BRITNEY SPEARS is set to go head-to-head with WHITNEY HOUSTON in a chart battle later this year (08) - when both stars release their forthcoming albums in the run-up to Christmas.
Houston has reportedly been working on her seventh studio album since 2003, and has even called on R+B star John Legend and producer/rapper Will.I.Am to help her comeback record climb to the top of the charts.
But the 44-year-old's chance at a dazzling return may be thwarted by the Toxic hitmaker, who is also set to release a new album this December (08).
According to reports, bosses at 26-year-old Spears' record label are so impressed with her new demo tracks, they want her to rush out a finished LP this winter.
A label source tells Britain's The Sun newspaper, "Britney has been on fire in the studio of late¡ she is determined to make a triumphant comeback."
Both singers have been surrounded by controversy in recent years, with Houston battling drug addiction and going through messy divorce with singer Bobby Brown, and Spears visiting rehab and fighting a bitter custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
BRITNEY SPEARS surprised the contestants of new MTV reality show ROCK THE CRADLE by turning up for the season finale - in support of her manager LARRY RUDOLPH.
Rudolph is a judge on the hit programme, which sees aspiring pop stars, who have musician parents, compete for their own place in the spotlight.
And Spears - who shot to fame under Rudolph's management - paid an impromptu visit to the Los Angeles set on Thursday (08May08) to wish her former mentor well, watching the live show from backstage.
Rudolph tells Usmagazine.com, "She was here to support the show. I mentioned to her that I was going to my show. She said, 'I want to come down.' She loved it. She really loved it.
"She didn't come here for publicity or anything like that. She came here because she wanted to see the show, which I appreciated."
Singer BRITNEY SPEARS has apparently turned to British rockers RADIOHEAD in a bid to overcome her personal troubles.
The Toxic hitmaker was photographed leaving Bally Total Fitness gym in Los Angeles on Wednesday (07May08) holding a copy of the band's latest LP In Rainbows.
According to her fellow gym-goers, the 26-year-old appeared to be in "good spirits" following her work-out.
Earlier this week (06May08), an L.A. judge granted Spears more access to her two children - Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one - in the latest court battle for child custody with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
BRITNEY SPEARS is on the hunt for a new home again.
The pop star is reportedly planning to buy a $6 million (GBP3 million) mansion in Encino, California.
Spears spent Wednesday afternoon (07May08) looking around the five-bedroom property, which is situated close to her ex-husband Kevin Federline's home in nearby Tarzana.
The house Spears looked at comes with fountains, a jacuzzi, a swimming pool with a spa and a wine cellar.
The move to the Valley makes sense for Spears, who was awarded added custody of her two young sons earlier this week (06May08).
Spears' custody rights were suspended in January (08) after police and emergency services were called to the singer's home after she refused to hand over one of her sons to a Federline bodyguard following a visitation period.
Ever since then Spears has been fighting to regain visitation. The arrangement was modified a month ago when Federline agreed his troubled ex could spend time with their sons again as long as the visits were properly supervised.
(Britney, Jamie Lynn, Lynne Spears, Casey's sister Ashley Aldridge and his mom Joyce Aldridge at the May 2 shower)
With Britney Spears embroiled in a seemingly neverending custody battle and 17-year-old sis Jamie Lynn Spears expecting her first child very soon, it's hard to imagine a family under more scrutiny these days than the Spears clan.
But in spite of all the outside pressure on them, it was nothing but good times for the Spears sisters when they reunited on May 2 for the Zoey 101 star's baby shower.
"It was wonderful to be able to spend time with her and just be girls again," Jamie Lynn told OK! in an exclusive interview about seeing her sister for the first time in months. "We painted our nails and did stupid stuff."
Even better, explains Jamie Lynn, was that she was able to have some one-on-one time with Brit: "To be able to be in the privacy of our own home and just be sisters again was wonderful."
Mother-of-two Britney even shared some words of wisdom with her pregnant sibling. "She told me, 'There are going to be some long nights, but it is completely worth it,'" Jamie Lynn recalls to OK!.
As for whether or not the pop superstar will make it back home to Louisiana when Jamie Lynn has the baby, the teen star tells OK!, "Nothing is set in stone, but that would be wonderful. I'd love to have her here for that, but you can't plan that far ahead."
Even if Brit isn't there in person for her younger sister, the two are in almost-constant contact, says Jamie Lynn.
For the complete interview and all the exclusive photos and details from baby shower, be sure to pick up the new issue of OK! — on sale everywhere Thursday.
Jamie Lynn Spears Talks Reuniting With Britney for Baby Shower
Written by BabyBrit On May 8, 2008, 8:23 am
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
Jamie Lynn Spears reunited with her elder sister Britney, for the first time in months, this past weekend in Kentwood Louisiana.
