefore, Eardley is "an attorney without a client"—filed a motion Tuesday objecting to Lutfi & Co.'s "brazen—but vain—attempt to strip a probate court of jurisdiction before it could enter Orders" prolonging the conservatorship.

Eardley's "well-pleaded allegations" do not present an issue of federal law, the filing states, adding that any charges on Eardley's part that Jamie Spears "supplements" his daughter's medication "disregards the fact that the Probate Court has not granted Mr. Spears medical powers and that medications therefore do not fall within the scope of the conservatorship."

In response to Eardley's contention that Britney's "unenviable status of having virtually no privacy in her life" and her "suffocating confinement" at the hands of her conservators could affect the effectiveness of her treatment, the conservators argue, once again, that the probate court did not grant Jamie authority over the troubled pop star's medication.

"Because there is no logical relationship between Britney's fame and the alleged federal interest to be addressed," Eardley's concerns about Britney's medical treatment under her father's care are a moot point.

The conservators are also asking that Eardley foot the bill for this latest round of attorneys' fees, because he "lacked any reasonably objective basis" for filing the removal request.

But it's the fact that Britney was previously ruled incapable of hiring her own lawyers that will likely prove the largest obstacle to sending the case to federal court.

"In Britney's case, the commissioner revoked her power to retain her own legal counsel," Kevin Whittaker, a San Francisco-based litigation attorney who's not involved in the Spears case, told E! News last week. "Oftentimes, the conservatee can retain their own legal counsel. This wasn't the case with Britney. So, the new attorney's claim to be her legal counsel will be found invalid."

A reason why Jamie's camp is arguing that papers filed on her behalf listing Eardley as counsel of record don't amount to a hill of beans.

Jamie and attorney Andrew Wallet were named temporary conservators of Britney's multimillion-dollar estate on Feb. 1, the day after she was admitted to UCLA Medical Center's psych ward for evaluation.

Although Britney was spotted dining out with her dad in Hollywood over the weekend, sources close to her have said she is anxious to extract herself from his legal grip.

She has not met with Eardley in person, Sands said, but they have spoken several times. And sources close to the situation have said Britney has been in contact with Lutfi—through an intermediary.

Lutfi, who has continued to avoid being served with the Spears family's restraining order against him, "is at war with Jamie," a Spears insider told E! News Friday. "This is his first strike."

Judge postpones Spears' traffic case

Superior Court Judge T.K. Herman continued the misdemeanor case until March 20 after lawyer J. Michael Flanagan said Spears' conservatorship attorneys "do not think she is qualified or capable of entering into a binding agreement" at this time.

The attorneys also don't believe Spears, 26, is capable of giving a deposition or signed declaration, Flanagan said.

Earlier this month, a judge placed Spears under the conservatorship of her father and an attorney after more than a year of increasingly bizarre behavior by the singer.

Spears hit a parked car on Aug. 6, 2007, and left without notifying the owner. She was originally cited for hit and run and driving without a license, but the hit-and-run charge was dropped.

Lawyer: Dad Helping Britney's Bid for Visitation

In fact, attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan was full of praise for the elder Spears, who has emerged as a controversial force in Britney's life recently – and who was front-and-center at Tuesday's family court hearing.

"Jamie Spears's presence is an extreme positive," Kaplan told PEOPLE, adding that the patriarch's continued presence could make it possible "to develop a visitation plan that enables these children to have a mother in their lives."

While Britney's visitation with children Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, was discussed at Tuesday's hearing, there was no official legal progress on the matter. (Spears has not seen her sons since her Jan. 3 standoff with police.) Still, Kaplan said, "[Jamie] brings that day closer. Absolutely."

Jamie's role as temporary co-conservator – overseeing Britney's wellbeing and estimated $100-million fortune – has attracted its share of criticism. His own daughter is apparently seeking legal remedies to regain control and, in a recent interview with PEOPLE, attorney Jon Eardley claimed that Jamie's conservatorship was a "violation of [the singer's] civil rights."

Kaplan, however, sees Jamie's control as a "huge step." "He's building from the ground up," the attorney explained. "[He's] stabilizing the situation, removing people that may not have had [Britney's] best interests at heart."

Does that mean Britney could see her kids again in the near future?

"We all want this as soon as possible," said Kaplan. "That's Kevin's desire – to have his kids visiting their mother. That's everyone's goal in this case."

Britney Spears Gets a New Attorney - Again

Phillips, who was approved by a court commissioner Tuesday, replaced Sorrell Trope, who quit after complaining of problems communicating with the troubled pop star.

A Columbia University law grad, Phillips represented Bobby Brown in his divorce from Whitney Houston, and Tori Spellling's ex, Charlie Shahnaian. She's also a frequent legal analyst in magazines and on television.

She also authored Divorce: It's All About Control, once explaining that, "I've yet to handle a divorce where control was not an issue or at issue."

Phillips becomes Spears's fourth lawyer in her ongoing battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. Her first attorney, Laura Wasser, resigned from her case last September shortly after Spears's divorce from Federline was finalized.

Spears then hired the firm Freid & Goldsman, but their relationship ended within days, before retaining Trope, who sought to leave the case, come back, then filed papers again to depart, this time for good.

No Gagging the Brit & K-Fed Crew

Jamie Spears, the singer's father and coconservator; Andrew Wallet, an attorney and fellow coconservator; Anne Kiley, Spears' current attorney in the custody case; Stacy Phillips, Spears' custody attorney-in-waiting; Mark Vincent Kaplan, Kevin Federline's attorney; and, of course, the ringmaster himself, Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon were all present as the session got started Tuesday morning.

Spears herself was not—and not required to be—present for the day's proceedings. Federline, too, was absent from the courtroom.

Several police officers did show, however, in the event either of the ex-Chaotic couple decided to drop in for the fun.

The first order of the potentially long day was to discuss the possibility of an expanded gag order, which Kiley argued should be put in place against those involved in the inner workings of the case. Gordon, however, quickly denied the request.

"The First Amendment rights aren't absolute," she said in court. "We are not trying to control the paparazzi. We are trying to control what we can control...We've heard nothing from [Kaplan] in his papers or arguments as to why it is that attorneys need to make statements to the media."

Kiley was seeking to quiet attorneys on both sides from speaking to the media to protect the singer's emotional and physical well-being. Gordon said the concern, while legitimate, should be resolved between the media and law enforcement agencies, and not by the court.

"We are dealing with a very critical issue here," Gordon said of Kiley's gag request, which also sought to keep private the dates and times of the custody hearings. "The public does have the right to know what the court is doing and to see that it's accurate.

"Your main concern is the conduct of the photographers, and that is a law-enforcement issue. All the attorneys on both sides have proceeded with nothing but dignity."

After the ruling, Gordon said he would formalize Phillips' appointment as Spears' new custody attorney by the end of the day, when Kiley and her firm, Trope and Trope, announces their withdrawal.

Then the commissioner cleared the courtroom to conduct the rest of the day's proceedings in private. Spears is attempting to have some custody rights restored during the hearing—she hasn't seen sons Sean Preston and Jayden James since early January, when she refused to hand them over, prompting her first involuntary trip to a psych ward.

Last week, Gordon tentatively approved Trope and Trope's bailing, provided a new attorney was ready and willing to step in to represent the troubled 26-year-old.

E! News has learned that Phillips, who made her Spears legal debut by donning bright silver stilettos and a grape skirt suit, filed documents with the court last week to sub for the beleaguered Trope and Trope at the behest of Jamie Spears.

During the public portion of the hearing, Phillips was sitting alongside the elder Spears.

A source inside the closed-door courtroom told E! News that when Gordon finally began the process of approving the old switcheroo, Kiley was "smiling" and looked "happy about it."

Phillips, who has previously represented Tori Spelling, Bobby Brown and Axl Rose in their respective divorces, steps into the case in a slightly different capacity than her predecessors.

While Trope and Trope repped Britney herself in the custody battle, Phillips will work in conjunction with Jamie Spears and Wallet and function in court as an attorney for the singer's conservatorship, which, for the time being, still has control over Spears' estate and legal decisions, including any that may deal with custody of her sons.

Once the conservatorship ends—the next hearing is penciled in for Mar. 10—the revolving door of Spears' attorneys may turn once more, with Spears getting the option of sticking with current counsel or selecting a new custody attorney of her own choosing.

In the wake of a relatively calm and stable, by Spears standards, week or so, today's hearing may potentially also seek to amend the singer's current custody rights. At present, the pop star is only allowed to speak with her children over the phone.

A source tells E! News that it's possible Spears could be granted limited and monitored visitation with the boys, a point her attorneys are arguing this afternoon, but that will likely not be made known until the end of the closed-doors hearing.

A total of seven items were originally on the docket for today's proceedings, though, according to Kaplan, the count is already down to six.

While footage of Spears running a red light while being aggressively trailed by paparazzi last year was originally due to be shown in court, Federline's attorney said it will no longer be aired, telling a reporter outside the courtroom, "It won't be necessary."

Britney's Lawyers Prepare for Custody Hearing

Insiders doubt there will be any major change from the current custody arrangement, which bars Spears from visiting her sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1. (She is, however, allowed telephone contact.) Still, it's possible the 26-year-old singer – who hasn't seen the boys since her Jan. 3 standoff with police – could be awarded some temporary physical access.

Tuesday's court session – which was scheduled after Spears's stay in the psych ward at the UCLA Medical Center – sets the stage for more major hearings in the coming weeks, as Spears and Kevin Federline seek to reevaluate their custody agreement. (Her former husband and backup dancer is seeking full physical custody.)

The judge may also hear arguments from Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, who has asked for a full psychological evaluation of the troubled pop star.

But the biggest news out of today's hearing could be a change in representation for Spears. Los Angeles attorney Sorrell Trope has asked – for the second time – to be released from the case. (The law firm of Trope & Trope filed similar papers in January, but later withdrew the request.

Possible replacements include Laura Wasser, who resigned from Spears's case in September. At the time, she denied "dumping" Spears, telling PEOPLE the singer's legal team simply needed "fresh blood." But Wasser appears to be back in the picture, after reportedly visiting Spears during her UCLA stay.

Britney Watch

The Britney Effect: The Impact a Year After Her Buzz Cut

"It was a major disruption in my life," says Esther Tognozzi, owner of Esther's Salon, where Spears shaved her head. "I have tourists come by from other countries, and we keep the door locked since people try and sneak in to take pictures or sit in the chair she sat in."

Tognozzi no longer answers her salon phone (due to the high volume of media calls as well as pranksters) and was forced to hire a lawyer when people started posting Web sites in her name, pretending to pawn off Spears's hair.

"They were using my identity," Tognozzi says, "Talk about an invasion of privacy. I got a little glimpse of her world, and it makes me feel bad for her."

Having been in business for 25 years, Tognozzi has a loyal clientele, and she prefers to take on new customers on via referrals. Still, she will get the occasional fan.

"This idiot came by the other day, and he makes a buzz gesture and asks to get a haircut," she explains. "He said he had come all the way from Canada."

Awaiting Britney's Return: Still in possession of Spears's hair and the buzzer used that fateful night, Tognozzi says she is only waiting for the pop star to retrieve the items herself.

"People offered me quite a bit to buy it, especially in the first 48 hours since they wanted to drug test it," she says. "But it would be nice if she came back and collected it."

Tognozzi is hoping her discretion will pay off for the Etchmiadzin Children's Fund, an Armenian orphanage she works with. "Maybe she'll give me a check to help the orphanage," she muses.

Trouble at Tattoo Parlor: While Tognozzi has her share of pranksters, Dave Rothburgh, the owner of Body and Soul Tattoo in Sherman Oaks, where Spears went after her haircut for two tattoos (a black, white, and pink cross on her hip and red lips on her wrist), had to deal with a more dangerous audience.

"We had stalkers and people calling with death threats," Rothburgh remembers of the months after Spears's visit, "They would leave nasty messages, like, 'We're gonna kill you! How could you do that!"

Chuckling at the thought of doing "$10 million in Spears tattoos", Rothburgh was taken aback, and relieved, by the lack of interest. "We were surprised that we only had one or two people asking for the Britney Spears lips. But even those people do it as a joke, not because they idolize her."

Now, things are pretty much back to business as usual. He says, "You get all the hoopla for a few months, then nobody really cares." Still, Rothburgh admits, "We did have a BBC crew in last week who wanted to look around."

Britney Spends Quiet Weekend with Father

When his daughter did go out, Jamie Spears, who has been appointed a conservator in charge of Britney's well-being and her finances, accompanied her to dinner, with the two joining a small party at Citrus at Social Hollywood, on Sunset Boulevard.

Outside chef Michel Richards's new restaurant, a photographer asked the pop star, 26, how she was doing. "Good," she replied gently.

At dinner, "she seemed totally normal and level-headed, and everyone with her seemed calm," said a customer in the restaurant. "She was with a table of five people."

When she left, she exited through a side door, and took a coffee cup with her.

The occasion was a stark contrast to exactly a year ago, when a frenzied Spears went into a San Fernando Valley salon and shaved off her hair.

Dressed for Dinner

On Saturday, she wore a long chocolate-brown jersey dress with spaghetti straps, accessorized with silver jewelry including drop earrings, a necklace and a watch.

The previous day, the singer spent time inside some West Hollywood boutiques, where she browsed rather than bought.

The weekend also brought an invitation from her Beverly Hills neighbor, Heidi Klum – who said Spears could come live with her, husband Seal and their three children as a means to help get her life back on track.

Lawyer: Britney Spears's Civil Rights Violated

Jon Eardley, a lawyer with practices in Washington, D.C., and New York, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on behalf of Spears on Thursday. He lashed out against the existing conservatorship as a "violation of [Spears's] civil rights," and requested the case be moved from California state court to a federal court.

"I see the case as a civil rights case," he tells PEOPLE. "These are issues of confinement. Very serious confinement. Not allowed to contact her friends. Not allowed to use the phone. Not allowed to come and go as you please. Bodyguards controlling you and so forth."

Spears's father Jamie was granted temporary conservatorship – allowing legal control of his daughter's well-being and finances – after Spears was placed under an involuntary, emergency hold at the UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric ward late last month.

Since her release on Feb. 6, she has spent much of her time at her Studio City home, and when she does go out, she is usually driven by a bodyguard. In court papers, Eardley states: "She is being confined by the conservator to the private prison of her own home."

On Friday, a Superior Court spokesperson said that the existing conservatorship and other orders "are still in effect," and that court officials are unaware of any federal court action or scheduled hearings on the matter.

Legal Maneuvering

"The saddest part [of the legal maneuvering] is it is all to [Britney's] detriment," says a legal insider. "The limited conservatorship puts in place medical care and protection of her assets that may be put at risk by the distraction and expense of having to get such an opportunistic and counterproductive action dismissed."

In fact, legal experts say Eardley's legal gambit is unlikely to succeed. "It's not like the judge read papers filed by one side and made decisions without giving each side due process," says Loyola Law School Professor Stan Goldman, who is not involved in the case.

"It would be quite surprising if the federal court granted a hearing on this," he adds, "and a total shocker if it ruled against the conservatorship."

In addition, the Superior Court has found that Spears "lacks the capacity" to retain counsel of her choosing. Because of that, lawyer Adam Streisand, who went to court on Feb. 4 to challenge the conservatorship on her behalf, removed himself himself from the case.

Spears Sought Out Lawyer

Eardley says he has not met the pop star, but Spears sought him out: "She reached out by phone. I have no idea how [she got my number]."

The attorney says he doesn't normally represent celebrity clients. But now Eardley has hired publicist Michael Sands, who until recently worked with Kevin Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan.

When asked if Spears's often-erratic behavior posed a danger to herself and others, Eardley answered, "I don’t," adding that he sees far worse cases on the streets.

"In downtown Los Angeles I'm surrounded by people talking to themselves and having fits on the street," says Eardley. "They are out in public. They are not being institutionalized."

Klum says she wants to help Spears

"She can call me and come live in our house with us for a couple of months," said Klum, a mother of three who is married to the singer Seal and lives in Beverly Hills, Calif. "I would help set her straight."

"I am sorry when a young person gets thrown so off track," Klum said, according to a transcript of an interview that will be aired Monday night by the German broadcaster ARD. "She has, of course, lived an extremely wild life."

After more than a year of bizarre behavior and two stints in a psychiatric hospital this year, Spears was placed under a conservatorship by the Los Angeles County Superior Court commissioner at the beginning of February. Conservatorships are established when a court determines that someone cannot take care of themselves or their affairs.

To hear Klum, the host of Bravo's "Project Runway," describe it, her own life seems like a fairy tale.

"I have never been as happy as I am today," Klum said. "I have found the man of my life and we have three great kids. They are all so different and fantastic that it really can't get better than this."

Britney's Shopping Day: Browsing, Not Buying

At all three places she appeared to do more browsing than buying as the President's Day weekend was just beginning.

On the domestic front, her family is caring for the pop star. Father Jamie Spears has been granted a co-conservatorship over his daughter's affairs, while brother Bryan is acting a co-trustee of his sister's revocable trust.

(A Los Angeles County Superior Court commissioner placed Spears under a conservatorship at the beginning of this month. Such conservatorships are established when a court determines an individual cannot take care of herself or her affairs.)

Mother Lynne Spears, who departed Los Angeles earlier this week, had been part of the attempted healing process, spending rare quality time with her daughter – cooking for and shopping with her.

In terms of the calendar, Saturday marks an unusual anniversary: It's exactly a year since the pop star turned heads by shaving hers.

Experts question Spears lawyer's moves

In a document filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, attorney Jon Eardley writes that Spears has not "received the benefit of a single hearing before the court," and "is being confined by the conservator to the private prison of her own home," in violation of her civil rights.

After more than a year of bizarre behavior and two stints in a psychiatric hospital this year, Spears was placed under a conservatorship by a Superior Court commissioner at the beginning of February. Conservatorships are established when a court determines someone cannot take care of themselves or their affairs.

In his federal court filing, Eardley asks "whether an adult child may be subjected by her parents to their complete and total control" and claims her conservators — her father, James Spears, and attorney Andrew Wallet — control what prescription medications she takes.

Calls for comment to Eardley's phone numbers in Washington, D.C., Jericho, N.Y., and Whittier, Calif. were not returned on Thursday or Friday.

Commissioner Reva Goetz has found that under the terms of the conservatorship, Britney Spears lacks the capacity to hire her own lawyer without the approval of her conservators.

Another attorney, Adam Streisand, unsuccessfully sought to represent the singer during a probate hearing Feb. 4 when he argued that she told him by phone that she wanted her father removed as conservator.

Legal experts were doubtful that Eardley's bid to remove the case to federal court would succeed.

"Anyone who's under a conservatorship can argue that they've lost their civil rights," said Peter Tiersma, a law professor who teaches trusts and wills at Loyola Law School. "That's what a conservatorship does, it takes away some of your rights."

If the federal court were to take jurisdiction of the Spears case, said Tiersma, "that would mean that anyone under a conservatorship could do this, and that's a loophole you could drive a truck through."

Family law attorney Alexandra Leichter said the existing orders in the case, including Goetz's decision that the pop star cannot retain counsel, will stand until a district court rules on whether it will take the case, which she said is highly unlikely.

"This is strictly a state matter. The fed court will not take jurisdiction of this case. That is so far-fetched and off the wall," said Leichter. "They'll laugh them out of court."

Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini would not comment on the federal court filing.

"All current orders in this matter remain in full force and effect," he said.

The filing was delivered to the Superior Court by Michael Sands, a publicist who says he represents Britney Spears' sometime manager and friend, Sam Lutfi. Until recently, Sands worked for an attorney who represents the singer's ex-husband Kevin Federline in a custody dispute over their two young sons.

Sources: Sam Helping Britney Fight Back

A Los Angeles Superior Court spokesperson told E! News Friday that all of the orders pertaining to Jamie Spears' conservatorship over his daughter's affairs are still being handled in the local court, contrary to reports that the case has been transferred to federal jurisdiction.

And, contrary to the efforts of Britney's dearest-if-not-so-nearest to take it there.

Sources close to the situation confirm that Lutfi, who after two weeks has yet to be served with the restraining order Britney's family obtained against him Feb. 1, is behind the filing this week of a strongly worded petition seeking to move the troubled singer's custody and conservatorship cases from L.A. court to federal court.

"Sam is at war with Jamie. This is his first strike," a Spears insider said Friday, explaining that Lutfi feels Britney's rights were violated because court-appointed attorneys did not investigate the claims her family was making about her condition.

Lutfi's new publicist, Michael Sands, who insists that the case has been transferred, filed the petition this week on behalf of New York attorney Jon Eardley, who is listed in the paperwork as Britney's counsel.

"Ms. Spears has been denied the right to associate freely with friends. She has been denied the right to make or receive telephone calls. She has been denied the right to operate a motor vehicle…She has been denied the right to receive and send mail," the petition states.

"Additionally she has been denied the right to her finances. She is not allowed to access her money or credit cards."

"Britney has expressed that she doesn't want to be under the lock and control of her family," Sands said Friday. "She wants nothing to do with her father."

And the case now "resides" in federal court, due to a technicality, he added.

"Because the court's order appointing her father conservator until Mar. 10 wasn't signed until after the notice of removal was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court...the order extending the conservatorship...is void and invalid," Sands rationalized.

But although Sands suggests that it's time for Jamie to back off, the Superior Court spokesperson maintained that they have received no request to turn over any materials related to the Spears' case to U.S. District Court.

Meanwhile, E!'s source says Britney spoke to Eardley before the petition was filed and is planning a new attack on her dad's conservator status.

Eardley is planning to present evidence showing Jamie is not qualified to oversee her affairs, even with the help of a coconservator, and will point to examples in his personal and professional history to prove he isn't capable of making decisions for his daughter, the source said.

She has basically conveyed that she doesn't want to be in her family's control," Sands said.

Legal experts say, however, that because Britney was previously found unfit to hire her own counsel, it's unlikely that Eardley will be allowed to represent her, thereby making the petition to transfer the case invalid.

Eardley could not be reached directly for comment but, via Sands, he said, "I will try this case in court, not in the media."

On Thursday, L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz extended Jamie Spears' conservator status until at least Mar. 10, when the next hearing is scheduled, and named Britney's brother, Bryan Spears, and his attorney cotrustees of her SBJ Trust, which is used to pay for daily expenses and medical bills.

Britney's increased efforts to push her dad out of the picture come just as she seemed to be settling into a warmer relationship with mom Lynne, whom she hadn't seen for months before her blow-up with Lutfi last month that resulted in a mass migration of paparazzi, cops and, eventually, Britney's parents to her Beverly Hills home.

But the quality time will be on hold for awhile as Lynne heads back to their hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, where 16-year-old daughter Jamie Lynn could probably use some guidance, as well.

"Lynne feels like Britney is in a much better place and on the right track," a family insider says. "She had to get home and take care of Jamie Lynn and other personal matters. She will be back soon."

LA gallery portrays paparazzi photos as art form

Billed as one of the first shows of its kind, the Los Angeles-based paparazzi agency Buzz Foto on Friday began a week-long exhibit of glossy pictures of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and other stars that they believe could one day grace the walls of major museums and art galleries.

Buzz Foto hopes its 26 shots will show that paparazzi photography, despite its reputation for intrusiveness and bad manners, can be a form of art.

"Our photographs have the potential to hang next to those great masters. Executed properly, images of today's celebrities can exude an incredible amount of style and elegance that portray our ever-changing and exciting pop culture," said Buzz Foto co-founder Brad Elterman, a 30-year industry veteran.

"No-one has thought about being proud of paparazzi. People think we are just one step above being child molesters. But we are not tacky people," Elterman told Reuters.

On the walls of the Maryam Seyhoun Gallery on Melrose Avenue -- a stone's throw from the famed celebrity and paparazzi hangouts of The Ivy restaurant -- a startled Diana Ross is captured, without make-up, pushing a shopping cart in her local supermarket.

Socialite Paris Hilton is snapped wearing a leopard print swimsuit and high heels, clutching a tiny dog in one hand and placing a neon pink surfboard into a luxury car.

A single image of Britney Spears, shot in the summer of 2007, shows the fallen pop star wearing a pink wig, sitting in a car, and staring blankly straight at the camera lens.

The 24-hour paparazzi pursuit of Spears during her highly-publicized meltdown for what is thought to be a bipolar disorder has brought controversy and condemnation.

Several paparazzi trailing Spears night and day have been arrested for reckless driving and she has been followed by photographers into churches and bathrooms, prompting one Los Angeles councilman to propose a "personal safety zone" law to protect celebrities from intrusive photographers.

Buzz Foto says it does not assign photographers to trail the troubled pop star because working with the "pack," with its crushes and high-speed chases, is too dangerous and the market for wacky Spears pictures is saturated.

But Elterman and business partner Henry Flores say there is no longer a market in posed pictures of celebrities.

"The red carpet is dead. Magazine editors want to see these people in real-life situations," Elterman said.

They are not alone, it seems. Several celebrities have accepted invitations to Friday's opening reception where the photos are expected to be snapped up for around $2,000 each.

Bryan Spears: Britney's New Money Man

Bryan was named a co-trustee to his famous sister's SJB revocable trust, where the singer keeps most of her money, according to court documents.

So what does it mean to be a trustee? Bryan – along with Ivan Taback, a partner in the personal planning department of the New York-based law firm Proskauer Rose who was also named a co-trustee – now have the power to pay for Britney's "continued security, medicine, food, other day-to-day expenses and for psychiatric and other medical services," according to court documents.

Bryan and Taback were named co-trustees because of an existing clause in the trust. According to the trust, if Britney stops being a trustee, "then Bryan Spears ... and Ivan Taback may act as successor co-trustees under the trust "

The troubled 26-year-old singer, who was recently released from the UCLA Medical Center psych ward, has been stripped of her trustee powers because she is currently considered "legally disabled" by the court, which also extended her father Jamie's co-conservator role until March 10.

The motion to make Bryan and Taback co-trustees was filed by Taback's law firm. However, according to the motion, neither party can act unilaterally, but require "unanimous consent" with the other trustees to act. The documents also state that the trustees can't sell or lease Britney's home without a court order, nor can they remove any of Britney's property from California.

The trustee appointments were made a week after conservatorship attorneys were granted the right to fire Britney's business manager, Howard Grossman.

Author Steel knows Spears family mental illness pain

Steel knows the struggle of coping with a mentally ill child -- her son Nick Traina was diagnosed at 16 with bipolar disorder and, she said, spiraled into a depression that led him to commit suicide just over a decade ago at the age of 19.

Friends and family of Spears, 26, have said they believe the mother-of-two may also be suffering from bipolar disorder, characterized by abrupt mood swings, or other psychiatric problems.

"In the case of Britney Spears' parents what you have to be is extremely loving, extremely resourceful and extremely persistent and every time you're defeated, just go at the problem again," Steel told Reuters in a rare interview.

Steel, who has seven biological children and two adopted stepchildren, said her son showed signs of mental illness from an early age, but it took years of consulting different doctors before he was diagnosed.

Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Nick Traina Foundation, which funds groups who do "hands on" work with mentally ill young people, Steel said Spears problems "illustrate the drama and dilemma of the family of mentally ill people in this country -- it's a very, very tough thing."

"I feel so sorry for her," said Steel, who has sold more than 560 million copies of her books worldwide. "If it is the case (that she has bipolar), she can get on track with the right treatment and medication."

Spears was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital last month for a psychiatric evaluation. But she was allowed to leave after six days, causing her parents, Jamie and Lynn, to issue a statement saying that they were "extremely disappointed."

They said their daughter was "in the throes of a mental health crisis" and believed "her life is presently at risk."

Steel agrees. "When people aren't medicated it can be lethal," she said, adding that she hadn't realized that when dealing with her own son. "I thought it could ruin his life. I really didn't understand how high the possibility was that it could cost him his life."

Steel -- who will release her 72nd novel "Honor Thyself" on February 26 -- believes the laws need to be changed to allow mentally ill people to be hospitalized against their will.

"Usually bipolars present extremely well and they can bounce into court ... look very together and be a complete mess three hours later on the streets somewhere," she said. "There's nothing you can do."

Court filing seeks to move Britney Spears case

The attorney, Jon Eardley, is linked to an associate of Spears' self-styled manager Sam Lutfi, and in the filing the attorney claims the case should be moved from state court because Spears' is being deprived of her civil liberties.

Jamie Spears was granted "temporary conservatorship" over his 26-year-old daughter's affairs two weeks ago when she was in a Los Angeles hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

Los Angeles Court Commissioner Reva Goetz has now extended that conservatorship -- which gives him control over her business, finances and some personal affairs -- until March 10, a court spokesman said.

In addition, Spears' brother Bryan, 30, was been named co-trustee of his sister's trust along with Los Angeles attorney Ivan Taback.

But in a related filing, Eardley said the case should be moved to federal court because the essential issue on which Jamie Spears was granted conservatorship centers on medication Spears is supposed to take.

Eardley claims restrictions placed on her by her father "interfere with the effectiveness of the scheduled medications." The names of the drugs were not disclosed in the suit, and calls to Eardley's offices in California and New York were not immediately returned.

Michael Sands, a Los Angeles spokesman for Lutfi, said in an e-mail exchange that he also represented Eardley and added he was "not at liberty to discuss" who hired Eardley.

Eardley's filing said that under the conservatorship, the singer has been denied the right to meet freely with friends, make and receive phone calls, drive a car and gain access to money or credit cards.

In a court filing earlier this month, Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, said Lutfi controlled her daughter.

She alleged "Mr. Lutfi drugged Britney. He has cut Britney's home phone line ... He claims to control everything -- Britney's business manager, her attorneys and security guards at the gate" of her home.

The pop singer, who rose to fame on the Disney cable TV channel, has seen her life spin out of control for more than a year since her breakup with ex-husband Kevin Federline, with whom she is battling for visitation rights to their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

In recent months, the Louisiana native has been photographed wearing pink wigs and talking in a British accent as she traveled around Los Angeles with Lutfi.

In January, Spears was hospitalized for psychiatric care twice, and court officials slapped a restraining order against Lutfi to keep him away from the singer.

Last week Jamie and Lynne Spears said in a statement they believed "her life is presently at risk."

Britney's Dad to Keep Pulling Strings

After a brief hearing Thursday, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz declined to make any changes to the conservatorship overseeing the "Gimme More" singer's affairs, effectively leaving father Jamie Spears in control at least until the next hearing, slated for Mar. 10.

The elder Spears also sought—and was granted—permission to take over more aspects of Britney's finances, including her taxes.

Also present in the courtroom was Ivan Taback, an attorney for Britney's 30-year-old brother, Bryan. Together they were named temporary cotrustees of Britney's SJB Trust, which is used to pay for her daily expenses and medical bills.

A source told E! News that Bryan has come back into the picture, because he is interested in taking over talent management for Britney. Bryan used to serve as one of her managers, back when Larry Rudolph represented Britney.

Britney was a no-show for the afternoon proceeding. She remained at her home in the Summit gated community above Beverly Hills, getting "her nails done," according to an insider.

Goetz said she had yet to receive a report following a psychiatric evaluation of the singer (sources told E! News the evaluation was completed Wednesday). Depending on the results, he could extend the conservatorship beyond Mar. 10.

Meanwhile, Jeryll Cohen, an attorney for Jamie Spears, groused that despite spending 200 hours trying to track him down, Sam Lutfi has still not been served with a restraining order barring him from contacting Britney. Cohen accused Lutfi, the singer's right-hand man the past few months, of "intentionally avoiding service."

Goetz said Lutfi must be served 48 hours prior to a hearing on the order, previously scheduled for Feb. 22. The commissioner said the date might be postponed if Lutfi, who was spotted partying Saturday night with Paris Hilton at L.A. hot spot Area, can't be found.

While Lutfi remains MIA, his publicist made a big splash following the session.

Michael Sands was ranting around with a fistful of court documents he had filed, on behalf New York-based attorney Jon Eardley.

The petition, which lists Eardley as "attorney for Britney J. Spears," seeks to move the custody and conservatorship cases from L.A. court to federal court, citing a litany of perceived injustices against the Blackout artist.

"Ms. Spears has not received the benefit of a single hearing before the court, yet she has been stripped of her right to access counsel of her choosing and to meet with her counsel in a private meeting.

"Ms. Spears has been denied the right to associate freely with friends. She has been denied the right to make or receive telephone calls. She has been denied the right to operate a motor vehicle...She has been denied the right to receive and send mail.

"Additionally she has been denied the right to her finances. She is not allowed to access her money or credit cards."

Sands, who until last month worked as a mouthpiece for Kevin Federline's custody attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, later curiously told an E! staffer, "The hit is done!"

It is unclear whether the filing will be anything more than a publicity grab. Eardley hasn't established any legal standing in the case, and Goetz shot down Britney's previous attempt to hire her own attorney, deeming her unfit to do so.

For his part, Jamie Spears appeared to be happy with the turn of events inside the courtroom, playfully grabbing a pen from his attorney following Goetz's rulings.

Britney's father, with whom she's had a rocky relationship, was initially placed in charge of her welfare Feb. 1, while she was still under observation at UCLA Medical Center. Last week, Goetz gave Jamie and coconservator Andrew Wallet the power to fire Britney's business manager, Howard Grossman.

Before her setback, Britney had been expected to return Thursday evening to her favored haunt of the past few days, the Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, where she has been rehearsing moves and teaching youngsters. But she called and canceled shortly after the court hearing.

Court May Extend Dad's Control Over Britney

The singer's father has been overseeing her well-being and her $40-million fortune since Feb. 1, when Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz named him and Andrew Wallet temporary co-conservators – giving them the right to employ bodyguards who control her actions and restrict her visitors.

Since then, they seem to have kept the pop princess on a tight leash, forcing Britney to keep an uncharacteristically low profile (no appearance of her pink wig, no overnight stays at the Four Seasons). Although she has been spending much time holed up at her Summit house, she was recently spotted shopping with her mom, Lynne, and has been making regular trips to the Millennium Dance Complex.

Text-Messaging Friends

While Spears has been on her best behavior, sources say she's been text-messaging friends from inside the house, complaining that she's bored.

"She's getting proper medical care and has professional security. The chaos has been removed from the situation," says one legal insider, who anticipates that Goetz will prolong the temporary conservatorship at the hearing. (Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., Pacific time.)

It is possible Spears could appear, although she has consistently avoided the courtroom in the past. The 26-year-old will be represented by her court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham.

The photo section is finally working again

Britney to Fight for Her Prerogative

A source close to the situation tells E! News that the beleaguered songstress hopes her attorney will head into court Thursday—the day Jamie Spears' temporary conservatorship initially expires—with "compelling evidence" showing she is fit to take back control of her own life.

Britney is "getting along great" with mom Lynne, but resents her father's interference in her personal and financial affairs, the source said. Jamie was placed in charge of her welfare on Feb. 1 while she was still under observation at UCLA Medical Center.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz has since upheld her father's argument that Britney wasn't fit to hire her own counsel to fight the conservatorship; Goetz has also given Jamie and coconservator Andrew Wallet the power to fire Britney's business manager, Howard Grossman.

E! News has learned that a court representative has evaluated Britney and a status report summing up the results was turned in Wednesday and will be evaluated by Goetz at Thursday's hearing, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT.

"Britney will have to show evidence proving she is able to make decisions on her own," says legal expert Steve Cron, who is not directly involved in the Spears case. "The commissioner could end the conservatorship, or just set another hearing date while she considers the evidence. It really could go either way."

But apparently Britney really wants her zone to herself again.

The "Gimme More" singer is "just fooling her parents" at the moment, the insider said.

She "is telling her friends she wants the conservatorship to end. She keeps talking about it. She is behaving herself because she wants to get her [life] back together and get rid of her dad."

But Britney and Lynne's relationship at least appears to be back on track. The pair were spotted shopping together in West Hollywood this week and, on Wednesday, Lynne accompanied her daughter to her third dance lesson in as many days at Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, where she's been working with a group of youngsters, ages four to seven.

"The class was phenomenal" and the kids "had a blast," says studio director Robert Baker. "Her mom was there and she looked to be enjoying herself watching Brit teach the kids."

And Britney's habits, however healthily improved, aren't the only ones that have been affected by her parents' newly in-depth involvement in her life.

Multiple sources tell E! News the usually ubiquitous Sam Lutfi, who has yet to be served with the restraining order Jamie and Lynne obtained against him nearly two weeks ago, is "lying especially low" since the release on Monday of court documents alleging he had demanded money from Britney's business manager.

And, according to those close to her, if things go Britney's way, she's planning a celebration dinner with friends—once she's able to judge for herself whom to hang out with—for Friday night.

Britney's Attorney Still with Her for Another Week?

Sorrell Trope and an attorney for Federline emerged from the closed-door session without comment. The matter was continued until next Tuesday.

Trope, of the law firm Trope and Trope, requested the substitution-of-attorney hearing before an L.A. court commissioner. In the past, he has cited communication problems with Spears.

Trope, who has vacillated for the past six weeks on whether he wants to leave the case, intended to ask to be relieved immediately, sources tell PEOPLE.

Among the possible replacements was Trope's predecessor, Laura Wasser, who resigned in September.

According to media reports, Wasser visited Spears when she was at the UCLA psych ward earlier this month, and Spears's parents want her back.

Hearings are scheduled over the next several weeks in the custody case. Currently Federline has full custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, and Spears can only contact the boys by phone.

Britney Gets in Retail Therapy with Mom

Spears and mom Lynne spent a half-hour at the Miss Sixty store in Los Angeles, where the pop star spent $650 on J Rocker Jeans, a white Carmen T-shirt, a Tirsa blue dress and a Maybelle stretch tee.

Spears, who once had been estranged from her mother – with an uneasy peace during Britney's psychiatric care – even asked her for shopping advice, according to an observer.

"Her mom helped her get the right size jeans that she ended up buying," an eyewitness says. "Britney also held up the blue dress in front of her and showed her mom before she decided to by it."

Daughter and mother then traveled to the Millennium Dance Complex, where Spears taught a dance class for youngsters the day before.

Britney Spears Steps into Dance Class - As Teacher

The 26-year-old singer – who's in the midst of a custody battle over her own kids, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1 – logged some quality kiddie time Monday, teaching an hour-long dance lesson to a group of six children.

"The class was amazing," Robert Baker, director of the Millennium Dance Complex, tells PEOPLE.

In addition to choreographed routines to vintage Madonna songs "True Blue" and "Material Girl" and "Holiday," Spears – wearing ripped fishnets, red boy-shorts and a blue top – also allowed her pupils to free-style dance.

"She even played age-appropriate games in a circle, pretending to be a choo-choo train," Baker said. "Britney was just amazing with the kids and everyone ended up having a blast. At the end of the hour class, all the kids hugged Britney and she seemed very happy."

Kids 'Thrilled'

The kids, aged 4 to 7, were selected from the studio's junior program. "The parents gave their permission," Baker said. "They were thrilled. One parent summed it up: 'It's a once in a lifetime event.'"

Well, maybe not. Spears had so much fun, "She asked to please teach a class tomorrow," said Baker, a longtime Spears friend. "We plan to put together a group of about 20 kids for her."

After the class wrapped up at 7 p.m., Spears – who has rehearsed at Millennium three times since Friday – spent another hour and a half working on a dance routine for her single "Hot as Ice."

"She seems very focused about getting back into her old life," said Baker. "[She's] focusing her energy on creating and dancing."

Going Global

Lawyers Detail Brit Manager Problems, Lutfi Demands

In their motion requesting the authority to fire Howard Grossman, the attorneys representing the conservators of Britney's estate, her dad and lawyer Andrew Wallet, state that their relationship with Grossman "irreparably ruptured" after her release from the hospital.

Against their wishes, Grossman met with Britney at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Wednesday, even though he had expressly been informed via email "he was not permitted to give Britney " access to money or credit cards, or to meet with Britney at this time at the [hotel] or anywhere else," according to the motion filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Jamie was named temporary coconservator of Britney's welfare and finances on Feb. 1, the day after she was admitted to UCLA Medical Center's psych ward, effectively stripping the troubled popster with much of her decision-making power. Therefore, Jamie now has the power to "restrict and limit" his daughter's visitors "by any means," and he is entitled to oversight of all her assets, attorney Jeryll Cohen wrote.

Meanwhile, per court documents, Grossman went ahead and directed Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills to drop one of Britney's cars, which were being repaired, off at the hotel Wednesday without Jamie's or Wallet's knowledge.

And apparently the conservators don't approve of the correspondence Grossman has been keeping lately, either.

Cohen contended in a separate declaration that Grossman informed him that Britney's hard-to-pin-down friend Sam Lutfi had emailed the business manager numerous times making "various demands, including demands for money."

Grossman, who said he did not comply with Lutfi's demands, has since refused to turn the emails over to them, despite repeated requests, Cohen said.

L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz promptly granted Jamie and Wallet the power to give Grossman the boot and ordered Britney's ex-employee to hand "all documents, records and assets relating" to her and her estate over to the conservators.

The ostracized Lutfi, who, along with Britney's lawyers and psychiatrist, helped arrange for the 26-year-old's hospitalization, has been largely MIA since the singer's surprise release Wednesday and has yet to be served with the restraining order issued against him when Britney's parents assumed control of their daughter's affairs.

Lutfi finally showed his face Saturday, however, in time to attend Paris Hilton's birthday party at a West Hollywood club and deny rumors that Britney's been calling him.

Saving Spears One Post at a Time

As Britney Spears' problems have mounted, online support campaigns have sprung into action, offering the troubled pop star good vibes, inspirational poems and even the promise of her own day.

Megan Carruth, a 25-year-old online marketer from Minnesota, launched one of the sites, Prayers for Britney (prayersforbritney.com), in January after hearing Spears' mother, Lynne, respond to her daughter's first hospitalization by issuing a modest request: "Just say prayers."

Carruth's site went up five days later. The pep talks, the positive thoughts, and, more than anything, the commiserating commenced shortly thereafter. A sampling:

"I am 31 and a divorced mother of 3. I am thankful that my ex-husband didnt [sic] have the money to contest the divorce and custody of my children...Stay prayed-up and stay strong."
"darling britney—take care of yourself, keep yourself safe--if you feel low wait it out, it passes then pick up the pieces and carry on."
"Even if you don't want people to pray for you !! We will still be there for you!! Please, Honey Reach out to someone, Reach out to your Friends!! They can help you!!" In all, there are nearly 200 posts. Carruth says she's heard from thousands more. So far, all but one of the emails has expressed support.

"I think that's pretty gosh darn impressive," Carruth says.

Over at the Official Support Britney Blog (supportbritneyspearsblog.blogspot.com), started only days ago, a drive is afoot for a National Support Britney Spears Day, one month from now, on Mar. 1.

"To show your solidarity," the site encourages, "sport your Brit tees and gear, pick up a copy of Blackout, or just blast 'Piece of Me' while driving down the pike!"

The official Spears site run by the singer's record label, Britney.com, has also become a repository of encouraging words. (Not blessed with the anti-bashing rule as enforced by the likes of Prayers for Britney, its message boards have also become a forum for rants against everybody from Dr. Phil to Spears' pregnant younger sister, Jamie Lynn.)

If there was any question as to what it is about Spears that has so inspired, then Carruth, for one, has an answer.

"She's a human being, she's struggling, she's hurting...and that makes me sad," says Carruth. "I hope that she gets well in the same way anyone who's sick and hurting gets well."

The congregation of Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, expressed the same hope last fall when it shipped off as many as 500 letters of support to the Grammy winner.

The campaign generated headlines, but, according to Cindy Willison, the church's communications and ministry services director, no response from Spears or her camp.

"I'm sure that people in that business are probably suspicious of any outreach to them," Willison said this week.

Still, the online effort goes on. Carruth says she would be "absolutely thrilled" if Spears happened to read her users' posts.

"They're very, very heartfelt," Carruth says.

And compared to the rest of the virtual, if not real, world, her site, she says, "is a safe place."

Britney Gets a House Call - from a Hairdresser

"Britney needed some help with her extensions and wanted to talk about a new color," says Kim Vo, celebrity colorist and owner of Kim Vo, Beverly Hills and Kim Vo, in the Mirage in Las Vegas. "I hadn't worked with her before, but they asked me so nicely to help."

Vo arrived at her Beverly Hills home on Thursday afternoon – the day after her early release from UCLA's psych ward – and worked with the troubled pop star for four hours in a spare bathroom.

"She was more patient than I would have been," says Vo, who is an E! commentator and has appeared on Extreme Makeover. "She was sweet and has that Southern hospitality... She offered me iced tea and asked if I was comfortable."

Finding her scalp and hair in great shape – and "her skin is glowing, like a young girls," says Vo – he streaked her dark brown locks with a caramel color. "We wanted to brighten it up a bit. She's ready for something new," he says.

While Vo and Spears worked in the upstairs, her mom was downstairs cooking chicken for dinner.

"That smells so good, mama," Spears called down the stairs.

Vo felt none of the drama that has surrounded Spears and her family.

"It's a peaceful home," says the hairdresser. "It was not a rock-and-roll kind of place. Very classic and peaceful. She gave me a hug when I finished and both she and her mom told me how much they liked her new look."

Court: Britney's dad can fire manager

Commissioner Reva Goetz also ordered Howard Grossman to turn over "all documents, records and assets relating to Britney Spears" to James Spears, who is the court-appointed conservator of his daughter and her estate.

The order came the day after Goetz held an emergency closed-door hearing on a motion brought by the singer's father and her lawyer Andrew Wallet, who is part of the conservatorship.

Spears' parents said they feared their daughter's life was at risk after she was released from a hospital psychiatric ward on Wednesday.

Spears' affairs were placed under a temporary conservatorship after she was taken to UCLA Medical Center on Jan. 31 under heavy police escort. Conservatorship are granted for people deemed unable to care for themselves or their affairs.

The conservatorship lasts until Feb. 14.

Spears was discharged from the hospital over the recommendation of her psychiatrist and against the wishes of her parents. Her parents said they were extremely disappointed she was released and they said they were deeply concerned about her "safety and vulnerability and we believe her life is presently at risk."

Spears slipped out of the hospital unnoticed by the pack of paparazzi that follow her every move in public, but they gave chase later in the day when she left her home behind the wheel of her Mercedes-Benz and eventually showed up at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Lawyers Meet for Britney Spears Hearing

The attorneys met before Commissioner Reva Goetz, who recently extended temporary control of Spears's affairs to her father Jamie and a lawyer. The session lasted about a half hour, and the lawyers left without commenting.

Apearing in Goetz's downtown L.A. court were Jeryll S. Cohen and Vivian Thoreen, who represent Jamie; Samuel Ingham, a court-appointed lawyer for Britney; and Andrew Wallet who, along with Jamie, is co-temporary conservator of the pop star's estate.

Adam Streisand, an attorney (and relative of Barbra Streisand) who had once claimed to represent Spears – and who met with her Wednesday night – was not there; his firm announced he was off the case.

Source: Relations 'Civilized' with Britney, Parents & Adnan Ghalib

"From what I was told, everything was very civilized," a source close to the photographer tells PEOPLE.

After Spears's unexpected release from UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday, "Britney called Adnan to meet her at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He had been talking with Lynne and Jamie for the past few days," says the source.

Spears and Ghalib had a brief meeting with lawyer Adam Streisand, who announced Thursday that he is off the case. The pair then met up with mom Lynne and dad Jamie.

Ghalib also confirmed in a posting on his photo agency's Web site that he "has been in contact with her parents."

"As the day unraveled, they have all agreed to get Britney safely back to her home so she can get the medical care and love that she deserves," says the posting on the FinalPixx site. "After spending most of the evening with The Spears [family] at The Summit, Adnan left and went back home at 2:30 a.m.... to give the family some alone time."

Lynne Spears left her daughter's home just after midnight Thursday , while dad Jamie remained there through Thursday morning.

Britney's 'Lawyer' Off the Case

In full, the law firm's message issued on Thursday read, "At the request of Britney Spears, Adam Streisand, a Partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP, met with her yesterday to discuss her legal rights in connection with the conservatorship over her person and estate.

"Following that meeting, Mr. Streisand learned that the court had issued orders that prevent Ms. Spears from retaining counsel of her own choosing, and on that basis, Mr. Streisand has decided he will not represent her at this time."

Spears, who left a UCLA psychiatric ward on Wednesday, still has court-appointed counsel, attorney Samuel Ingham.

It remains to be seen how long the court will uphold Jamie Spears's power over his daughter. By law, her father was also required to apply for permanent control, which, if granted, could last until Britney is able to prove to the court that she is capable of managing her own affairs.

Papa Spears Still Wearing the Pants

No changes were made to Jamie Spears' conservatorship status during an emergency hearing Thursday that was called barely a day after the "Gimme More" songstress was released from UCLA Medical Center's psych ward, a source close to the case tells E! News.

"Jamie is still calling the shots," the source said. Last week, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz put Jamie in charge of the troubled 26-year-old's welfare and coconservator of her estate along with attorney Andrew Wallett. On Monday, the arrangement was extended until Feb. 14.

Britney's new court-appointed lawyer, Samuel Ingham, appeared on her behalf Thursday. Jamie was absent from the closed-door proceedings, but Wallett was there and the elder Spears was represented by attorneys Jeryll S. Cohen and Vivian Thoreen.

The official word on what went on behind the scenes: "Everything about this matter is sealed," said court spokesman Alan Parachini.

A legal expert told E! News Wednesday that if Britney is in fact challenging the conservatorship, she would need to present a petition detailing either why she's fit to handle her own affairs or explaining the reasons why so-and-so—in this case her business manager Howard Grossman and Northern Trust Bank—should take over.

While Britney has not reacted kindly to the court's decision to turn the keys to her castle over to her dad, even attempting to hire counsel to fight the ruling while she was still under medical observation, those close to the family patriarch maintain he's only interested in doing what's right for the beleaguered pop princess.

"All he wants to do is help his daughter get the help she needs to get healthy," a close friend of Jamie's tells E! News. "It is not about controlling her; it is about healing her."

After their daughter unexpectedly left the hospital Wednesday afternoon and promptly whipped up a media frenzy by hightailing it to the Beverly Hills Hotel to meet up with Adnan Ghalib and then holing up in her would-be attorney's office for an hour, Jamie and Lynne Spears expressed the utmost concern for their child's welfare.

"We are deeply concerned about our daughter's safety and vulnerability, and we believe her life is presently at risk," the parents said in a joint statement. "There are conservatorship orders in place created to protect our daughter that are being blatantly disregarded.

"We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted."

Attorney Adam Streisand, who met with Britney yesterday and attempted to change the terms of the conservatorship on her behalf earlier this week, will not be taking on the high-profile case at this time.

"Following that meeting, Mr. Streisand learned that the court had issued orders that prevent Ms. Spears from retaining counsel of her own choosing, and on that basis, Mr. Streisand has decided he will not represent her at this time," read a statement issued Thursday by the law firm of Loeb & Loeb LLP.

Britney's First Night Home from the Hospital

After her surprise early release from the UCLA Medical Center's psych ward, Spears spent much of Wednesday bouncing around the city – speeding off with one paparazzi pal, getting a room at the Beverly Hills Hotel and visiting with lawyer Adam Streisand.

But the singer's first night of freedom was uneventful (at least from the outside). After sneaking out of the law office in Century City, the 26-year-old singer and her paparazzo-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib reportedly stopped at a restaurant in the Valley. The two were then driven back to Spears's Summit Circle house in Studio City by a photographer from the X17 photo agency.

The singer's father, Jamie – who has been named co-conservator of her $40-million fortune – was spotted at the Beverly Hills Hotel Wednesday evening and was "tired looking," says one witness. He was briefly escorted to a room, but later returned to the Summit house, where Spears, Ghalib, and the singer's mother, Lynne, were all gathered.

After midnight, Lynne drove away from the house in her Range Rover. Mobbed by photographers, she ducked behind the steering wheel to shield herself from the snappers.

As night turned into morning, Spears and Jamie remained inside the house.

Spears's confidante, Sam Lutfi – who has been accused of drugging Britney and has been ordered to keep his distance from the singer – has yet to resurface.

Why Britney Spears Was Released Early

The doctor overseeing Spears's care had wanted her to stay, (as did her parents), but the decision was overridden by the court representative, the source said.

The source said that the doctor who was vetoed was not Spears's psychiatrist Dr. Deborah Nadel, but another attending doctor at UCLA. Once Nadel issued the singer's 72-hour hold at UCLA, Nadel was not involved in Spears's hospitalization, the source said.

The decision followed regular procedure for any patient on a 14-day hold.

The procedure calls for a hearing at the hospital to find out whether the hold is justified. The rep for the court, called a "hearing referee" – who is usually a lawyer – interviews the patient and doctor to determine if there's "just cause" for detainment.

"This is when law and medicine collide," says attorney Terry K. Wasserman, who's not involved in the Spears matter, "when a lawyer can override a doctor's opinion."

Parents: Britney "In the Throes of a Mental Health Crisis"

Just hours after her surprise release from UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon, the troubled songstress, with boyfriend Adnan Ghalib back in the picture, made a stop at the Century City offices of Loeb & Loeb, where Adam Streisand, the attorney Britney has been attempting to hire, practices.

Sources tell E! News Spears and Ghalib arrived shortly before 6 p.m., after spending about two hours at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and then left soon after 7 p.m., somehow without being photographed or followed.

Even the paparazzi were impressed.

The couple are rumored to be back at the hotel, where Jamie Spears arrived at around 9:30 p.m. A source close to Britney's dad, who on Friday was named temporary conservator of her welfare and finances, says he was there to remind Britney of the court order and told Ghalib "he better be paying for the room."

A family insider said Britney's parents, who objected to her early release, are very concerned about their first born's welfare.

And apparently they want everyone to know they feel Britney is in no shape to be gallivanting about.

"As parents of an adult child in the throes of a mental health crisis, we were extremely disappointed this morning to learn that over the recommendation of her treating psychiatrist, our daughter Britney was released from the hospital that could best care for her and keep her safe," Lynne and Jamie Spears said in a joint statement to E! News.

"We are deeply concerned about our daughter's safety and vulnerability, and we believe her life is presently at risk. There are conservatorship orders in place created to protect our daughter that are being blatantly disregarded.

"We ask only that the court's orders be enforced so that a tragedy may be averted."

A family insider told E! News that the statement was issued because "when you are under conservatorship, anyone who allows or encourages Britney to purchase anything, secure anything or make legal or financial decisions without court approval is violating a court order. This would include Adnan. So, it was public notice to everybody in America."

Another source close to Britney told E! News Wednesday that the "Gimme More" songbird's biggest issue right now is that she does not trust her father, Jamie.

After being retained over the weekend, Streisand appeared Monday at a hearing to argue against extending the conservatorship, but he was effectively ordered out of the courtroom after Jamie's legal camp successfully argued that Britney wasn't fit to hire her own counsel.

It is suspected that Britney met with Streisand this evening to orchestrate a game plan to strip her father of his interim guardian duties.

If she is in fact planning to challenge the conservatorship, she would need to file a petition to dissolve the arrangement, in which she would have to state why she doesn't need a conservator, Santa Monica attorney Steve Cron told E! News Wednesday. A judge could then either deny the request or set a hearing so Britney's team could present evidence in her favor.

The conservatorship would stay in effect until that takes place.

"The judge is not going to do anything rash," Cron said. "He is going to want to hear from both sides and have a hearing and then make a decision."

Another issue perhaps plaguing Britney is the temporary restraining order issued Friday against confidant Sam Lutfi, who helped arrange her hospitalization.

Lynne Spears has accused the manager of drugging Britney, hiding her cell phone and engaging in various other devious activities meant to emotionally and mentally manipulate her.

Lutfi, who admitted earlier this week to providing Britney with pills the night before she was hospitalized to soften the edge of her mood swings, has denied Mama Spears' more lurid allegations, telling E! News simply, "It's not true."

Cron said Lutfi could face charges in connection with the alleged pill pushing under the California Health and Safety Code.

"There are laws against that," the attorney said. "If it is done without her knowledge, and by someone who is not a medical practitioner, it is illegal. The fact that they are prescribed to her could mitigate the punishment. He has no legal right to decide what to give her or how much."

Lutfi has apparently been lying low since Britney's release this afternoon, reportedly in part because, up until now, he has been able to avoid being served with the papers detailing the court's order against him.

Meanwhile, Britney's other constant companions—the ones with flashbulbs—are pretty miffed at having missed her for the second time today.

Earlier, Britney managed to slip past the media hordes that have been camped outside UCLA Medical Center for the past week, although she couldn't shake the mob for long.

After stopping briefly at her home, where she hadn't been since being committed to the hospital in the wee hours of Jan. 31, the "Toxic" songstress was driven in her new black Mercedes by paparazzo pal Felipe over to the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she met up with Ghalib.

This time around, news helicopters joined the earthbound shutterbugs in reporting on what her next move would be, further heightening the frenzy factor surrounding the Grammy winner's homecoming.

Britney remained at the Pink Palace for about two hours, at one point exchanging pleasantries with California First Lady Maria Shriver in the lobby, before heading back out with Ghalib behind the wheel.

Britney's Legal Pit Stop

Just hours after her surprise release from UCLA Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon, the troubled songstress, with boyfriend Adnan Ghalib back in the picture, made a stop at the Century City offices of Loeb & Loeb, where Adam Streisand, the attorney who Spears has been attempting to hire, practices.

Sources tell E! News that Spears does not trust father Jamie Spears, who was named temporary conservator of her welfare and finances on Friday, an arrangement his daughter has not responded kindly to.

After being retained over the weekend, Streisand appeared Monday at a hearing to argue against extending the conservatorship, but he was effectively ordered out of the courtroom after Jamie's legal camp successfully argued that Britney wasn't fit to hire her own counsel.

Britney and Ghalib arrived at Loeb & Loeb shortly before 6 p.m. after spending about two hours at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The Spears family hasn't yet commented on the situation, but it is suspected that Britney is meeting with Streisand to orchestrate a game plan to strip her father of his interim guardian duties.

If she is in fact planning to challenge the conservatorship, she would need to file a petition to dissolve the arrangement in which she would have to state why she doesn't need a conservator, Santa Monica attorney Steve Cron told E! News Wednesday. A judge could then either deny the request or set a hearing so Britney's team could present evidence in her favor.

The conservatorship would stay in effect until after the hearing.

"The judge is not going to do anything rash," Cron said. "He is going to want to hear from both sides and have a hearing and then make a decision."

Britney Checks Out

E! News has confirmed the 26-year-old pop star was quietly released from the UCLA Medical Center Wednesday, a week after she was forcibly admitted and a week before she was scheduled to leave.

Spears was escorted off the premises by a private security detail shortly before noon. Police took extra precaution to ensure Spears' privacy during her departure, as with her arrival, going so far as to use the code name "Karen" in dealing with her exit.

She returned to her home in Beverly Hills, but only remained a short time before joining an unidentified male in a black Mercedes-Benz and leading a parade of paparazzi and reporters, including a helicopter providing live TV coverage, through Los Angeles. The caravan pulled up at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and she disappeared inside, where she remained late Wednesday.

"Britney's relieved, as is everyone," said a source close to the Spears family. "The goal was for her to get well, not to be stuck in a hospital."

While Spears' release seemingly indicates positive results from her round-the-clock in-house treatment, the singer is expected to continue receiving psychiatric therapy as an outpatient.

The source told E! News that while the treatment was beneficial, the fact that Spears was forced to undergo the treatment within the confines of the psych ward made the singer feel "like a caged animal."

Her new standing as a free woman, however, will not affect her current legal standing.

"This doesn't change the terms of the conservatorship," the source told E! News. "Jamie is still calling the shots."

Spears' father, Jamie, along with attorney Andrew Wallet, has temporary control over the singer's legal and medical affairs.

Britney Spears was admitted to the hospital in the early morning hours of Jan. 31 and initially placed under a 72-hour psychiatric hold. Over the weekend, her psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Nadel, extended the pop star's stay to 14 days. She had been tentatively slated for release on Valentine's Day, the same day as the next hearing in the conservatorship of her estate.

Spears' usual group of hangers-on have yet to surface at the pop star's home, for varying reasons.

A restraining order has been issued against manager-pal Sam Lutfi, based on allegations he attempted to manipluate the pop singer, charges Lutfi told E! News earlier today were "untrue." He has yet to be found and formally served with the temporary harassment order, and it's unlikely he'll try his luck in approaching the newly sprung Spears.

As for the other man in Spears' life, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib, the family insider told E! News that he, too, has yet to reinsert his presence in the singer's life, a loss none of the Spears are particularly keen to mourn.

"No one in the family has heard from him, and no one trusts him. For now, he is a nonissue."

Sam Lutfi Strikes Back

A day after Lynne Spears' explosive allegations about him became public, Britney's erstwhile right-hand man spoke out exclusively to E! News, denying the damning accusations of mental and emotional abuse.

"I'm not worried about what Lynne is saying," the 33-year-old said via phone from an undisclosed location. "It's not true."

Still, Lutfi did not appear to bear any ill will against Spears' mother for dragging his name through the media mud.

"They're family and their concerns are understandable, but these allegations are not true," he added.

Lutfi is believed to be hiding somewhere in Los Angeles in order to avoid being formally served with the restraining order in which Lynne Spears made her allegations. He refused to divulge his whereabouts to E! News.

In the mother's court declaration, she accused Lutfi of drugging Britney, cutting her phone lines, hiding her cell phones and cell phone chargers, hiding and then finding, "savior-style," her favorite dog and otherwise mentally and emotionally manipulating the "Toxic" singer. Among his treats: that she would never see her two sons again lest she do exactly what he ordered.

The restraining order barring him from having any contact with Britney was originally granted Friday and was reaffirmed by a judge on Monday. Lynne Spears' declaration was unsealed Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, before Lynne's on-the-record comments were made public, Lutfi admitted to Us Weekly that he medicated Spears, purportedly for her own good, and gave insight into the manic mood swings of the singer.

The self-styled movie producer confirmed at least one of Lynne's allegations: that he gave Britney "a handful of pills" on the evening of Jan. 30, just hours before her parents arrived and before Britney's subsequent hospitalization.

"I said these pills are working wonders—they are miracle pills," he said without ever saying what pills, exactly, he was feeding the singer. He did say, however, that Spears seemed in agreement that the meds helped her moods.

"In the depressive episodes, it's all crying," he said. "But in the manic episode, there's very little crying or sympathy or compassion. She becomes another person. She becomes somebody that just doesn't care about anybody or anything."

Lutfi also said that Spears' now-infamous adoption of a British accent is an indication that she has hit a manic stage, much like her donning of a certain pink pageboy wig indicates a deep swing in the opposite direction.

Lutfi said that when the ambulance arrived at her home in the early morning hours of Jan. 31, Spears "was very quiet," adding that they communicated throughout the night by passing notes back and forth.

"She wrote me a note and put a big heart on it and it said, 'I love you, Sam. Are there people coming? Circle yes or no.' Oh my God, it was funny, just the cutest little thing. I circled yes and I gave it back to her, and she looked at me and she's like, 'Oh, lord, here we go again.' "

Buyer's Remorse

Source: Britney Will See Kids Again

But, according to an insider closer to Spears' custody battle with Kevin Federline, the "Gimme More" singer's successful completion of her hospital stint would put her on track to regain visitation rights with her children after her discharge.

"It will be monitored visitation, of course," the source tells E! News. "But still, she'll get to see her kids. They are just looking for signs that she's stabilized. But look, if she continues to take whatever medication she needs and sees her doctors regularly, they won't keep her kids from her."

Federline, 29, is aware of the possibility and isn't opposed to the visits.

"As long as she in a stable place, mentally, and there's a monitor there, he's okay with it," the source says.

Spears, 26, hasn't seen sons Sean Preston or Jayden James for more than a month. She is scheduled to remain hospitalized through Valentine's Day. The next hearing in her custody case is Feb. 19.

Separately, the K-Fed camp took a shot from Spears' side on Monday. Michael Sands, the spokesman for Federline lead attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, was the latest person to be subpoenaed in the long-playing custody clash.

Spears' legal eagles at Trope and Trope served Sands Monday, compelling him to submit to a deposition.

While Sands is not commenting on why Team Britney want to talk to him, his attorney, Randolph Wright, offers that they might be trying to press his client on what he knows about Kevin Federline's lifestyle.

"That would make sense," Wright said. "Why else bring in a top media consultant hired for Kevin's case and try to depose him? It seems to me they are trying to find out about the relationship between my client and Kevin Federline."

But Wright added that he suspects Trope and Trope will gain very little by grilling Sands.

"My guess," said Wright, "is that is will be a very short deposition."

Britney Pleads With Father: 'Let's Get Out of Here'

"Come on, daddy, let's get out of here. Take my hand and let's walk out of here together," Britney said, according to Jamie Spears.

Jamie told her daughter: "I wish I could, but I can't."

In court papers filed as part of his effort to take over his daughter's affairs, Jamie Spears described how he arrived at UCLA Medical Center on Sunday. Britney had called him several times while he was working as a caterer for a Super Bowl party, urging him to see her. (Click here to view the complete document.)

Jamie Spears, who had spent several hours with Britney the day before at the hospital, found his daughter lying in bed. He leaned over to kiss her, but she turned her head away.

"I love you," he told her.

"No, you don't," said Britney. She got out of bed and said, "The doctor told me you are keeping me in here."

Jamie Spears denied it, but Britney insisted, saying, "Somebody's lying. You put me in here."

After the nurse assured Britney that, "Your daddy is not keeping you here; the hospital is keeping you here," Britney turned to her father. That was when she pleaded to leave – and her father said they couldn't.

When Britney became agitated, her father started talking about her sons Jayden and Preston, now in the custody of their father, Kevin Federline.

"Do you want me to help you get your babies back?" he asked her.

Britney, "No, I have new lawyers that will help me with my stuff."

But her father had to tell her that she had not actually fired her custody lawyers, and that there were now new lawyers involved in dealing with her affairs. Jamie said that if she needed help with the custody case, he would be there for her.

The conversation ended with Britney saying that her pal Sam Lutfi had wrongfully taken some of her property and she asked her father for help to get it back. Her father said he would.

Lutfi has previous restraining orders

All the same, Sam Lutfi, the 33-year-old man in the baseball cap who's been behind the scenes throughout Britney's public downfall, has not been easy to define.

Then on Tuesday, accusations in a restraining order cutting him off from the troubled pop star would seem to support at least one theory: that he was a Svengali figure in her life, a shady hanger-on who controlled everything — from doling out her pills to holding the paparazzi's leash.

The day before the court documents were released, Lutfi told The Associated Press in a text message: "I have no problems with anyone writing anything negative against me. My image is not of concern, hers is." Lutfi did not immediately respond to further inquiry.

The restraining order, based on a statement from Spears' mother Lynne, was not the first against Lutfi, who is listed in legal documents as Osama Lutfi. Accusations in at least three prior orders range from obscene messages following a business deal to a neighbor who said he was hounded incessantly and threatened with bodily harm.

Spears remained hospitalized Monday for psychiatric evaluation after being committed last week. The order, which bars Lutfi from contacting her in any way, was granted the same day a court turned control of her affairs over to her father and a lawyer.

Though Lutfi had recently reached out to various magazines and media personalities with information on Spears' condition and state of mind, details on him have proved elusive.

Public records show he was born August 16, 1974 in Los Angeles. Music magazine Blender, in a March cover story on Spears, states that Lutfi grew up in Woodland Hills, where his mother reportedly owns several gas stations.

According to the movie database IMDb.com, Lutfi served as associate producer of 1998 film "Circles" (also known as "Crossing Paths") and 2001's "Crossing Cords." And a profile titled "Sam Lutfi" on the networking Web site LinkedIn lists him as an "Independent Media Production Professional" with education from the University of Southern California. The school's alumni Web site does not list Lutfi as a past student.

How Lutfi connected with Spears in the first place isn't clear.

Brandy Navarre, co-owner of celebrity photo agency and Web site X17, told the AP that Lutfi contacted the agency about nine or 10 months ago — after her head-shaving incident and others — about telling Spears' side of the story.

Since then, X17 photographers have cultivated a close relationship with both Spears and Lutfi, whom they have photographed together numerous times. Lutfi communicates with X17 by text messages, instant messages and e-mail regularly, and has had long conversations with Navarre, she said.

Navarre said she never asked him how he and Spears met. Still, "I think I've always had a positive feeling of him," Navarre said. "He seems to have Britney's best interest in mind."

In the order against Lutfi, Lynne Spears says her daughter met him in October 2007, and that he "essentially moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances." She describes witnessing a situation of tight control and manipulation, with Lutfi calling the shots on her medications, cutting her phone lines, and deciding who's let in to see the pop star.

A court commissioner on Monday extended temporary conservatorship of Spears to her father, from whom she's been estranged, through Feb 14. Adam Streisand, an attorney who said he believed he had been authorized to represent Spears, argued Monday that James Spears should be removed because his role "is causing her more agitation and more distress."

"Her family hasn't been around," Navarre said. "(Lutfi) has kind of been filling that void. ... He's done everything from being a default manager and publicist to being a brother, a dad."

Navarre denied rumors that the agency was paying Lutfi for access.

"We have paid people for information, for pictures, but we've never paid Sam Lutfi and have never paid Britney Spears," Navarre said. "And he's never asked us for any money."

Last month, Barbara Walters said on ABC's "The View" that Lutfi had contacted her, telling her Spears "is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable." She also said Lutfi "seems to be enormously supportive" of Spears.

Court documents from previous cohorts of Lutfi present a darker picture.

In October 2005, businesswoman Jumana Issa filed a complaint in Los Angeles against Lutfi; it was dismissed in March 2006 because she failed to appear for a preliminary hearing. When contacted by phone, Issa refused to comment.

In court papers, the Westside Escrow Corporation owner claimed Lutfi started harassing her from the day of closing an escrow account for him after he demanded canceling an escrow check which she said she was unable to stop payment on.

Issa said Lutfi antagonized her repeatedly with obscene e-mails, offensive faxes and late-night voice mails, hanging up on her around 15-20 times a day, according to court documents. Issa described the ordeal as "an overwhelming nightmare."

Lutfi allegedly wrote in one fax provided by Issa, "Come on big lady, I know you are capable of responding. Put down the donuts and call me."

In October 2004, a restraining order was issued demanding Lutfi stay at least 100 yards away from Mark Douglas Snoland, a neighbor in Lutfi's condominium building, for three years. Snoland's attorney Ronald Ziff referred questions to Snoland, who did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

According to Snoland's petition for a restraining order, Lutfi began "pounding" on Snoland's front door on the night of Sept. 6, 2004 and tried to kick the door in while also pounding on a kitchen window and "yelling verbal threats of bodily harm" against Snoland and his mother, who lived in the unit.

Snoland claimed Lutfi returned 15 minutes later to continue to kick the door and yell threats. Snoland also alleged Lutfi buzzed him on an intercom "non stop" and, hours later, called his home phone number and hung up every few minutes.

Lutfi claimed in a response to the petition that Snoland only "knocked" on the door, and that Snoland "was never threatened," but actually "angry he was removed from the board of the condo complex."

In April 2007, an Orange County Superior Court granted a restraining order against Lutfi for 29-year-old Danny Haines, who told Blender he had been a close friend of Lutfi for two years and that Lutfi once told him he should kill himself. Attempts by the AP to reach Haines for comment were unsuccessful.

According to Blender, Haines said he and Lutfi met on Myspace.com in 2005 when Haines was struggling with relationships with his relatives and friends. The two became tight pals, Haines told the magazine, and Lutfi emphasized that he could be a mediator between Haines and his family.

Haines claims Lutfi showed a jealous side, leaving voicemails calling Haines "worthless," and then divulging, "I love you, man. I love you to death." Haines alleges Lutfi later suggested Haines take sleeping pills, "lots of them," following a dispute over money Lutfi allegedly borrowed from Haines, according to the magazine.

Haines claims when he stopped communicating with Lutfi, Lutfi retaliated by e-mailing naked photographs of Haines to his family, friends, colleagues and employer, and text messaged and called repeatedly.

Lynne: Sam "Drugged," Controlled Britney

Father Jamie Spears, acting as conservator for Britney's estate while she remains hospitalized in a psych ward, requested and was granted a temporary restraining order against Lutfi on Friday. A court commissioner affirmed that order on Monday.

Now, a day later, the court has released the documents related to the order, including a wrenching declaration by mother Lynne. Her firsthand account of what purportedly transpired behind the doors of Britney's home is chilling, painting a sinister picture of the person who was, until recently, the troubled pop star's constant companion as someone who would do anything to control Britney, even if that meant drugging her, cutting her phone lines and systematically "inserting himself" into all aspects of her life. (View the declaration.)

In her request for a harassment order, Lynne says her daughter met Lutfi, whose full first name is Osama, "in or about October 2007" and that he has "essentially moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances."

"Mr. Lutfi drugged Britney," Lynne Spears' affidavit reads. "He has cut Britney's home phone line and removed her cell phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything—Britney's business manager, her attorneys, and the security guards at the gate."

Lynne goes on to say that Lutfi boasted to her directly that he ground up pills, among them Risperdal and Seroquel, and put them in Britney's food. Per the document, Lutfi also claimed Britney's doctor was attempting to get the "Toxic" singer into a sleep-induced coma.

Lutfi is also was willing to do anything to remain a fixture in her daughter's life, according to Lynne's delcaration. "If you try to get rid of me, she'll be dead and I'll piss on her grave," he's quoted as saying.

Such remarks have terrified the Spears family.

"Immediate relief is necessary to avoid the risk of physical harm to Britney by Mr. Lutfi and to allow her to undergo necessary medical treatment without interference by Mr. Lutfi," the restraining order request concludes.

A judge signed off on the harassment order Friday, ordering Lutfi from coming within 250 yards of the UCLA Medical Center, where Spears is in the midst of an extended 14-day stay, Spears' parents' homes, her siblings' homes, her children's homes and any homes owned by Spears herself.

The order is good for 21 days, though it was revealed during a conservatorship hearing Monday that Lutfi has not yet been served with the official order, as he has refused to answer the door to his Venice apartment, and that he contacted Britney over the weekend.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Lutfi said the Spears family's attempt to keep him away from Britney "won't last" and that she will ultimately distance herself from them.

"They're never gonna be able to rule her forever," he said.

Lynne Spears' declaration also includes a detailed blow-by-blow of what went down Jan. 28, prompting Britney's parents, who had largely been estranged from their daughter during Lutfi's tenure, to reinsert themselves back into her life.

Lynne claims Britney was "crying" when she called about a "big fight" between the 26-year-old and her one-man handler.

Concerned for Britney's safety, Lynne and Jamie arrived at their daughter's gated community, only to ascertain that, supposedly at the urging of Lutfi, a paparazzo friend had whisked Britney away from the house. Lutfi wanted to short-circuit any contact between parents and daughter, per the declaration.

Lynne says that, based on Lutfi's conversation with the paparazzi, "Sam disabled all of Britney's cars."

During the evening, Lynne claims Lutfi referred to her as "an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a whore," that Britney cared more about paparazzo beau Adnan Ghalib than her children and that "she does not deserve her kids."

"I'm the one who spends 24/7 with your daughter," he said, per the declaration. "I sleep in cars outside her house so she can't leave. You people throw everyone under the bus...if you don't listen to me, I'm going to make your name s--t in the papers."

Lynne says paparazzi were freely invited into Spears' home by Lutfi, treating him "with great respect" and, at times, "like a general."

As for Ghalib, Lynne says he confided to her he feared for Spears and that Lutfi not only hides the singer's phones (blaming her for "losing" them) but also denies her access to her dog, London.

Lutfi is no stranger to restraining orders, having been on the receiving end of at least three others since 2004; one was requested by a former condo neighbor, the second by a woman overseeing his escrow account and the third by a former friend in a money dispute.

Court docs: Spears controlled by manager

The order against Sam Lutfi was based on a lengthy declaration from Spears' mother, Lynne, who says Spears met the 33-year-old in October 2007 and "essentially moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances."

The documents released by the court Tuesday ordered Lutfi to stay away from Spears. In a section of the order detailing previous harassment, Lynne Spears says Lutfi "drugged Britney, he has cut Britney's home phone lines and removed her cell phone chargers. He yells at her. He claims to control everything — Britney's business manager, her attorneys and the security guards at the gate."

Much of the 6-page declaration centers on the night of Jan. 28., just a few days before she was whisked to a hospital's psychiatric ward. She outlined increasingly bizarre behavior through the night and said her daughter asked at one point, "When do I get to see my babies?" to which Lutfi answered, "Wednesday."

Lynne Spears said she, her husband and a friend went to Britney's home, but security guards kept everyone but her out. Once inside, Lynne Spears said she found several paparazzi, that there had been "a big fight" with Lutfi, and that her daughter was crying.

"The paparazzi reported to Sam and addressed him with great respect. They treated him like a general."

She said during the evening, "Sam had told Britney she was an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a whore, that she cares more about Adnan, her current boyfriend, than she cares about her kids and that she does not deserve her kids."

It was unclear how Lynne Spears knew details of the fight.

Lynne Spears said Britney was not home when she first arrived and she understood Lutfi had disabled all of her daughter's cars to keep her from leaving. She said he ordered one of the photographers to take her away when he found out her parents were on their way to intervene.

Eventually, she said, "Britney returned and became very agitated and could not stop moving. She cleaned the house. She changed her clothes many times. She also changed her three dogs' clothes many times. Britney spoke to me in a tone and a level of understanding of a very young girl. Britney then picked up a bottle of pills and read the label and asked us, 'What does insomnia mean?'"

Lynne Spears said at one point, Lutfi told her, "You'd better learn that I control everything," and said he was the one giving Britney her medications and, "he told me if he weren't in the house to give Britney her medicine, she would kill herself."

She alleged that Lutfi theatened her. "Then he said to me, 'If you try to get rid of me, she'll be dead and I'll piss on her grave.'"

Throughout the night, she said Britney — who recently lost custody of her two young children to ex-husband Kevin Federline — kept asking when she could see them.

"What do I have to do to see them?" her mother quoted her as saying. "Sam responded, 'Take the pills I tell you to take.' Britney said, 'I don't like the pills and I don't like the psychiatrist. Can't I see another psychiatrist so I can see my babies?'"

At that point, Lynne Spears said, "Sam responded, 'If I told you to take 10 pills a day, you should do what I tell you to see your babies."

She said one time Lutfi raised his voice and said "Why don't you get back with Kevin (Federline)." Britney then said, "I'll do anything to get them back."

Spears was barred from contact with her children after she refused last month to relinquish them to representatives of Federline after a court-sanctioned visit.

The Soap Dish On The Spears Family

"All My Children" starlette Leven Rambin, against the advice of stylist Shane Cisneros, couldn't hold back her opinions on Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy and the plight of older sister, Britney Spears, of course while holding court at the Tracy Reese show Sunday night at New York Fashion Week.

