Britney is back and so are the brickbats

LOS ANGELES: Britney Spears hasn't even taken her seat as the new judge of "The X Factor," but the pop icon is already getting a lesson in the media glare of live, talent show television.

Spears had barely wrapped up an appearance in New York confirming she is joining the singing contest before the celebrity knives were out, raising the question of how well the singer, who went through a public meltdown in 2007, can handle all the newfound attention.

Her dress, nails, shoes, legs and figure have all come in for scrutiny - most of it negative - in a taste of what may come when the show returns to TV in September for two nights a week over four months.

The New York Daily News ran photos of the "Toxic" singer's "bloody picked fingernails". It also showed a close-up of her thighs, commenting that she "appeared in a short white mini dress that showed off her famous pop star legs - and what looks to be a bit of cellulite."

Spears, famed for raunchy dance routines and music videos in her heyday, is now 30-years-old and a mother of two. Outside her sell-out global concert tours, she has been largely shielded from the media since a career and personal breakdown in 2007 that resulted in her affairs being handed over to her father.

Mary Fischer at The Stir on website cafemom.com, said the singer was "a hot mess" in the cream dress she wore for her New York appearance on Monday before Fox TV network executives and advertisers.

"She might as well have just thrown on a nightgown or racy piece of lingerie. She would've achieved the same effect (showing off the fact that she's shed a bit of weight and gotten her groove back), but she wouldn't have looked like she was trying so hard," Fischer said.

She suggested Spears should take a tip from Prince William's wife and style icon Kate Middleton who "is the definition of being sexy without revealing too much skin."

DAZZLING RING, LUMPY LEGS

Celebrity magazine Us Weekly was more excited by Britney's three carat diamond engagement ring, estimated to be worth about $90,000, that boyfriend Jason Trawick slid on her finger in December.

But some readers weren't dazzled by the ring and focused on Spears' fashion. Kathleen Tandy commented on the magazine's website that although Britney looked good in the second, purple dress she wore for photos on Monday "she looked like straight-up trailer trash" in the cream outfit.

Britain's Sun newspaper said "Britney looked better than she has in years," when she stepped out in New York. But elsewhere in the tabloid, reporters said her cream mini-dress "hugged her lumpy legs. A pair of tight ankle-strapped heels cut off her pins even more."

Elsewhere, Spears' legs were seen as either toned, bruised, dimpled or fat in hundreds of fevered online debates, where the former pop princess was compared (mostly unfavorably) to the demurely-dressed Demi Lovato, 19, who is also joining "The X Factor."

But the "Baby...One More Time" singer also had plenty of defenders.

"I don't care for Britney, but seriously what is with all the fat comments? I'd love to see what some of you guys look like or your spouses..." wrote HuffingtonPost.com user Goldie Treasure..

"The only thing that looks kind of weird is her knee, but whatever on that. Christina (Aguilera) and Britney are not little 17 yr old pop princesses anymore they are women in their 30's with kids, cut them some slack." (Reuters)

Kylie beats Britney to most-played tune crown

Kylie Minogue’s catchy dancefloor anthem Can’t Get You Out Of My Head has been named the new century’s most-played tune in a new radio poll.

 The 2001 song was famously rejected by singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor before Minogue made it a monster hit. Now it has beat out Britney Spears’ Toxic and Robbie Williams’ Angels to be crowned the most popular tune in the UK in the Performing Right Society For Music’s new survey.

 PRS officials discovered that the top five songs, which also include Jamelia’s Superstar and Just a Little by Liberty X, were played on radio stations over 875 million times between 2000 and 2010.

Britney Spears to offer free Mexico City concert

MEXICO CITY: US pop singer Britney Spears will deliver a free Christmas concert in a downtown Mexico City plaza, Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday.

Spears will perform at the Monument to the Revolution on Sunday, kicking of Christmas festivities in the populous city, Ebrard said.

In late August 2009 some 11,600 volunteers set a Guinness world record by dancing the Michael Jackson song "Thriller" in unison at the Monument to the Revolution.

Mexico City festivities include a giant Christmas tree; an ice rink at the Zocalo, the main city square; and artificial snow during a parade.