Britney flew out to be a part of her 17-year-old sister’s baby shower (put together by mom, Lynne), and according to Jamie Lynn, who spoke to OK! magazine exclusively, their reunion was joyous.
“It was wonderful to be able to spend time with her and just be girls again,” Jamie Lynn told OK! “We painted our nails and did stupid stuff, and we had our private time too. To be able to be in the privacy of our own home and just be sisters again was wonderful.”
Britney and her father, Jamie Spears, who is currently co-conservator of the pop star, flew out on a private jet over the weekend. When the two sisters saw each other for the first time in several months, they embraced immediately.
“She just ran up,” Jamie Lynn said. “She obviously couldn’t pick me up. We gave each other a big hug. It was a really good feeling.”
So what did they say to each other?
“I love you. I’ve missed you. It’s so good to see you,” Jamie Lynn told OK!
And since it was a shower, Britney made sure to give Jamie Lynn advice on her impending arrival – a girl due in June.
“She said, ‘There are going to be some long nights, but it is completely worth it,’” Jamie Lynn recounted.
Though they haven’t seen each other in a while, they have been keeping in touch.
“I’m a texter. I don’t like talking on the phone. That’s not my thing,” Jamie Lynn said “Britney is a texter too.”
TMZ has more details on what Britney Spears got in court.
As we first reported, Brit will get three days of supervised visitation per week. Sources tell us within a month she will also have overnight visitation with her kids.
We're told Commish Scott Gordon was extremely impressed with Brit's progress today. It was a different story a few months back when she completely pissed him off. The Commish was somewhat blown away by her.
The goal, we're told, is to ramp it up over the next few months so that Brit gets 50/50 custody, right back where she started from.
Enjoy the pictures of Britney out at the studio (May 6).
After she finished burning some calories, Brit made her way to a recording studio in Burbank, California where she presumably continued working on her follow-up to “Blackout.”
She looked casual and relaxed in a white blouse with a pair of jeans and some interesting boot/shoes.
Enjoy the pictures of Britney leaving the gym (May 6).
Following a small, yet important, victory in court yesterday in which she gained increased visitation rights with her sons Jayden James and Sean Preston, Britney Spears continued on the road to her big comeback.
First stop - the gym. The “Gimme More” singer met up with her personal trainer at the Studio City Bally’s Total Fitness for some cardiovascular exercise and light weight training. And after her big day in court, there’s no better way to de-stress.
BRITNEY SPEARS has left her trainer stunned by her work-out schedule, which has helped her shed 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) in four weeks.
Marc Corliss insists the pop superstar is among his best ever clients because she does everything he tells her to do and works out on her own.
The pop star has become a regular at Hollywood's Bally's gym, where she often works out with her father Jamie, and Corliss is impressed by her work ethic.
He tells America's Life + Style magazine, "She's hell-bent on getting a rocking midsection again.
"She's been training hard for the past four weeks, doing about 500 or so abdominal exercises every day. And she's seeing a major difference already."
Corliss reveals Spears is also doing an hour of interval training, like sprinting mixed with weight training, four days a week.
He adds, "She's a real go-getter, super upbeat and fun to be around. She's motivated and positive; she's definitely on the right track.
"I'm training her the way I would train an athlete. With her dance background, she's already in better shape than most people."
The personal trainer also reveals that Spears likes to workout to her favourite radio shows on pop and hip-hop station 107.2, which often plays her hits.
BRITNEY SPEARS has given her pregnant teenage sister JAMIE LYNN advice on motherhood.
Spears - mum to Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one - gave her sister pregnancy tips during an intimate baby shower at her parents' home in Kentwood, Louisiana on Saturday (03May08).
Jamie Lynn tells American's OK! magazine, "To be able to be in the privacy of our own home and just be sisters again was wonderful.
"She told me, 'There are going to be some long nights, but it is completely worth it."
The 17-year-old actress is set to become a mum in June (08).
BRITNEY SPEARS is set to go head-to-head with WHITNEY HOUSTON in a chart battle later this year (08) - when both stars release their forthcoming albums in the run-up to Christmas.
BRITNEY SPEARS surprised the contestants of new MTV reality show ROCK THE CRADLE by turning up for the season finale - in support of her manager LARRY RUDOLPH.
BRITNEY SPEARS is on the hunt for a new home again.
BRITNEY SPEARS has left her trainer stunned by her work-out schedule, which has helped her shed 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) in four weeks.
BRITNEY SPEARS has given her pregnant teenage sister JAMIE LYNN advice on motherhood.