"I love Jamie Lynn! I just think it's so awesome that she's having a baby," Rambin said of the 16-year-old pregnant star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101."

Rambin said she "hung out" back in the day in Texas "my friend's mother and Lynn Spears were friends, so we'd go backstage at Britney's concerts and stuff."

As for 26-year-old Britney, whose behavior has become erratic since she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline in November 2006?

"Britney right now," she said, "well, I kind of just wish I could give her a hug. But Jamie Lynn is so cool."

Cisneros, who suggested that Rambin not comment, just rolled his eyes when she did. "Sometimes she's just a little too unjaded," he said.

Visiting Day for Britney

Both Lynne and Jamie Spears dropped by UCLA Medical Center to visit their daughter, whose initial psych stay was extended by up to 14 days over the weekend.

Lynne arrived at around 4 p.m., while Jamie showed up at 6:45, E! News has learned.

The parents, who divorced in May 2002, left in separate cars at 9:45 p.m. Both were trailed by the swarms of paparazzi accustomed to following their daughter's every move.

On Monday, Jamie was granted conservatorship of his 26-year-old daughter and her finances through Feb. 14.

A lawyer for Britney argued unsuccessfully that she did not want her father in control of her affairs; however, a court-appointed attorney told the judge he interviewed the singer on Sunday and determined she did not understand the proceedings and was not competent to retain counsel.

In addition to extending Jamie's temporary control over his daughter, Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz also barred the singer from contacting her friend and sometime manager, Sam Lufti and extended a restraining order against him.

For his part, Lutfi remained unfazed by the court's attempts to keep him away from Britney and dismissed the idea that her parents would be able to maintain their newfound hold over her.

"It won't last," he told Us Weekly.

"They're never gonna be able to rule her forever."

Court orders mental exam for Britney Spears

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ordered that the psychiatrist file a report on the 26-year-old singer's mental condition by February 13, the eve of a hearing to decide how much longer her assets should remain under the temporary control of her father and his attorney.

Gordon also said a restraining order against Spears' self-styled manager and confidant, Sam Lutfi, forbids him from any contact with her, including telephone, texts messages and e-mail, amid reports the two were still in contact.

The child custody battle between the Grammy-winning pop star and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, has been put on hold until her mental issues can be resolved.

Spears was taken to UCLA Medical Center in an ambulance for a 72-hour mental evaluation last week as her behavior grew increasingly erratic. That stay has since been extended to two weeks.

Her father, Jamie Spears, and attorney Andrew Wallete were granted control of her assets, including her house. Gordon said that ruling would remain in place until further proceedings, but he rejected a bid by the conservators to fire her defense attorneys.

Spears, a former Disney child star and chart-topping singer, has seen her personal life descend into turmoil since she filed for divorce from Federline in 2006, while Lutfi has become an almost constant presence in her life in recent months.

The Louisiana native was hospitalized in January for a mental evaluation after going into hysterics when Federline's representatives tried to retrieve their children after a visit.

Spears' antics have made her a regular target of the paparazzi. Two weeks ago, four photographers were arrested on suspicion of reckless driving while trailing her.

It cost local authorities $25,000 to keep photographers at bay during her trip to the hospital last week, police said. On Friday, a Los Angeles city councilman proposed a municipal ordinance to restrict the paparazzi's movements when photographing stars in public.

Los Angeles police are investigating a theft report filed on Friday by Spears' father, a police spokeswoman said. She said several personal items were reported taken from her home.

Britney Unable to Fight Daddy Day Care

The troubled songbird's estate will remain under the control of her father, Jamie, and a court-appointed attorney despite her efforts to oust the duo and retain control herself.

"The temporary conservatorship involving Ms. Spears has been extended until a hearing on Feb. 14," said Los Angeles Superior Court spokesperson Allan Parachini after a hearing Monday afternoon.

"A court-appointed physician was assigned to evaluate her competence to make her own decisions. The physican's report is due to the court on Feb. 13."

Parachini added that Britney is "ordered to have no contact whatsoever, direct or indirect by phone, email or text messages with Sam Lutfi."

Court Commissioner Reva Goetz tapped Jamie Spears and Andrew Wallett as interim guardians of the 26-year-old's welfare after deeming her incapable of caring for herself at this time. The order was initially approved only through Monday. But Britney's initial 72-hour hospital stay was increased by two weeks on Sunday, hence the hearing to extend the conservatorship.

Immediately after their appointment last week, the elder Spears and Wallett obtained a restraining order barring Lutfi from contacting Britney. However, they have been unable serve him—the manager/sidekick has been dodging the process server (by not answering the door at his Venice apartment)—and he was believed to have been in touch with Britney over the weekend.

An attorney named Adam Streisand appeared before Goetz on Monday and claimed he was retained by Spears over the weekend.

She "expressed to me her very strong desire" that her father not be named conservator of her estate, said Streisand (reportedly a distant relation of Barbra).

"There has been an estrangement for quite some time. With him as conservator, that is causing her more agitation and more distress."

Streisand asked the court to appoint Northern Trust Bank and Spears' business manager, Howard Grossman, as conservators instead. The new face on the Spears scene said the estimated value of his client's estate is $40 million, including 15 different businesses.

Jamie Spears' counsel, in turn, argued that Spears' daughter not have the capacity to make decisions regarding her welfare at this time, meaning Streisand's hiring is not valid. Goetz agreed and effectively bounced Streisand from the courtroom.

The session wasn't a complete wash for Britney. Jamie Spears' attempts to fire the legal firm in her custody case, Trope and Trope, was, at least for the time being, tabled by Goetz.

The afternoon hearing, which followed a morning session that resulted in no change in Spears' current custody arrangement with Kevin Federline, began at 1:38 p.m., about a half hour before the judge emptied the courtroom of press and other inquiring minds.

The "Toxic" singer has been at UCLA Medical Center since early Thursday morning, after Lutfi arranged with her psychiatrist and her legal camp to have her taken in for psychological evaluation.

Britney's Big Day in Court

With the 26-year-old singer holed up at UCLA Medical Center for at least the next weeks, the star's various legal teams are occupied at the Los Angeles County Courthouse for two separate hearings Monday, for Spears' custody and conservator dealings.

First up was a progress hearing in the singer's ongoing battle with Kevin Federline over their two sons, which kicked off just after 8:30 a.m.

Both Spears' legal point guard Anne Kiley and Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan were on hand for the very brief proceeding, and, as expected, no change was made to the standing order.

"In the end, no change was made," court spokesperson Allan Parachini said, adding that the hearing was continued after a brief closed-door meeting between the attorneys and Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon.

"It's a very fluid landscape that's changing day by day," Kaplan told reporters outside the courthouse.

As it is, Spears' current custody rights for sons Sean Preston and Jayden are practically nil: She hasn't seen them since her Jan. 3 custody standoff and inaugural hospitalization. The commissioner overseeing the case stripped Spears of court-monitored visitation privileges.

She was granted phone calls with the boys during a Jan. 23 hearing; Spears was also expected to personally ask for more time with the boys at that hearing, but she ultimately bolted before making it into the courtroom. It is not known whether she has had contact with them since her latest trip to the psych ward.

Monday's session was meant to explore the possibility of restoring some visitation rights to the star within the confines of a "therapeutic setting"—a request rendered moot as she remains on an involuntary two-week hold.

Despite some reports that the custody hearing would include a motion from Spears' coconservators to remove Kiley's firm, Trope and Trope, from the case, no change has been made to the singer's legal representation.

The next custody hearing is scheduled to take place Feb. 19.

Meanwhile, Monday's main legal event is expected to kick off at 2:00 p.m. at the same courthouse as the custody hearing.

The battle royale hearing will determine whether the temporary conservatorship granted to Jamie and Wallet over Spears' estate—including having power over all financial and medical decisions relating to the singer—will be extended.

Attorneys for Spears, reportedly with help from manager Sam Lutfi, are expected to argue that the conservatorship should either be removed entirely or, at the very least, that Spears' often estranged and rocky relationship with her father should prevent him from being among the conservators.

In Court: Battle For Britney?

Spears, 26, has had strained relations with her dad for years. "I am praying for my father. We never had a good relationship," Britney said in a statement last year regarding a feud.

"There could be a clash of wills over which side claims to have her best interests at heart," says L.A. probate attorney Allan Cutrow, who's not involved in the case.

Her father, Jamie –­ who visited Britney at the hospital on Sunday afternoon – and a lawyer named Andrew Wallet, were given widespread power over Spears's finances after a court named them co-conservators of her estate on Friday.

Courts grant this control when a person is incapable of handling their own affairs.

Jamie, alone, was also named temporary conservator of her person – in charge of her basic care and needs. He does not, however, have authority over her psychiatric treatment.

By now, a court-appointed attorney may have advised Spears of her right to protest her dad's control. If she does, the court may replace her father with someone who's deemed impartial.

It's also unclear whether Spears's custody lawyers, of the firm Trope and Trope, have the right to object.

"Depending on the powers the court granted the co-conservators, they may have the power to fire Trope and Trope at any time," Cutrow says.

Also Monday is a scheduled hearing in Spears's ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. She currently has no visitation rights of their sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

The former couple are not required to attend either hearing.

"This could only be the beginning of a long, protracted battle over her care, and control of her wealth," Cutrow adds.

Britney Spears Now Under 14-Day Hold

Only her psychiatrist would've had the authority to request the involuntary stay. However, it's possible the singer could be out earlier if she legally demands to be released or her doctor deems her well enough for outpatient treatment.

What is life like for Spears at the Stewart & Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA? According to the patient's bill of rights at the hospital, she is allowed to wear her own clothes and keep her own personal possessions, including toiletries. She may also see visitors every day and make and receive phone calls – but not on her personal cell phone. There are pay phones on the floor.

There are two wings at the hospital, separated by a kitchen/dining room. Patients sometimes mix, especially for smoke breaks out on the deck, which is gated and surrounded by a metal fence.

The average patient sees his or her attending doctor every day. Since UCLA is a teaching hospital, the attending doctors are often accompanied by students. Staffers check on patients at least once an hour, even during the night.

'It's a Terrible Situation'

The Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital is known as one of the top facilities of its kind; still, "It is a terrible situation," says a source close to the Spears family. "Britney is in a padded room. Her family is so worried about her."

Terry K. Wasserman, a veteran L.A. attorney specializing in mental health cases (who’s not involved in the Spears matter), explains that if a patient becomes combative, he or she "could be placed in a 'quiet room,' some of which are padded."

Wasserman adds: "Another possibility is being confined to a bed by leather restraints. In extreme, life-threatening situations – when the patient is a threat to oneself or medical staff – a psychiatrist can inject a person with psychotropic medication."

In addition, Wasserman says, "a doctor can force a patient to take prescribed medication. If he or she resists taking the meds, the psychiatrist can obtain authorization to forcefully medicate the person – but only after a hearing on the matter takes place."

Britney: "Flight and Kidnap Risk"

While the 26-year-old is in the final throes of her 5150 hold at UCLA Medical Center—which would theoretically allow her release sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Sunday morning—a source close to the situation told E! News there is no more than "a 5 percent chance" she will check out of the hospital this weekend.

"The best place for Britney right now is where she is," the source said. "The longer she remains there, the better it is for her."

News that Spears may be prolonging her stay in the hospital's psych ward, where she has been undergoing a battery of mental evaluations since voluntarily checking into the facility in the early-morning hours Thursday, comes in the wake of confirmation that even if she's allowed to leave the hospital, she won't get far.

E! News has confirmed that during the emergency Friday afternoon hearing, in which the singer's father, Jamie Spears, and attorney Andrew Wallete were appointed temporary coconservatorship over decisions pertaining to the Blackout singer's estate and a restraining order was granted on behalf of Spears against manager-pal Sam Lutfi, court commissioner Reva Goetz said a free Spears had the potential to be either a "flight or kidnapping risk."

While neither Goetz nor attorneys for Spears mentioned in the hearing who they feared posed the possible risk of facilitating either a flight or kidnap situation, the source told E! News the Spears family was taking great precautions to ensure their daughter's safety.

"Britney will now be provided adequate security. She had been convinced in the past to do away with personal security by certain people in her life, and that was very dangerous. It was a possibly deadly situation."

The source also confirmed that the amped-up security measures were particularly in response to the kidnap risk, saying the real danger lay in what may happen if Spears leaves UCLA Medical Center without being in the proper state of mind, adding, "Should she be released too early, hypothetically someone could try to take her away."

As for how Spears is holding up in the hospital, the source told E! News the pop star was "ill and vulnerable" and that the family hoped she would remain in treatment as long as possible so as to prevent "another Cedars debacle."

Accusations roundly arose following Spears' previous hospitalization, which took place on Jan. 3 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, that the singer was prematurely released.

"This girl is getting the help she needs," the source said, while declining to state the singer's exact diagnosis. "It is very sad that this is even necessary."

Another sad yet apparently necessary action was taken Friday, when the Spears family went to court, something they were apparently loath to do.

"Everything has been chaos," the source told E! News, adding that Lynne and Jamie Spears were "together on everything."

"This was done very reluctantly, but it had to be done because of what has been done in terms of endangering her property, her health and her estate…They did not want to jeopardize her future as a mother. They wanted to make sure they were protecting this very vulnerable person and making sure she is safe. This is all very agonizing for the parents."

Slightly less agonizing, no doubt, was the decision to seek—and receive—a restraining order against Lutfi.

"There was significant and dangerous conduct that he exhibited," the source said. "It was not even a close call for the judge."

The order, which will be in effect for 22 days, effectively bars Lutfi from either going to Spears' home or visiting her at the hospital, for however long she remains there.

In what appears to be part of the Spears' family's attempt to completely extricate Lutfi from their daughter's life, the source told E! News that Britney's future with the Trope and Trope law firm, which has been representing the singer in her ongoing custody battle with Kevin Federline, is "uncertain."

In the past, the law firm has worked closely with Lutfi and counted him as an ally. A source previously confirmed to E! News that the manager was the go-between for all legal dealings between Spears and her attorneys.

Meanwhile, Trope and Trope, along with Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, are due back in a separate Los Angeles courtroom Monday, where a previously scheduled hearing in the custody battle is expected to take place.

Britney's Parents Visit Her at the Hospital

Jamie and Lynne Spears showed up just before 1 p.m. No immediate word on how that went over.

Britney's Parents Take Control, Ban Sam

With Britney under observation in the psych ward of UCLA Medical Center, Jamie and Lynne Spears headed to a Los Angeles courtroom Friday to obtain a legal order empowering them to make decisions on her behalf.

Britney and her estate were placed under Jamie's temporary conservatorship by Court Commissioner Reva Goetz. The order, which only lasts through the weekend, gives the father control over his troubled 26-year-old's treatment and her finances, and a say in who can have access to her home and hospital room.

At the same time, the family was granted a temporary restraining against Sam Lutfi, effectively banishing Britney's manager and confidant.

To avoid appearances that they themselves might have ulterior motives, Jamie and Lynne petitioned the court to appoint a third-party coconservator to serve as an independent monitor. Goetz, who specializes in probate matters, selected an atorney, Andrew Wallete, for the role.

"It is in the best interests of the conservatee to have conservatorship over her person," Goetz said in court, saying the move was "necessary and appropriate."

The next hearing in the case is set for Monday—the same day lawyers for Britney and Kevin Federline are due in another courtroom to tangle again over custody issues.

The Spears family brought out the big guns to court. While Geraldine Wyle is fronting the family in the conservatorship case, a source close to the case tells E! News celebrity attorney Blair Berk has been retained as a litigator to "deal with the Sam issue" and anyone other challengers. Berk, who has handled cases for include Reese Witherspoon, Halle Berry and Paul Reubens, is perhaps best known for driving another famously downward-spiraling starlet, Lindsay Lohan, to rehab.

Berk, says the insider, "is known as a bull dog."

Indeed, Friday's court maneuver by the Spears family immediately marginalizes Lutfi, a fixture at her side in recent months, while she was estranged from Jamie and Lynne. Sources have indicated the Spears family fears Lutfi is not out for Britney's best interests and may be more concerned with her bank account.

For his part, Lutfi earlier told E! News' Ryan Seacrest that he has no designs on Britney's money but instead has a "moral obligation" to take care of her. That led him to arrange with Spears' psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Nadel, to have the performer committed Thursday morning.

He also slammed her parents, who have criticized his intervention in their daughter's life, saying Jamie and Lynn Spears were "incapable of telling the truth and incapable of sympathizing."

"I have no more respect for the family," he said.

Lufti says he is consulting with his own legal team to fashion a response to Jamie and Lynne Spears' power play.

Paps' Love for Brit Inspires "Safety Zone" Law

With the recent paparazzi scrum around Spears making the days when overeager shutterbugs were bumping into Lohan's car seem almost quaint by comparison, a Los Angeles City Councilman has proposed a "personal safety zone" law that would make it harder for the media to close in quite so easily.

Councilman Dennis Zine, a former cop, introduced the motion Friday.

"I don't want a repeat of what happened to Princess Diana with a celebrity in Los Angeles," Zine told the L.A. Times. "We had to have 12 officers escort [Spears] to the hospital that if not for paparazzi would have been [available] to prevent crime somewhere else."

"It is a major issue we have to address. We are in a celebrity town."

It cost the L.A. Police Department an estimated $25,000 to ferry the Spears caravan—an ambulance, a couple of cars with family and friends, and a horde of paparazzi—to UCLA Medical Center from the singer's Beverly Hills home early Thursday morning, Zine said.

And their job wasn't done upon arrival at the hospital. Once there, officers needed to ensure that other patients and staff remained safe while the onerous process of admitting Spears was under way.

A helicopter and a special team that guided the ambulance out of a side entrance of the Summit neighborhood were also employed.

Four photographers were busted Jan. 16 and booked for reckless driving after they were caught pursuing Spears at what authorities said were dangerously high speeds, following too close to her vehicle and making unsafe lane changes.

"In their efforts to get the latest story, these photographers often pose a serious hazard to public safety," he wrote in his proposal. "Paparazzi are becoming increasingly aggressive in their tactics, posing a clear danger not only to the people they are trying to photograph, but to the general public around them."

On Monday, police cited a number of lensmen for illegal parking after they set shop outside the gated community where Spears lives, where they were angling for a better view of the aftermath of her reported fight with manager Sam Lutfi.

Zine's law would require the City Attorney's Office and LAPD to draw up new ordinances to regulate how the paparazzi do business, including one stipulating a specific amount of "clear space" that would keep the madding crowd from disturbing private businesses and residences, blocking the entrances to emergency facilities and otherwise bothering people on public streets and sidewalks.

They "block entrances to vital public service centers such as hospitals and courthouses," Zine's proposal says. "Private enterprise also suffers when paparazzi impede access to offices, shops and restaurants."

Police Chief William Bratton, while admitting that there are issues at hand, told the Times he doesn't think additional laws are in order.

"Councilman Zine is responding to frustration we all have with the paparazzi," Bratton said. "We already have appropriate laws within the constitutional guidelines and we intend to do that whether it is erratic driving, trespassing on private property or any action that goes beyond the constitutional rights to cover a story."

Spears, he said, is an L.A. resident who needed help the other night.

The paparazzi "are the ones making a spectacle of themselves," Bratton said. "We will do what we need to do to protect the public from this cast of characters."

City Attorney and LAPD officials have been asked to report to the Public Safety Committee in 30 days with restriction ideas, including a minimum "personal safety zone" for the targets of the tabloid media's affection.

Spears' parents go to LA court

The purpose of Friday's appearance was not immediately revealed. Lynne and James Spears entered the Superior Court without commenting to reporters.

The parents sat in the back of Commissioner Reva Goetz's courtroom while attorneys showed a thick stack of paperwork to the clerk and had a whispered discussion. Goetz handles probate matters.

The commissioner said she could not look at anything until 1:30 p.m. PST, after the noon lunch break. The attorneys said nothing to reporters and Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini also had no comment.

The court is separate from the one handling a custody dispute between Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Parameics with a heavy police escort took the troubled pop star from her home to UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric hospital early Thursday.

It was the second hospitalization this year for the 26-year-old singer, who has been in spiral of bizarre behavior since November 2006, when she filed for divorce from Federline, the father of her sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

Britney Spears Out as Host of Beverly Hills Party

"Due to the circumstances, I have decided not to pursue Britney Spears as a host for the upcoming Scandinavian Style Mansion event," Claus Hjelmbak, the Danish businessman behind the gathering, tells PEOPLE.

On Jan. 17, Hjelmbak, who first met Spears in 2006 and was at her side during an early morning shopping spree with Sam Lutfi at the Kitson boutque last month, told PEOPLE about his Feb. 16 event, "Britney has said 'yes' to hosting it."

But things have changed in light of the pop star's current hospitalization, her second.

"She is not being fired, nor is she deemed unfit for the role as a host, but I personally feel that the most important thing for her now is to focus on her health and get the help she needs and deserves," says Hjelmbak.

The party, a showcase of wares from Scandinavian companies, will still take place, as will a gesture of kindness to its former host.

"I have decided to give some of the proceeds from the sales of VIP passes to a charity of Britney Spears's choice," says Hjelmbak. The VIP passes may be purchased for $2,500.

Lynne vs. Sam: Dueling Parties Sound Off

First up was Lutfi, who exclusively told E! News' Ryan Seacrest, "I have a moral obligation" to help the beleagured songbird. (Hear the whole conversation: part one, then part two.)

"You meet her and she cries, and she begs you not to turn on her," Lutfi said in an emotional phone call to Seacrest at roughly 8:15 p.m. Thursday. "I have three sisters—I would do the same for them. You would do the same for any of your sisters."

By becoming a near-permanent fixture in Spears' entourage in recent months, Lutfi has subjected himself to no end of scrutiny, not least of which with regard to what he's getting out of his involvement with the tarnished pop princess.

Despite tabloid reports to the contrary, Lutfi said she has never paid him, he has never sold any photos of her and he has "never accepted money from the media...not a dollar." He added that a "major magazine" once sent him a basket of food but that he sent it back.

And while Spears' parents continue to cast doubt on him and object to his intervention in their daughter's life, they're the ones who are "incapable of telling the truth and incapable of sympathizing," Lutfi said. "They're more concerned about money and their own image than Britney's condition."

"[I have] no more respect for the family," he said, adding that he's through trying to keep the peace.

That set off Lynne Spears, who spoke to Seacrest to set the record straight on her role as a mother and her concern for a daughter in trouble.

Lynne, speaking as a worried mother, told Seacrest her only concern is for her daughter's well-being and she just wants Britney to get better. Lynne said she is doing everything she can and sees her role as mom to a child who clearly needs help.

To that end, Lynne and husband Jamie Spears are headed to court to be named co-conservators, in charge of making decisions for their daughter. They also want an independent third party appointed, which would no doubt marginalize Lufti's role.

Lynee went on to say that she hopes people will question the reports they're hearing from the media and consider the source. She's afraid that everything going on is diverting attention from the real issue—Britney's health.

Finally, she wanted to make it clear that Britney's money has nothing to do with any of this.

Sources close to the situation previously told E! News that Lynne Spears was initially against Lutfi's plan to have Spears hospitalized. It was reportedly Lutfi who arranged with Spears' psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Nadel, and the singer's lawyers to have the 26-year-old transported early Thursday morning to UCLA Medical Center, where she underwent a psychological evaluation later in the day.

Britney was admitted and placed on a 5150 hold, meaning the "Toxic" singer is a possible danger to herself or others.

The Spears family at first barred Lutfi from the hospital waiting room, but he was eventually allowed to enter about 45 minutes later. Everyone was forced to clear out Thursday morning while Nadel evaluated Spears and the entertainer caught her first shut-eye of the week.

Arriving separately, Lynne Spears and longtime family friend Alli Sims returned to the neuropsychiatric wing about 3:30 p.m., while Lutfi arrived around a half hour later.

At Britney's request, Lufti brought along a cheeseburger and fries from In-N-Out Burger.

The three visitors were all allowed to spend time with Britney but had to wait outside while Nadel and other staffers met with the star until 7 p.m. Spears, however, spent the night alone in her room.

Britney Treated By 'Caring, Concerned' Therapist

"She's an excellent clinician and an excellent psychiatrist," says Harold Young, the clinical director at the Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, where Spears's psychiatrist Dr. Deborah Nadel worked for about five years.

Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Nadel graduated from University of California Medical School in San Francisco 18 years ago, and she did her residency at UCLA, records show.

Nadel, who has recently started treating the troubled pop star, had instigated Spears's second hospitalization in January, this time at UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric ward, for a 72-hour evaluation, sources tell PEOPLE.

Spears chose Nadel from a list of doctors recommended by her lawyers, a source says.

Young, who worked with Nadel about 12 years ago at the center – a non-profit agency that provides low-cost counseling to people in need – said Nadel is now on the staff at UCLA and is "well thought of in the therapeutic community."

"I think [Britney] is in somebody's hands who will be caring, concerned, compassionate and respectful," says Young.

Lutfi: Helping Britney a "Moral Obligation"

When it comes to being by Spears' side during this obvious time of need, Lutfi exclusively told E! News' Ryan Seacrest he feels "like I have a moral obligation." (Hear the whole conversation: part one, then part two.)

"You meet her and she cries, and she begs you not to turn on her," Lutfi said in an emotional phone call to Seacrest at roughly 8:15 p.m. Thursday. "I have three sisters—I would do the same for them. You would do the same for any of your sisters."

By becoming a near-permanent fixture in Spears' entourage in recent months, Lutfi has subjected himself to no end of scrutiny, not least of which with regard to what he's getting out of his involvement with the tarnished pop princess.

Despite tabloid reports to the contrary, Lutfi said she has never paid him, he has never sold any photos of her and he has "never accepted money from the media...not a dollar." He added that a "major magazine" once sent him a basket of food but that he sent it back.

And while Spears' parents continue to cast doubt on him and object to his intervention in their daughter's life, they're the ones who are "incapable of telling the truth and incapable of sympathizing," Lutfi said. "They're more concerned about money and their own image than Britney's condition."

"[I have] no more respect for the family," he said, adding that he's through trying to keep the peace.

Lutfi was again on the Britney beat Thursday night, purchasing, at Spears' request, a cheeseburger and fries from In-N-Out Burger, which he brought back to the hospital. Spears, however, spent the night alone in her room.

Sources close to the situation previously told E! News that mother Lynne Spears was initially against Lutfi's plan to have Spears hospitalized. It was reportedly Lutfi who arranged with Spears' psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Nadel, and the singer's lawyers to have the 26-year-old transported early Thursday morning to UCLA Medical Center, where she underwent a psychological evaluation later in the day.

However, a Spears family confidant has stepped up in defense of villainized mom Lynne, saying she was of course concerned for her daughter but was never made aware of the severity of the situation.

"Lynne didn't know the extent of what was going on with Britney," the insider told E! News. "She was really afraid and confused. She was really concerned about the well-being of her daughter."

She's also concerned, another close family source said, about Lutfi's role in her daughter's life.

"Lynne is glad Britney is being treated. This has always been her wish and Jamie's wish," the source told E! News earlier Thursday. "She just wishes that Sam wasn't the one in control and wants him to step aside. This is a family matter."

Britney was admitted and placed on a 5150 hold, meaning the "Toxic" singer is a possible danger to herself or others.

The Spears family at first barred Lutfi from the hospital waiting room, but he was eventually allowed to enter about 45 minutes later. Everyone was forced to clear out Thursday morning while Nadel evaluated Spears and the entertainer caught her first shut-eye of the week.

Arriving separately, Lynne Spears and longtime family friend Alli Sims returned to the neuropsychiatric wing about 3:30 p.m., while Lutfi arrived around a half hour later. They were all allowed to spend time with Britney but had to wait outside while Nadel and other staffers met with the star until 7 p.m.

Britney in a "Volatile Mood" Before Hospital

While sources have confirmed that, when the time came, Spears compliantly let herself be transported to UCLA Medical Center by ambulance in the wee hours Thursday, the day leading up to the carefully planned intervention wasn't so peaceful.

"Early Wednesday afternoon, Britney was screaming and yelling in the house," a source close to the family told E! News exclusively, adding that the troubled pop star had been wide awake even longer than previously thought.

Britney was in a "volatile mood" after not sleeping for four days straight, "cleaning excessively" and wanting to drive around town (which she obviously did), the source said.

As for Lynne Spears, who reunited with her oft estranged daughter for the first time in months on Monday after the singer's fight with confidant Sam Lutfi, she was apparently reluctant to return to Spears' house after hearing that members of her inner circle were planning on having the 26-year-old hospitalized, a plan she was initially opposed to.

"Lynne didn't want to come over earlier, because she was getting a manicure," the family insider told E! News. "Britney's relationship with her mom is touch and go."

Also, Lynne "doesn't believe the rumors that [Adnan Ghalib] is trying to exploit her daughter," the source said, further evidence that the Spears family appears to be divided along a Ghalib-Lutfi fault line.

But despite Jamie and Lynne Spears' suspicions about Lutfi, whom they at first barred from the waiting room after riding to the hospital with Ghalib in the backseat, it's Brit's producer pal who, E! News is told, really has her best interests at heart.

"Sam has been the only one around her 24/7, he understands her and she trusts him more than anyone else," the source said. "He's getting a bad rap," but "he's what's kept her alive. Sam wants the family to be there for Britney, but he feels they do not understand the full extent of what's going on in her life."

Meanwhile, Jamie Lynn Spears, who has been hunkered down in Louisiana since revealing she was pregnant, wants her big sister to come home.

"Jamie is a big advocate of Britney coming to Louisiana," E! News' source said. "But Britney won't leave because of her babies."

Spears hasn't seen her two children since she refused to hand Jayden James over to Kevin Federline's bodyguard during a bizarre standoff with police Jan. 3, after which she lost her visitation rights. Family court gave her permission to call the boys last week, and another hearing is scheduled for Monday.

The Crossroads star underwent a psychological evaluation Thursday morning at UCLA, where she has been placed on a 5150 (a potential danger to others) hold, to determine whether she should be ordered to spend the maximum 72 hours under observation.

A source close to the situation told E! News Spears is finally sleeping and that doctors will be monitoring her situation over the next few days.

Former Britney Flame Headed to Hollywood on American Idol

When the group opened for Britney Spears during her 1999 “Baby One More Time” tour, sparks flew between Carrico and Spears, a source who worked with Carrico tells PEOPLE. The couple soon began dating, even making a public appearance together at the September 1999 premiere of the Melissa Joan Hart film Drive Me Crazy.

But the couple split amicably after two months. “It wasn’t anything serious,” says the source. “It was just a flirtation thing. But they were a cute couple.”

Boyz and Girlz United had a minor hit in 2000 with “Messed Around,” an up-tempo pop song written by ‘N Sync member JC Chasez. After the group disbanded in 2000, Carrico moved to Melbourne, Fla., to front a rock band called Missing Pickett. Leaving his boy band look behind, Carrico, who auditioned in Miami on Wednesday’s episode of Idol, now has shoulder length hair and a beard. His sound is edgier, too: he chose Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Kind of Man” as his audition song.

“It was quite good,” Simon Cowell said, before the judges unanimously sent him through to Hollywood. –Steve Helling

A rep for FOX was not able to comment on American Idol contestants.

Will Britney's Hospitalization Help This Time?

Unlike her dramatic Jan. 3 hospitalization – in which a wild-eyed Spears was captured on camera being hauled away – her current hospital stay had been planned in advance, sources say, and did not involve her children.

What's more, sources say Spears was more receptive to treatment this time, which experts call a promising sign.

Other key differences between then and now:

Her Psychiatrist Gave the Order

Once again, Spears was committed using California's 5150 emergency hold, but this time, a source says, it was her psychiatrist – Santa Monica-based Dr. Deborah Nadel, who is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – not police, who issued the order.

"This means it might be a more favorable outcome," says Dr. Diana Kirschner, a New York City psychologist who has not treated Spears. With mental illness such as bipolar disorder – which two sources tell PEOPLE Spears has been diagnosed with – patients "have to make a connection [with a mental health professional] to move forward," says Kirschner. "There is a way you can bond with a client even though you are slapping them with something like [the 5150]."

Although pal Sam Lutfi told PEOPLE that Spears entered the hospital "willingly," Dr. Mark Goulston, a Santa Monica psychiatrist, points out that the 5150 is by necessity "an involuntary hold. ... It may be that she went in willingly, [but] her mental state was seen to be so volatile that whomever evaluated her didn't trust it would change."

Her Severe Lack of Sleep

Sleeplessness – friends say Spears hadn't slept since Saturday – "is a cardinal symptom of bipolar disorder," says Dr. Goulston, who has not treated Spears. "Not sleeping for three days could interfere with all of us functioning at a reasonable level. In someone who has bipolar disorder, sleep deprivation can trigger a full-blown episode. One of the things they will want to do in the hospital is get her to sleep. The question is: When she wakes up, will she be sane enough to leave, and then not accept treatment? That will be the challenge."

Possibility of Longer Hospitalization

Although the 5150 typically involves a 72-hour hospitalization for treatment and evaluation, when she was last hospitalized Spears left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after just two nights. Currently, "[Nadel] has the power to decide whether Spears can be released in that time frame or not," says a veteran L.A. psychiatric social worker. "However, [Nadel] is only one opinion. Within the three-day hold, patients-rights workers from the L.A. County Department of Mental Health will interview Spears and review her charts to determine whether the hold is legally justified." After 72 hours, "[Nadel] can request a 14-additional-day hold called a 5250."

Medication

Although Spears is more likely to comply with medical orders in a hospital setting, forcing her to take medication can still be challenging. "If she refuses to take meds that a doctor determines she needs, [Nadel] can request a court to grant that power – but that's a lengthy process that won't happen in just 72 hours," says the social worker. "I've seen patients housed for 40 days with not a single pill given."

Family Involvement

Although her dad Jamie visited Britney in the hospital during her Jan. 3 hospitalization, her mom Lynne remained in Kentwood. This time, Lynne has been present throughout the crisis. Still, "during a 5150 hold, a patient's family has no power unless the patient is a minor," says the social worker. "This is because, in part, family involvement could create further conflict. Even visitation can't be granted to family unless the patient asks for it in writing."

Says Dr. Kirschner: "The fact that the person's family is around them is generally favorable." Given the fact that she was hospitalized a second time under a 5150, "she was probably increasingly worrying people who were worried for her well-being," says Dr. Goulston. "If she's driving and she's actively bipolar she is a danger to herself. The question is: How many of these will it take to stick and for Britney to be willing to get help?"

Source: K-Fed Feels Hospital 'Best Place' for Britney

Federline "doesn't want her to get out until she's made progress," the source close to Federline says. "This is obviously going to help her in the end – later, much later."

The source adds: "He's worried. ... He doesn't even know what's going to happen next."

Federline, 29, was not directly involved in the latest events, "but he was aware of what was happening," says another source, a friend of Federline's.

Unlike the first time Spears was sent to the hospital, the children were with Federline, the friend says.

"Kevin legitimately wants Britney to get better. He wants her to be in their sons' lives. He wants them to have a loving relationship. He wants her to get healthy so she can be the mother they need and deserve," says the friend.

This is the second trip to a hospital this month for Spears. On Jan. 4, she was forced into the hospital following a tense custody standoff involving sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1. A court commissioner has since stripped Spears of visitation privileges.

A third source close to Federline says that getting medical help again for Spears, 26, "has been planned for a long time. Her family is behind this."

Mom says hospitalized Spears is doing OK

Spears, accompanied by more than a dozen police officers, was taken to the UCLA Medical Center before dawn Thursday in what one officer would only say was an effort to "get help" for the troubled pop star.

It was her second 72-hour commitment in four weeks, though her previous stay lasted less than two days and was followed by more strange episodes that have accompanied her divorce and bruising child custody battle.

The law allows a person to be placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold for up to 72 hours if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others. Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, was seen leaving the medical center's psychiatric hospital about 5:30 a.m. Asked if her daughter was all right, she replied, "Yeah."

Under the law, doctors may keep an individual under round-the-clock observation but may not medicate the person without his or her permission unless there appears to be grave danger, said Dr. Bruce Spring, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Southern California.

"The hold is not a carte blanche for treatment," said Spring, who is not connected to Spears' case.

Spears' public emotional spiral began in November 2006 when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of her infant sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

Neither Spears' attorney nor Federline's lawyer immediately returned calls for comment on her hospitalization. The pop star's spokeswoman declined to comment.

It was not immediately clear who initiated Spears' commitment process. The latest effort to get her help comes as various people in her life appear to be jockeying for influence, from her immediate family to two men who have recently surfaced.

One, Sam Lutfi, has described himself as Spears' manager and "very good friend." Earlier this week, Barbara Walters said on ABC's "The View" that Lutfi had contacted the veteran newswoman and told her that Spears saw a psychiatrist and "is starting some kind of treatment."

The other is Adnan Ghalib, a paparazzi photographer who recently announced that he is Spears' boyfriend. Soon after that announcement, Ghalib's wife of four years filed for a legal separation.

Ghalib has been seen escorting Spears on shopping excursions, restaurant outings and to court during her ongoing child-custody battle with Federline. He reportedly followed the motorcade to the hospital with Spears' mother.

The pop star was seen arriving in an ambulance, accompanied by the type of escort normally reserved for a president. Nearly a dozen officers on motorcycles, as well as more in police cars and in a pair of helicopters hovering overhead, shepherded her to the hospital.

UCLA spokeswoman Roxanne Moster, citing patient confidentiality laws, declined to say whether Spears was at the hospital Thursday.

Generally, a person on psychiatric hold receives a physical and mental evaluation and undergoes tests that can include X-rays and blood samples. Doctors can also recommend a course of treatment during that time.

If a person is still considered a danger after the initial hold, doctors can extend the confinement to up to 14 more days and a court-ordered hearing is held at the hospital during that time to determine if the person should be let go.

An estimated 40 to 100 people are committed against their will in Los Angeles County every day, Spring said. Most, however, arrive with only an escort of two police officers or a psychiatric mobile response team.

"It's unusual that there would be a parade of people," Spring said of the circus-like atmosphere under which Spears arrived. Her visit drew complaints from neighbors who contacted the Federal Aviation Administration about the helicopters.

Police Capt. Sharyn Buck said some people complained, but the motorcade was provided to get Spears through a paparazzi swarm without endangering her or the public.

"It's not preferential treatment by the LAPD, it's protecting public safety," Buck said.

Because paparazzi photographers trail Spears' every public move, she is forced to conduct almost all of her life in the equivalent of a moving fish bowl. As the world has watched, her behavior has gotten increasingly erratic.

Earlier this week, she was videotaped speaking in a faux British accent as she ordered Lutfi out of the driver's seat of her black Mercedez-Benz, shouting at him, "I want to drive my f------ car."

At other times she has arrived at public events in short skirts and without underwear, shaved her head bald, ran over a photographer's foot, left the scene of a fender bender, flogged another car with an umbrella and abandoned a car in traffic when it had a flat tire. Earlier this week, she was photographed holding her pet dog and crying.

Spears was hospitalized on Jan. 3 after police were called to her home when she refused to return her children to Federline following a visit. That episode resulted in her losing custody of her sons.

As she was about to leave the hospital the first time, Spears was confronted by TV personality "Dr." Phil McGraw, who said he was sent there by her family. At one point, McGraw had planned an episode of the "Dr. Phil" show about Spears, but quickly abandoned the idea amid criticism that he was exploiting her problems. He has since apologized for discussing his visit publicly — but not for going to see her.

Meanwhile, another hearing in Spears' child-custody case was scheduled last week but she didn't attend.

She arrived at the courthouse wearing a short, black party dress, bright pink lipstick, shiny gold platform shoes and sunglasses. But after passing through the courthouse metal detector, she announced, "I want to leave" and returned to her car.

Britney Being Evaluated

The troubled singer was taken to UCLA Medical Center early Thursday morning and placed on a 5150 hold, meaning she is considered a potential danger to herself or others.

A rep for the Spears family declined to comment to E! News on the hospitalization.

However, a source close to the situation told E! News that a team of experts was due to examine Spears beginning at 10 a.m. and would subsequently make a judgment call on whether the situation warranted a lengthier period of observation.

Earlier in the month, Spears was released from Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after just over 24 hours.

The plan to have Spears recommitted was engineered by her manager, Sam Lutfi, and had nothing to do with her parents, the source said.

"This was all Sam's doing. Sam pulled this on Britney last night, and Britney called Lynne because she was scared," the source told E! News. "Lynne was blindsided. She did not engineer getting her put in the hospital."

Lutfi alerted Spears' psychiatrist to the star's apparent mental instability and had the doctor call in the 5150, the source confirmed. Spears' attorneys also worked with Lutfi to convince the singer that she would not regain visitation with her sons unless she submitted to consistent psychiatric treatment.

Though Lynne was initially opposed to having her daughter committed, another insider told E! News that she changed her mind after witnessing Spears switching back and forth between different accents and claiming not to remember what she said when she changed accents.

Britney also reportedly accused her mother of "betraying her trust" and insinuated that Lynne wanted to sleep with her boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib, sending Lynne into hysterics and convincing her that the hospitalization was warranted, the source said.

Spears was taken to the hospital via ambulance and was admitted at 1:58 a.m., while Lutfi, Ghalib, her parents and friend Alli Sims arrived at the facility shortly thereafter.

Lutfi was initially barred from the hospital waiting area at the Spears family's request but was later allowed to enter at 2:30 a.m.

At the hospital, there appeared to be tension between Lutfi and Jamie and Lynne Spears, as the two sides quarreled over who would take responsibility for making medical decisions for Britney.

"Lynne has wanted Sam out of Britney's life but sees him as a necessary evil," a source told E! News. "As long as Jamie and Lynne aren't in control, they think it is detrimental to her well being."

Lutfi has methods of his own for trying to keep Spears in check, the source said, claiming that he has "flattened her tires" and "taken the battery out of her phones" in an effort to "control" the off-kilter pop star.

Though Spears' parents would prefer to keep Lutfi out of the picture, they are grateful that their daughter is getting the help she needs, the source said.

"Lynne is glad Britney is being treated. This has always been her wish and Jamie's wish," the source said. "She just wishes that Sam wasn't the one in control and wants him to step aside. This is a family matter."

Officer: Spears taken to 'get help'

The 26-year-old pop star was being taken to "get help," said a Los Angeles police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter. The Los Angeles Times cited unidentified authorities who said Spears was being placed on a "mental evaluation hold."

Spears was taken to UCLA Medical Center, where her mother, Lynne, was seen leaving its psychiatric hospital at about 5:30 a.m. When asked by a throng of paparazzi and reporters whether Britney was doing all right, Lynne Spears replied, "Yeah," before leaving in a Range Rover.

Hours earlier, shortly after 1 a.m., a motorcade nearly the length of a football field pulled away from Spears' residence. Along with the ambulance, it included police on nearly a dozen motorcycles, in two cruisers, and two helicopters following overhead.

The scene was more controlled than the one earlier this month when Spears also was taken away from her home in an ambulance. On Jan. 3, police were called to her home when she refused to return her two young sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to ex-husband Kevin Federline, who has custody.

Officers had paramedics haul Spears to a hospital for undisclosed reasons. She was released after a day and a half in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Subsequently, the Superior Court commissioner handling the custody case held a closed hearing that included exhibits including a "photocopy of Application for 72-hour Detention for Evaluation and Treatment." All exhibits were sealed.

Police also went to Spears' hilltop residence off Mulholland Drive on Monday night after someone reported a swarm of paparazzi trespassing in the singer's gated community. When officers arrived, they didn't see anyone trespassing, police said, but citations were issued for several illegally parked cars.

Spears has been in a highly public downward spiral since filing for divorce from Federline in November 2006. Her bizarre antics include shaving her head bald, attacking a car with an umbrella and bringing along a paparazzo pal on trips to a courthouse in her child custody case.

Spears' child custody case has become a public spectacle, with her skipping depositions and twice this month arriving at the courthouse but not attending the hearing.

The most recent incident was last week, when Spears showed up at the downtown civil courts building for a chance to persuade a Superior Court commissioner to change his order and allow her to see her sons.

Dressed as if arriving for a cocktail party — wearing bright pink lipstick, sunglasses, shiny gold platform shoes and a very short black dress with a ruffled hem — Spears was driven into an underground garage and then entered the courthouse.

A court spokesman said she got through a security metal detector, then announced, "I want to leave," and returned to her car.

Dr. Phil: Britney's Hospitalization 'A Good Thing'

He revealed that his hospital visit with Spears in early January was simply as a possible means to "start a low-key dialogue that might make her open to seeking help," and noted that, according to most recent reports, that is the direction that is being taken.

"If that starts [her] on the road to intervention," he said, "then that is a good thing."

McGraw's View guest appearance in New York coincided with Spears's trip by ambulance to UCLA Medical Center earlier Thursday morning in California for a second round of psychiatric observation.

McGraw said he knew nothing more about Spears's condition than what has been reported. He also said that since he and her family have been at odds over his issuing a statement after visiting Britney, he has not been in contact with the Spears family.

He added that as far as his visit with Britney in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is concerned, "I will not disclose what took place."

On Today, McGraw said he wished Spears and her family well at this difficult time.

Source: Britney Hasn't Slept Since Saturday

"She'll be in there for at least 72 hours getting evaluated. She might even stay longer," says the source. "She's more comfortable this time, she came into the waiting area, had a cigarette, made a joke about being there again. But who knows what will happen. All we can hope for is that she gets better."

Even the logistics in getting her help and getting her to the hospital were planned better – and far in advance, according to the source.

"Something like this has been in the works since the [last trip to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]. She has been seeing her psychiatrist every day," the source says. "No one thought this would happen this soon, but it was clear if she stayed up for more than three days she'd have to get sent, since that could cause real damage. The last time she slept was Saturday."

Adds the source: "The motorcade and everything was planned, it was already in the works to have them block off the road and airspace. It worked out perfectly."

Britney Committed

"It's true. Britney was a threat to herself," a source told E! News. "She's finally been committed."

"She has been out of control and not listening to anyone, totally uncontrollable and was worrying everyone by not taking any medication. She hasn't slept in three days."

Manager Sam Lutfi alerted Spears' psychiatrist, who made the call to get her in care, according to the source. Lutfi was said to be key in making it happen, even over the objections of the singer's recently reunited mother, Lynne.

"The scene inside the house was chaos," the insider continued. "Lynne was shouting at police. She didn't want them to take Britney away at first. It was a zoo."

Police confirmed that officers were at the Spears house but declined to comment on what went down.

About 1:14 a.m. Thursday, a convoy of emergency vehicles, led by the Spears-hauling ambulance, left the singer's home and exited through a side entrance of the gated Beverly Hills community known as the Summit. At least a dozen Los Angeles Police Department motorcycles and squad cars followed, trailed by Spears' family and friends and the requisite caravan of paparazzi, as the "Toxic" singer was transported to UCLA Medical Center.

Lynne Spears was spotted in the passenger seat of an SUV; Britney's boyfriend, Adnan Ghalib, sat in the rear seat. The vehicle was driven by Lynne's friend Jackie. Father Jamie Spears arrived separately, as did longtime friend Alli Sims and Lutfi.

"Lynne looked very distraught and was crying," an insider told E! News of her arrival at the hospital. "She was very upset."

By 1:58 a.m., Spears was admitted on a 5150 hold, meaning she will be held in the psych ward for up to 72 hours.

While the parents, Ghalib and Sims were allowed into the facility, a family source tells E! News that Lutfi was initially denied entry to the waiting area at the request of the family. By 2:30 a.m., however, he was allowed inside.

While it's unclear if any one event sparked the latest meltdown, Spears and Ghalib were together at the Beverly Hills Hotel earlier in the evening but left the premises at 7:25 p.m. and headed back to the singer's home in the Summit. A source told E! News that approximately two hours later, with Ghalib still at the house, Spears and Lutfi got into an argument in one of the bathrooms in her home.

At roughly 10:37 p.m., an LAPD helicopter was seen hovering over the home, shining a light on the grounds. Just after 11, Lynne entered the gated community. An hour and a half later, at 12:30 a.m., Sims arrived. Just 44 minutes later, an ambulance arrived on the scene.

Spears' father, Jamie, did not go to Spears' home, rather he drove directly to the hospital, joining the group around 2 a.m.

"I have been in touch with those close to her, and all I can say is that my foremost concern is for her to get the help that she needs," Claus Hjemblak, who owns the Scandinavian Style Mansion where Spears celebrated her birthday last month and who was on hand for one of the star's infamous late-night shopping runs earlier this month, told E! News.

The unlikely sextet previously assembled Monday night, when they confronted the Blackout artist and urged her to get treatment for what they believe is a bipolar condition.

Spears' family, friends and lawyers have told her that keeping the condition in check is the only way the troubled 26-year-old will win back shared custody of her sons with Kevin Federline.

Spears hasn't seen Sean Preston, 2, or Jayden James, 1, since Jan. 3, when she wound up being hospitalized following a bizarre standoff with police. Last week, the court commissioner overseeing the custody spat gave Spears permission to call the boys. The next hearing in the case is Feb. 4.

Last Friday, after speaking with mother Lynne for the first time in more than a month, Spears was spotted entering the Santa Monica office of a psychiatrist. Lutfi recapped the visit to The View's Barbara Walters on Monday, acknowledging Spears suffered from "mental issues, which are treatable."

Indications were that Spears had been regularly seeing a therapist and taking her meds in recent days but still had not admitted to having any problem.

"She's so unpredictable. No one trusts she'll stay on it," a Spears confidant told E! News early Wednesday. "And she has to, or else what's the point? It won't work."

Britney's Crime of Fashion?

Of course, her tireless legal crew might not be of the glass-half-full persuasion now that it has to deal with another court-bound headache.

A Las Vegas fashion consultant has filed suit against the "Gimme More" singer, seeking more than $50,000 in compensation, along with other monetary damages and attorneys' fees, alleging that Spears has failed to pay for services rendered over the past five months.

Nancy Rosu filed the complaint Jan. 18 in Clark County District Court, alleging she has toiled for Spears and her children since August 2006 but hasn't been paid since August 2007.

Per the filing, Rosu's duties as a fashion consultant include prepurchasing clothing for Spears with the reasonable expectation that any items ultimately approved by and delivered to the singer would result in payment for the duds and a little extra something-something for Rosu's efforts.Rosu's attorney, Natricia Tricano, said that despite the legal action, Rosu still hoped to maintain a professional relationship with the star.

"There's no ill will or hard feelings," Tricano told the Las Vegas Review Journal, before understating, "I know she's got a lot of things going on in her life."

Spears may be wise to make Rosu happy—2007 was the first time in many years that Mr. Blackwell did not include the fashion-challenged star on his Worst Dressed List. (Though, he qualified her absence as a pity pass, owing to the fact that his list came out about the same time she was hospitalized for her custody standoff earlier this month.)

Rosu's charges of nonpayment aren't the first to dog the star in recent days.

Although initial reports suggested Spears' early-morning Jan. 17 shopping spree in the ultratrendy Kitson resulted in several thousand dollars' worth of comped designer goods, the store has maintained that the excursion was definitely not on the house.

Sources tell E! News that Spears left the Robertson Boulevard premises without paying for her pricey haul, and that Kitson has made attempts to invoice her for the goods.

Forbes: Madonna richest woman in music

The 49-year-old entertainer leads Forbes.com's list of the top 20 "Cash Queens of Music," earning $72 million between June 2006 and June 2007.

The pop star's "Confessions" world tour pulled in $260 million, Forbes said. She also made money from album sales, her fashion line with H&M and a deal with NBC to broadcast her concert performance at London's Wembley Stadium.

Forbes.com said it compiled the list by examining concert grosses, merchandising revenue, album sales and other revenue from clothing lines, fragrance deals and endorsements.

Barbra Streisand is No. 2 with $60 million, thanks to her comeback tour of North America and Europe.

Celine Dion ranks third with $45 million, largely from her successful "A New Day" show in Las Vegas, which she wrapped up in December after a five-year engagement at Caesars Palace.

Shakira is fourth with $38 million, followed by Beyonce ($27 million), Gwen Stefani ($26 million), Christina Aguilera ($20 million), Faith Hill ($19 million), the Dixie Chicks ($18 million) and Mariah Carey ($13 million).

Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne and Martina McBride each banked $12 million.

Britney Spears ranked 14th on the list, earning $8 million from music royalties and sales of her fragrances with Elizabeth Arden.

Spears is followed by Carrie Underwood and Nelly Furtado ($7 million each); Fergie, Jennifer Lopez and Sheryl Crow ($6 million each); and Norah Jones ($5.5 million).

`Dr. Phil' regrets talking about Spears

"I regret making the statement. It didn't help. It didn't work," the syndicated TV psychologist said Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

Spears, 26, was hospitalized in Los Angeles after a child custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline resulted in an hours-long standoff with police Jan. 3. Federline has sole physical and legal custody of their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

McGraw said he visited the pop singer as a family friend, and rejected critics who accused him of practicing psychology without a license.

"I did not go there to diagnose her. I did not go there to treat her," said McGraw, who showed up at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Jan. 5 as Spears was about to be discharged.

McGraw said he retired his Texas license after 25 years of private practice because of the demands of his "Dr. Phil" daytime talk show.

The Spears family has accused McGraw of betraying their trust by making an "inappropriate" public statement about the singer's hospitalization.

McGraw had told celebrity news TV shows that Spears was in "dire" need of medical and psychological help.

In an appearance on NBC's "Today" show Wednesday, McGraw said his public comments after visiting Spears were intended to prevent rumors and misinformation.

"I wanted to stop speculation about what may have gone on in there," he said.

Britney Guy's Big Role

An Intervention for Britney?

During the course of the night and into Tuesday morning, the disparate group at times featured manager-pal Sam Lutfi, paparazzo boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and parents Jamie and Lynne Spears, all huddled in the Blackout artist's Beverly Hills home.

"Britney's mom was crying so much inside the house," said a family insider. "She is so hurt and just wants Britney to get better already."

Several sources disputed the notion that the meeting was specifically intended to be an intervention, but various psychiatric options for the erratic pop star were discussed. Lynne was there, said one of Britney's friends familiar with the situation, to "help her through" her increasingly troubling time.

There was no immediate comment from either Britney's camp or the spokesperson for Jamie and Lynne Spears.

The seeds of the late-night session were sown last week. As originally reported by E! Online, Lynne Spears spoke to Britney on Friday, shortly before the singer visited a psychiatrist's office in Santa Monica.

E! Online has since learned that Lynne Spears also spoke with Lutfi, Britney's gatekeeper, as well as Trope and Trope, the law firm representing the 26-year-old in her custody battle with Kevin Federline, to mount a plan of action to get Britney treatment. Her family believes the singer suffers from a bipolar disorder, but Britney has refused to admit she has a problem.

"Lynne was just trying to get [Britney] to admit herself somewhere," said the family insider.

The mother, who hadn't spoken to Britney in over a month, has become so desperate to get help she reluctantly decided to work with Lutfi.

"They don't really like or trust him," said another source, a close female friend of the pop star. "But Britney does, unfortunately, so they need him as an ally right now."

Lynne Spears, who had been holed up at the family's Louisiana home with her younger daughter, the pregnant Jamie Lynn, arrived in Los Angeles Sunday night, ostensibly to visit her grandchildren at Federline's house.

Despite some reservations by Britney, her mother was en route to the house after hearing media reports of Britney's dustup with Lutfi followed by a not so friendly tête-à-tête between Lutfi and Ghalib. (In a text message, Lutfi said Ghalib was a bad influence on Britney, calling him a "manic trigger.")

The two spoke briefly on the phone before Lynne made it to Britney's Mulholland Drive-adjacent address. The panicked former Mouseketeer was "hysterically crying" by the time she called her mom," according to Britney's friend, claiming that "everyone is always ganging up on me."

Lynne arrived separately from husband Jamie. A witness at the entrance to Britney's gated community said he was "tearing up a lot...he was so angry and sad about the situation." (See our timeline of the Monday night events.)

Britney spent much of the night driving around with Ghalib, while her parents and Lutfi waited back at her home. She finally returned a little after 11 p.m. Ghalib, who apparently didn't have any idea about the family summit, stayed a short time before leaving the premises. (Aside from Lutfi's documented antipathy toward Ghalib, Britney's parents are "terrified" of her relationship with the paparazzo, according to Britney's friend.)

After more than two hours, Britney, Lynne and Lutfi emerged for a quick group outing to a nearby Longs Drugs in Studio City. (Also along was Lynne's friend Jackie, with whom Lynne is staying in L.A., and recent Britney hanger-on Chad Hardcastle.)

The excursion took place at 1:30 a.m., and the group entered and left the drugstore together, with the "Gimme More" singer toting a brown paper bag on her way out. Lynne held tight to Britney's arm to and from the car, guiding her daughter through the swarming paparazzi.

The group returned to Britney's home and didn't emerge until midmorning Tuesday for a shopping excursion.

Both Britney's inner circle and her lawyers believe that voluntary therapy is the only certain path for the singer to be reunited with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.

She hasn't seen the boys since her Jan. 3 custody standoff, although last week the commissioner overseeing the case ruled that she could speak with the boys, who remain in the care of Federline, on the phone.

Federline himself was not involved in Monday night's group meeting. But through attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, Federline has stressed his desire for his children to have a healthy relationship with their mother.

"You know, nothing phases him anymore," a source close to the aspiring rapper-actor told E! Online. "He's seen it all from Britney.

"As long as the boys are safe with him, he doesn't care what she does or who she's letting into her life. But he's made it clear, she won't get the boys back until she gets serious about her own life. And that means getting rid of certain bad influences—and a paparazzo boyfriend and a so-called manager who spills all our personal business to the world certainly falls into that category."

Another Day, More Drama for Britney Spears

The trouble began Monday evening, when Spears and her confidante Sam Lutfi went for a short drive around Beverly Hills. When they returned to her Summit home at around 6 p.m., the visibly distraught singer – who appeared to be arguing with Lutfi – jumped out of the white Mercedes near the guard gate.

Spears, clutching her Yorkie puppy London, wandered around with tears in her eyes and, at one point, sat down on the curb. "She looked completely lost," says an on-scene source. Throughout it all, the gathered paparazzi snapped away.

Wearing brown high heels, cutoff shorts and a plaid fedora, Spears then seemed to downplay the incident, saying, "I'm fine. I'm . . . having a nice time with my dog." (She later hopped into a car with another photographer, Filipe Teixeira, who gave her a lift to Ralph's supermarket in Studio City, before bringing her home. He and another photographer pal were then invited inside, where they spent the remainder of the night.)

Thirty minutes later, the scene became even more surreal when Spears's paparazzi pal Adnan Ghalib – who'd been noticeably absent in recent days – showed up at the house. But the photographer was turned away at the gate.

The FinalPixx paparazzo – who recently dished on his relationship in a two-part interview on Entertainment Tonight and The Insider – proceeded to show his fellow photographers a series of text messages. In the missives, allegedly from Lutfi, the sender calls Ghalib a "manic trigger" for Spears and adds ominously that any further contact between the two "will kill her."

Police cars pulled up to the house soon afterward, responding to a call from security at Spears's gated community. "Spears drove through the gates and paparazzi followed her car on foot," said LAPD Officer Mike Lopez. "By the time officers arrived, the paparazzi were off the property, but officers handed out citations for those who were illegally parked."

The Madness Continues

But Britney's night was far from over. Her father Jamie and mother Lynne – who recently flew into L.A. from Kentwood, La., where she'd been holed up with Spears's pregnant sister, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn – arrived at the estate around 9 p.m. (Earlier in the day, Lynne had spent time visiting Britney's kids – Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1 – at Kevin Federline's house in Tarzana.)

The family reunion didn't last long, however – as Spears, clutching a bag, bolted from the mansion, says a source. She hopped into a car with Ghalib and the two sped off.

Their getaway hit a speed bump, however, when their car got a flat tire. (Spears is no stranger to vehicular malfunction.) The two pulled into a Chevron to pump air into the deflated tire, then returned to the Summit house – where mom Lynne, and the two photographers, still waited – at around 11 p.m. (Ghalib left soon afterward.)

The mother-and-daughter surfaced at around 1:30 a.m., with Lynne driving Spears to Longs Drugs in Studio City.

Cops, Brit's Parents Head for Casa Spears

Police were called to Spears' gated community Monday night, where they cited several individuals, possibly including her paparazzo pal Adnan Ghalib, for illegal parking, Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Officer Mike Lopez told E! Online.

Ghalib drove up to the tony enclave on the outskirts of Beverly Hills, reportedly at Spears' request but was denied entry when the gate guards dialed the troubled popster's home to get her permission.

It's unclear whether Spears issued instructions to keep Ghalib away or if her steady companion Sam Lutfi, who earlier Monday told Barbara Walters of The View that the singer was getting psychiatric treatment, was the one who gave the order.

Ghalib told TMZ that Spears called him following a major verbal dustup between her and Lutfi that occurred at about 7:00 p.m. as they were driving toward her home.

"Baby, can you come pick me up?" Ghalib said Spears asked him. He then told her to wait for him inside her house and he would come to pick her up.

Spears had jumped out of Lutfi's car just inside of the gate, where she ran head-on into the waiting flashbulbs. X17online reported that a new paparazzo pal on the scene, identified as Filipe, eventually drove Spears up to her house.

The paparazzi who ended up on the wrong side of a citation had abandoned their vehicles while angling to get footage of the purported fight.

"Can you please just go away?" a tearful Spears said at one point when one photog complimented her plaid hat as she was walking away from Lutfi's car, per video shot at the scene.

"I'm sitting for once and having a nice time with my dog!" she yelled at the paparazzi while she was waiting for her ride to arrive.

Spears, clutching her little dog, was then videotaped getting into Filipe's SUV and the pair drove off.

Lopez said police responded to the call, thinking that people had followed Spears into the Summit, although it turned out they were amassing outside the area.

"Next thing you know, we were called out there to the scene to make sure everybody left," he said. "While we were there, we cited them for illegally parking their cars."

When he got there, Ghalib said, he was denied entry in no uncertain terms at Lutfi's behest.

The duo have apparently reconciled in the last couple hours, however, because now witnesses are saying that Spears hopped into his car shortly after 9:30 p.m. and they sped away.

Around 9:00 p.m., Spears' parents, Jamie and Lynne, arrived at her home—technically uninvited but they are currently still there.

A source close to the family told E! News exclusively that the elder Spears rushed over to the house after learning from the media that their daughter had fought with Lutfi.

They wanted to make sure Spears was okay, the source said.

Family sources told E! Online earlier that Lynne and Britney spoke for the first time in at least a month on Friday, the same day the singer reportedly met with a psychiatrist. A source said that Jamie and Lynne were in town visitng their grandkids, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

An economy grows around Britney Spears

For a growing number of people and businesses, Britney's saga is about money: Every time she sinks to new lows, cash flows. And these days, no one is above the fray.

When a custody dispute devolved into a three-hour standoff at Spears' home Jan. 3, police officers and firefighters were pressed into duty. Television stations sent up helicopters, and cable news anchors reported the unfolding drama in real time. The Associated Press had two reporters working the story, with editors on both coasts updating it seven times throughout the night.

Spears is just one of many stars driving the growing multibillion dollar celebrity news industry. But the Spears story in particular, with a new twist nearly every week, has become a very profitable sub-sector unto itself.

"Britney is the most bankable celebrity out there right now, and she has been for the past year," said Francois Navarre, founder of the paparazzi agency X17.

Spears became a can't-miss tabloid topic after filing for divorce from second husband Kevin Federline in November 2006. Since then, she's been in and out of rehab, shaved her head, revealed a bit too much above the hemline, was arrested after a traffic accident, and lost custody of her kids (and later her visitation rights).

"The product for the tabloid industry is the unusual, and Britney has been delivering that consistently," said Dan Smith, dean of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

At a time when advertising spending in traditional media is declining, celebrity gossip titles such as Star, Us Weekly and In Touch Weekly are growing. That helped overall newsstand sales for magazines edge 1 percent higher, to $2.39 billion, in the first half of 2007.

"The increase is almost entirely attributable to the growth of the celebrity magazine," said John Harrington, who runs industry consulting agency Harrington Associates.

Any time a magazine can boost newsstand sales past its average, the revenue is booked nearly entirely as profit, Harrington said: "People prints 2.5 million copies and sells about an average of 1.5 million. If they have an issue that sells 2 million, the extra half million goes to the bottom line."

People, which takes a broader and less sensational look at the entertainment industry, dominates the sector in circulation, but that hasn't stopped such new titles as In Touch and Life & Style Weekly from elbowing in. Another newcomer, the U.S. version of Britain's OK!, has taken particular interest in Spears, putting her picture on the cover 54 times in the 103 issues since January 2006.

"An editor's dream is to have a real life soap opera unraveling in front of you, and Britney provides that every week," said Sarah Ivens, OK!'s U.S. editor. The magazine has a 10-person team in Los Angeles devoted to Spears coverage. "We're on constant Britney alert."

She wouldn't disclose the costs to the magazine, saying only that Spears has been "amazing" for OK!'s business. Publisher Tom Morrisy said Spears drives newsstand sales and helped the magazine's ad revenue more than double to $51 million in 2007. OK! expects to turn a profit in 2008, three years after breaking into the market.

US Weekly has been just as enamored of the star, putting Spears on nearly two-thirds of its covers last year, including each of the last 14. People has had Spears on the cover 10 times in the past 15 months.

And that heightened demand for Spears pictures has been a boon to photographers.

X17's Navarre said an exclusive shot of the star would sell for about $10,000 in the U.S. and generate thousands more in residuals. "She's the most expensive right now," he said. "For Angelina, for example, you divide by two or even three to get the price."

In contrast, the average celebrity shot fetches $125 to $700, according to Scott Mc Kiernan, founder of ZUMA Press photo agency. He said residual fees on exclusives can push the value of a unique Spears shot well past $100,000.

Many of those images wind up on celebrity gossip Web sites, like TMZ and PerezHilton. The sites make money by delivering viewers to ads on their pages, typically receiving a fee for each 1,000 hits. Navarre said Spears boosts traffic to his Web site, X17online.com, more than any other star.

"During the ambulance incident, traffic doubled every hour," he said, citing internal server data.

X17, which owns the infamous picture of a bald Spears taken in February, has a team of photographers tracking her at all times. "For us, she's the star No. 1," Navarre said.

Television ratings show that a major Spears incident attracts viewers to each of the main entertainment news TV shows, too.

"All of us sustained a major ratings spike" when Spears was taken to the hospital two weeks ago, said Charles Lachman, executive producer of Inside Edition. "It happens every time with her."

It's more difficult to assess the economic gain for TV shows because they sell ads weeks in advance, with rates based on average expected ratings. If the show fails to deliver, it has to reimburse the advertiser, but there is no such compensation if ratings exceed expectations.

Suffice it to say that advertisers love the extra attention. "Anything that boosts ratings is a win-win for everyone," said Shari Anne Brill, an analyst with ad buyer Carat USA.

On the flipside, the Spears story isn't making money for everyone. There are costs involved, too. For instance, the increased scrutiny puts a burden on Los Angeles civil service units, which have to keep Spears safe and public spaces uncluttered.

The L.A. Police Department wouldn't estimate the extra costs Spears generates. Her ambulance incident last week was handled by officers already on duty. The fire department said it was considering charging Spears for the ambulance ride, but did not disclose how much.

Spears' numerous court appearances — for custody hearings, divorce proceedings and a civil case — have more measurable effects. Richard Barrantes, chief of court services division of the LA County Sheriff's Department, said when Spears and Federline were in court on Oct. 26, his office billed the court $2286.10 to cover the cost of extra security at the courthouse.

The star's behavior may be eroding her own brand, as well. Spears remains among the most-recognized celebrities, along with Johnny Depp and Will Smith, according to Marketing Evaluations, the company that developed the "Q Score." But she is not well-liked. Her negative Q Score is at 66 — only Federline has a lower one among all celebrities — meaning two-thirds of people who know who she is give her a "fair" or "poor" rating. The average for female performers is 30.

Spears, who used to pitch for Pepsi but no longer fronts for any mainstream products, gets most of her income from music sales, augmented by several perfume lines and other side projects. Elizabeth Arden, Spears' partner in the perfume business, introduced a third Spears scent, "Believe," last fall.

So far, Spears' antics don't appear to have hurt personal earnings, which, according to court papers released in November, are roughly $737,000 per month.

"A good actor or musician can get away with some pretty bizarre stuff offstage as long as they keep delivering the goods in their focal profession," Smith said.

Spears seems to have done that, winning critical acclaim for "Blackout," her first studio album in four years. The record hit No. 1 on the charts last fall, although it faded quickly. Its headline single, "Gimme More," topped out at No. 3 on the Billboard 100.

Now that she's back in focus for offstage drama, her music is an afterthought. And at some point, most industry experts agree, the public will grow tired of the Spears story.

That doesn't mean the economy that sprouted around her will wilt.

"If it's not Britney, then it'll be Lindsay or Paris or some other person we haven't heard of yet," Smith said.

Britney Spears Allowed Phone Contact with Kids

"(Spears) is to have telephonic contact with the minor children," Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled at last week's hearing. "All prior orders remain in full force and effect."

The pop singer, 26, has been forbidden to see her sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, for more than three weeks, following her Jan. 3 custody standoff, which ended with her brief hospitalization.

Despite two attempts by her lawyers to regain her visitation rights, Spears cannot see her kids indefinitely, the judge has ruled.

Earlier Monday, Barbara Walters reported that Spears is seeking help for mental issues, according to confidante Sam Lutfi.

Alli Sims: Britney Spears 'Will Be Fine'

"She does seem happy," Sims told PEOPLE at Saturday's Hugo Boss/Glamour Studio Glam suite, of Spears, 26. "I'm sure obviously she's going through some things, and a lot, right now. That definitely gets to you.

"I'm not saying that everything is fine," Sims, 26, says. "Obviously, she's worried about stuff, like we all are. She's hanging in there. I'm not worried. She'll get back. She'll be fine."

Sims, who has been away from L.A. traveling, is moving into a new apartment in the Brentwood section of the city. She and Spears talk regularly, Sims says.

"I talked to her today, she's doing good," Sims explains. "I love her to death. She's a sweetheart. ... We have never had a fight. It's so funny, because you're off visiting friends and you're not here, by her side, they're like you're fighting. That's not true at all."

Adds Sims, "I'll probably see her this week."

Last week, Spears' paparazzo-turned-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib gave interviews to Entertainment Tonight and The Insider about his personal relationship with Spears. Sims, who has said she does not like Ghalib, has not seen the interview, she says, but that friends told her about it.

"He's been around, what, three weeks?" Sims tells PEOPLE. "I heard about it just from friends who watched it. I don't really see the point of that. ... I only know him from him following us around for eight months. I don't personally know him. But I don't like that vibe."

Pal Tells Barbara Walters Britney's in 'Treatment'

"She has been to a psychiatrist," Walters, 78, said, recounting Lutfi's explanation over the phone. "She, I assume, is starting some kind of treatment."

Walters also reported that Spears was having trouble sleeping and was suffering from "mood swings," but that she was back in touch with her mother, Lynne Spears.

When those at the table challenged the veracity of Lutfi's report, Walters's response was, "I don't know if anybody is telling the truth or not telling the truth." But she noted, "He has been with her constantly. He seems to be enormously supportive."

Chiming in with her analysis was Whoopi Goldberg, who said, "I think this girl has worked and worked and worked – and she is burnt out."

Spears' driver license case continued

Attorney Michael Flanagan appeared with prosecutor Michael Amerian before a judge and said they had been unable to agree on what law applies. They asked for more time and were given until Feb. 20.

But Superior Court Judge T.K. Herman said that he was not going to grant any more delays after that, and if the parties could not agree he would order a trial. "It's this court's intention to force both sides to go to trial within 30 days of that date," he said.

The case stems from an August incident in which Spears was videotaped as she bumped another vehicle while parking her Mercedes-Benz. She left after looking over the damage from the fender-bender.

The owner of the other vehicle later filed a police report and Spears was charged in September with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a valid license. The hit-and-run charges were dismissed in October after Spears paid an undisclosed sum to the owner.

Flanagan said outside court that Spears was driving with a Louisiana license that was valid because she owns homes in that state. But he said that when a person is "domiciled" in California they are required to get a California license and that Spears did so within a week after the charges were filed.

"There's no dispute about the facts here," he said. "The dispute is about what the law is that's appropriate to the facts."

Breaking Down the Britney Bucks

According to Portfolio magazine, the troubled pop princess puts anywhere from $110 million to $120 million in the pockets of others each year—and that's when she's not even touring.

Spears earns an estimated $737,000 a month or about $9 million a year and has already built up a fortune estimated at $125 million, according to recent court documents in her custody battle with Kevin Federline.

Impressive as those figures are, however, they amount to little in comparison to the money others are making off the singer.

Foremost, there's the direct Spears-related music and business ventures:

Since releasing her debut album in 1999, Spears has gone on to sell a staggering 83 million records, raking in more than $400 million for her label, Jive Records.
Her tours, too, are hot sellers, grossing close to $150 million to date. And Elizabeth Arden has sold close to $100 million of its Britney-based fragrances Curious, Believe and Fantasy.
In all, the Spears brand is bringing in an average annual take of $30 million to $40 million for her record label, promoters, licensers and others.
There's a reason the paparazzi's constantly on her tail.

Money shots of the "Oops" singer can generate anywhere from $250 for the average shot of a gas station run to $500,000 for X17's exclusive shaved-head photos.
X17, which sold $2.5 million worth of Spears photos in 2007, estimated that shots of the singer represent 30 percent of its revenue, while rival agency Splash News pegged Spears' value at closer to 10 or 15 percent of its business.
In all, photo agencies are earning an annual take of around $4 million by keeping their camera trained on Spears.
All those photos are getting published somewhere—namely, celebrity tabloids.

From January 2006 to July 2007, Spears was featured on the covers of People, Us Weekly, In Touch, Life & Style, OK! and Star 175 times.
While that may seem like oversaturation, there's a good reason for it: A magazine with Spears' mug on the front sells about 33 percent more copies on the newsstand. Within the 78-week time period referenced above, newsstand sales of issues with her on the cover amounted to $360 million.
On the Internet, Spears has topped the annual Yahoo search rankings for six of the last seven years, briefly dropping to number two in 2004 when Paris Hilton had a short-lived stint at number one.
Searches for the singer were up 60 percent in 2007—the year she shaved her head, checked into rehab and committed numerous other interest-generating acts.
In all, Spears fodder amounts to an estimated $75 million in annual media revenue.
And then there's K-Fed.

An unknown backup dancer BB (before Britney), he now commands up to $30,000 for a simple nightclub appearance.
He also continues to draw $35,000 a month from the singer in spousal and child support payments.
In all, Federline's ex factor probably nets him an annual take of about $1 million.
"Gimme More" has suddenly taken on a whole new meaning.

More Britney Confidants Deposed

The troubled singer's manager pal Sam Lutfi arrived at the office of Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, Thursday morning to give a deposition in the ex-couple's ongoing custody battle. The session continued into the afternoon.

A member of the Spears camp told E! News that no matter what, "Sam would never sell [Spears] out. There is no bigger supporter of Britney than Sam. I can't imagine Kaplan is going to get much out of him."

Separate sources confirmed that Kaplan would be querying Lutfi on whether he helped Spears strike a deal with paparazzi agency X17, entailing payouts for money shots of the singer's day-to-day existence.

Speculation that Spears was in cahoots with the paparazzi intensified this week, when photog Alison Silva told the New York Post the singer tips off the hordes of shutterbugs to her every move.

"Britney is in on it. [She] calls the paparazzi before she goes out. We know 15 minutes before she leaves the house. It's all staged," Silva said.

Lutfi had eluded Kaplan's clutches for weeks, managing to dodge several attempts at being served before one of Kaplan's agents finally got the subpoena to Lutfi in early November.

But Lutfi wasn't the only one giving his insights into Spears this week.

Spears' former bodyguard Tony Baretto also gave a deposition at the office of his attorney, Gloria Allred, on Wednesday.

Allred said the two-hour sitdown was to prepare her client to testify in the Spears-Federline case when it goes to trial.

"We discussed several issues, including Britney's drug use, her nudity and her ability to drive with her children," the legal eagle told In Touch Weekly.

Spears herself is expected to resume her deposition in the coming days.

Kaplan has already grilled several Spears hangers-on past and present, including buddy Alli Sims, former manager Larry Rudolph and former bodyguard Daimon Shippen. Also on the to-do list for this month: former bodyguard Lonni Jones, former manager Adam Leber, actress pal Christina Cindrich and Ashley Chapman.

On Wednesday, Spears made a brief appearance at Los Angeles County Superior Court for an emergency hearing at which she was meant to ask the judge to restore visitation with her sons.

However, she departed minutes later without ever entering the courtroom, leading the court commissioner to uphold the suspension of her visitation rights.

Spears has not seen her boys, one-year-old Jayden James and two-year-old Sean Preston, since Jan. 3.

Barring any more emergency hearings, attorneys for both Spears and Federline are due back in court Feb. 4 for the next scheduled hearing in the custody battle.

Though Spears' attorney, Anne Kiley, and her law firm of Trope and Trope had filed a motion with the judge earlier this month asking for permission to quit as the singer's counsel, they withdrew it Wednesday, apparently electing to give the business of representing Spears another chance.

Britney Spears's Lawyers Won't Quit Case

Asked if they were indeed staying on, one of her attorneys, Anne Kiley, replied, "Yes, we are," but gave no further details.

The law firm of Trope & Trope previously stated in a request: "There has been a breakdown in communications between [Spears] and Trope & Trope making further representation of her interests impossible." A hearing on the matter was set for Feb. 4.

However, court spokeswoman Meredith Pierce confirmed Wednesday that the firm's request had been withdrawn.

Earlier in the day, Spears's lawyers sought visitation rights for the singer, but were not successful. The pop star arrived at the courthouse for the morning hearing, but left shortly thereafter without entering the courtroom.

Last week, Spears lost visitation of sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, indefinitely following a four-hour custody standoff and her brief hospitalization.

Britney Bolts, Commish Vetoes Kid Visits

A court commissioner ruled Wednesday that he would not lift the suspension of Spears' visitation rights for her children with Kevin Federline after Spears went MIA during an emergency hearing held at her own behest.

The proceedings itself got off to a less than promising start for Spears, who arrived nearly 25 minutes tardy to the Los Angeles County Superior Court. A half-hour later, after going through the security checkpoint, Spears informed sheriff's deputies she wanted to leave the premises and split without even entering the courtroom.

While court spokesperson Allan Parachini originally said Spears was expected to return to the courthouse later today, that now seems unlikely.

"Any future proceeding would have to include counsel for both sides," he said outside court. "Many of you saw how this went down. This was an unusual situation. Our primary concern here is the children."

Inside the courtroom, Spears' abrupt bolting appeared to take even her attorney, Anne Kiley, by surprise. Asked by Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon if her client was going to be present for the hearing, Kiley responded, "I don't know."