The so-called "Princess of Pop" will also perform at concerts in the western city of Guadalajara on Friday, in Mexico City on Saturday, and in the northern city of Monterrey the following Tuesday. (AFP)

Britney Spears reaches 10 million followers on Twitter

Britney Spears has become the sixth person in Twitter history to reach 10 million followers. The pop star currently has 10,246,136 followers on her page.

MTV reports the singer is very active on the social networking site, often sending out messages to her followers to update them on the latest happenings in her career as well as her life. In addition to people following her, she also follows 419,988 people and has sent out 1,102 tweets since joining Twitter.

Currently, Spears is on her Femme Fatale Tour in Europe and has been posting updates on her Twitter of where she will be, and after every show she has been tweeting back to her fans who have posted on her page saying how much they enjoyed her performance.

Spears joins a list that includes Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, President Obama and Kim Kardashian, who have all hit the 10 million mark before her.

Shakira may hit the milestone mark next, according to E! Online. The Latin singer currently has 9,229,283 followers on the site.

MTV video awards honor Britney Spears, Katy Perry

Pop star Lady Gaga opened the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday dressed in drag and singing her "You and I" while Britney Spears and Katy Perry took awards, but it may be Beyonce who stole the show.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Britney Spears: Oops she did it again!

Singer Britney Spears will be the guest of honour at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards (VMS) with a special tribute honouring her lengthy career, according to news service IANS. The “Toxic” hit-maker — who released her debut single “Baby One More Time” in 1999 — has been thrilling American audiences with her Femme Fatale tour this year.

Spears became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture in the late 1990s and 2000s. Her career was followed by a much-publicised personal life with two failed marriages and many bizarre encounters with the law. Despite the fluctuations in her public and personal life, Spears was credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s.

After the success of Oops!…I Did It Again! (2000), she released her third studio album Britney in 2001 and expanded her brand by playing the starring role in the film Crossroads. She assumed creative control of her fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003), which yielded chart-topping singles like “Me Against the Music” (featuring Madonna), “Toxic” and “Everytime”. Other albums credited to Spears’ fast sprawling career are Blackout (2007), Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011).

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, she is the eighth top-selling female artist in the United States, with 33 million certified albums. In June 2010, Spears was ranked sixth on Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential celebrities in the world and she is also the third most mentioned musician on the internet, according to Forbes.

Seeing her achievement, MTV bosses are now planning ‘something unique’ to honour the 29-year-old at the annual ceremony in Los Angeles on August 28 this year. “Britney will be at the show and we’ll be paying tribute to her. She is having an incredible year and she is so beloved by the MTV audience that we thought of doing something that would be a different experience (from years gone by),” contactmusic quoted VMA executive producer, Amy Doyle.

“Obviously everything from her choreography to her fashion to her videos will be covered. We said ‘let’s challenge ourselves to do something unique’,” Doyle added. IANS
WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM IMDb
Credit:  The Express Tribune Pakistan, August  2011.

Mobile phones banned for Britney Spears?

Baby On More Time’ hitmaker Britney Spears has reportedly been barred from possessing a mobile phone to keep her under control.

The phone ban is said to be just one of the measures taken by those close to the 29-year-old singer to avoid a repeat of past meltdowns.

“Britney’s inner-circle keep a close eye on her to ensure she keeps herself together,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

“One of the rules is she gave up her cell phone. That helps them keep her under control,” the source added.

Spears’ ex- bodyguard Fernando Flores, 30, had last year claimed that the singer had sent him her nude snaps from her phone and also accused her of exposing herself and making unwanted advances at her LA home.

However, the singer denied the allegations.

The pop star is under legal protection and her dad Jamie is managing her affairs following her 2008 breakdown.

I’ll never strip like Britney or Christina: Avril

Pop star Avril Lavigne has revealed that despite the fame she always wanted to keep her modesty intact by not stripping for anyone. Sassy songs like Complicated and Sk8er Boi saw her portrayed as ‘the anti-Britney’ and a smart, independent young female artist who kept her clothes on.

“In the beginning some people expected me to be like Britney (Spears) and Christina (Aguilera) and take my clothes off, but I was never going to strip for anyone,” Lavigne told the Daily Mail.

“When you’re in the limelight, people judge you and everything you do sends a message out to your fans. I’ve never conformed to what people think a female pop star should be. I had my own look going on,’ she said.