"I don't want to delay the hearing," the attorney added.

The hearing had originally been slated to begin at 8:30 a.m. Spears managed to appear at the courthouse free of her usual fanfare by entering via a basement parking garage. (A source said earlier she would be chauffeured to the downtown complex accompanied by manager pal Sam Lutfi.)

Federline was also present for the hearing, having arrived on time with lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan. He was sworn in just prior to the media being cleared from the courtroom, though Parachini was hesitant to confirm that the "America's Most Hated" rapper testified during the quickie hearing.

"It depends on what you call testimony," he said of Federline's participation in the courtroom. "A couple of questions were posed to Mr. Federline, sitting at a counsel table, and he responded very briefly—as in one or two words—to the questions he was asked."

As a Spears source told E! News Tuesday, the "Gimme More" singer initially planned to ask Gordon to restore her visitation rights for sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. Gordon stripped her of monitored visits on Jan. 4, the morning after her forced hospitalization and hours-long custody standoff with police, in which she refused to hand over her children to Federline's bodyguard.

Spears has not seen or been in contact with her children since the incident. She was expected to seek to spend supervised quality time with her kids in a "therapeutic setting," per TMZ.

The hearing comes in the wake of Spears' appearance at Kaplan's office for a deposition Monday. After skipping several appointments outright, she finally submitted to about 40 minutes of questioning and is scheduled to return for more in the coming days.

Kaplan has said that while he only managed to ask her a fraction of his questions, the session went better than on Jan. 3—the day of her standoff—which lasted just 14 minutes.

Her newfound compliance, however, was apparently short-lived.

Barring any more emergency hearings, attorneys for both Federline and Spears are due back in court Feb. 4, the previously announced date for the next scheduled hearing in their custody battle.

Fotog: Brit Wants My Baby

Britney Makes New Bid for Kids

Sources close to the "Gimme More" singer confirm to E! News that Spears will appear in court Wednesday morning to ask a court commissioner to restore her visitation rights for her sons with Kevin Federline, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

The emergency hearing was called by Spears' attorneys at the behest of the 26-year-old entertainer and will come two days after she finally showed up for a deposition in her long-playing custody dispute with Federline. The next scheduled court date for the former wasn't until Feb. 19.

Spears is expected to attend the 8:30 meeting along with manager Sam Lutfi, who accompanied her to the Monday session.

Los Angeles Court Commissioner Scott Gordon stripped Spears of visitation rights after she refused to return the boys at the prescribed time back on Jan. 3, leading to a tense standoff with police and, ultimately, her forced hospitalization. The children, who remain in the care of Federline, 29, have not seen their mom since.

According to TMZ, Spears will seek monitored visits with the boys in a "therapeutic setting."

Meanwhile, Spears is expected to continue being deposed by Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan in the coming days.

Speaking to reporters on Monday evening, Kaplan said that he questioned Spears for about 40 minutes, even though she was present in his office for over two hours.

"We are going over things that are very, very gut-wrenching," Kaplan told People. "It's not something anyone would enjoy."

Asked by Access Hollywood if he believed Spears would be able to see her children soon, the attorney said, "There are certain things that have to be done by her in order to make everyone comfortable—and to answer any unresolved questions so that we don't have to worry about anything that occurred a few weeks ago.

"She is not the enemy. She is not being viewed as the enemy, and what is being done, even though it may be unpopular with her, is to make sure that she can be a full participant going forward in the future.”

Paris Hilton: Britney's a `great mother'

"I wish the best for her and I just wish everyone would leave her alone so she could live her life," the 26-year-old hotel heiress-actress tells E! News. "She's a great mother and a great girl and I really care about her."

In an interview that was to air Tuesday night, Hilton says: "She's a very sweet girl and I love her to death."

Hilton and Spears were nearly inseparable following the pop star's split from ex-husband Kevin Federline.

The tabloid magnets were photographed partying, shopping and driving in a car with Lindsay Lohan in the weeks after Spears filed for divorce from Federline in November 2006. But their whirlwind public friendship seemed to fizzle out after Spears' fans complained that Hilton was a negative influence.

Hilton served a 23-day jail sentence in Los Angeles last June for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless-driving case. She vowed to focus on philanthropy afterward.

Meanwhile, Spears, 26, continued to unravel in the public eye after a rough year in which she shaved her head, checked in and out of rehab and attacked a car with an umbrella.

She was taken to a Los Angeles hospital by paramedics earlier this month after police were called to her home because of a dispute involving her two sons. A court commissioner decided to keep in effect an order suspending Spears' right to visit Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2.

Wife of Britney's Paparazzi Pal Files for Separation

Azlynn Elizabeth Berry cites irreconcilable differences for the split. She asks that Ghalib pay spousal support and her attorney's fees.

Documents show they were married on Dec. 18, 2003, and separated on Jan. 18 – the same day the papers were filed. They have no children together, the papers say.

Spears, 26, and Ghalib, 35, who's photographed the singer for years, have until recently been inseparable. Ghalib's photo-agency employer has described him as Spears's boyfriend and says Ghalib had been separated from his wife for more than a year.

K-Fed Lawyer: Spears Deposition 'Gut-Wrenching'

"We are going over things that are very, very gut-wrenching," Kaplan said Monday night, speaking outside of Katsuya restaurant in Brentwood. He declined to discuss specifics of the questioning, but said, "Just to revisit them even in your own mind would not be pleasurable."

"It's not something anyone would enjoy," he says.

Spear has a spotty record with past deposition dates in the custody case, missing numerous appointments and sitting for only 14 minutes on Jan. 3. Kaplan is expected to be grilling Spears, 26, about past drug and alcohol use, her failure to comply with court orders and any other subject relating to her fitness as a parent.

After a meltdown and brief forced hospitalization, Spears lost visitation rights with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1. Ex-husband Federline, 29, has sole legal and physical custody.

Even Monday's session was in doubt.

"She was about 50 minutes late," he says. "After an hour I would have been over it. I was prepared to terminate had she not showed at that time."

Spears was spotted biting her fingernails when arriving to Kaplan's Century City Plaza office. After spending more than two hours there, Spears appeared tense and lit up a cigarette behind the wheel of her Mercedes before driving through Beverly Hills listening to Madonna on the stereo.

The deposition on a national holiday Monday was booked after the shortened deposition on Jan. 3. The holiday booking was done to accommodate busy lawyer schedules, says Kaplan, and it "did dovetail into allowing this to be a low-profile appearance."

Kaplan says there will further depositions in the unspecified future, claiming that he has only worked through "2 percent" of his questions.

"There is a lot of work to be done," he says. But he adds he was heartened by the idea of even having the meeting in the first place.

"She came for her deposition, that's great," says Kaplan. "Showing up is form over substance."

All The Britney's A Stage

Britney's Quiz Show

Spears spent more than two hours Monday being grilled by Kevin Federline's lawyer as part of her deposition in the dueling exes' ongoing custody case.

Accompanied by manager Sam Lutfi, the Blackout singer's familiar SL65 Mercedes-Benz appeared at the Century City offices of Mark Vincent Kaplan about 10:40 a.m.

She was seen exiting shortly before 1:30 p.m., with one witness telling E! News "Britney left the office with a blank expression on her face."

She and Lutfi retrieved the Benz from a valet, cut through some narrow alleys around Beverly Hills and headed back to her home, where she remained as of early Monday evening.

A source close to Federline described Spears as "cooperative" but declined to comment on the nature of her remarks. A source in the Spears camp said that Britney is "more relieved than upset" about today's proceedings.

Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to E! News, Spears pal and Danish businessman Claus Hjelmbak, who recently booked Britney to host his Scandinavian Style Mansion next month, credited Lutfi as a calming influence during her testimony.

"Britney professionally and bravely attended her deposition with dignity and class. I'm absolutely thrilled to see how the world is is now opening its eyes and seeing the caring, wonderful person that she is and as someone who takes her responsibilities seriously," Hjelmbak said.

"Fittingly, Sam Lutfi was by her side, and he is very much a key in her rise back to the top of her game."

Kaplan's office did not immediately comment on the Monday summit.

But the attorney was expected to quiz the 26-year-old ex-Mouseketeer on her fitness as a parent, her past drug use, her sometimes erratic behavior and other aspects of life that may affect her ability to parent her and Federline's sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

This was Spears' second go-round with the attorney. She logged all of 14 minutes answering his questions on Jan. 3—just hours before the bizarro custody standoff that resulted in her losing the existing visitation she had with the boys.

Sources told E! News that Spears is expected to attend at least one more session at Kaplan's office this week. A handful of other depositions, including former bodyguard Tony Barretto, will take place either this week or next.

The Spears sitdown was ordered by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who issued an ultimatum after she bailed on several previous depo appointments.

The attorney has already queried several Spears compatriots, including sidekick Alli Sims, former manager Larry Rudolph and former bodyguard Daimon Shippen.

Spears and Federline's custody battle heads back to court on Feb. 19, when the singer is expected to request restoration of her visits with the children.

Britney Spears Shows Up for Custody Deposition

At 10:40 a.m., Spears, 26, wearing a dark blue top and jeans, drove up to the office in her white Mercedes-Benz SL65 with friend Sam Lutfi. Both had serious expressions on their faces.

The singer has missed numerous appointments for the court-ordered cross examination. She's expected to be grilled about her past drug and alcohol use, her apparent failure to follow court orders and other matters pertaining to her parenting skills.

Federline's attorney will use evidence gathered in depositions to try to convince a court that his client should retain primary physical custody of the ex-couple's children. A custody trial is set for April.

"Kevin wants nothing more than to be able to parent his children with participation by their mother," Kaplan previously told PEOPLE. "But the best interest of the children require that they be in the most sound, safe, nurturing and consistent environment. That is paramount."

On Jan. 3, Spears was deposed for only 14 minutes, after arriving one-and-a-half hours late. That night and into the next morning Spears had a four-hour standoff with police, ending with her brief hospitalization.

Last Monday, the singer lost all visitation rights to sons Preston, 2, and Jayden 1, indefinitely after she showed up for a hearing, then left without entering the courthouse.

'Upbeat' Britney Hits the Dance Studio

"She is working on the choreography for her song 'Hot as Ice,'" Baker said, "She rehearsed an amazing routine with a chair."

The intense dance session wrapped up a characteristically bizarre weekend, during which Spears invited two photographers back to her home for some late-night champagne. "She was very sweet," said one of the photographers, adding that Spears pal Sam Lutfi claimed to have "filed a restraining order" against Adnan Ghalib.

Ghalib, the paparazzo who has been Spears's near-constant companion in recent weeks, shot back, "I am only now becoming aware of what is being said. I hope to be back home in Los Angeles soon and to be in contact with Miss Spears." (The L.A. police and sheriff's departments both said no emergency protective order had been issued.)

Spears, 26 – who also dropped by PetCo Sunday afternoon, picking up a birdcage and some dog food – spent nearly three hours working on her moves at Millennium. She emerged at 9:30 p.m. in a white top and Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, chatting with paparazzi and requesting the presence of Filipe, one of the photographers who had been at her home earlier.

"Britney was in an upbeat mood," Baker said, adding that despite the impressive workout, the singer still seemed slightly scatterbrained. "I let her use my personal copy of Blackout. She forgot her own CD."

Britney 'safari'

Britney's Pap Pal Surprised by Restraining Order Rumor

"All I can say is that I have not been in contact with Britney since early Friday morning," Ghalib says in a message posted on the Web site of his employer, FinalPixx. "The reason being, that I have has to attend a family funeral in Santa Barbara. My phone has been off during this time out of respect for my family. I am only now becoming aware of what is being said. I hope to be back home in Los Angeles soon and to be in contact with Miss Spears."

The news of a the supposed restraining order came from two paparazzi who were invited into Spears's home at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday, and spent several hours with the singer and her longtime friend Sam Lutfi.

According to one of the photographers, Lutfi said that they'd filed a request for a restraining order against Ghalib because they want him "out of Britney's life."

"Britney asked us to leave the cameras in the car, and? she poured some champagne for us. She was very sweet," said one of the photographers. "Sam was telling us to not worry about Adnan because they have filed a restraining order against ?him."

The Los Angeles police department says they are "not aware" of any emergency protective orders issued against Ghalib. The L.A. Sheriff's department also says no order was issued.

Britney Spears Lapses Into a British Accent

In the last several weeks, Spears, 26, has been videotaped numerous times trading her Louisiana twang for U.K. inflections.

"She had the English accent thing going the whole time" while shopping at Kitson last Thursday, according to a source. "It didn't stop."

Even when angry, the accent appears. On an L.A. shopping trip to Macy's on Jan. 13, she screamed at the paparazzi, "Get out of my G------ face!" – in a British accent.

So is it all in fun or has she flipped her pink wig?

"When someone has dissociative identity disorder" – formally known as multiple personality disorder – "each identity is split off from the other," says L.A. psychologist Renee A. Cohen, who is not treating Spears. "Each would have its own name, memories, behavioral traits and emotional characteristics."

Cohen says the critical question is: "When Britney uses the British accent, or appears to take on another identity, does she know she's Britney Spears?"

"Otherwise, she could simply be behaving this way for attention, for sympathy, or any other reason," adds Cohen. "It's foolish to attempt to diagnose her without a formal evaluation."

One possible influence could be Spears's maternal grandmother, Lillian Bridges, who was originally from England.

Also, Spears's new beau, photographer Adnan Ghalib, grew up in Birmingham, England.

According to paparazzi who trail the singer around the clock, one thing is for sure: the pink wig means something's changing.

"When she puts on the pink wig, you just know something crazy is about to happen," said one paparazzo.

Brit Loses Again

Media frenzy sparks fears for Britney Spears

After a year of erratic behavior in the glare of the press spotlight she both shuns and invites, pop star Britney Spears has some observers comparing the celebrity media frenzy surrounding her with what Britain's Princess Diana faced and some voice concern about her safety.

Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997, had been the most photographed woman in the world and the object of intense media scrutiny.

Spears, 26, has been staked out 24 hours a day for the past two years. This week, she was involved in a late-night car chase, in which four paparazzi were arrested for reckless driving, and she ducked back into her car after being mobbed by media covering a child custody court hearing.

Spears has been one of the biggest-selling female pop singers in the past decade. But since her life careened out of control following her divorce last year from Kevin Federline, she has been photographed with a bald head, going partying without panties and being carried by stretcher into an ambulance.

When photographers followed her into a Los Angeles church on Monday, it was the last straw for U.S. comic and talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell.

"I remember the tunnel as it appeared on the news, lit by headlights, flashlights, red lights.....I saw it then, and I can see it now. Diana dead," O'Donnell wrote in her blog.

"She (Spears) will be trying to get away, but they will chase her, just as they chased her into that church ...

"The tunnel is crowded now. There are only inches of separation between vulnerability and disaster," she added.

Diana, 36, died in a high-speed Paris car crash blamed on her drunk and drugged-up driver. She was being followed by photographers but none of them was charged.

Frank Griffin, who co-owns the Los Angeles celebrity picture agency Bauer-Griffin, was irked by suggestions photographers might be held responsible for Spears' safety.

'SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP'

But he said there were other similarities between Spears and Diana, who was known for manipulating the media and sometimes tipping off photographers.

"There is some kind of symbiotic relationship between Britney and those who will provide her with attention.

"She has to have it in her life. She is used to all that adulation since she was a kid. The only way she can get it now is by going out and doing something stupid," Griffin said.

Sympathy for Spears has dropped since she started dating Adnan Ghalib, one of the paparazzi who have dogged her for months. Ghalib has provided pictures of himself with Spears to his agency.

"She is going out with a guy who calls all these teams ahead of time," Griffin said. "Why does she drive to the drugstore? Why is she going to the deli and running in to pick things up. Why doesn't she send someone else to do it?"

John Cook, senior writer for the pop culture and politics magazine Radar, said the number of paparazzi in Los Angeles had swelled to between 300 and 400 from about 25 some 15 years ago.

"It's like the Wild West. Celebrity magazines are paying huge amounts for single photographs, millions of dollars in some cases," Cook said. "With that kind of money, there is always going to be an incentive for people to behave this way, especially when someone is going through a personal crisis."

Cook said there was a danger someone would end up being hurt. "Whether it is Britney herself, or an innocent bystander, it would not surprise me if there was a car accident and someone was seriously injured."

In an illustration of how macabre some of the Spears coverage has become, a Detroit radio station apologized this week for running a contest offering $1,000 for the correct prediction of the day she dies, from drugs or at her own hands.

Griffin said Spears' pictures represented only a small percentage of his income. But he saw no end to the frenzy soon.

"It never died out with Diana, did it?" he said.

Family: Still Waiting on Britney

Still, the Blackout singer has not reached out and spoken with parents Lynne and Jamie, a Spears family source told E! Online Friday.

"Right now, the family is just focused and praying on Britney getting the help she needs," the source said.

Since the Jan. 3 incident, Spears has remained in Los Angeles with a tight circle of friends that includes her current boyfriend, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib, and manager Sam Lutfi.

She has not seen her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and she skipped a court date earlier this week that could have won her restored visitation. The boys will remain with Kevin Federline at least until the next hearing, on Feb. 19.

Meanwhile, Dr. Phil McGraw, who came under fire from the Spears family for planning to do a Brit-centric special, has admitted he made a mistake.

"Was it helpful to the situation? Regrettably, no. It was not, and I have to acknowledge that, and I do," McGraw told his audience during a Thursday Dr. Phil taping, according to USA Today.

"I definitely think if I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn't make any statement at all. Period."

The episode will air Monday.

McGraw has maintained that, at the behest of her parents, he visited Spears while she was still hospitalized. He spoke briefly with the troubled songbird, announced she was "in dire need of medical and psychological intervention" and then said he planned to do a very special Dr. Phil devoted to Spears.

But the family called foul, saying the TV shrink was attempting to exploit the situation, and he eventually scuttled the episode.

Contacted by E! Online on Friday, family spokeswoman Lou Taylor said she "stand[s] by the statement" she made on The Today Show earlier this month.

"What's wrong with Dr. Phil's statement is that he made a statement," Taylor, the business manager for Jamie and Lynne, said at the time.

"The family basically extended an invitation of trust for him to come in as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements. Any statements publicly that he made, because he was brought in under this cloak of trust, are just inappropriate. We feel like, to set the record straight, we need to say that."

A.J. McLean: I Believe in Britney Spears 110%

"I believe in her 110 percent, but she needs to call [me]," the pop star, 30, told PEOPLE Thursday at the Hysteric Glamour VIP preview party. "If her publicist or somebody can get in touch with me, I just want to sit down with her and have it out."

Asked what he'd offer to Spears, McLean says, "First I would say, 'What the hell is wrong with you?' Second I would say, 'What is really wrong with you? What are you not saying to everybody else?' "

McLean, a recovering alcoholic who also happened to rise to fame around the same time as Spears, says he thinks he knows part of what the 26-year-old star is going through.

"She has given people hints of her troubles, but fear is a really big thing, and depression. ... I've been through it. I'm coming up on six years sober," he said at the party hosted by Tracey Ross at her Sunsent Plaza store in West Hollywood. "I just want to sit her down and pick her brain."'Do You Want to Die?'

Ultimately, McLean says he believes the troubled singer wants to – and can – get her life back in order. " [I want to be] just someone who can tell her straight. I'll say, 'Hey, do you want to die? Is that what you want?' If that is what she really wanted, she would have done it already. I know that is not what she wants," he says.

McLean also said Spears's pregnant 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn has had a rough go but will be okay.

"You look at Jamie Lynn now and it is like, of course, she has no one to look up to," McLean says. "But I think she has a chance. Everyone has a chance to turn it around."

Pity For Britney

Britney Spears to Host Beverly Hills Party

Britney last hosted the event – at which Scandinavian brands are showcased – on Dec. 1. At that party, she was presented with a birthday cake and bumped into her one-time BFF Paris Hilton.

"Britney has said 'yes,' to hosting it," Claus Hjelmbak, the Danish businessman who founded the event, tells PEOPLE. "I am beyond excited because the experience she gave everyone in December was amazing. She absolutely made my event."

Hjelmbak, who was at Spears's side when she and Sam Lutfi went on an early morning shopping spree Jan. 17 at Kitson in L.A., told PEOPLE of the outing: "I know people will say it's weird she was shopping at 2 a.m., but [Kitson] said you guys can always come when you want. I just called the owner and said can we come over and they said 'sure.'"

Hjelmbak also has kind words for Lutfi, saying, "He's the most down-to-earth, easy-going guy. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body." As for Adnan Ghalib, he said, "I don't know him."

As for online reports claiming Spears has multiple personalities, Hjelmbak, who first met Britney in 2006, says, "I have only seen one person and that's the Britney I first met and seen every time. She's a very sweet person."

Britney's Bizarre Comments from the Shower

"Get out, I'm naked, get out!" Spears is heard telling pal Sam Lutfi as he carries the phone toward her during an interview from her house with KIIS-FM's Ryan Seacrest.

When Lutfi asks why she's taking a shower, Spears replies: "I stink, 'cause I'm a human being. Shut the door, I'm nasty!"

The latest bizarre episode came as Lutfi was knocking down recent rumors about the pop star, including reports she's trying have a baby. Word of that started when she was seen shopping for a home pregnancy test with her paparazzo pal Adnan Ghalib.

"I don't know if they even bought one," Lutfi said. "I think they were just [expletive] around."

Lutfi said she doesn't want to get pregnant. "No, no, no, no, no, no," he said. "No, not at all." Asked if she plans to marry Ghalib, Lutfi said: "No, that's not true."

Other Voices on Phone

A recent addition to the Britney entourage, a friend of Lutfi's named Chad Hardcastle, also got on the phone to explain the impetus for their after-hours shopping trip to the Kitson boutique in West Hollywood early Thursday morning.

"Boredom," said Hardcastle.

Asked where Hardcastle fit into Spears's world, he said, "I'm still trying to figure it out myself, man. I don't really know."

Lawyer: K-Fed Wants to 'Minimize Hardship' on Kids

Mark Vincent Kaplan called the court order barring Spears from visiting her children indefinitely "painful, but appropriate." Especially affected will be the boys Jayden, 1, and Preston, 2.

"Kevin's not indifferent to how difficult it has to be on their mother (Spears) and on the kids," Kaplan told PEOPLE. "It's a sad situation. There's no victorious feeling."

The court hearing on Monday focused on Britney's four-hour standoff on Jan. 3 and her subsequent hospitalization. Spears was temporarily stripped of the visitation rights immediately following the incident, and the court commissioner decided this week to continue the ban indefinitely.

"Kevin wants nothing more than to be able to parent his children with participation by their mother," says Kaplan. "But the best interest of the children require that they be in the most sound, safe, nurturing and consistent environment. That is paramount."

He adds, "[Kevin] is committed to trying to fill any void by him being there at all times for them in any way. He can't replace their mother in their life but he is going to try to minimize the hardship."

4 paparazzi arrested for chasing Britney

Los Angeles police Lt. Mario Munoz said officers observed several cars following a white Mercedes-Benz around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in Mission Hills.

The cars were following Spears' car too closely and traveling at unsafe speed. They also made several unsafe lane changes, authorities said.

Munoz said officers stopped the Mercedes, interviewed Spears and released the 26-year-old pop star after verifying her driver's license.

But the four photographers in the cars chasing her were booked for investigation of reckless driving.

Britney Spears should be allowed to see kids: poll

Spears, 26, lost custody of her children last year after a series of strange episodes in the wake of splitting from Federline including being photographed without underwear, shaving her head, and attacking a car with an umbrella.

She was barred from visiting her sons earlier this month after refusing to return the boys and being hospitalized for two days. She failed to make a custody hearing on Monday with another hearing scheduled for February 19.

Some people have written off the singer, with a survey by E-Poll Market Research (www.epollresearch.com), conducted for Reuters, finding 26 percent of those questioned believe she should not be allowed to see her children at all.

But the survey found some sympathy, with 51 percent of people said Spears should be allowed to visit 2-year-old Sean Preston and Jayden James, 1, a few times a week supervised.

Only 1 percent backed Spears getting full custody of the boys while the rest did not know or wanted unlimited visits.

But the overwhelming message from the survey of 1,941 American adults was that Spears needed to stop drinking and taking drugs, change her friends, and grow up. Others voiced opinion that she was suffering some mental illness.

"She needs to clean up her act and start acting like a responsible adult and mother and not like a spoiled brat," said one survey participant. "She will eventually be dead if she does not change her lifestyle."

The majority of people, or 62 percent, blamed alcohol and drugs for the downfall of Spears who was the world's top-selling female artist in the early 2000s.

Two out of 10, however, blamed the Hollywood environment while one in 10 thought her parents were at fault.

Opinion was divided when it came to the question of whether Spears could recover from this meltdown.

She enjoyed a brief comeback in October with her new single "Gimme More" and her first album in four years, "Blackout," which hit No. 2 on the U.S. pop album charts.

Two out 10 respondents thought Spears could restore her reputation with fans -- but two out of 10 did not think this was possible with men and younger fans less forgiving.

The survey found 45 percent said maybe she could recover while 11 percent did not know.

"Get help, get clean, start over. People root for the underdog so as long as she is trying she can come back," said one respondent.

Others weren't so sympathetic.

"Up until the children weren't taken care of, she had a chance to bounce back. I don't think there is anything she can do at this point," said another.

E-Poll Market Research provides consumer research for entertainment and media companies about celebrities, characters and brands using a proprietary research panel.

Britney Spotted Shopping for Pregnancy Test

The troubled pop star and mother of two, was photographed shopping for a pregnancy test Tuesday at a local Rite Aid store in Studio City, Calif.

Photos show Spears and her new beau, 35-year-old photographer Adnan Ghalib, at the store together, and Spears scanning the shelves of pregnancy tests.

All told, it's been another week full of rumors involving Spears, who recently lost visitation rights with her two children, Jayden, 1, and Preston, 2, after being hospitalized.

As for a report that Spears had written a suicide note on the night of her meltdown, "There was no suicide note, and it's completely untrue that she tried to commit suicide," her longtime friend Sam Lutfi tells PEOPLE. "She is not suicidal."

Additionally a Spears family friend tells PEOPLE, "She's going through a lot right now. Having her children taken away, which she really didn't expect and all this attention around her, it really takes a toll. There's no truth to her being suicidal. She has problems that she needs to address and that's it. She'll pull through this. She just needs some time and space."

'weird Noises' From Britney

Kevin Federline: Our Problems Make People Feel Normal

"People put it up on this pedestal when it's really the same way that everybody else goes through their stuff, you know?" he tells Interview magazine in its February issue. "It's not really any different."

The only difference, he says, is the media attention.

"Even though everything is so publicized and everybody is looking at it, it's normal for us," he says. "I think the infatuation with the whole thing is that watching us go through things makes other people feel normal."

Asked if he's now America's most famous father, Federline laughs and says, "I don't know. Brad Pitt's pretty up there, too."

After testifying at a hearing on Monday focusing on Spears's recent meltdown, Federline, 29, retained sole legal and physical custody of sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1.

His ex-wife, Spears, 26, didn't attend the hearing. After arriving at the courthouse, she told a crush of photographers, "I'm scared. I want to get in the car," and drove away, ending up at a church and a restaurant. Another hearing is set for Feb. 19.

Rosie O'Donnell Compares Britney to Princess Diana

This time, O'Donnell, 45, suggests that being a paparazzi magnet could cause the 26-year-old singer to meet the same tragic fate as Princess Diana.

"There are only inches of separation between vulnerability and disaster," observes O'Donnell.

Writing on her own blog for an entry Tuesday, the former View host writes (with "she" obviously referring to Spears, who is never named in the entry, and "they" meaning the paparazzi):

"I'm scared," she told them yesterday, when they later mobbed her at court. "Move back," she said. "I'm scared. Stop it. Stop it. I want to get back in the car. Just stop it. Let me get in the car, please."

Referring to Spears's quick stop at a church Monday, O'Donnell writes: "She will be trying to get away, but they will chase her, just as they chased her into that church yesterday ... Even her last-minute, folded-hand prayers can't be kept sacred."

Painting a sympathetic portrait of Spears, O'Donnell notes: "At eight years old, she bravely stood before a microphone. By 17, she had sold 25 million records."

With Spears having been robbed of a typical childhood, O'Donnell asks on her behalf, "Where were the sidewalk-skinned knees, the chalk-stained hands, the monkey bars, the passed notes? A Disney set is not a childhood, no matter how many bright colors they use, or how cheerful the script."

Britney Not Reporting to Court?

Though Spears had been informed by both her own legal team and Federline's attorney that it was in her best interest to put in an appearance at the hearing if she had any hope of regaining the right to see her boys, she apparently elected not to do so, preferring instead to remain at home with her latest companion, Adnan Ghalib, sources told E!'s Ryan Seacrest.

Federline, on the other hand, showed up early for the court date, arriving just after 9 a.m. at the Los Angeles County Courthouse for the 9:30 a.m. hearing, which was closed to outsiders.

Spears' visiting privileges were revoked earlier this month after she refused to turn two-year-old Sean Preston and 16-month-old Jayden James over to Federline at the appointed time, leading to a three-hour showdown with police and emergency medical technicians.

The 26-year-old singer was subsequently hospitalized and placed on an involuntary hold at L.A.'s Cedar-Sinai Medical Center on the grounds that she was a potential danger to herself or others.

Monday's hearing was called to discuss the well-publicized meltdown and to give Spears the opportunity to provide her side of the story.

"She will have the opportunity to persuade the court that she can have some visitation under monitored conditions," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan told the AP ahead of the hearing.

Both police and paramedics who responded to the situation were also expected to testify.

Brit's Shopping Mauler

Spears due in court for major hearing

Police and emergency medical technicians who were summoned to her home Jan. 3 in a standoff involving her refusal to return the boys to her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, will testify Monday, probably behind closed doors, his lawyer said.

"I don't know if she will be there," Mark Vincent Kaplan told The Associated Press, but he suggested she would have to appear in person if she wants to press her request to see her children. "You can't phone this one in."

If Spears comes to court, Kaplan said she would be expected to testify. "She will have the opportunity to persuade the court that she can have some visitation under monitored conditions," he said.

Phone and e-mail messages requesting comment from Spears' attorneys Sunday afternoon were not immediately returned.

Kaplan said he knew it was only a temporary measure when he obtained emergency court orders two weeks ago granting sole physical and legal custody to Federline.

"These are very, very draconian orders," Kaplan said. "Because of that the court wanted to have a hearing to give her and her attorneys the opportunity to refute some of the declarations."

"No judge likes making orders terminating a person's involvement with their kids," Kaplan said.

Meanwhile, police were preparing for a media frenzy in the downtown civic center if Spears appears, issuing warnings Sunday that vehicle and pedestrian violations would lead to citations.

Kaplan said that if Spears comes to court, he would like to cross-examine her on the events of Jan. 3.

Police were called by a court appointed monitor when Spears refused to hand over Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2, to Federline's security guard and locked herself in a room with one of the boys.

Spears was taken to a hospital in an ambulance chased by photographers and was placed on an involuntary hold on grounds she was a danger to herself or others. Spears left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center a day and half later.

The day after the incident, Kaplan presented papers to Commissioner Scott Gordon who awarded sole legal and physical custody of the boys to Federline and suspended Spears' visitation rights.

Kaplan said if visitation is restored, it would be under more restrictions than those originally imposed by Gordon.

One expert in family law agreed that the hearing provides Spears her only hope of resuming visits with her children before a custody trial scheduled for April.

"Usually, when someone has the threat of losing their children, they'll do anything to get their children back," said Lynn Soodik, who predicted visitation rights could be restored if Spears appears and offers an explanation.

"This is not a punishment for her," Soodik said. "It's what's in the best interest of the children. The judge has to carefully weigh their safety versus not seeing their mother. It's drastic to have no contact with their mother."

Soodik said Gordon could order monitored visitation in a location away from Spears' home "in some kind of setting where the judge can assure that she wouldn't be able to lock the kids in a room with her."

Britney Steps Out - in Her Old Wedding Dress

Revisiting her wedding look, Britney Spears donned one of two dresses from her Kevin Federline nuptials to go to a car dealership last week with her new paparazzi friend.

Spears, 26, and Adnan Ghalib, 35, arrived at the Keyes Mercedes-Benz dealership in the San Fernando Valley on Friday afternoon, surrounded by the now-familiar pack of photographers that once contained Ghalib.

The twist was the pop singer was wearing the same lacy, short dress from her 2004 wedding to Federline – her second walk down the aisle following her 55-hour marriage to Jason Alexander.

Spears's own Mercedes was impounded last week after she abandoned it on the road when it blew a tire, but this trip to the dealer was for Ghalib, her constant companion since her meltdown.

"They came in to get an estimate for a new car for him," a sales associate says. "He drives a rental car now. ... He was looking into the different lease and purchase options for sport cars."

By the time they started talking business, Spears had covered up with a trench coat, the sales person says.

"She didn't talk at all and it didn't seem like she was getting the car for him," the sales associate says.

Police, Firefighters to Testify at Britney Hearing

"The emergency personnel will describe what transpired that night," the source says.

Court documents show Kevin Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan on Thursday subpoenaed the LAPD investigative report and the identity of the officers on the scene at Spears's four-hour custody standoff.

If the court decides on Monday to further suspend Spears's visitation rights, the singer may not see her sons until April, when the ex-couple's custody trial begins, Kaplan told PEOPLE.

As for whether Kaplan is amenable to Britney regaining visitation, he told PEOPLE on Monday, "It's a very short time since the events of Thursday and certainly I have seen nothing that has caused me to believe that there are dynamics in play now that will change my mind about the orders we sought."

Federline was temporarily granted sole legal and physical custody of sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, after Spears was hospitalized. Spears and Federline are not required to personally show in court on Monday.

'Medically Treatable Reason'?

"At the next hearing, it's extremely unlikely Spears will get visitation restored to what she had," says family law attorney Lynn Soodik, who's not involved in the case. "One argument she could present is that the standoff was due to a medically treatable reason, and that she's now treating that problem."

"On the other hand, it's a terrible thing to keep children away from their mother," Soodik adds. "The courts will have to weigh that against the trauma of another possible standoff situation."

Even if Spears receives no custody after April's trial, "custody arrangements are always modifiable," Soodik says. "Since the kids are so young, that would just be the end of Round 1."

At the trial in April, a child custody evaluator will recommend to the court who the kids should be with, and any additional evidence regarding Federline's original request for primary physical custody.

"Until the kids turn 18, we can expect in years to come that both parties will be back in court," Soodik says.

Report requested on Spears incident

According to a court order released Friday by Los Angeles County Superior Court, there was a hearing Thursday in the couple's child custody dispute. Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, asked for the police report and also requested the names of the law enforcement officers who responded.

A hearing on the requests will be held Monday.

Police intervened Jan. 3 when Spears refused to return the children to Federline after a court-monitored visit.

After a standoff, Spears, 26, was taken to a hospital in an ambulance that was chased by a crowd of photographers.

The next day, Commissioner Scott Gordon awarded sole legal and physical custody of 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston to Federline and suspended Spears' visitation rights.

Spears left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center a day and half later.

According to the court order, Gordon denied a request from Spears' lawyers that the next hearing be closed to the media. That means that, unlike most of the previous hearings, Monday's proceedings could be open to the public and the media.

Shar Jackson: K-Fed 'Happy the Boys Are Safe'

"He's good," Jackson, 31, told PEOPLE on Thursday at the GBK luxury suite in the Beverly Hills Thompson Hotel. "I talked to him the other night and he's fine. He's just happy that the boys are safe. That's his biggest thing, making sure that the boys are in a good place and that they're happy. And they're happy.”

Federline, 29, now has sole legal and physical custody of his sons with ex-wife Spears – Preston, 2, Jayden, 1 – following the pop singer's meltdown. A hearing is set for Monday on whether to resume Spears's visitation rights.

Jackson, who has two children with Federline – Kori, 5, Kaleb, 3 – has remained close to her former boyfriend, speaking with him "all the time," she says.

Jackson says that for the sake of the boys Spears should focus on her own needs right now.

"I'm just one of those people that believe you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of anybody else," Jackson says. "My only advice would be take care of yourself. If you need help for whatever reason, go get it. Do whatever you have to do for those babies."

Britney Spears Takes a Mexican Vacation

Spears, 26, wore her pink wig as she and photographer Adnan Ghalib, 35, arrived in a black SUV at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, just south of the Border, at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Ensenada, Mex., newspaper, El Vigia.

Spears checked into a $235-a-night-suite, the paper says. The pair were apparently accompanied by other friends, according to the report.

Ghalib later confirmed the trip to photo agency X17, the agency says.

While at the hotel, Spears stopped in a gift shop and purchased an imitation Gucci bag and another bag while Ghalib bought a rosary, spending a total of $60, El Vigia reports.

"She looked serious and haggard," a sales clerk told the paper in Spanish. "She didn't have makeup." on."

The pop star has been in continuous motion since she lost child-visitation rights and was released from the hospital from a mental-health hold after a police standoff.

Spears went to Palm Desert with Ghalib and cruised around at night in her car, only to get a flat tire and have the car impounded.

Simon Cowell: Britney, Call Me Anytime

Speaking to PEOPLE on Wednesday afternoon, the American Idol judge says there is still time for the troubled, 26-year-old pop star to get her life and career back on track.

"It's never too late," says Cowell, 48, who has shown support for Spears in the past. "I think she's the most searched artist on the Internet at the moment, so she has a head start."

As a producer he is also willing to step in and personally lend a hand. "I genuinely think that if I sat down with Britney and, No. 1, remind her of all the good things in her life – which are her kids, her money, her success, everything – I'd try to give her a sense of perspective. And then I'd take her out of where she's living at the moment and ask her to go and live with her family – and live normally – for six months."

His rationale, he said, is "because if you live normally and do normal things, you'll suddenly find that the paparazzi aren't camped outside your front door every day. Most importantly, just give her a sense of perspective, because it looks to me at the moment that she's out of control and she needs to have someone in her life who she's going to listen to."

Adds Cowell, "She's welcome to call me anytime."

Lawyer: Cops Issued Restraining Order Against Britney Spears

Called an "emergency protective order," it is enforced for five business days. Officers did it to "stabilize the situation," confirmed Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Kaplan, who did not request the restraining order, declined to say whether he would seek to extend it.

"The person it's placed upon would have to stay approximately 100 feet from the other person, or face arrest," says LAPD spokesman Mike Lopez, who could not confirm the restraining order on Spears. "In most cases, it's issued by officers when there's the possibility of imminent and immediate danger to the victim."

Added Kaplan: "Kevin doesn't want to keep his kids from being involved in [Spears's] life. But foremost is that the kids be in an environment of structure [and] stability. The next goal is to get things to a point where both parents are able to participate fully in their [children's] lives."

On Jan. 4, Spears, 26, was stripped of all visitation rights with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, pending the ex-couple's next custody hearing on Jan. 14.

Spears Clan Calls Foul on Dr. Phil's Blabbermouth

Britney Spears' family has lashed out at Dr. Phil McGraw for violating their trust by not only speaking so publicly—and frequently—to the media about his brief hospital meeting with the singer but by planning what was ultimately an ill-fated special about her plight.

Lou Taylor, the family's spokeswoman and a former business manager of Lynne and Jamie Lynn, appeared on The Today Show Wednesday to make the family's anger and disappointment over the betrayal known, as well as to clear up what part exactly they would have played in the scrapped Dr. Phil Now special—namely, none.

"What's wrong with Dr. Phil's statement is that he made a statement," Taylor said, referring to the pop psychologist's public diagnosis that Spears was "in dire need of medical and psychological intervention."

"The family basically extended an invitation of trust for him to come in as a resource to support them, not to go out and make public statements. Any statements publicly that he made, because he was brought in under this cloak of trust, are just inappropriate. We feel like, to set the record straight, we need to say that."

In previous statements made during his weekend media blitz, McGraw said he paid Spears a visit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Saturday morning, appearing just as she was being discharged, only at the request of the Spears family, whom he said contacted him for guidance roughly a year ago.

As for the highly touted special, Taylor did acknowledge that McGraw approached the Spears clan with his plan of an hourlong special devoted to the troubled singer, "but it was decided it would be detrimental for anybody to ever do that."

"They were not going to do a show...he was not invited to make this a public display or part of the media."

On a personal note, Taylor said she felt the request itself was a sort of betrayal and that it was "inappropriate for him to even be self-serving in bringing something like that up, because that would not be a vector in getting Britney help."

She also said McGraw's loose lips and handling of the aftermath of his brief visit has likely "compromised" the relationship between Britney and her mother and sister.

There's no word on whether the request was for permission to do the show or simply a blessing to do it, or whether the request was made of the Spears clan prior to his nonstop promotion of the would-be special, though on Monday morning, McGraw announced he had made the decision to cancel the episode "out of consideration" for the Spears family, as the situation with Britney was "too intense."

Taylor said the incident with the TV doctor was just another instance of the 26-year-old singer's inner circle falling prey to exploitation, a fear that reportedly continues in the wake of Spears' relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.

"Here you have Britney—that needs to have some security somewhere—that every single thing she does and every single person she has a relationship with doesn't become an opportunity to get exploited," Taylor said. "I mean, when do you ever rest in that if you're constantly in fear of being exploited?"

As for the Spears family, Taylor said they were completely "taken advantage of" and called Lynne, who remained in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, with daughter Jamie Lynn throughout the ordeal, "a mother who is heartbroken just to be separated from her daughter."

She added that the two of them "were looking for support here, not to add to the trouble that is already upon them...They are people who love their daughter. Jamie Spears, Lynne Spears, Bryan and Jamie Lynn Spears are all amazing people."

As for the no doubt equally amazing Britney, new details have come to light, this time not courtesy of Dr. Phil, about last week's meltdown.

According to People, during the star's hours-long standoff with police officers Thursday night, the LAPD issued a temporary restraining order against the singer to keep her away from her children, after she locked herself in a room of her house with one-year-old Jayden James.

The emergency protective order, enforced for just five business days following its issue, was so ordered to "stabilize the situation," Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told the magazine, though he declined to say who requested the order or whether he would seek to extend the request.

"Kevin doesn't want to keep his kids from being involved in [Spears'] life," he said. "But foremost is that the kids be in an environment of structure and stability. The next goal is to get things to a point where both parents are able to participate fully in their lives."

On Friday, Spears was temporarily stripped of all remaining custody and visitation rights. The next custody hearing is scheduled to take place Monday.

Photographer Details Ride with Britney Spears

"She broke out her cell phone and was sending text messages the entire time," the pap, who works for photo agency x17, says on their Web site.

He also says the singer put on Timbaland's "Shock Value," got quiet when asked about spending time with Adnan Ghalib, and that she invited the photographer inside once they reached her house.

At one point during the ride, the photographer snapped his fingers and said to Spears: "Hey, girl, are you alright?" then told her not to worry. Spears's reaction? She laughed, according to the account.

Inside her reportedly immaculate home, Spears told the photographer "don't be lame" when he asked permission to snap her photo.

Later Monday night, Spears and her assistant, Carla, had dinner in a room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, then stayed the night at the nearby Peninsula Hotel.

Britney Spared from Worst-Dressed Lists

Spears was leading PETA's recently launched worst-dressed celebrity poll, but organizers have removed her from the running in light of her hospitalization over the weekend.

"At this point, Britney needs a break – from everybody. Maybe when her head is clear, she'll have a change of heart about wearing fur. If not, we'll be back biting at her heels," PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews said in a statement.

Kate Moss is now in the lead as polling continues – "Nothing completes the transition from supermodel to super tramp like a fur coat," said Mathews.

Victoria Beckham, Amy Winehouse and Mary-Kate Olsen rounded out Blackwell's top three offenders, while PETA's list includes fur wearers Lindsay Lohan, Kate Bosworth, Jamie Foxx, Kid Rock, Mary J. Blige, Eva Longoria, the Olsen twins and Vanessa Williams.

Britney Spears's Car Impounded

"Ms. Spears's car was impounded," Lt. David Grimes of the Los Angeles Police Department, West L.A. station, said – after a flat tire had caused the troubled pop star to leave her white Mercedes in the middle of the road in Brentwood, Calif.

"Officers on the scene told me it was blocking the roadway," said Grimes, "and that it was unsafe enough to leave at the location."

After she had left the car, Spears – who had ventured away from her Studio City home to go to a drugstore – was given a lift by some of the photographers who had been trailing her.

As for her Mercedes, "It was towed by a private company that's contracted with the city," said Grimes. "Her car is being held at the official police garage tow yard."

The standard pricing at the Quicksilver Towing facility is a $104 towing fee, plus $32 for each day it remains in the tow yard. If the car isn't picked up within 30 days, it gets put up for auction, an employee told PEOPLE.

Regarding the status of the impounded vehicle, spokesman Grimes said, "There's not a hold on the vehicle. She just needs to show up to obtain it. She'll have to pay tow fees, and that total cost depends on how many days she leaves it there."

He added, "But she won't get any citations or fines."

After photographers dropped the pop star and her assistant off at home, the two jumped into a Toyota Camry and went to the Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles.

Britney's (Latest) Wild Ride

After finally returning to her Studio City home from her forced hospitalization, Britney Spears ventured out in her car Monday evening, only to end up with a flat tire.

Driving her white Mercedes and accompanied by her assistant, Spears, 26, popped a tire in Brentwood after visiting a drug store.

With the paparazzi on her tail, she continued to drive with the flat a few miles down the road without her lights on, and even passed by a gas station.

The singer's flat caused mayhem for the LA traffic. On her way back to her house, Spears pulled over and was met by police officers who allowed her to abandon her vehicle on the side of the road.

Spears was given a ride away from the scene – not by the police, but by photographers who had been trailing her.

Dr. Phil Delivers a Message to Britney Spears

"You can make this okay," the TV therapist, who at the request of her family briefly visited Spears while she was in the hospital, says in a message to the pop star that is posted on ETonline.com. "Your family loves you. You may not always agree with what they say, with what they do but they've loved you when you weren't lovable. Turn to the people that love you and listen. You have two children and you are the one in this world to protect them. There is no sacrifice that [your mother Lynne] won't make for you, and there is no sacrifice that your father won't make. They are the people that want nothing from you, and everything for you."

McGraw, a longtime Spears family friend, had planned to do a show about Britney's condition and "the very serious issues surrounding this case. [But] because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time," he announced Monday.

Still, he advises via Entertainment Tonight, "She needs to be in treatment, she needs to be in in-patient care for a period of time. Is she having a rough time right now? Yes she is. Why? I'm not really going to go into that at this point. But I can tell you this is a good person and I truly believe she'll get back to being a good person."

As for the criticism McGraw has encountered over his stepping into the Britney situation, particularly in the tabloids and on blogs, he hurls the brick right back.

"They are waiting for her next meltdown. These are the people that are stalking her and they want to criticize me for trying to help her, for trying to bring help to her in cooperation with the family that loves her. Get real," he says. "Somebody needs to step up and get this young woman in to some quality care – and I do not apologize one whit, not one second, for trying to make that happen."

'Needs to Be in Treatment'

Expanding upon the statements released earlier, McGraw said of Spears on Monday's The Insider and, later, on Entertainment Tonight, "What I'm hoping is to get her some help."

Of the star's general situation, McGraw, who likened getting into visit Spears at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center to getting into Fort Knox, says, "She needs less publicity, not more ... She doesn't need to be on television. She needs to be in treatment, she needs to be in in-patient care for a time."

Spears, 26, was hospitalized early the morning of Jan. 4 under California's "5150 Hold," in which she was deemed a danger to herself or others and could be held for 72 hours for evaluation. But Spears left the hospital on Saturday, well before the 72 hours. Patients can be released early if doctors determine they no longer require treatment or evaluation.

McGraw said what he witnessed visiting Spears in Cedars-Sinai will remain private.

"People forget about Britney for all the time she was a young, talented, delightful woman," said McGraw. "Is she having a rough time right now? Yes, she is. Why? I'm not really going to go into that at this point."

Dr. Phil criticized for Britney brouhaha

Although Dr. Phil — whose full name is Phillip McGraw — announced Monday that he is shelving plans for a show on Spears' latest breakdown, some in the mental health community say just showing up at her hospital room last week was going too far.

"It's true people sometimes need to be placed under involuntary mental health treatment because they can't take care of themselves," veteran psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Sugar said of the 26-year-old Spears. "But there's a difference between being detained involuntarily for psychological treatment and being forced to endure Dr. Phil involuntarily."

Spears, who appeared to have enough trouble already, saw McGraw barge into her life Saturday when he showed up at her room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as she was about to be discharged. She had been taken there Thursday after an hours-long standoff with police that was triggered by her custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

A court commissioner on Friday gave Federline full custody of sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

McGraw said he was invited to the hospital by Spears' family.

Sugar, chief of child and adolescent psychiatry, crisis and emergency service for the University of Southern California, said that isn't good enough. Late adolescent or not, he said, Spears is still an adult who has the right to decide who she lets into her hospital room.

In a statement posted on his Web site Monday, McGraw said he had hoped to film a show this week that might help other families facing the same troubles as Spears.

That's assuming, of course, they have been in and out of rehab in recent months, arrived in public in short skirts and no underwear, shaved their heads bald, run over a photographer's foot, banged up a car in a parking lot and left without notifying the owner, and attacked another car with an umbrella.

But in the end even McGraw, never to shy to blurt "What were you thinking?" to a troubled guest, seemed to agree that putting Spears or her family and friends in front of the cameras wasn't wise.

"Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping," he said on his Web site. He didn't say whether he planned to do a show later, and a spokeswoman for the show declined to elaborate.

"Certainly I think it's a good idea to stop that show dead," said Dr. Richard Harding, professor of neuropsychiatry at the University of South Carolina. "This isn't the time to be exploiting anybody and making examples out of anybody."

UCLA sociologist Julie Albright, an expert in family therapy, agreed with Harding that while McGraw's sometimes bellicose approach can be helpful under the right circumstances, Spears is in perhaps too fragile an emotional state for it.

"It looks as though her behavior has been unraveling for some time now. Frankly, it's reached a point of being pretty frightening," she said, adding that Spears should be on a suicide watch.

"People may have thought it was entertaining or funny, but really it's a cry for help, and I hope people around her will respond and get her the help she needs," Albright said.

Also, Albright said, the tough-love therapy that McGraw practices is really only the first of many steps therapists must take to change destructive behavior. What's more, she said, it really only works when the recipient is receptive.

"It's hard to do therapy or intervention in a half-hour or one hour-spot," she said. "They have these longer interventions that they follow up with. That's where important change will occur, not necessarily in the one-hour sound bite of a show."

Still, at least one pop psychologist couldn't fault McGraw for trying.

"I'm sure Dr. Phil does not want to exploit her. He has all this experience in helping people get over problems," said Dr. Joyce Brothers, who herself has been dispensing psychological advice to TV viewers for more than 30 years.

But Brothers, who like McGraw has a Ph.D. in psychology, acknowledged that key for any therapist is getting the person to listen to them.

"He has a lot to offer," Brothers said of McGraw. "But only to the person who wants it."

Dr. Phil Cancels Britney Show

"As was widely reported this weekend, at the request of concerned family members, I visited Britney Spears in the hospital. The details of that visit will, of course, remain private," he said in a message online.

"We had planned to tape a Dr. Phil Now show today, focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney's latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case. Clearly, it is not just Britney's family struggling to find a way to protect adult children who cannot be ordered or compelled to seek help.

"Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time.

"Britney and her family are in our prayers, and we ask that they be in yours."

Earlier on Monday, McGraw appeared on CBS's The Early Show and said that Spears's family was "very frustrated" that the pop star wasn't held for a longer period of time at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was admitted last week.

Spears, 26, was hospitalized early the morning of Jan. 4 under California's "5150 Hold," in which she was deemed a danger to herself or others and could be held for 72 hours for evaluation. But Spears left the hospital on Saturday, well before the 72 hours. Patients can be released early if doctors determine they no longer require treatment or evaluation.

Kevin Federline Lays Low

Federline – who has been granted sole legal and physical custody of the boys following Spears's Thursday night meltdown – was not spotted once outside of the house and, a source says, he's settled into "lockdown mode."

"He's freaked about people seeing his kids. It's just not happening right now," adds the Federline source. "His tight circle is even tighter right now. He doesn't even have his phone on."

The source described Federline's mood as "sad" and "freaked" over his ex-wife's breakdown. "If there was any kind of consolation at all, it was that [Britney] was in the hospital. But now she's out of there. He was shocked [she was released], but then again he wasn't. Because it's all about who she is. No one tells her anything."

Federline did have at least one guest over the weekend. His lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, visited for a few hours on Sunday night. Upon leaving, Kaplan told photographers "the kids are well and Kevin is watching the football game."

Source: Britney Tested Free of Alcohol, Drugs

"She tested clean," the source says. "This lady is as clean as clean can be, and has been for some time."

The source adds the pop star never threatened suicide during the four-hour standoff at her Studio City home Jan. 3, saying such rumors were "bull----."

Spears, 26, was hospitalized early the morning of Jan. 4 under California's "5150 Hold," in which she was deemed a danger to herself or others and could be held for 72 hours for evaluation. Based on officers' observations at the scene, police said she appeared to be "under the influence of an unknown substance."

Two separate sources who are acquaintances of the family tell PEOPLE they believe the singer has an undiagnosed bipolar disorder. One of those sources says Spears has "suffered from a psychological disease for years."

Spears left the hospital on Saturday, well before the 72 hours. Patients can be released early if doctors determine they no longer require treatment or evaluation.

"The 5150 legality is very loose," says Dr. Nathan Kuemmerle, a West Hollywood psychiatrist. "The 72 hours are not firm. All it requires is an ER psychiatrist to release the patient. ... If Britney isn't suicidal or homicidal, she doesn't need to be hospitalized."

Dr. Phil Defends Britney Visit, Denies Ambush

In a phone call to E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest Sunday night, McGraw said the TMZ report that he ambushed the singer in her Cedars-Sinai Medical Center room Saturday morning was not only greatly exaggerated but altogether false. He told Seacrest he did not show up at the hospital to exploit the Blackout singer's meltdown but rather at the solicitation of longtime friends, the Spears family.

McGraw, Seacrest recounted on his KIIS-FM radio show Monday, said he went to the hospital to visit the 26-year-old by specific request of her family. (Hear the complete audio from Ryan's radio show.)

He further said he went to the hospital free of any designs to treat the singer himself, instead to simply "open a dialogue" and possibly start the troubled mom on the path to receiving treatment from a qualified professional.

McGraw told Seacrest he was first contacted by mother Lynne Spears more than a year ago and has since kept open communications with the family about the often bumpy and always public exploits of its most famous member.

McGraw said the Spears family's concern this time around was that Britney, who was released a little more than one day into what was expected to be an involuntary three-day hold—so enforced after the singer was determined to pose a danger to either herself or others—was not yet suitable for discharge.

He also denied reports that either Cedars-Sinai or he violated any sort of patient privacy by arriving unannounced to visit Spears and that both he and staffers adhered strictly to hospital policy during the brief stop.

The TV doctor reiterated those comments on Monday's CBS Early Show.

McGraw said that in addition to mom Lynne, who remained in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, throughout the ordeal with pregnant 16-year-old daughter Jamie Lynn, he also spoke to Spears' father and brother, all of whom chafed at her being released as soon as she was.

"I went to see Britney at the request of her family, I talked to Lynne, I talked to Jamie, I talked to Bryan, her brother," he said. "They were very frustrated that she apparently wasn't going to be held for a longer period of time."

In the CBS interview, which airs in its entirety on Entertainment Tonight, he said Spears' mother phoned him shortly after the "Gimme More" purveyor was transported via ambulance to the hospital.

"Thursday night, the phone rang, and it was Lynne—she has a very close relationship with my wife, Robin—and, clearly, she was very upset, which you would expect, as any parent would be."

Meanwhile, Spears has already hightailed it out of Los Angeles and was spotted Saturday morning, just hours after her release from the hospital, having brunch with new paparazzo pal Adnan Ghalbi in Palm Desert, just outside Palm Springs.

According to Vegas Confidential, which first reported the sighting, Spears and Ghalbi, with whom she was spotted checking in at several L.A. hotels in the week prior to her hospitalization, spent about an hour eating out and drinking mimosas, and Spears was said to be in a "really good mood."

Extra has since spotted the duo patrolling the streets of Santa Barbara.

While reports of her imbibing alcohol so soon after her release may raise a few eyebrows, People reported that during her hospital stay, at least, she remained alcohol and illegal drug free.

Spears reportedly tested clean during her stay, contradicting initial police reports from Thursday night that the singer was under the influence of an unknown substance during her hours-long custody standoff. (Police on Friday reversed that early pronouncement and said there was no evidence she was under the influence.)

A source also denied to People rumors that there was a gun present in Spears' home when she locked herself in a room with one-year-old son Jayden.

Meanwhile, Seacrest also spoke over the weekend to longtime Spears pal Sam Lutfi, who expressed concern for the singer and, despite the fact that he said upon Spears' release that she was doing "a lot better," said he had yet to see her in person since last week's incident.

As for McGraw, the TV doc is filming a special episode dedicated to Spears' plight, but despite previous claims that he would have Britney herself, it's unclear if any member of the Spears family will be directly involved. The show is set to air Tuesday.

Friends: Britney Suffers from 'Psychological Disease'

Two separate sources who are acquaintances of the family believe the singer has never been formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but "there is no question she is bipolar ... she's had manic episodes for years."

According to Dr. Diana Kirschner, who has not treated Spears but is an expert on the subject, "people who show patterns of behavior like Britney are suffering from a dual diagnosis. They have both a substance abuse problem and a bipolar disorder or manic disorder." (In September, Spears was characterized by the court in her custody case to be a "habitual, frequent, and continuous" user of drugs, and was ordered to undergo random drug tests, but it's unclear if any tests returned positive.)

Michael Cartwright, the founder of a high-end treatment center in Malibu, says that based on media coverage of Spears's behavior, sheo appears to have a drug and alcohol addiction and bipolar disorder. "She seems deeply ill to me," he says. Last March, Spears spent time in a rehab facility, the Promises Treatment Center in Malibu.

Several friends of Spears have been told that the singer has taken anti-anxiety medication, "and who knows what she's on now. This is really a matter of her being unstable, not suicidal ... she's not balanced."

PEOPLE has learned from multiple sources that the singer also suffered from depression after both her pregnancies. "She had postpartum depression after Preston was born," says a source who was close to the family during her marriage to Kevin Federline. "She didn't want anyone's help ... It got worse after Jayden was born."

Early Signs

Dr. Kirschner says bipolar disorder "usually starts in young adulthood from age 18 through early twenties. Up until that point, the person appears to be pretty normal, but it's like a ticking bomb."

She adds: "When a person has this kind of problem, it's very hard for them to be a good parent. The main thing is for the person to go through treatment and recover ... But they generally have to hit bottom in order to turn around and recover. If the person is laughing wildly as they're taken away in the ambulance, that does not indicate that there's much connection with the consequences of their behavior."

A close family friend says "the tragic thing is that Britney loves her children and would never knowingly put them in harms way. Her mental instability is getting in the way of her making proper judgment and it's extremely unfortunate."

Britney Spears Escapes L.A. with Photographer Pal

The pop star, accompanied by Finalpixx photographer Adnan Ghalib, popped into the Daily Grill in Palm Desert around 10 a.m. Sunday.

"She seemed in a really good mood, laughing with the guy she was with," says the restaurant's manager.

Spears shielded herself behind large, dark sunglasses and "had a champagne mimosa to drink," he said.

She stayed at the restaurant about an hour, as Vegas Confidential's Norm Clarke first reported.

Spears, 26, had been keeping company with Ghalib, 35, before her recent meltdown. The two checked into two hotels over the past couple of weeks, but he was not on hand Friday during her stay in Cedars-Sinai.

Britney's Family and Friends: 'Just Hoping and Praying'

"It was very upsetting yesterday, just worrying about it all day," says Britney's aunt, Linda Brandon-Kjos. "We're all just hoping and praying she's fine. She's a sweet, sweet girl and people aren't seeing that side of her."

"She's got to be reaching out for something and no one knows what it is," adds former dance teacher Renee Donewar. "It is so sad that the people that are close to her can't reach through to her."

Doreen Seal, the mother of Jason Alexander, the man Britney married for 55 hours in 2004, expressed some reservations that the latest event was a turning point. "She has not hit rock bottom," Seal says. "She needs help. If she doesn't get help, I don't think anybody wants to see the way this will end.

"When she was younger, she had her friends, her cousin and for the longest time, she had [ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake]," continues Seal. "Now, she has nobody."

"All I can say is that Britney is a very sick girl," says another family source. "The tragic thing is that Britney genuinely loves her children and would never knowingly put them in harm's way. Her mental instability is getting in the way of her making proper judgment and it's extremely unfortunate. Her family's taking this situation very seriously though. I just hope people can respect the fact that she needs help and keep the harsh criticisms to themselves."

Other friends offered support, but no advice. Britney's former assistant, Felicia Culotta, simply says, "My heart and prayers are with her and her family."

Many members of her family are handling the latest news stoically. Spears's grandfather, June Austin Spears, tells PEOPLE, "We’re doing all right," before adding, "I'm going fishing tomorrow morning."

Kentwood Reaction

Residents of Spears's hometown of Kentwood, La., had differing reactions to Britney's erratic behavior.

"I think she's just a normal person," says Kentwood Realtor Tissie Gorman. "I can't see nothing bad about her."

Another Kentwood resident disagrees. "[Britney] is going backward instead of forward. She'll never get her children now. I wonder if she really wants her children."

Many residents want Britney to know that she still has hometown support. “Everyone in Kentwood is praying for Britney," says a friend of Jamie Spears's. "We just want her to get better and come home."

Lawyer: I'll Rep Brit For Free

Divorce lawyer and former "The Apprentice" contestant Stacy Schneider told Page Six she's willing to take over as Britney Spears' legal counsel - free of charge. Spears' current lawyers at Trope & Trope have petitioned the court to sever ties with the untamable poptart.

Spears, who was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles early Friday morning after locking herself in her home and having a psychotic breakdown, could certainly use the help. Schneider claims she would even "move into Britney's house" to help her get control of her life and win her kids back.

"I hope my offer to represent her at no charge is communicated to her, even in the hospital," said Schneider, who also authored "He Had It Coming: How to Outsmart your Husband and Win your Divorce."

Schneider has plenty of plans for the out-of-control singer, who just lost permanent custody of sons Jayden James and Sean Preston to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Her first rule for Britney? Stay home.

"Number one, I would tell Britney to hibernate. She'll no longer be airing her personal business in public. She needs to stay inside and stop the Starbucks runs so that no more bad-behavior stories leak out. If have to move with her and stay in and order Netflix with her so she doesn't go out, I will," Schneider vowed.

Her second recommendation is for Spears to shut up. "Britney has to stop mouthing off to the judge," said Schneider. "She has to learn to control her emotions."

Finally, if Spears is even able to show up in court, "She has to practice her testimony," said Schneider. "She only has one shot to win her kids back and she's not able to lip-synch her way through her testimony. What Britney's doing now is showing everyone that she's irresponsible or just doesn't care."

Schneider also wants to hit back at K-Fed's press-loving lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

"I would go on the attack on him. What Kaplan has done is paint Kevin as father of the year. I will mess up that picture and show Kevin as the loser of the year . . . I guarantee there's something out there that shows him as a bad parent . . . a leopard doesn't change his spots."

QUOTED: Spears Pal Sam Lutfi Says Dr. Phil Helped Family

Lynne Spears Visits Sister's Grave Amid Crisis

Nearly a year after her sister's death, Lynne stood before the grave of Sandra Bridges Covington, who had died of ovarian cancer Jan. 21.

"It's been a hard year," Covington's former sister-in-law, Libby Covington, told PEOPLE from Amite, La., noting that the grieving process has been difficult amid the constant media attention the family receives. "There's something new every day."

At the Tangipahoa (La.) Cemetery on Saturday, silk hydrangeas, white daisies and pink roses adorned the gravestone.

Sandra Covington was a beloved member of the Spears's extended family, and had been crucial in Britney's young life.

"Sandra's like a second mother to Britney," Lynne told PEOPLE in 2002, as her sister first began battling cancer and undergoing treatment, including a bone marrow transplant. "This kind of thing makes you grow up."

At the time, as Lynne was caring for her sister, Britney helped look after Jamie Lynn and told PEOPLE in the same interview, "I pray every night about it."

After Covington passed away last year, Spears attended her funeral at the First United Methodist Church in Amite but quickly left town. A month later, she landed in rehab, prompting family friends to wonder if her aunt's death was at the root of some of her problems.

"She was very close to her aunt," Britney's former dance teacher Renee Donewar told PEOPLE. "I know her death was real rough on her."

Britney Spears's Dad Jamie Breaks Down

"Jamie was really upset," a source tells PEOPLE, "He was in tears. When he got to the house and realized the situation there, it broke him down."

He and his eldest daughter have had a rocky relationship, but with his ex-wife Lynne and youngest daughter Jamie-Lynn traveling back home to Louisiana, he was the sole Spears family member on scene during her mental evaluation. "[Jamie] thought he understood what was going on," the source adds, but now, "He doesn't know what to do. Everyone is trying to figure out the best thing to do, but who knows what that is now."

Spears was able to accept visitors during her stay, and Dr. Phil McGraw – whom Jamie considers "a god," the source says – advised her father while at the hospital. He told Spears that his daughter's release was "one of the worst decisions that could have been made."

Dr. Phil Dedicating Show to Britney

The syndicated talk-show host and therapist says he talked to Spears as she was leaving the facility, where she was held on a mental lockdown after a custody dispute. She was released after just a day and a half from a possible 72-hour stay.

In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, McGraw said: "My meeting with Britney and some family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention.

"She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car."

Still, a source tells PEOPLE that McGraw "talked to both Britney and [father] Jamie about how her being released was one of the worst decisions that could have been made." The source says they packed up within 10 minutes.

McGraw has a history of supporting the Spears family. In December, after the announcement of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears's pregnancy, he told PEOPLE that "an asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother," Lynne Spears.

"They're a very strong, close-knit family," says Dr. Phil's wife Robin, "They're relying on each other."

Britney Released from Hospital

After a little more than 24 hours at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, E! News has confirmed that Britney Spears has been released from the hospital, despite previous reports that she was to be held under a minimum three-day lockdown.

Shortly after her admittance via ambulance just after midnight Thursday, the singer was placed on a "5150 hold," meaning medical workers had determined she posed a danger either to herself or others. As a result, she was to be held for 72 hours, during which time she was to undergo a battery of physical and psychological tests.

However, medical officials have the authority to lift the hold at any time during a patient's stay, should they be determined to no longer pose a threat. Spears' early release indicates she was granted the medical and psychological all-clear.

According to The Insider, Spears made her exit from Cedars-Sinai early Saturday morning via an underground tunnel at the facility. The show also reports that none other than Dr. Phil McGraw was on hand to escort the singer off the premises.

"My meeting with Britney and some family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention," the TV doctor told Entertainment Tonight, adding that his being at the hospital when she was released was merely coincidence.

"She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car."

Spears is now back at her Studio City home with father Jamie Spears.

News of her release comes in the wake of confirmation from Spears pal Sam Lutfi that the 26-year-old was doing much better than she had been during the precipitating hours-long custody standoff.

"She is doing a lot better than Thursday night, she's reached out to her mom and Jamie Lynn and they've been in constant contact…they have shown wonderful support," Lufti told E! News exclusively Friday night, adding that Spears would not be at the hospital for any longer than the hold required of her.

It's unclear if any of Spears' supportive family members were on hand for her release early Saturday.

Father Jamie is the only official family member to be caught by paparazzi entering Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, which he did early Friday morning, along with Lutfi. According to People, her mother Lynne and sister Jamie Lynn have remained in their hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana.

While Kevin Federline was also present at the hospital when his 26-year-old ex-wife was first being admitted for a battery of physical and psychological tests, Lutfi made clear that Federline was only there to check on his children, Sean Preston and Jayden James, the latter of whom was also briefly checked out by doctors—as is standard for children in the wake of such a traumatic experience—before given the medical okay.

He was not, as has been reported, there to visit Spears. When asked if the 29-year-old father had seen or spoken to the singer since Thursday night's incident, Lutfi gave E! News a quite adamant, "No!"

As for what specifically went down Thursday night, Lutfi offered no new specifics on the standoff that culminated in Spears locking herself in a room with one-year-old son Jayden and ended with the "Gimme More" singer being transported via ambulance to Cedars-Sinai.

However, he did say that he believed the media and legal circus that resulted from the evening was mishandled but that he did not begrudge the LAPD for following protocal, saying the officers remained at the Studio City home for so long because they "wanted to make sure they were following proper procedure and abiding by the court documents."

Still, he said he wished "that the whole situation was handled better."

"No Winners," as Court Strips Spears Custody

"I'm not happy about any of these events," said K-Fed lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan upon exiting the courthouse following the brief closed-door afternoon session.

"There are no winners here."

Spears remains on a minimum 72-hour hold at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center while undergoing psychological and physical testing. The Friday court ruling means that even if she gets out as scheduled on Sunday, she won't have any contact with sons Sean Preston or Jayden James at least until Jan. 14, when Court Commissioner Scott Gordon has scheduled the next custody hearing.

Kaplan called for Friday's emergency session following Spears' meltdown. He and Spears attorney Tara Scott initially met with Gordon for 20 minutes in the morning and returned at 1:30 p.m. to continue proceedings.

At the request of another Spears attorney, Anne Kiley, Gordon agreed to close the afternoon session and cleared the courtroom at 1:50. It took just a half-hour before Gordon to reach his decision.

"[Federline] is awarded sole legal custody and sole physical custody of the minor children," Gordon ruled. "[Spears'] visitation with minor children is suspended pending further order of the court."

Although Kaplan earlier said Federline may testify "if it's absolutely necessary," he did not appear in court.

There was no further comment from either side following the ruling.

The 29-year-old Federline already had primary physical custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, with Spears allowed a handful of visits with the boys during the week, under the watchful eye of a court-appointed monitor.

Spears' joint custody of the boys was first downgraded last October after she failed to comply with Gordon's orders, which included a series of random drug tests.

Late Thursday, Spears refused to return the boys to Federline's bodyguards, locking herself in a room with her youngest son. Police were called to the scene and determined her to be under the influence of an unknown substance.

Spears was detained by police and then transported via ambulance to Cedars-Sinai. She remains under a "5150 hold," which, per the medical code, is enforced "when any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled."

A source close to Spears tells E! Online Planet Gossip columnist Marc Malkin that the family fears she is suffering from bipolar disoder and has not been following doctors' orders.

"This was going on before the head shaving," the souce said "She wouldn't listen to anyone. She said she knew what she was doing. She needs major help. Let's hope she will finally get it."

Although the singer has already received visits from father Jamie Spears and pal Sam Lutfi, her mother, Lynne Spears, is the only inner-circle member to have spoken publicly since the incident transpired.

In a teary phone call to Access Hollywood, Lynne simply implored, "Just say prayers."

Both Kiley and Scott are attorneys with the firm of Trope & Trope, which on Wednesday filed court documents seeking to be released as the singer's counsel, citing a "breakdown in communication."

There was no indication Friday how much longer the firm would represent Spears.

Britney's Pap Pal Out of the Picture During Meltdown Drama

The spiraling pop star, 26, has lately been keeping company with Ghalib, 35, who works for an agency called FinalPixx and who checked into two hotels with Spears over the last couple of weeks.

But sources say that as Spears was holed up in her Studio City home, Ghalib was not with her – nor has he visited her at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was hospitalized early Friday morning. When asked about Spears Friday, Ghalib would not comment.

However, Spears's family has been showing their support. Her father, Jamie, has been at the hospital with his daughter. Brother, Bryan was expected to show up Friday. Spears's mother, Lynne, who's been in constant contact with Britney, is en route to her the family's hometown of Kentwood, La., with Spears's sister, Jamie Lynn.

Also at the hospital early Friday morning was Spears's ex-husband, Kevin_Federline.

Britney Spears's Family Is 'Terrified'

"Everyone has been worried for some time," says the source. "Her world has been crumbling around her and this is another call for help. Her parents are just devastated. Nobody knows if they can take much more, but they're trying to be as strong as they can."

Spears's father Jamie was at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Thursday night, and her older brother Bryan was expected to show up Friday, according to a source.

Spears's mom Lynne, who's been in constant contact with Britney, and 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn have been in seclusion following the December bombshell that Jamie Lynn is pregnant. The two are now en route to their hometown, Kentwood, La., from an undisclosed location, a source says. When Access Hollywood spoke to Lynne Spears Friday, she was "extremely distraught" on the phone and said, "Just say prayers.".

Another family friend, Spears's former dance teacher Renee Donewar, tells PEOPLE, "I don't even know where Britney's head is. I thought she had already hit rock bottom. I can't imagine what's next."

Donewar says she believes Britney will (and should) lose custody of her kids.

"She keeps digging herself deeper and deeper," says Donewar. "How can anybody say, 'She's been through a rough time and she should have her children.' She is not in a state of mind to have her children. She's confirming everything bad that people think. It is really a shame."

She added: "[Britney] was such a level-headed kid, she knew what she wanted, and she was determined to get it and to make it. Now she has it, and what is she doing with it?"

Added another family friend: "I just hope she'll pull out of this and get on the right road to recovery. A good rest here in Kentwood might do her some good."

TIMELINE: Britney's Post-Deposition Meltdown

Thursday, 11:20 a.m. PST
• Spears shows up 90 minutes late at the offices of Kevin Federline's lawyer for the rescheduled deposition in their custody battle. The session lasts less than 15 minutes, with attorneys only having time to go over the ground rules, a source says.

12:25 p.m.
• Britney returns to her Beverly Hills home, and sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, are dropped off for visitation with their mom. The pop star spends the afternoon with her boys.

7 p.m.
• Federline's bodyguard shows up to pick up the boys and return with them to Kevin's Tarzana home.

8:20 p.m.
• With Federline's bodyguard still at Spears's home, four police cars arrive, followed by Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan. Spears's court-appointed child monitor called authorities after Spears locked herself in a room with Jayden.

9 p.m.
• Spears's friend Sam Lutfi arrives at the house.

9:30 p.m.
• Federline's lawyer leaves Spears's house.

11 p.m.
Ambulances and fire trucks arrive, as news and police helicopters hover over Spears's neighborhood. Several neighbors flee the chaotic scene. Spears is strapped to a gurney and placed in one of the ambulances.

11:55 p.m.
• Britney, seen smiling and laughing in the ambulance and covered by a grey blanket, is taken from her house. Police cars escort the ambulance as it drives, sirens blaring, through the Beverly Hills community. Spears appears alert during the trip to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, even giving the middle finger to photographers during the 20-minute drive.

Jayden rides in separate ambulance to the hospital with the monitor; Spears's son Preston is later escorted to the hospital in a separate car.

Friday, 12:25 a.m.
• Federline arrives at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in a Dodge truck. Spears's father, Jamie, arrives later.

2:15 a.m.
• Spears pal Lutfi leaves the hospital. Britney is in 72-hour mental lockdown. Also known as a "5150 Hold," it is, according to the medical code, "When any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled." The "mobile crisis team" is able to make this recommendation in writing and take a patient be evaluated and treated.

5 a.m.
• Federline takes their children back to his Tarzana home.

K-Fed Courts Change to Spears' Custody

Like Mark Vincent Kaplan appearing at Los Angeles Superior Court for the requisite emergency hearing in Kevin Federline's ongoing custody battle with Spears.

Hours after Spears was placed on a minimum 72-hour hold at the Los Angeles hospital to undergo psychological and physical testing, K-Fed's attorney was back in court, reportedly seeking to strip the troubled mother of two of her remaining custody and visitation rights.

Kaplan and Spears attorney Tara Scott met with Court Commissioner Scott Gordon in a closed-door session for just 20 minutes this morning and are expected to return at 1:30 p.m. to continue proceedings.

Exactly what those proceedings will be remains to be seen, however, as Kaplan publicist Michael Sands informed the press that the attorney would not be issuing any statements whatsoever on the Spears matter.

"He feels at this time it would be inappropriate for him to speak to the media, and I'm sorry, but we will not be doing any press today," Sands said outside the courthouse.

While he did confirm that Kaplan was at the hospital early Friday morning, he refused to answer questions pertaining to Spears, the Federline children, whether Kaplan was, as widely reported, at Spears' Studio City home last night or any specific legal action Kaplan may seek or has already sought.

"I can't confirm anything," he said. "That's the best I can do for anyone."

He did, however, comment on the state of mind of at least one of the saga's players.

"Mark's fine. Mark is a real pro. He has to do what he has to do."

In court to defend Spears, or at least represent her, was Scott, a family attorney at Trope & Trope, which on Wednesday filed court documents seeking to be released as the singer's counsel, citing a "breakdown in communication."

The 29-year-old Federline already has primary physical custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, with Spears allowed a handful of visits with the boys during the week, under the watchful eye of a court-appointed monitor.

Spears' joint custody of the boys was first downgraded last October after she failed to comply with Gordon's orders, which included a series of random drug tests.

Late Thursday, Spears refused to return the boys to Federline's bodyguards, locking herself in a room with youngest son Jayden. Police were called to the scene and determined her to be under the influence of an unknown substance

Spears was detained by police and then transported via ambulance to Cedars-Sinai. She remains under a "5150 hold," which, per the medical code, is enforced "when any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled."

Per authorities, Spears will remain at the hospital for at least three days while she undergoes evaluation.

While the singer has already received visits from father Jamie Spears and pal Sam Lutfi, her mother, Lynne Spears, is the only family member to have spoken publicly since the incident transpired.

In a teary phone call to Access Hollywood, Lynne told staff, "Just say prayers."

Britney on 72-Hour Mental Lockdown

A source tells PEOPLE it was the pop star's court-appointed child monitor who called police. "She had already put Preston in the car when Britney locked herself in a room with Jayden," says the source. "The cops came and got through the door and tied her down to a gurney."

Spears, who according to police appeared to be "under the influence of an unknown substance," was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where the source says she will be on a minimum of a 72-hour lock down for mental evaluation.

The evaluation, known as a "5150 Hold," is, according to the medical code, "When any person, as a result of mental disorder, is a danger to others, or to himself or herself, or gravely disabled." The "mobile crisis team" is able to make this recommendation in writing and take a patient be evaluated and treated.

Spears's Welfare

Spears, who has visitation rights with her two sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, was scheduled to give the boys over to Federline at 7 p.m. Thursday.

According to police, officers responded around 8 p.m. to a call "about a custodial dispute regarding Britney Spears's children," says Los Angeles police Officer Jason Lee.

Nearly three hours later, police determined that a court order stated that the singer's children, who were with Spears at the time, were supposed to be with Federline, and a transfer was arranged, according to Lee.

"While officers were on the scene, they observed Ms. Spears under the influence of an unknown substance," Lee added.

LAPD called the incident an "ongoing investigation" and says, "for her own welfare, [Spears] was taken to the local hospital for treatment."

Preston was taken to the hospital by Federline's assistant, and Jayden was in the ambulance with the monitor, a source says, adding that the boys "won't be back with [Spears] for a long time." Federline took his sons home early Friday morning. Spears's father Jamie remains at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, arrived at court in an attempt to strip Spears of her visitation rights. Kaplan and Spears attorney Tara Scott met with the judge for about a half hour in chambers.

Experts: What's Next for Britney?

Spears, 26, could face tough measures, both experts speculated, especially given the extra issue of alleged substance abuse.

Spears, 26, was hospitalized shortly after midnight Friday after an hours-long standoff at her home in which police were called in because of Spears's refusal to turn her children over to her ex-husband, Kevin Federline. "While officers were on the scene, they observed Ms. Spears under the influence of an unknown substance," said a police spokesman.

After Today host Meredith Vieira noted that Spears had previously been in and out of rehab for an acknowledged abuse of drugs and alcohol, Dr. Janet Taylor, a Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at Columbia University-Harlem Hospital, said that when it comes to a decision to stay clean, "There has to be a primary internal motivation" by the individual herself.

"Most substance-abuse treatment centers will not take people unless they voluntarily want to go. And that's the issue," said Taylor.

Court Would Take a Dim View

Susan Filan, a former prosecutor and trial lawyer, as well as MSNBC's senior legal analyst, called Spears's rebuffing police when it was time to turn over her sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, "a very serious no-no in the world of courts."

As for the standoff that ensued, as well as, it has been assumed, arguments in front of the children by the parents, Filan said the courts are also likely to take a very dim view. She also said that this could pave the way for Federline to be in charge of determining all future decisions involving the boys.

"You've directly traumatized your children. You've directly interfered with their well-being and stability," she said, referring to Spears.

"Now that we got this added issue of substance abuse," Filan continued, "the court may very well have to intervene and cut off visitation, which is tough for a court , because a court doesn't want to deprive a child from its mom. This is really emotional stuff."

Concluded Filan: "These kids are now, I think, directly being harmed by the mother who … is spiraling out of control. I think she's just about done."

Taylor disagreed with Filan in at least one regard, and said that she did not think the court would cut off visitation completely, given the young age of the two children. But she did say that the potential next step would be court-supervised visitation.

Currently Spears is in a "5150 Hold," which indicates a person is considered a danger to themselves or others and being held for 72 hours or more to be evaluated and possibly treated.

Kevin Federline Takes Kids Home from Hospital

Custody of their children, Preston and Jayden, was transferred over to Federline when Spears, 26, was taken out of her home on a gurney and rushed by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai. Police said she was "under the influence of an unknown substance."

Keep checking back to PEOPLE.com for the latest updates from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Britney Spears Hospitalized

The call came in about 8 p.m. PT from outside the home, said Jason Lee, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers and a supervisor went to the home in the 12000 block of Summit Circle in Studio City and were trying to "peacefully resolve" the conflict. There was no violence and no injuries, he said.

Lee declined to comment further about what prompted the call. By 10:30 p.m. Thursday, a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance and six police cruisers had arrived on the scene.

About 10:50 p.m., the LAPD reported that Spears' two children were turned over to former husband Kevin Federline. While officers were at the home, Lee said they found Spears under the influence of an unknown substance and took her into custody to determine the substance. She was reportedly taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for evaluation, though the hospital wouldn't confirm if Spears had been admitted.

The singer and Federline have been battling for custody of their boys, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. Federline has temporary custody and Spears has limited visitation rights.

In September, an L.A. County court commissioner ordered Spears to get a parenting coach and undergo regular drug testing. On Thursday, Spears showed up late for a deposition in the case.

Police called to Britney Spears' house

Officers were called at 8 p.m. and were still at the house two hours later, said Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman.

The call involved a "family custodial dispute that we are trying to resolve ... peacefully by court order," Lee said, declining to elaborate.

Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline are fighting over custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.

Federline, 29, has temporary custody of the children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. The two were married in October 2004 and divorced in July.

Calls to attorneys for Federline and Spears were not immediately returned.

Earlier Thursday, the 26-year-old singer appeared for a deposition in the custody dispute.

She was deposed for just 14 minutes, attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told reporters after she left.

Spears called in sick for a Dec. 12 court-ordered deposition, but was photographed that day driving with a friend. She also didn't show up for a session Wednesday, Kaplan said.

Spears' attorneys from the firm Trope and Trope on Wednesday filed a court motion asking to be relieved due to a "breakdown" in communication with their client.

Kaplan said Spears' attorneys were present for what became a very abbreviated session.

"The deposition proceeding did go forward today. It was scheduled for 9:45 to 11:45," Kaplan said. "However, it wasn't able to commence until 11:32."

"You can imagine in 14 minutes there's not a lot of time to develop questions," he said.

Kaplan said another deposition will be scheduled.

Paparazzi scramble after Britney Spears

The scramble by photographers came a day after Spears' lawyers filed a motion in court asking to be relieved as her attorneys due to a "breakdown" in communication with their client.

It wasn't immediately known what occurred during Spears' visit to the Century City office tower, but Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, has been trying to depose Spears as a step in the ex-couple's child-custody case.

Spears called in sick for a Dec. 12 court-ordered deposition, but was photographed that day driving with a friend.

Wearing a hot pink dress and sunglasses, Spears, 26, drove off Thursday in her white Mercedes-Benz as building security guards dashed across the driveway to keep photographers on the sidewalk and off the property.

Spears and Federline have been wrangling over custody of their young sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

Federline has temporary custody because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. The two were married in October 2004 and divorced in July.

Brit Sits, at Last, for Deposition

Whatever the reason, the longtime deposition dodger showed up Thursday morning at the Los Angeles law offices of Kevin Federline's attorney to submit, at long last, to a legal grilling in her ongoing child custody battle, a source familar with the case confirmed to E! News.

The 25-year-old showed up with her current (at least for now) legal point man, Sorrell Trope, at her side.

The would-be depo comes a day after Spears bailed on a scheduled sit-down with K-Fed lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan, prompting Trope and his firm to file paperwork seeking to be relieved as Spears' counsel.

It's a familiar theme for the mother of two.

Spears also bowed out of four previously scheduled Q&A's with Kaplan. Following her no-show on Dec. 12, the "Gimme More" singer chalked up her absence to anxiety and physical illness, two afflictions that didn't seem to affect her later in the day, when paparazzi snapped her at a gas station and the Beverly Hills Four Seasons.

At a subsequent emergency hearing, Kaplan blasted Spears for yet again disrespecting court orders.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon agreed. He canceled a planned custody hearing set to take place this month—keeping Federline as the primary custodian of sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1—and ordered Spears to sit for the depo during the first week of January...or else.

Assuming Thursday's testimony-taking goes off without a hitch—or anxiety attack—the next hearing in the custody dispute is set for Feb. 19, when Spears is expected to ask for a modified custody arrangement. She is only allowed to see the boys a few times a week and only with a court-appointed monitor.

During the deposition, Kaplan is expected to quiz Spears on her fitness as a parent, her past drug use, her series of erratic and often foot-flattening turns behind the wheel and various other aspects of her life that may affect her ability to parent her sons.

Kaplan has already questioned several Spears compatriots, including sidekick Alli Sims, former manager Larry Rudolph and former bodyguard Daimon Shippen.

It's unclear if Spears' newfound willingness to be deposed will clear up what Trope characterized as a "breakdown in communication" behind his firm's request to be excused from the case. Gordon has yet to approve the petition, and Trope may yet withdraw the filing.

There was no immediate comment from either Kaplan or Trope.

In other Spears legal developments, her trial on misdemeanor vehicle infraction for driving without a license, which was also scheduled to take place Wednesday, has since been postponed to Jan. 25.

Britney Pap-Happy with Her New Guy

The troubled pop star has spent recent weeks with a photographer from the crowd of paparazzi following her day and night. They've been seen going into two hotels together, most recently early Wednesday in Palm Springs before returning to her home later in the day.

Spears, 26, and Adnan Ghalib, 35, who works for an agency called FinalPixx, checked into the Le Parker Meridien Hotel at 2:30 a.m., a source says.

Wearing a black wig and sunglasses, Spears went to one of the $1,200-a-night-plus villas, with Ghalib and two other men – apparently security guards – following them.

"There was nothing romantic going on with Adnan," says the source. "She was distracted, clicking away on her PDA."

They were seen checking out five hours later, at 7:30 a.m.

Ghalib has declined to comment. But he told ABC's 20/20 that he's made up to $200,000 a year as a photographer following Spears. He called her "awesome."

"I think she's a great person," he told the show. "It's unfortunate that she's the way she is, because of the people she surrounds herself with."

Ghalilb, who is now being photographed by his longtime colleagues, was first seen with Spears at a hotel on Dec. 22 when they were spotted at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Six days later, he was seen driving with Spears in her Mercedes to a house in West Hollywood. He tried to duck out of sight in the car, but was spotted by other paparazzi who fired off pictures.

Britney's Attorneys Bail After Depo No-Show

That's the reason the attorneys who have been representing Britney Spears in her ongoing custody case are asking to be relieved as her counsel, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

"There has been a breakdown in communications between Petitioner and Trope & Trope making further representation of her interests impossible," reads the motion filed on behalf of the pop star's main legal man, Sorrell Trope.

No further explanation for the requested split was given, but it reportedly happened to occur on the same day Spears missed her latest appointment to be deposed by Kevin Federline's legal camp, a sit-down that's been in the works for some time.

She missed her last scheduled appearance Dec. 12, blaming anxiety and physical illness. In a subsequent emergency hearing, K-Fed attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, armed with photographic evidence, noted to the court commissioner overseeing the custody case that Spears apparently was doing well enough to go out later that night.

"It's not fourth grade, where you get a doctor's note and it's all okay," Kaplan told People last weekend, adding that he was looking to get Spears' deposition underway in early 2008.

Trope's firm has been on Spears' side since she parted ways with attorney Laura Wasser in September.

But the Beverly Hills-based family laywer told People he hasn't yet joined the club of Spears' ex-attorneys. He has to wait and see what the judge says first.

"A lawyer cannot simply withdraw from a case," Trope said. "We will ask the court to relieve us, which will be heard within a month's time." Meanwhile, the papers informing his soon-to-be ex-client of his decision are in the mail, according to the motion filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

It's unclear how this shakeup will affect the custody proceedings. Kaplan could not yet be reached for comment.

In other legal news, Spears' trial on a misdemeanor vehicle infraction has been postponed until Jan. 25, but as far as we know, the "Toxic" singer still has counsel lined up to represent her during those proceedings.

Brit Sits

Attorney wants Spears deposition soon

"Britney Spears will have her deposition early (next) year," Mark Vincent Kaplan told People.com late Saturday outside a Beverly Hills restaurant. "We've got a lot to talk about."

Spears, 26, called in sick to a court-ordered deposition Dec. 12, although she was photographed that day driving with a friend.

"She was, in fact, out later that day and night," Kaplan said. "It's not fourth grade where you get a doctor's note and it's all OK."

Spears and Federline have been wrangling for months over custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.

Federline, 29, has temporary custody of the children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. Spears and Federline were married in October 2004 and finalized their divorce in July.

AP bestows album kudos to Amy Winehouse

Here are the rare records with a permanent place on our playlists in 2007:

1. "Back to Black," Amy Winehouse: The tragedy of 2007 is that Amy Winehouse is now simply known as the "Rehab" chick with the drug habit, not as the gifted singer-songwriter who created the most compelling album of the year. Winehouse's raspy, soulful voice is dazzling enough on its own; add the retro-soul licks and the alternately hilarious, heartbreaking lyrics, and it's an album that you just cannot shut off. While "Rehab" was a clever, gimmicky hit, it can't begin to reflect how amazing "Back to Black" truly is.

2. The Bird and the Bee, "The Bird and the Bee": Imagine the Carpenters on an acid. That's the best way to describe the surreal pop debut of The Bird and the Bee, comprised of the duo Inara George and Greg Kurstin. George's vocals are dreamy and angelic, but the lyrics are anything but — one of the album's best tracks is "(Expletive) Boyfriend."

3. "Finding Forever," Common: Maybe Common is just too darn clever and crafty for his own good. Once again, he put out an excellent rap disc that didn't get the attention it deserved, but perhaps only a select group can appreciate the intellect, wit, and charm he dispenses with each rhyme: This ain't for the "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)" crowd. Though rap certainly needs some Common Sense these days more than ever.

4. The "Once" soundtrack: "Once," starring Marketa Irglova and the lead singer of the Frames, Glen Hansard, was the perfect romantic movie that flew under mainstream radar. The same could be said about its wonderful soundtrack. Irglova's sweet voice is the perfect accompaniment to Hansard's raspy vocals — they don't need much else, and the simple production of just a piano here or guitar there makes the music even more intimate than the touching lyrics convey.

5. "Graduation," Kanye West: Truth be told, "Graduation" is actually West's weakest album — but when you consider the first two, "The College Dropout" and "Late Registration," were nothing short of brilliant, it's OK that this one rates as just very, very good. West's use of techno beats give some tracks a more experimental sounding vibe, but it's his always clever rhymes that make you listen again and again.

6. "Double Up," R. Kelly: Given the nonsense that permeates 1/3 of this disc, "Double Up" shouldn't even be on this list. But how can it not be when the rest of the songs are so crazy and so good? When you can make a prison visit a must-listen-to groove ("Best Friend"), you are truly creating the stuff of genius. Plus, he gets extra credit for that whole "Trapped in the Closet" saga.

7. "As I Am," Alicia Keys: Though it's not a perfect album, it contains perhaps three of the most perfect songs you can find in pop today — "Wreckless Love," "Lesson Learned" and the slow-jam piece of ecstasy otherwise known as "Kiss Me Like You'll Never Kiss Me Again." And thankfully, unlike her past albums, most of the other songs on "As I Am" are strong enough to make you want to listen to the CD in its entirety, instead of cherry-picking the best tracks.

8. "Alright, Still," Lily Allen: Lily Allen doesn't have the greatest voice, and is not much of a stage presence, as her live performances this year bore out. But you'd never guess that by listening to her charming debut, buoyed infectious ska-pop beats and wry lyrics. Like Winehouse's "Back to Black," producer Mark Ronson's handiwork elevates this CD.

9. "Good Girl Gone Bad," Rihanna: Rihanna's hard-driving sophomore CD blended pop-rock, electronica and a dash of R&B for slick and sexy club music. It also separated her from the wanna-be Beyonce pack. Though much of the credit for this disc's allure goes to the producers who came up with the catchy beats, Rihanna delivers a powerful punch despite her somewhat thin voice — its her emotive vocals that helped to make "Umbrella" one of the most requested songs of the year, and what makes the ballad "I Hate That I Love You" so passionate.

10. "Kala," M.I.A.: The British born, Sri-Lankan raised rapper got even more eclectic — if that's even possible — with "Kala," a mish-mash of Indian beats, African rhythms, electronic synths and fierce rapping. It's not as hypnotic as her debut CD, "Arular," but it's just as fiery.

___________

Honorable mention:
"Because of You," Ne-Yo
"American Gangster," Jay-Z
"Sound of Silver," LCD Soundsystem
"In My Element," Robert Glasper
"Blackout," Britney Spears

Michael Lohan to Spears Family: 'Stand Together'

Lindsay's dad is talking about Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears.

"People just don't realize what it's like to live under the whirlwind that families like mine and the Spearses and other families out there are caught up in," Lindsay Lohan's father, 47, tells Extra. "It takes a lot to hold it together."

When it comes to dispensing advice to the Spears clan, including matriarch Lynne Spears, Lohan says, "Stand together. Stand by each other and don't let anyone come between you."

Lohan also attempts to address rumors that link his daughter to Entourage star, Adrian Grenier.

"He's a friend," says Lohan. "She went over there for dinner one night over the holidays for an hour or so. They drank water and she went home."

As for how his daughter is faring after what has been a tumultuous year, Lohan says, "She's doing amazingly well."

Britney Suicide Risk Feared

"She's losing it now, and she's going to eventually lose it altogether if she doesn't get the help she needs," Brenner - who has not treated Spears - says of the singer's wacky weekend in Los Angeles, where she made numerous gas-station bathroom stops and hooked up with a member of the paparazzi posse.

"She's exhibiting bipolar signs, and she's clearly fighting depression," Brenner claims.

Last Saturday night for the troubled mother of two was one for the books, with Britney's antics all documented in video on Hollywood.tv. It started when she pulled over on a busy road to snap a photo of a mural, then flipped when photographers refused to move out of her way. She screamed, "Mother[bleepers]!" at them and threw her camera to the ground.

Later, she stopped numerous times at gas stations and at a Wal-Mart and used both the bathroom and a British accent before getting her favorite paparazzo's cellphone number and meeting up with him at the Peninsula Hotel later that night.

Brenner says Spears' latest play for attention may be due to her 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn's announcement that she's pregnant. "Britney now needs to cry out for even more attention," he says. "She's really going for it . . . No one stops to pee that many times. She has a major problem."

Brenner theorized that Spears picked a photographer to play with because for her "it's a power trip. She thinks this guy's going to fix her. We've seen her do this before. Look what's around her, he's in her world," Brenner said of Adnan, the lucky pap who emerged smiling from the Peninsula at 4 a.m. after a late night with Spears.

"She appears to be crazy. She is disconnected from life. Look how she changes outfits all day . . . She's saying, 'I don't like who I am right now. Maybe I can change it.'

"Britney also doesn't listen to anybody. Her mom is out of the picture, her kids are gone, and everyone surrounding her is enabling her world of illusion."

Britney's Wild Weekend

In the wake of her little sister Jamie Lynn’s headline-grabbing pregnancy announcement, it seems Britney Spears has made every effort to turn the spotlight back on herself.

The singer filled another weekend with late-night shopping trips, run-ins with paparazzi and wild driving – but still found time for her kids.

The adventure began just after midnight on Saturday morning, when she and a friend, her assistant Carla, left her Beverly Hills home in the singers Mercedes – its headlights off and trunk open – and made the first of several stops at a Rite-Aid store in Hollywood, where Spears parked in a disabled-designated parking spot.

"I have stuff I have to buy for my babies," Spears told photographers on her way in.

After testing – but not buying – deodorant sprays, she emerged, spending a total of $57.46, with Lucky Charms cereal, Purex laundry detergent, Mrs. Field's chocolate chip cookies and a 32-inch plush horse (regular price $29.99, marked down by 50 per cent) labeled "For ages 4 and up."

Her "babies," Sean Preston and Jayden James, are 2 years and 15 months, respectively.

Spears then headed to Japanese restaurant Miyagi's on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. "Britney came here around 1:15 a.m. with a friend," restaurant manager Gator Lee told PEOPLE. "We had just closed the kitchen, but we opened it so she could get some food. She had chicken teriyaki and shrimp tempura. She didn't have anything to drink, no alcohol . . . She seemed fine, actually great."

Spears ended up taking the food to go because the restaurant was closing, Lee said, and drove to her Malibu home. Spears and her friend were later back at the Beverly Hills house by 5 a.m.

The next night, Spears drove a white Mini Cooper to Tony Taverna restaurant in Malibu. After dinner, she made a sudden stop to take a picture of a graffiti mural in Malibu with a digital camera. There, Spears had an angry encounter with paparazzi. "Move so I can take a picture. I'm just like you," she's heard saying photographers in a video clip posted on TMZ.com. But when the cameramen wouldn’t get out of the way, Spears screamed, cursed and slammed her camera on the hood of a nearby car before driving off.

Minutes later, she returned. Apparently, Spears lost the camera's memory card and was back to find it. Luckily, one of the photographers had the card and returned it. Then, Spears slipped into the passenger side of a silver Mercedes belonging to a photographer and sped off, her assistant following her boss's Mini Cooper.

The photographer and Spears – now dressed in a tight leopard-print dress and a pink wig – reappeared in separate cars later that night at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, where they spent several hours inside before he left without Spears.

After checking out from the Peninsula Hotel at 9 a.m. on Sunday, the late-night antics were over. Britney returned to her Beverly Hills house with her assistant to await the arrival of sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, who were dropped off with at noon for a previously scheduled visit. Spears and her boys spent the afternoon inside the gated community in Beverly Hills.

The singer's sons were scheduled to return to Kevin's Tarzana home at noon on Sunday.

Dr. Phil: Lynne Spears is a 'Great Mother'

"We know the Spears family, particularly the parents," he tells PEOPLE at Adrienne Maloof and Dr. 90210 Phil Nassif's holiday party in Beverly Hills on Saturday. "An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother."

McGraw admits that his friend is "troubled right now" but is "really looking for the positives in this." As her daughters live under the glare of public scrutiny and criticism, Lynne has "her feet squarely and solidly on the ground," he says.

"They're a very strong, close-knit family," says Dr. Phil's wife Robin, "They're relying on each other." And with her book recently put on hold, Lynne is also drawing strength from her faith. "I talked to Lynne yesterday and she said they're turning to prayer, asked that I pray for them. That's how they're going to get through it."

Britney Spears 'Still Shocked' By Sister's Pregnancy

"She wanted to try out a new dance routine," says a source. But, in the wake of her 16-year-old sister's surprise pregnancy announcement, the studio was swarmed by hoards of photographers.

When Spears, 26 – who had been kept in the dark about the baby news until the story broke on Tuesday – saw the crowd, "she freaked out and just kept driving," says the source, who was on the scene.

"Britney said that she doesn't want to deal with the media because she is still shocked [about Jamie Lynn's pregnancy news]," adds the source. "She feels that she needs peace and quiet."

Spears, however, was friendly with the photogs during a shopping trip after the scene. Although the area offers plenty of great shops, Spears stopped at a random souvenir store on Hollywood Boulevard, where she picked up (and posed with) a Tinkerbell T-shirt and a pink bedazzled onesie.

On the way home, Spears also hit Carl's JR for a late night snack: cheeseburger with a large fries and coke.

Britney Goes Shopping After Sister's Pregnancy Shocker

"She called us in the early evening and said she wanted to come shop for Christmas," the store's rep, Kate Diamond, tells PEOPLE. "She looks the best I've seen her in a really long time ... She was really, really nice, saying, 'Thanks, babe,' 'Yeah, babe.' Everything was 'babe.'"

Perhaps she had babies on the brain. After all, Spears, the 26-year-old mother of two, had just recently learned that her 16-year-old sister is 12 weeks pregnant.

"[Spears] bought her mom and her sister Christmas gifts, matching gifts," Diamond said, adding that the pop star also snapped up two By Francine dresses and a Treesje purse for herself.

Given the crowd of paparazzi outside, the store also had security on hand. In an odd twist of fate, IMS Security's Aaron Cohen – the man hired by Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, to subpoena several of Spears's associates – was this time charged with protecting the singer.

"That's how we do it," Cohen told PEOPLE. "Whatever our prior engagements might be – safety first."

Cohen said that Spears was "so sweet." As for her mood, "She was good, cheery, uppy."

After her shopping spree, Spears ducked into a dressing room and pulled her patented wardrobe switcheroo – changing from jeans into a new short red dress.

The singer and her assistant then drove a few blocks to the nearby Raffles L'Ermitage hotel, where they spent a few minutes at the bar drinking water, soda and coffee before being escorted upstairs.

As the singer was getting in to the elevator, a fan commented on how good she looked in the dress, then asked how her sister is doing. Spears smiled and responded, "Jamie Lynn is good!"

Lynne Spears's Parenting Book 'Delayed Indefinitely'

"The book is delayed indefinitely. It's delayed, not cancelled," says a spokeswoman for Thomas Nelson, which publishes inspirational books and Bibles.

It had been scheduled for a spring 2008 release and was put on hold last week, says the rep. On Tuesday, news hit that 16-year-old Jamie Lynn is pregnant with her boyfriend's child.

Publishers' Weekly described the book as "Lynne Spears's personal story of raising high-profile children while coming from a low-profile Louisiana community."

The publisher declined to comment on whether the focus of the book would change in light of the pregnancy announcement.

"We are standing behind Lynn at this time and understand that she needs time with her family – we support that," says the spokeswoman.

Britney Didn't Know About Sister's Pregnancy

"This is going to kill her," the friend tells PEOPLE. "In the end, she'll be supportive, but this is a big shock."

Another source says there's no rift between them, but that Jamie Lynn's advisors have tried to keep her apart from her 26-year-old sister.

"Britney doesn't have to listen to anyone now but her sister still does so who knows what people are telling her," says the source. "She has her career now too."

Britney's Sister, Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnant

It was confirmed Tuesday (Dec. 18) that the 16-year-old "Zoey 101" star is pregnant.

"We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation," says Nickelodeon, the network that carries the popular tween show, in a statement. "We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

The Internet had been abuzz with the news after Spears' mom had confirmed the pregnancy and Jamie Lynn's decision to keep the child to OK! magazine in an exclusive interview. Initial reports say that the father is Casey Aldridge, a boy the young starlet met in church.

A rep for Spears was not immediately available for comment.

Spears began acting on the Nickelodeon comedy-variety show "All That" and was known for playing a number of characters including Thelma Stump, an octogenarian bodyguard with a penchant for bacon. Later, she landed the starring role in the Emmy-nominated "Zoey 101" as Zoey Brooks, the first girl to enter the former boys-only boarding school Pacific Coast Academy.

Spears, a high school junior, is 10 years younger than her more (in)famous sister, making her the sister-in-law of dancer-rapper-actor Kevin Federline and the aunt of the aforementioned two young boys.

Brit Ordered to Sit (Again) for K-Fed Attorney

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon nixed a planned custody hearing set to take place next month, at which Spears' team was due to petition the court to reinstate her custody rights, after an emergency hearing Tuesday in which Federline's attorney sought sanctions against the singer as a "remedy" for her deposition-dodging ways.

Gordon also ordered the "Gimme More" singer to submit to a deposition with Mark Vincent Kaplan during the first week of January. The exact date has not yet been revealed, presumably to ward off any heightened sense of anxiety on Spears' behalf.

Neither Spears nor Federline were in court for the ruling.

This is the fifth time the commissioner has told Team Spears that the songbird must provide under-oath answers to Kaplan's queries. She has bailed on all four previous appointments.

Assuming the testimony-taking goes forward as planned, the next hearing in the custody dispute won't take place until Feb. 19, to allow Kaplan time to review what Spears says about her fitness as a parent under oath.

The delay in proceedings also prevents Spears from requesting changes to any of the existing terms of the custody agreement, including allowing her behind the wheel when her sons, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James, are present.

In the interim, Federline retains primary custody of the boys; Spears' is allowed a handful of court-monitored visits per week.

As always, Tuesday's emergency hearing closed to the public. Before Gordon cleared the courtroom, attorneys for both sides met in chambers with the commissioner for roughly a half-hour.

Once the hearing got underway, Kaplan apparently wasted no time in seeking sanctions for Spears' pathological avoidance of being deposed.

In addition to seeking a postponement of the Jan. 23 hearing, Kaplan requested that, come February, Spears only be allowed to request a change to the current custody arrangement only if she has satisfactorily sat for a deposition.

Kaplan announced plans to seek the sanctions against the singer last week, after she claimed her levels of anxiety were too high to sit for the Dec. 12 session, but apparently not high enough to prohibit her from making runs to two gas stations and the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills later the same day.

To bolster his argument, on Monday Kaplan subpoenaed TMZ for footage of Spears' late-night run, presumably to screen during the emergency hearing.

Following Spears' no-show last week, Kaplan said he would "request to the court to address some kind of remedy to what I see as a willful nonappearance."

Still, Tuesday's maneuvers won't affect the holiday custody arrangement. Federline and Spears hammered an out-of-court deal last month in which the Feder-tots will split Christmas Day between both homes.

Barring any more emergency hearings, attorneys for both sides are due back in court Feb. 19.

Video Director: Britney Spears a 'Beautiful' Pro

Spears gets nothing but high marks, according to the producer, whose credits include videos for Madonna, Metallica, Faith Hill and 'N Sync.

"On set," says Isham of Spears, "she was very professional, excited to work and beautiful as always. I was impressed with her focus as she choreographed the dance herself. Her endurance was remarkable, as we had a long day."

He adds, "She almost outlasted me, which is amazing! It was a pleasure to work with her again." (He also directed the "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" video for Spears.)

The video is intended as a broadside against the paparazzi. It features the pop star, 26, in a black bra and ripped jeans, alternating a short cropped fur vest with a longer white fur coat, and singing about the photographers who hound her day and night.

As Spears writhes in front of a multicolored display, photographers are seen jostling below a lighted window, snapping pics of a band of Britney look-alikes who are dressing for a night out.

K-Fed's Lawyer to Seek 'Some Kind of Remedy' Against Britney

"I'm not mad – I can move forward with her or without her," he said outside the Wilshire restaurant in Santa Monica late Wednesday night. "But there will be a request to the court to address some kind of remedy to what I see as a willful non-appearance."

Kaplan said he found out early Wednesday morning, moments after the pop star was due to arrive at his office for the custody-case deposition, that she would not attend due to a "medical condition." The call came from Spears' attorney.

"But she was in fact out later that day and night," he noted. "It's not fourth grade where you get a doctor's note and it's all OK. She was ordered to attend. And if there's a legitimate reason for her not to attend she would have to establish that."

Spears, 26, is battling ex-husband Federline, 29, over custody of sons Preston, 2 and Jayden, 1. Federline currently has primary physical custody, with supervised visitation for Spears.

At the deposition, she must answer questions under oath from Federline's legal team. The topics likely would include her fitness as a parent and past drug and alcohol abuse.

As for the idea that photographers were harassing Spears keeping her from attending, Kaplan said: "All I know is that in my office there were no paparazzi."

Kaplan pointed out that this was the fourth deposition appointment Spears has missed. "This deposition was a court ordered proceeding. So it's a serious thing."

As far as remedies, Kaplan ruled out seeking a contempt of court.

"We're not interest in punishing her. We're interested in getting facts." He said he would also ask the court to have Spears shoulder the cost for the missed deposition but would not specifically cite other options under consideration.

House-Hunting Britney in the Pink with Realtor

After the second day of house-hunting, Spears, 26, donned a pink wig and dined with her agent, Robert Edie, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Wednesday evening.

In addition to showing her homes, the gentlemanly Malibu-based Realtor was observed giving Britney his suit jacket to shield her from the evening's chill. (Edie didn't return calls seeking comment).

Spears has been staying at the Four Seasons, where she had an afternoon visitation with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden, 1, on Thursday.

Gas Station Owner to Britney: You Stole My Lighter!

Now, the gas station owner wants her to come back... and pay $1.39.

Chevron owner Jatinder Kaur tells PEOPLE: "Yes, Britney stole a blue lighter here last night. The lighter is $1.39. I'm hoping maybe the next time she comes back she will pay for it. I know she can afford to pay for it, but I'm not planning to file a police report. It's still not right for her to steal the lighter. I hope she will do the right thing the next time she comes here."

Spears, 26, did pay for some chewing gum at the Chevron, but on her way out of the gas station's store, she grabbed the lighter. When a photographer pointed out that Britney "forgot" to pay for the lighter, Britney sarcastically responded, "I stole something. Oh, I'm bad!"

Pieces of Britney Big on eBay

Believe it or not, $3.99.

The embattled pop star is still the hottest thing since sliced bread (featuring the Virgin Mary) on eBay, which has announced that Spears-related items, from copies of signed pictures to gloves she supposedly wore at a New York Jets game to a piece of chewed gum, outsold the flotsam and jetsam related to fellow tabloid princesses Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

More than $34,000 "worth" of Spears stuff was successfully bid on in 2007, although some of the sellers may have been out of luck, considering that estimated sum was generated by only 34,345 items.

Last year, a waiter auctioned off Spears' half-eaten egg salad sandwich and her then-hubby Kevin Federline's chomped-on corndog. And online casino goldenpalace.com ate it up, so to speak, to the tune of $520.

However, this was the year of the shave, and locks of Spears' hair, along with the partially imbibed can of Red Bull she was carrying when she walked into the salon, were up for sale just days after the "Oops…I Did it Again" singer went bald. Although it's unclear if the sale went through, at one point 26 people had pushed up the price of one lot of those once-idolized strands to more than $1,000.

"What Americans buy and sell every day is one of the best indications of what they're obsessed with," said eBay pop culture expert/harbinger of doom Karen Bard. "When someone or something is being written about in tabloids or reported about on CNN, if it revs up the American public, you're bound to discover a bidding frenzy for related listings on eBay."

Well, a certain briefly jailed heiress was all over CNN this year. More than 27,000 Hilton-related items, including a toothbrush purportedly stolen from her trash, were sold via eBay.

The most popular items sold in connection with Hilton and Spears, though, were bottles of their signature fragrances, according to the online auctioneer.

Meanwhile, Lohan was in third place with 8,099 items sold.

Thanks to her run-in with the razor, her increasingly high-stakes custody battle and her first studio album in three years, Spears' name was also Yahoo's most popular search term for the sixth time in seven years. The oft scandal-tinged World Wrestling Entertainment came in second and Hilton placed third.

As far as eBay's ever-popular sports-memorabilia category goes, disgraced athletes did big business in 2007.

Possibly juiced homerun king Barry Bonds outsold both imprisoned Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and O.J. Simpson, who pushed just 5,196 items compared with Bonds' 145,497.

Bonds, of course, has been indicted on federal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in relation to allegations that he took steroids, while Simpson is awaiting trial on armed robbery and kidnapping charges for allegedly shaking down two memorabilia collectors in Las Vegas. Vick is scheduled to be sentenced Monday for conspiracy after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting ring.

In other pop culture craziness, Transformers paraphernalia outsold Harry Potter doodads when it came to film memorabilia and Grey's Anatomy beat out Heroes in terms of small-screen swag.

The sci-fi (and hot chick)-lovin', comic book-collectin' fans of Bionic Woman came through, however, giving merchandise related to the troubled NBC show a leg up on goodies from fellow freshman drama Pushing Daisies, a whopping 4,249 to 337 items sold.

Troubled, because all eight completed episodes of Bionic Woman have aired and NBC has yet to give the go ahead for more when—or if—the current writers strike ends.

Spears bests Hilton on eBay in 2007

The number of Spears-related items sold at the online auction site totaled 34,345, compared with 27,377 items associated with Hilton, eBay said this week.

Items associated with Spears ranged from signed CDs to disposable lighters featuring her likeness. Among the Hilton-related items sold: a toothbrush claimed to have been found in the hotel heiress' trash.

Fragrances were the most popular product category sold for Spears and Hilton.

Both fared better than Lindsay Lohan. Her name was only associated with 8,099 items sold, according to eBay.

However, the three tabloid staples were all outslugged by Barry Bonds, who was pegged to 145,497 related items, including a grilled-cheese sandwich, which netted a winning bid of $30. The seller claimed Bonds' 756th home-run ball bounced off the sandwich in San Francisco's AT&T Park.

Among the searches for movie franchise-themed merchandise, "Transformers" crushed "Harry Potter" with 442,342 related items sold compared with the boy wizard's 344,825 related baubles. Not surprisingly, wares in the action-figure category made up 71 percent of sales associated with the robots in disguise.

The data, released by eBay to The Associated Press, is based on specific entertainment-related searches of items sold on the U.S. eBay site from Jan. 1 to Nov. 19 that included key terms in the listing title across all product categories.

eBay said it didn't track how much money these items attracted.

Child abuse queries in Spears' case

In a request to unseal parts of the case file, an attorney for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services wrote that there are concerns about the safety and welfare of the two toddlers, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, if they are left in their mother's care.

Though the agency mentioned investigating referrals relating to Federline, the documents don't provide details.

After-hour calls to attorneys representing Spears and Federline were not immediately returned.

The agency requested the court not alter the current custody and visitation arrangements until their investigation is completed. Federline has temporary custody of the boys after Spears defied court orders about regular drug testing.

The latest tidbits on the custody battle are in 300 pages of documents released by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon.

The document dump included previous court rulings, expense reports and income statements for both parents, the names of the custody evaluators selected by Spears' and Federline's attorneys and their detailed resumes.

Spears had asked the court to seal the custody and visitation schedules in a declaration filed in October, arguing that "such information greatly increases the chances that the actions of the media could threaten the safety of the children by, for example, causing a traffic accident."

Spears, whose every errand is trailed by a mob of celebrity photographers, is notorious for distracted driving. She is under investigation for injuring a sheriff's deputy while exiting the downtown courthouse in her white Mercedes.

In 2006, she was photographed driving with her son on her lap.

In October, she pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid driver's license and later obtained a temporary California license.

A misdemeanor hit-and-run charge from an August parking lot crash was dismissed after she paid an undisclosed amount to the car's owner.

Spears pays Federline $15,000 per month in child support, and previous court rulings have said that he currently has no income.

Spears: Road Worrier

Family Services Still Pointed at Spears

Last month, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services filed a motion to access some of the sealed family court records pertaining to Spears' and Kevin Federline's ongoing custody battle, according to 300 pages of Britney-related documents made public Tuesday.

While the government agency was aware of the many stipulations handed down by the court, the high-profile nature of the case and the associated hullabaloo that occurs every time Spears and K-Fed, or their lawyers, are called to court, the DCFS stated in papers filed Oct. 25 that it was at a "severe disadvantage" in its investigation of Spears' mothering habits.

"It should be noted that DCFS has concerns of its own regarding the safety and welfare of the children if the children are left in the mother's care," the motion states.

The DCFS first approached the pop princess' household early last year after the infamous picture of Spears holding Sean Preston on her lap while driving made the rounds, and then again after the then-seven-month-old was diagnosed with a skull fracture after falling out of his highchair while under a nanny's care.

Meanwhile, the agency's aforementioned concern was voiced before Spears' latest red-light run—the one that finally cost her her baby-on-board driving privileges—and five days before Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon denied an attempt on Spears' part to regain joint custody of her boys.

Attorneys for the DCFS, which promises to keep the confidential docs under wraps, argued their case during a hearing Nov. 26 that was subsequently closed to the public.

Spears and Federline have been fighting off the media's attempts to delve deeper into the case for much of the past year. Gordon unsealed certain documents in September, ruling that airing some of the duo's dirty laundry—minus personal details; appointment times, dates and places; medical records; etc.—might be in the kids' best interest.

But Spears has claimed the media finds a way to get all up in her business, regardless of the so-called discretion exercised by the court.

In a declaration taken Oct. 9 and filed the following day, the "Toxic" songstress stated that she tries to keep two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James' whereabouts and transportation schedule as secret as possible "in order to minimize chances that unscrupulous journalists will gain unwelcome access to me and the boys."

"Such information greatly increase the chances that the actions of the media could threaten the safety of the children by, for example, causing a traffic accident or by exposing them to criminals who might target them for financial gain."

Also released Tuesday were a couple of invoices from the firm of Kaplan & Simon, which reps K-Fed. The aspiring rapper turned one of Details magazine's 50 Most Influential Men Under 45 (he's tied for seventh with Larry Birkhead) racked up $66,593.25 in expenses on Sept. 7, and another $22,337.50 on Sept. 11.

Spears was ordered to cut him a check for $120,000 to put toward legal expenses on Nov. 6.

Britney Spears tops list of Yahoo searches for 2007

Spears, a former Disney Mouseketeer who turned 26 on Sunday, continued to draw attention as she shaved her head, attacked a photographer's car with an umbrella, went to rehab, fought with ex-husband Kevin Federline over the custody of their two sons, and released her first album in four years.

"People do not know what to expect from her any more and the searches would spike every time she was back in the news," Vera Chan, senior editor at Yahoo, told Reuters.

"From when she shaved her head and rumors emerged from the rehab mill that she was calling herself the anti-Christ and shaved 666 on her scalp, there was constant tracking of this almost modern-day Greek tragedy happening in front of us."

Spears has topped the annual Yahoo list for six of the past seven years, only losing out once -- in 2004 -- to her friend and fellow party girl Paris Hilton. But Chan said overall the Britney Spears searches were up from a year ago.

Hilton, however, was slipping in the search list until May when she was sentenced to 45 days in jail after violating her probation on a previous traffic offense.

She ended up at No. 3 on the list from No. 5 last year.

"The tolerance for her party behavior was fading but her jail sentence popped her back up to that level of attention," said Chan, adding that scandals broadened the search of celebrities from young women to older people and both genders.

CAUTIONARY TALES

Actress Lindsay Lohan, who also spent a brief stint in jail for a drunken driving and cocaine-possession, came sixth in the search list, up from No. 10 last year.

"It makes you think that maybe these celebrities have become a morality play .. we look at celebrities because they are escapist fantasies but also a cautionary tale," said Chan.

The No. 2 search, unchanged from last year, was for WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, with a lot of interest in the death of professional wrestler Chris Benoit who killed his wife and son then hanged himself and his steroid use.

"WWE is a cultural institution at this point and a lot of the former participants are big stars .. this is like the male soap opera on the Internet," said Chan.

Naruto, the Japanese manga series, came fourth in the list as animee, a type of Japanese cartoon.

Online gaming took two slots in the list for the first time with the free multi-player game RuneScape played in the fantasy realm of Gielinor at No. 7 and Fantasy Football at No. 8.

But it wasn't only falling celebrities who won attention.

Singer Beyonce Knowles came fifth in the list, up from No 7. last year, as she continued to build her business empire and singer Fergie came in at No. 9.

Jessica Alba arrived on the list at No. 10, helped by being named magazine FHM's "2007's Sexiest Woman in the World."

Off the list? Jessica Simpson dropped off, as did Pamela Anderson, Shakira and R&B star Chris Brown. American Idol was no longer a top search which Chan attributed to the show concentrating more on celebrities than wannabe stars.

UPSTART HOTTIE RATTLES BRITNEY

"Britney was supposed to shoot a video for her song 'Pieces of Me' last Tuesday at Social Hollywood," a well-placed Jive insider told Page Six.

"Jive hired Wayne Isham to direct, had all the dancers there - hair, makeup and everything," our source added. "But she refused to come. Jive was really upset. They were already paying everyone overtime, and finally Britney showed up 12 hours late - but only after they told her they were going to give the video shoot to another Jive artist, Samantha Jade."

Jade, a rising star on the label, was told to be on call to shoot her video for her single "Eyes on Me," the insider said. Rather than write off the shoot's expense, the record company was set to have Jade step in and use the team assembled for Spears' video.

"They were going to recalibrate it for Samantha, because it was too expensive to just scrap," our source said. "Britney finally showed up when she realized a new, younger, hotter girl would take her slot."

A rep for Jive and Spears didn't return e-mails.

On Saturday, as Spears celebrated her 26th birthday, she had to deal with her scene-stealing frenemy Paris Hilton, who showed up at the Scandinavian Mansion of Style in Bel-Air.

"Britney was inside with Sam Lufti and Ali Sims," one partygoer told us. "When Paris saw Britney leaving, she desperately raced out to walk her to her car."

PageSix.com reported yesterday that Spears wanted to call her ex-husband, Kevin Federline - but had to borrow Hilton's cellphone "because she could not find her own," a source told our new Web site.

Spears invited Federline to join her at the club during the 1 a.m. call.

"She begged him to come out with her," a source said, "[but] "Kevin reminded her that one of them needed to be a parent and take care of the boys. Then she hung up on him. Kevin said she was drinking."

Brit Uncovered

Canine Concern

Britney Spears Wants You to Direct Her Next Music Video

The pop star, who turns 26 on Sunday, is teaming with MTV for a new contest called "Britney Spears Wants a Piece of You."

On Monday, MTV will make footage available from its archives – interviews, red-carpet appearances and performances – for Spears fans to remix into a video of 3:34 or shorter.

Submissions are due Dec. 14. MTV, Jive Records and Spears will determine a winner, which will air on TRL on Dec. 20.

Spears shot her own "Piece of Me" video this week. That video will air in January at the earliest, according to MTV.

In the past, Kelly Clarkson, Nelly Furtado, Common and Paramore have run similar remix video contests with MTV.

Brit Bud Skips Depo; K-Fed Denies Money Grab

Britney Spears' close pal Sam Lutfi missed his appointment Friday to be deposed in the ex-couple's ongoing custody battle, and Federline's camp is planning to file a motion compelling him to appear, sources confirmed to E! News.

Lutfi, who was served with a subpoena Nov. 7, is one of a string of Spears insiders, including former manager Larry Rudolph and second banana Alli Sims, who have been called upon to testify about Spears' habits and behavior as Federline shores up his case for custody.

A spokesman for attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said that the lawyer will seek a court order to ensure that Lutfi appears for questioning in January.

Kaplan's rep confirmed that, as Friday's no-show demonstrates, getting the Los Angeles-based film producer to comply with their side's wishes has been no picnic.

Before Lutfi was finally served earlier this month, Kaplan's people had been trying to pin him down since August, with the first attempt coming near Lutfi's L.A. home.

According to Aaron Cohen, the former Israeli soldier trying to deliver the subpoena, Spears' Mercedes-driving confidante got spooked and rammed into Cohen's Range Rover. Needless to say, Lutfi wasn't successfully served at that time.

On Nov. 7, however, Kaplan's process server approached Lutfi, asked him whether he was, in fact, Sam Lufti, and dropped the papers at his feet.

Kaplan has said that Lutfi, who was along for the ride when Spears turned herself in at the Van Nuys police station last month to be booked on her misdemeanor driving infractions, could be a very useful witness, as he's spent a good deal of time with the 25-year-old Blackout singer while sons Sean Preston and Jayden James have been around.

Lutfi was also the one who stepped up on Spears' behalf this week after In Touch Weekly started buzzing with news that the beleaguered songstress was pregnant with music producer J.R. Rotem's baby.

"It's B.S.," Lutfi texted to E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest early Wednesday morning. "Don't know who made it up. J.R. doesn't even know what's up. It's fake. Completely fake. We just wrapped her video. Going home to sleep."

(In Touch is standing by its story and has released photos purporting to be Rotem's text messages confirming the pregnancy.)

Spears lost custody of her kids on Oct. 1—and then the ability to drive them around Nov. 16—but is entitled to thrice-weekly supervised visits, including one overnight.

While Spears and Federline's custody case is threatening to outlast the amount of time they spent as husband and wife, Kaplan maintains that his client is only waging this battle on behalf of his kids and not his bank account.

"Every two months, rumors have been raised in the media that Mr. Federline's lawyers are about to go into court to get more money for child support," Kaplan said Friday in a statement to E! News. "Persistent questions are again being raised now in the press about the timing of when that will happen.

"As I've said, I know where to find the courthouse and what to do when I get there. If Mr. Federline had wanted to increase child support, it would be very easy to achieve and would have been requested long before now. There has not been and is not now a request before the court for a modification of child support.

"Mr. Federline's purpose in bringing this action continues to be one that is based upon the best interest of the children as his highest priority."

Producer Says 'No Truth' to Britney Pregnancy Rumor

He tells PEOPLE: "There is absolutely no truth to this."

Earlier Wednesday, Spears's close pal Sam Lufti, also denied the report printed by In Touch, saying: "It's just BS. Big Lie."

Britney Spears Pal: Pregnancy Rumors 'A Big Lie'

Following a cover story published by In Touch magazine, which claims the singer is four weeks pregnant with producer J.R. Rotem's baby, Lufti said in a text message to PEOPLE, "It's just BS. Big Lie."

As for the pop star's reaction to the rumors: "She laughed at it," according to Lufti, who said the singer won't likely release a statement about it. "If she were to give a statement about every lie, she'd be giving statements forever."

Lufti, who also said that he doubts Rotem said anything about the rumors, also sent a text message to Ryan Seacrest about the story.

Seacrest read the message on the air Wednesday, quoting Lufti as saying, "It's BS. Don't know who made it up. J.R. doesn't even know what's up. It's fake. Completely fake. We just wrapped her video. Going home to sleep."

Britney Spears Wears Blonde Wig for New Video

After spending Tuesday with her two sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, Spears switched into pop-star mode, arriving at L.A. restaurant and nightclub Social Hollywood to shoot the video for her tabloid-bashing single "Piece of Me" – the second single off her album Blackout. (It's being directed by Wayne Isham, who helmed Spears's "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" video.)

Spears and her backup dancers donned identical blonde bob wigs and black trench coats.

The premise? "The paparazzi are following [Britney], so they're dressed alike to trick them," a source close to Spears tells PEOPLE. "They all go into a club to get away. One [photographer] sneaks in, but Britney, in the end, discovers him."

The stakes are high for Spears, whose video for "Gimme More" was poorly received when it was released in October. (The song itself, however, was a hit.) "[Spears] is really freaked out about everything," said the source. "She's just really nervous and feels like everyone might make fun of her again."

Britney and Paris top Santa's naughty list: poll

A poll of American children released on Wednesday found that the two high-profile celebrities should top Santa's naughty list.

By contrast Disney star Hannah Montana, played by country singer Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter Miley, was overwhelming deemed the "nicest" celebrity among children aged 2 to 12 while actress Angelina Jolie was the choice for teenagers 13 to 17.

The online survey of 1,107 children was conducted by E-Poll Market Research, which specializes in celebrity and brand research, to gauge children's attitudes about nice, naughty, and the seasonal question of who makes Santa's list.

Spears, whose stint in rehabilitation, panty-less pictures, and custody battle for her children has won headlines globally, was awarded top "naughty" honors with younger and older children.

She was followed on the list by Paris Hilton who spent three weeks in jail this year on a driving violation.

The two women beat out Swiper the Fox from the television show Dora the Explorer, the Grinch from the book "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and Darth Vader from Star Wars among children 2-12.

For teens, Spears and Hilton topped Lindsay Lohan, who spent 84 minutes behind bars this year for a drunken driving and cocaine-possession conviction, and Beyonce.

When asked what makes someone nice, children mentioned "cleaning up and doing chores," "sharing" and "being honest and polite" as ways to impress Santa.

On the flip side, they mentioned "not listening to parents," "being mean and bullying" and "being snobby" as behaviors exhibited by those headed for the naughty list.

Brit, K-Fed Hash Out Holiday Kid Exchange

In a closed-door hearing Monday, attorneys for both Britney Spears and Kevin Federline appeared in court to hammer out custody arrangements of the Feder-tots for the upcoming month.

While details of the holly-jolly visitation schedule are scarce, what with attorneys for both sides having the commissioner boot all media from the courtroom, the boys will seemingly spend Christmas at Casas Spears and Federline, following a similar division of time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

"There was a proposal by Kevin that the holidays be shared in a certain fashion," Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told People. "That was agreed to. That's the best for everyone involved."

Kaplan said that the deal was agreed to prior to entering the courtroom and that Federline "was pleased it was accomplished without really submitting it to the court."

"It's important for the kids to spend time with each of the parents—especially on special days. And that is Kevin's desire."

Kaplan did not go into detail as to how the former couple will divvy up custodial duties for the holiday.

On Thanksgiving, however, the one- and two-year-olds shared a brunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with their "Gimme More" mom at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills before getting handed off to Federline in the afternoon for a turkey-and-trimmings dinner.

Aside from the holiday handoff, Monday's hearing also dealt with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services' request for access to currently sealed documents from the custody case. The agency claims it needs said documents to complete a handful of open investigations involving the Spears-Federline offspring. The department is legally obliged to investigate any claims logged with the county.

A lawyer for the county requested department access to the redacted documents, though Spears attorney Anne Kiley fought the motion. Kiley claimed that allowing unrestricted access to the sensitive materials to the entire department, what she termed a "large bureaucracy with thousands of employees," would inevitably result in media leaks of the private information, something the court has fought very hard against.

Because the hearing was closed, it's unclear whether Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon made a ruling on the request.

Barring any more emergency hearings, the next scheduled court date is set for Jan. 23.

In the meantime, while the ruling is still out on a custody deal, at least one entity has recognized Federline as the banner parent he's somewhat surprisingly turned out to be.

The 29-year-old came in at a respectable number seven on Details magazine's list of the 50 Most Influential Men Under 45, also managing to nab cover boy honors for the issue. He shares his ranking with fellow high-profile papa Larry Birkhead, both of whom were honored as "Good Fathers."

"To be a father is...everything," Federline told the magazine. "It shows me how little I am."

The father of four said that his life, and particularly his choices in entertainment, fall completely under the jurisdiction of his kids, saying, "My TVs are pretty much G-rated right now. Anything from SpongeBob to Finding Nemo, and you know, I'm still trying to decide which one I like more."

Still, family-friendly programming aside, Federline said he would like to make more time to further his own acting career, which got a boost this year from appearances on One Tree Hill and CSI, albeit in roles a tad more typecast than he'd prefer, saying, "I'd actually like to play somebody other than a bad guy or an ass."

Britney Does Business In British

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled Monday morning that the latest in the ex-couple's series of custody progress hearings will be conducted in a closed session, a measure to keep information about the proceedings from leaking to the media.

The hearing comes just over a week after another closed session was held at the request of Federline's attorney, following Spears' videotaped red-light run—and on the same day as another Spears hearing, this one stemming from her August hit-and-run. More on that later.

The custody hearing is expected to focus on a request from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Officials from the agency are expected to appear in court seeking access to certain sealed documents relating to the custody case. The department has several open investigations into the Spears-Federline tots and are legally obliged to explore any claims that are logged.

Prior to Gordon shutting the doors, an attorney for Spears argued against handing over the sealed records to DCFS, arguing that only very limited information should even be considered for release.

Attorneys for both the "Gimme More" singer and Federline have long argued against making public information from the custody case, joining forces earlier this year to prevent the unsealing of certain documents at the behest of People magazine and NBC's Los Angeles affiliate, KNBC-4.

But in September, Gordon ruled that there was a "tremendous and ongoing media interest" in the case and that the release of basic information about would not pose any immediate threat to the safety of the couple's sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

Meanwhile, several miles up the 405 freeway, another Spears case was being dealt with Monday. The hearing, which occurred in open court in Van Nuys, featured Spears attorney J. Michael Flanagan arguing against having the singer placed on probation for her motoring mishaps.

Flanagan petitioned the court to postpone the case to Jan. 2 to allow more time for attorneys to negotiate an out-of-court deal. Spears is facing an allegation of driving without a valid license when she smacked into a parked car in August. She eventually agreed to pay for the damages to the vehicle, and the judge dropped a hit-and-run count against her.

While Flanagan was successful in getting more time in which to fight the case, he said his client was being picked on.

The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has offered Spears a plea deal of 12 months' probation for her infraction, but Flanagan says that's too harsh, because the charge amounts to nothing more than a "fix-it ticket."

"No misdemeanor violation is satisfying to me," he said outside the courtroom.

Spears obtained her California driver's license on Oct. 2. She had previously been driving with a Louisiana license.

Meanwhile, Spears could face further charges if she fails to cooperate with investigators looking into allegations she ran over a sheriff deputy's foot following an earlier court hearing.

On Nov. 16, Gordon ruled that in light of Spears' driving woes, she could no longer be behind the wheel when her kids were in the car. She has since hired a chauffeur to transport her brood on the days she has custody.

Finally, despite reports to the contrary, the courtroom drama, it seems, is all that Spears has on her plate for the moment.

While Britain's News of the World reported that the 25-year-old has been contemplating filing paperwork to adopt twins from China, a source tells E! News the rumor is "completely untrue."

Britney Does Business In British

One insider, who is trying to finalise a date for Spears' delayed new video shoot, admits British Britney can be more than a tad annoying. He says, "It's very distracting. It seems she is using a British accent when she talks to people outside her circle of friends. One of her people claimed she was studying for a film role."

Britney's Virginity A Big Lie

The weekly mag's story quotes Eric Irvin, a lawyer for the Spears family, saying that Brit's claim that she "was a virgin until 18" was created to facilitate a "PR blitz."

Instead, Us says Spears lost her virginity to boyfriend Reg Jones at 14.

Us also reported Spears' family has a history of depression and disintegration that might provide clues to Britney's current condition.

The failed pop star's paternal grandmother, Emma Jean Spears, suffered from depression and killed herself after her infant son died when she was 25.

According to a local newspaper report obtained by Us, Emma Jean walked to the grave of her deceased son with a shotgun and shot herself in the chest.

Emma Jean's suicide mentally scarred Emma Jean's four live children, and two of Britney's uncles ended up homeless, the magazine reports.

Louis Vuitton wins lawsuit involving Spears video

A Paris civil court ordered Sony BMG and MTV Online to stop broadcasting or marketing the video for Do Something in any form and fined them 80,000 euros ($117,000) apiece, a spokeswoman for Paris-based Louis Vuitton said Monday. The ruling was handed down last week.

In the opening scenes of the video, Spears appears in the driver's seat of a hot pink Hummer floating on make-believe clouds. One shot shows fingers drumming on a dashboard covered with what looks like Vuitton's "Cherry Blossoms" design: dark pink blossoms on a pale pink, weblike background, embossed with the "LV" logo.

The court did not find Spears herself guilty but ruled that Sony BMG and MTV Online were guilty of violating counterfeiting laws. The ruling said the video constituted an "attack" on Louis Vuitton's brands and its luxury image, the spokeswoman said.

It was not immediately clear how the ban would be enforced, or whether the companies would appeal.

MTV declined to comment on the ruling. Sony BMG did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The video was still on YouTube and other music websites visible in France on Monday. On a few sites, however, links to the video led to a blank screen, or one reading, "This video is no longer available."

Louis Vuitton, whose signature handbags are a prime target of counterfeiters worldwide, has fought vigorously through French and other courts to protect its trademark goods.

Louis Vuitton is a division of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA.

Britney Bourne in L.A., Banned in Paris

In light of Friday's court ruling that prohibits her from driving her kids around, the beleaguered pop star is battening down the hatches, although her attorneys didn't detail what sort of new "security measures" the "Oops!…I Did It Again" singer is taking.

"Recent aggressive actions by individuals who have followed [Spears] and blocked her access, with and without the children, have resulted in her decision to take certain security measures which she hopes will only be necessary temporarily, for the protection of the children," lawyer Sorrell Trope said in a statement Monday.

"Ms. Spears hopes that she and Mr. Federline will be able to reach an agreement as to all matters concerning their children. She hopes that by not commenting on court proceedings the media attention in those proceedings will subside, which she requests for the safety and well being of the children."

Federline was awarded full custody on Oct. 1, and Spears is currently entitled to thrice-weekly supervised visits, including one overnight, with two-year-old Sean Preston and year-old Jayden James. She's still required to submit to random drug testing twice a week, and she has one hour to appear after being summoned by the court.

Her chauffeuring privileges were suspended Friday after the court reviewed paparazzi video of her running a red light with her sons in the car. She has also rolled over no fewer than three feet, including one belonging to a sheriff's deputy, over the past five weeks.

The 25-year-old has since employed a driver, who was spotted hauling her and her brood to the Four Seasons hotel over the weekend.

As for Turkey Day, TMZ reported Monday that Spears will be celebrating Thanksgiving with her boys a day early, allowing Kevin Federline to take them on Thursday.

And it turns out that this isn't the only type of baggage that's been plaguing the pop princess.

A French civil court has ordered Spears' record label to pay Louis Vuitton more than $117,000 in damages over the pop star's use of one of the famed atelier's signature patterns in the video for her 2004 song "Do Somethin'" off of Greatest Hit: My Prerogative.

The suit named MTV.com, which allowed Francophiles the world over to watch the video, Zomba Label Group, which runs Jive Records, and its parent company Sony BMG as defendants. There was no immediate comment from the Spears contingent.

The video features Spears gliding through a heavenly sky in a pink Hummer tricked out with seats upholstered in Louis Vuitton's Cherry Blossom pattern, which has appeared on the fashion house's ultrapricey handbags and luggage.

But the eighth-most name-checked brand in hip-hop has enough exposure, merci beau coup.

According to the newspaper Le Figaro, the court tribunal, in awarding the damages and issuing an injunction banning the LV-flashing part of "Do Somethin'" in France, ruled that Spears in no uncertain manner spotlighted the brand "so that even a casual viewer would notice."

Louis Vuitton, now a unit of LVMH, argued in its complaint that Spears' association with the brand hurt rather than helped, both in sales and image.

While the ruling was issued in French, Louis Vuitton was basically stating that it didn't want its fancy-schmancy image mixed up with whatever message Spears was trying to send at the time.

And that was then.

Britney Taking 'Security Measures' to Protect Kids

"Recent aggressive actions by individuals who have followed (Spears) and blocked her access, with and without the children, have resulted in her decision to take certain security measures which she hopes will only be necessary temporarily, for the protection of the children," Sorrell Trope said in a statement Monday.

No specifics were given on what those measures would be.

Spears, 25, locked in a custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, 29, is routinely swarmed by photographers and has run over the feet of them at least twice as they surrounded her car.

A judge last week ordered that Spears no longer could drive with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, after it was revealed she had allegedly run a red light with them in the car.

Over the weekend, the three of them were chauffeured to the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills.

As for the ongoing custody case, Trope said steps are being taken to calm the media storm.

"Ms. Spears hopes that she and Mr. Federline will be able to reach an agreement as to all matters concerning their children," Trope said. "She hopes that by not commenting on court proceedings the media attention in those proceedings will subside, which she requests for the safety and well being of the children."

Meanwhile, it was announced that Federline would be hosting a New Year's party at the Tangerine Lounge & Nightclub in Las Vegas.

Brit Hits Red Light in Custody Case

Attorneys for the former couple appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court Friday morning for an emergency hearing in which Federline sought an order to prevent the singer from chauffeuring the duo's two children around town in the wake of increasing driving indiscretions.

While neither Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, or Spears' attorney, Anne Kiley, commented on the results of the hearing, which per reports lasted anywhere from 90 minutes to one-and-a-half-hours, TMZ reports that Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon did in fact approve the motion, prohibiting Spears from personally driving sons Sean and Jayden during her court-monitored visits.

"Orders were made," Kaplan said upon leaving the courtroom. "I can't discuss the content of those orders. Documents have not been released by the court, and I don't know if they will be. The matter will be continued at a future date."

Kiley was much less forthcoming with information on the case.

"Everything is fine," she said simply.

The closed-door hearing was scheduled earlier this week at the behest of Kaplan, who requested the hearing after paparazzi footage surfaced of Spears running a red light and crossing into oncoming traffic on L.A.'s Mulholland Drive last Thursday. Her two sons were asleep in the backseat of the vehicle at the time, and her court-appointed monitor was ducked down in the passenger's seat.

Adding fuel to the visitation-endangering fire, Spears also appeared to be texting while behind the wheel. Her ill-thought-through auto actions were all captured on film by an ever-present flock of paparazzi and were circulating online within hours.

Prior to the advent of Spears' red-light run, Gordon was originally scheduled to rule on Kaplan's request that the 25-year-old multitasker be prohibited from chauffeuring her sons at a Nov. 26 hearing. The request came in the wake of several on-road indiscretions, including running over the foot of a paparazzo and a sheriff's deputy on two separate occasions.

This week, Spears also did herself no favors—though Federline plenty—by appearing to complete her steamroll trifecta, rolling over the foot of another paparazzo outside the Four Seasons Beverly Hills on Wednesday. On Thursday night, she was also photographed driving her tots around while donning sunglasses, an unnecessary and potentially dangerous accessory when it's already dark.

Last month, Spears lost custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James as, among other shortcomings, she had been serving as chauffeur without the benefit of holding a valid California driver's license.

She has since been granted visitation rights, provided a court-appointed monitor is present, and one overnight visit per week.

It was also reported that Friday's emergency hearing would address the results of Spears' recent court-ordered drug tests. While neither side has publicly discussed the issue, TMZ reported that one of her tests revealed a positive reading for amphetamines. A source close to the singer told the site it was the result of a prescription drug.

Barring another emergency hearing in the custody case, attorneys for both Spears and Federline are due back in court Nov. 26.

Britney's Car Claims Another Photographer's Foot

Duran Duran Talk about 'Britney' Video

The song, "Falling Down" was produced and co-written by Justin Timberlake, and features a girl checking into rehab who looks remarkably like Britney Spears. (In this case, the rehab is populated by scantily clad models. Hey, it is a rock video.)

So, is that character meant to be Britney?

"I suppose it's loosely based on her, but not [only] on one celebrity – just celebrity culture in general," drummer Roger Taylor told PEOPLE Wednesday before hitting the stage at a Manhattan gala benefiting the National Down Syndrome Society. "A lot of [young celebrities] seem to disappear into rehab. ... So it's kind of like, what could be happening in your wildest dream in that rehab center?"

As for what Timberlake – who eons ago was Britney's boyfriend – thinks of the video, lead singer Simon Le Bon says, "I haven't spoken to him since the video has been made public. But he likes his pretty girls, so he probably would like it."

Controversial Finish

The ending of the video – showing the girl leaving rehab and immediately grabbing a glass of champagne – is controversial, even within the band.

"I didn't like that at all," admitted bassist John Taylor. "I wanted it to be a little more ambiguous at the end, because I'm a believer in recovery."

Still, the band members – who have experienced both the highs and lows of fame in their 30 years together – wish nothing but the best for the troubled Spears.

"I just wish she could accept help," said Le Bon. "It seems that all the people who care about her, she’s pushing away."

Shar Jackson Lends Hand with K-Fed's Boys with Britney

Jackson, 31, has two children – Kori, 5, and Kaleb, 3 – with Federline, 29, and says that she watches Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, who are Federline's kids with Spears, 25.

"We definitely make sure the kids all bond together," Jackson told reporters Tuesday night. "I mean, they're siblings, they need each other."

Jackson also stresses that she and Federline strive to keep their family closely knit, despite whatever differences she and he might have.

"We're not together or anything but we're definitely still a family unit," says Jackson, who perhaps remains best known professionally for her portrayal of Niecy on the 1996-2001 UPN show Moesha.

Best of Friends

"Honestly," says Jackson, "we're like the best of friends. Obviously, the relationship didn't work out for a reason, and we're cool with that. But we're still a part of each other's lives. And our children get to see two people who aren't together but still have a great relationship, and I think that's really important."

Jackson, who in the past has repeatedly praised Federline's parenting skills, says she exclusively trusts him with her kids. "I know he's in a good place," she says, "the kids are in a good place, and I made sure from day one – I told him, 'You make sure you have our children.' "

And just how is K-Fed holding up in the fight with Britney over their kids? "He's great," says Jackson. "We don't even talk about that stuff, because that would be a non-stop conversation, and we don't even go there."

Britney Courted for Red-Light Run

At the behest of Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, an emergency hearing has been scheduled for Friday to further probe Britney Spears' decision to run a red light Thursday while her visiting children were in the car, rather than wait out the 60 seconds with the paparazzi, who inevitably captured the whole thing on film.

Kaplan told E! News on Monday that he was reviewing the footage to determine whether to call for a hearing.

Spears' camp, predictably, didn't believe the video necessarily showed the "Gimme More" warber was a lousy motorist.

"Ms. Spears was being mobbed by paparazzi at the time," Spears' attorney Sorrell Trope told People. "She was distracted. This was not blatant irresponsible driving on her part."

Meanwhile, neither Trope nor Kaplan had any further information about Spears' latest drug tests in light of recent published reports that one came back with a false positive.

During a hearing last Thursday, Spears' legal camp stated that the Blackout artist had showed up for 10 tests and passed every one, while Kaplan maintained that she only made herself available for 6 out of 14 requested tests.

Spears attorney Anne Kiley also suggested that her client be allowed six hours to present herself after the court calls for her to be tested, but Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon said that the current one-hour prep time would remain in place.

And now, there's this vehicular infraction.

Several paparazzi agencies on Friday published video and still images of Spears making a turn into oncoming traffic—possibly while texting. The apparent infraction came hours after the custody hearing and while Spears' court-appointed monitor was in the car.

Gordon was already scheduled to rule Nov. 26 on a request from Kaplan that the 25-year-old multitasker be prohibited from chauffeuring her sons, and this latest alleged development can only add more fuel to the privilege-slashing fire.

Court documents released Nov. 1 showed that the main reason Spears lost custody of two-year-old Sean and year-old Jayden on Oct. 1 was that she had been driving them around while lacking a valid California driver's license.

Spears Shutterbugs Go Splat

Two paparazzi in hot pursuit of Britney Spears around Beverly Hills ended up getting into an accident on Monday that sent one one shutterbug to the hospital.

According to the Beverly Hills Police Department , the collision occurred at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Elm Drive, about a mile from the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel. One of the photographers, who was tracking the pop tart in a Range Rover, hung an illegal right turn into a fellow paparazzo riding a motorcycle.

The latter, described by TMZ as a celeb "spotter," was knocked off his bike. He sustained cuts to his arms and legs, police said.

The man was transported to nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was treated and discharged late Monday.

Police declined to identify either of the photogs, and no citations have been issued. "There was no evidence of DUI or any evidence of criminal intent on either party," the Beverly Hills PD said in a statement.

The "Toxic" singer was not involved in the incident, and the rest of the paparazzi continued chasing her to her next destination.

Ironically, just last week, paparazzi cameras caught the performer apparently making an illegal left turn and running a red light with her two sons and a court-appointed monitor in the car.

Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, is reviewing photographs and video of Spears' maneuver and could be in court Wednesday seeking to further restrict her custody rights for two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James.

As it stands, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon is expected to issue a ruling on Nov. 26 about whether the 25-year-old popster will be allowed to drive her kids around.

Spears, who only recently obtained a valid California driver's license at Gordon's behest, has a history of motoring mishaps.

She was slapped with a misdemeanor count of hit-and-run after dinging another vehicle in a parking lot in August. The charge was subsequently dismissed after she reached a cash settlement with the car's owner—Spears paid about $1,000 to cover the fender-bender.

Since then, Spears has run over the feet of two paparazzi, incidents that were captured on video. However, the injured shutterbugs (who make their living off the performer, who routinely tips them off to her whereabouts) declined to press charges.

Meanwhile, the LAPD is still investigating an incident last month in which Spears allegedly ran over the foot of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy while fleeing the courthouse. No charges have currently been filed.

K-Fed's Lawyer to "Revisit" Brit's Red-Light Roll

Kevin Federline's attorney told E! News Monday that, because it's Veteran's Day, he'll have to revisit whether to call for an emergency hearing regarding Spears' decision last week to plow through a red light while her children were in the car, rather than wait it out with the paparazzi.

While some reports placed lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan in court as soon as Wednesday, he wouldn't comment except to say that he would look into the matter on Tuesday.

The (very) gainfully employed counselor, who last month successfully petitioned the court to have Spears cut a check for $120,000 in attorneys' fees, also said that he didn't have any further info about Spears' recent drug tests in light of several published reports that one of them came back with a false positive.

During a hearing Thursday, Spears' legal camp stated that the Blackout artist had showed up for 10 tests and passed every one, while Kaplan maintained that she only made herself available for 6 out of a scheduled 14 requested tests.

Spears attorney Anne Kiley also suggested that her client be allowed six hours to present herself after the court calls for her to be tested, but L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon said that the current one-hour prep time would remain in place.

And now, there's this vehicular infraction.

Several paparazzi agencies on Friday published video and still images of Spears making a turn into oncoming traffic—possibly while texting. The apparent infraction came hours after the custody hearing and while Spears' court-appointed monitor was in the car.

Gordon was already scheduled to rule Nov. 26 on a request from Kaplan that the 25-year-old multitasker be prohibited from chauffeuring her sons, and this latest alleged development can only add more fuel to the privilege-slashing fire.

Court documents released Nov. 1 showed that the main reason Spears lost custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James on Oct. 1 was that she had been driving them around while lacking a valid California driver's license.

Britney Spears Raising Money for UNICEF

Spears, 25, has partnered with photo agency X17 to raise money for UNICEF by auctioning the CD on eBay.

"I think it's important to give back and with the release of Blackout, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to give the fans a chance to bid on something to help children everywhere," says Spears, in a press release issued by X17.

A rep for Spears didn’t immediately comment.

Spears, meanwhile, has children issues much closer to home. She and ex-husband Kevin Federline are embroiled in a custody battle over sons, Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

The singer currently has only monitored access to her kids on two occasions per week, one of them being an overnight.

Their next hearing is set for Nov. 26.

Unmanageable

Spears must give drug lab working number

Of the 14 such calls placed to Spears, she failed to respond eight times, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon earlier in the day.

Spears lawyer Anne Kiley argued that Spears hadn't responded within an hour, as ordered by the court, because she was sleeping, and asked that she be given a six hour time-frame instead. But Gordon said time wasn't the problem, noting Spears had lost telephone numbers and changed numbers.

"There needs to be one number that the testing facility calls that she responds to," Gordon ruled. He added that she can change phones, as long as everyone involved is notified.

Federline, 29, and Spears, 25, were not in court for the hearing. After a break, Gordon issued his ruling, adding that he was not going to make any further modifications to existing custody orders.

Under those orders, Federline has temporary custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, because Spears has defied court orders. Spears gets one overnight visit and two daytime visits a week. A court-appointed parenting coach, a childproofed home and car restraints were all written into the orders.

Attorneys for Spears and Federline, married in October 2004, have repeatedly been in court about custody since they split. Their divorce was final in July.

Meet Britney, the Pop Star

That was the fallback position of Spears' camp during the latest custody hearing Thursday regarding the, well, pop star's two sons.

Spears attorney Anne Kiley told the court that the, yes, pop star has failed to heed every call to the drug-test lab because she is a, yes, "pop star," and thusly is often out late at night.

Additionally, Kiley said, Spears' stature requires the pop star to change her phone number a lot in order to make it harder for fans to give her a ring. The downside is that Spears' game of musical numbers also makes it harder for the drug lab to reach her.

Spears, who lost full custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James on Oct. 1 to ex-husband Kevin Federline, is currently under a court order to submit to regular drug testing.

On Thursday, it was revealed that Spears, 25, has undergone six drug tests since last month and has passed every time.

One thing: Spears was supposed to have undergone 14 drug tests.

The pop star's poor batting average prompted Federline's attorneys to call for Thursday's hearing.

Neither Spears nor Federline attended.

Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told the court that the onetime Spears spouse doesn't want to ex his ex out of their children's lives but asked, "What are we do to?"

Kiley seemingly had a solution to improve Spears' attendance record at the drug lab: Give the pop star six hours to comply with a request, instead of the current 60 minutes.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon said one hour was the standard and that Spears should be held to it.

When Gordon noted that even court officials like himself have to go to work early every morning, Kiley was ready with a comeback: "You're not a pop star with a number one album."

Well, actually, as of the latest Nielsen SoundScan figures, Spears is a pop star with a number two album.

But nonetheless...

A post-splash look at teen pop's big 5

Backstreet Boys

Splash: The quintet's self-titled album hit in 1997, kicked off the teen-pop era and sold 10 million copies domestically; 1999's Millennium sold 12 million. 2000's Black & Blue topped the 5 million mark. I Want It That Way was acclaimed as the artistic pinnacle of boy-band pop.

Alarm bells: A.J. McLean checked into rehab for alcohol and drug abuse. Possibly premature The Hits -- Chapter One collection sold less than 2 million. Radio hits dried up after 2000.

Response: A lengthy hiatus. Nick Carter released a moderately successful solo album in 2002. McLean, Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell worked on solo albums, but only Littrell's surfaced. Kevin Richardson appeared in Chicago on Broadway. By 2004, they were back together; 2005 album Never Gone sold 750,000 copies. Richardson left in 2006.

Prognosis: New album Unbreakable, though crammed with the creamy harmonies of the glory days, sold 81,000 in its first week, while first single Inconsolable came and went quickly at top 40 radio. The Boys as Men do not appear to be a widely appealing prospect.

'N Sync

Splash: Formed in boy-band cradle Orlando under the aegis of Backstreet Boys svengali Lou Pearlman, the quintet's self-titled 1998 album sold nearly 9 million copies. 2000 follow-up No Strings Attached set the Nielsen SoundScan record for first-week sales with 2.41 million. Bye Bye Bye was a five-week radio No. 1 in 2000.

Alarm bells: What legal hassles with Pearlman couldn't do, artistic restlessness accomplished. Justin Timberlake and, later, J.C. Chasez began working on solo albums.

Response: Timberlake's varied and ambitious first solo album, 2002's Justified, was so successful it effectively broke up the band. Joey Fatone starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and finished second on Dancing With the Stars. Lance Bass was unsuccessful in an attempt to travel in space but did attract notice last year when he revealed he is gay.

Prognosis: Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds has proven an unstoppable hit generator. Fatone hosts NBC's The Singing Bee. Chris Kirkpatrick starred on VH1's Mission: Man Band, with former boy-band members trying to form a new band. Smart move -- there's not much point, particularly from Timberlake's point of view, in an 'N Sync re-formation.

Christina Aguilera

Splash: A former Mouseketeer (like Timberlake, Chasez, Britney Spears, Keri Russell and Ryan Gosling), she sang a song in Disney's Mulan and won a recording contract. 1999's Genie in a Bottle was a No. 1 hit, her self-titled debut album also hit No. 1 (it has sold more than 8 million), and she won the Grammy for new artist in 2000.

Alarm bells: Three years elapsed before her next album, during which her musical acclaim took a back seat to lawsuits, a peculiar nickname (Xtina, the "X" standing in rather presumptuously for "Christ") and several oddball images in which her makeup assistant evidently threw in the trowel. (Remember her cosmetic-caked look for Lady Marmalade?)

Response: With the 2002 release of single Dirrty and album Stripped, she upped the sleaze factor, both lyrically and visually (posterior-baring chaps in the Dirrty video being the image that stuck in the public mind). Dirrty was a stiff, but fortunately for her career, follow-up ballad Beautiful became her anthem, and Stripped sold 4 million.

Prognosis: 2006 album Back to Basics reflected a return to her strength: her voice (acclaimed as the best of the teen-pop crop). The ambitious double album wandered all over the place stylistically but sold 1.6 million and focused attention back on her talent.

Britney Spears

Splash: The former Star Search also-ran became the queen of teen-pop with first single ... Baby One More Time in 1998. The No. 1 hit spawned an album of the same title that sold more than 10 million copies. 2000's Oops! ... I Did It Again underscored her affection for ellipsis (those were innocent times) and nearly matched its predecessor's sales.

Alarm bells: 2001's Britney sold less than half as much as Oops! ... 2003's In the Zone sold less than that (3 million). A funky musical direction (exemplified on moderate hit I'm a Slave 4 U ) and increasingly racy videos alienated some fans and made her tabloid fodder. Short-lived Vegas marriage to friend Jason Alexander raised questions about her stability.

Response: A downward spiral, played out in public and chronicled ad nauseam: K-Fed marriage, tour cancellation, reality show, babies, child-rearing issues, divorce, head-shaving, custody battle, rehab, hit-and-run, photo shoot meltdown -- consult the archives of usatoday.com for the grisly details.

Prognosis: A performance of 2007 single Gimme More at MTV's Video Music Awards was decreed a disaster. The single has sold well but received mediocre radio airplay. New album Blackout sold 290,000 copies in its first week, solid by contemporary standards but well below her own. She'll continue to make news, but hits may be another matter entirely.