“The guy who signed me (LA Reid) knew I would never wear pink. I’ve grown out of the tomboy look now and happily wear heels, tight jeans and dresses. I’d never have done that ten years ago,” she added.

Lavigne also revealed that she grew up in the town of Napanee, south of Ottawa, and was dedicated to the idea of becoming a singer.

“I was very driven, even then,” she recalled.

“I always wanted to be a singer. That was my goal and everything was dedicated to that,” she added.

The 26-year-old Sober singer, who also revealed her culinary expertise, said that she is a bit laconic.

“I’m not that talkative really. People expect me to be brash and loud and vivacious – they expect me to be a wild character and I’m not. I’m that person on stage and in my songs, but not away from it,” she added.

Britney Spears to collaborate with Bollywood's Sonu Nigam

Britney Spears has announced a collaboration with Indian singer Sonu Nigam.

The Femme Fatale singer told Desi Hits that Nigam will record vocals to a new mix of her track 'I Wanna Go'.

"I'm so excited about having Sonu on 'I Wanna Go'," Spears said. "His vocals add such a different feel, which I love! Watch out Bollywood - it's Britney and Sonu!"

Nigam specialises in playback recording, where he records tracks for Bollywood actors to lip-sync in films. He has won numerous awards for his work, as well as recording several pop albums and appearing in various Hindi movies.

Spears has previously released an Indian remix of 'Me Against the Music' on her 2003 album In the Zone.

The star released the video for 'I Wanna Go' last month, which features Spears attacking photographers, flashing a policeman and swearing at journalists.

Spears has also announced extra dates for her Femme Fatale tour in the UK later this year.

Britney Spears to undergo psychiatric exam?

Britney Spears's ex-manager Sam Lufti has asked a judge to order the star to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, according to reports.

Lufti is currently pursuing legal action against Spears's mother Lynne, after she accused him of manipulating her daughter by secretly drugging the star and cutting off her communications.

Lynne made the allegations in her memoirs, to which Lufti immediately denied the claims and contacted his legal team, reports Billboard.

The manager is now seeking to have Britney give a deposition in court, but the star's parents are appealing against the request, stating that the singer is mentally incapable of testifying.

Using recent interview footage and an announced US tour as evidence that Britney Spears isn't mentally incapable to appear in court, Lufti has now demanded that the 29-year-old undergo a psychiatric examination to prove Mr and Mrs Spears's claims wrong.

Britney Spears going for third marriages?

Britney Spears is apparently planning to get married for the third time.

The singer has been desperate to tie the knot with boyfriend Jason Trawick after being bridesmaid at her assistant Brett Miller's wedding earlier this year.

Since then she has been going around telling pals that she wants a ring on her own finger by the end of 2011.
The star is already planning the occasion - she has been daydreaming about a low-key wedding on the beach in Hawaii with just close family and friends there on the big day.

Britney will be hoping it's third time lucky - her first marriage to childhood sweetheart Jason Alexander lasted just 55 hours.

The second, to backing dancer Kevin Federline, ended after two years with a bitter battle for custody of their two sons.

Friends say she is adamant her and Jason will start a family soon so that her two sons can have some more siblings.

"After all her ups and downs Brit is craving stability - hence her broodiness at the moment - and she just wants to settle down with Jason and do it all again the right way," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

"Now her album is out and her tour is almost sorted she feels like getting married again and having more children is the next step," the source added.

Britney Spears walks into new airbrush row

Britney Spears has been accused of trying to dupe fans after releasing a heavily airbrushed image of herself.
The singer appeared to have shed pounds in glamorous publicity shots for her new album Femme Fatale.
The 'Toxic' hitmaker looked super slender in a polka dot swimsuit, but in a gig on TV she looked much bigger.

She was seen bursting out of a leather basque and fishnet tights and appeared much older than in the album shots.
"Britney still looks good but she's changed a lot since she first found fame as a teenager," the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.

"The leather outfit made it impossible to hide any lumps and bumps but these photos make her look like a different person. It definitely looks like she's had a helping hand from technology," the source added.

Britney Spears: 'Femme Fatale'

Let's be honest, Britney's last album Circus wasn't bad by your average artist's standards - 'Womanizer', 'Shattered Glass' and 'Unusual You' anyone? - but as a follow-up to the near-perfect Blackout, we don't mind telling you that we were left somewhat underwhelmed. Given that she's spent two-and-a-bit years working on a follow-up - one that she claims is built "for the clubs" and is her "edgiest and most mature sound yet" - we have a sneaking suspicion that the feeling was mutual. Question is, does Femme Fatale hit the mark?

The LP's two trailer singles have already raised the bar from what Circus offered us, having served up a pair of club-thumping stompers in the form of saucy 'n' seductive 'Hold It Against Me' and hi-NRG 'Till The World Ends'. Both helmed by producer-du-jour Dr Luke and longtime mixing buddy Max Martin, their dub-pop hybrid is both fresh yet undeniably 'Britney'.

Fortunately the LP's ten remaining tracks continue the trend, with the anthemic 'I Wanna Go', self-assured '(Drop Dead) Beautiful' and ballsy 'Gasoline' all tailor-made dancefloor choons; while the lyrics range from 'Inside Out's' blatantly slutty: "Baby shut your mouth and turn me inside out," to the supremely self-assured: "I wanna go down town where my posse's at/ Because I got nine lives like a kitty-cat" on 'How I Roll'.

Despite the album's well-worn producers and slightly obvious theme, the production is polished, intriguing and - best of all - fun. The dub-steppy 'Inside Out', the much-welcomed piano breakdown on the will.i.am-assisted 'Big Fat Bass' and the pagan-like flutes in closing track 'Criminal' all keep us guessing - albeit while feeling suitably pumped - for the full 65 minutes.

Future singles? She's spoilt for choice here, but if 'I Wanna Go', 'How I Roll' and 'Criminal' don't at least get a look-in, well, we'll be having strong words.

It may have taken four years to arrive, but Femme Fatale ultimately feels like the post-Blackout comeback we were waiting for, albeit with one important distinction: rather than feeling like we'd caught a worse-for-wear Britters at an underground, Red Stripe-soaked "party", this time we're joining her at an altogether classier venue, locking arms and ushering the barman for a round of raspberry Mojito's before throwing some serious shapes. Yes, she's teamed up with producers that her contemporaries are well-aquainted with, and the subject matter rarely shifts from the superficial, but what ultimately sets it apart is Spears's unrivaled ability to seduce us, which, given the album's title, is something she clearly knows all too well.

Britney Spears’ New Single Breaks Billboard Record

Britney Spears’ number one single, “Hold It Against Me” sold 411,000 digital singles in one week, breaking a record previously held by Taylor Swift.

The song debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles at number one, making Spears only the second artist in Billboard history to debut multiple songs at number one. She joins Mariah Carey with the prestigious title.

“Hold It Against Me” was released exclusively on ITunes and received no promotions from Britney herself. It also debuted at number one in 19 other countries, including Australia, Belgium, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, France and Ireland.

“Seriously, I have the best fans ever,” Spears wrote on Twitter after making her first-day sales record. “I love you all so much! Everything I do is for you!”

Spears also revealed that she is currently working on a video for the hit single with director Jonas Akerlund.

Spears’ new album will be released in March, 2011.

Britney Spears debuts at No. 1 on singles chart

NEW YORK: Britney Spears has become just the second artist in the 52-year history of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart to debut multiple songs at No. 1, as "Hold It Against Me" took the top spot in its first week.

Spears previously came in at No. 1 with "3" in 2009. The only other act with multiple No. 1 starts is Mariah Carey with "Fantasy" and "One Sweet Day" in 1995 and "Honey" in 1997.

"Hold It Against Me" is Spears' fourth No. 1 on the Hot 100. Prior to "3," she reigned with her debut single "...Baby One More Time" (1999) and "Womanizer" (2008). The new track sold 411,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It marks the highest first-week tally for a lead female artist, besting the 325,000 downloads sold by Taylor Swift's "Today Was a Fairytale" in February 2010.

Two other tracks stormed the upper reaches of the Hot 100. "What the Hell," the first single from Avril Lavigne's fourth album, "Goodbye Lullaby," due March 8, opened at No. 13.

At No. 23, Kanye West and Jay-Z debuted with "H*A*M.," the first single from the superstar pair's upcoming collaborative album, "Watch the Throne."