98 Degrees

Splash: The Los Angeles quartet played third fiddle to Backstreet and 'N Sync during the teen-pop peak years, but did score a multiplatinum album with 1998's 98 Degrees and Rising and sold nearly 2 million with 2000's Revelation.

Alarm bells: The old "hiatus" jinx struck. The band decided to take a break in 2002, and with the release of their hits album found that no one was interested in them anymore. ( The Collection made the album chart for only one week, at No. 153, and has sold only 55,000.)

Response: Nick Lachey married Jessica Simpson in 2002 and starred with her on an MTV reality series. Lachey's second solo album, released around the time of his and Simpson's 2006 divorce, actually doubled the sales of his former wife's contemporaneous release. Younger brother Drew Lachey won the second season of Dancing With the Stars.

Prognosis: Nick Lachey is working on a new album and has remained a celebrity without repercussions. Justin Jeffre ran for mayor of Cincinnati in 2005, receiving about 700 votes, and remains politically active. Jeff Timmons joined ex-'N Sync-er Kirkpatrick on the wildly optimistic Mission: Man Band series. 98 Degrees remains on hiatus.

Britney & Kevin's Lawyers to Return to Court

A source close to the case confirms the hearing was called by Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, who's alleging that Spears has failed to follow drug-testing procedures.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, are not expected to show.

"If Spears hasn't been following drug-testing procedures, ultimately the court could suspend all her visitation rights until she follows court orders," says L.A. family law attorney Joel Schwartz, who's not involved with either party. "Her mistakes will stack up against her."

TMZ.com first reported the story.

The singer must submit to twice-weekly random drug and alcohol tests, and is required to give a urine sample within six hours of being called. The court had specified that a missed test will be considered a failed test.

On Oct. 30, Spears's visitation rights with her sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, were scaled back after her parenting coach was critical of the pop star.

Spears "rarely engaged with [her] children in either conversation or play" during their monitored time together, the coach testified last month.

Britney Spears' mom: 'I blame myself'

Spears, the mother of three children with ex-husband Jamie Spears, is writing a memoir about raising her family in the public eye. "Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" is set for release May 11, which is Mother's Day.

"I didn't raise my children to have Hollywood careers. This all just exploded in my face, and big dreams became big headaches," says Spears, who recently reconciled with her 25-year-old pop singer-daughter after a period of estrangement.

Britney Spears, a tabloid fixture thanks to her public blunders and turbulent personal life, was ordered last month to temporarily surrender custody of her sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"Here are two parents who care about their kids," Spears says. "They're good people. With my daughter's, Kevin's and the boys' interest at heart, I'm trying my best to bring them together, to bridge the gap. I think things are getting good."

"Britney loves her kids from the pit of her soul," she says.

Eagles Black Out Britney

A year ago, the easy-rocking supergroup inked a deal with Wal-Mart that led to the release of an exclusive deluxe DVD reissue of Farewell 1 Tour—Live from Melbourne. More important, the arrangement made Wal-Mart and Sam's Club the exclusive U.S. distributors for the band's first studio album in 27 years, Long Road Out of Eden.

The critically praised double album hit the big-box stores—as well as the Eagles' Website—last week. And per figures released Tuesday by Wal-Mart, Eden sold more than 700,000 copies in its first week. That's the second biggest opening sales week of the year, behind Kanye West's Graduation, which moved 957,000 copies in September, to the chagrin of 50 Cent.

Still, it'll be Spears' Blackout sitting atop the Billboard 200 despite selling a fraction as much—about 289,000, sources say.

Because of its exclusive arrangement with Wal-Mart, the Eagles' new album does not qualify for the Billboard 200. In fact, Billboard notes that titles "not generally available at retail" appear on the Top Comprehensive Albums chart instead, which covers catalog and proprietary releases. Fair or not, this means the Eagles will be a no-show on the Billboard 200, and Blackout will take the number one spot by default.

Nonetheless, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers set an undeniable sales record at Wal-Mart, the country's top music retailer.

"We were confident Eagles fans would embrace Long Road Out of Eden, but it has exceeded our first week projections," Gary Severson, Wal-Mart's senior vice president of entertainment, trumpeted in a statement.

"With the holiday season approaching, we are confident the double-CD package will be one of the biggest sellers in Wal-Mart history. We’ve notified the RIAA of the sales, to quickly certify Long Road Out of Eden’s multiplatinum status.”

Eagles manager Irving Azoff added: "The band produced and delivered an album of integrity that was in keeping with their legacy…and the fans responded. The phenomenal first-week sales of Long Road Out of Eden are a testament to Wal-Mart’s marketing and distribution.”

Meanwhile, across the pond, Eden was made available through general retail outlets, which allowed the album to sail past Blackout and give the Eagles their first U.K. number one. With several countries releasing their charts before the U.S., Eden has also already hit the top spot in Australia and the Netherlands.

The Eagles last topped the U.S. charts in 1994, when their live album Hell Freezes Over spent two weeks at number one.

Britney Ordered to Foot the Legal Bills

The court commissioner who has been moderating the chaotic Britney Spears-Federline custody battle on Tuesday ordered the "Gimme Me" singer to cut K-Fed a $120,000 check for legal fees, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. (View the ruling.)

Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, had petitioned for $160,000 on Oct. 10, stating that his client had paid $31,900 and was "in immediate and dire need of attorneys' fees." Kaplan said that the former backup dancer has about $726,000 in assets but that $125,000 is already earmarked for other bills.

"Even if a party has the ability to pay his or her own fees, a disparity in the parties' respective circumstances may itself demonstrate relative 'need,'" Commissioner Scott M. Gordon wrote in his decision.

That "disparity" referring to the fact that Spears' monthly income equals Federline's entire net worth, as revealed in financial documents made public last week.

According to Spears' camp, the pop star has shelled out $225,279 for her own custody-related legal bills. She has been giving her ex $35,000 a month in spousal and child support, the $20,000 spousal portion of which expires on Nov. 15.

Both sides' attorneys have seemingly been working overtime since Oct. 1, when Federline was granted full custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and year-old Jayden James. The doting dad was spotted by paparazzi earlier Tuesday giving his kids a kiss before they were chauffeured off to their mom's house for one of the twice-weekly monitored visits she's been granted.

Gordon noted in his ruling that that the "vast majority of the post-judgment litigation deals with [Spears'] conduct." Meaning, it's the 25-year-old songstress who has kept the counsel burning the midnight oil.

As for the part of Spears' life that least resembles the twilight zone these days, industry analysts are projecting that Blackout, her first studio album in four years, is going to debut at the top of the Billboard 200 on Wednesday after moving about 289,000 copies.

Spears Abandons Kids To Go Chandelier Shopping

The pop star was enjoying a monitored day out with her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James on Sunday. But instead of spending quality time at home with the boys, Spears decided she needed new light fixtures, and stopped off at the Crystal Palace store in Los Angeles, leaving her kids with the court-appointed supervisor.

The next custody hearing is set for 26 November. It's not the first time Spears has been criticised for her skills as a mother, she almost dropped Sean Preston on one occasion and was seen driving her car while he sat on her lap last year.

Julia Roberts: No More Kids - But She'll Watch After Britney

"You only have so much energy and you want to put so much energy into each child," Roberts tells Vanity Fair in its December issue. "I wouldn't know how to have five kids. And they're a really good trio, these three."

Roberts and Moder, 38, are parents to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, who will turn 3 on Nov. 28, as well as Henry, who was born in June. Asked if she has any weaknesses as a mother, Roberts replies that she's working hard not to be too overprotective.

"I'm sure there are lots of things ... that I could get pretty scared about, but then, that's no fun," she says. "I'm always like, God, they're going to get hurt. But they will get hurt. That's the thing. And [Danny is] teaching me to show them that they can get up from that, or show them how to jump off of it."

The motherly instinct seems to apply to other vulnerable individuals, too. Asked how she feels about Britney Spears's recent troubles, Roberts says, "I see and hear what's happening to Britney Spears and it's all I can do not to move her into my guesthouse and say, 'Okay, this is how it's going to be!' And just take care of her."

Roberts says she and Moder are currently building a house in Malibu – a big step, she says, for a small-town Georgia girl.

"It was one thing to be a New Yorker," she says. "I wear that really proudly. I moved there when I was 17, and it's a city that means something to me. But Los Angeles has always intimidated me. So I think that him building this house is as much a marriage as our relationship is of the things that I love and that he loves. It's a place where I think we'll be really content."

As for the future, Roberts says her dream "is to be a highly fulfilled and productive stay-at-home mom and wife." But there are a few career goals she'd still like to accomplish.

"I would like to work with Johnny Depp," she says. "I've known him a long time. I think he's so interesting, and I think we look alike in a funny way. So Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp and I will play brother and sister in something."

Spears on track to exceed 1st-week sales expectations

In what could signal a reversal of fortune, the pop singer's "Blackout" album, which bowed October 30 via Jive, is living up to expectations and then some.

Based on first-day sales, "Blackout" is on track to sell between 325,000 and 350,000 units in its first week, estimate sales and distribution executives at three major labels whose responsibilities include making such projections. That's better than the 300,000 units that sales executives at Zomba Records -- the Sony BMG label-group parent to Jive Records -- projected when they took orders for the album from retailers in October.

Spears' last studio album, "In the Zone," released in 2003, scanned 2.96 million units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

At Best Buy, senior entertainment officer Gary Arnold said, "Britney is doing better than we thought. Her first-day sales are at about 135 percent of our forecast," which means 35 percent higher than expected.

Newbury Comics head of purchasing Carl Mello, meanwhile, said her album is doing "slightly better than I expected. I think the notoriety is helping sales because it is creating awareness about the album. The only instance I can think of when notoriety hurt is (with) Michael Jackson, but has Britney been as devilish as Michael?"

The question for Britney, he said, is whether sales hold up.

Zomba senior vice president of sales Bob Anderson said that, based on first-day sales, the album may outperform the label's first-week expectations. What's more, first-week sales might have been even better had the label not moved the release date up from November 13 to thwart bootleggers and digital pirates. That date change caused Spears to miss out on a couple of major Sunday circulars, Anderson said.

The label has revised its sales projection upward to 330,000-350,000 units. "We have seen a major turn of the tide," Anderson said. "The focus is off her personal life and on the music, and that's where it should be."

Sentiment within the music industry indeed seems to be swinging that way.

"All of her agita, issues and notoriety have some executives thinking that people are feeling sorry for her and that she is going to have a big record," one senior executive at a competing label said.

Trans World divisional merchandise manager for music Jerry Kamiler said he expected the album to do well, and that based on first-day sales, it is. "The single, 'Gimme More,' is performing extremely well; she still has a fan base and they say the quality of the music is good; and she is getting a tremendous amount of press, not all of it good." All of that, he said, could add up to a big record.

Between Spears' album and the Backstreet Boys' "Unbreakable" album, which also came out October 30, "I feel like I am in a time warp," Kamiler said.

"But if this was 10 years ago," he added, "Jive would be looking to sell a million units apiece in the first week."

Cops Probe Alleged Brit-and-Run

The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed to E! News it is investigating a claim that the Blackout artist ran over the foot of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy while fleeing the courthouse following last week's custody hearing.

"We are aware that Britney Spears was leaving the courthouse," said an LAPD spokesperson. "We are also aware that a deputy was injured. We're unable to confirm the details of the incident or the deputy's injuries, as the investigation is in the initial stages."

The newly licensed Spears was obviously distraught following her ill-fated presentation before a court commissioner. Accompanied by professional sidekick Alli Sims, Spears wheeled her white Mercedes convertible out of a courthouse loading dock and attempted to navigate through a throng a paparazzi, with several deputies trying to keep order.

E! News video footage of Spears exiting the court doesn't conclusively show the alleged foot fault.

There was no immediate word from the Sheriff's Department on the identity of the stricken law enforcer, other than that it was a woman who suffered "minor to moderate" injuries. TMZ reports the deputy is currently on crutches and has been reassigned to light duty.

Spears, 25, has apparently taken her "Hit me, baby, one more time" mantra to heart of late. Aside from the courthouse incident, Spears has plowed over the paws of two shutterbugs in recent days. While both of those foot-flattening mishaps were captured on film, neither paparazzo chose to press charges.

Following Friday's hearing, Los Angeles County Commissioner Scott M. Gordon denied Spears' request to reinstate her full custody rights for sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. Ironically enough, Gordon first rescinded those rights last month, in part because of the singer's lack of a valid driver's license. She has since obtained one.

In his ruling issued Tuesday, Gordon let Kevin Federline retain primary physical custody of the boys but did allow Spears two monitored daytime visits and one overnight per week.

It was a small victory for the pop star, who on Thursday was slapped with yet another lawsuit, this time from former manager Johnny Wright, who claims the "Gimme More" singer breached her longtime contract with his management team and stiffed him of $15,000 in commissions.

Green Day back Britney

The Green Day singer has expressed his anger at the treatment the pop icon has been receiving in recent months, following her September appearance at the MTV Awards.

Speaking about the show, which saw a universally panned display from the star as she readied new album Blackout, he said: "People want blood. They want to see other people thrown to the lions. Watching Britney Spears was like watching a public execution. How could the people at MTV, the people around her, not know this girl was f--ked up?"

"People came in expecting a trainwreck, and they got more than they bargained for," said Armstrong.

He continued: "She is a manufactured child. She has come up through this Disney perspective, thinking that all life is about is to be the most ridiculous star you could be.

"But it's also about what we look at as entertainment--watching somebody go through that."

Lance Bass Visits with Britney Spears

"I saw her last night," Bass, 28, told PEOPLE on Thursday at a Los Angeles signing of his new memoir, Out of Sync.

"I went over to the house. It was great," he said. "I went over to see the kids, and you can tell she's really trying so hard to get herself back in order."

Bass writes in his autobiography that Spears, 25, was instrumental in his decision to speak out about his sexuality.

"She was one of the first people that I came out to. We grew up together, basically. She was the first opening act that we had," he said at the signing, "and she was dating Justin [Timberlake, his bandmate]. We'll always have that family vibe between us."

So what does he make of Spears's ongoing troubles? (Despite strong initial sales of her new album Blackout, she remains embroiled in her messy custody battle with ex Kevin Federline.)

Bass partly perceives her problem as a matter of being a single act as opposed to having been in a group.

Teen superstardom was "easy when you have four of your best friends on tour with you at all times," he says, recalling his own 'N Sync days. "If your head gets a little big, you have four guys slapping you and going, 'What the hell are you doing?' "

By contrast, Spears "was by herself. It's different when you're a solo act, and you don't have anyone around you telling you no."

Bass's advice to Britney now is simple. "Just be yourself," he says, "and remember where you came from."

Details of Spears' custody fight emerge

The documents in the divorced couple's ongoing custody battle show Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ordered them both not to drive their children unless they're properly insured and have a valid driver's license.

"At all times, the minor children shall be transported in a properly insured and registered vehicle, which shall be driven only by a properly insured driver who has a current and valid driver's license," Gordon wrote.

The pop star disobeyed the order when she was photographed driving Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, a few days after the Sept. 28 order.

She was ordered Oct. 2 to relinquish her children "until further order of the court" when she wasn't able to prove compliance with Gordon's order, namely proof of a valid California driver's license.

The two previously had joint custody of their sons, and Federline was seeking a greater share of custody. After he got temporary custody, Spears went to a motor vehicles department office and got a temporary driver's license.

Britney Spears Sued by Former Manager

The suit, filed in Florida on Monday and obtained by TMZ.com, states that Spears was obligated to continue paying Wright Entertainment Group for deals negotiated when Wright was her manager through 2008.

Spears, according to the suit, stopped paying commissions in 2006.

Wright Entertainment Group, which managed Spears from 1999-2003, is seeking in excess of $15,000 in damages.

Britney's Album Expected to Hit No. 1

The album, released on Tuesday, sold 124,000 copies on its first day, more than double that of the current chart-topper, Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride, in the same period. Spears's label, Jive/Zomba, expects the album to sell between 330,000 and 350,000 copies in its first week, which should easily propel it into the No. 1 slot, Billboard reports.

The 25-year-old pop star's last studio album, 2003's In the Zone, sold 609,000 copies in its first week.

Timed to her latest release, Spears has also overhauled her Web site at Britney.com. The new site – which features the slogan "It's Britney.com, b----! " at the top – features photos, videos, a "fan zone" and blog of Spears news.

Most of the blog entries are written by "BRITannica," who claims to be "literally an encyclopedia of Britney knowledge" and who encourages readers to send in suggestions for improving the site.

"Or just say 'hello,' " BRITannica writes. "I'm always looking for more friends who love Britney as much as I do..."

Criss Angel: Britney Pooped Out at VMAs

"Were you embarrassed for her?" Larry King, on his Tuesday night CNN show, asked Angel, who had helped Spears with her VMA number, "Gimme More" – for which she ended up roundly criticized.

"I understand what she goes through in her life – she lives under a microscope, and it's unbelievable to see – it's difficult to watch," answered Angel, 39.

"I really feel for her, I want the best for her, I want her to feel complete, and if she's happy with her performance I guess that's what matters," the Mindfreak mentalist said.

As for how his involvement with the troubled pop star came about, Angel explained, "I was asked by my manager, who was also managing her career for a short time, to help put something together."

As far as rehearsals went, "Everybody loved what we came up with, but it required a tremendous amount of work and dedication that Britney decided to not want to put forth and do something that she felt would be better suited for her," Angel said.

He also denied rumors that he and Spears had been romantically involved, and said that he's just "friends" with both Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton.

He did, however, cop to having dated Cameron Diaz whom he calls "an amazing human being" with a "heart of gold."

Tony Romo, Alli Sims Clear the Air on Britney Spears

Asked at a team press conference, "How do you respond to reports that you were with Britney Spears this weekend?" Romo broke out in a laugh and replied, according to ETonline: "I think [it] sometimes goes with this position. Being the quarterback ... you're at the same place with someone else and people just run with it now."

The NFL star also claimed he's no stranger to being gossip fodder. "It's happened a few times now, two or three times where people just say, 'You're dating whoever,' " he said, citing "Jessica Simpson last year, you know?

"So it's just the position, I guess, in some ways. And you just learn that and shake your head every once in a while and you move on."

Spears, 25, and Romo, 27, were briefly spotted together last weekend at the L.A. restaurant Ketchup, where Romo was having dinner, and then later with Spears's pal Alli Sims and some others at the Hollywood hotspot Les Deux.

Alli Disputes Romo Report

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE this week, Sims staunchly refuted some reports that Spears had performed a lap dance for Romo.

"The story is untrue," says Sims, 26. "Tony is a gentleman, and Britney wouldn't do that, especially to a good friend of mine."

Explaining their activities, Sims said, "We were all in a private area upstairs and sat down talking for most of the night, but did get up to dance a little."

As for claims that Spears pulled another infamous outfit change: "Not true," says Sims – though the pop star did leave her cell phone behind on the table, which they retrieved shortly after.

Britney Gets Visits, No Custody

Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon has ruled against reinstating Britney Spears' shared custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James, leaving the boys in the care of their father.

Gordon did grant the troubled pop mama two visits per week from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and one overnight visit. All of the visits are required to be overseen by a court-appointed monitor.

Spears and Federline were ordered to meet to work out a visitation schedule as well as a holiday schedule for their children.

In her continued challenge to prove herself a responsible parent, Spears was also ordered to submit evidence by Friday that she had child-proofed her homes and that her pool area complies with safety regulations.

Marking another defeat for Spears, the judge turned down her request to "terminate or modify" a court order requiring her to submit to twice-weekly random drug testing.

He ordered her to continue the tests for a 60-day period, after which, provided she tests clean, they will be reduced to once a week.

Spears was also ordered to continue meeting with her parenting coach Lisa Hacker once a week for two hours.

In her report on Spears' parenting skills, Hacker noted that the pop star seemed to have trouble connecting with her children, and that the boys had no routine while at their mother's home.

"The environment at the house ranged from chaotic to almost somber with little communication at all," Hacker wrote after observing Spears with her kids on three occasions.

"It seems that her choices are dependent more upon what she wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children."

Hacker noted that after she presented her initial findings to the court, she had an additional session with Spears during which the singer seemed much more attentive to her children.

"The problem is that unless Ms. Spears realizes the consequences of her behavior and the impact it has [on] her children, nothing is going to be successful," Hacker wrote.

A full child custody evaluation is underway, but lawyers for both sides told the judge it would not be completed until January.

Another custody hearing has been scheduled for April.

During last Friday's hearing, a visibly upset Spears exited the courtroom on several occasions to use the bathroom. Asked by an Extra reporter on one of those trips how she was doing, Spears responded, "Eat it, lick it, snort it, f--k it!" before storming back into the courtroom.

Apparently, she could already read the writing on the wall.

Britney Talks: "Sad How Cruel World Can Be"

The court-addled pop star acquiesced to a rare on-air chat with E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest on his Los Angeles radio show Wednesday morning in an effort to thank her fans for their support through both her personal and professional crises.

Unfortunately, Spears didn't quite make it to the grateful portion of the interview, instead bailing out on the phone conversation after a few faulty-connection minutes to hop in the shower.

Still, she did manage to shed some brief, flickering light on both the release of her so-called comeback album, Blackout, which dropped yesterday, as well as her ongoing custody battle with Kevin Federline.

"I try not to let it get to me," Spears told Seacrest of her unrelenting tabloid coverage. "You know, people talk. They say what they want at the end of the day. You just try to keep doing what you do. As long as you know what's true, that's all that matters."

On the ramped-up reports that she's a bad mother, Spears said she tries not to pay attention to the press.

"Like I said, people say what they want and do what they do. It's sad how cruel our world can be. At the end of the day, you just have to know in your heart that you're doing the best you can do."

As for whether Spears is doing the best she can with her boys, her answer is clear: "Oh God, yes."

Less clear, however, is what she anticipates in her custody case.

"That's, like, all in the court, my lawyers know all that stuff."

Still, it doesn't appear as though accompanying her boys on their trick-or-treating escapades qualifies as one of Spears' court-approved visitation nights, as friend and former assistant Alli Sims told Seacrest—after Spears abandoned the call to hop in the shower—that they and fellow Spears hanger-on Sam Lufti will instead spend the night going house-party-hopping.

Meanwhile, Spears also touched on her excitement over her new album, even though she celebrated its hyped-up release in a surprisingly low-key fashion.

"It was cool," she said. "It was kinda laid-back, really. We watched movies, that's about it. We ate Famous Amos cookies and fried chicken."

As for promotional plans for the album, Lufti, who was on conference call for the interview along with Spears and Sims, said, "This is it!"

And while Spears said she was happy with the record, namechecking "Heaven on Earth" as her favorite track, she said "Gimme More's" now infamous "It's Britney, bitch" refrain was not her idea.

"Oh God. The producer told me to say that, I didn't do it. And that's how it came about."

"Piece of Me," meanwhile, may very well be devoted to her detractors.

"Wherever you go, there's a lot of people who ask questions. You don't know their intentions and stuff. It's just a kinda cute, clever way of putting it out there. It's a cute song, I like it."

Co-Author: Lynne Spears's Book to Shed New Light

"It's the truth, but it's based in love," the Michigan-based Lorilee Craker, co-author of Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, tells her local paper, the Grand Rapids Press.

Craker, 39, considers Lynne, 52, "a mother and a grandmother to her core. She loves her children and her grandchildren [Spears's sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1] with just enormous devotion."

Spears and Craker's 200-page memoir is to be published next Mother's Day by the Nashville-based Christian book publisher, Thomas Nelson. Craker, herself the mother of three, describes it as less a tell-all and more of a mom's perspective on having a child who is thrust into the public's eye.

'A Wonderful Person'

"Lynne, first of all, is a wonderful person. She is one of the kindest, most decent people, and very down-to-earth," says Craker. "People would be amazed at how normal she is, but she's living in this sort of surreal life at the same time."

Craker reportedly speaks to Lynne Spears regularly on the phone, and says, "One thing I do want to make clear is that she's not a stage mom. People are so accusatory toward her and so judgmental of her, and it just drives me crazy because I know the real her."

With several parenting books already to her credit, according to her own Web site, Craker has been working on the memoir with Lynne since March and also met with Spears's daughter Jamie Lynn, 16, who stars on Nickelodeon's Zoey 101, reports the Press.

The paper makes no mention of her having met with Britney, 25.

Can 'Blackout' beat Britney's bad press?

"Another day, another debacle" might have been a more apropos lyric. In just a year's time, Spears has become the ultimate case study for the "When Celebs Go Bad" file. She's been an out-of-control party girl, landed in rehab, lost temporary custody of her two young sons, given a horrendous performance on live TV and gotten herself arrested.

But despite her litany of woes, "Blackout," due out Tuesday, may be the one positive note in an otherwise dreadful year. So far, it's earned her a Top 10 single (with "Gimme More") and some of the best reviews she's had in ages.

Could "Blackout" be the break Britney needs? Industry insiders, fans and some critics are saying "yes."

"One of the problems for Britney right now is the public is more focused on her personal life than her music. This record is an opportunity to change that," says Rolling Stone executive editor Joe Levy, who called the album "state of the art."

"A lot of people are tired of hearing about the negative stuff going on in her personal life and they'll gravitate to the new sound she's putting out," says Nate "Danja" Hills, who produced five songs on dance-focused "Blackout."

"This is a rebirth. It's a new musical chapter for her," he says.

Spears' musical past is already the stuff of legend. She was 16 when she put out her first album, "... Baby One More Time," in 1999. Fueled by title track, which had the teen crooning the refrain "hit me baby one more time," the album sold more than 14 million copies in the United States and made her an international superstar. She's released three multiplatinum studio albums since then, had best-selling tours, several hit singles and starred in a movie (the less-than-successful 2002 flick "Crossroads").

But Spears, who turns 26 in December, hasn't released an album of original material since 2003's "In the Zone." Since then, she's been relegated to the tabloid realm of celebrity, in danger of rivaling Michael Jackson in freak-show status.

Still, Junior Sanchez of Los Angeles, a 21-year-old college student, says the singer's woes make him "feel more attached to her."

"I can really tell she's going through a lot of bad stuff right now," he says. "Her real fans don't care about her personal life. We care about her music and the way she performs."

Though Sanchez was "really disappointed" with Spears' appearance at MTV's Video Music Awards, he eagerly sought leaks of her new album online and says he likes what he's heard so far.

"It's one of her best, I honestly think," he says. "I'm ready to buy her records and I'm ready to buy tickets to her concert."

Sanchez isn't alone.

"Gimme" was the top-selling digital song on the week of its release, and Spears losing custody of her two toddlers a week later didn't slow sales.

Fans remain loyal despite the drama, says Jerry Del Colliano, a music-industry professor at University of Southern California.

"Look at her single sales," he says. "She couldn't have been through a darker time. She embarrassed herself on television, she was ridiculed by bloggers and still she was No. 1."

However, "Gimme" topped out at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and, after seven weeks, has dropped to No. 13.

Still, marketing consultant Ryan Schinman, president of Platinum Rye Entertainment, said: "I'd be shocked if this didn't go platinum."

"It certainly doesn't help that she can't promote this properly, but she doesn't need that much promotion," he adds. "You can't get more out there than she's been out there. (The album) is going to sell. People are curious because they know what a train wreck she's been."

It may help Spears that her club-friendly sound appeals to an older audience rather than the teens and tweens she originally courted, says Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's senior analyst and director of charts: "If kids were still a huge part of her album base, the nefarious publicity would be more troublesome."

"Blackout" features 12 thumping dance tracks crafted by top pop and hip-hop producers including Bloodshy & Avant (who produced Spears' 2004 Grammy-winning hit, "Toxic") and Danja, the beatmaster behind Spears' single "Gimme More."

Danja, a Timbaland protege who already scored hits with Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, says he was "excited" to work with Spears and expects people to support the album, which has a "hard-hitting, dark and sexy vibe."

Jive Records, Spears' label since her debut, has remained mostly mum about the pop star. Jive officials declined to discuss why the album's release date was changed (it was originally set for Nov. 13), how many more albums are in Spears' contract, or the marketing challenges involved with promoting the troubled singer.

"As Britney's label, it's not our place to comment on her personal issues, but we do care about her and support her," label spokesman Allan Mayer said in a recent statement. "Britney's a grown woman who makes her own choices, and we respect that. But she faces challenges that most of us can't really imagine."

Spears Shocks Courtroom With Bizarre Outburst

The singer and her ex-husband Kevin Federline were appearing at Los Angeles Superior Court early on Friday afternoon to testify at the latest hearing in the custody battle over their two children.

Spears was given permission to see her sons this weekend but not before storming out of the hearing yelling, "Eat it! Lick it! Snort it! F**k it!"

Britney Spears' music rises above the personal noise

Blackout, the singer's first studio album since 2003, arrives in stores Tuesday, and she still seems to have retained some of the popularity that fueled four No. 1 albums that have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide.

Despite tabloid reports about her marriages and divorce, rehab stints, weight gain, driving mishaps and child custody problems, the 25-year-old singer's latest single, Gimme More, is a sales hit. It topped Nielsen SoundScan's digital songs chart earlier this month and is now No. 8, having sold a solid 527,000 copies in four weeks.

"You almost have to throw out the rule book when you evaluate her," says Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts. "You might think the attention she's gotten doesn't bode well, but the first single has been well received."

The track initially was strongly embraced by mainstream top-40 radio stations, but it peaked at No. 17 and falls to No. 22 this week. Mayfield says it could become a dance hit but isn't likely to gain footing in other major formats.

Spears sold nearly 20 million copies of 1999's … Baby One More Time and 2000's Oops! … I Did It Again, but nobody does those numbers anymore. Even the 2 million sold by 2003's In the Zone would be a good showing in this era of digital track downloads and dwindling album sales.

Still, Barry Weiss, president and CEO of Jive Records' parent Zomba Label Group, is bullish about the album's prospects, based on Gimme More's download sales. He says that it's hard to predict how an artist who has been off the market for four years will fare but that the album's high-energy dance/pop is what her fans expect.

"The sound is a maturation from her prior albums," Weiss says. "In the Zone hinted in this direction, and this album fulfills that promise.

"With so much noise out there about her, we are trying to keep the focus on the music as much as possible."

He says Spears "will do her part" in promoting the album, but the company will be "very selective" about what she's asked to do.

The 12-track Blackout is produced largely by Timbaland protégé Nate "Danja" Hills and the Swedish duo Bloodshy & Avant, who helmed her Grammy-winning hit Toxic.

Stephen Lenz, editor of AOL Music's PopEater and a contributor to the blog's Britneywatch, says Spears is the site's third-most-searched-for artist and Gimme More is the fourth-most-watched video. The comments he sees there (music.aol.com/popeater) are evenly split between forever-faithful fans and those disaffected by her antics.

He's not sure how that will translate into album sales, but that may not matter. "She's got her money. The point is to stay relevant. She's really feeding this machine, but it's a Catch-22. She needs to stay in the public eye, but stay out of trouble."

Britney Spears Parties with Tony Romo

The pop star, dressed in a masquerade ball mask, and Sims, first made a quick stop at the L.A. restaurant Ketchup where Romo was having dinner.

"[Spears] walked around the restaurant into the lounge where she met up with some people," an observer tells PEOPLE. "She didn't eat or drink …[It] seemed like she was rounding up people to go to [out]. She was very friendly and smiley, in and out."

Another source says, "Alli was meeting up with Tony and his friends at Ketchup and Britney wanted to come along. Tony and Alli have been good friends. They've known each other for a little over a year. "

Later, Romo met up with Sims, Spears and other pals at the Hollywood hotspot Les Deux where they hung out for a friendly low-key night upstairs.

Spears was "sitting with her friends and Tony. Everyone was just hanging out. Brit was upbeat, really seemed fine."

The following night, perhaps in a nod to her friend Romo, a source says "Sims even playfully dressed as a quarterback for Ryan Cabrera's costume party on Saturday night."

Church organizes support for Britney

"Take a few minutes and write a note to Britney Spears," pastor John Weece said in a sermon and in a blog on the church Web site. "No preaching. No criticizing. Just love. As a church, let's love Britney the way Jesus loves her."

Weece said the idea came as he watched repeated reports of Spears' reported problems with drugs and alcohol and the loss of custody of her children.

"If she were your next-door neighbor in the same situation without the money and success, wouldn't you care about her problems? Wouldn't you pray for her and offer her support and encouragement?" he asked members of the church.

Cindy Willison, the church's director of communications, was still collecting the letters on Friday and looking for the best way to get them directly to Spears.

"This is an opportunity for us to reach out to someone who probably doesn't have a lot of people in her life that care for her as a person," Willison said.

Renée Zellweger: I Can Empathize With Britney

"What people don't understand is that [the photographers] didn't just run into Britney that day," she tells Extra. "It's like having someone jump on your back in the morning and stay with you until you go to bed at night. And even then, hovering over your pillow and taking photographs. ... I defy anyone to try to keep it all together all the time under those circumstances."

The Oscar winner, who voices a main character in the new Bee Movie, told Reader's Digest in its latest issue that she left L.A. for New York to escape that kind of harassment. She elaborates further in the Extra interview.

"There's the biological element that you don't consider," Zellweger, 38, says. "Being hunted. Literally hunted. And they don't follow the rules just because the light's red. And they won't stop."

Zellweger hit her own breaking point, and took refuge in New York City and Connecticut. "Rather than live it and not be content, I'll just go," she decided. "And if it comes here, I'll just keep going."

Spears, Federline child custody remains in doubt

"We don't know what the custody arrangement will be until we get the court's order on Monday," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said after a more than three-hour hearing before Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who will make the ruling.

The hearing was closed to the media but various reports had Spears either straight-faced, crying or cursing during bathroom breaks.

Spears' attorney, Anne Riley, left the courtroom saying only "we're very pleased" with the outcome of Friday's hearing and telling reporters Britney felt "fantastic."

Kaplan said he had not yet had a chance to talk with Federline.

Spears, whose behavior in the past year has made her a constant tabloid covergirl, arrived at court in a black dress, boots and sporting sunglasses. Federline wore a gray suit.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, split a year ago and have been waging a legal battle for their two sons. In recent weeks, Gordon has ruled the children should stay with Federline and offered limited visitation for Spears.

Gordon ordered both to seek counseling and hire a parenting coach and said Spears would have to undergo random drug and alcohol testing after finding she had shown "habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol."

Since then, she has lost and regained visitation rights to her 1- and 2-year-old sons while struggling to adhere to Gordon's orders.

SPEARS' DOWNWARD SPIRAL

The pop diva, who rose to stardom on the Disney Channel as a child, built a loyal following in the late 1990s and early 2000s mostly among young girls. She had hit albums such as "... Baby One More Time" and "Oops! ... I Did It Again."

But as a young adult Spears began hitting the nightclub circuit in Hollywood and partying with the likes of other young celebrities like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

Following her break-up with Federline, Spears' life seemed to spiral out of control. She spent time in drug and alcohol rehab, shaved her head, clashed with paparazzi and become the fodder for jokes after being photographed in public without wearing underwear.

On Thursday, a judge dismissed an automobile hit-and-run case against her after she settled with the owner of the car she hit, and she pleaded not guilty to a lesser charge of driving without a license.

But her singing career appears to be rebounding with a recent single, "Gimme More," that is topping digital download charts, and a new album "Blackout," set for release October 30.

Meanwhile, as Spears and Federline fought in court on Friday, a publisher said the pop star's mother is writing a book about parenting.

Religious publisher Thomas Nelson said it will publish "Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World," by Lynne Spears. Nelson spokesman Curt Harding said the book, to be out next spring, will be about Lynne Spears' raising three children and will have a religious element.

Billboard CD review

Britney's Video Blackout

At a hearing Friday, the singer's lawyer, Thomas Dunlap, successfully argued that Spears' pending deposition in her custody battle with Kevin Federline should not be videotaped for posterity, given the risk of "undue embarrassment" for his client if the material were leaked onto the Internet.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled in Dunlap's favor, after initially pointing out that much of the publicity the legal eagle hopes to avoid for Spears is contradicted by her behavior in public.

Federline's lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan had argued that the session should be videotaped because of the importance of Spears' demeanor while giving the deposition.

Words alone, he said, do not always tell the full story when it comes to Spears.

"Yes could be no, and green could be black," Kaplan said.

Though Gordon ultimately ruled against Kaplan, he did grant the attorney's request to have two experts present during the deposition to evaluate Spears' testimony.

No date has been set for the deposition to take place, much to Kaplan's apparent frustration.

"I ask the court to please order [Spears] to show for deposition," Kaplan said. "We've been trying for almost one year."

He said he had asked Spears' legal team "on four occasions" to schedule the deposition, which could stretch over several days.

Deposing Spears represents a key part of Kaplan's strategy to gather sufficient evidence to convince the court that Federline should retain custody of the ex-couple's sons. He has already completed depositions of several Spears associates, including her former manager Larry Rudolph, close pal Alli Sims and a onetime bodyguard.

Spears and Federline were due to face off in court later in the day Friday, with Spears' attorney expected to argue that the embattled pop star should regain shared custody of her sons, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James.

Federline currently has full custody of the boys, though Spears is allowed to visit, provided a court-appointed monitor is present at all times.

Report: Britney's Mom to Pen Tell-All Book

Having only recently reconciled with troubled popstar Britney, 26, Spears – also mom to actress Jamie Lynn, 16 – has inked a book deal with publisher Thomas Nelson, according to Publishers Marketplace.

Publishers Marketplace describes the book as "Lynne Spears's personal story of raising high-profile children while coming from a low-profile Louisiana community." The book is set to be published in spring 2008.

Thomas Nelson also publishes Bibles, inspirational (Christian) books and some celebrities' work including Bill Cosby, according to Gawker.com, who first reported the deal.

Lynne and Britney had a falling out back in June, when Britney delivered an upsetting letter to her mother following months of erratic behavior and a brief stay in rehab.

Spears-Federline custody case to resume

At a late-morning hearing, Spears' lawyer was expected to argue that the pop star has complied with court orders and should regain the shared custody she lost earlier this month.

The singer and her ex-husband were expected in court later in the day.

Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who has said there is evidence Spears is a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of drugs and alcohol, withdrew approval for her to even visit the children after finding she had failed to comply with some conditions for shared custody.

He later withdrew the ban and allowed her to visit Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1 — but only in the presence of a court-approved monitor.

The order by Gordon was tough and unambiguous.

Spears was to undergo random drug and alcohol tests and meet weekly with a parenting coach who would report back to the court about her parenting skills. Spears and Federline also were prohibited from making derogatory remarks about each other in their children's presence and from using "corporal punishment" to discipline them.

Both parents also were ordered to complete the court's "Parenting Without Conflict" class.

The custody fight has played out on a public stage, with paparazzi and celebrity Web sites reporting on the former couple's every move — including sightings of Spears driving with her sons and a monitor in Beverly Hills.

On Thursday, another Spears lawyer entered a not guilty plea for her on a misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid driver's license.

Michael Flanagan said Spears recently obtained a California license and he hoped the charge would be dismissed.

At the same hearing, a Superior Court judge dismissed a hit-and-run charge stemming from an Aug. 6 accident. Flanagan said his client had paid an undisclosed amount to the woman whose car the star hit in a Studio City parking lot.

Surprise! Britney's new CD a triumph

Just when it seemed safe to write off Britney Spears as a punch line only capable of entertaining people through tabloid escapades, she goes and gets all musically relevant on us.

"Blackout," her first studio album in four years, is not only a very good album, it's her best work ever — a triumph, with not a bad song to be found among the 12 tracks.

Granted, a Spears rave should be put in its proper context — it's not like we're talking Bob Dylan here. Spears is a lightweight singer who only flourishes when she has great songs and great producers to supplement her minimal vocal talent.

But when she has that help, she's fierce. And she gets that boost on every single track on "Blackout," a sizzling, well-crafted, electro-pop dancefest that should return her to pop's elite.

This is a shocker, given all the lowlights Spears has given us this year. From her embarrassing MTV Video Music Awards performance to her bizarre public antics to allegations that she's an irresponsible parent, Spears has been a walking disaster. It seems amazing that she even found her way to a recording studio, let alone did anything of value while in it.

But Spears emerges on "Blackout" as the antithesis of her tabloid persona — confident, sensual, and in control.

"I got my eye on you," she coos on one of the album's best tracks, "Radar," a sexy techno groove that you can't help but bounce to — a feeling that permeates all of "Blackout's" tracks. You won't find any saccharine ballads or fluffy pop on this disc — it's all about generating heat on the dance floor (and if Spears has shown us anything in the last year, it's that she knows how to party).

On the aptly titled "Freakshow," produced by Danja (who worked on Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds"), Spears gets voyeuristic with a tantalizing promise to get wild in the club. The hypnotic "Get Naked (I Got A Plan)," also produced by Danja, features Spears breathlessly asking, "What I gotta do to make you move my body" before demanding, "take it off, take it off, take it off."

It's not all about grinding to the music, though. On rock-tinged "Piece of Me," produced by Bloodshy & Avant, she defiantly addresses her critics: "I'm Mrs. Bad Media Karma, another day another drama ... I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I'm Mrs. 'Oh My God That Britney's Shameless.'" And on the slow-burn, Neptunes-produced "Why Should I Be Sad," the album's last track, she cops to heartbreak but refuses to let it get her down, a rare vulnerable moment.

Listening to "Blackout" is not only an energetic release, it's also a relief: No, Spears hasn't completely lost it, and yes, her career has a flicker of fire left — actually much, much more. But with all the damage Spears has done and continues to do to her public image, will anyone outside her core fan base (and who knows what that consists of these days) care anymore?

This album is the first, great step in making that happen.

Britney's Hit-and-Split Case Dead Ends

A misdemeanor count of hit-and-run was tossed Thursday, exactly one week after the 25-year-old beleaguered pop reached a deal with the owner whose car Spears dinged up in a Studio City parking lot.

The charge, one of two misdemeanors Spears faced from the Aug. 6 incident, was dismissed after Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Susan Speer was informed of the cash settlement by Spears attorney Michael Flanagan. Spears paid roughly $1,000 to cover the fender-bender.

She faced one count each of hit-and-run and driving without a valid license stemming from the crash.

Speer declined to drop the latter charge, however, and Flanagan entered a not guilty plea on Spears' behalf. Because it is a misdemeanor case, the "Gimme More" purveyor's presence was not required in the Van Nuys courthouse.

Spears has since obtained a license—on the order of the commissioner overseeing her ongoing custody case—and Flanagan and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office are attempting to work out a plea agreement.

Flanagan says prosecutors want to place Spears on a year's probation for her driving indiscretion. Should she receive any sort of citation during that time, be it speeding, driving with her kids on her lap or running over paparazzi limbs, it would constitute probation violation and Spears could receive jail time.

Flanagan, however, is less than keen on the offer.

"She got a license, she has insurance, has always had insurance," Flanagan said outside the courtroom. "The question is: Is probation really necessary?"

Owens ordered Flanagan back in court on Nov. 26. That's the same day Spears is due to appear in her custody case for a progress hearing on her parenting classes.

Spears' bang-up job came as she attempted to maneuver her black Mercedes-Benz out of the parking lot of a Studio City vitamin store. With requisite paparazzi in tow, Spears dented a parked black Benz, got out to survey the damage and ultimately took off, leaving nary a note. But there was plenty of photographic evidence that she was to blame for the smash.

The owner of the car, Kim Robard-Rifkin, filed a police report against Spears a few days after the incident.

Last Monday, the beleaguered pop star was formally booked on both charges at the Van Nuys police station, getting photographed and fingerprinted, though not cuffed, before getting released 45 minutes later.

Spears' arraignment was originally scheduled to take place on Oct. 10, but Flanagan had the hearing postponed so he could broker a settlement with Robard-Rifkin to bolster his case for getting the charges dropped.

Meanwhile, Spears still has a fair share of billable hours in her never-ending custody case with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

The ex-fun couple made good on a court order Wednesday, appearing together at a Parenting Without Conflict course at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Both were ordered by Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon to attend the program. The class lasts six sessions and is designed to teach cooperative parenting and communication skills to its participants. Among the highlights: learning to make "polite requests."

Federline, 29, and Spears are required to have attended three sessions by Friday, when they are due back in court for a progress review. That means the dynamic duo will no doubt be back at the hotel for another session later Thursday.

In addition to the joint parenting counseling, Spears has also been ordered to undergo three individual sessions to "address parenting issues."

Friday's court hearing will also feature the official results of a parenting coach's evaluation of Spears' mothering abilities. The report isn't expected to be pretty, with Spears and the coach having clashed during their meetings.

Spears is attempting to gain more custody of her sons, two-year-old Sean Preston and one-year-old Jayden James.

PEOPLE's Britney Review: Three Stars for Blackout

"Gimme More," the panting first single, was just a tease, because there are better – if not exactly bolder – tracks, like "Toy Soldier," with its fun simulated snare drums, and the cool, T-Pain-assisted "Hot as Ice" (one of five cuts produced by Timbaland protégé Nate "Danja" Hills).

Only two songs, though, really offer any insight into her well-documented struggles: the media-blasting "Piece of Me" and the K-Fed kiss-off "Why Should I Be Sad," which, after 11 cuts of nonstop partying, leaves you facing the melancholy morning after.

Britney Spears's Latest Court Date

The singer is not required to show up in person.

Spears's attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, says that Kim Robard-Rifkin, who owns the 1999 Mercedes-Benz station wagon that Spears hit on Aug. 6 in a San Fernando Valley parking lot, has been compensated approximately $1,000 for the incident. He expects the hit-and-run charge to be dropped.

Still to be resolved is the other offense of driving without a valid Calif. license (the pop star eventually got her license on Oct. 2). If convicted, she likely faces a probation term and fines.

Britney throws a few sparks on 'Blackout'

The notorious party girl's first studio album in four years is wall-to-wall club-bangers, thanks to the pulsating beats and production board wizardry of Timbaland protégé Nate "Danja" Hills and her Toxic collaborators Bloodshy & Avant. Spears does her part by brashly slinking over the rhythms with sexy promises to "turn the heat up."

Though her voice is mostly awash in synthesizers and vocoders, her sass and attitude are the driving force. She sets the tone by declaring, "It's Britney, bitch!" at the beginning of album opener and lead single Gimme More, and she shows that she isn't sweating people's opinions. But songs like that also show how hard it is to separate Britney the singer from Britney the celebrity.

She fires back at the media for its fascination with her life's minutiae on Piece of Me. Spears derides the press for putting "pictures of my derriere in the magazine" and portraying her as "Mrs. Oh My God That Britney's Shameless." Elsewhere, she takes any guy she sees as a Toy Soldier, though a turned-on Spears wants things "hot, hot, hot" on Break the Ice.

Spears needs to keep it grimy, because the alternative is a numbing blandness that makes you think too long about head-scratcher lines such as Heaven on Earth's "I fall off the edge of my mind." She comes off much better when she's in lust than in love.

She takes her time venting about ex-husband Kevin Federline on the midtempo, Neptunes-produced Why Should I Be Sad. The two obviously have plenty to work out in court, but she seems determined to live on her own terms. "It's time for me to move along," she sings. "I'm tired of singing sad songs."

The best thing about Blackout is that it makes no pretense about showcasing her vocal prowess with warbled ballads. For Britney, hitting the high notes means getting you into the groove so you can get into her. You can move your feet or just move on.

>>;Download:Gimme More, Piece of Me, Get Naked (I Got a Plan), Hot As Ice

>>;Skip: Freakshow, Heaven on Earth,

Britney Spears Begins Parenting Program

Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is reportedly at the hotel as well.

Although the program strongly urges that parents take the course together, it is not mandatory. The program, which lasts six sessions, teaches cooperative parenting and communication skills.

It is one of many requirements that L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ordered the pop star to complete.

Both Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, are required to show in court Friday for a progress review.

By then, they must have completed at least three sessions together of their joint co-parenting counseling, which is also being held at a hotel, the source says.

Spears must also have completed three individual counseling sessions "to address parenting issues."

As of now, Federline retains physical custody of sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. Spears has monitored visitation rights.

'Gimme More'

Britney set for "Blackout" hit despite herself

Over the past year the one-time Mouseketeer shaved her head, spent time in rehab, went through an ugly divorce, lost custody of her children and attacked a photographer's car.

And in an odd habit yielding endless tabloid references to the title of her biggest album -- "Oops!... I Did It Again" -- she kept getting photographed without her underwear.

Now Spears is hoping that the release of "Blackout," her first studio album in four years on October 30, will revive her reputation. The album has already produced "Gimme More," which topped U.S. digital charts and critics expect a hit.

But some critics who have heard her latest opus say the album's likely success has little to with her abilities and more to do with the producers.

The New York Daily News noted all the "studio trickery" made her sound like a "Brit-Bot" machine.

"If a blow-up sex doll could sing, this is what she'd sound like," wrote Jim Farber. "In terms of studio trickery, Paris Hilton's album was practically 'unplugged' compared to this."

"How wonderful it is that, in the world of slick pop, even if stars can't deliver, the machine behind them still can," he said, adding that her personal woes don't mean "Britney Spears can't turn up on some slammin' new songs."

The Times of London said that Spears should "take a certain amount of pleasure in the fact that 'Blackout' coheres far better than sprawling recent sets by fellow Mickey Mouse Club alumni Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera."

But reviewer Pete Paphides added "certain songs wouldn't have sounded too different if her vocal were totally erased."

EMBRACING LIFE!

A Jive Records press release reveals the album's title refers to "blocking out negativity and embracing life fully."

And the lyrics make clear references to her life. In one song, she sings "I'm Miss bad media karma/Another day another drama/Guess I can't see no harm in working and being a mama."

Spears is due to appear at a Los Angeles court hearing on Friday over the custody of her kids. She and ex-husband Kevin Federline have been locked in a bitter custody battle over their kids as Spears' life has seemed to veer out of control despite a stint in drug and alcohol rehab.

Geoff Mayfield, director of charts at Billboard, said Spears' album could debut at No. 1 with sales of between 200,000 and 300,000, well down on the more than 600,000 copies sold of previous album "In the Zone" during its first week. The 2003 album contained the Grammy-winning song "Toxic."

Spears' first-week sales peaked at more than one million for her second album, 2000's "Oops!... I Did It Again," he said.

"Most artists are selling less than they did before just because the album market is down," he said. "She's not immune to that and she's already seen an erosion of her sales from what she did when she was a teen pop star."

"Even without the adverse publicity that she's had to weather I would have expected her to have a smaller number."

According to Nielsen SoundScan data, year-to-date U.S. album sales are down 14.2 percent in 2007 compared to 2006 as the industry grapples with the rise of digital music.

Michael Musto, entertainment columnist for New York's Village Voice, said that while he is yet to hear "Blackout" he has high hopes for it "because it is what she does best," although he did acknowledge that her "voice is one of many elements that are put together in a record by other people."

"It's a good time for her to come out with this and say 'look I am an artist on some level and I'm not just a walking train wreck'," he said.

Jive is a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG.

Boycotting Britney

"Our message is simple," says one of the organizers of the Be Proactive to Help Website. "Don't buy her stuff until she's better."

The MySpace-based page was created by people who used to work with Britney, including a bodyguard, backup dancer and makeup artist, as well as several old friends.

"We've all hung out with Britney a lot," says our source. "We've seen her at her best and at her worst. And we aren't doing this to be mean. We're doing this out of concern, for herself and for her boys. They need a mother figure and right now, they don't have that."

The group accuses record executives and other business associates who make money off of Spears as acting as enablers, turning a blind eye to her erratic behavior because she continues to make them money.

"They can see she's in pain, and they don't care," says the former associate.

There was no immediate comment from Jive Records, which plans on releasing Spears' new album, Blackout, Oct. 30.

In the past two months, Spears gave a train-wreck performance of her new single "Gimme More" at the MTV Video Music Awards, was dropped by her lawyer and manager and has been routinely lambasted by a court commissioner, who labeled her a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of drugs and booze and temporarily took her kids away.

The new site, boasting the Heroes-channeling headline "Save the Popstar, Save the World," urges fans to contact Jive, MTV, her management team and her music publishing house.

"Let them know you'll buy her album, but not until she is clean and sober and realizes the amazing life she has created for herself...

"Let them know you'll be around to buy her music, her merchandise, when she sets a better example of how to be a performer...It is every employer's job to make sure their staff is doing their job to the best of their abilities."

Spears caused some grief in the Jive ranks when she no-showed at two auditions for backup performers. Spears was supposed to personally choose the hoofers for her next music video and upcoming tour but failed to turn up at the L.A. dance studio."She kept saying she was sick, but then the paparazzi would catch her out and about, smiling and buying latte drinks at Starbucks," an insider tells E! Online.

Staffers at the studio say word was sent to Spears, from her label, to get back to work.

"They say that," the former Spears colleague says. "But in reality, they let her act any way she wants, as long as her records sell. Every time she's on a tabloid for embarrassing herself or being a bad mom, what do they care? They don't.

"And it's sad that people around Britney care so little about someone who makes them so much money."

Reviewer: Britney Sings Like an Inflatable Robot Doll

"She comes off like some machine that bleeps and bloops out an airy array of oohs, ahhs and groans," Jim Farber writes in the New York Daily News. "If a blowup sex doll could sing, this is what she'd sound like."

Farber adds: "In terms of studio trickery, Paris Hilton's album was practically Unplugged compared to this."

Still, maybe that's not completely a bad thing. Farber says the album, Blackout, which hits stores Oct. 30, certainly has its fun moments.

"She may no longer dance with flair, lip-sync on cue, keep her dress down, or even be judged a suitable mom, but Britney Spears can still turn up on some slammin' new songs," he writes.

The album is comprised of "wall-to-wall electro-fueled club cuts," Farber writes, and Spears "spends most of the CD in a state of erotic mania." And she does, as PEOPLE reported last week, use ex-husband Kevin Federline for lyrical inspiration on the track "Why Should I Be Sad."

The lyrics on that song include: "My friends said you would play me/but I just said they're crazy/while I was crying frantic/was it true?"

Despite his misgivings, Farber offers what sounds like a qualified endorsement of the record: "Think about this: How wonderful it is that, in the world of slick pop, even if stars can't deliver, the machine behind them still can."

Britney Spears Regains Visitation Rights

The singer on Saturday was spotted driving with her children in Studio City, Calif., in her white Mercedes convertible, which was decorated with pumpkins on the dashboard.

A presumed court-appointed monitor was seated in the front seat, with her sons in the rear.

On Wednesday, L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon had temporarily suspended her visitation rights. A source close to Spears told PEOPLE the judge removed her rights after the pop star was unreachable by a cell phone designated for court-related scheduling.

On Thursday, Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said he expected Spears would get visitation reinstated soon because "she has complied with the part of the order [causing the suspension]."

Lawyers for both sides did not respond to calls for comment.

Spears and Federline are both required to show up for their next hearing on Oct. 26.

We Hear...

Accident Victim: Britney's Personal Apology Unnecessary

But Kim Robard-Rifkin, whose car was damaged in the fender-bender last summer, says that wasn’t necessary.

Spears "has way more than enough problems right now," Robard-Rifkin told Access Hollywood.

Instead, Robard-Rifkin was content with Spears's offer to have her car repaired and to provide for a rental car in the meantime, as well as a telephone apology from Spears’s attorney.

A check "in the $1,000 range" was to be delivered to her on Monday, the pop star's attorney tells PEOPLE. Robard-Rifkin is owner of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz station wagon that Spears hit Aug. 6 in a San Fernando Valley parking lot with her Mercedes convertible.

Kevin's Lawyer: Britney Will Get Visitation Back Soon

"She has complied with the part of the order [causing the suspension]," Kaplan says. "I expect that visitation will be reinstated."

The document released Thursday stated, "[Spears's] visitation with the minor children is suspended pending [her] compliance with court orders."

A Spears source gave more insight into the decision, telling PEOPLE Spears was unreachable for court-related calls due to bad reception at her Malibu home. Despite repeated attempts to reach the singer on her cell phone, the source says Spears "waited" but "it never rang."

Kaplan, speaking to PEOPLE Thursday as he was leaving dinner at Katsuya restaurant in Brentwood, also confirmed that Britney and Kevin's 730 evaluations – which involve a third party assessing the quality of parenting and making observation-based recommendations regarding the final custody arrangement – have begun.

Therapy Sessions

As for the co-parenting therapy sessions she and Federline must attend together: "They are just about to do that."

This latest development follows an endless string of major and minor legal mandates including working with a parenting coach and submitting to random drug tests. After losing her custody temporarily on Oct. 1, Spears appeared and was granted one overnight visit a week with sons Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

According to a source, Spears is currently doing "fine."

Britney: Hit Him, Baby?

In her latest in a series of driving-related woes, the embattled pop princess appeared to run over the foot of a paparazzo Thursday while exiting a Beverly Hills medical building.

Video footage of the incident shows photographers swarming Spears' white Mercedes convertible as she tries to pull out of the garage.

She honks and lurches forward, and suddenly there are shouts, as the paparazzi are seen leaning over one of their own, whose foot apparently had an unfortunate up-close-and-personal encounter with Spears' tire.

According to a paparazzo who filmed the incident, Spears put her hand up to her mouth in shock and burst into tears, but drove away without stopping to check if the man was all right.

"She knew after he fell and he didn't back up, and he was just stuck at the front of the car," the lensman told Los Angeles' local ABC affiliate.

"From what I saw with my eyes, she went over it, and he pulled his foot out from the back of the tire."

Video showed a tire mark on one of the unidentified man's white socks, but he left the scene without comment, and Beverly Hills police said no report had been filed.

The incident occurred on the same day Spears reached a civil settlement in her hit-and-run case, stemming from her August fender bender.

The pop star was booked on the misdemeanor hit-and-run count on Tuesday, after she was formally charged in the case last month. However, the settlement—said to be in the $1,000 range—combined with the fact that she has finally acquired a valid California driver's license, could lead to the charges against her being dropped.

All in all, it's been a tough week for Spears.

On Wednesday, a court commissioner revoked her visitation rights with her sons, effective immediately after she apparently failed to comply with a court order.

"Petitioner's visitation with the minor children is suspended pending Petitioner's compliance with the court orders," Court Commissioner Scott Gordon said in his ruling.

According to sources close to Spears, she's devastated by the latest development in her custody battle.

"She's really upset," a source tells E! Online. "She keeps saying, 'I can't believe this is happening.' It's like she just can't accept what's happened."

However, things could be looking up for Spears, at least according to Kevin Federline's lawyer.

Attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said he's confident the singer will regain visitation rights with one-year-old Jayden James and two-year-old Sean Preston ahead of the next hearing in the case, which is scheduled for Oct. 26.

"She is getting in compliance," a rep for Kaplan confirmed to E! News, adding that "visitation will be reinstated" in the near future.

Britney Steers Toward Crash Settlement

Barely a day after the troubled pop star lost her visitation privileges with her two kids, her lawyer said that she has reached a civil settlement with the owner of the parked car she hit in August, a fender-bender that resulted in her being booked Tuesday for hit-and-run.

"It's approximately in the $1,000 range," attorney J. Michael Flanagan told People, adding that the amicable agreement, combined with the fact that Spears has finally acquired a California driver's license, could lead to the criminal charges against her being dropped.

The "Gimme More" purveyor was charged last month with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a valid state license, each of which carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Kim Robard-Rifkin, the owner of the 1999 Mercedes-Benz station wagon that Spears dinged up Aug. 6 in the parking lot of a Studio City vitamin store, told reporters at the time that she hoped the 25-year-old songstress would do the right thing and come forward.

But after Spears failed to get in touch, Robard-Rifkin filed a police report three days later.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ, which first reported the pending deal with Robard-Rifkin, that the hit-and-run charge could be dismissed if Spears made amends out of court.

Flanagan said that the other charge could be reduced to a traffic citation after Spears shows a judge proof that she's now licensed to drive. She's currently scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 25.

On Oct. 2, the day after she lost custody of her kids to ex-hubby Kevin Federline, Spears finally stopped by the Van Nuys Department of Motor Vehicles to be photographed and fingerprinted for her new California license.

Source: Britney "I Can't Believe This Is Happening"

It didn't take long for him to change his mind.

During a closed-door emergency hearing Wednesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon suspended Spears' visitation rights until she complied with his full custody order, which includes parenting sessions and random drug tests.

The decision has devastated the singer.

"She's really upset," a source close to Spears tells E! Online. "She keeps saying, 'I can't believe this is happening.' It's like she just can't accept what's happened."

A second source familiar with the ongoing custody tug-of-war tells E! Online Federline was so angry when the children came back to him after their last visit with Spears two days ago he vowed to do whatever it takes to keep his ex-wife from seeing their babies again until she cleans up her act.

"She just doesn't take parenting seriously," the Federline insider says. "And Kevin knows it. He keeps saying he's genuinely scared for their safety." And not even a court-ordered monitor has changed that.

"He knows that even with monitored visits, no one can make Britney do what she doesn't want to do," the source adds. "She's used to telling people what to do, pushing people out of her way. She's a hard woman to control."

Federline was convinced Spears wasn't living up to her maternal responsibilities after the kids came back to his house crying and surly.

"They came back to his house, and their eating schedule was off, their sleeping schedule was off, and they won't listen to him, because he knows they haven't been getting any discipline at her house," the Federline associate claims.

"He has to start all over, getting them settled again, calm them down and reintroduce them to their normal schedules. And it's frustrating for him. He's been tolerating this for a long time, but he thought maybe it would get better with a monitor involved. It hasn't."

During the last dropoff with the kids two days ago, eyewitnesses say Spears appeared to be in a very foul mood, even snapping at her brand-new assistant.

"She was walking very fast and then bitching because her new assistant wasn't walking fast enough to keep up," recounts the insider from the Federline camp. "She kept saying things like, 'Oh, come on! Will you hurry up?' And it just made the whole situation so tense for everyone."

Federline heard about how ill-tempered Spears seemed after the fact, because he doesn't go to the dropoffs himself, instead preferring to let security bring him the children.

"He just knows he can't see her, because she is so unapproachable, and he's afraid she'll get all bananas in front of the kids, like she used to when they were married," the K-Fed source says.

Federline is also concerned about the level of paparazzi attention to Spears' every move.

"When they were married, they had a dozen or so photographers following them around," the Federline insider continues. "But now, she's got this unmanageable horde around her all the time. Sometimes 50 or more people are all around her, and what kind of affect does that have on the kids? But Brit doesn't care anymore, she just acts like it's all so normal."

Federline turned to his lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, for help once again, asking him to look into how the monitored visits are going and whether Spears had been going to the parenting coach. She apparently had not. She also may have missed a drug test.

"So, Kevin wanted back in court right away to see about cutting off her visits," the Federline source explains.

The parenting coach is due to submit a report at the next hearing on Oct. 26, when Gordon may modify the custody arrangement yet again. Spears and Federline are both expected to attend.

Adds the K-Fed source: "Kevin believes it's the only way she'll start paying attention to her responsibilities, by making her feel the consequences of shirking them."

Britney's New Lyrics Reveal Heartbreak Over K-Fed

A source tells PEOPLE that "one of the most personal songs" in Spears's upcoming album Blackout, to be released Oct. 30, was written by singer-producer Pharrell Williams – and seems to make clear her feelings of betrayal.

Called "Why Should I Be Sad," the track makes references to money, cars – and other women. As Spears, 25, sings in one part of it: "It just seemed that Vegas/ Only brought the playa out of you."

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Hennessey Artistry concert in Los Angeles, Williams, 34, said of Spears: "At the end of the day she is a sweet person. She's just made a couple of decisions that none of us would necessarily agree with, but you try being that age and living under that kind of pressure. I wish her well. I pray for her. I hope she fares well throughout all of this craziness."

Says a source about "Why Should I Be Sad": "The song is definitely about Britney and Kevin's relationship when they were married. Britney entertains the idea that she stayed home taking care of the kids while Kevin was out partying. The track ... will be very revealing for her fans."

Britney Loses Visitation

The beleaguered singer suffered a major setback in her ongoing custody case with Kevin Federline, with the court commissioner rescinding her visits with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James effective immediately.

"Petitioner's visitation with the minor children is suspended pending Petitioner's compliance with the court orders," said Court Commissioner Scott Gordon. (View the court order)

In particular, the commissioner says he's waiting for a report from the court-sanctioned parenting coach.

Gordon dropped the hammer order during an emergency hearing Wednesday at Los Angeles Superior Court, taking away the privilege extended to the star last week of overnight visits with her boys.

The ruling came during an hourlong closed-door session, but was not made public until Thursday morning.

Neither Spears nor Federline appeared for Wednesday's summit, and their respective lawyers declined to discuss the proceedings upon exiting the courtroom.

"I can't comment," said Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, and their legal crews are due back in court Oct. 26, when the parenting coach's report is due.

Earlier this month, Gordon temporarily stripped Spears of physical custody of sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, and laid out several terms she must comply with, including random drug testing, counseling and completion of her California driver's licensing.

She passed two drug tests and got her license. Last week, she appeared before Gordon for the first time and made a personal appeal for increased visitation. The commissioner, with an okay from Kaplan, eased up on his restrictions and allowed her one overnight visit per week with the children, provided a court-appointed monitor is present.

Spears' hardworking legal team was also earning its paycheck earlier this week on another of the beleaguered pop star's pending court cases.

On Monday night, the "Gimme More" singer turned herself in at the Van Nuys police station to be booked on two misdemeanors stemming from an August hit-and-run. Accompanied by attorney Michael Flanagan, producer pal Sam Lufti and a loyal flock of paparazzi, Spears was fingerprinted, photographed and released.

Last week, Court Commission Rebecca Omens ordered her to undergo the process prior to her Oct. 25 hearing in the driving indiscretion. As the charges Spears faces in that case are only misdemeanors, she will not be required to appear in court.

Another Day, Another Britney Custody Hearing

Attorneys for the singer and Kevin Federline appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday morning for yet another unscheduled hearing in their ongoing custody case.

Court Commissioner Scott Gordon presided over the closed-door session, which lasted a little less than an hour. Neither Spears nor Federline appeared for the summit, and their respective lawyers declined to discuss the proceedings upon exiting the courtroom.

"I can't comment," said Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.

The minutes of the hearing have yet to be made public by the court.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, and their legal crews weren't supposed to be back in court until Oct. 26. That hearing remains on the docket.

Earlier this month, Gordon temporarily stripped Spears of physical custody of sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. But after hearing a personal appeal from Spears last week, Gordon eased up on his restrictions and allowed her one overnight visit per week with her boys, provided a court-appointed monitor is present.

Meanwhile, Spears' hardworking legal team was also earning their paychecks earlier this week on another of the beleaguered pop star's pending court cases.

On Monday night, the "Gimme More" singer turned herself in at the Van Nuys police station to be booked on two misdemeanors stemming from an August hit-and-run. Accompanied by attorney Michael Flanagan, producer pal Sam Lufti and a loyal flock of paparazzi, Spears was fingerprinted, photographed and released.

Last week, Court Commission Rebecca Omens ordered her to undergo the process prior to her Oct. 25 hearing in the driving indiscretion. As the charges Spears faces in that case are only misdemeanors, she will not be required to appear in court.

The Night Lance Stunned Britney

Spears Hits Another Car

The clumsy singer, who still faces a hit-and-run charge for leaving the scene of a parking lot prang in August without addressing the owner of a vehicle she hit, reversed into a paparazzi's car while trying to park on Saturday night.

Learning from her last accident, red-faced Spears tracked down the owner of the car she bumped, stating, "I'm stupid, I'm sorry... I'm a horrible driver."

She then joked, "Are you going to sue me or something?" but the forgiving snapper just shrugged off the incident and told Spears, who was wearing sunglasses on a dreary Los Angeles night, "not to worry".

Spears Turns Self In For Hit-and-run

Officer Mike Lopez said Spears turned herself in around 9 p.m. and left about 45 minutes later. Spears was fingerprinted and photographed, he said.

"She was fine, cooperative," Lopez said. "She did her business and came out."

Spears, 25, was wearing large designer sunglasses and a black turtleneck dress and jacket. As she left the station, she told KCAL-TV that all went smoothly.

"They were nice," she said of police. She told the station she was wearing the sunglasses because she had pinkeye.

The charges stem from an Aug. 6 wreck during which paparazzi filmed Spears steering her car into another vehicle as she tried to turn into a spot in a Studio City parking lot. The video showed her walking away after assessing the damage to her own car.

The owner of the other car, Kim Robard-Rifkin, filed a police report three days later.

Spears had been ordered to report for booking ahead of an Oct. 25 court appearance.

She has been spending considerable time dealing with legal issues lately. On Oct. 1, a court commissioner ordered her to temporarily relinquish custody of her two young sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline, citing concerns over Spears' drug and alcohol use.

She was in court last week to appeal the order and was granted one overnight stay a week with her boys, but the visits must be monitored.

Spears reduces involvement on new album

"Blackout," her first album in more than four years, will come out in the United States on October 30 via Jive Records, and a day earlier internationally. The street date was moved up two weeks because some tracks have been leaked online.

While pop singers of Spears' ilk usually leave the songwriting to the pros, she was credited on seven of the songs on 2003's "In the Zone," and five on 2001's "Britney."

For the current project, Spears enlisted 23 songwriters. She received credit on "Freakshow" and "Ooh Ooh Baby." The former marks a reunion with Swedish hitmakers Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, who co-wrote and produced "Toxic," the Grammy-winning tune from Spears' last album.

Karlsson and Winnberg, known professionally as Bloodshy and Avant, also co-wrote and produced the new tracks "Piece of Me," "Radar" and "Toy Soldier."

"Ooh Ooh Baby" was co-written by prolific songwriter Kara DioGuardi, another veteran from "In the Zone," who also co-produced the new song "Heaven and Earth."

Other major collaborators this time included Nate "Danjahandz" Hills on the first single "Gimme More," as well as "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)," "Hot As Ice" and "Perfect Lover."

Whereas "In the Zone" boasted such co-writers as Madonna, Moby, and R. Kelly, the biggest artists helping out on the new album are R&B singer T-Pain ("Hot as Ice") and Pharrell Williams ("Why Should I Be Sad").

Jive is a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG.

Shar Jackson Gives Britney a Bum Rap

Performing as Shar J on MTV's Celebrity Rap Superstar, Jackson gave a spirited performance on Thursday night of "Let It Blow," a rap she wrote herself.

With verse after verse extolling her many virtues, Jackson looked directly into the camera and rapped, "They should have had me open up at the VMAs!" – a sentiment that elicited screams of delight from the crowd.

Jackson, who has two children – Kori, 5, and Kaleb, 3 – with Federline, all but branded Spears a homewrecker in 2004, saying the pop princess had stolen her boyfriend of four years.

She has since maintained that she bears no ill will – toward Federline, at least. Jackson has even publicly praised his parenting skills.

On Celebrity Rap Superstar, the field has been narrowed to just the two finalists: Jackson and Kendra Wilkinson, one of Hugh Hefner's three live-in girlfriends on the E! reality series The Girls Next Door.

Following last night's show, viewers have until 11 p.m. Friday to vote by phone or text message for a winner.

Jackson has dabbled in music before, as part of the R&B group MPULZ, which contributed a track to the Princess Diaries soundtrack. She is better known as an actress, having played Niecy Jackson on the 1996-2001 UPN show Moesha.

Britney Spears's Track List Revealed

Britney's Label Spears Perez

Zomba Recording LLC, which is owned by Sony BMG, filed a federal copyright-infringement lawsuit Thursday against the online gossip purveyor, saying that over the past three months he illegally posted at least 10 new Britney Spears tracks, both completed cuts and unfinished demos, on perezhilton.com.

"The unauthorized dissemination of recordings is a serious violation of copyright law," said a Zomba spokesperson. "In addition, posting demos and unfinished songs as if they were final versions is grossly unfair to the artist and misleading to the public."

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, did not immediately comment on the allegations.

Of all the tunes intended for Spears' upcoming studio album, Blackout, only "Gimme More," which Spears infamously performed at the MTV Video Music Awards last month, has been given a legitimate release. The song's video officially premiered online Friday on iTunes (and on air Monday on TRL) but was leaked to YouTube days earlier.

Looking to avoid any more Internet poaching, Jive Records announced Wednesday it was bumping up Blackout's release date from Nov. 11 to Oct. 30.

"The label is doing everything possible to prevent and avoid any further illegal distribution of songs," the label said in a statement.

According to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Zomba, which owns the rights to Spears' tunes, is asking for unspecified real and punitive damages from Hilton, as well as legal costs. Spears is not a party to the action.

The embattled blogger is currently the target of several complaints, including a defamation suit filed in July by club deejay Samantha Ronson. The Lindsay Lohan pal claims Hilton and the Website CelebrityBabylon both falsely reported she had purposely left cocaine in the starlet's car in May, when Lohan was busted for DUI after a single-car accident.

Hilton said that his inclusion in the Ronson suit was "without merit and publicity seeking."

His attorney told a judge a few weeks ago that Hilton was merely commenting on an "issue of public interest" by suggesting that Ronson may have owned the cocaine found in Lohan's Mercedes.

Ronson's camp argued that perezhilton.com operates "10 levels below the National Enquirer" and that he didn't have qualms about reporting allegations that other news outlets wouldn't touch.

Hilton moved to dismiss the suit on grounds that it was filed to intimidate and quash his right to exercise free speech, but the court wants to know more.

Over the defense's objections, L.A. Superior Court Judge Elihu M. Berle on Wednesday granted a request from Ronson's lawyers to depose Hilton, directing them to limit their questioning to whether the plaintiff is a public figure, meaning there would be an extra burden on her part to prove that Hilton knowingly or recklessly published false statements about her.

Hilton's attorneys are arguing that Ronson, who admits to being in the car on May 26 when Lohan drove it into a curb on Sunset Blvd., willingly injected herself into the public eye by palling around with Lohan in the first place.

First on Ronson's list of offenders was Sunset Photo and News Agency exec Jill Ishkanian, who operates CelebrityBabylon. The complaint alleges that Ishkanian's site first defamed Ronson by reporting that she had planted drugs in Lohan's car and then made a monetary deal with the paparazzi to set up a shot of the actress looking completely out of it the night after the crash—all of which Ronson has denied.

"I am not now and have never been a drug user," she stated in an affidavit filed on her behalf on Sept. 13. "I have never handled or touched cocaine. I did not ever place any cocaine at any place at any time."

She also stated that she "never entered into any agreement with anyone, photograph agency or anyone, to tip them off to Lindsay Lohan's whereabouts."

According to her lawsuit, Hilton then posted the allegedly false items on his site on June 1, also writing that Ronson was "toxic" influence in Lohan's life and that he had taken to wearing a sweatshirt reading "Blame Samantha."

"What this defendant said was a total fabrication," Ronson's attorney, Martin Gabus, told Berle at a Sept. 26 hearing. "Everything here is made up."

A hearing on Hilton's dismissal request has been postponed until Nov. 1 to give Ronson's attorneys time to weigh the value of the gossip-slinger's deposition.

Meanwhile, Ishkanian's attorney, Maurice Wainer, told Berle that his client has reached a settlement agreement with Ronson, and Gabus said that the suit against the Sunset Photo boss, who has also agreed to print a retraction, was primed for dismissal.

Which would leave Hilton alone to face the elements, which have gotten harsher over the last couple years.

Celebrity photo agency X17 filed a $7.5 million copyright suit against him in November 2006 for using its pictures without permission, to which Hilton replied, "I believe at the core of my being that I'm not doing anything illegal or unethical. They have their points, and I have my points, so I guess the only way to decide this is through the legal system."

Then Universal City Studios Productions sued him in February for "misappropriating and illegally copying" a topless photo of Jennifer Aniston that was taken on, and then swiped from, the set of the 2005 comedy The Break-Up.

Attorney Bryan J. Freedman said in a statement at the time that his client's use of the pic for "commentary and satire" constituted fair use.

Spears makes personal plea for nights with sons

Spears, 25, caused a media frenzy when she arrived at court in jeans, a black satin top and sunglasses hours after the start of a hearing at which her lawyers had asked permission for the pop singer to spend nights with the boys.

It was the first time Spears had shown up for proceedings over the future of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. She lost custody of the boys last week to her ex-husband Kevin Federline after failing to comply with court orders for random drug and alcohol testing.

Spears had previously shared custody with Federline but is currently only allowed to see the boys during supervised daytime visits.

Dozens of photographers and camera crews swarmed Spears' white Mercedes as she arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court for the closed-door hearing. She left about an hour later without speaking to reporters. Federline was not present.

A Los Angeles Superior Court spokesman said the presiding judge gave Spears permission to spend one night a week with the boys under the supervision of a court monitor.

Before Spears' arrival, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon had said he saw no reason to change the terms of the child custody order.

Spears' lawyer said the singer wanted her mother Lynne to act as monitor for the overnight visits. It was not clear whether the court granted the request. Media reports have said Spears reconciled recently with her mother after a bitter six-month estrangement.

Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said Federline had approved the change. "Mr. Federline has always been willing to jointly parent these children ... with certain conditions in place," Kaplan told reporters.

Spears has been ordered to get coaching on parenting skills after Gordon said evidence showed she was a frequent user of "controlled substances and alcohol."

Spears and Federline split a year ago after two years of marriage, and her life has since veered out of control despite a stint in rehab.

Her new single, "Gimme More," has shot up the music charts, despite a disastrous comeback performance in September.

The U.S. release date of her new album -- the first with new material in four years -- was moved forward to October 30 from a planned November 13 date because some recordings were leaked.

The hearing took place the same day that Spears' record label, Zomba, sued the gossip site PerezHilton.com for copyright infringement, alleging it had illegally posted songs from her upcoming new album on the Internet.

Britney Spears won't be in court today

Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini says his office could find no paperwork regarding today's mater, but that didn't mean something hadn't been filed at the last minute.

Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline, says Spears filed an emergency court motion seeking to expand visitation rights with her children, who she lost custody of last week.

Kaplan moved quickly past a throng of reporters when he arrived at court.

Spears was ordered Oct. 1 to relinquish custody of her two sons by a court commissioner who had raised concerns about drug and alcohol use.

Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon later granted some visitation rights to Spears, but required a monitor must watch her while she's with her sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.

Britney to Judge: Gimme More Visitation

The singer filed a motion Wednesday for an emergency hearing, seeking to expand her visitation rights with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.

Spears, 25, is attempting to have the kids stay with her longer, including overnights, without a court-ordered supervisor watching.

Lawyers for the "Gimme More" purveyor and ex-husband Kevin Federline are due in court Thursday morning to argue the pros and cons of the request.

Federline's legal point man, Mark Vincent Kaplan, says Spears just doesn't get it.

"The fact that a party, one week after a full court hearing, attempts to change the orders of the court, in the absence of an emergency or without any new facts, suggests a continued lack of respect and understanding for what an order of the court actually means," he told E! News, adding that Federline would not appear alongside him to protest the order today in court.

Spears, however, may put in some face time. She initially signaled that she would be present this morning—marking her first appearance before Court Commissioner Scott Gordon—to prove how serious she is. However, as of press time, she hadn't made it to the courtroom.

Gordon, who had earlier deemed Spears a "habitual, frequent and continuous user" of alcohol and controlled substances, temporarily stripped her of custody last week after she failed to abide by his terms, including submitting to random drug testing and showing proof of a California driver's license.

Since the hearing, Spears has passed both drug tests and her driver's license exam and is banking on that to expand her visitation rights. Under Gordon's current order, Spears is required to have a monitor with her at all times when she is in the presence of her sons. Should the handler determine that any behavior Spears exhibits in the presence of her children endangers them or is simply inappropriate, her visits may be cut short.

Here's hoping the monitor doesn't have Internet access.

The same day her lawyers filed the emergency motion, raw footage of the singer's "Gimme More" comeback music video appeared on YouTube, showcasing Spears in pasties and not much else.

In the official version of the video, Spears, donning a blond wig, arrives at a strip club with friends. The pole dancer the group watches is none other than Spears herself, this time in a black wig.

In this version, Spears is seen removing her top and covering herself with her hands while dancing around. In the alternate version circulating online, well, her hands aren't quite big enough to maintain her modesty.

Also on Wednesday, hours after filing the petition with the court, Spears engaged in something of a throwback antic, exiting a paparazzi-surrounded car without the appearance of underwear.

Britney Spears's Album Coming Early

The pop star's much-talked about new album will be released two weeks earlier than expected, on Oct. 30, her label announced Wednesday, citing Internet leaks as the reason for the move.

"Due to these numerous unauthorized online leaks, the label is doing everything possible to prevent and avoid any further illegal distribution of songs including moving up the release date of the album to Oct. 30," a label rep says in a statement.

The label acknowledged that finished songs, as well as unfinished material and demos, had made their way online. For weeks, Britney tracks have been surfacing everywhere from PerezHilton.com to YouTube, though it's been unclear which versions were the final, mastered tracks.

In September, PEOPLE got an early listen to finished songs from the album – including "Radar," "Piece of Me," "Break the Ice" and "Heaven on Earth."

In addition to Spears's recent personal troubles, her label has faced numerous leaks – including her video for "Gimme More," a rough version of which hit YouTube before the clip was scheduled to debut on MTV.

Judge orders Britney Spears to be booked

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Rebecca Omens said the 25-year-old pop star must be fingerprinted and photographed before Oct. 25, when she is required to appear in court. Spears was charged last month with hit and run and driving without a valid license after she allegedly smashed her car into another in a parking lot in August.

Spears was not present for Tuesday's arraignment. She was represented by attorney Michael Flanagan, who said his client "must go to any L.A. police station for fingerprints and mug shots."

"She will do that, but I don't know when," Flanagan told the celebrity Web site CelebTV.com.

The charges stem from an Aug. 6 parking-lot crash during which paparazzi filmed Spears steering her car into another vehicle as she tried to turn into a spot in a Studio City parking lot. After assessing the damage to her own car, she was shown on paparazzi video walking away.

The owner of the other car, Kim Robard-Rifkin, filed a police report three days after the incident. She learned it was Spears who had hit her car through a video posted online.

Spears intends to pay for the damage to Robard-Rifkin's gray Mercedes-Benz, Flanagan said: "Britney wants to make sure (Robard-Rifkin) is compensated for any damages she may have and would like to figure out what those damages are."

Britney Comes Clean on Drug Test

Days after becoming a fully licensed member of the driving class, the beleaguered pop star has taken two more steps toward reclaiming joint custody of sons Sean Preston and Jayden James: passing drug tests and meeting with a parenting guru.

Despite reports that the obstinate Spears would not be told by anyone—be it ex-husband, judge or court-appointed counselor—how to behave around her tots, the "Gimme More" singer has in fact been making good on the checklist laid out by Los Angeles Court Commissioner Scott Gordon.

"She has passed her random drug tests," Sorrell Trope, who's representing her in family court, told People. "There's been more than one. They came up negative."

Trope said that Spears, 25, has also quietly been meeting with, and taking advice from, a parenting coach.

"As far as I know, there have been no complaints," he told People, adding that his client's compliance makes her chances of regaining shared custody of the kids "good, based on the overall circumstances of the case."

Last month, Gordon deemed Spears a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of drugs and alcohol and ordered her to submit to twice-weekly random testing and meet with a parenting counselor, as well as show proof of a California driver's license.

A week ago, Gordon ruled that Spears hadn't made a good-faith effort to follow his terms, and he gave Kevin Federline, 29, temporary primary custody of the boys.

Now, with Spears back on the program, she has enjoyed monitored visits with her sons on Monday and again Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Spears is also attempting to make good on the two misdemeanors she faces in connection with an August fender bender. Last month, she was formally charged with hit-and-run causing property damage and driving without a valid license.

Another of her attorneys, Michael Flanagan, was in court Tuesday for an unscheduled hearing to tell the judge that Spears has every intention of complying with the court's decision. Spears' arraignment on the charges, originally scheduled to take place in Van Nuys on Wednesday, has been postponed until Oct. 25, giving Flanagan more time to try and strike a deal with the woman whose parked car Spears hit.

The judge also ordered Spears to be booked, fingerprints and all, on the charges before appearing for arraignment, which will take place the day before her and Federline's next scheduled custody hearing.

Brit's Sis Steps In

Mother's Day at the Spears House

On Monday, the beleaguered pop star had her first visit with sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, since turning custody over to ex-husband Kevin Federline, sources confirmed to E! Online.

A nanny who has also been spotted at K-Fed's house accompanied the boys to their mom's Malibu manse and stayed the afternoon, per the court's order. It's unclear whether the fourth wheel was a parenting coach or other preapproved supervisor.

A family court commissioner ruled that Spears could have monitored visits with her children every other day—again, so long as she complies with a number of court orders, including a previous directive to undergo drug testing twice a week.

At times like these, one might think that the sort of TLC only a mother can give would be in order. Spears apparently felt the same way.

The "Gimme More" chanteuse's reunion with her little ones comes right after her first meeting with mom Lynne Spears since June. At the time, the 25-year-old entertainer told her mom to back off, as Lynne publicly expressed her concern over Britney's seemingly reckless behavior.

Sources told E! Online the mother-daughter reunion was originally scheduled to take place in Kentwood, Louisiana, this weekend but that Spears didn't feel comfortable traveling while the court is "watching like a hawk." Someone from the court was going to be "all over" her and the kids this week, she said.

Instead, mom and younger sister Jamie Lynn flew in to Los Angeles Friday evening, briefly stopping at Spears' Beverly Hills pad at around 3 a.m., before heading out to her Malibu digs.

A source said Britney is, in fact, being kept on a very short leash for now and that if she behaves until her next court hearing, on Oct. 26, the commissioner's supervised visitation order could be relaxed.

The court-ordered monitor also has the authority to "terminate visitation immediately if any conduct or action by [Spears] endangers the minor children."

Meanwhile, Blackout, Spears' first studio album in four years, is on target for a Nov. 13 debut. "Gimme More" topped the digital song charts last week, and its video had its broadcast premiere Monday on MTV's TRL.

Britney Spears names new album "Blackout"

Its first single, "Gimme More," soared 65 places to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday after selling 179,000 downloads. It marks her first top 10 hit since "Toxic" in March 2004, and her best showing on the chart since her smash debut "...Baby One More Time" hit No. 1 in 1999. Spears lip-synched to "Gimme More" during her infamous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last month.

While her professional fortunes appear to be improving, her personal life remains troubled. Spears lost custody of her two young sons last week to her ex-husband Kevin Federline. A Los Angeles family court on Thursday issued strict rules governing her visitation rights, including a requirement that a monitor be present whenever the pop star is with them.

Spears' last album, 2004's "In the Zone," sold poorly relative to her earlier releases.

Britney Reunites With Mom Lynne

"Brit really needed her mom," a source tells PEOPLE, "So Lynne flew out and they met."

Spears will be needing all the support she can get. Documents released Thursday regarding her heated custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline revealed stricter measures, particularly placed on her.

With regard to her supervised visitation rights with her two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, the document says: "the monitor shall terminate visitation immediately if any conduct or action by [Spears] endangers the minor children."

Before their next hearing on Oct. 26, she must complete three joint counseling sessions with Federline, three individual sessions, and twice-weekly random testing for drugs and alcohol.

The Mother-Daughter Meeting

Sources say Lynne and Britney's younger sister Jamie Lynn flew from Kentwood, La., to Los Angeles Friday evening. On arrival at LAX, the two were mobbed by photographers.

Jamie Lynn, wearing eyeglasses, kept her head low, later covered by the hood of her sweatshirt. Despite the attention, the women made a quiet exit from the terminal, declining to comment or to acknowledge the group.

Around 3 a.m., Lynne paid a visit to her daughter's Beverly Hills home before driving the two of them to Spears's new Malibu pad.

The mother-daughter pair had a falling out back in June, when Spears handed her mother a reportedly upsetting letter. According to TMZ, the letter asked that Lynne stay away from Spears's sons if she is taking any medications that might cause her to be impaired.

Spears told reporters at the time, "I'm praying for her right now. [I hope] she gets all the help she needs," Spears said.

Says a source, for now, "Everything's great."

Britney Spears: Gimme More (Unsolicited) Advice

A parade of show business types – from Ice-T to Sharon Osbourne – has offered Spears assistance, advice, even a place to stay. The latest: Dr. Phil McGraw, who says his couch is there for her – if her entourage would just let go. "This is a girl who can turn this around, but she has to have someone look her in the eye and tell her the truth," Dr. Phil told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM morning show Thursday. "I would be willing to sit down with her. ... Just the two of us in a room. No agents, no handlers, no cameras." If tough love isn't what the 25-year-old troubled pop star's looking for, here are some other offers:

Tracy Morgan: The 30 Rock comedian thinks a higher power than Dr. Phil is in order. He got serious at VH1's Hip Hop Honors at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC Thursday night, telling PEOPLE, "Britney needs to pray. She needs to get connected spiritually and she needs to join the real world and leave that artificial stuff alone and go get her kids."

Sharon Osbourne: "This girl has never taken a break until she got married. And then she took a break. She had two babies," Osbourne said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Friday. "I think she lost the plot and she needs help. She's got to get herself away from L.A. She's gotta get away from this town. Go away, get some therapy and she's going to come back and be the Britney that we love and know."

Tatum O'Neal: Definitely coming from the I've-been-there camp, O'Neal, 43, who tusseled with ex John McEnroe over custody of her children, says Spears "needs to be in recovery and get her disease of addiction together." "I relate to her and feel really sad for her," O'Neal, who battled drug addition, told Entertainment Tonight.

Joey Fatone: The former N' Syncher says that if Spears wants a getaway from life in the spotlight, she could "come over to my house, come to Orlando, get away from it all." The Singing Bee host, a longtime friend of Spears, told Extra that she "needs some time, some time to really heal." His message: "I'm here for you, sweetheart."

American Idol Judges: Never at a loss for show business advice, the judges from American Idol offered to go a step further and manage Spears's career. "We have decided we can bring Britney back," says Simon Cowell, according to Fox News. "We are serious. We plan to buy her underpants, get her bigger shorts to perform in and get her away from her stupid friends."

Timbaland: Superproducer Timbaland says the best way for Spears to get her career back on track is to do a duet with her ex-flame Justin Timberlake, an idea that Timbaland claims Spears scotched. Timbaland told MTV News that Spears needs to "humble herself and make a phone call and say, 'I'm sorry.'"

Fergie: The 32-year-old singer for the Black Eyed Peas, who once endured a crystal meth addiction, says what the 20-something stars in trouble like Spears and Lindsay Lohan really need is some breathing room. "They're young," Fergie told PEOPLE. "I was young when I went through my stuff. Leave them alone. If they want to get better, they're going to get better on their own."

Rosie O'Donnell: When there were rumors that Spears would join Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" show, featuring O'Donnell on the drums, the former View host offered emotional support. "Brit, if you're watching, honey, you and me – we're gonna share, like, a backstage moment, 'cause I love you, kid!" O'Donnell says in a video blog shot during a concert tour stop in Texas.

Ice-T: Law & Order: SVU's heavyweight suggests Spears "come with a clean slate." But, "in order to re-enter, you need to leave." The rapper-turned-actor also shared some words of wisdom from his mom with PEOPLE at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors. "I don't have any bad wishes for her," he said. "But my mama used to say, 'You keep using the same ingredients, you're making the same cake. If you want to make a new cake, you got to change the ingredients.' "

Kathy Griffin: Then there's comedian Griffin, who says the root of Spears's problems ... are her roots. "I'd like her just to wash her hair," she told TMZ.com. "I'm going to start small."

SPEARS' SQUEEZE

Spears Heading To Rehab

Britney Plays Dual Roles in Steamy 'Gimme More' Video

PEOPLE got a sneak peek of the four-minute video, which MTV says will premiere Monday on TRL. It's the first video from her upcoming album, out Nov. 13.

A fit-looking Bad Girl Britney sports a tattoo on her bicep and dresses in all black. She wears a leather vest, a studded belt and skimpy panties over ripped fishnet stockings.

As she dances erotically around a pole and up against a mirror, she flips her hair while special-effects lights flash around her as the camera moves slightly in and out of focus to the beat of the song, giving it a raw and edgy look.

At times she's dancing alone and at others she's with several other female dancers.

Meanwhile, the more innocent-looking blonde alter-ego Good Britney watches from the bar, giggling at times and looking stunned at others.

The footage goes from black and white with aura-like blue and pink lights to full blown color.

First-time director Jake Sarfaty was "handpicked" by the singer, a rep from label Jive confirmed, adding that the project, shot over two days, was purely Spears's "concept and her vision."

While the stripper-inspired choreography isn't going to blow critics away, it's much improved from her notorious performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Spears, who seems to be genuinely enjoying herself, pulls off deeper moves and wears a much more confident – and seductive – look on her face.

Britney: You Snooze, You Lose?

The besieged pop star reportedly snoozed through two court-ordered drug tests before a family court commissioner turned custody of her two children over to ex-husband Kevin Federline on Monday.

Sources close to the proceedings told the Los Angeles Times that Spears' assistant twice informed the testing lab that her boss was asleep and then on another occasion told the technicians that Spears would be unavailable to take a test at home.

Twice-weekly random drug testing was one of the many provisions handed down Sept. 17 that would have allowed Spears to retain joint custody of two-year-old Sean Preston and year-old Jayden James after Federline petitioned for primary physical custody.

But L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled Monday that Spears was not "in substantial compliance" with last month's order, citing her lack of a valid California driver's license and concluding that a missed drug test was, as far as the court was concerned, a failed drug test.

Spears took care of the license confusion on Tuesday, stopping by the Van Nuys Department of Motor Vehicles to be fingerprinted and get her picture taken, and Wednesday she was granted supervised visits every other day with her sons.

The court monitor will report back to Gordon and, if Spears' behavior isn't up to snuff, her privileges could be stripped away at any time.

The "Sometimes I Run" singer, who did not face off against Federline in person yesterday, was ordered to appear at the next scheduled hearing on Oct. 26, as well as complete at least three individual counseling sessions.

Spears' attorney, Sorrell Trope, argued on his client's behalf that she had followed through with most of Gordon's directives, which also included refraining from corporal punishment and badmouthing Federline in front of the kids, meeting with a parenting coach and abstaining from alcohol and nonprescription drugs for at least 12 hours before coming into contact with the children, but Gordon refused to withdraw his previous custody order.

All of Gordon's orders from Sept. 17, including the drug testing, are still in effect.

Also chiming in on Spears' caretaking skills Thursday was PETA president Ingrid Newkirk, who penned a letter to Kevin Federline persuading him to petition the court for custody of his ex-wife's dogs.

"As a father, your main concern is the comfort and stability of your children," reads the letter obtained by E! News. "London [Spears' Yorkshire terrier] and the other animals whom the boys consider to be a part of the family have provided that comfort and stability. The companionship of beloved companion animals can make a world of difference for the boys during this difficult time, and being separated from the animal friends whom they share a bond with is undoubtedly traumatic for them."

Another thing that Spears has been getting plenty of in recent weeks, in addition to sleep, apparently, is advice. From the ladies of The View to über-parent Dr. Phil McGraw, everyone has an opinion as to what Brit's next move should be.

"I would be willing to sit down with her," McGraw told Ryan Seacrest Thursday on his KIIS-FM morning show. "I'd much prefer to it off air, just the two of us in a room. No agents, no handlers, no cameras.

"This is a girl who can turn this around, but she has to have someone look her in the eye and tell her the truth. There's kids here. The kids are the ones that pick up the tab here."

Unwilling to say whether Spears really does have a substance abuse problem, McGraw, who said that he's contacted her reps, said that what she does have is an addiction to the media.

"I know there's girls whose people call the paparazzi and let them know where they're going to be," said the man who knows "exactly what she needs to do."

"I don't know if that's what Britney does. What I know is this has decompressed. All the air has gone out of her career. All you're picking up is the negatives. I think this has gotten really dysfunctional and really toxic."

In the meantime, while inquiring flashbulbs have certainly been eager to chronicle a possible Spears meltdown, it's sometimes easy to miss that she's also in the middle of a comeback.

Jive Records is heavily touting Spears' new album, slated to drop Nov. 13, and is trying to distance Spears, the tabloid personality, from Spears, the multiplatinum-selling star.

"As Britney’s label, it’s not our place to comment on her personal issues, but we do care about her and support her," Jive spokesman Allan Mayer said in a statement to E! News. "There’s no question that when performers attain the level of celebrity that Britney has, they tend to be treated by the press and public as if they were cartoon or soap-opera characters, and we forget that they’re actually human beings.

"People say that’s the trade-off you make for success in the entertainment industry—that if you want to make it big, you have to surrender your privacy or the ability to lead a normal life. But sometimes you make that bargain before you realize what it entails. Britney’s a grown woman who makes her own choices, and we respect that. But she faces challenges that most of us can’t really imagine."

(Although, we've all hit the snooze button a few too many times.)

The video for "Gimme More," Spears' first music video in more than two years, premieres Monday during TRL on MTV, the old stomping grounds of pop princesses like Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson, all of whom rose to fame in the late 1990s.

During filming this past summer, Spears was spotted in head-to-toe black—except for where her thighs, cleavage, midriff and arms are—and Us Weekly, which gave it a thumbs up, reports that the video, directed by Jake Sarfaty, features the 25-year-old, as a blonde, interacting with a brunette stripper alter ego.

She busts a move both alone and with a handful of female backup dancers.

Spears visits with sons to be monitored

In an order released Thursday, Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon granted some visitation rights to the 25-year-old pop singer, but required that a monitor must watch her while she's with her sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.

The visits will be cut short if the monitor decides any behavior or action by Spears endangers the children. Following a closed-door hearing Wednesday that Federline attended, a court spokesman indicated Spears would be allowed visits every other day.

Phone messages left for attorneys for Spears and Federline were not immediately returned Thursday.

Earlier this week, Federline received temporary custody of the children.

Spears turned the boys over to Federline after she failed to produce a California driver's license and allegedly missed a drug and alcohol test as ordered by the court, her attorney, Sorrell Trope, told People magazine.

Although a temporary driver's license was issued to Spears late Tuesday in Santa Monica, Gordon said in his order that she "was not in substantial compliance with material provisions" of his previous ruling.

Gordon also said if Spears misses or refuses a drug and alcohol test, it will be "deemed by the court as a failed test." He also said Spears must complete at least three individual counseling sessions by the next hearing on Oct. 26.

He previously ordered Spears to undergo random drug and alcohol testing twice a week after the court found she engages in "habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol."

Gordon also previously ordered Spears to meet weekly with a "parenting coach" who was to report back to the court about her skills. Both Spears and Federline must complete the court's "Parenting Without Conflict" class.

Spears and Federline also were refrained from drinking or using drugs either in the presence of their children or within 12 hours before taking charge of them.

Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said Wednesday his client has been in full compliance with the commissioner's order.

Spears and Federline were married in October 2004. She filed for divorce last November and it became official in July. They previously shared custody of the boys. Federline, 29, also has a son and daughter with former girlfriend Shar Jackson.

Spears has spiraled seemingly out of control since splitting with Federline. First she hit the Hollywood party circuit, where she was photographed several times without underwear. Then she volleyed in and out of rehab, shaved her head, beat a car with an umbrella and eventually spent a month at the posh Promises rehab clinic in Malibu.

An MTV Video Music Awards performance intended as a comeback was panned, with Spears appearing lethargic. The following week, her management firm dropped her and her divorce lawyer resigned.

Her problems continued when she was charged with misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run and driving without a valid license for allegedly crashing into a parked car in August.

On the upside, her new song, "Gimme More," topped Billboard's Hot Digital Songs with 179,000 downloads, and jumped from No. 68 to No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100.

The song is the first single from her new album, set for release Nov. 13.

New Britney Video Set to Air

The clip – for the song "Gimme More" – will premiere on MTV's TRL at 3:30 p.m. ET., a rep for the network confirms to PEOPLE.

Although details about the final version of the video are being kept a secret, Spears, 25, was spotted in costume at a Los Angeles warehouse back in July, reportedly filming a video. Her outfit consisted of a short black dress, black boots and a black hat.

But it is not for certain that the footage from that particular shoot made the final cut that will air on TRL.

In fact, the video will contain footage from two different shoots, sources say.

After an underwhelming performance of the song at the Sept. 9 MTV Video Music Awards, and the ongoing bitter custody battle with ex Kevin Federline playing out in the media, rooting fans will be watching for the singer to make a big splash with the new video.

And, in spite of her travails, Spears has good news from Billboard's Hot 100 chart this week, where "Gimme More" soared from the No. 68 position last week to No. 3. (It also continues to be the most downloaded song on iTunes.)

A rep for Spears's record label tells PEOPLE: "Jive is enormously excited about Britney's new album. We're confident that it will secure her reputation as one of the great recording artists of her time." The album is set for release Nov. 13.

Sinead O'Connor has sympathy for Britney

She'd often wake up crying for no reason, the 40-year-old Irish singer said on Thursday's broadcast of "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

"It's like being a bucket with holes in it. Just leaking tears from every pore," said O'Connor, her closely cropped hair now gray.

O'Connor said she attempted suicide on her 33rd birthday, but gave no details. She was diagnosed nearly four years ago as having bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression.

She now takes medications that serve as a mood stabilizer and antidepressant, as well as help her sleep.

The drugs have helped her become more balanced, she said, but "it's a work in progress. I'm not going to sit here and claim that I'm kinda perfect or anything. Anything is an improvement when you've been in desolation ... to be out of that place is brilliant. It doesn't mean you don't have lumps and bumps."

The medications also have provided a "scaffolding" to help her to work on recovering from abuse she suffered as a child, O'Connor said. She no longer thinks of suicide.

"I'm certainly out of despair, which is great."

O'Connor lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her four children. Earlier this year she released an album called "Theology," in which many of the lyrics are strongly influenced by the Bible.

Her breakthrough hit came in 1990, "Nothing Compares 2 U." She famously tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a 1992 appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

O'Connor told Winfrey she has sympathy for Britney Spears.

"She had two babies within the space of two years, (there) doesn't seem like a terrible amount of support from the people around her," O'Connor said.

O'Connor said it seems the media is constantly watching for Spears to make a mistake raising her children, but that no parents are perfect.

"I think to attack someone as a mother is very dangerous," she said. "I would say that's what puts a young girl on a precipice which is very, very dangerous, in my opinion. Some people may end up really regretting the way they're treating her."

Tatum O'Neal offers advice to Britney

The 43-year-old actress shared her thoughts on the troubled pop star with "Entertainment Tonight" in an interview set to air Wednesday night.

"I relate to her and feel really sad for her," O'Neal said, adding that she had similar experiences as a young mother. "I did everything ... that she doesn't want to do. I did the drug testing. ... It was very humbling. ... I wanted those kids in my life."

This week a judge ordered Spears, 25, to temporarily surrender custody of her sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to ex-husband Kevin Federline. She was also ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol testing and take parenting classes as part of her ongoing custody dispute with Federline.

Spears needs treatment and she needs to shield her children from media attention, O'Neal said.

O'Neal won an Oscar at age 10 after co-starring with her father, Ryan O'Neal, in "Paper Moon" in 1973.

She has three children from her marriage to John McEnroe.

Soulja Boy fends off Britney on U.S. singles chart

The former pop princess rocketed 65 places to No. 3 with "Gimme More," her first top 10 hit since "Toxic" in March 2004. "Gimme More," which sold 179,000 downloads, is the first single from her as-yet-untitled new album, targeted for a November 13 release. It marks her best showing on the list since her smash debut "...Baby One More Time" hit No. 1 for two weeks in 1999.

Kanye West's "Stronger" held at No. 2 on the Hot 100, while Timbaland's "The Way I Are" featuring Keri Hilson slipped one to No. 4. Also down one spot was Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" at No. 5.

At No. 6, Timbaland earned his third top 10 from his album "Shock Value" with "Apologize" featuring OneRepublic, which jumped 16 spots. J. Holiday's "Bed" fell two to No. 7, while Feist's "1, 2, 3, 4" rocketed 20 places to No. 8 thanks to continued exposure in an iPod Nano TV spot. The track sold 128,000 downloads this week, a 75% increase over the previous frame.

Keyshia Cole's "Let It Go" featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim dropped two to No. 9, and Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" held at No. 10 to round out the top tier.

The Hot 100's top debut came from Jordin Sparks' "Tattoo" at No. 58. It's the first single from the "American Idol" champ's self-titled debut, due November 20.

K-Fed Keeps the Kids, Britney Gets to Visit

Two days after losing custody of her two sons to her ex-husband, a family court commissioner granted the troubled pop star monitored visitation rights with two-year-old Sean Preston and year-old Jayden James.

Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said after Thursday's closed hearing that Spears, who was not present, will be allowed to visit with her boys pursuant to the court's new order, which included new behavioral guidelines stemming from Monday's hearing. Upon turning custody over to Federline, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ruled that Spears' erratic behavior was putting her children at risk.

K-Fed, tricked out in an eyepatch to protect a sore peeper from the sun's glare, was smiling as he exited the Los Angeles courthouse today.

"As far as whether we won, or as far as Kevin's happy," Kaplan said, "I'll say we felt that the orders were justified and he was pleased with the orders that were in place."

Asked how the kids were doing, Kaplan said he didn't feel it was appropriate to elaborate but that the children are "good."

She and Federline originally had equal time with the kids, but her ex petitioned for primary physical custody in August, barely a week after their divorce was finalized, citing the former pop princess' hard-partying ways and expressing concern for their children's well-being in her presence.

On Sept. 18, Gordon handed Spears a lengthy to-do list if she wanted to maintain her 50-50 custody split with Federline. Among the court's orders: random drug testing twice a week, parent counseling and refraining from consuming alcohol or nonprescription drugs at least 12 hours prior to being in the children's company.

Instead, Federline was awarded custody, starting Wednesday at noon, "until further order of the court."

Spears has been ordered to appear at a hearing on Oct. 26, which casts doubt on an OK! magazine report that the multiplatinum-selling singer is headed back to rehab in Antigua this weekend. The tabloid has her re-checking into Eric Clapton's Crossroads Centre, one of Spears' two 24-hour treatment stops before she finally settled on a 28-day stay at Promises in Malibu back in February.

Meanwhile, Spears' nest is emptying fast. Her temporary houseguest, cousin and former assistant Alli Sims, moved out of the singer's Malibu home earlier Wednesday. Contrary to reports that there's bad blood between the two and that Sims' relocation to her own condo was a sudden decision, E! Online's Planet Gossip was told that the move had been planned for some time.

It's definitely possible that things will look better in the morning. In addition to knowing that she'll be getting regular face time with her kids, Spears will again find herself at the top of the charts.

The 25-year-old's new single, "Gimme More," debuted at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Digital Songs charts, with 179,000 downloads. Her as-yet untitled new album is still slated for a Nov. 13 release.

Britney Gets a California Driver's License

"She has fulfilled her requirements for a California driver's license," said the DMV's Mike Marando.

L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who's overseeing her custody case, had ordered her to show proof that she was a legal driver. Her lawyer told PEOPLE that among the reasons she lost temporary custody was because she lacked a valid license.

On Monday, Spears, 25, handed off sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to a bodyguard for ex Kevin Federline, then drove with a friend to a DMV office in Van Nuys, Calif.

"Ms. Spears actually took and passed a written test in April," Marando says. "She was fingerprinted and photographed yesterday. She will be issued a formal license in the mail soon."

Last month, the singer was charged with misdemeanor driving without a valid California license and hit-and-run following a fender-bender in a store parking lot on Aug. 6.

According to the DMV, Spears had never been issued a California license, despite having homes in Los Angeles for years. The state requires people to apply for a license within 10 days of residence.

Another hearing in the custody case is set for Wednesday.

K-Dad: How is Federline as a father?

The one-time rapper's custodial gains may have more to do with Spears' decline than his own parenting skills. The 25-year-old pop star failed to produce a California driver's license and allegedly missed a drug and alcohol test as ordered by the court, her lawyer, Sorrell Trope, said Tuesday.

But how will the kids fare with Federline?

Well, the 29-year-old father of four left his girlfriend, Shar Jackson, just months after she gave birth to their son, Kaleb. (Federline and Jackson also have a 5-year-old daughter, Kori.) He and Spears married in October 2004, quickly had two children and split just after their second son was born. (Spears filed for divorce last November and it became official in July.)

That track record aside, Dorian Traube, a professor of social work at the University of Southern California, said: "Lately, he's really kind of stepped up as a father. We don't hear much about how he parents his other kids. But with his children with Britney, he's gone to great lengths to keep them out of the public eye and he's gone to great lengths to keep the grandparents involved."

While Spears made her now infamous appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards, Federline hosted a birthday party for the couple's two boys. Spears bounces between houses and high-priced hotels, while Federline keeps a home in the family-oriented suburban community of Tarzana, Calif.

"He recently put a safety fence around his pool," said Traube, who has followed the couple's ups and downs closely through news reports. "He is genuinely worried about the welfare of his children and what they might be experiencing when they're with their mother."

What a change from a year ago, when Federline was a party-circuit regular preparing to release his debut album. Even then, though, he talked about waking up with his children, tucking them in at night and building a home studio so he could stay close to them.

"I would just work out of my house the whole time and I could spend as much time as I needed to spend with my children," Federline told The Associated Press in October 2006. "But it's still never enough."

Now that Federline is a full-time father, partying must come second to parenting, said USC sociologist Julie Albright, a marriage and family therapist.

"It all depends on how he carries himself now," she said. "Is he going to step up to the plate as a mature father or is he still going to be a party boy? That's a big part of his image."

Earlier this year, he managed to do both, celebrating his 29th birthday in Las Vegas with his parents, siblings and sons. Jackson was there. Spears wasn't.

Spears has been spiraling downward since she and Federline split. She was photographed without underwear and appeared to be drunk and out-of-control. Then she shaved her head, beat a car with an umbrella and ended up spending a month in rehab.

Monday night, after learning she would lose custody of her kids indefinitely, Spears showed up for a stay at a posh Beverly Hills hotel.

"Hopefully this will be the impetus for some positive change for Britney, and then for the kids as a result," Albright said. "It's really unfortunate because the kids are the ultimate victims."

Spears' career comeback hinges mostly on the music

But Britney Spears' planned comeback, just as her life hurtles out of control, will depend on the music and her ability to get back on the road, pop culture experts said on Tuesday.

"The music field can withstand a lot of controversy -- drug abuse, falling down on stage, being an idiot," said Tony Potts, the host of celebrity TV show Access Hollywood.

"If the music is good, that's all people care about. If the debacle continues for a long time and the music suffers, then I think she'll have a problem," Potts told Reuters.

In her most tumultuous year since shooting to fame in 1999 at age 17, Spears has got divorced, shaved off her hair, been to rehab and been dumped by her management company. This week, she lost custody of her two children to her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Her dazed performance at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) in September was widely panned and shocked fans who remembered her as the hot teen who could dance up a storm -- even if she was lip-syncing to the hits that helped sell 70 million records worldwide.

In the early 2000s, Spears was the world's top-selling female artist. But when she slept-walked her way through the VMA performance "millions of people around the world could actually see what had been rumored for months," Potts said.

IN TRANSITION

Despite that disaster, Spears' new single "Gimme More" is topping the iTunes music download list and is expected to enter the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on Wednesday.

But the real test of whether she still has a pop career will come when she releases her new, as yet untitled album in November -- her first since 2003.

Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of the concert industry magazine Pollstar, said Spears would have had difficulty relaunching herself even without the personal problems.

"Britney is an artist in transition. She was a star of largely a preteen audience and many of those artists are not able to make the transition to an adult audience," he said.

Spears, who has been more talked about in the past year than since she last toured in 2004, may be the celebrity to disprove the old adage that there's no such thing as bad publicity.

"If you want to be a Paris Hilton type celebrity, that's one thing," said Bongiovanni.

"If you want to be a musical artist that people are going to pay $80 or $100 to see -- that requires a pretty significant investment on the public's part. Until she actually mounts a tour, no-one will really know for sure whether there is demand."

Some industry watchers say the November album launch could be postponed if Spears's record label feels media coverage of her personal life is working against her.

Even then, Billboard senior analyst Geoff Mayfield said he doubted the new offering would sell at the level of her first three hit albums, mostly because sales for all artists are falling because of competition from digital downloads.

"The headlines need to be more about Britney as a performer and not about her personal life. The best way to do that is to really step out of the limelight, take care of yourself and then when you do come back, do it with music people have to hear," Mayfield said.

Pal: Britney Spears Is 'Very Optimistic' She'll Get Sons Back

Lufti, whom Kevin Federline's camp attempted to subpoena in the ongoing custody battle, reminded PEOPLE in an e-mail that Federline getting custody is "temporary."

"We ... signed all the necessary documents that she needed to get done," he said. Spears, he added, is "in a good mood, no problems, very optimistic."

Monday a judge granted Federline physical custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, "until further order of the court." Lufti told PEOPLE that what led to the ruling was just a misunderstanding.

"Scheduling conflicts and errors in communication led her to believe that her deadline was later this week rather than [Monday]," Lufti said. "However, once we finally realized what was going on, we completed the list of tasks. ...So everything's looking good."

At least one of the judge's requirements, however, remains unfulfilled.

Spears, facing a misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid license, went to the Department of Motor Vehicles on Monday to get a California license to replace her Louisiana card, but DMV spokesperson Jan Mendoza says Spears hasn't yet finished the application process.

"As of now, she's not legally able to drive in California," says Mendoza.

"Britney Spears is still unlicensed," Mendoza adds. "She does have a pending application. She's very close to getting a California license."

Another hearing in the custody case is set for Wednesday.

Source: Custody Loss May Be "Wake-Up Call" for Britney

A source close to the beleaguered pop star tells E! Online that her ongoing refusal to listen to advice or instructions—be it from her parents, publicists, managers, assistants or attorneys—is what has cost Spears so dearly in recent months, culminating Monday with the loss of primary custody of sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.

"So, when a judge now comes in and tells her what to do, she just isn't going to do it," the source said. "It's part of a long pattern of behavior from her. She's become a spoiled brat, to put it mildly."

The source said Spears felt she didn't need parenting classes, so she blew off the request. And she just didn't want to "deal with" the bother of getting a new license—or the humiliation of drug testing.

"And when Brit doesn't want to do something, she just doesn't," our source said. "Even when her kids are at stake. That's the saddest part of all."

Spears' attorney echoed those remarks.

Speaking to People, Sorrell Trope, the latest attorney to make his way through the revolving door that is Spears' legal representation, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon granted custody to Kevin Federline because "we weren't able to prove compliance with what the judge ordered."

Spears failed to take a random drug and alcohol test, one of the stipulations of her maintaining joint custody. "There's no evidence that she actually failed a drug test," Trope said, but added that judges consider missed tests the same as failed tests.

The "Toxic" singer was also unable to provide the court with proof of a California driver's license by 10 a.m. Monday, something both she and Federline were required to do.

An Aug. 6 fender-bender Spears was involved in resulted not only in two misdemeanor charges against her but also in the revelation that Spears was not licensed in the state of California, despite it having been her primary address for the better part of a decade.

Spears not only failed to submit to drug testing, she also neglected to meet with a drug counselor, enroll in parenting classes or even so much as sign the judge's initial order. Meaning she may not have actively done anything wrong, but she also did nothing right.

"That's another example of she does what she wants, but she can't thumb her nose at the judge, at the court," Gloria Allred, the attorney who repped the singer's former bodyguard Tony Barretto, told E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest on his morning radio show Tuesday. "[Gordon] is going to make her accountable, and one of the ways she's being made accountable is she's not going to have her children. She needs to get help if she wants them back.

"And this was a foreseeable consequence of her not doing what the court told her to do."

While there's no official word on whether the 25-year-old will make good on the judge's order to undergo drug and alcohol testing, Spears is already working on her to-do list.

On Monday afternoon, shortly after Gordon issued his ruling and Spears handed off her sons to Federline at a local Carl's Jr., she went to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Van Nuys, where she took a written test as part of an application for a license. That is, after a pit stop at a local shopping mall.

A source close to Federline told E! News that the custody hand-off took place Monday, rather than Wednesday, as that was Federline's regularly scheduled custodial time to be with his kids. While he would ordinarily hand the children back to Spears tomorrow as part of their initial 50/50 split, he will instead simply keep them in his custody until the court rules otherwise.

Meanwhile, Spears' parents are cheering the judge's decision.

"Not because they want to punish Britney, but because they are hoping this will be the wake-up call she needs to get her life in order," another Spears family friend tells E! Online.

"So far, nothing else has worked. Not advice from her relatives, business handlers, legal representatives. No one can get through to her these days. Maybe losing her babies will finally do the trick."

Allred seconded the sentiment.

"We're hoping this change of custody will give her the strong incentive that she needs to get help so that she can one day be the responsible parent the children deserve to have," the attorney said. "The court's really given her a chance. The court really gave her a second chance."

According to Allred, how Spears chooses to use that second chance is entirely up to her.

"If she doesn't have the children, if she wants to at least have visitation, she's going to take control of her life and get some help. If she doesn't want to have anything to do with the children, then nobody's going to be able to help her...She does seem to be spiraling downward and that is a concern. A lot of people feel very sympathetically toward Britney, you know I do. But she has two young children, she has to really understand what her responsibilities are."

Another custody hearing is set for Wednesday afternoon.

For now, Spears is trying to ride out her latest rough patch in luxury. She is holed up at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, where she was spotted arriving Monday night with several suitcases.

No license, missed test cost Britney

"We weren't able to prove compliance with what the judge ordered," attorney Sorrell Trope told People magazine.

"Specifically," he said, "the judge ordered that by 10 a.m. (Monday) morning, both parties show valid California driving licenses. I've been unable to produce evidence of that."

Trope said another factor was a claim by ex-husband Kevin Federline's attorney that Spears had skipped a test. "There's no evidence that she actually failed," the lawyer said.

Trope did not immediately return a call from The Associated press seeking further comment.

On Monday, Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ordered Spears to relinquish custody of her sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to Federline "until further order of the court."

The judge had previously ordered Spears to undergo random drug and alcohol testing twice a week and meet weekly with a "parenting coach" who was to observe and report back to the court. Both Spears and Federline must complete the court's "Parenting Without Conflict" class or receive private counseling, the court indicated.

The loss of her children was the latest problem to plague Spears, whose fortunes have taken a very public turn for the worse since splitting from Federline, 29, last year.

The two were married in October 2004. Spears filed for divorce last November and it became official in July.

Since becoming single, Spears has appeared increasingly erratic and out-of-control. First, she was photographed at various Hollywood hotspots partying hard with Paris Hilton, occasionally without panties. Then Spears shaved her head as paparazzi looked on, beat a car with an umbrella and ended up spending a month in rehab.

Spears was set to redeem herself and return to the pop throne with a much-hyped performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last month. But it was universally panned, with Spears appearing spaced-out, lethargic and relatively out of shape. The following week, her management firm dropped her and her divorce lawyer resigned.

Spears was then charged with misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run and driving without a valid license for allegedly crashing into a parked car in August.

The driving offenses likely compelled the judge to issue Monday's orders, said New York divorce lawyer Raoul Felder. Officials from the Department of Motor Vehicles said Spears applied for a California driver's license but did not complete the process.

"She was driving without a license with a child in the car," Felder said. "You can put aside the in and out of rehab, the shaving her head. But this? When a judge went out on a limb for her? There's no going back."

Though Spears must relinquish physical custody of the children until further ruling from the court, she and Federline still share legal custody.

Los Angeles divorce lawyer Connolly Oyler said he's surprised the children weren't taken from Spears sooner. Judges typically remove youngsters from households where parents are ordered to undergo drug testing, he said.

But, he added, all is not lost for Spears.

"If she picks a good counselor and gets a different set of friends, there's a good chance she can turn things around," he said, noting "she's only 25."

The couple is due back in court Oct. 3. Spears' new album is set to be released Nov. 13.

Britney's Lawyer Reveals Reasons Behind Custody Ruling

After a closed-door hearing Monday, a judge ordered that, from Wednesday, Kevin Federline gets physical custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, "until further order of the court."

L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon didn't outline his reasons in the written ruling, but Spears's attorney, Sorrell Trope, says, "We weren't able to prove compliance with what the judge ordered."

"Specifically," Trope says, "the judge ordered that by 10 a.m. (Monday) morning, both parties show valid California driving licenses. I've been unable to produce evidence of that."

Later Monday, after handing over her sons to a bodyguard of Federline's, Spears applied for a California driver's license in Van Nuys.

Spears, 25, has been charged with misdemeanor driving without a valid license and hit-and-run following a fender-bender in a store parking lot on Aug. 6.

Trope says another reason behind the judge's temporary custody ruling "was a claim by Mr. Federline's attorney that she had not complied with a previous order the court had made – before I came on board (as lawyer) – about having a random drug and alcohol test."

Trope adds: "There's no evidence that she actually failed a test."

However, the courts see the failure to take a test as the same thing as not passing the test.

Another hearing is set for Wednesday.

Federline's attorney declined to comment in detail on the court proceeding. But a source close to Federline says he was "thrilled" after receiving news of the temporary custody change.

Spears loses custody of children to ex-spouse

No reason for the decision was contained in the court order that was made public. Representatives for Spears and her former spouse, Kevin Federline, a dancer and aspiring rap performer, were not immediately available for comment.

The same judge, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, ordered Spears two weeks ago to undergo random drug testing and to hire a parenting coach after finding evidence of "habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol" by her.

His latest order stated that Federline "is to retain physical custody of the minor children on Wednesday ... at 12 p.m., until further order of the court." Gordon also set another hearing in the matter for Wednesday.

The ruling came as Spears, whose recording career had been on hold since she married Federline three years ago, was returning to the pop charts with her new single "Gimme More."

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, divorced in July but have remained embroiled in a bitter battle over custody of their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

Before this week, they had shared 50/50 custody of the boys, but Federline's lawyer, Mark Kaplan, told reporters in August that his client was seeking greater control of his sons to keep them "isolated from risks."

Adding to Spears' legal woes, the singer was charged on September 21 with leaving the scene of an accident after police said she ran into a parked car last month. She also was charged with driving without a valid license. Published photos and TV footage taken in recent days have shown Spears driving with her two sons in her car.

Since filing for divorce last November, Spears has made headlines with a steady stream of erratic behavior -- shaving her head before entering rehab, firing various staff and stripping down to her underwear for an impromptu ocean swim in front of photographers, among other incidents.

Earlier this month, her highly anticipated comeback appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards was widely panned as an embarrassing flop, though "Gimme More" has been climbing the radio charts.

Since Thursday, the song, a single from her upcoming untitled album, has ranked as the most downloaded track on Apple Computer's iTunes online music store.

The song appears poised to break onto Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart later this week with what could be Spears' highest ranking since her debut 1999 hit "... Baby One More Time."

Britney Applies for a California Driver's License

Spears, 25, handed off sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to a bodyguard for ex Kevin Federline, then drove with a friend to a Department of Motor Vehicles office in Van Nuys, Calif.

There, Spears filled out paperwork and took a written test. DMV regulations do not require a behind-the-wheel test.

Last month, the singer was charged with misdemeanor driving without a valid California license and hit-and-run following fender-bender in a store parking lot on Aug. 6.

According to the DMV, Spears had never been issued a California license, despite having homes in Los Angeles for years. The state requires people to apply for a license within 10 days of residence.

Records show that Spears does have a Louisiana license valid through December 2009. She apparently had furnished that license to law enforcement on the numerous times she's been pulled over.

"Britney is taking a gamble by continuing to drive when her pending case of driving without a valid California license hasn't been settled yet," says legal expert Lawrence Taylor.

Britney Drives Home K-Fed Custody?

Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, was back in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, after Spears was reportedly spotted taxiing her two children around Los Angeles over the weekend, less than two weeks after she was busted on charges of driving without a license.

Sources familiar with the case tell E! News that the California DMV has Spears listed as an unlicensed driver in the state. Furthermore, authorities believe Spears' driver's license from her home state of Louisiana has expired.

Should the allegations of weekend joyriding bear out, it could have a potentially detrimental effect on her custody battle with Federline over sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. Federline is seeking primary physical custody of the youngsters over concern for his boys' well-being, claiming the youngsters are in a less than safe environment while under their mother's watch.

Two weeks ago, the increasingly beleaguered pop star was slapped with two misdemeanor counts by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, including hit-and-run causing property damage and driving without a valid California license.

The charges were the result of an Aug. 6 accident in a Studio City vitamin store parking lot, in which Spears dinged a silver Mercedes-Benz with her black one, got out to survey the damage and drove off without so much as a note. Or, as it turns out, a driver's license.

Unfortunately for Spears, paparazzi were on hand to capture her fleeing the scene.

Michael Sands, Kaplan's spokesperson, told E! News last week that the hit-and-run charges issued without taking the new indiscretions into consideration. However, it appears as though her latest parental blunder could—at least if Kaplan has anything to say about it—have some impact on the case.

On Friday, before Spears was spotted allegedly behind the wheel, Kaplan was reportedly back in court for an hourlong closed-door meeting in which he discussed the hit-and-run offense with Commissioner Scott Gordon, who's presiding over the high-profile case.

Her arraignment has been set for Oct. 10, though as the counts are both misdemeanors, Spears will not be required to appear in court. If convicted, the singer could face up to six months behind bars.

Britney Spears now a work of art

No doubt, Spears has been a real piece of work. Now, she is more than 50 pieces of art at a Hollywood gallery.

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbatos -- makers of the documentary "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" about former televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker Messner as well as other films exploring fame -- gathered paintings, sculpture and other work for "Just Britney," which opened at their gallery on Friday.

"We reached out to a number of artists and found Britney is such a polarizing character these days," said Steven Corfe, a co-curator of the show with Thairin Smothers.

"People absolutely adored her and wanted to celebrate her bubblegum, pop princess years. Or, they thought she was an irresponsible mother or wanted to play up the drug side of things," Corfe added. "The show reflects that whole spectrum."

Pieces range from a portrait of the 25-year-old singer, "Gum Blond XLVIII" by Jason Kronenwald, made of chewed bubble gum, to the 6-foot by 10-foot (1.8 by 3.0-metre) "Snake Charmer" by Jamie Boling, based on a paparazzi photo of Britney exiting a car with her skirt hiked up and no panties on.

Spears rose to fame as a child star on the Disney Channel and a member of the New Mickey Mouse Club. As a teenager, she released chart-topping pop tunes like "Baby One More Time" and "Oops!...I Did It Again."

But as a young adult, Spears has been through two marriages and is in a custody battle over the two children she had with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

She has dealt with substance abuse, fired her staff, shaved her head and shed clothes for an ocean dip in front of paparazzi. Her performance of a new song, "Gimme More," while dressed as a stripper at the MTV awards, earned harsh criticism.

"She personifies our obsession with celebrity culture, and it's an obsession that won't die down no matter how far she goes off the rail," Corfe said. "We love to put people up on a pillar and we love even more to shoot them down."

"Just Britney" runs through early October at Bailey's and Barbatos' World of Wonder art gallery in Hollywood.

Britney's "crime against choreography" tops poll

Spears, whose performance was condemned as "a crime against choreography," topped the UKTV Gold poll after fighting off some tough competition from British comedian Ricky Gervais in "The Office" and actor Hugh Grant in "Love Actually."

The singer, who shot to stardom in the late 1990s as a pop princess, has been plagued by personal crises that have proved irresistible fodder for tabloids around the globe.

In July, she was derided for lip-syncing songs while performing at nightclubs in Southern California.

Critics then poured scorn on her earlier this month at the MTV Awards when she dressed as a stripper and mimed her way through her new song "Gimme More."

She is locked in a bitter custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their two sons.

In her latest mishap, she was charged with hit and run and driving without a valid license in California.

Princess Diana's twirl around the White House dance floor with John Travolta was picked in the channel's survey as the most memorable dance routine of all time.

Diana, a keen ballerina in her childhood, sparked a media frenzy in 1985 when displaying some spontaneous fancy footwork in Washington with Travolta during an official visit to the United States.

Travolta filled three places in the top 10 -- he also was hailed for his hip-swiveling gyrations in the films "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease."

Diana also landed a second entry -- for dancing a duet with British ballet star Wayne Sleep at London's Royal Opera House to celebrate the birthday of her then husband Prince Charles.

But nostalgia did get a look-in among fans with long memories.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers took fourth place for their classic celluloid dance routines in the 1930s while Gene Kelly landed sixth place for the 1952 classic "Singin' in the Rain."

Joey Fatone to Britney: 'I'm Here for You, Sweetheart'

"Britney, call me, come over to my house, come to Orlando, get away from it all," Fatone, tells Extra. "It's a good thing to get out of L.A."

Last weekend, the embattled pop star spent time in Atlanta after being charged with hit-and-run in Los Angeles.

Spears is working on a career comeback with a new album due out in November. But she's suffered a series of setbacks, including scathing reviews of her performance at the Video Music Awards and a very public battle with her ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their two sons.

"I think she just needs some time, some time to really heal," says Fatone, who has known Spears for many years. The current Singing Bee host was also a member of N' Sync with Spears's former flame, Justin Timberlake.

Fatone tells Extra that he hasn't seen Spears in some time, but has a message for his old friend: "If you're there, let me know. I'm here for you, sweetheart."

Spears Turns Cameras On Paparazzi

The Toxic hitmaker gleefully recorded photographers with her new hand-held camcorder as they waited for her outside a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The singer looked triumphant as she pointed the camera in shocked snappers' faces, sparking rumours she is making a documentary about her life.

Silverman discusses Spears jokes at VMAs

Says Silverman: "I don't want to get into feuds with girls half my age. I'm in it to be funny and not for the drama. It's embarrassing."

Silverman, known for her deadpan delivery and winsome depravity, drew criticism earlier this month when she followed Spears' much-panned VMA performance with an off-color monologue taking aim at the troubled singer and her two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"They are the most adorable mistakes you will ever see," Silverman said of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

Silverman also joked that Spears, at 25, had already accomplished in her life everything she ever will.

Silverman, who dates late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, has her own Comedy Central series, "The Sarah Silverman Program." She also starred in a feature film-length version of her one-woman show, "Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic."

Details Emerge from Britney's Atlanta Trip

"Unless you actually spoke to her for a minute, you wouldn’t have recognized her," Juicy Couture assistant manager Jake Barnaby told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. Spears, 25, reportedly told Barnaby that she was in Atlanta to escape stress and the paparazzi and to relax.

"She was very well put together and she was really quiet," Barnaby told the paper. "The people with her were actually causing more commotion. After a while, it was like, 'Oh, please. You're nobody. Stop.' "

One saleswoman told PEOPLE, "She seemed in good spirits and was very sweet and complimentary to everyone."

"She was looking for something to wear that night and spent way less than $1,000," the woman added. "Really, she was just in a rush, trying to get in and out. She was done in about 20 minutes."

Spears ended up purchasing a purple dog carrier, a brown eyelet bikini from the sale rack and a shirt or two, the saleswoman said.

Before heading to Georgia, Spears was charged Friday with hit-and-run causing property damage and driving without a valid license, said the Los Angeles City Attorney.

Endquote

Driver's Ed For Britney?

The troubled pop tart who is fighting for custody of her two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 12 months, would take off in her car without telling anyone where she was going and drive into traffic, Splash News reports.

At other times she¹d scream uncontrollably, Tony Barretto claimed. And he insisted her irrational behavior made it a dangerous place for her two children to be.

"This wasn¹t a safe place given the instability of the household," he said.

"We were always concerned. At times she would want to leave without telling us where she was going just to drive throughout the town, it was very dangerous with paparazzi."

"Then at times she would drive through town and go into oncoming traffic and we just didn¹t understand what she was doing or what her motivation was," he said, according to Splash News.

Barretto was a mystery witness last week in Spears custody case with ex-hubby Kevin Federline.

The hired muscle says his motivation was his concern for the kids.

"I made a decision based on the situations I was placed in while working for Ms. Spears and my deep concern for her children," he said.

Lawyers meet in Spears' custody dispute

Federline's lawyer, Mark V. Kaplan, said the unscheduled court session was called to "refine certain areas" of a judge's previous order in the case. He would not elaborate.

Spears' attorney, Sorrell Trope, confirmed in a telephone interview that the hearing involved issues related to the custody case. He declined to comment further.

The court hearing came days after city prosecutors charged Spears with misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run and driving without a valid license, claiming she smashed her car into another in a parking lot in August.

Kaplan said he does not expect the filing of the misdemeanor charges last week to have any impact on the upcoming hearing dates on Federline's request to increase his custody time with the former couple's two young sons. They divide time with the children equally.

The first hearing date is Nov. 26, but the second date has been delayed from Dec. 18 to early January, Kaplan said.

Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who held Monday's in-chambers session with the lawyers, is presiding over the custody dispute. He issued orders last week directing Spears to undergo random testing twice a week after finding she is involved in "habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol."

If convicted on the driving changes, Spears could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count. Authorities said the accident occurred Aug. 6, when she was filmed by paparazzi steering her car into another vehicle as she tried to turn into a spot in a parking lot. Spears was scheduled to be arraigned in that case Oct. 10, but she is not required to appear.

Spears, 25, and ex-husband Federline, 29, are the parents of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

Donovan Sends Advice To Winehouse and Spears

Donovan says, "I was only 17 when I walked into a television show that totally changed my life. Britney Spears is a classic example - a lot of money, became very famous, very young and she just wants to rebel, she wants to f**k up the image, she wants to crash the car and become different, cool."

"But I can understand it, I've been there. Ultimately, Amy Winehouse has made the choice - she wanted to be a pop star, I'd imagine, or a credible artist, whatever. My advice to Amy or Britney would probably be, if you don't like it, become a plumber."

Brit Bodyguard Dishes on Drug Use

The former bodyguard turned not so secret witness in Spears' ongoing custody battle took his case to Today Monday, denying that he is seeking vengeance on his onetime employer or that he's looking to gain money or fame in return for his damning deposition against the singer. Instead, Barretto insists his allegations of Spears' drug use, erratic behavior and rampant nudity are in the best interests of her children.

Barretto, appearing alongside camera-ready attorney Gloria Allred, spoke out about the sealed and uncontested statement he gave the Los Angeles Superior Court last week.

"I just wanted to make sure that the public and the court and her fans know the truth, and it's very hard to get that point across, so I'm just here to make sure that it's known," he said, adding that his decision to step forward now with his accusations, several months after Spears fired him, was not the result of sour grapes.

"I think that's inhuman."

While Barretto made clear that he never witnessed Spears engaging in any drug use in front of her two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, he did say he saw her taking drugs on two separate occasions during his two-month tenure in her employ, which began in May, immediately following her stint in rehab earlier this year. He said both times took place in a Los Angeles nightclub.

"One was at her table, the incident happened at her table. She had me hold a curtain to make her area private, and at one point it was getting kind of hard to continue to hold the curtain for such a long period of time, so I [tried] to look over and to get her approval to let go of the curtain, at which point I noticed what she was doing.

"The other occasion is when we escorted her to a private restroom upstairs, which they had secured for her. And she was in there for some time, and I was there waiting for her outside the door, again for some time. And I thought it would be appropriate to check on her, and I knocked and peeked in and I observed this behavior."

What behavior, specifically, Barretto was not at liberty to discuss, as his deposition has been placed under seal.

He also described a third incident in a Los Angeles hotel room. Although he did not witness Spears taking drugs, he said he did notice evidence of drug use in the room and claimed Spears was sweating and shaking and appeared "strung out."

Additionally, Barretto said he witnessed Spears drinking on several occasions but declined to assess whether he believed she was abusing booze.

"Alcohol, that's one's personal opinion," he said. "I don't know if abuse is the correct language. I believe I have seen her drink alcohol, and that would be up to the courts to decide whether that was abuse or just a drink."

Asked whether he attempted to address her purported misbehavior, Barretto said he feared crossing his former boss.

"It was—it was almost forbidden to talk to her about her personal life. And you know, Britney doesn't listen to nobody. I mean, that's apparent."

Barretto said he was inspired to step forward and publicy expose Spears' alleged problems in part because he has two young children of his own.

"I'm just happy that the judge has stepped in and put some elements in place to give her hope. I'm not here to destroy Britney. I'm here for the kids, I'm here to speak out on their behalf, because of my frustrations at the time when I worked for her and not being able to protect them from her, and I have accomplished that now."

Meanwhile, while Spears' former bodyguard was taking to the airwaves, her new attorney, Sorrell Trope, was back in a Los Angeles court for an unscheduled hearing in the singer's ongoing, headline-grabbing custody dispute.

Trope, along with Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday morning to "refine certain areas of a judge's previous order." Neither party opted to elaborate on which side took issue with the previous order, what portions they took issue with or whether a resolution was reached.

A progress report from Spears' dictated parenting coach is due to the court on Oct 22, and the coach is due to answer judge's questions on Nov. 26, when the next hearing in the custody battle is scheduled to take place.

EX-GUARD'S FEARS FOR SPEARS

"This is a wake up call. Get help," towering Tony Barretto told Britain's News of the World in an interview published today. "Think of the kids."

The 6-foot-7 "Fat Tony," who gave damning testimony in a Los Angeles court this week in a secret custody hearing, told the paper of three drug-fueled incidents.

The scariest night, he said, was May 2 at the posh Mondrian Hotel in L.A., where he was called to a hysterical Spears after some intense pre-concert partying with boy toy Howie Day.

"We could see Britney all red-eyed from crying," Barretto said.

The room was littered with dozens of empty mini-bottles and "on the surface of the dresser, I could see mounds of white powder and a straw on top. I suspect it was cocaine or methamphetamines," said Barretto, who learned to identify various drugs as part of a police training course.

"She was in a terrible state, just sweating and shaking," he said. "Her pupils were huge - I've never seen her so bad."

Barretto also outlined a litany of bad mom moments, including allowing Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, to roam near the pool unsupervised, forgetting to feed them, and drinking in front of them.

"Often she would scream and cry uncontrollably" in their presence, he said. "All it does is unsettle, upset and scare them."

His testimony last week prompted an outraged judge to not only order Spears to undergo twice weekly drug tests and spend eight hours a week with a parenting coach.

Spears is also hygienically challenged - "she burps and farts a lot," Barretto said.

But that didn't stop her from imposing strict rules for her staff, including:

* Don't stink. "Make sure you use cologne and deodorant.

* Don't sweat. "As a big guy, I was constantly having to wash my face."

* Use mints. "[That is] so she can't be disgusted by your breath."

* Don't stare. "Act coy when she walks around naked. Don't look at her bottom when she is getting in and out of a vehicle."

We Hear...

Well-guarded

Followed by a pack of paparazzi, Spears first was seen at Winston's in West Hollywood with Lavigne and Spears's friend Alli Sims.

The women left around 1 a.m., and Spears was later spotted at Hyde Lounge in West Hollywood until the club closed.

"They kept bringing (Spears) shots and so they were drinking," says a Hyde observer. "She was dancing on the tables trying to be really sexy, even putting a black sock over her head as a hat, and putting on a show for everyone."

Another observer saw what appeared to be alcohol in front of Spears but didn?t see her drink it.

At one point in the evening, Spears drove to the Beverly Hills Police Department and complained that photographers were following her, but no action was taken.

Spears's partying came after the judge in her custody fight with Kevin Federline found that she is a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of alcohol and controlled substances, and now must submit to random twice-weekly testing.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon also ruled that both Spears and Federline may not consume alcohol or non-prescription controlled substances at least 12 hours prior to being with their children.

Britney Spears Replacing Her Latest Lawyer

High-profile divorce lawyer Sorrell Trope, who has represented Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage, tells PEOPLE he'll soon work for Spears, 25, in her bitter custody dispute with Kevin Federline.

Trope will take over for Melvin Goldsman, who was named as Laura Wasser's replacement Monday after Wasser stepped down. Shortly after Wasser left, Spears's manager also quit.

"Yes, it's true Ms. Spears quit Melvin Goldsman's firm, but we haven't been officially retained yet," Trope says. "The paperwork has not been signed, and it has to have our firm's, Goldsman's and Ms. Spears's signatures. I anticipate it will be signed [Wednesday]."

The change in attorneys comes as Spears reels from her latest setback. On Tuesday a judge ruled in the custody case that the singer is a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of alcohol and controlled substances. The judge ordered her to undergo twice-weekly random testing.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon also ruled that Spears must meet with a "parenting coach" at least twice a week for a total of eight hours, according to court documents released Tuesday. And both Spears and Federline, 29, were ordered to undergo joint co-parenting counseling and complete the Parenting Without Conflict program

Still, the judge maintained the current 50-50 custody arrangement, pending the outcome of independent evaluations of the children's circumstances. Court-appointed evaluators will spend time with the family and make recommendations to the judge in November.

"It would appear the court wanted to stabilize the status quo, but also implement orders that give as much protection to the kids until the court has the benefit of the ... evaluations," Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, tells PEOPLE.

Kaplan adds: "Kevin is happy the case is moving forward in a positive direction."

Britney's Custody Rx: Counseling and Drug Tests

According to court documents obtained by E! News, Spears has been ordered to undergo periodic random drug testing to ensure that she gets to keep joint custody of her two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline, who has been angling to get primary physical custody thanks to his former missus' reckless ways.

"Based on the evidence presented the Court finds that there is a habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances by [Spears]," so the beleaguered pop princess will have to submit to two tests a week, to be given on different days of the week and at different times, per the order handed down by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon.

The order was issued Monday and made public Tuesday. (Thanks to the judge's decision to unseal various documents pertaining to their divorce and custody battle, view the filing.)

Probably not coincidentally, in court Monday was Spears' former bodyguard, Tony Barretto, who stated in a formal declaration that he witnessed "drug use, nudity and safety issues" perpetrated by Spears in front of her children.

"Though he was reluctant to come forward and become embroiled in her custody dispute, he decided to do so because of his concern about the safety and well-being of the children," Barretto's attorney, Gloria Allred, stated in a letter obtained by E! News.

Before stepping down as Spears' attorney of record in the matter, Laura Wasser chalked Barretto's claims up to the accusations of a "disgruntled former employee."

In addition to Gordon's more obvious instructions, such as to make sure that both Spears and K-Fed let the other know if one is planning to leave the state with the kids, refrain from using corporal punishment to discipline year-old Jayden James and two-year-old Sean Preston and not consume any alcohol or nonprescription drugs at least 12 hours prior to caring for the kids, the former Chaotic spouses have also been ordered to attend joint coparenting counseling and complete the county's Parenting Without Conflict program.

They have also been instructed to not badmouth each other in public or in front of the kids.

And while the estranged parents will be spending more time with each other than they would probably like, Spears will be logging even more time on the couch by herself, having also been ordered to attend individual counseling at least once a week to address parenting issues and meet with a parenting coach at least twice a week for a total of eight hours or more.

The coach will observe the 25-year-old singer's interactions with her kids and then provide Federline's camp with a report on those findings by Oct. 22.

If all goes according to Gordon's orders, Spears and Federline will be allowed to continue sharing custody, the arrangement that has been in place since their divorce was finalized in July.

Open Season on Spears Custody Docs

Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon issued a written ruling late Monday to unseal certain documents pertaining to Spears and Kevin Federline's never-ending custody dispute.

Gordon said the intense public interest in the case trumps the ex-couple's privacy concerns, and he approved the partial release of some, but not all, paperwork. Typically all cases in family court are sealed when minor children are involved.

"In this matter, the children have not been afforded the choice of litigating this matter in public and must suffer the 'good and bad' as a result of the decisions of those who care for them," Gordon wrote. (View the full ruling.)

"The evidence presented in this case clearly demonstrates a tremendous and ongoing media interest."

To say the least.

Gordon suggested that the release of some documents would actually be in the best interest of Spears and Federline's two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

To make sure the release will not "pose an immediate threat to the safety of the minor children," Gordon will redact anything that includes private addresses, visitation schedules, information on physical and mental health of the parties involved, Social Security numbers, travel itineraries, vehicle license plate numbers and the names of school and daycare facilities.

The ruling comes after People magazine and NBC's Los Angeles affiliate, KNBC-4, argued that the release of basic information about the case would not cause harm to the Feder-tots.

There was no immediate word on when the documents would be made available.

As for the Federline-Spears tug-o-war over the kids, sources familiar with the case tell E! News that despite some published reports, Gordon has not given Federline temporary custody.

Indeed, the court public information officer confirms that no ruling has been made. Federline went to court last month to ask for primary custody of the children and an increased monthly support checks.

While Spears still shares custody, her case took a serious blow, at least in the court of public opinion, with several dramatic developments Monday:

The long-threatened secret witness in the custody case was revealed to be Tony Barretto, Spears' post-rehab bodyguard, who claimed the singer engaged in "drug use, nudity and safety issues" while in the presence of her children. His attorney, Gloria Allred, said Spears' supposedly erratic behavior made him "very concerned" for the boys, though his declaration went "unrefuted and unchallenged" as he did not end up taking the stand.

Laura Wasser, Spears' long-suffering lawyer, confirmed she would be stepping down amid reports she clashed with Spears over legal strategy. Powerhouse legal eagles Melvin Goldsman and Marci Levine, who won custody for David Hasselhoff earlier this summer, will take over.

Finally, Jeff Kwatinetz of The Firm, Spears' manager of just one month, announced he was dumping her as a client. The decision came one week after her VMA implosion and two months before the release of her would-be comeback album. "We believe Britney is enormously talented, and has made a terrific record," the company said. "But current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job. We wish Britney the best."

Britney's new single a fledgling hit at radio

Her new single "Gimme More" is turning into a hit at top 40 radio. The tune, which she lip-synched during her widely ridiculed performance at the recent MTV Video Music Awards, jumped five places to No. 20 on trade publication Radio & Records' chart. It marks her first top 20 appearance since "Every Time" in summer 2004.

On Billboard's Pop 100 Airplay chart, "Gimme More" jumped nine places to No. 16. The cut is expected to be released digitally in the next few weeks; Spears' new, as-yet-untitled album is due November 13. It will be her first studio release since 2004's "In the Zone."

Brit Attorney & Manager, K-Fed Assassins Call It Quits

Monday was a quadruple-whammy day for the struggling pop star, as a custody hearing at a Los Angeles courthouse nearly got derailed by sideshows.

Leading the way was Spears' former bodyguard Tony Barretto, the long-threatened secret witness represented by camera-friendly attorney Gloria Allred.

Outside the court, Allred announced her formidably sized client was present and ready for cross-examination by Spears' attorneys, having filed a formal declaration detailing alleged "drug use, nudity and safety issues" perpetrated by Spears in front of her children.

In a letter obtained by E! News, Allred claims Spears' behavior led Barretto to become "very concerned" about the welfare of her and Federline's sons—Sean Preston, who marked his second birthday on Friday, and Jayden James, who turned one last Wednesday. (Read the full letter.)

Barretto, 28, resided full-time at Spears' home during his tenure from March, just after she completed a stint in rehab, until May 17.

"He was terminated because he did not hear her when she asked him to pick up her hat," Allred said of her client's dismissal, adding that he opted to come forward now because "he is a father of young children himself."

"Though he was reluctant to come forward and become embroiled in her custody dispute, he decided to do so because of his concern about the safety and well-being of the children," said Allred, who added that she had contacted the Los Angeles County Counsel's Office, which represents Child Protective Services, about Baretto's claims.

Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser, described Barretto as a "disgruntled former employee."

Potential sour grapes aside, Allred said that while she was "shocked" that Spears' attorneys chose not to cross-examine Barretto's declaration, it simply meant his account of the oddball behavior remained "unrefuted and unchallenged."

Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, weighed in posthearing on why he thinks his legal rivals opted not to press the witness.

"Sometimes lawyers don't like cross-examining somebody when they don't know what the extent of their answers will be," he told reporters.

Another potential reason: It's no longer their concern.

Wasser, who reportedly butted heads with Spears over their strategy, confirmed at court today that she would be stepping down as the singer's legal representation and that a new lawyer would be stepping in.

Guess that's one way to stop the madness.

Spears will now be fronted by Melvin Goldsman and Marci Levine, who successfully got custody for David Hasselhoff earlier this summer.

It wasn't the only shakeup to Team Britney. Manager Jeff Kwatinetz of the Firm dumped Spears as a client after just one month of repping her.

"It saddens us to confirm media reports that we have terminated our professional relationship with Britney Spears," the management company said.

"We believe Britney is enormously talented, and has made a terrific record. But current circumstances have prevented us from properly doing our job. We wish Britney the best."

Like Wasser, Kwatinetz reportedly had issues with Spears' decision making. The move comes just a week after Spears' Video Music Awards flameout.

Regardless, Spears' label, Jive Records, says the behind-the-scenes maneuvers won't affect her ballyhooed comeback album.

"The label does not comment on artist/management relations. We're gearing up for a Nov. 13 album release date," the label said.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were quick to debunk an Entertainment Tonight "exclusive" claiming that authorities had been tracking down "legitimate leads" on a "contract hit" supposedly placed on Federline. The syndicated show also claimed the FBI had attempted several times to inform the "America's Most Hated" rapper of the would-be assassination.

"The department does not currently have an open investigation," said LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman. "There was an investigation conducted in June, but there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation, and the investigation was closed."

Laura Eimiller of the FBI said the agency received "non-specific, uncorroborated information" about a possible threat. She said the FBI referred the matter to the LAPD "out of an abudance of caution."

Federline, 29, and Spears, 25, currently share custody of Sean Preston and Jayden James. Citing his fears for the boys' welfare, Federline is seeking primary physical custody of the children.

Meanwhile, commissioner Scott Gordon is due to rule later Monday on whether the media can have access to some documents in the custody battle.

Britney Spears to lose custody of kids today?

Gloria Allred, lawyer for Spears's ex-husband Kevin Federline, is bringing a "secret" witness to court at 8.30am Los Angeles time today for a closed hearing, which could see the removal of Jayden James and Sean Preston from Spears's care.

According to a report on Foxnews.com, the witness in question is a man who has had close observation of Spears with her children, and likely observations from him are that the toddlers witnessed drug use by Spears in their home.

The witness signed a declaration, effectively a written testimony, which was filed to Commissioner Scott Gordon, the judge in the case, who accepted the declaration and supposedly praised the work of Allred.

The witness will not have to testify in court unless Spears and her lawyers question the information in the declaration.

Spears and her team would have discovered the identity of the witness on Friday when the declaration was filed.

The witness will be with Allred when she goes to court to fight for Federline's custody of the kids this morning in Los Angeles.

Allred told Foxnews.com that despite that fact that he may be recognized as he enters the court, the witness is "not famous" and is "just someone who is concerned about the kids."

Meanwhile, reports that Spears would apologise at the Primetime Emmy's last night (September 16) proved unfounded. Rumors had been rife that Spears would appear live to address her disastrous performance at the MTV VMAs last week (September 9).

Radio listeners may want less of "Gimme More"

"Gimme" scored Most Increased Plays on the format during its first week out, racking up 1,062 spins. Day by day, the song climbed from 225 plays on CHR/top 40 on September 5 to 269 on September 7.

Then came Spears' awkward and generally panned performance September 9 on the VMAs. The following day, "Gimme" got a jolt, jumping to 336 spins as talk of Spears' VMAs showing made the water cooler rounds. But on September 11, "Gimme" took its first spill on radio, falling to 331 spins.

Will Spears' VMAs rendition ultimately undermine any momentum that her first single in three years was building?

A Zomba label rep said radio is getting both negative and positive calls about the song since the telecast, but some programmers expect the latter won't last.

"After the hilarious performance at the VMAs, there has been even more buzz about the song," KRQQ Tucson, Ariz., DJ Seth O'Brien said. "But I think this performance will be the running joke of Britney's attempt at a comeback. I bet we will see a drop in interest (in "Gimme") after a few days."

Spears' lawyer seeks to seal documents

Attorney Laura A. Wasser filed a motion Friday asking a Superior Court commissioner to make permanent a conditional order to seal all documents dealing with custody. It was filed in response to a motion by People magazine and TV station seeking to unseal some of the papers.

"This is the perfect instance to stop the madness," Wasser said in court. Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan agreed with Wasser's motion.

Commissioner Scott Gordon heard arguments Friday, but put off ruling on the issue until a hearing set for Monday on Federline's request to gain a bigger share of custody.

Representing People and KNBC-TV, lawyer Alonzo Wickers cited a pair of cases that he said show family law documents, even those involving custody, need not be kept entirely private.

"No statute says custody-related documents should be broadly sealed," Wickers said.

The singer married Federline in October 2004. She filed for divorce last November and the divorce became official July 30. The two have joint custody of sons Sean Preston, who turned 2 on Friday, and Jayden James, who turned 1 on Wednesday.

Spears' lawyer seeks to seal documents

Attorney Laura A. Wasser filed a motion Friday asking a Superior Court commissioner to make permanent a conditional order to seal all documents dealing with custody. It was filed in response to a motion by People magazine and TV station seeking to unseal some of the papers.

"This is the perfect instance to stop the madness," Wasser said in court. Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan agreed with Wasser's motion.

Commissioner Scott Gordon heard arguments Friday, but put off ruling on the issue until a hearing set for Monday on Federline's request to gain a bigger share of custody.

Representing People and KNBC-TV, lawyer Alonzo Wickers cited a pair of cases that he said show family law documents, even those involving custody, need not be kept entirely private.

"No statute says custody-related documents should be broadly sealed," Wickers said.

The singer married Federline in October 2004. She filed for divorce last November and the divorce became official July 30. The two have joint custody of sons Sean Preston, who turned 2 on Friday, and Jayden James, who turned 1 on Wednesday.

Billboard single review: Britney

Britney set to apologize on live TV this Sunday?

The singer is reportedly "in negotiations" with Emmy Awards producers, who are trying to get Spears to appear live at the ceremony this Sunday (September 16).

Usmagazine.com is saying that while Spears is "weighing the offer" to apologize, and quotes a source that says "the Emmy people aren't dealing with her record company, her manager, or her agents at William Morris. So if she is doing anything for the Emmys then it's not going through the official channels."

The Emmy Awards will air in this Sunday at 8pm on Fox.

Tori Amos pens musical ode to Britney

During Amos's show in Sydney on Tuesday (September 11), she improvized a verse in response to Spears's criticically panned performance at the MTV Music Video Awards.

Amos has previously spoken out in support of Britney Spears, saying that her head-shaving incident was an indication of who Spears really is.

Speaking to contactmusic earlier this year, Amos said: "I don't think her sweet, saccharine image was close to who she really was, and she rebelled." The lyrics in full were:

Britney, they set you up
But you drank from their cup
Britney, they set you up
Oh, but this is what it looks like, love
This is what is looks like

When a star falls down, when a star falls down

Well, maybe you're a mother
But you still need your mother
Yes, I may be a mother but I still need a mother
To pick me up
Yes, to pick me up

When it all falls down, when it all falls down

Britney, they set you up
Is your contract winding up?
But you drank from the cup
Boy, this is what it looks like
Yes, I said, this is, this is what it looks like, Disney, yes

When a star falls down, when a star falls down

Well, maybe you're a mother
Baby, you still need a mother
Yes, I may be a mother but I still need a mother
To pick me up
Yes, to pick me up

When it all falls down, when it all falls down
When it all falls down, when it all falls down

Kanye West: Britney Spears Is 'Not Important in Music'

"I just felt like she wasn't ready and I felt like they had to get their ratings. ... It just shows you it's not a black and white thing; it's a money thing," the rapper said on Ellen Friday. "I felt bad for her too. I felt bad for everyone involved."

He said the network should have stopped Spears after watching her in rehearsal. "Someone had to be at that practice and be like, 'Wow. This is not good.' All the lip-syncing and everything," West, 30, added. "I mean, that performance, had it been pulled off perfectly, still wouldn't have been up to par to start off the MTV Awards."

Selling a reported 420,000 records the day his album "Graduation" was released, West seems on track to be the victor in his battle to out-perform fellow rapper 50 Cent on the charts. But West's battle with MTV continues.

"[MTV] didn't give me the opportunity to rock the way I wanted to rock," he told DeGeneres, calling his five VMA nominations but no wins a "slap in the face."

"I told the guy at MTV, 'There's only a couple things important in music this year: Umbrella, Amy Winehouse,' " he said. "it's not just about me. Britney Spears is not important in music, but she's important to the tabloids and stuff like that."

A self-professed "fan of award shows," West also confirmed that he will be at the Emmy's Sunday night. "I'm making an appearance, but it's not a full performance."

Lawyer: Britney Spears 'Just Wants to Be a Mom'

Wasser spoke to reporters outside the courtroom after another hearing in the custody fight between Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline. TMZ.com and CelebTV cited court documents signed Friday saying Spears will continue to pay Federline $20,000 in spousal support.

However, a legal source close to the case tells PEOPLE that it "was an old document filed for housekeeping purposes... All the financial issues in this case have already been decided."

The source says Federline's spousal support of $20,000 a month ends in November. "But he still gets child support - an amount that's already been decided. He can come back and ask for more child support, but he has not yet made that request. The only [additional] money that [his lawyer] has requested is to cover his attorney fees."

Wasser did not confirm any details about what was discussed at the hearing. Asked if this is a frustrating time for Spears because of the negative reactions to her appearance last Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards, Wasser said, "Yes. I think she just wants to be a mom, and both of her kids' birthdays are this week, and I think she would've liked to celebrate with them without having to worry about the entire nation - the entire world - being concerned about what's going on with her personally and her custody battle with Mr. Federline."

Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said outside court that, as far as how Federline was faring, "He is doing great."

Asked if Spears's recent public appearance is helping or hindering her case, Kaplan replied, "I don't know what thing you are referring to, and I'm not going to talk about any strategy. I think how she is doing is something for her attorneys to address."