Directly below "Hold It Against Me," three titles dipped one notch each: Bruno Mars' "Grenade" (No. 2), Katy Perry's "Firework" (No. 3) and Rihanna's "What's My Name?" (No. 4).

Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" rose two to No. 5; Enrique Iglesias' "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" held at No. 6; and Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" fell three to No. 7.

Pink fell three to No. 8 with "Raise Your Glass," the Black Eyed Peas' "The Time (Dirty Bit)" and Mars' "Just the Way You Are" each slipped one place, to Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.

Britney Spears-new role model for Disney?

Post the Demi Lovato scandal, it has emerged that Disney is turning to two of its golden stars—Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake—to mentor its young stars.

With a troubled past, Spears might not be a role model for others, but Disney bosses have approached her in a bid to avoid another meltdown such as that suffered by 18-year-old singer and actress Lovato, reports News.com.au.

"Justin and Britney have been asked if they would like to come in and speak to their younger counterparts about the tribulations of being famous so young," said a movie insider.

"The Disney bosses think that if they have people to look up to they might stay on the straight and narrow", he added.

Spears to remain under conservatorship?

Britney Spears will reportedly remain under the conservatorship of her father for the foreseeable future.
Recently it was claimed the singer could regain control of her financial assets as early as January 2011.

However, according to TMZ, there are currently no plans to end the conservatorship and Spears herself is said to be happy for it to continue at present.

The singer's father, Jamie Spears, assumed control over both the singer's personal care and finances in 2008 following a string of reported personal issues.

Spears's seventh album is expected to be released in Spring 2011.

Britney Spears Breaks Out Her "Engagement" Ring

Once again drawing into question whether she's ready to walk down the aisle, Britney Spears showed off a little hand jewelry while out in Calabasas, CA on Friday afternoon (September 10).

The "Womanizer" singer flashed her fancy diamond ring on that all-important finger while grabbing lunch with son Jayden James at Johnny Rockets.


As for the bling, Britney has yet to make any announcements (as she's worn such jewelry before with no plans to wed) - although she and boyfriend Jason Trawick recently returned from a romantic Hawaiian getaway.

Nonetheless, it's no doubt that Miss Spears was in high spirits during the day, as she was much more active on her Twitter account than usual, posting, "Happy Friday people! Am I a part of your future? -Brit"

Britney Responds To Lawsuit Via Her Website

Yesterday, we reported on the lawsuit being brought against Britney Spears by her fomer bodyguard, Fernando Flores. Well, today, Britney is striking back, well kind of, by way of a prepared statement posted on her website.

The statement reads in part, “This lawsuit is another unfortunate situation where someone is trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself.” “The Department of Children and Family Services conducted a proper investigation surrounding Mr. Flores’ accusations and have closed the case without any further action.”

Britney conveniently left out any rebuttal regarding the sexual charges leveled at her. She did say, however, that she and her lawyers believe that the case will be thrown out. I don’t know for sure, but I doubt it. The child abuse accusations might not stick but the sexual harassment ones might.

Also of note, Britney’s ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is taking up for Britney. He has stated that the child abuse charges are baseless. However, he didn’t have much to say about the sexual harassment charges either.

Lawsuit Against Britney Spears Includes Reports of Sex & Abuse

Reportedly, Britney Spears is being sued by a former bodyguard. Fernando Flores has leveled some shocking claims at the “Baby Hit Me One More Time” singer.

Flores has accused Britney of sexually harassing him, amongst other things. Spears supposedly made advances that were sexual in nature and unwanted.

According to Flores, Brit Brit purposely wore provocative styled clothes (see-through) in front of him and even exposed herself, which left Flores, according to the suit, in “…shock and disgust.”

One incident involved Britney being completely naked and demanding that Flores enter the room, in which she proceeded to ask him to fetch her two bottles of 7-up. Other incidents involved her participating in sexual acts in front of him.

Aside from the sexual acts and exposure, Fernando also claims that Britney abuses her kids. According to a rumored copy of suit, Spears asked him for a belt, which she reportedly used on Preston.

Another time, she supposedly fed the boys crab meat even though she knew they both were allergic to fish. Upon eating the foods, the kids began to throw up but Britney didn’t allow them to receive any medical attention. Flores in response to the acts he witnessed called Children and Family Child Services. However, they found no merit in his complaint.