Wasser, when asked to address a story that Spears tried to offer Federline a settlement, which he was resistant to accept, replied, "I don't believe that's true. They met and are trying to work it out so they don't have to have a judge make determinations for them regarding their kids. I don't know that he was resistant or she was resistant. They are both trying to work to come up with something together."

On Wednesday, Spears, 25, attended an unscheduled meeting with Federline, 29, and his attorney at the Century City offices of Wasser. The meeting fell on son Jayden James's first birthday and five days before the parents are due to face each other before a family court judge on Monday.

Son Sean Preston turned 2 on Friday.

Spears and Federline currently have 50-50 custody, but Federline is seeking more time, serving subpoenas on people in Spears's inner-circle to show problems in her parenting skills.

Madonna and Britney Spears face beheading threat

The aggressive comments were launched by spokesman and senior leader of Palestinian terror group the Popular Resistance Committees, a group based in the Gaza Strip and responsible for the increase in shootings and bombings in the region.

Muhammad Abdel-Al is quoted in new book Schmoozing With Terrorists: From Hollywood To the Holy Land Jihadists Reveal Their Global Plans--To A Jew! attacks the two pop stars, labelling them "prostitutes."

Abdel-Al rants, "If I meet these whores I will have the honor--I repeat, I will have the honor--to be the first one to cut the heads off Madonna and Britney Spears if they will keep spreading their Satanic culture against Islam."

He continued, "If these two prostitutes keep doing what they are doing, we of course will punish them."

The comments have been made just as Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie prepare to celebrate the Jewish New Year with 2,000 Kabbalah followers in Israel.

Anti-depressants to blame for Britney's VMA fiasco?

Onlookers were aghast when she performed a dance routine onstage at the glitzy Las Vegas show but barely seemed to know what she was doing.

According to the source, the singer was nervous about her comeback performance and flew into a rage when she saw what her hair looked like in a mirror, causing her to lash out at staff, including hairdresser Ken Paves.

Apparently this is when Britney took the pills--which were designed to relax her, but maybe in this instance were a little more than she needed.

American Idol Judges Offer to Help Britney Spears

American Idol, which seems to specialize in turning embarrassing performances into gold, has offered to do a little of the same for Spears, FOX News reports.

"We have decided we can bring Britney back," Idol judge Simon Cowell says in offering to help Spears's career. "We are serious. We plan to buy her underpants, get her bigger shorts to perform in and get her away from her stupid friends."

Paula Abdul says, "We always have time for Britney. We love her."

And Randy Jackson adds: "We'd love to take care of you, Spears! We will make you a superstar again!"

Spears, 25, is coming off a disappointing performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, and her new single "Gimme More" entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at 85.

Meanwhile, superproducer Timbaland also offered some advice to the pop star: Do a duet with her ex-flame Justin Timberlake, an idea that Timblanad claims Spears scotched.

"She has no comeback story," he tells MTV News. "That's the problem. She has to have a team. She needs to come back with Justin doing records. ... [Instead she got] so big-headed and [was] like, 'Screw you, screw you, I don't need nobody.' "

Timbland says that Spears needs to "humble herself and make a phone call and say, 'I'm sorry.'"

"She knows what she's sorry about," the producer adds. "She needs to say, 'I was wrong,' and it'll definitely move forward. ... That's all she has to say."

Timberlake's fellow 'N Sync member Joey Fatone, who has known Spears "for many years", has also spoken out about the singer, saying he's worried about her.

"It was interesting," he tells Extra about Spears's VMAs performance. "I felt bad, but didn't. It looked like she was really lost. A lot of people... really want her to seek help... There's something not right there, something needs to obviously be done before anything tragic happens. She's a great girl."

Britney Spears & K-Fed Meet at Lawyer's Office

Spears, 25, attended an unscheduled meeting with Federline, 29, and his attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan Wednesday. The exes arrived separately to the Century City offices of Spears's attorney Laura Wasser. The meeting fell on son Jayden's first birthday and five days before they are due to face each other before a family court judge on Monday.

The meeting was Spears's idea according to a source close to her. "Britney asked for [the meeting]. She wants to put an end to this public debacle," says the Spears source. "However, Kevin [has] refused. He needs more money so he's determined to win this."

Court documents released Aug. 30 show that Spears's income is $737,868 a month and that Ferderline receives $20,000 a month in spousal support but has no "net income after business expenses."

A source close to Federline confirmed the meeting, but said that Federline was not drawing out the process due to financial self-interest. "He's not going for additional child support in the court papers that were filed. It's not about the money."

When asked if Spears was hoping to settle, the Federline source retorted: "She might settle, she's got stage fright."

Spears's Vegas weekend featured eight party-hopping nightclub excursions and one disastrous nationally televised dance number. She has kept a low profile since returning to Los Angeles Monday.

BRITNEY STEPS OUT

The troubled pop-tard has been in hiding since her awful MTV Video Music Awards performance, which made her everyone's object of ridicule.

According to U.S. reports, Britney not only met with her lawyer, but also with ex-husband Kevin Federline about the bitter custody battle over their sons. The date happened to fall on her youngest son Jayden's birthay.

Insiders say her agreement gives her Jayden in the morning and Kevin gets him for the rest of his birthday.

Once she left her attorney's office Brit -- wearing an ankle-length floral summer dress with a trendy white Versace handbag and Versace sunglasses -- went shopping at Ralph's cheap supermarket chain With her assistant, Ali.

Britney's Backstage Breakdown: Report

The troubled performer, 25, flipped out when she saw her hairdo for the show -- and had to be given anti-depressants by her doctor.

Critics then blasted her performance of her new single Gimme More, calling it “bored” and “glazed” as she forgot dance moves and lip-out-of-synched the tune.

An MTV source told The Sun: “The scene in the dressing room before the show was one of absolute blind panic.

“She knew she hadn’t rehearsed enough and was going to mess up the whole show and possibly her career - then she saw her hairdo and it was the final straw.

“She went into a wild rage and started lashing out at everyone -- including her stylist.”

Desperate lackeys at the glitzy Las Vegas Palms Casino resort fetched her doctor, who had Brit pop the prescription pills.

The source said: “Britney took enough to floor an elephant. They calmed her down -- but were clearly too effective.”

For the complete story, go to The Sun.

Britney: 'I looked like a fat pig!'

According to Usmagazine.com, Britney's reaction as she ran offstage after her performance was: "Oh, my God, I looked like a fat pig! I looked like a fat pig!"

The website, which is the online version of Us Weekly magazine, quotes a "backstage source" in the story, which says: "She was also able to see video of herself throughout the auditorium. She was inconsolable."

The website also says that Britney fired hairstylist Ken Paves just 30 minutes before her appearance, which was watched live by over seven million viewers. The story reads: "Ken was in the middle of doing her hair, and she just said, 'You're really annoying me! Get out.'"

Paves told Us: "I did go to Las Vegas to work with Britney. However, once there, I made the professional decision not to do her hair for the VMAs."

Reports are also saying that Britney chose her own outfit for the performance.

New Britney Spears track to feature very personal lyrics

"Piece Of Me" was produced by the Swedish team of Bloodshy & Avant, who worked on the singer's smash hit "Toxic" back in 2004.

In the track she sings: "I'm Mrs. American dream/Since I was 17.../I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous/ I'm Mrs. 'Oh my God, that Britney's shameless'/I'm Mrs. 'Extra, extra, this just in'/I'm Mrs. 'She's too fat, now she's too thin.'"

At other points in the track she refers to herself as "Bad media karma" and says: "Another day, another drama/I can't see the harm in working hard and being a mama."

Other new tracks include the electro, vocoder-assisted "Radar," "Break The Ice" (which is said to sound like Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right"), and "Heaven On Earth," which is said to sound like Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape," reports EW.com.

Reality TV Judges Rate Britney Spears's VMA Act

While a disappointed Dancing With the Stars' Tonioli told PEOPLE, "Everything was wrong," the usually blistering Cowell of American Idol went easy on the embattled pop star.

Speaking to Extra, Cowell said, "She stole the show, whether you liked it or not. The only thing you heard about the following day was Britney Spears."

Granted, Cowell admitted, "It wasn't the best performance. She wasn't ready for it." But, he notes, "She's had more attention in the last 48 hours than any artist on the planet."

Tonioli, who says, "I'm a fan of hers," also adds: "I think it was sad, because you have someone who used to be great. I saw her years ago in concert, and she was the whole package. She's a gorgeous girl. It was almost like a ghost of that."

Of the performance, Tonioli says, "There was a disconnect in her eyes, dancing was poor, she couldn't even get the lip- synching together. She obviously has talent and it has been squandered. How could something like this happen?"

In a way, Cowell is equally bewildered. His advice to Spears: "Dump her friends ... fire the stylist. Be sensible. Put her in rehearsal for four weeks, get her into the gym [because] when she's on it, she's incredible."

Still, when it comes to her single, "Gimme More" – which debuted strongly on the national radio airplay chart, in 69th place, reports USA Today – Cowell, reverting to his usual character, says, "This was just an okay record."

Britney Spears's Hairdresser Quit Before VMA Performance

Weeks before the awards show, "Britney had requested his two female assistants [to do her extensions] since she prefers women around her," and was disappointed when Paves himself arrived, says a Spears source. The stylist soon left, taking his hair with him.

"He bailed," says the source. Says Paves's rep: "Ken made the professional decision not to do her hair for the VMAs."

That wasn't Spears's only problem – there was also a wardrobe flap. An MTV rep says costumers picked out a form-flattering corset for her to wear, but Spears chose a bikini instead.

For more on Britney's disastrous comeback performance, her early plans for the show, and her label's plans for her upcoming album, pick up this week's PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Britney Spears's New Album Details

Like many of today's young dance-pop starlets, Britney sounds like she's looking back to the '80s as she moves forward toward the release of her fifth studio album (and first since 2003's In the Zone), due out Nov. 13.

In addition to the pulsating first single, "Gimme More," other tracks we heard at an exclusive preview have a synth-heavy sound that nods to new wave. The defiant "Piece of Me" the likely second single and possible album title, features Spears's heavily processed voice issuing the challenge: "You want a piece of me?" to her foes. The track was produced by Bloodshy & Avant, the Swedish producing team behind her hit "Toxic."

"Break the Ice," another uptempo number featuring Spears's trademark breathy vocals, was produced by Timbaland protegée Nate "Danjahandz" Hills.

The Rihanna-esque "Radar" (also produced by Bloodshy & Avant), sets Spears's chirpy delivery to a bouncy beat, while the driving "Heaven on Earth," an early fave, is a throbbing throwback to "I Feel Love"-era Donna Summer.

WHY BRITNEY COULDN'T HACK IT

On Saturday, the day before the VMAs, Spears was scheduled to arrive at rehearsal at around 1 p.m. Our spy said, "She didn't even get to Las Vegas until 4:30 p.m. It was ridiculous . . . The production people at MTV were freaking out . . . Nobody can tell Britney what to do anymore. No one can control her. She is a mess."

To make matters worse, when she arrived in Vegas, Spears didn't go straight to rehearsals.

"She went to her hotel room and ordered a bunch of food and some frozen margaritas," the spy said. "She came down, like, an hour later with a frozen margarita in her hand."

When Spears preformed on Sunday, she stumbled a couple times and couldn't remember the words she was lip-syncing. She covered her mouth at one point but by the end of the song had simply given up any pretense of singing.

"The dance number was spectacular - without her," said our spy at rehearsal. "When the stand-in was rehearsing with the dancers, in the hours they were all waiting for her, it was amazing. Then Britney showed up and refused to do anything. The dancers were supposed to lift and twirl her in the air a few times, and that just wasn't going to happen. The more complicated dance moves had to be erased because she couldn't do them."

Meanwhile, Spears was agitated because she didn't like the outfit MTV had selected for her.

"MTV wanted her to wear a corset outfit. It would have looked great and covered a lot of things up, but she hated it and didn't think it was sexy enough."

Instead, Spears changed into a spangly bra-and-underwear outfit she'd brought with her that emphasized her weight gain over the last year.

MTV execs weren't the only ones worried about Spears' impending debacle. Another spy said, "The dancers were texting pals, asking them to pray for them. They were worried."

After Spears performed at the VMAs, she allegedly broke down in tears but then partied until 3 a.m. She changed outfits several times and again was photographed by paparazzi wearing no underwear.

A rep for Spears didn't return e-mails.

Harshest words saved for Britney's body

But what about the nastiest comments of all — those about her body? "Lard and Clear," read Monday's headline in the New York Post. "The bulging belly she was flaunting was SO not hot," wrote E! Online. And so on.

Was it fair? Did Spears, lest we forget a mother of two, deserve to be held up against the standard of her once fantastically toned abs, sculpted by sessions of 1,000 tummy crunches? Or was she asking for it by choosing that unforgiving black-sequined bikini?

More profoundly, in an age where skinny models and skeletal actresses are under scrutiny for the message they're sending young girls, what does it say that we're excoriating a young woman for a little thickness in her middle?

Certainly people were curious to see her. The show drew 7.1 million viewers Sunday, up 23 percent over last year's VMAs, and was the highest-rated cable program of the year among people aged 12 to 34, according to Nielsen Media Research.

On the morning after what the VH1 channel called Spears' "already historic" performance, the blogosphere was buzzing with opinions. For every "fat" comment there was an impassioned retort. "Give her a break," wrote one blogger on Aboutthink.com. "The girl's had two kids — I hope I'm a size 10 after having kids!"

"OK, she isn't fat," wrote another. "But she isn't fit enough to be wearing (or not wearing) what she is."

For many observers, the issue was not so much the body, but the body in THAT outfit.

"In that ensemble, you just can't have an ounce of anything extra," said Janice Min, editor of the celebrity magazine US Weekly. "Many women wouldn't eat for days if they were wearing that."

"Did she look better than 99 percent of women? Yes," added Min. "But compared to her earlier form, she probably didn't look as good."

Besides, said Min, "Britney Spears has always been about the whole package. It's never been 100 percent about the talent. Is it sexist? Probably, but she's built a career on an image of sexiness."

Talk of Spears' physique comes amid an increasingly critical focus on overly skinny actresses in Hollywood, who've largely replaced supermodels as the world's fashion plates. It's hard to pick up a celebrity magazine without a critical photo of, say, Angelina Jolie's birdlike arms. And curvy actresses are getting positive attention, from Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson of "Dreamgirls" to Golden Globe-winner America Ferrara of TV's "Ugly Betty."

In the fashion industry, there's been an effort to promote healthier-looking models. "Girls aren't looking as skinny this season as they did," said Suze Yalof Scwhartz, executive editor-at-large for Glamour Magazine. "There's food backstage. They're looking sexier." At Glamour, she noted, a model won't be featured "if she shows too much clavicle."

The nastier headlines about Spears are uncalled for, Schwartz said, but at the same time, "when you walk around the stage in a black bikini in front of millions of viewers, people are going to notice." She added that though Spears doesn't have the perfect body she once did, "Most women would die for the body she has now."

An obvious question is whether a male performer would have been subjected to the same standards. Many would say no; Dave Zinczenko, editor of Men's Health magazine, says yes.

"Listen, any time you go on national television and dance in barely any clothing, you're going to be facing a lot of scrutiny," Zinczenko says. "Anybody would be asking for it." Not that many people weren't pulling for Spears, he notes: "If she had come back, she would have been the toast of the country."

And certainly she had a lot to come back from over the past few years: Well-documented parenting mishaps — remember the baby on her lap in the driver's seat? A messy divorce from husband Kevin Federline. The famous crotch photos. The bizarre head-shaving incident. Rehab.

And now this.

"I kind of feel bad for her," said Shelley Wade, a DJ at New York City pop station Z100. "She looked really nervous. And then now, I'm looking at all these blogs this morning about how everybody thinks she's fat and I'm like, `What! Fat?' She wasn't fat."

How all this will impact Spears' career, and sales of her new album, has yet to be seen. "I just felt like that performance was make or break for her comeback," says Wade. "Now with last night's performance, she's just kind of put herself back in the same boat ... everybody thinks she's a train wreck."

But the single of "Gimme More," the song she destroyed onstage, is off to a great start in the Top 40, says Sean Ross of Edison Research, which tracks radio play. "A great VMA performance would have probably closed the deal for her, but she's still got until Thanksgiving to do other good performances and to release a strong album with other hits on it," he said.

In any case, it seems it would never be wise to write an obituary of Spears' career.

"With everything Britney, we think this is the last chance," says Min. "The fact is, it never is.

"At least this puts attention back on her as a performer. My sense is she'd rather be judged on that than on the rehab, the drinking and the partying."

Fergie: Give Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan a Break

And what the 20-something stars need, says the 32-year-old Black Eye Peas singer, is some breathing room so they can help themselves.

"They're young," Fergie (real name: Stacy Ferguson) said at a Conde Nast Fashion Rocks event in New York. "I was young when I went through my stuff. Leave them alone. If they want to get better, they're going to get better on their own."

Spears, 25, has returned to Los Angeles to rejoin her sons, Jayden, Sean Preston, who are respectively turning 1 and 2 this week, after a disappointing comeback performance Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. Earlier this year, she spent a month in rehab.

Lohan, 21, is in her third rehab program, this one in Utah, following her DUI arrest last month, for which she was sentenced to a day in jail. In a statement, she said she was addicted to alcohol and drugs and had relapsed.

Fergie, whose own time in rehab was for a crystal meth addiction, says that Spears and Lohan should ignore the media attention and focus on their problems.

"If somebody is going to change, they have to want to do it themselves," she says. "I think it is really unfair to them when they are trying to get help. We're all watching as a nation and commenting day by day on their rehabilitation. It's not fair. You're supposed to have a sanctuary, a place where you can go and not be pressured every day."

Celebrities Blast Spears' Comeback Performance

The singer, making her first major public appearance in four years, wore a silver and black sparkly underwear set and knee-high black boots to debut her upcoming single 'Gimme More'. But her critics claimed she looked disinterested and unfit.

And her fellow celebrity pals seemed to agree. Speaking backstage after the event, Akon said, "That could have been better. She needed to focus more. She looked nervous and I think the pressure got to her."

While Common added, "I think it didn't seem like she wanted to be there. There wasn't any spark, it didn't feel like life was there."

Kevin Federline Throws Birthday Party for Sons

Personal assistants were seen picking up banners, balloons and an ice cream cake, all in the theme of the animated movie Cars, for Jayden James, who turns 1 on Wednesday, and Sean Preston, who turns two on Friday.

Spears's parents, Jamie and Lynne, stopped by for the party at Federline's San Fernando Valley home, joining about 20 guests. They had also visited their grandchildren the day before, while their daughter was hitting the club scene in Vegas before her widely panned VMAs performance.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, are embroiled in an increasingly fierce custody battle over their boys. They currently have 50-50 custody, but Federline is seeking more time, serving subpoenas on people in Spears's inner-circle to show problems in her parenting skills.

Kanye West: MTV Exploited Britney & Me

"They exploited Britney in helping to end her career," West told deejay JJ at New York radio station Z100 on Monday. "When Britney was opening [the VMA telecast], near the end, I felt so bad for her. I said, 'Man, it's a dirty game. This game will chew you up and spit you out.'" (Listen to the interview here.)

The rapper doesn't just take umbrage with the handling of Spears, whose performance has been maligned by critics and fans alike.

West tells Z100 he felt misled and "betrayed" by the network, and has promised to never work with MTV again. The rapper says he's already cancelled planned appearances on TRL to promote his new album Graduation. Specifically, West takes issue with the way performances were set up – that he should have performed on the main stage and not from a private suite where many artists performed for small groups of fans throughout the telecast.

"I wasn't mad that I just didn't win any awards," West says. "For me, [MTV] made it seem like performing on the main stage was a bad thing, and the suites were just so great. It was my dream when I made 'Stronger' to open up the VMAs with a real power performance.

"And I just feel like I got betrayed by them," the rapper continues. "I feel like they tried to make it seem like I was so into everything that was going on in the show."

Another sticking point: Pamela Anderson's racy introduction on the telecast. (Anderson appeared in a music video for West's single "Touch the Sky.") Before West performed "Good Life" from his suite, the former Baywatch star told viewers, "One of the best times I've ever had was making out with the next performer in the middle of the desert. I think I had my tongue so far down his throat I could taste his fiancée – and I might need a repeat performance later tonight."

"I'm engaged, and I feel like it's disrespectful to my relationship," West says of Anderson's remarks, which he claims the network assured him would not happen.

When JJ pointed out that West was being pretty blunt by speaking out against MTV, the rapper responded in a characteristically unapologetic fashion: "I have a connection in the fans' heart that the press can't stop."

There was no immediate response from MTV. Stay tuned.

Is it fair to savage Britney's figure?

But what about the nastiest comments of all — those about her body? "Lard and Clear," read Monday's headline in the New York Post. "The bulging belly she was flaunting was SO not hot," wrote E! Online. And so on.

Was it fair? Did Spears, lest we forget a mother of two, deserve to be held up against the standard of her once fantastically toned abs, sculpted by sessions of 1,000 tummy crunches? Or was she asking for it by choosing that unforgiving black-sequined bikini?

More profoundly, in an age where skinny models and skeletal actresses are under scrutiny for the message they're sending young girls, what does it say that we're excoriating a young woman for a little thickness in her middle?

Certainly people were curious to see her. The show drew 7.1 million viewers Sunday, up 23 percent over last year's VMAs, and was the highest-rated cable program of the year among people aged 12 to 34, according to Nielsen Media Research.

On the morning after what the VH1 channel called Spears' "already historic" performance, the blogosphere was buzzing with opinions. For every "fat" comment there was an impassioned retort. "Give her a break," wrote one blogger on Aboutthink.com. "The girl's had two kids — I hope I'm a size 10 after having kids!"

"OK, she isn't fat," wrote another. "But she isn't fit enough to be wearing (or not wearing) what she is."

For many observers, the issue was not so much the body, but the body in THAT outfit.

"In that ensemble, you just can't have an ounce of anything extra," said Janice Min, editor of the celebrity magazine US Weekly. "Many women wouldn't eat for days if they were wearing that."

"Did she look better than 99 percent of women? Yes," added Min. "But compared to her earlier form, she probably didn't look as good."

Besides, said Min, "Britney Spears has always been about the whole package. It's never been 100 percent about the talent. Is it sexist? Probably, but she's built a career on an image of sexiness."

Talk of Spears' physique comes amid an increasingly critical focus on overly skinny actresses in Hollywood, who've largely replaced supermodels as the world's fashion plates. It's hard to pick up a celebrity magazine without a critical photo of, say, Angelina Jolie's birdlike arms. And curvy actresses are getting positive attention, from Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson of "Dreamgirls" to Golden Globe-winner America Ferrara of TV's "Ugly Betty."

In the fashion industry, there's been an effort to promote healthier-looking models. "Girls aren't looking as skinny this season as they did," said Suze Yalof Scwhartz, executive editor-at-large for Glamour Magazine. "There's food backstage. They're looking sexier." At Glamour, she noted, a model won't be featured "if she shows too much clavicle."

The nastier headlines about Spears are uncalled for, Schwartz said, but at the same time, "when you walk around the stage in a black bikini in front of millions of viewers, people are going to notice." She added that though Spears doesn't have the perfect body she once did, "Most women would die for the body she has now."

An obvious question is whether a male performer would have been subjected to the same standards. Many would say no; Dave Zinczenko, editor of Men's Health magazine, says yes.

"Listen, any time you go on national television and dance in barely any clothing, you're going to be facing a lot of scrutiny," Zinczenko says. "Anybody would be asking for it." Not that many people weren't pulling for Spears, he notes: "If she had come back, she would have been the toast of the country."

And certainly she had a lot to come back from over the past few years: Well-documented parenting mishaps — remember the baby on her lap in the driver's seat? A messy divorce from husband Kevin Federline. The famous crotch photos. The bizarre head-shaving incident. Rehab.

And now this.

"I kind of feel bad for her," said Shelley Wade, a DJ at New York City pop station Z100. "She looked really nervous. And then now, I'm looking at all these blogs this morning about how everybody thinks she's fat and I'm like, `What! Fat?' She wasn't fat."

How all this will impact Spears' career, and sales of her new album, has yet to be seen. "I just felt like that performance was make or break for her comeback," says Wade. "Now with last night's performance, she's just kind of put herself back in the same boat ... everybody thinks she's a train wreck."

But the single of "Gimme More," the song she destroyed onstage, is off to a great start in the Top 40, says Sean Ross of Edison Research, which tracks radio play. "A great VMA performance would have probably closed the deal for her, but she's still got until Thanksgiving to do other good performances and to release a strong album with other hits on it," he said.

In any case, it seems it would never be wise to write an obituary of Spears' career.

"With everything Britney, we think this is the last chance," says Min. "The fact is, it never is.

"At least this puts attention back on her as a performer. My sense is she'd rather be judged on that than on the rehab, the drinking and the partying."

Britney Spears After VMAs: 'She's Embarrassed'

But whatever the reason, the pop star's lackluster performance of her new single "Gimme More" is getting universally bashed the day after her supposed "comeback" in a sparkly black bikini and blonde weave on Sunday's Video Music Awards.

"Britney was supposed to wear a matching corset that she opted out of wearing at the last minute," a source tells PEOPLE. "She was just plain nervous because of all the hype and she's embarrassed."

Adds another, "She looked disappointed" backstage after the performance.

In addition to the barbed comments (everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to The New York Times piled on), conspiracy theories abounded as to why Spears appeared out of it and uninspired.

Fan site BreatheHeavy.com and photo agency X17 speculated that Spears was thrown off after hearing Sarah Silverman rehearse her monologue (which ripped Spears and called her kids "mistakes"). On another celeb blog, Oh No They Didn't, a reader posted supposed photo evidence that Britney was wobbling on a broken stiletto heel during her performance.

Whatever the case, critics were not impressed. Here's a rundown:

• All three New York newspapers tore into Spears's perceived comeback in their front-section news pages: "Britney Spears phoned it in for her 'comeback' performance ... It was a far cry from her energetic outings at VMAs past," the Daily News wrote.

•"Totally lame, pathetically lip-synched," lamented the New York Post. As for "Gimme More," said the paper, "the song about lusting for too much wasn't enough to launch a dinghy, let alone re-launch the career of this ditzy disaster."

• The New York Times chimed in, saying of Spears: "She didn't disappoint; she was awful. Visibly nervous, she tottered around the stage, dancing tentatively and doing nothing that sounded or looked like real live singing."

•Equally disappointed, the women on The View expressed sadness over what they considered a pop star disaster. "So sad," said both Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, though Behar, added, "She's a good role model in that she comes out and shows she's not skinny anymore."

"The lip-synching didn't work," said Barbara Walters. "She looks like she doesn't care," said Goldberg. "This is like a bad stripper." View guest Dr. Phil even said he watched the show and thought he'd "bought tickets to a train wreck."

Only online, it seems, did fans rush to Spears's defense. On BreatheHeavy.com, in reference to Silverman calling Spears's two young boys, Sean Preston and Jayden James "the cutest mistakes you've ever seen," Kierra wrote: "I was shocked when I heard it. I think that's the lowest thing to do. ... YOU DO NOT take a jab at a person's kids esp. babies. It seems like a few people in the audience thought the same."

Another poster, ColdAsFire, echoed the sentiment, writing, "Britney is not only a performer anymore. First and foremost she is a mother. If someone calls the child that grew in your womb a mistake ... I doubt you'd be able to just carry on."

But other fans on the forum were nonplussed by Spears – and also disappointed. "i love britney, but a few jokes from sarah does not mean you perform like that," an anonymous poster wrote, going on to wonder, "did sarah also sabotage all the big surprises in your performance?? did she force you to party all night before??"

If nothing else, Spears can take comfort in the words of rocker Pete Wentz – whose own VMA performance also underwhelmed some.

"Your fans are the most forgiving people on the planet. If you come out with something hot and awesome, they'll forget about it easily," Wentz told PEOPLE. "Like David Bowie would make 40 wrong turns and then come out with something so sweet that people would go forget about it."

Britney's Comeback Bust

The pop star has a history of dramatic performances at the VMAs – including kissing Madonna and dancing with a live snake – but this year's performance, after a weekend of partying, seemed off if not less entertaining.

And at least one review was in almost immediately. Following Spears's performance, comedian Sarah Silverman offered her sarcastic take. "Was that incredible? Britney Spears, everyone," Silverman said. "Wow. She is amazing. She is 25 years old and she's already accomplished everything she's going to accomplish in her life. It's mind blowing."

Silverman even went after the pop star's personal life, calling Spears's sons Sean Preston and Jayden James "the most adorable mistakes you will ever see."

Later backstage, hip-hop star Akon offered his reaction to Spears's performance, telling PEOPLE: "That could have been better. She needed to focus more. She looked nervous and I think the pressure got to her."

Similarly, Common told PEOPLE about Spears: "I think it didn't seem like she wanted to be there. There wasn't any spark, it didn't feel like life was there."

Before the show, many artists weighed in on her comeback. During MTV's official pre-show, Mary J. Blige wished the beleaguered pop star all the best. "I absolutely think Britney could make the comeback," Blige said on the telecast. "Someone who's been through as much as she's been through – you just want her to win. I know I want her to win."

Britney Spears earns scorn for MTV performance

The 25-year-old singer, whose professional achievements have been overshadowed by her personal crises in recent years, performed "Gimme More" in a black sequined bikini and knee-high boots.

No longer boasting the buff body that helped drive her to international superstardom almost a decade ago, the mother of two moved sluggishly around the stage at the Palms casino, often with the support of a troupe of dancers. At one point, the camera panned to rapper 50 Cent, sitting in the audience, who looked bewildered by the action on stage.

"She blew it," gossip columnist Perez Hilton told Reuters. "Everybody knows Britney lip-syncs, but that's because she dances so much. She barely even danced in this. It was so bad. It was painful. It was embarrassing. And I loved it!"

Comedian Sarah Silverman also showed no mercy. She took to the stage when the performance was over, declaring that the singer's young children were "the most adorable mistakes you'll ever see."

It was not the only excitement at the two-hour show. Tommy Lee and Kid Rock, both former husbands of model Pamela Anderson, got into a fight while Alicia Keys was performing.

"There were no fists, they were just holding each other, grabbing each other," Tom Higginson, singer of the pop band Plain White Ts, told Reuters. "Security had to break them up."

Almost lost in the shuffle was the fact that Spears' former boyfriend, Justin Timberlake took home four statuettes, including male artist of the year.

Along with R&B singer Beyonce, he led the field with seven nominations. Beyonce won a single award -- most earth-shattering collaboration -- for her duet with Colombian pop singer Shakira on the tune "Beautiful Liar."

R&B singer Rihanna won the top prize, video of the year, for her smash hit "Umbrella." That tune also won for monster single of the year.

Hip-hop singer Kanye West went home empty-handed after receiving five nominations. He was also not thrilled that Spears took the plum opening slot.

"I can't believe she would perform. She hasn't had a hit record in years," the outspoken hip-hop star improvised during a performance the night before.

Spears released her last studio album in 2003, the commercial disappointment "In the Zone" -- and West has recorded three albums in that time. She has been working on a new album for more than a year, although it is not known when it will be released.

MTV brought the show to Las Vegas for the first time, hoping to reverse a sharp slide in viewership for its awards bash.

Last year's ceremony in New York drew 5.8 million viewers, down from 8 million in 2005 and 10.3 million in 2004, according to Nielsen Media Research. By contrast, the Grammys drew just over 20 million viewers in February.

Britney Glitters, Justin and Rihanna Golden at VMAs

The embattled pop star, returning to the VMA stage Sunday for the first time since she locked lips with Madonna in 2004 to sort-of sing her new single, "Gimme More," kicked off the first-ever Las Vegas edition of MTV's signature award show, which did away this year with a handful of categories, an hour of air time and any pretense that would imply the network is still all about the music.

"I want to challenge MTV right now to play more videos!" Justin Timberlake shouted upon accepting the inaugural Moon Man trophy for Quadruple Threat of the Year, one of four new hyperbolically titled honors handed out in lieu of standards like Best R&B or Best Hip-Hop Video. Timberlake was also named the VMAs' Male Artist of the Year.

One night removed from his Emmy win, the entertainer accepted his first award from the Southern Hospitality Party he hosted with Timbaland in one of the myriad product-sponsored fantasy suites set up at the Palms Casino Resort, one of MTV's latest attempts at boosting interest in the VMAs, which saw viewership drop 28 percent in 2006.

So, just as the Internet has leveled the playing field, allowing any Joe/Jane to become a YouTube or MySpace celebrity, the industry crowd actually in attendance at the main event watched most of the live performances—and most of the acceptance speeches—from the perspective of your average at-home viewer, via live video feed from the fiestas raging around the hotel as the ceremony went on in the Pearl theater. (Much more footage is also available for viewing on mtv.com.)

But before all the new changes took effect, the VMAs harkened back to 2001, the last time Spears performed.

This time around, the 25-year-old comeback kid left the snake at home and took the stage in a sparkly black bra-and-panty set, stockings and boots. Following a solid weekend of hard-partying, Spears, surrounded by adoring dancers and repeatedly brushing her long blonde hair (extensions) behind her ear, whispered her way through a largely prerecorded rendition of "Gimme More." And while the divorced mother of two showed that she's still got rhythm, her gyration-heavy routine was a far cry from the more energetic moves that helped make her a live-audience favorite once upon a time.

Sarah Silverman, not at all chastened by having the most recent object of her smutty persecution, Paris Hilton, in the house, reminisced how it was just a few years ago that Spears "was this sweet, innocent little girl in slutty clothes writhing around with a python."

"Isn't she amazing?" the brazen comic said. "She is 25 years old and she's already accomplished everything she's going to accomplish in her life. It's mind-blowing."

Although MTV theoretically scored itself a coup by featuring Spears' first TV performance in a cool while, not all of her fellow artists were equally enthusiastic.

"I can’t believe she would perform. She hasn’t had a hit record in years," a slighted-sounding Kanye West, whose eagerly anticipated Graduation drops Tuesday, said Saturday night at a Rolling Stone party. "Maybe my money's not right. Maybe my skin's not right."

The Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl wasn't exactly waiting with bated breath, either.

"You know those things that you put batteries in and they just vacuum the floor without anyone touching them? That’s what I think of Britney Spears," said the rocker, whose band held court at the cleverly named Hotel Party #3,562, where they performed their new tune, "The Pretender."

West, likewise, got the privileged crowd going at the Good Life Party. He also made a cameo as a presenter, joining fellow Rolling Stone cover boy and current competitor 50 Cent to tersely announce this year's Earth-Shattering Collaboration.

That brand-new honor went to Beyoncé and Shakira for "Beautiful Liar."

Meanwhile, Rihanna's "Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z, won the grand prize, Video of the Year, and was also deemed Monster Single of the Year, tying the Barbados-born artist with Timberlake for most wins of the night with two apiece.

Fall Out Boy, named Best Group, performed "Sugar" and other hits at their Friends or Enemies Party.

With all the excitement that was occurring on via video Sunday, one of the neatest revelations that actually occurred onstage turned into a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment.

It Boy Shia LeBeouf, pretending to thumb his nose at George Lucas' and Steven Spielberg's authority, "accidentally" let slip the title of the upcoming fourth Indiana Jones movie.

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," LeBeouf announced, before accepting an absent Fergie's Best Female Artist Moon Man on her behalf.

Other highlights of the evening included Chris Brown's homage to the Little Tramp and Michael Jackson during his performance of "Wall to Wall," for which the 18-year-old and his crew turned the tabletops into dance floors, and Mary J. Blige's introduction of Dr. Dre, who was on hand to present Video of the Year to Rihanna, but may as well have been the recipient of an honorary award.

"He created a sound for a new generation of raw, real music. The most incredible producer of our time, he gave birth to a new swagger and a new style," Blige said. "Every day is 'Dre Day' in the world of music."

And Timberlake, accepting his Male Artist of the Year award onstage, again pleaded with MTV to return to form and remind the crowd that music was theoretically why they were all there.

"I remember when I first came to the MTV Awards and I was like, 'heh, heh,' and it's just exciting to see a new generation of artists really doin' it and doin' it well," Timberlake said. "To be in a category with people like Robin Thicke, who I really admire, and Kanye West, people who continue to make exciting music—I think music is in a great place right now because we're all doing what we want to do."

And to up-and-comer Brown: "Nobody likes to be reminded that they're getting older. Whatever Chris Brown just did reminded me that I'm getting older 'cause, damn."

Nonmusical highlight: Kid Rock punching Tommy Lee backstage, in what was supposedly a Pamela Anderson-related move.

Sean "Diddy" Combs, presenting the evening's final performance, told the crowd that he was supposed to have been joined by Kid, but that "we gotta stop the violence in rock and roll."

Plenty of Spears sightings before MTV VMAs

The paparazzi caught her and some girlfriends doing some shopping at a Walgreens around 2 a.m. While most of the paps stayed outside, one aggressive shooter followed her right inside the store.

On Saturday afternoon, Spears sent her cousin, Alli Sims, and two other friends to do some free shopping for her at the Xbox Oasis Tao Beach hospitality suite at the Venetian Hotel. While picking up Oceanaut watches and items from Express, Sims explained that Spears was so tired from partying until 6 a.m. that she was resting up.

But not for long. She was expected after midnight at Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary party, but instead hit up Tao with Diddy from 1-2:30 a.m. (Dining there earlier were Pete Wentz and girlfriend Ashlee Simpson.) Many were surprised that Spears wasn't resting up for her big VMA opening number.

"I'm not the one to be asking how to fix that disaster," said Orlando Jones, who spent his day at Caesars Palace's Style Villa gifting suite handing out free samples of his new clothing line, GangStirRock, which hits boutiques next month. Jones said Spears' entourage also came by shopping for her, while Nelly came himself to pick out a hoodie.

Jones spent his evening at the Luxor's LAX nightclub (which Spears helped open the previous weekend) for a party hosted by Christina Aguilera. Before she appeared on the red carpet, Aguilera asked that security remove gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who was escorted into the nightclub sporting his new magenta hair. But Hilton's hairstylist — dressed in shorts and a tank top — was turned away at the door.

At 12:15 a.m., Aguilera finally appeared, wearing a loose-fitting opaque chiffon baby doll dress. She wore black leggings and sparkly high heels as she quickly hurried down the red carpet, saying she prefers "coldness" to Vegas' summer heat.

Other parties that rocked Vegas before the VMAs:

At Mandalay Bay, Sarah Silverman was among the attendees at a late-night beach party where Joss Stone performed in front of guests lying on beach towels. Silverman was less critical of Spears. "She (is) ridiculous, but in the future I think we'll look back with delight that we had these socialites like Paris, Britney and Nicole Richie."

Also partying at Mandalay Bay's Maxim/Dockers party: Carson Daly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Ryan Cabrera, Mel B, Amber Valetta, Kimberly Stewart, Cris Judd and Shar Jackson.

At the Hard Rock, fans got a little too aggressive during a performance by 50 Cent, shaking the stage and causing concern that a disaster could happen. Nearby, Wentz, Simpson and Cisco Adler were among those waiting for Kanye West to perform as part of Rolling Stone's 40th anniversary celebration. Eventually, Spears did show up. Others there included Jamie Foxx, Jermaine Dupri, Chris Brown, Sean Kingston, Mario Lopez and Ashanti.

Back on Friday night, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges celebrated his 30th birthday at the Rio Hotel with five cakes and lots of guests, such as Quincy Jones, Gabrielle Union and Tichina Arnold.

That same night over at Tao Beach, Cash Warren (minus on-again/off-again girlfriend Jessica Alba) and Chris Tucker were among those catching a Linkin Park concert. At Tao's Xbox Oasis gifting suite on Saturday, comedian Wayne Brady, who performs at the Venetian, announced that he and West would be presenting in a special way at next Sunday's Emmy Awards. Many fans, partying in a pool in front of a stage for hours, were disappointed to learn that West was only "hosting" the party, meaning he didn't sing a song or even make an appearance in front of fans to welcome them. He kept to himself, partying in his bungalow with friends.

Also there was Eve, who personally cut off her police anklet Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. and celebrated with a glass of Champagne. She doesn't get to keep the bracelet — that has to be turned back in — but she was able to pick out a free replacement. She chose a white leather bracelet decorated with gold charms in honor of each Disney princess — a feather for Pocahontas, a genie bottle for Jasmine, an apple for Snow White, etc. The piece was created by Quincy Jones' daughter, Kidada, who has a line of high-end Disney couture items.

While she's glad to have the bracelet off, Eve, whose album Here I Am hits stores Oct. 16, said she learned a valuable lesson from her punishment. Asked what she was most looking forward to about the VMAs, Eve said, "Everyone's looking forward to Britney."

Nearby was Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson, who is expected on Tuesday to formally announce her next movie role: a part in the big-screen Sex and the City. She's recording her album, due in February with collaborations from Timbaland and Pharrell Williams. She was glad to be back at the Venetian, where she celebrated a high school graduation/family reunion/vacation back in 1999, when the hotel had its grand opening. Earlier in the day, she was recording with artist T-Pain. She says she believes one single, Pocketbook, which she described as "sassy," will really break out.

Seeing the Disney couture line, Hudson admitted to being a big Disney fan who often doodles Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in her spare time.

Spears unassuredly dances into VMAs

At least that seemed to be MTV's intent, as virtually every artist who did a preshow interview was asked about Britney Spears' opening performance of new single Gimme More. Most kindly offered fond hopes for her success.

So how successful was it? Let's run down the requisite Britney checklist:

•Hair. Present and accounted for. Blond, slightly longer than shoulder-length.

•Underwear. Clearly, since that's all she was wearing, aside from black boots.

•Voice. Same as it ever was. That is, so wispy as to be nearly non-existent.

•Production. Elaborate, complete with male dancer escorts and female pole dancers.

•Meltdown. None. (Sorry, sensation seekers.) However, demure her gyrations were not.

•Song. Oops, she forgot to bring one. Truly forgettable.

Otherwise, the VMAs' Las Vegas debut was big on spectacle and a little light on awards. Partial performances from four Palms Casino suites, hosted by Fall Out Boy, the Foo Fighters, Kanye West and the team of Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, were interspersed with performances in the main showroom. The number of awards was reduced to 11.

First winner was Rihanna, whose Umbrella took the prize for what was called "monster single of the year." Another new award, "quadruple threat," denoting star stature and versatility, was won by Timberlake.

Britney Spears Opens Video Music Awards

The singer, who reportedly worked with illusionist Criss Angel on the act, lip-synched to the song as women cavorted on stripper poles amid a flashy red background. The song comes in advance of Spears' as-yet-untitled record due in stores Nov. 13.

The pop star has a history of dramatic performances at the VMAs – including kissing Madonna and dancing with a live snake – but this year's performance seemed more low-key and certainly less eye-popping.

And at least one review was in almost immediately. Following Spears's performance, comedian Sarah Silverman offered her sarcastic take. "Was that incredible? Britney Spears, everyone," Silverman said. "Wow. She is amazing. She is 25-years-old and she's already accomplished everything she's going to accomplish in her life. It's mind blowing."

Before the show, many artists weighed in on Spears's comeback. During MTV's official pre-show, Mary J. Blige wished the beleaguered pop star all the best. "I absolutely think Britney could make the comeback," Blige said on the telecast. "Someone who's been through as much as she's been through – you just want her to win. I know I want her to win."

Britney Spears opens MTV VMAs

Spears kicked off the VMAs Sunday night with the much-anticipated premiere performance of her new single, "Gimme More" — which the singer hoped was the feeling felt by her legions of fans, many of whom have grown bewildered by her increasingly bizarre behavior.

Spears soon turned around to reveal herself clad in a sparkly black and white bikini and black boots. Not as fit as she was in her "...Baby One More Time" days, Spears still had the look of the young pop star — though notably aged by motherhood and endless tabloid tension.

She performed surrounded by a few dozen backup dancers, several of whom gyrated on poles.

This was Spears' first step on the comeback trail, which will peak when her album comes out in November. Spears seemed to feel the pressure.

Playing it safe, she appeared to clearly be lip-synching and generally kept the dance moves simple and free of any potentially damaging mistakes. The tentative performance failed to cause the sensation that Spears managed with her famous lip-lock with Madonna in 2003, her last appearance at the VMAs.

She concluded: "I just want more." The question is: do her fans?

A bleary Britney kicks off MTV Awards

An out-of-shape, out-of-touch Britney Spears delivered what was destined to be the most talked about performance of the MTV Video Music Awards — but for all the wrong reasons. Kicking off the show Sunday night with her new single, "Gimme More," Spears looked bleary and unprepared — much like her recent tabloid exploits on the streets of Los Angeles.

She lazily walked through her dance moves with little enthusiasm. It appeared she had forgotten the entire art of lip-synching; and, perhaps most unforgivable given her once taut frame, she looked embarrassingly out of shape.

Even the celebrity-studded audience seemed bewildered. 50 Cent looked at Spears with a confused expression; Diddy, her new best friend, was expressionless.

Some comeback.

The VMAs was hoping to reinvent itself on Sunday. After suffering poor reviews and a decline in ratings over the last few years, MTV moved the show to Las Vegas' Palms Casino, shortened the show from three hours to two, and changed the show's setup to focus more on performances than awards.

To that end, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, Kanye West, Fall Out Boy and the Foo Fighters were each hosting four separate suite parties, where much of the show's performances would be held.

Timberlake's suite was packed with revelers, alcohol and eight lingerie-clad stripper types on raised platforms. Before he accepted the Quadruple Threat of the Year award at his suite, the DJ summoned the partygoers to watch the monitor and go crazy if Timberlake won.

He did, they did, and Timberlake said: "I want to challenge MTV to play more videos!" Then he was whisked away by bodyguards and disappeared.

Meanwhile, Rihanna won Monster Single of the Year for her ubiquitous hit "Umbrella," and Beyonce and Shakira won Most Earthshattering Collaboration for "Beautiful Liar."

Other performers were appearing on the show's main stage, in front of an industry-only audience seated at tables, like at the Golden Globes.

The Palms' casino floor, already glittering with slot machines and blinking lights, was transformed into a dazzling red carpet, as the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Kid Rock, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Garner and a newly blond Nelly Furtado were among those who posed for the cameras.

And Nicole Scherzinger, making her solo debut from the Pussycat Dolls, gave a performance for the gawking fans, performing her new single with the rapper Lil' Wayne.

While Spears' performance was a showcase, others were delivered in snippets: Akon crooned a bit of his "Smack That" before an award was announced, while the cameras zoomed in on performances from Fall Out Boy and the Foo Fighters mid-performance in their suites, giving viewers the sense that they had happened upon an intimate concert.

Britney Spears Club Hops Till 3 a.m. in Vegas

With her new pal Diddy by her side, Britney Spears declined to stay in and rest up for the big show, instead bouncing from club to club along the Strip, and even hanging with Paris Hilton.

After taking in a Saturday-night performance of Cirque du Soleil's Mystere with four friends, Spears headed to the Hard Rock Hotel's Body English for the 50 Cent album release party.

Diddy and Spears slipped into a booth with Hilton and 50 Cent. The crowd went wild when the deejay gave a shout-out to Spears, who bobbed her head to Lil Jon's "Snap Yo Fingers" in unison with Hilton.

Then around 1:30 Sunday morning, Spears and Diddy, along with an entourage of about 20, headed to Tao Nightclub for the Samsung party. There, Spears – dressed in a champagne-colored dress, oversized sunglasses and a grey fedora hat – sat with BFF Alli Sims drinking vodka and sugar-free energy drinks.

"She was having a good time, but was real mellow," an onlooker said. "She was having her assistant order drinks for her."

After 45 minutes in Tao, Spears, Diddy and the crew jetted off just as the deejay put on the pop star's new song "Gimme More".

Next stop: Jet Nightclub, to help celebrate the 21st birthday of R&B star Cassie. Arriving sans glasses and hat, Spears and Diddy made their way to Cassie's VIP table, and the popster gave her a hug.

"We wanted to be here for our girl Cassie," Diddy said into a microphone. "Happy birthday, girl."

Sipping Belvedere vodka, Spears, now back behind shades, was in good spirits, singing along to hip-hop. Finally, just before 3 a.m., Spears and Sims left the club.

Britney, MTV-faded music figures together in Vegas

The two former music industry stalwarts will join forces in Las Vegas on Sunday for the 24th annual MTV Video Music Awards, an event long considered a looser, hipper version of the Grammys, the top honors show in the record business.

MTV is bringing the show to Sin City for the first time, hoping to reverse a sharp slide in viewership for its flagship awards bash.

Last year's ceremony in New York drew 5.8 million viewers, down from 8 million in 2005 and 10.3 million in 2004, according to Nielsen Media Research. Both those shows took place in Miami. The only other city to host the show has been Los Angeles, most recently in 1998.

The ceremony harkens back to MTV's heyday as the maker and breaker of musical acts. The cable channel long ago ditched its basic diet of music videos after realizing that its youthful viewers would surf to other channels when a clip came on that they did not care for. It is now a lifestyle-programming network, focused on reality shows like "The Hills" and "The Real World."

The leading nominees this year are pop singer Justin Timberlake and R&B star Beyonce with seven nominations each, while hip-hop star Kanye West has five.

The "awards" part of the show usually is overshadowed by the performances and the chance that something outrageous will happen, like same-sex kisses or naughty utterances. The lack of excitement in recent years, amid a government crackdown in media decency, has been blamed for the slide in ratings.

BRITNEY COMEBACK

The ceremony will kick off at 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT Monday) from the Palms Casino Resort, with Spears performing her new comeback tune, "Gimme More." The 25-year-old performer, whose professional achievements have been overshadowed by her personal crises in recent years, has used past MTV shows to cavort with a snake and make out with Madonna.

Spears is reportedly working on her first album in more than four years, having been distracted by two marriages, two children and two rehab stints. In that time, fellow Mickey Mouse Club alumni such as Timberlake and Christina Aguilera have seen their careers soar.

The MTV awards performers are drawn mostly from the urban music field -- rappers such as West, 50 Cent, Common, and Soulja Boy, as well as R&B singers Akon, T-Pain, Timbaland and Rihanna. The only rock bands on the bill are the Foo Fighters and Fall Out Boy.

The show itself is almost a footnote to a busy weekend of related parties and concerts throughout the city. Performers at various venues included West, rapper Snoop Dogg and rock band Linkin Park.

VMA Star Britney Spears Parties Up with Diddy

"Listen up, we have Miss Britney Spears in the crowd," Diddy told the crowd at PURE nightclub's main stage in Las Vegas at about 2 a.m. Saturday.

Spears, who arrived in Vegas Friday afternoon and had slipped into the club through a side door with six girlfriends, wore a strapless black mini as she held court in the VIP area, smiling, sipping champagne and dancing barefoot on a couch.

At one point, Diddy got on the microphone and told the crowd, "Britney, she holds her head up high, show some respect."

Spears ducked her head down shyly, but bounced back when her new single "Gimme More" blared over the speakers. Her friends jumped in front of her and started dancing.

The singer left around 2:30 a.m., smiling and waving to the crowd as she walked through a path cleared by security guards.

The party appearance capped a busy day for Spears, who arrived in Vegas on Friday and rehearsed behind closed doors in the Palms Casino Resort's Pearl theater for her comeback performance to open the VMAs on Sunday night.

"I think she's focusing on performing," says music producer J.R. Rotem, who worked on seven songs for Spears's upcoming album. "I know that her passion is performing. She loves being in the studio, she loves making music, but she's a born performer. Her whole focus has been: 'I just want to get up onstage and dance.' So I'm excited because I know she is."

Rotem, who attended the BMI Urban Awards at New York New York hotel on Friday night, says the last few tumultuous years have changed Spears.

"She's in a more mature place in a way," says Rotem. "I think she's exploring topics in her music that deal with that. She still has her sexy, edgy pop stuff, but I think a person gets to a certain level of depth when they have kids so I think some of that is coming out in the music."

Producer Sean Garrett, who also worked on Spears's new album, says her new effort "is crazy" with "great material."

"Britney's really just trying to get back," he says. "She probably had time to really think about her career and is missing performing. She tried to make the right moves; she got married – she tried to do the right thing, she had kids, which everyone strives to do. It did what it did, but I think she's trying to stay grounded."

Timbaland: Britney Could Have the Greatest Comeback

"I would love Britney to have a smash, it would be the greatest comeback ever," the music producer told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Friday.

"I think it would be phenomenal," continued Timbaland, "but I think she's got to be connected with her family. She can't do it alone." (Spears and her mother, Lynne, have had a troubled relationship recently.)

Comparing Spears, 25, to another famous singer, Timbaland added: "Sly can't come back on his own, he needs the family Stones. You need a team. You can't be an island."

On Thursday, MTV confirmed that Spears, whose new album is due out Nov. 13, will perform the Video Music Awards on Sunday, but Timbaland says the hype of her performance may be overblown.

"Britney's cool, but I think that ... it was too much," he says. "Now it's like, 'Okay, Britney's opening, she got a new song.' ...It's kinda dull. It's kinda flat-lined."

As for what he thinks of her new song, "Gimme More," he says: "I haven't heard it but everyone tells me, they just don't say nothing about it."

On the subject of his pal Justin Timberlake, with whom Timbaland collaborated on Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds, the producer says: "Justin is having so much success he could easily say, 'Okay, I want to operate as an island.' But he is easygoing. I'm not saying that [Britney] is not, I don't know. But Justin – we have a different aura together."

Going into the VMAs, Timberlake tied with Beyoncé Knowles to score a leading seven nominations, including a nod for video of the year for his "What Goes Around ... Comes Around."

Britney Spears Descends on Vegas for VMAs

The pop star has arrived in Las Vegas for her much anticipated opening performance on Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards and has already checked in to the Palms Casino Resort.

Clad in jeans, a white shirt, floppy hat and sunglasses, Spears touched down in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon with pal Alli Sims and another girlfriend and went straight to the Palms Sky Villa, a luxury suite equipped with pop-up plasma TVs, a rotating bed and views of the Strip. (Sons Sean Preston and Jayden James were spending the weekend in dad Kevin Federline's care.)

But her arrival didn't come off without a hitch – after her flight was forced to circle the Las Vegas airport a few times and her pit stop at the hotel, she was a couple of hours late for rehearsal with illusionist Criss Angel.

Still, says a source who saw her rehearse in the Pearl Theater, "She looks great. She's going to blow people away."

Meanwhile, the rest of Vegas is gearing up for the blowout weekend. Friday night Diddy is hosting a pre-awards party at PURE nightclub in Caesars Palace, and Saturday night will bring out the likes of Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Panic! at the Disco and more.

It's Official: Britney to Open Video Music Awards

"I wanted to start the show in a very big and dramatic way, and she's the one to do that," VMA executive producer Jesse Ignjatovic tells MTV.com. "She'll captivate everyone, and set the tone for rest of the night."

Spears consulted with illusionist Criss Angel on "some moments of the performance" for Sunday night's show at the Palms Hotel and Casino, says Ignjatovic, who also confirmed that she'll perform her single "Gimme More" from her upcoming album.

"You can expect the things we want and expect from Britney – that will all be there," he says. "What I've see of it is great. She'll be dancing, performing, dong her thing. That's exactly what we all want."

Spears has been frequently spotted with Angel in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, most recently at the opening of LAX Nightclub last weekend at the Luxor.

Lawyer: Britney Spears Cleared of Child-Welfare Complaints

"It does not appear the county will pursue any action at this time," attorney Laura Wasser said at a hearing in Spears's custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline. The hearing then went into private session.

After the hearing, Wasser told PEOPLE she doesn't know who complained. "But I am trying to find out," she said.

Officials at the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services refused to comment. Wasser declined to describe the nature of the complaints.

Court officials say there will be at least three more court hearings this year in the custody dispute between Spears and Federline, including appearances Nov. 26 and Dec. 18 to review independent evaluations by the court and to consider Federline's request for primary custody of sons Sean Preston, 2, and 1-year-old Jayden James.

In the meantime, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan is seeking the depositions of people close to Spears, including her assistant, former bodyguard, former manager and former nanny.

Meanwhile, Spears's bodyguard was charged with misdemeanor battery in the scuffle with photographers in Las Vegas, according to a court spokesman.

Julio Camera allegedly punched a photographer on July 26 at the Wynn Las Vegas in an altercation that broke out after one of two photographers attempting to get a picture of the singer bumped into the bodyguard, who was holding Spears's son, Sean Preston, police say.

The pop singer's next album is scheduled for release Nov. 13.

Brit's 'love' An Illusion

Britney and Kevin's Lawyers Get Happy

In response to Federline's request to "Gimme More," as in more time with his two sons with Britney Spears, a Los Angeles judge has apparently given each side just enough to leave their lawyers smiling for the time being.

Neither Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser, nor K-Fed's counsel, Mark Vincent Kaplan, would comment specifically on what went on Tuesday during a closed-door hearing in L.A. Superior Court, but both said that they were pleased with the outcome.

"He wants as much custody time as he can get," Kaplan told reporters during a quickie news conference outside the courthouse.

Barely a week after a judge signed off on the Chaotic couple's divorce, prolonging their joint-custody arrangement, Federline filed for primary physical custody of almost two-year-old Sean Preston and 11-month-old Jayden James, citing his former missus' recent string of reportedly outrageous behavior.

The family court filing was immediately sealed, but Kaplan has confirmed that Federline is seeking additional custody privileges. A hearing on whether certain documents pertaining to their custody dispute should be made public is on the docket for Sept. 14. Kaplan and Wasser said that they both want the records, which a judge sealed on July 30, to remain under wraps.

The kids are "isolated from risks" when they are with their dad, Kaplan said. Federline also has two young children with former flame Shar Jackson.

The next related hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17 and yet another has been set for November in order to give both sides more time to gather information as they head into the latest leg of their custody battle, which has been brewing since Spears filed for divorce Nov. 6.

Not to mention it's going to take awhile for Spears' side to compile the manpower to match her ex's. Federline's legal team has been serving up a storm, subpoenaing Spears' former manager, Larry Rudolph, as well as her short-term personal assistant, Shannon Funk; pal cum "cousin Alli Simms; and her bodyguard-turned-manny Daimon Shippen.

Wasser, meanwhile, said that she was informed Tuesday that the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services had completed its own investigation into Spears' mothering skills, a topic that has provoked endless speculation ever since the "Oops…I Did It Again" singer was spotted driving—with Sean Preston perched on her lap—early last year.

Noting that counsel for the DCFS was not present for today's hearing, Wasser said, "I don't think there was anything for them to appear about."

Report: Britney to Debut New Song at VMAs

After releasing "Gimme More," her much-requested latest single, in advance of her new album (due Nov. 13), the pop star will continue to whet fans' appetites by unveiling a new song during a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, USA Today reports.

Spears, 25, has long been expected to perform at the Sept. 9 ceremony, and has been working up an act with illusionist Criss Angel. In addition to "Gimme More," she is expected to sing the as-yet-unreleased song "Cry," says the newspaper.

Spears's music rep declined to comment.

Besides doing their work on the VMA performance, Spears and Angel have been hanging out together, most recently last Saturday in Las Vegas where the pop star was on hand to open Luxor's LAX Nightclub.

After greeting the crowd, Spears spent time in the VIP area with Angel.

"She's a very talented young lady and she's going to do an amazing job with the new album," the illusionist told PEOPLE.

Will.I.Am Impressed By Spears' Song

The Black Eyed Peas star heard the song last Thursday on New York radio station Z-100's website.

He tells MTV U.K., "It's dope. I've gotta listen to it in a club (though). It's a club song. I like the beat."

This is Britney's future, 'More' or less

•Tuesday: A Los Angeles family court hearing is scheduled regarding custody of Spears' two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline. Spears' lawyer has asked for a continuance in a custody hearing set for Sept. 17.

Expert says: "If the hearing can get postponed, it would be smart so that her personal troubles can get under the radar."

•Sunday: Spears is expected to perform two songs —Gimme More and Cry— at MTV's Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. Dancer Ruben Dario told heybritney.com that her performance will include a mirrorin which she will appear and disappear (which is why she was working with illusionist Criss Angel last month).

Expert says: "She can have a public image that says mom-and-pop icon and do it tastefully. In the past, she has used these performances to inject shock value, but she needs to avoid it this time. She's a little bit older, and she should looka little wiser."

•Sept. 12, 14: Son Jayden James turns 1. Son Sean Preston turns 2.

Expert says: "The public needs to see a wholesome family gathering that is age-appropriate. I'm not saying she should go to Chuck E. Cheese, but it needs to be something mainstream that the rest of America can relate to."

•Sept. 14: A Los Angeles hearing is set to hear arguments from lawyers for media outlets that want court records in the Spears/Federline divorce and custody case made public. The couple's divorce was final July 30, when lawyers won a conditional order to have the records sealed.

Expert says: "If she shows up in appropriate attire, the public might find believable that she's interested in what's going on. Public empathy can go a long way if they believe she's not just using her money to win this battle."

•Sept. 17: Custody hearing scheduled for Los Angeles. Federline wants to modify the current agreement, which gives eachparent equal custody. Federline is seeking primary custody.

Expert says: "Right now, middle America cannot relate to Spears as a young mother in the middle of a custody battle. She needs to keep her personal affairs under the radar. At this point, she really has to fight for her kids."

Kiss And Sell For Britney Ex-aide

Britney Spears's 'Gimme More' Getting Rave Reviews

"From the time I signed on today at 10 am, people were requesting it like crazy," Shelley Wade, a deejay on New York's Z100, tells PEOPLE of her first broadcast since the song hit the airwaves Thursday night.

"Gimme More" was also on the top of Z100's 'Interactive 9 at 9' countdown within an hour after it first played Thursday and at the top of Wade's 'High Noon Countdown' again Friday. (Both lists are based on listener requests.)

Mediabase, which ranks songs based on the number of spins they get, had Spears at 61 by Friday afternoon, putting her just below artists like Amy Winehouse and Timbaland and just above American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.

Part of the demand to hear the song can certainly be attributed to celebrity watchers who are curious about how the pop star's return to music will go over – especially after witnessing Spears's rollercoaster year, marked by late nights out, erratic behavior, stints in rehab and a brewing custody battle with ex Kevin Federline.

But the song, which features the singer's classic breathy vocals, a danceable beat and sexy lyrics, is listener friendly, according to Wade. "It doesn't sound like [her last big hit] 'Slave 4 U' but it reminded me of that because it made me dance," she says.

Still, Wade believes the elusive comeback isn't hers just yet. "She can do it if she, in her personal life, can keep the drama at bay for just a little while."

Wade is looking to Spears's reported performance at the upcoming Video Music Awards to see if the momentum will continue to build, leading up to the album's release on Nov. 13.

"If she can bank on the excitement that everyone's giving her with this song right now and really come with an exciting performance, when the CD debuts in November, I think she could be at number one," Wade says. "Last week people were saying she's a trainwreck, and this week they're saying, 'I like this song!'"

Here's a roundup of online reactions to the song:

• The blog Blueprint to Buddha's Life writes: "I can't lie, I actually love this song. The beat is addicting as hell and reminds me of Justin Timberlake's songs on his album."

• Bethonie Butler on EW.com's Popwatch blog agrees. "My snap judgment: I don't hate it! I actually kind of (come closer) like it. The best part of the song isn't Britney 'singing.' It's her opening line: 'It's Britney, b----!' . . . This is definitely a dance track – one I could admittedly be seen singing at the top of my lungs on the Van Wyck Expressway."

• Blogger Perez Hilton, who leaked the track on Thursday night, is a fan as well. "It's not bad. It's not amazing. But it is very good, considering our girl's a little rusty."

• Another snarky blog, Dlisted, also had a positive reaction: "It's not completely terrible."

Finally, PEOPLE.com readers gave the track a thumbs-up: As of Friday, 58 percent said "Gimme more!" while 42 percent voted to "Give it back!"

Britney Spears says "Gimme More" in new song

The song was officially released late on Thursday on the Web site of New York radio station Z100, and by Friday it could be heard on YouTube.

Music industry magazine Billboard said the single is expected to get its first radio play next week, and several other media reports said Spears could have a new album out in early November.

A spokeswoman for Jive Records, Spears' label, was not immediately available for comment.

Spears, 25, is attempting to resurrect her flagging career, and the new single could be the first salvo in a media blitz. Rumors have been rampant that she will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas on September 9, and for months she has been saying she is at work on a new album.

The singer has become a major subject for tabloid coverage for public behavior that has included being photographed with no underwear under her miniskirts, shaving her head bald, attacking paparazzi with an umbrella and performing in local nightclubs where she was accused of lip-syncing songs.

Earlier this year, she checked into a rehabilitation facility in Malibu, California, and more recently her divorce from second husband Kevin Federline was finalized. The pair remain embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their two sons.

Back in the early 2000s, Spears was a top-selling artist. Her records had sold more than 70 million units, and in 2002 she was ranked as the most powerful celebrity in the world by Forbes magazine.

Spears' first album was 1999 CD "...Baby One More Time," which featured hit songs like "Sometimes." Her most recent album of original music was 2003's "In the Zone."

Britney Spears's Album Out Nov. 13

The club-friendly dance track officially premiered Thursday night on New York radio station Z-100's Web site.

The song's official debut came just minutes after versions of it were leaked to at least two other Web sites, Perezhilton and TMZ.

"The track that leaked is off of Britney Spears's forthcoming album. The song is "Gimme More," produced by Danja, [and is] written by Nathaniel "Danjahands" Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica," a Jive Records spokesperson told PEOPLE.

The song features the pop star's signature breathy vocals, melodic electronic bleeps over a driving beat and a catchy hook that's is true to the song's title. Spears opens the sexy and sassy tune by defiantly saying, "It's Britney, b---", and producer Hills ends it in a shout out, saying, "Bet you didn't see this coming."

On Wednesday, news of the single's imminent release, which comes from the singer's fifth studio album, was reported by Entertainment Weekly.

Also on Wednesday, singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, who wrote several potential songs for Spears, told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show "[Britney has] gotta remind people why they love her in the first place. She's gotta get their minds off her personal life and back on the music."

Over the last several months, Spear's personal struggles, including a stint in rehab and the ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, have all overshadowed her career.

Still, in May, she performed several live shows in Los Angeles and Florida – during which she performer her old material. Since then, the singer has been seen taking dance classes and shooting a music video.

Up next for Spears: She is scheduled to host the opening of LAX nightclub in Las Vegas on Friday. It's not clear yet on if she plans to perform at the event.

K-Fed's lawyer wants Spears to foot bill

Attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said in an Aug. 26 declaration that Federline has "no net income" after various expenses, and that his spousal support of $20,000 a month ends in November. Spears, meanwhile, brings in an average monthly income of $737,868.

Spears is "clearly the 'monied party'" in the dispute and should pay $50,000 for Federline's litigation expenses, Kaplan argued.

An after-hours message left Thursday with Spears' attorney was not immediately returned.

Spears married Federline in October 2004, eight months after her first marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander was annulled. She cited irreconcilable differences when she filed for divorce from Federline on Nov. 7, 2006.

The couple's divorce became official July 30.

Since February, Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, have shared custody of their sons, 23-month-old Sean Preston and 11-month-old Jayden James.

A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17, but an attorney for Spears has requested a continuance until November.

Britney Spears's New Single Finally Debuts

The club-friendly dance track officially premiered Thursday night on New York radio station Z-100's Web site.

The song's official debut came just minutes after versions of it were leaked to at least two other Web sites, Perezhilton and TMZ.

The song features the pop star's signature breathy vocals, melodic electronic bleeps over a driving beat and a catchy hook that's is true to the song's title. Spears opens the sexy and sassy tune by defiantly saying, "It's Britney, b---", and producer Nate ''Danjahandz'' Hills ends it in a shout out, saying, "Bet you didn't see this coming."

On Wednesday, news of the single's imminent release, which comes from the singer's fifth studio album, was reported by Entertainment Weekly.

Also on Wednesday, singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, who wrote several potential songs for Spears, told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show "[Britney has] gotta remind people why they love her in the first place. She's gotta get their minds off her personal life and back on the music."

Over the last several months, Spear's personal struggles, including a stint in rehab and the ongoing custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, have all overshadowed her career.

Still, in May, she performed several live shows in Los Angeles and Florida – during which she performer her old material. Since then, the singer has been seen taking dance classes and shooting a music video.

Up next for Spears: She is scheduled to host the opening of LAX nightclub in Las Vegas on Friday. It's not clear yet on if she plans to perform at the event.

Brit Manager Served at Last

Despite doing his best to hide from Kevin Federline's subpoena-happy legal team, Britney Spears' former manager Larry Rudolph has finally been served to testify in the couple's ongoing child-custody battle.

While Spears' career Svengali told E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest earlier this week that he had spent the past few weeks on the run from Federline's process server, his incognito skills are either sorely lacking, or he gave up the game, finally getting slapped with the paperwork at the West Los Angeles branch of the Sunset Tan tanning salon Thursday morning.

Over the weekend, Rudolph expressed his reticence at testifying in the case to Seacrest, saying he wished to remain loyal to the tabloid trainwreck despite his rocky professional relationship with the singer, with whom he has twice parted ways. He told Seacrest that, should he be made to testify, it "won't be good for Britney."

In a statement issued to That Other Blog later in the week, Rudolph said he didn't take personally some of Spears' comments directed at him in the media, namely that forcing her into rehab was Rudolph's brainchild, saying, "I understand where she's coming from."

Rudolph also said that despite her recent, and intense, downward spiral in the public eye, "my loyalty will always stay strong with Britney...I do understand that eventually the time will come when they will find me, but until then, I'm trying to avoid being brought into this mess."

The time, apparently, has come.

Rudolph is the latest in an increasingly long line of current and former Spears hangers-on who've been subpoenaed by Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, to testify in the custody case next month.

The string of subpoenas kicked off earlier this month, following a judge's finalization of the Spears-Federline divorce, in which joint custody of kids Sean Preston and Jayden James was granted to the exes. However, about two weeks after the decision, Federline went to court seeking primary physical custody of the boys, claiming concern over his sons' well-being in Spears' custody due to her often erratic public behavior.

So far, Spears' personal assistant of one month and firsthand witness to her disastrous OK! cover shoot, Shannon Funk, has been served, as has Spears' longtime sidekick and oft-billed "cousin" Alli Sims and her former bodyguard turned manny Daimon Shippen.

While one of the people closest to Spears, or at least one of the people formerly closest to Spears, her mother Lynne, has yet to be subpoenaed, time may be winding down for her, as well.

A source close to Federline told E! Online earlier this month that the once aspiring rapper has been weighing whether to slap his onetime mother-in-law with a subpoena in the case.

"Lynne Spears has stopped short of criticizing Britney in public, choosing instead to support Kevin behind closed doors," the source said. "But that's become such a sore spot between Brit and her mom."

"Britney really resents her parents for backing Kevin. And if Kevin drags them all in court, it's going to get so ugly."

Lawyers for both Spears and Federline are due back in court on Sept. 14—the day Sean Preston celebrates his second birthday—to determine whether certain sealed documents pertaining to their custody dispute should be made public. They face off again on Sept. 17 in another hearing in their custody case.

Report: Britney Ready to Release New Single

EW.com calls the 25-year-old's new single, "Gimme More," an "up-tempo" dance track that "music insiders love." The album remains unnamed.

Known of late for her erratic behavior and bitter custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, Spears's return to her song and dance routine could be great for her battered image.

"She's got a whole new sound," the site reports. "She's funky."

The report goes on to say: "The only question is, with all the drama, are people going to want something fun or something more serious? This is a dance single."

The track was produced by Timbaland protégé Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, reports EW.com, though representatives for Spears's label, Jive, did not respond to calls from the site seeking comment.

Prying Eyes

Bimbo Trio Passes Up 'choice'

Brit's Manager, Pet Parenting Skills Both MIA?

While the onetime pop princess spent her weekend manning would-be traffic citations and house calls from animal services, Spears' former career Svengali, Larry Rudolph, was doing his best not to further damage his old client's personal or professional standing—by remaining in hiding from Kevin Federline's subpoena-happy prosecution.

Rudolph told E! News anchor Ryan Seacrest via BlackBerry over the weekend that he has spent the past few weeks essentially on the run from Federline's process server in order to avoid testifying in the ex-couple's ongoing child-custody case.

According to Seacrest, who relayed Rudolph's in-hiding status on his KIIS-FM radio show Monday morning, Rudolph wishes to remain loyal to Spears despite an on-again, off-again professional relationship with the singer with whom he has twice parted ways. Per Seacrest, Rudolph claimed if he were made to testify under oath, it "won't be good for Britney."

The manager also said in his weekend communication with the E! News anchor that all the major tabloids are trying to track him down and that, while he copped to having recently spent vacation time with his kids in Maui, he does not wish to divulge his current whereabouts.

Unfortunately for her, Spears is not quite so easy to lose track of, least of all by the tabloids.

As it is, she managed to get tongues wagging with two more major headline-making antics over the weekend, starting off with a surprise tête-à-tête with the cops.

As chronicled by the ever-present paparazzi, a blond be-wigged Spears was pulled over late Saturday night while heading east on the 10 freeway, reportedly on her way to Las Vegas. The California Highway Patrol stopped Spears' white Mercedes convertible at approximately 12:30 a.m. Spears was behind the wheel at the time of the incident and was accompanied by two male passengers, one of whom has since been identified as choreographer R.J. Durell.

Officials said Spears, who claimed she was speeding to avoid the paparazzi, was "cooperative" and let her off with a warning. However, after the encounter, Spears handed over the driving reins to one of her fellow passengers, who turned the car back west toward Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the singer, who is rumored to be making a "surprise" appearance at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards in Sin City next month, may be embroiled in more serious matters than late night joyriding.

Representatives from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals made a pit stop at Spears' Beverly Hills home Friday as part of their investigation into why the newest member of her domesticated menagerie, a Yorkie puppy, has been snapped with a cast on his leg.

"We have received various sources of complaints throughout the day," Madeline Bernstein, President of SPCA-LA, told TMZ Friday. "The matter is not if the dog had an accident, but if the dog is getting proper care."

Neither Spears nor the dog were home during their visit, but Bernstein said reps left a note with her housekeeper and hope to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Spears' lawyers were back on the inside of a courtroom Monday for an unscheduled hearing in her ongoing child custody dispute. Both Spears' attorney, Dennis Wasser, and Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, were in the Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom, though Spears and Federline were not present. Documents stemming from the closed proceeding were filed under seal.

While Spears is busy tending to her latest onslaught of PR from hell, Federline is continuing his assault on the small screen, having spent Friday on the Wilmington, North Carolina, set of One Tree Hill to begin shooting his multi-episode guest stint as a wannabe rapper.

The role follows Federline's equally taxing character study of Cole Tritt, a young thug, on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, last year. Spears' ex touched back down in Los Angeles Saturday night.

Spears Investigated By Animal Charity

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) arrived at Britney's Los Angeles home on Saturday (25Aug07) to ensure the animal is receiving adequate medical attention.

It was reported the singer's new pet terrier, London, suffered a broken leg after her young sons Jayden James and Sean Preston reportedly injured the dog.

Madeline Bernstein, President of SPCA, tells TMZ.com, "We have received various sources of complaints throughout the day. Some said that Britney's Yorkie dog was injured and had a cast on and some said the dog had a broken leg and was not treated."

Britney Shaved Her Head 'Because Of Drug Test'

The singer stunned fans in January when she cut off her own hair in a Los Angeles salon in front of paparazzi photographers.

She has never explained the gesture - but a friend claims she was worried she would be drug tested as part of her custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their two children.

The friend tells British newspaper The Sun, "Kevin taunted Britney that even his smoking marijuana near her would leave traces that could be picked up by drug testing."

"He threatened to use that against her in a custody battle." The pair are still battling over custody of Sean Preston, 23 months and 11-month-old Jayden James.

BRITNEY BACK-OUT STUNS LABEL

The duet, which was to be produced by hit-maker Timbaland at his studio in Virginia Beach, could have started a big comeback for the troubled pop tart, who peaked before she had two marriages and two kids.

A music industry source said Timberlake wrote the duet specifically for Spears. Although they wouldn't be together in the studio, his voice would have been mixed with hers later.

"Timbaland set aside a week out of his crazy schedule to do this - and then, just before she was supposed to fly out, Britney abruptly canceled the session and refused to do the song.

"It's crazy," the insider added. "She's looking for a comeback, and this would have not only been a huge hit, but something she could have opened the MTV Video Awards with and really blown everyone away."

Another insider said, "Listen, everyone is worried. In her mind, her album is done and she's done enough work . . . She's an easy target right now, because she's . . . sick. People like her are sick. It's like an anorexic who's sick in the head and needs help. She needs help. It's sad because what she's got - and we've heard it's like bipolar disorder - can easily be treated with medication, but she won't do it."

There's concern that Spears, now without a great song to perform, will bomb at the VMAs, which would have been her crucial comeback appearance.

As for whether or not Jive has wiped their hands of Spears, the insider said, "People at Jive have been with Britney since album one, and have an investment in her. They have faith that once the material is there, she will become focused and step it up. She's very competitive, but at the end of the day, it's hard. She has to do the work - no one can do it for her."

Reps for Jive and Timberlake declined to comment. Spears, who's embroiled in a nasty custody battle for her children, Sean Preston and Jaden James, with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, doesn't have representation and couldn't be reached.

Britney's Former Rehab Facility Subpoenaed in Custody Fight

According to a source familiar with the proceedings, Promises Treatment Center was served with a subpoena Saturday morning. This is the fourth subpoena doled out by the Federline team in the singer's increasingly high-profile custody battle. (Earlier in the week, Spears's former assistant Shannon Funk, bodyguard Daimon Shippen and pal Alli Sims were all served with legal papers.)

"Kevin and his attorneys Mark Vincent Kaplan and James Simon are on a mission," says the source. "They are pursuing all relevant evidence from every potential source and every available witness."

A spokesperson from Promises refused to comment, saying: "This is a confidential facility and we cannot comment."

The pop star spent a month at Promises and was released on March 21. Her manager at the time said she was "successfully" released.

According to Pepperdine University Law Professor Steven M. Cron, the Federline camp is clearly seeing how Spears took to the Promises stint.

"Strategically I don't think they are concerned with the treatment, but how she responded to that treatment," says Cron. "Specifically, if she participated as she was supposed to. Did she have a positive attitude, did she complete it successfully. Or was she a screw up?"

Kevin Drinks Up Vegas Nightlife

Federline, who has kept a low profile as his child custody battle with ex Spears looms, hit the Venetian's Tao Nightclub in Las Vegas Friday night with a party of 25.

"He was drinking straight from the vodka and Jagermeister bottles," an onlooker said. "I didn't see him with a drink in his hand that much, but he drank out of the bottles a few times."

Federline and his group arrived at the club around 11:30 p.m. and had dinner at Tao's Loft before retreating to the club at 1 a.m., says a source. There, Federline, dressed in jeans and a yellow polo shirt, started the party with bottles of Jack Daniels, Grey Goose and Jagermeister.

Stationed at his VIP table, Federline chatted with a few of the girls surrounding him, and later migrated to the table full of women adjacent to his. "He was grinding up on a few of the girls," the source said. "He had a flashlight and was shining it on some of the girls around him."

Thoughout the night, Federline flashed his gold necklace to the deejay, DJ Reach, and even held up a cigarette lighter when the deejay played Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'.

Smiling and chain-smoking throughout the night, Federline finally left the club around 4 a.m.

Criss Angel: Britney and I Are 'Not Together'

"It's amazing what people think," Angel said Friday. "We're not together. Her manager is my manager, and I'm helping with one of her shows. I'm helping with her appearance on MTV."

Rumors flew after the Las Vegas-based Angel, 39, was spotted with Spears, 25, in Los Angeles in recent days, meeting with her and her friends at a restaurant and going with her into a hotel.

Acknowledging the Wednesday night dinner he and Spears shared at Cravings in West Hollywood, Angel said, "Yes, I'm here working on some stuff, and we went to that restaurant with 10 people."

Says Angel: "We were talking about how she wants to do something more with the [awards] show, and about me helping out and hoping to work with her on doing something to make her MTV appearance more innovative."

Spears has been in talks to perform at the Sept. 9 show at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Neither MTV nor Spears's reps have confirmed whether she'll appear.

"It's amazing how you can't do anything now without people making up stuff," adds Angel.

Britney Becomes Vegas Illusionist's Latest Angel

The Mindfreak star hit the town late Wednesday night with the pop star in Los Angeles, with Angel hooking up with Spears and her friends at Cravings Restaurant in West Hollywood. The two were spotted driving around together in his Rolls-Royce, then later photographed entering The Tower-Beverly Hills hotel.

Spears, 25, became the latest celebrity seen with the Las Vegas illusionist, 39, who previously has been linked to Minnie Driver, Paris Hilton and, most recently, Cameron Diaz.

Spears and Angel have something in common: messy divorces.

Spears is tangling with ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their two young sons, with Federline subpoenaing several people in Spears's inner-circle, including her close friend, an assistant and a bodyguard.

Angel is clashing with his estranged wife, the New York-based Joanne Sarantakos, who claims the she was forced to keep their marriage secret in order to improve his sex appeal among women – an allegation Angel vehemently denies.

Britney Spears's Allure Magazine Photos Revealed

But Allure's editor in chief, Linda Wells, is setting the record straight in her letter from the editor. "Britney showed up for Allure's cover shoot on time and ready to work," she writes in the September issue. And PEOPLE got a first look at the photos inside.

Wells writes that the pop star did display some odd behavior at the shoot. "She was entirely unselfconscious: She took off her wig and then stripped down to the waist, for no apparent reason, before sitting for hair and makeup."

Wells describes Spears as "agreeable and cooperative" during the shoot. And the magazine managed to snap some revealing new photos.

Spears wore a "shoulder-length brown wig over her own closely cropped blonde hair," as well as a Cartier bracelet and her own Dolce & Gabbana jeans.

But that's where the good news ends. As it turns out, Spears never sat for her promised interview with the magazine.

"She missed four appointments for an interview with Allure," Wells writes. The cover story then turned into a first-person essay from the interviewer, Judith Newman, detailing her frustrations with Spears's invariable cancellations and delays.

Stars Snub Easy $$$

Britney, Kevin Seek Media Blackout

But on Tuesday, the ex-Chaotic tandem did find some common ground: They want to keep the details of their legal jostling under lock and key.

So far, so good.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon said he wouldn't immediately unseal any court documents, but at the behest of an attorney representing media interests, he agreed to consider allowing the public access to the paperwork.

"They're appropriate participants here," Gordon said of a petition filed by People magazine and Los Angeles' NBC affiliate, KNBC-TV.

Alonzo Wickers IV, an attorney representing the press outlets, argued that at least some of the documents pertaining to the case should be made public.

Because of the minor children, 23-month-old Sean Preston and 11-month old Jayden James, Gordon granted a conditional seal on July 30.

But Wickers said that the release of basic information about child and spousal support would not cause harm to the kids. He had no problem with documents containing medical records, telephone numbers and other personal information being kept private.

"I think it's an area where there's not a lot of law," Gordon said in court, scheduling a subsequent hearing on the matter to allow attorneys for Spears and Federline time to make their case.

Outside court, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said he and Spears' lawyer, Laura A. Wasser, want the court documents permanently sealed to protect the children.

He also got a plug in for his client, saying the boys are more "isolated from risks" when they're with Federline than when they're with their mother.

"This has nothing to do with money," Kaplan said. "It never has."

To make his point, Kaplan has already subpoenaed Spears sidekick Alli Sims and former bodyguard Daimon Shippen to testify on the pop star's fitness as a parent.

September is shaping up to big a busy month for Spears and Federline. Jayden turns one on Sept. 12, Gordon set a hearing on the media request for Sept. 14—the same day Sean celebrates his second birthday—and the next custody hearing takes place three days later.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, officially ended their marriage a week ago, signing off on a divorce settlement that included joint custody of the boys.

However, days later, Federline dispatched Kaplan back to court to file papers seeking primary physical custody of their sons.

Motion seeks to unseal Spears documents

"They're appropriate participants in here," Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon said of the request by KNBC-TV and People magazine.

Spears and Federline weren't present for the hearing. Gordon scheduled another hearing for Sept. 14 to give their attorneys time to make their case for keeping the documents under seal.

After the hearing, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said the documents contain information about the schedules of the couple's children and other details that could put them in jeopardy.

"It would be best for the children that they not be exposed," Kaplan said.

He gave no specific examples of threats to the children.

Spears' divorce from Federline became official July 30.

Since February, Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody of their sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James.

Kaplan said Federline is seeking additional custody, but declined to elaborate.

Brit Bodyguard Ups Subpoena Count

Just one night after Kevin Federline's legal team served Britney Spears off-on personal assistant and confidante Alli Sims with a subpoena to testify in the ex-couple's ongoing custody case, Spears' former bodyguard and manny Daimon Shippen was slapped with a deposition order as well, E! News has learned.

Like Sims before him, Shippen is expected to be quizzed on Spears' skills as a mother, going over everything from her parenting choices to her late-night habits.

Once again, Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, dispatched security specialist Aaron Cohen to do the deed Monday night.

Shippen was Spears' bodyguard for nearly a year, but eagle-eyed tabloid readers may best remember him as the mustachioed detail who swooped in to make sure an eight-month-old Sean Preston's cranium didn't make contact with the New York City pavement when a drink-and-baby-balancing Spears stumbled in front of a throng of paparazzi in May 2006.

At the time, Shippen was working for a private security firm, though he soon went solo amid reports that employers discovered he was running an adult-toy Internet company on the side. Shippen has never commented on those or any other reports.

Regardless, Spears rehired the newly independent bodyguard earlier this year, and the two had made a habit of hanging out, with Shippen escorting the pop star to a production of Wicked and to church. Tabloids and gossip sites were buzzing last month that the two were romantically involved, although both claim the relationship has always been nothing but professional.

It's unclear whether Shippen is still in Spears' employ; he was working security for another client Monday night when he was served with the subpoena.

Spears and Federline's divorce was finalized a week ago, and they were granted joint custody of sons Sean Preston and Jayden James. However, Federline went to court last Friday to seek primary physical custody of the boys. Sources say he is concerned with Spears' erratic public behavior.

Attorneys for both are due in court Tuesday morning for another hearing in the case.

Britney Spears Seeks 50 Truths Worth Knowing

While the exercise is hardly unusual for Spears, her purchase was: a book.

Also, not just any book, but a $12.95 Hallmark gift volume, 50 Truths Worth Knowing, which she picked up, along with some candles, at a drug store in Los Angeles, photos reveal.

As the pictures show, Spears went shopping with her "cousin," Alli Sims. The pop star's outfit? Shades, a fedora and boots with the price tag still attached.

"If you like 'food for thought' you'll enjoy a veritable feast in 50 Truths Worth Knowing," is how the 216-page hardcover (with ribbon bookmark) is described on the Hallmark Web site. "A collection of fifty true-life experiences, this uplifting and unforgettable book offers convincing proof that the most important truths are often revealed in simple and surprising ways."

The singer, 25, has certainly been surprising herself of late. Last week, the normally brown-eyed girl tried out green contact lenses for a video shoot in Santa Monica.

Sims, 26, too was faced with a surprise development of her own early Sunday when, after partying with Spears at a private house in Hollywood, she was served with legal papers that will force the former assistant and friend to testify at Spears's divorce hearing.

Britney's Pal Alli Sims Served with Legal Papers

Sims was leaving a party at a private home in the Hollywood Hills when she was served by Aaron Cohen of IMS-Security.

"Alli was really shocked and covered her face," an observer tells PEOPLE. "[She was] really distraught and said 'Oh my God.' "

Spears, who was also at the party, did not witness the serving of the papers, according to the observer.

The papers are a deposition subpoena sent by Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, compelling Sims to testify about Spears's parenting skills.

Sims, who has known Spears since childhood and is regularly at her side while partying in Los Angeles, recently told PEOPLE: "[Britney] is a wonderful mom and she is so hands-on. ... Britney loves those babies to death. And they adore her."

On Wednesday, Federline filed for primary custody of the couple's two sons, Sean Preston, 22 months, and Jayden James, 10 months.

A source close to Federline told PEOPLE recently that the would-be rapper has been worried about Spears's behavior and thinks she may be exposing the boys to "unnecessary risk."

Britney Spears Goes Green for Video Shoot

The normally brown-eyed pop star, 25, was caught leaving the set of a video shoot in Santa Monica wearing a lace see-through top and black hotpants – in addition to emerald green contacts, according to to celebrity photo agency X17-Online.

Divorcée Spears also wore a large diamond on her ring finger and had her "cousin" Alli Sims in the car as she headed to a drive-in burger restaurant.

After chowing down it was a change of clothes at the Beverly Wilshire hotel before the duo hit a party at Winston's.

Sims has recently tried to launch her own music career through her Web site and, despite rumblings that she and Spears had suffered a falling out, things seemed well patched up between them.

Parking-lot fender bender for Britney

But the tale of the tape made it clear to the owner of the parked car just who it was who scraped up her silver Mercedes-Benz.

Kim Robard-Rifkin, 59, told the entertainment Web site CelebTV.com on Wednesday that nobody from Spears' camp had contacted her about the damaged car.

"It's sad because I was really hoping she'd step up and be a mensch, be a human being," Robard-Rifkin said. "It was simply like my car didn't matter to her, my inconvenience didn't matter to her."

A video on CelebTV.com, taken Monday, shows the 25-year-old pop star (with a puppy on her lap) attempting to park her black convertible and hitting the adjacent car.

Robard-Rifkin, a registered nurse, said she was "sort of amused and sort of shocked" when she learned it was Spears who hit her car, and figured she would hear from the embattled entertainer.

"There were obviously a lot of paparazzi there and what kind of person wouldn't realize that this (would) be on TV and she had to be responsible and contact me," she said.

"I'm not asking for money. I'm not asking for a new car. ... I simply want my car fixed, the same as I would fix somebody's car if I had done that."

Robard-Rifkin filed a police report on Thursday.

An e-mail to Spears spokeswoman at Jive Records was not immediately returned.

Spears' divorce from Kevin Federline became official on July 30. Since February, Spears and Federline, 29, have shared joint custody of their sons, 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James. When the divorce was finalized, a child custody hearing was scheduled for Aug. 14.

No Body Double for Britney Spears Ad

In a photo, anyway. The pop star, 25, resembles the Britney of before in a new ad for her latest fragrance, Believe. A rep for Elizabeth Arden, the company that manufactures Spears's perfume line, tells Access Hollywood that a body double was not used for the ad photo shoot, which took place earlier this summer.

The rep did confirm, however, that at one point Spears left the set – just as she had at a recent shoot for OK! magazine.

When Britney bolted, according to an Elizabeth Arden statement, "We used [her wardrobe assistant Cayli Cavaco] as a stand-in so that we could set up the lighting while Britney was off the set. When Britney returned, we shot the national print ad with her.

"The only person in the national print ad for Britney's Believe fragrance is Britney Spears."

As for the new scent, the company describes it as, a "confident expression of optimism and individuality. ... Britney's next fragrance is a reflection of her soul. As she shares her beliefs, we reflect on our own."

K-Fed Courts Custody

A source told E! News Wednesday that Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, hit up Los Angeles Superior Court to file K-Fed's request for "primary physical custody of his two children with Britney Spears." Because the papers were filed in family court, they are technically under seal.

A judge signed off on the Chaotic couple's divorce on July 30, with sources saying that they had agreed to continue sharing joint custody of 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James and Federline receiving $15,000 a month in child support from Spears.

At the time, however, sources told E! News that Federline was reluctant to agree to the previous custody arrangement amid reports of Spears' increasingly odd behavior and continued party-hearty ways.

And his concerns didn't even take into account all that Spears has been up to in the past few days.

When she wasn't busy roughing up a parked car, hiring new representation or playing Truth or Dare with a handful of barely-legals, the comeback-minded kid took time out Tuesday to work on the music video for her upcoming album.

A dark-haired Spears, clad in leather short-shorts and a lacey see-through blouse—over a leopard-print camisole, natch—and surrounded by bodyguards, was photographed en route to the shoot, which took place in Venice, California.

The day before the "Toxic" pop star got down to business, however, she accidentally steered her Mercedes into a silver station wagon in the parking lot of a Studio City strip mall. After reportedly announcing, "I'm a brainiac!" to the ever-present paparazzi, Spears got out of her car to check the damage, which was minor…and then reportedly left without leaving a note or trying to find the owner.

When contacted later by several media outlets, the unidentified woman whose car was on the receiving end of the smashup said that she hoped Spears would take responsibility for the accident, but that she hadn't yet heard from the singer.

Meanwhile, someone who is reportedly hearing from the singer is Kelly Clarkson's ex-manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, of the Los Angeles-based outfit the Firm.

Reports are swirling that Spears has been added to Kwatinetz's client roster, but a rep from his office told E! Online Tuesday to "feel free to direct all questions about that fiasco to [Britney's] label." Spears' longtime label, Jive Records, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

Spears parted ways recently with manager Larry Rudolph and public relations powerhouse BWR, and gave personal assistant Shannon Funk the boot last month, three weeks after hiring her.

On a personal note, Us Weekly is reporting that Spears partied atop L.A.'s Standard Downtown hotel recently with a 21-year-old extra from the aforementioned music video, during which she encouraged everyone in attendance to play topless Truth or Dare. All of this according to college student Matt Encinias, who claims that he shared a smooch with Spears and that the divorced mother of two was the first to lose the shirt off her back.

'BRAINIAC' BRITNEY BUMPS CARS

No one was hurt in the fender-bender Monday - but the mercurial ex-Mouseketeer's pride might be hurt when her fragrance, Believe, comes out, with someone else's tighter body on the packaging.

As Page Six reported more than a month ago, Spears walked out of a shoot for the perfume's ads before decent shots were taken. But that hasn't stopped Elizabeth Arden's marketing campaign for the scent.

"She looked amazing, but she left the shoot three times in a state of distress before driving away for good," our source said. "They had decent shots of her face, but not her body, so the art director made the stylist - a cute girl name Kylie Cavaco - get in Britney's clothes and pose.

"They are superimposing Britney's head on Kylie's body. Kylie has the body Brit used to have, not the one she has now."

In late April, after shaving her head and attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella, Spears did manage to get through a cover shoot for Allure's September issue. Insiders told Page Six, "She did the cover shoot and was fabulous. She did everything they needed her to do. Everyone was saying how professional she was - but then, she never showed up for her interviews."

Women's Wear Daily reported that Spears skipped four interviews with Allure writer Judith Newman. What was originally meant as a "comeback" piece set around the time of her album release was transformed, according to our source, into a "firsthand account about every time the reporter tried in vain to do the interview."

A similar situation with OK! last month left Spears' reputation even more tarnished - she reportedly walked off with $14,496 worth of merchandise, relieved herself with the bathroom door open, and let her Yorkie puppy defecate on a Zac Posen gown.

Though Spears seems increasingly out of control, she is reported to be hiring Jeff Kwatinetz, the talent manager recently fired by Kelly Clarkson, to engineer her comeback. Until she does, Spears has no reps to call for comment.

Britney's 'Cousin' Alli on Her Pop Career & Spears's Kids

Blogs have been watching Sims's Web site closely, and on Monday Spears's former assistant updated it to include her first song – a cover of "On My Own," from the stage musical Les Misérables.

And, the newly launched singer tells PEOPLE, she already has a staunch supporter in Spears.

Shrugging off rumors that Britney resented her decision to pursue her lifelong dream, Sims, 26, says: "She heard my songs on the laptop and was like, 'I love this song! This is you singing?' She has always been supportive."

As for Spears's parenting skills, which have come under fire recently, Sims tells PEOPLE in its new issue, "She's a wonderful mom and she is so hands-on. ... Britney loves those babies to death. And they adore her."

When it comes to her former employer, Sims adds, "I love her, she's beautiful inside and out. We're still great friends."

And when it comes to her music, the Southerner says she's after a "soulful" sound, and the single on her Web site is "more of a filler song until I get my new stuff recorded. Honestly, we put that one up there because all the other ones I had put down in the past had a little more of a country vibe, and I do not want to go there at all."

Further distinguishing herself from her famous friend, Sims also says, "I don't dance, I'm not pop. I have a more bluesy voice, more Norah Jones-ish. I don't want to appeal to just my age group and younger."

Having moved to Los Angeles immediately after college with a music career in mind, Sims made ends meet by working with noted wedding planner Mindy Weiss and, more recently, for Spears.

"I was just doing that for a little while, and we had a great time together," Sims says of working with Britney.

Now, however, Sims is making music with the likes of such in-demand producers as Evan Bogart and J.R. Rotem.

"I hope everything falls into place, and maybe by January I will have a lot of things under my belt and get to release something," Sims says. "I just want to do what I love. [Music] is my passion."

Photographers say Spears threatened them

Spears yelled "I am going to kill you!" and cursed at Andrew Deetz, a photographer who says he was beaten by Spears' bodyguard on Thursday, according to a statement released by Deetz's lawyers.

Deetz, 24, is preparing to sue, his lawyers said. The other photographer involved was Kyle Henderson, 23. They both work for a celebrity photography company called Flynet Pictures, which sells to such publications as People and US Weekly, according to Daniel Kogan, a spokesman for Deetz's lawyers.

The men were taking pictures of Spears, 25, as she and her children — 22-month-old Sean Preston Federline and 10-month-old Jayden James Federline — left the spa at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-hotel around 11:30 a.m., accompanied by two bodyguards.

One bodyguard, Cesar Julio Camera, 37, pushed Henderson against the wall until Wynn security intervened and asked Henderson to leave, the statement said.

As they were about 30 paces away and walking in the opposite direction, Camera attacked Deetz from behind, threw him on the ground and punched and kicked him until security pulled him off, it said.

Afterward, Spears ran toward Henderson but was stopped by security, and then threw a baby bottle at him, it said.

Then, in front of several other hotel guests and bystanders, Spears threatened to kill Deetz and said he should get a restraining order against her because she was going to kill him or hire someone that would, it said.

Camera also told Deetz on July 23 outside the Lisa Kline boutique in Beverly Hills, "I have unfinished business with you," the statement alleged.

Spears' lawyer Gary Stiffelman declined to comment.

Wynn Las Vegas released a statement confirming that Spears stayed at the hotel and left on Thursday, but also declined to discuss the confrontation.

"We respect the privacy and do our utmost to maintain the anonymity of our guests," it said.

Las Vegas police issued a summons for a charge of battery to Camera, the only person cited. He could face up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

Stiffelman's office would not relay messages to Camera seeking comment, and The Associated Press was unable to find a phone number for him.

Britney, Kevin Back to Being Single

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon signed off on Britney Spears and Kevin Federline's divorce settlement Monday, making the split official.

Spears and Federline were not present for the ceremonial dissolution of their marriage, leaving the coffin-nailing to their respective attoneys, Laura Wasser and Mark Vincent Kaplan.

"I think she's okay with the terms," Wasser said of her client outside the court. "I think they were each hoping they would have more custody time, but hopefully that can be worked out."

While the terms of the settlement were not revealed, sources say that for now the couple will continue to share joint custody of their sons and that Federline will still receive $15,000 a month in child support from Spears.

Federline is reportedly getting $20,000 a month in spousal support from his ex-wife at present, but under the terms of the couple's prenuptial agreement, those payments will end in November.

Spears, 25, and Federline, 29, previously announced in March that they had reached a "global divorce settlement on all issues of their marriage, including custody of their two children."

While it seemed as if an official split would follow soon after news of the settlement, the pair's divorce proceedings marched on.

Last month, a source close to Federline told E! News the would-be rapper was dragging his heels when it came to signing divorce papers, because he was concerned about his children's well-being amid reports of his estranged wife's increasingly erratic behavior.

"It's not about the money," the source said at the time. "It's about her partying. It's her partying ways that is forcing Kevin to put his foot down."

Though Federline has signed off on joint custody for the time being, sources tell E! News his attorney may be going to court as early as Friday to seek full custody of 22-month-old Sean Preston and 10-month -old Jayden James.

Britney Spears & Kevin Federline's Divorce to Be Finalized

"We believe that hopefully today their divorce will be final," the singer's attorney, Laura Wasser, said Monday. "The papers will be bare-bones, and we're trying to get the rest of the details sealed."

Wasser said the couple will agree to continue splitting custody 50-50 of their two sons, Sean Preston, born in September 2005, and Jayden James, who was born almost exactly one year after. She would not comment on the couple's financial settlement. The papers are expected to be signed Monday afternoon by a Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner.

Spears, 25, filed for divorce on Nov. 6, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences with Federline, 29, after just over two years of marriage.

In March, the couple reached an initial divorce settlement, which continued their interim arrangement of joint legal and physical custody of their children. But in June, Federline was still resisting signing the papers over growing concerns about Spears' erratic behavior. The singer, who spent a stint at Promises rehab center, has also been a fixture on the nightclub and party scene.

Spears has continued to raise eyebrows with her wild antics. Most recently, she went swimming in Malibu, stripping down to just her underwear. She also acted up on an ill-fated photo shoot documented in a recent issue of OK! Magazine.

Britney Seeks Control, Bounces Assistant

Yes, the joke is old, but the sentiment isn't: Just days after her OK! magazine debacle, Britney Spears has fired her personal assistant, the latest in a string of firings within the Spears entourage.

"Britney is adamant these days that no one around her tries to control her in anyway," a source close to the pop princess reveals. "The moment she feels someone is trying to tell her what to do, she responds by firing them. And she thought her new assistant was trying to be too 'in charge,' as she put it."

Spears gave Shannon Funk her walking papers just three weeks after hiring her, our source said. The termination follows the recent axings of manager Larry Rudolph and the powerhouse public relations firm BWR. Spears' previous assistant, Alli Sims—who also happened to be her cousin—parted ways with the performer last month. And Spears has even sought to distance herself and her kids from her mother, Lynne.

There was no immediate comment from Spears. Attempts to reach Funk were unsuccessful.

Sources close to Spears say she partly blames the recent fallout from the disastrous OK! photo shoot on Funk.

According to OK!, Spears was uncooperative during the session, refusing to use the magazine's hair and makeup team, ruining a designer dress after using it as a napkin and then storming off before the photographer could finish the shoot. Spears left wearing nearly $9,000 in designer duds, per the magazine's account. Funk, meanwhile, was caught trying to walk off with another designer dress but was stopped by the wardrobe coordinator, according to the magazine (though she did score a tank top and pair of shorts, the article said).

"Britney didn't blame the day directly on her assistant," the source said, "but just said in general that a lot of her problems recently were caused by Shannon's unprofessional behavior. Britney thought Shannon was rude and tried to run her affairs without listening to her."

The firing came just hours before Spears hopped on a plane to Vegas, where one of her bodyguards was cited by police after getting into a fight with a paparazzo. Spears claims the photographer was overly aggressive, especially toward her son Sean Preston, and she has filed her own complaint with police.

But the recent scandals are not surprising to those who know Spears.

"Britney becomes hostile toward anyone she thinks is trying to control her," our source said. "So a lot of these blowups kind of stem from that. Britney has been telling friends that she will never work for anyone ever again who tries to make her do anything she doesn't want to. That's why she fired her manager and publicist. She thought they were all taking advantage of her, making her do things that would make them money but weren't really in her best interest. She said she's tired of being taken advantage of."

In particular, Spears bristled at having to give Rudolph 20 percent of her income, the source said.

"She thinks everyone just sees her as their personal cash cow, and it's made her overly sensitive to anybody who tries to give her direction or advise her," the source said.

That sentiment came to a head following Spears' stint at the rehab facility, Promises. Rudolph was a key player in convincing Spears she needed to go.

"That was the end for her," the source said. "She never felt like she belonged there. So that's when she decided never to do anything she didn't want. She won't sit through a photo session if she doesn't feel like it. And she won't keep around any assistant who tries to make her stick to a schedule if she doesn't want to stick to it."

Spears' bodyguard cited for battery in Las Vegas

The altercation occurred on Thursday morning at the Wynn Hotel & Casino when one of the photographers reportedly bumped into the bodyguard, Julio Camera, while Camera was holding one of Spears' two sons in his arms.

According to a vaguely worded police news release, the incident started when one of the photographers "was attempting to take pictures of Ms. Spears."

"It was alleged that during the altercation the photographer was battered by Mr. Camera," the police statement said, adding the photographer "received minor abrasions" and that Camera was issued a citation for misdemeanor battery.

Spears, in turn, filed a report alleging Camera and her child, who was being held by the bodyguard at the time, were themselves "battered" by the second photographer, the police statement said.

Neither photographer was cited, but the incident remains under investigation by police, Las Vegas police Sgt. John Loretto told Reuters.

Loretto declined to give further details of the incident, other than to say neither Spears nor her children were hurt in the scuffle.

People magazine's Web site and other news outlets reported that one of the paparazzi had bumped into Camera while he held Spears' 22-month-old son, Sean Preston. Her younger son, 10-month-old Jayden James, was also reportedly with his mother at the time.

The People.com account, citing the official police report, said, "Spears screamed in fear of her children's safety," and Camera handed Sean to his mother before punching the photographer.

Spears' trip to Las Vegas came days after she made headlines in the tabloid press with reports of erratic behavior during a photo shoot for celebrity-friendly OK! Magazine.

The OK! photo spread and interview were arranged by Spears in a bid to relaunch her career following months of negative publicity surrounding her self-shaven head, a stint in rehab, a messy divorce and a brief nightclub tour that fell flat.

People magazine also reported her trip to Las Vegas with her two sons could pose problems in any custody battle with her ex-husband Kevin Federline, whom she failed to notify of her out-of-state trip with the boys.

Britney's Vegas Bust Up

The latest hiccup on Spears' road to recovering her tattered public image took place in Sin City, when a tussle between her bodyguard and an ever-present member of the paparazzi broke out, resulting in bruises, misdemeanor battery charges and a crime report filed on behalf of son Sean Preston.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, at 11:55 a.m. Thursday, a day after she arrived in the city with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James and brother Bryan, cops responded to a disturbance call at the Wynn Hotel & Casino, where the Spears family was holed up.

Spears' bodyguard, Julio "J.C." Camera, was escorting Spears and 22-month-old Sean Preston through the hotel property, police said, when a skirmish broke out between Camera and a photographer for the photo agency Flynet, whose identity has not been released.

Detectives from the violent crimes division arrived on the scene and subsequently cited Camera for misdemeanor battery.

The cause of the fight is, as expected, a hotly contested matter between the two parties. Flynet claims its employee was wronged, releasing a statement Friday morning claiming "the thug" Camera approached the lensman "from behind and savagely beat him while he lay defenseless on the ground."

Flynet released photos of the incident, taken by another of the agency's staffers, shows the roughed-up photographer on the ground in the fetal position with Camera about to strike a blow. Another image depicts two Wynn security officers are shown trying to pry Camera off of the downed paparazzo.

After Camera's "cowardly act," the agency said the cameraman, who per police suffered "minor abrasions" during the attack, was forced to seek medical treatment and "will be pressing charges."

As, apparently, will Spears.

She claims that Camera was simply acting in defense of her and her son. Shortly after her bodyguard was cited in the incident, the 25-year-old filed her own crime report on behalf of Sean Preston, alleging that an incident involving another photographer had taken place just before the fight broke out that had prompted the attack.

In the report, it was alleged that the paparazzo, while attempting to snap pictures of Spears, had battered both Camera and Sean Preston, who was being held by Camera at the time.

The investigation into Spears' allegations is still pending, police said. The entertainer did not immediately comment on the incident.

According to Us Weekly, which first reported the melee, Spears checked out of the Wynn Thursday afternoon, though whether her departure was voluntary or not is unclear.

Police reports aren't the only fallout that may come of her Sin City sojourn.

The curtailed getaway could pose problems in her custody battle with Kevin Federline as, under California law, neither parent is allowed to take a child out of the state without receiving either written permission from the other parent or a court order. According to People, Spears failed to inform Federline ahead of time of the family excursion.

As it is, Spears may be spending a significant amount of time in Vegas in the near future. She's already due to open up the Vegas offshoot of Hollywood club LAX on Aug. 31 and is also rumored to be one of the surprise performers at MTV's Video Music Awards, when the show airs from the Palms Hotel & Casino on Sept. 9.

Britney Spears Goes to Vegas with Brother & Kids

The pop star, joined by her brother Bryan, flew in a private plane to Sin City on Wednesday afternoon with kids Sean Preston, 22 months, and Jayden James, 10 months.

No word on what, exactly, Spears plans to do while in town, but sources tell PEOPLE she went to dinner at the Country Club at the Wynn Las Vegas. She also made special arrangements to have her hotel room childproofed for the visit.

The trip could also pose some problems for any custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline: Under California law, neither parent is allowed to take a child out of state without written permission from the other – or by obtaining a court order. According to a source close to Federline, Spears failed to notify her ex or his attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, that she was taking the children to Las Vegas.

A lawyer for Spears did not respond to calls for comment.

Lohan, Spears making mockery of rehab: experts

Lohan was arrested on Tuesday on a second drunken-driving charge just days after leaving her second stint in rehab flaunting an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet at nightclubs.

Spears twice spent less than a day in rehab before entering a third time for a month after behaving erratically.

"It is making a mockery of rehabs," said Harris Stratyner, a psychologist with Caron, a nonprofit addiction treatment organization.

"In some ways it's starting to make rehabs look like a joke and that's very sad because hundreds of thousands of people a year are saved."

Lohan, 21, spent a month in rehab in January. But after crashing her car on May 26, she checked in for another six weeks of treatment at another center. She was charged last week with drunken driving in relation to that accident.

Hours after Tuesday's arrest, Lohan's lawyer said she had suffered a relapse and was "presently receiving medical care."

In February, Spears checked into rehab -- for the third time in a week -- where she spent the minimum 30 days after a spree of high-profile partying and unusual behavior such as shaving off her hair.

Upon finishing treatment, the 25-year-old singer finalized her divorce from dancer and aspiring rapper Kevin Federline.

To avoid relapsing, rehab patients are advised to stay away from "high-risk" situations, including people who could put direct or subtle pressure on them and places where it is easy to obtain drugs or alcohol. They are also told to reduce the stress in their lives and engage in healthy activities.

Most treatment centers also recommend they attend a 12-step recovery program meeting every day for the first month after leaving rehab and then go regularly to such meetings.

VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS

Jon Morgenstern, of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, said it was not uncommon for people to need several rounds of treatment but that those "waltzing" in and out of rehab for short periods could be perceived as not taking their problem seriously.

"I would hope that people understand that addiction is a very serious illness and that the perception in the public mind doesn't become that this is all a joke," he said.

"In the last 30 years, because high-profile people have sought treatment, it's become more socially acceptable that people do have alcohol and drug problems and need to get help," he said. "So I hope that tide is not turning against us."

According to research from Caron, relapse rates for addictive diseases range from 50 percent for resumption of heavy use to 90 percent for a brief lapse.

Residential rehab programs tend to be tailored to individual needs and involve individual and group therapy, therapeutic activities, daily lectures and family sessions.

U.S. government data shows that in 2003 there were nearly 1.7 million admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs. The largest group entering treatment -- 15.6 percent -- were people aged 36 to 40. People aged 21 to 25 were fourth at 13.3 percent.

Research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse has shown that adults older than 55 are likely to have a better long-term recovery than middle-aged and younger adults, mainly because they were less likely to have close family or friends who encourage alcohol or drug use.

Janice Min, editor of US Weekly, a leading celebrity magazine, said that while the public is growing tired of the antics of young celebrities, they also cannot stop watching and find it "incredibly fascinating."

"Lindsay is almost becoming a Robert Downey Jr for a generation -- an incredibly gifted actor whose personal shortcomings just keep getting in the way," Min said.

Downey Jr struggled to overcome drug addiction and served jail time for cocaine possession.

"But one of the things with Hollywood celebrities is that forgiveness is a bottomless well among their fans," Min said.

Britney's Latest Bizarre Behavior Sparks Concern

And this time, PEOPLE reports in its new issue (on sale Friday), her antics could have some serious consequences.

On July 18 the pop star, 25, and her unidentified blonde gal pal stopped off in Malibu for an impromptu afternoon dip (with Spears wearing only her skivvies!) before a crowd of photographers.

Her erratic behavior continued the next day when, after filming a new video (self-funded, according to a source), she reportedly had a "meltdown" during an ill-fated photo shoot for Ok! Magazine.

In the course of the session she apparently fretted that the ceiling might cave in, she allowed her newly acquired puppy to soil the floor and she wiped her hands on a couture gown after scarfing down fried chicken.

Finally, on July 20, Spears drew another wave of criticism for going boating with sons Sean Preston, 22 months, and Jayden James, 10 months – without life jackets. (Turns out they're not required by state law on such a large craft.)

Spears, who has no manager or personal publicist and has been without her BFF Alli Sims lately, "won't listen to anybody," says a family friend. "[Her family] is frustrated with the situation – and worried about the children."

Also worried, it seems, is their dad, Kevin Federline. The would-be rapper thinks his ex is exposing the boys to "unnecessary risk," says a source familiar with the case. "His lawyer [Mark Vincent Kaplan] hopes to get Kevin primary custody – soon.”

BRITNEY'S GREASY PHOTO SHOOT

Spears allegedly fled the shoot wearing $12,861 worth of jewelry, a $974 Vera Wang dress, $380 Lanvin heels and a $281 Pucci scarf. When the clothes she ruined are added, the total comes to $21,267.

The pop-tard "wander[ed] around babbling like a baby" as well as "fondling her breasts . . . as if not aware she's not alone," according to a post on LaineyGossip.com.

OK! says in the issue hitting stands today it's exposing the "dark side of fame" that Spears revealed at the shoot, where her behavior became increasingly erratic. The issue includes an unflattering picture of her leaving the set.

Spears "promptly banished everyone except the hair/makeup team to another floor in the house," according to OK! "Then, even the hair and makeup people were ordered out so that Brit's friends could do the job, using the equipment brought in by pros.

"The wardrobe crew was informed that the high-end selection of clothing just wasn't sexy. The items weren't short enough or tight enough."

Following a brief interview - after which Spears broke for lunch and rubbed grease from her fried chicken on the front of her dress - she "used the restroom repeatedly without bothering to close the door," OK! reports, adding that her "new Yorkie puppy followed suit by pooping on a $6,700 Zac Posen gown."

Earlier this week, Spears was captured on camera swearing at paparazzi while her two boys, Jayden James and Sean Preston, sat crying in the back seat.

According to insiders, Spears was asking for $1 million as well as control of photographs and editorial content. But since the shoot was canceled, OK! paid her nothing. Reps for the magazine had no comment on the terms of the deal.

As Page Six reported, Spears recently fired her manager and publicist. So we tried contacting her divorce lawyer, who did not return calls.

OK! has 'heartbreaking' day with Spears

"This week, on newsstands Friday, the truth will be told," Ivens said.

The statement was posted Tuesday on TMZ's Web site. A day earlier, TMZ said it had "learned that Britney's self-arranged photo shoot and interview with OK! Magazine was a complete disaster" and that her behavior during the interview was "nothing less than a meltdown."

OK! publicist Brian Strong said the magazine wouldn't publish photos of Spears from the shoot due to legal reasons. He said OK! would deliver "a very real account" of its interview with the 25-year-old singer.

The Associated Press was attempting to locate a representative for Spears.

Earlier this month, Spears apologized for attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella in February, saying at the time she was preparing to try out for a movie part and got carried away.

The incident took place during the same period in which Spears shaved her head, got new tattoos and was seen partying hard in Los Angeles clubs.

Not long after, the erstwhile pop star, more recently derided as a pop tart for her highly public forays into midnight carousing, checked into a monthlong stay in rehab.

Spears filed for divorce from aspiring rapper Kevin Federline in November, just two months after giving birth to the couple's second child, Jayden James. Their older son, Sean Preston, was born in September 2005.

Britney pregnant again?

NW reports that Spears has told close friends that she is pregnant, and that she does not know who the father is.

A source told the magazine: "She's been secretly filling her pals in on the good news since last week. Britney is in shock herself, this definitely wasn't planned. She's thrilled just the same."

Spears has two sons with ex-husband Kevin Federline: 1-year-old Sean Preston and 10-month-old Jayden James.

At this time, no one from the Spears camp has confirmed this pregnancy rumor.

Britney Spears shoots comeback video

The promo clip is for forthcoming single "Get Back."

It will be the first release from her as-yet-untitled new album, Spears' first since 2003's In The Zone.

It is thought Spears worked with Sean Garrett and Jonathan Rotem on some track. The album is believed to be coming out in 2008.

Spears' spokesperson Leslie Sloane Zelnik said: "I said since the album is pushed back until '08, let's go on hiatus until we have a campaign to do," reports Rolling Stone.

Britney Spears to Host Las Vegas Club Opening

LAX, whose investors include Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie's former fiancé DJ AM, opens Aug. 31 in the Luxor Hotel.

"Britney Spears will host the grand opening," a club rep said Tuesday.

Since completing rehab in March, Spears has been a club regular, most recently last weekend when she hit three hotspots in one night. She stopped by Ritual Supper Club to celebrate her assistant Alli's birthday, then Les Deux and Element, where she arrived with a group of seven women and went on the dance floor.

It's not clear if Spears, 25, will perform at the LAX opening. The singer is currently working on a new album and has been seen visiting a dance studio, but no release date or performances have been announced.Britney Buys a New Dog It really turned out to be a dog day afternoon for Britney Spears. The pop star and her bodyguard headed to Pets of Bel Air in the Glen Center in Bel Air on Friday – and left with a new puppy, a source tells PEOPLE.

An “excited” Spears walked into the store and right up to the dog section where she asked to see one dog in particular – a $3,000 Yorkie, says a fellow shopper. "She picked up the dog and loved it right away, she was incredibly nice and very pleasant."

Pleasant and fast: The pop star gave the cashier her credit card and headed out with her new dog in hand after spending less than a half-hour in the store.

The new addition to the Spears's clan has been reportedly named "London."

It's not the first time Spears has visited the Bel Air pet store. In June, she stopped in to canoodle with a Teacup Chihuahua, but walked away empty-handed.

Spears's Yorkie joins another recent addition to her animal menagerie: a $19.99 parakeet she picked up at a Petco last month.

Britney to become cocktail waitress?

The pop superstar is understood to have been interviewed for the role at Les Deux in Hollywood recently.

Britney, who is currently understood to be working on her new album, apparently told the manager at the bar she "loved the sexy red corsets" worn by the waitresses.

"She filled out the application, including her work history, address, Social Security number, and then she went to a back room for an interview with the manager.

"Everyone thought she was joking, but she seemed dead serious," a source told Life And Style Weekly.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Britney's new material will be released by Christmas, contradicting claims that the follow-up to 2003's In The Zone will not be out until 2008.

Britney Spears 'Not Dating' Her Bodyguard

"He's her bodyguard and manny," says a source familiar with Shippen's employment. "They're not dating."

Shippen, a California native described by the source as "funny, but on the quiet side," is "tickled" by the attention from the media. "But he really wants to focus on his job: taking care of the kids and of her," says the source.

Shippen, the source confirms, was indeed the mustachioed security guard who helped catch Spears's son Sean Preston when the singer stumbled in New York in May 2006. At the time, Shippen was working for a security firm.

Shippen and the company parted ways soon after, but Spears recently rehired Shippen – now clean-shaven – independent of an agency. In recent days he has escorted her to a production of Wicked and to church, carrying a crying Jayden. He also has been spotted with Spears at a Beverly Hills hotel where she has been staying recently.

A second source says that despite all the time they've spent together, it is "completely false" to suggest Spears is dating Shippen. (His identity was first reported by photo agency X-17).

"She doesn't have a nanny," this source says. "When the kids are with her she takes care of them and she is a very hands-on mom. Daimon also sometimes helps her with the kids. She really would like to have them for more time than she does but she is willing to live with the agreement with Kevin (Federline) that she has now."

Spears and ex-husband Federline have joint custody of their sons.

Britney: Ever More Pathetic

Pink Snubs Spears

The outspoken pop star would prefer to pen material for artists like Amy Winehouse, whose brash attitude can do justice to her tracks.

She says, "Not because I don't like (Spears) - I do think she's crazy enough to do one of my songs. But it's very hard for me to let go of my songs and the only people I write for are real singers - not that she's not a real singer, but she's more of an entertainer. When I mean real singers, I mean the likes of Lauryn Hill, Faith Hill - and I'd write for Amy Winehouse, because you need serious attitude to carry off the dumb stuff I write about."

Britney's Man Mystery Deepens

This weekend marked the latest public sighting of Spears with the man, who has been hiding behind dark shades. They turned up at Bel Air Presbyterian Church on Sunday, with Spears carrying son Jayden, who will turn 1 in September, and the man toting a crying Sean Preston, who's nearly 2.

Ruggedly handsome and good with kids – but who is he? Bodyguard? Boyfriend? A little of both? The Internet has been abuzz with speculation, but so far no positive IDs. Spears's reps also aren't saying and her Web site is absent any mention of him. He just emerged, often seen behind driving Spears around in her black Mercedes.

The church visit followed a very public night on the town last week, with Spears and the man going to LA's Pantages Theater see the musical Wicked – or at least the first part of it. Spears and the man ducked out about an hour into the show, though no offense was taken.

"She came in late, and stayed for about an hour and left," says Wicked rep Tim Choy. "She loves the show. She's seen it several times."

Spears sorry for attacking photog's car

The incident took place during the same period in which she shaved her head, got new tattoos and was seen partying hard in Los Angeles clubs.

"I apologize to the pap for a stunt that was done 4 months ago regarding an umbrella," Spears said in a statement posted Wednesday on her Web site. "I was preparing my character for a roll (sic) in a movie where the husband never plays his part so they switch places accidentally. I take all my rolls very seriously and got a little carried away. Unfortunately I didn't get the part."

Not long after the incident, Spears checked into rehab.

Spears says umbrella attack was acting, not anger

As the former pop princess reinvents her career after a failed marriage, a stint in rehabilitation and panty-less pictures taken in public, Spears posted a note on her Web site, www.britneyspears.com, apologizing to the paparazzi for the umbrella-bashing incident, calling it a "stunt."

"I was preparing my character for a roll (sic) in a movie where the husband never plays his part so they switch places accidentally," the 25-year-old wrote. "I take all my rolls (sic) very seriously and got a little carried away."

"Unfortunately I didn't get the part," she added.

Method acting is a technique in which performers prepare for upcoming roles by immersing themselves in the real-life habits, experiences, emotions and thoughts of a character.

Back in February, the mother-of-two repeatedly struck a sport utility vehicle with an umbrella shortly before returning to a substance-abuse treatment center for the third time in a week, ultimately remaining in rehab for at least a month.

Her rehabilitation stint followed a spree of high-profile partying and other erratic behavior, such as shaving off her hair. Upon leaving in March she completed a divorce agreement with aspiring rapper and father of her sons, Kevin Federline.

Spears is trying to stage a comeback, performing for the first time in more than three years in May with a series of 15-minute shows at various nightclubs and reportedly working on her fifth album.

Britney Not Ready to Make Nice

In the wake of a well-publicized falling out with her mother, Lynne, the tarnished pop princess seems to have little interest in mending their relationship.

Sources have speculated that the mother-daughter feud began after Britney blamed Lynne for forcing her into rehab against her will back in February.

Perhaps as a means of retaliation, Britney has now claimed to be "really concerned" about Lynne, while hinting that her mother could possibly use some treatment herself.

"I'm praying for her right now," Britney told a crowd of photographers trailing her on Sunday. "I hope she gets all the help she needs."

Her latest comments came after she was deliberately photographed last week delivering paperwork to a dejected-looking Lynne outside a trailer in Valencia, California.

According to tmz.com, the document in question was a letter from an out-of-state attorney warning Lynne to stay away from her grandsons Sean Preston, 1, and Jayden James, 9 months, if she's taking any medication that could impair her judgment.

Despite the apparent bad blood, Lynne isn't giving up hope for reconciliation just yet.

"Everything is going to be fine," she told People on Sunday. "I've got a strong family and everything is going to be fine."

She was even optimistic that Britney might decide to join her family in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana for a Fourth of July gathering.

However, after spending the weekend club-hopping with her girlfriends, Britney did not seem inclined to hop a plane for any Spears clan cookouts in the near future.

"I like it here," she told photographers Sunday.

But angry though she may be, Britney hasn't entirely ruled out making up with her mom at some point.

"In time, who knows what will happen?" she said.

Britney's Mom: 'Everything Is Going to Be Fine'

"Everything is going to be fine," she told PEOPLE while shopping in Kentwood, La. "I've got a strong family, and everything is going to be fine."

Spears, who was picking up groceries at a local store on Sunday, also said that "hopefully" daughter Britney will make it to a family cookout in their hometown for the Fourth of July holiday.

Meanwhile, Britney Spears was spending her weekend in L.A., going out Friday night with girlfriends to club Les Deux, but appeared subdued as she chatted and bounced to music.

It was only a day earlier that Spears was snapped by paparazzi handing her mother a piece of paper that TMZ.com reported to be a request from an out-of-state lawyer.

According to TMZ, the letter asked that Lynne stay away from Spears's sons Sean Preston, 1, and Jayden James, 9 months, if she is taking any medications that might cause her to be impaired.

As for what may be behind the rift that has left Lynne Spears apparently "brokenhearted," a family friend told PEOPLE on Friday: "I think Britney is angry that her family got involved in getting her into rehab."

In February, Spears checked into Promises Treatment Center in Malibu.

Britney Spears's Mom 'Brokenhearted' over Rift

Lynne Spears "has cried her heart out over the trouble between her and Britney," says the Spears family pal. "She is brokenhearted. She wants her baby to be okay and to bring her grandkids home to Kentwood and raise them in a normal environment."

On Thursday photos showed the pop star handing papers to her mother outside a trailer in Valencia, Calif., then walking away as her mom sat on the trailer steps, shocked.

Although one report identified the papers as a restraining order, TMZ.com reports that Spears actually handed her mother a letter from an out-of-state lawyer.

According to TMZ, the letter asks that Lynne stay away from Spears's sons Sean Preston, 1, and Jayden James, 9 months, if she is taking any medications that might cause her to be impaired.

Later, when asked by photo agency X17 what the papers were, Lynne joked, "It's a love letter." She ultimately clarified: "She did not serve me."

As for what may be behind the rift between mother and daughter, the family friend tells PEOPLE: "I think Britney is angry that her family got involved in getting her into rehab."

In February, Spears checked into Promises Treatment Center in Malibu.

Spears handed her mother the document on the set where her sister Jamie Lynn, 16, was filming her Nickelodeon show Zoey 101.

The New York Post reports that Spears learned her mother's whereabouts from the paparazzi camped outside her Beverly Hills home. Spears then drove to Valencia with her sons in tow, according to the newspaper.

In other Spears news, a source close to her ex, Kevin Federline, told PEOPLE Thursday that Federline has resisted signing divorce papers out of concern over Spears's post-rehab partying.

Source: Kevin Resists Signing Off on Britney Divorce

Under an agreement reached in March, the pair – once they sign the documents – would continue their interim arrangement of joint legal and physical custody of their two sons.

"Britney's attorneys are anxious to see Kevin sign off on a divorce," the source says. "But Kevin and his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan are dragging their heels out of concern over reports of Britney's post-rehab partying."

Federline's camp, the source adds, "wants to make sure that the divorce document makes it simple enough for Kevin to downsize Britney's access to her kids the next time her behavior troubles him."

Spears, 25, who left Promises rehab center in March, has been hitting the nightclub and restaurant scene recently. As PEOPLE magazine reports this week, she was spotted drinking two rum-based cocktails at Benvenuto Caffé on June 21, the same day she bought a $19.99 parakeet and domed cage.

"She had a couple of cocktails," the restaurant's maitre d', Sergio Cobin, tells PEOPLE. "She was in a great mood." (Another employee confirms she drank alcohol and "left a big tip.")

Spears's lawyer Laura Wasser, says: "I do not feel it's appropriate to comment the personal life or legal positions of my client."

Federline's lawyer also didn't comment.

Meanwhile, the producers of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour say that Spears will not be appearing, after all. Spears choreographer had said she'd be performing in the Los Angeles show on June 30.

"We invited Britney to join us in Las Vegas for the tour kickoff (June 8) but never heard back from her representatives. We still haven't heard anything from them," tour producer Jonny Podell tells PEOPLE. "Of course we wish we'd been contacted, but unfortunately, at this point, we wouldn't be able to accommodate another artist in the L.A. schedule anyway."

Lisa Barbaris, Lauper's manager and another tour producer, adds that media reports over performance disagreements with Spears's camp were not true. "The rumors about Cyndi not letting Britney perform due to any performance or lip-sync issues are silly and completely false," says Barbaris.

Britney Ducks Cyndi Show

Britney Spears album delayed

The album was believed to have come out at the end of this year, but Spears's spokesperson Leslie Sloane Zelnik has now declared the release is being put back.

"I put her on hiatus. Brit's album is pushed until '08. If she has no album, there's no reason to do anything," she explained. "I'm representing her in theory right now. I said that since the album is pushed back until '08, let's go on hiatus until we have a campaign to do."

It is believed Spears is working on tracks with producers Sean Garrett and Jonathan Rotem.

A "music industry insider" quoted by Life & Style magazine said: "I'm surprised the album has not been pushed back to '09. Jive [Spears's record label] hated the songs Britney was coming up with, except a few. The executives are not happy."

As previously reported, Spears posted a message on Britneyspears.com jokingly asking fans to name the new album, by voting for their favorite title out of five, including one called OMG Is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like.

Rosie's Blog Message to Britney: 'I Love You, Kid'

"Brit, if you're watching, honey, you and me – we're gonna share, like, a backstage moment, 'cause I love you, kid!" O'Donnell says in a video blog shot during a concert tour stop in Texas.

Spears's choreographer tells PEOPLE that the pop star plans to join Lauper and others onstage at Los Angeles's Greek Theatre on June 30 for Lauper's "True Colors" live concert.

O'Donnell says that was news to Lauper (a rep for the tour declined to comment), though Spears has been making semi-surprise appearances as she works on a new album, whose release date still has not been announced.

"If it is happening," says O'Donnell. "I'm thrilled, because I enjoy Britney."

In addition to Lauper, the show is also scheduled to include Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes with special guest Jeffree Star and host Margaret Cho. O'Donnell is expected to perform a stand-up routine at the show.

Meanwhile, Spears sent out a new mysterious message herself, posting it on the bottom of her Web site's homepage: It reads, in its entirety, "Mother to Grandmother, and my my, you're grand."

Britney to Join Cyndi Lauper's Tour for Surprise Show

June 30 at L.A.'s Greek Theatre, she's due to join Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Dresden Dolls, The MisShapes with special guest Jeffree Star and host Margaret Cho live onstage for the "True Colors" concert tour, Spears's choreographer, Misha Gabriel, tells PEOPLE.

Friday at the Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, the pop star held final callbacks to find the two male backup dancers she'll add to her act.

Only snag, she never showed up.

The plan had been for Spears to select two guys (out of 21) to join her in the choreographic number she'll perform at the Greek.

Instead, however, she put her two longtime trusted female backup dancers – Criscilla Crossland and Lark – in charge of the process. The two videotaped all the aspirants, for Spears to observe and select at a later time.

Earlier, on June 7 (also at Millennium), Spears was there to oversee auditions herself, with nearly 150 men seeking to pop, lock, whack, vogue, b-boy, breakdance, robot and moonwalk their way into her heart.

Those who were put through paces that day did so to Spears's new, as-yet unreleased song.

As dancer Sam Pete, 25, described the tune to PEOPLE: "It was dope. It reminded me of that one song you hear at 1:50 a.m., when they call last call at a club, and it's the hottest, nastiest song you've ever heard in your life and you've just got to put your drink down and dance to it. You've got no choice. You're body is insisting on it."

Britney Bolts

"Crazy" Bald Britney Billboards Come Down

Facing the threat of a lawsuit from the pop star, Clear Channel Communications has taken down billboards in Florida advertising a local radio show with a paparazzi shot of a scowling, bald Britney and the tag lines "Total Nut Jobs," "Shock Therapy" and "Certifiable."

"We can confirm the billboards are down," Clear Channel spokeswoman Michele Clarke said Tuesday, declining further comment.

In a June 14 missive obtained by The Smoking Gun Website, Spears' Los Angeles-based lawyer, Lynda Goldman, alleged Clear Channel misappropriated the singer's image without permission. Goldman also groused that the company reneged on a promise to remove the offending signs days ago.

"It was outrageous in the extreme that Clear Channel created and displayed the billboards in the first place," the attorney wrote. "That Clear Channel then had the unabashed temerity to lie about their removal shocks the conscience."

For the past several weeks, the conscience-shocking signage had been lining highways in Clearwater, Tampa and Jacksonville. There were three variations, each featuring the same image of Spears after her ill-conceived haircut (and before her trip to rehab) paired with a photo of MJ Kelli, host of 93.3 FM's The MJ Morning Show. Each billboard bore one of the taglines.

"Do I feel betrayed? Yeah, I feel betrayed," the deejay, whose real name is Todd Schnitt, was quoted as saying on the air. "I feel let down. I'm not happy with my company taking it down. I don't think there's any problem with it."

According to Schnitt, the station acquired the image of Spears from a third-party Website.

But Spears' camp was skirting the issue of whether photo was legally obtained or whether billboards were protected by free-speech laws. Instead, Goldman claimed that the ads used Spears' face without her consent for commercial gain. Celebrities typically have control over their publicity rights and can pursue punitive damages if misappropriated.

Goldman insisted that Clear Channel provide "documentary evidence verified under penalty of perjury" that it has complied with Spears' demand to take down the outdoor advertisements. The attorney also demanded an inventory of all company billboards that feature Spears' photo.

There was no immediate comment from Goldman or Spears' publicist about Tuesday's development.

Since completing her stint in a Malibu rehab facility in March following a very public meltdown, the 25-year-old "Toxic" performer has been working on a comeback album and testing the new material at impromptu club shows.

Britney Flashes

Britney Ponders Lindsay Lohan Joke as Album Title

Her official Web site says, "Britney is asking her most die-hard fans for some assistance in order to name her upcoming album."

The first of five possible titles is about the rehabbing Lohan: "Omg is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like."

Spears, who herself recently left rehab, says the other possibilities are: "What if the Joke is on You," "Down boy," "Integrity" and "Dignity."

Members of her fan club can then vote by clicking on the screen.

The vote-for-title item has the defiant headline: "You'll Never See it My Way, Because You're Not Me."

Britney's life is `picking up,' mom says

"It's sad that the whole world had to watch her make mistakes that all of us have made at one time or another," Spears is quoted as telling Us Weekly magazine in its latest issue.

The 25-year-old pop star completed a monthlong stay at a luxury Malibu, Calif., rehabilitation treatment facility in March after attracting an onslaught of media attention for wild behavior that included partying with Paris Hilton and a stop at a San Fernando Valley hair salon, where she shaved her own head.

Britney Spears, who reached a divorce settlement with aspiring rapper Kevin Federline in March, recently posted a message on her Web site saying she had been acting like a "bad kid running around with ADD (attention deficit disorder)."

The singer filed for divorce from Federline in November, just two months after giving birth to the couple's second child, Jayden James. Their older son, Sean Preston, was born in September 2005.

"Everything is going to be good," Lynne Spears tells the magazine. "Everything is going to be really good. I can see her life picking up and it's just going to hold great things for her."

"Britney Jean Spears is the sweetest and the most sensitive and loving of all my children," says Spears, the mother of three children with ex-husband Jamie Spears. "She's just figuring things out."

Britney Spears's Night on the Town

For dinner it was SHU Sushi House Unico in Bel Air, which has become a favorite haunt of the singer's. As always, she and her group dined in a private upstairs area, says a source, adding that Spears enjoyed her usual: California roll and a salad.

"She seemed happy," says the source. "She just enjoyed the music [an XM "Chill" station], the atmosphere and the food. She was just having fun."

Next the pals hit Guy's, followed by a brief stop-off at Winston's. "Britney and Alli were holding hands, not leaving one another's side," says a clubgoer. "Britney spent much of her time whispering into Alli's ear, smiling, drinking a bottle of water – [she seemed to be] in a really good mood, goofing around."

Just before 1 a.m., Spears and friends arrived at the hip Hollywood hangout Joseph's, but by then, the evening was winding down. "Britney was pretty subdued," says a witness. "She didn't really appear to be having a good time. She was casually talking with Alli. All the guests were swarming around her table to try and get a peek."

Britney Spears Has a Baywatch Moment

Over her three-day vacation, the singer, 25, stayed at the Four Seasons in Punta Mita, 26 miles from Puerto Vallarta.

While strolling on the beach with a pal at the Four Seasons, Spears stopped an older couple, also guests at the hotel, to warn them: "Be careful, there are lots of man o' war jellyfish washing up on shore, you don't want to get stung," a source tells PEOPLE.

According to the source, Spears was "very sweet" – and the couple didn't recognize her until she started talking to them.

"She seemed happy and carefree with her friend," says the source.

Spears, who went to Mexico on Thursday and returned to Los Angeles on Sunday, was photographed over the weekend in Mexico wearing a turquoise-and-white sarong with her blonde hair extensions in a messy ponytail.

The weekend away comes just days after she posted a message on her Web site, saying she was at "rock bottom" when she went to rehab earlier this year and thanking fans for their support. "I love you for still loving me," she wrote.

Spears, who has been recording a new album, also recently performed several shows in Los Angeles, Miami and Las Vegas in recent weeks.

Britney Spears Says She Was at 'Rock Bottom' in Rehab

In a nearly 900-word message posted on her Web site, the singer, 25, addresses such topics as her stint in rehab, the pressures she's under, the realizations she's made over the last year, and the blessings of having children.

"Recently, I was sent to a very humbling place called rehab. I truly hit rock bottom," she writes. "Till this day I don't think that it was alcohol or depression. I was like a bad kid running around with ADD [attention deficit disorder]."

To cope, she says, "I had a manager from a long time ago come in and try to direct me and my life after I got my divorce. I was so overwhelmed I think that I was in a little shock too. I didn't know who to go to. I realized how much energy and love I had put into my past relationship when it was gone because I genuinely did not know what to do with myself, and it made me so sad. I confess, I was so lost.

"This letter is to not place blame on anyone, although I do see the world with a completely different set of eyes now. Being in that vulnerable state and taken to dinners and parties with friends and finding out later you paid for everything was a huge learning lesson for me. I think the whole problem was letting too many people into my life," she writes.

"I am having to face a lot of things right now since I have children of my own. A lot of insecurities from when I was little are coming up again. It is like we are never good enough.

"I know everyone thinks that I am playing the victim, but I am not and I hate what is going on right now so much. Maybe this is the reason for this letter ... to maybe allow people to look at me differently. It is like when you are a real woman and say what you feel and how you think things are supposed to be, that people just say you are a 'bitch.' "

Explaining her recent behavior, she says, "I think it is actually normal for a young girl to go out after a huge divorce. I think it was a bigger issue because I had not gone out in such a long time. I am 25 and I do still have a lot to learn, and I am going to make mistakes everyday, and I am sure every mistake I make will probably be on CNN or Good Morning America. I am only human people and I love you for still loving me."

As for the backdrop of these musings, "I am sitting here at home and it is 6:25 and both of my sons are asleep," she says. "I am truly blessed to have them in my life. Everyday is so surreal. Life in general is so surreal and crazy."

In closing, she says, "I just hope this letter made some of you think a little bit more of me and where I am coming from. I just want the same things in life that you want ... and that is to be happy. It is just so weird because everyone has their own perception of me and how they think I really am. ? I guess we will never really understand or figure out life completely. That's God's job. I can't wait to meet him ... or her."

She signs it, "Love, Britney."

Budget Britney

Miami Hideous

Britney Spears's Miami Vice: Shopping

Not 10 minutes after checking into the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Miami, Spears, 25, and a group of friends zoomed off for a whirlwind shopping spree in South Beach. Their first stop: A 15-minute visit to No Lines Tanning.

Next up: the Guess? store on Collins Avenue, where Spears took shorts, jeans and tops into a dressing room. "She bought quite a few things," an observer tells PEOPLE. "She left out the back of the store – she seemed happy."

The retail therapy continued at The Mosh Pit. "They asked if she wanted the store closed, and Britney told them she was okay and not to worry about it," says a source. Spears tried on several micro-mini skirts and bought a $180 hand-painted pink corset by Kimikal. "She liked it, bought it and wore it out of the store," says the source.

By 7 p.m. it was time for a sound check at Mansion, where Spears's dressing room was, per her request, already stocked with Diet Cokes, sugar-free Red Bull, apple juice, a fruit-and-cookie plate, vanilla-scented candles, white roses and pictures of her two sons: Sean Preston, 1, and Jayden James, 8 months.

As concertgoers got out of the rain and into Mansion, Spears ducked out the club just before 9 p.m. and hit The Atrium Miami Beach for some last-minute shopping. With her assistant, she picked out dresses, shoes, belts and accessories, spending well over $1,500, according to a source. She then changed into a pink dress she'd just purchased before heading back to Mansion, where she took the stage at 10:30.

After her concert, Spears headed to the Raleigh Hotel for an intimate poolside after party. But that wasn't the last stop of the evening – shortly after 3 a.m., she and her entourage arrived at the nightclub SET, where she danced to songs by Fergie and Nelly Furtado before finally calling it a night at around 4:30 in the morning.

Britney Spears Moves On to Miami

After many fans had stood in line since late afternoon, Spears took to the stage to entertain them at 10:35 p.m., accompanied by four blonde dancers, all of whom could have won Paris Hilton look-alike contests.

The star attraction, showing off her midriff, wore a micro mini that bared her black panties from the rear and, on top, a bright pink bra covered by another, bejeweled bra.

The crowd ate it up, screaming, "Britney! Britney!"

"What's up, Miami!?" Spears, 25, shouted back at them. Prolonged screams from the crowd prompted the smiling star to sing "Baby One More Time."

Whipping her blonde extensions in every direction while on stage, Spears was so into her dance moves that her bejeweled bra came undone and revealed the pink one underneath.

Looking flustered, Spears held her beaded bra with one hand and tried to keep singing, only to run off the stage eventually – flashing a smile as she made the hasty retreat – and let her backup dancers finish the song.

After about a three minutes, Spears returned, and a fellow from the audience was brought on stage and seated in a chair – as Spears danced provocatively for him. Her outfit: the pink bra, a black, lace-up bustier, black hot pants with fuchsia jewels on them, and nude fishnets with white go-go boots.

She left the stage for another wardrobe change, this time coming back in a denim miniskirt, the fuchsia bra and a white long-sleeve fur coat cut off at her abs – all to sing "Do Something," delivered with confidence.

As she did at her House of Blues Orlando concert on Saturday, Spears performed "Toxic" for her finale.

"Miami, you guys rock, I love you so much!" Spears shouted and then walked offstage.

Among the guests at the concert were Madonna's brother, Chris Ciccone, and Tracy Young, the deejay who spun at Spears' 21st birthday as well as at Madonna's December 2000 wedding to Guy Ritchie in Scotland.

"Whether she lip-synchs or not, there was a line around the block," said Young of Britney's show. "I'm looking forward to her comeback, I think she's going to be fierce."

Britney Takes Show to Orlando

Spears performed a 14-minute set before a sold-out crowd at the House of Blues Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Saturday night. And it was another highly-anticipated show: Fans waited for hours outside in a line that wrapped around the building to see the pop star.

With the crowd chanting "Britney! Britney! Britney," a blonde Spears, clad in a hot-pink bustier top, a pleated white micro-mini and torn fishnet stockings, took the stage with her backup dancers at 9:31 p.m. to the music of "...Baby One More Time."

Like the series of concerts she performed at other House of Blues clubs in Southern California and Las Vegas, Spears proceeded to lip-synch a medley of older hits – but this time she experience a glitch: at one point the background track skipped, forcing Spears to improvise by turning her head away from the audience as the song got back on track.

Despite the music mishap, Spears was in good spirits throughout her performance, making eye contact with several audience members and smiling as she responded to audience members yelling out her name.

After wrapping up her set with a short version of "Toxic," the pop star came toward the edge of the stage, adjusted her mic and said, "I love you, Orlando. Thank you so much for being here. You're awesome. I love you!" Then she blew a kiss and punctuated it with "muah!"

After the show, concertgoers gave the pop star solid reviews. Judy Jensen, 25, told PEOPLE, "If Britney's going to make a comeback, it's going to be the best one yet. She looked amazing." Said another audience member, Maggie Rood, 25, "She looked sexy, definitely not like a baby's mama."

Spears is set to perform a second show in Miami Sunday night.

Britney Has Tarmac Tantrum, Stops Flight

Britney Spears Spends a Girls' Night Out

First stop for Spears and her friends, Alli and Jessica: Dominick's in West Hollywood, for a healthy meal of grilled rare Hawaiian blue fin tuna with lemon pesto and sugar snap peas. According to another diner, "Britney [was] in really good spirits. She was having a fun girls' night out with her pals."

Then the ladies when off to club Les Deux, where the trio – along with Spears's bodyguard – arrived just after 11 p.m. and commandeered "the playpen," in a secluded area of the hotspot.

"Britney was dancing like crazy and in a great mood," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "She seemed like she was on top of the world and wanted everyone to see her."

The partying continued, and Spears even hopped into the DJ booth at one point.

The star attraction and her gal pals stayed until well after closing, never even bothering to greet Ryan Phillippe (there having a low-key night with Flags of Our Fathers costar Jesse Bradford) or even Rumor Willis (who also stopped in).

Spears & co. finally made their way out into the parking lot by nearly 3 a.m.

Topless Britney Spears thanks fans for prayers

Alongside a photograph of herself in a blonde wig, posed topless with white-gloved arms crossed over her chest, the pop singer said she was "blessed" to be so cared about.

"The reason for this letter is to let everyone know that their prayers have helped me," Spears wrote.

"I am so blessed that you care enough about me to be concerned and will continue to live in this brighter state with all of you by my side during this trying time.

"We are all lights of the world and we all need to continuously inspire others and look to the higher power. You are all in my prayers. Godspeed. Love Britney."

Spears' professional achievements have been overshadowed by her personal crises in the past year.

The pop singer split up from her second husband, aspiring rapper Kevin Federline, with whom she has two children, and entered rehab for undisclosed problems after a spree of high-profile partying and erratic behavior such as shaving off her hair.

Spears, 25, has not released an album since 2003.

But she is now trying to stage a comeback, performing for the first time in more than three years this month with a series of 15-minute shows at various nightclubs.

She is reportedly recording her fifth album, which she started working on last year with red-hot hitmakers like R&B singer Ne-Yo and Swedish producer Max Martin.

Britney Spears Says She's 'Blessed' Fans Care About Her

The singer, pictured wearing only a blonde pageboy wig and long white gloves, writes: "The reason for this letter is to let everyone know that their prayers have truly helped me. I am so blessed that you care enough about me to be concerned and [I] will continue to live in this brighter state with all of you by my side during this trying time."

Spears, who checked out of rehab in March after a month-long stay, goes on to say: "We are all lights of the world and we all need to continuously inspire others and look to the higher power. You are all in my prayers. Godspeed. Love, Britney."

The singer, 25, has been easing back into performing after a three-year absence in which she got married, had two kids and got divorced.

Prior to rehab, Spears had been working on a new album, and two weeks ago she performed four shows at the House of Blues clubs in Southern California. She's also been working out at a North Hollywood dance studio to get back in shape.

Songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who is collaborating with Spears on an upcoming album, tells PEOPLE that the two of them were in the recording studio Monday and that the singer "works really hard."

"People don't realize what a good singer she is, and she has the incredible ability to put herself in the music and it elevates the song, because she really brings her own vibe to it," DioGuardi said at Tuesday's BMI 2007 Pop Music Awards. "I just hope her comeback is awesome, because if anybody deserves it, it's her."

Britney Spears, Light of the World

The singer's comeback took a spiritual turn Wednesday, with the recently rehabbed pop princess thanking fans for their prayers and encouraging one and all to look to a higher power in a letter posted on her revamped Website, britneyspears.com.

"The reason for this letter is to let everyone know that their prayers have truly helped me," Spears, 24, stated. "I am so blessed that you care enough about me to be concerned and will continue to live in this brighter state with all of you by my side during this trying time.

"We are all the lights of the world and we all need to continually inspire others and look to the higher power. You are all in my prayers. Godspeed. Love, Britney."

Spears didn't specify as to which trying time she was referring to, but it could include any point from the past six months, from her filing for divorce from Kevin Federline in November to her shaved her head to her revolving-door trips to rehab. After two aborted detox attempts, Spears eventually completed a month at the Promises treatment facility in Malibu.

The broadband memo is posted alongside a picture of a topless Spears with her arms, clad in elbow-length white gloves, crossed in front of her bare chest. She appears to be wearing a wig, going with a blonde bob and bangs for her come-hither homepage.

Spears' communiqué comes a little more than two weeks after her first live performance in nearly three years, a technically secret (billed as the "band" the M+M's) yet highly anticipated 15-minute set May 1 at the House of Blues in San Diego. The five-song concert featured a troupe of backup dancers, several sexy costumes and plenty of lip-synching.

Three more short outings at the House of Blues in Anaheim, West Hollywood and Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay rounded out Spears' mini club tour, giving fans—some of whom paid as much as $500 online for a ticket with a $35 face value—a glimpse of her newly toned physique and, hopefully for Spears, generating interest in a new album.

Her last studio release, In the Zone, dropped in 2003. She is currently at work on a new project, with the first single slated for a September release.

Backup Dancer: Britney's Buzz Cut Looks Great

"She looks so good she should model," dancer Crisilla Crossland tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The famously self-shorn singer, whose hair is now now about 2 inches long, even jokingly asked her dancers: "Would y'all cut your hair?" – though none of them took her up on the offer, the dancer says.

So, what about Spears's upcoming album? Crossland tells the paper that Spears has been rehearsing two new songs, which she calls "amazing."

Meanwhile, Spears who performed four shows last week, has returned to the dance studio to continue her rigorous workouts.

Donning fishnet stockings and a cowboy hat, Spears was seen at Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood Tuesday carrying her 1-year-old son Sean Preston.

Her reps won't comment on whether the pop star has any more shows scheduled in the near future, but her associates say she's not slowing down after her club appearances in Southern California and Las Vegas.

"I'm just so happy for her right now," says Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin, who saw Spears's dancing last week. "She's been working really hard. She choreographed all of those shows herself. She's such a talented girl."

Lindsay Lohan Attends Britney Spears Concert

Lohan was spotted in the balcony at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, where The Hills' Whitney Port also braved the tight security (one fan even put his arm in a cast to smuggle in a recording device – only to be busted once inside).

Dressed in the same miniskirt and bikini top costume she'd worn at her shows in San Diego and Anaheim, Spears performed the same medley of past hits she'd lip-synched at the previous concerts.

Lohan, like Spears a recent rehab alum, and the pop star go way back, at least by Hollywood standards: They hit the L.A. nightclub circuit along with Paris Hilton shortly after Spears filed for divorce from Kevin Federline in November.

Latin R&B singer Frankie J, who opened for Spears in Anaheim and Los Angeles, tells PEOPLE that despite the mixed reviews for her short performances, she accomplished what she set out to do.

"She left everybody still wanting more, which is the trick," he says. "You want to leave the fans with that anxiety. She definitely did that."

He adds: "I think she just wanted to make a statement and say: Look, I'm still here. I'm not going away."

Spears is scheduled to perform another show at the House of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay on Sunday.

Britney's Comeback Rolls on with Second Show

The 12-minute set at the Anaheim, Calif., House of Blues followed her return to the stage Tuesday night at the House of Blues in San Diego after a nearly three-year absence from live performing.

Security was tighter in Anaheim – it took the crowd nearly two hours to get through the metal detectors – with guards seizing cell phones in an apparent reaction to the flood of pictures and videos of the San Diego show on the Internet.

At 9:30 p.m., after the vast majority of the crowd had made it past security, the chants of "Britney! Britney!" started, with one girl exhorting the crowd with shouts of, "She's got to feel the love!"

A few minutes later, the lights dimmed on the stage, empty save for a single white chair. The crowd exploded into screams and applause as the four backup dancers appeared, two on each side, snaking their way across the stage. As the first strains of "... Baby One More Time" became recognizable, Spears emerged in a brown wig, white go-go boots, a white mini-skirt and a sparkling pink bikini top.

Like the San Diego show, the set was a short medley of Spears's hits, with "I'm a Slave 4 U" following "Hit Me" and the crowd showering the pop star with shouts of approval each time she wiggled her hips. (Notably, she was also able to chew gum while performing.)

The lights dimmed after the second song, going a soft red, with the back-up dancers exiting the stage and leaving Britney alone to strut slowly to the lone chair as "Breathe On Me" started. The crowd roared as she seductively gyrated on the chair before her dancers returned and pulled a male fan from the audience to be serenaded by Spears.

A brief interlude allowed Spears to change into a tiny denim skirt, a plain pink bra and a short, white fur coat. Her "Do Something" routine included some air guitar, a lot of the hands-on-hips hip thrusts and a brief homage to the running man dance move.

Spears dropped her fur coat to the floor for the final song, "Toxic," and smiled as she mouthed the words. The crowd once again roared its approval when she and her dancers dropped to all fours and crawled in formation down the stage. Spears then popped up to her knees and posed with her dancers around her as the song and the lights came to a simultaneous and abrupt end.

As the lights came back up and the crowd showered her with adoration, she blew kisses with both hands and said, "Thank you so much. These are my dancers," before skipping offstage, leaving her four backups to soak up the applause.

Audience members gave the show positive reviews overall – one female fan told PEOPLE of the set: "It was short, it was good. She looked good, she did her thing." But Kelly Weston of Orange County said, "She was a little off, a little slower than her dancers. If I hadn't heard about last night I would probably be disappointed." Still, her fans were in the house to support Spears: One group of young women wore matching pink tank tops reading "Bald Ambition" on the front and "The Comeback 2007" on the back.

Spears's last major performance was in June 2004 during her Onyx Hotel Tour in Dublin, Ireland, which was cut short when she injured her knee. She is planning several more performances this week, including shows at the Los Angeles House of Blues on Thursday and the House of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay on Sunday.

Britney Takes the Stage, Briefly

Billed as part of a "band" called the M+Ms, Britney Spears gave her first musical performance in what seems like forever Tuesday night at the House of Blues in San Diego.

Actually, Spears has only been lying low, recording star-wise, since swapping vows with Kevin Federline in 2004. But considering all that she—and her fans—have been through since then, her expected return to the stage has understandably been a hot topic.

Sporting a white miniskirt (and, as far as anyone saw, underwear) and a pink bra top—the better to maximize her recently re-toned physique, and a brown wig—the better to minimize her recent rash behavior, Spears played a five-song set that lasted nearly 15 minutes, kicking off her comeback where it all began, with a lip-synced rendition of "...Baby One More Time."

The audience, many of whom had snatched up tickets earlier in the day after hearing the rumor that M+Ms equaled Spears (as reported Tuesday in E! Online's Awful Truth), welcomed the freshly rehabbed "Toxic" singer back to the fold with open arms. Security guards ringed the stage to hold back the fans.

"Thanks, everyone, for coming," Spears told the crowd before exiting stage left.

Judging by the non-debacle that was Tuesday's technically non-publicized show, it's likely that the other dates on Spears' unofficial mini-tour are a go—she's due to hit the House of Blues in Anaheim on Wednesday, followed by the club chain's West Hollywood outlet on Thursday and then the Las Vegas House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Sunday.

Plans for a quickie show last week at the Hollywood club Forty Deuce reportedly fell through at the last minute.

"If she's able to translate the arena show into a creatively and artistically driven club show I think it will put her back in the light as an artist, as opposed to being a tabloid staple," Jeff Rabhan, a partner at entertainment management and branding company Three Ring Projects, told Reuters. "She's one hit record away from being right back where she was."

While Spears, 25, did say upon taking up with K-Fed that she wanted to take some time out to "just chill," the Louisiana native, who has sold more than 60 million records worldwide, ended up putting a little too much out there in the short-lived reality series Britney & Kevin: Chaotic and then had two babies in two years, making her a near-permanent fixture in the tabloids, not Billboard.

Accusations that she was an unfit mom, rumors that her marriage was on the rocks and nasty sniping about the baby weight she didn't seem to be shedding kept Spears out of the positive spotlight for much of the past three years. Except for a guest spot on Will & Grace in 2006, her public appearances were largely limited to parties and TV interviews.

Pleasing some and disappointing others, Spears filed for divorce in November. Amid promises of a comeback, however, the multiplatinum-selling artist took a detour to step out with pals such as Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, party hard, sporadically forget to put on panties, shave her head and then check into rehab when it all got to be too much.

Since leaving Malibu's Promises treatment facility in March, Spears and Federline have finalized the terms of their divorce (undisclosed settlement) and the ex-wife and mother of two appears to finally be serious about picking up where she left off, aiming to release her fifth studio album later this year.

Spears' last studio album was 2003's In the Zone and her last major concert tour, cut short when she injured her knee, was in the summer of 2004.

Rumors of Spears concert sweep Southern California

A publicist for Spears was not immediately available for comment.

A spokesman for Live Nation, the concert promotion company that recently bought the House of Blues chain where the M+Ms were to appear, would not comment on the rumors of a Spears show. The M+Ms shows were to take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Spears' singing career has remained dormant since her marriage to Kevin Federline in 2004, after she shot to fame as a teenager in 1999 and selling an estimated 70 million records.

Since her split last year from Federline, Spears made headlines for increasingly erratic behavior and was photographed in December wearing no underwear under her miniskirts.