Watch Britney Spears' Gossip Girl Mash-Up Music Video

The following italicized article is from www.usmagazine.com:

Britney Spears's latest hit "Womanizer" will be featured in a brand new Gossip Girl promo that will focus on resident bad boy Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick). (Watch above).

The promo spot will begin running on-air on The CW beginning Monday, October 20, as well as online at cwtv.com.

Last month, Spears described the song as "a girl anthem."

"It's basically saying, 'We know what you're up to.' It's about guys cheating on girls," she told NYC's Z100 radio station.

Source: US Weekly

Britney's Driving Case Motors to Jury

The following italicized article is from www.eonline.com:

Britney Spears' jury is doing its best to make up for lost time.

While it took 14 months—a very long 14 months—for the singer's trial on misdemeanor driving without a license to reach a courtroom, it took barely two days of testimony before jurors entered deliberations.

The eight-woman, four-man panel is currently pondering the pop star's fate.

At stake is whether the 26-year-old will be slapped with a criminal charge as a result of her August 2007 ding-and-run, at which time she was in possession of a Louisiana, though not California, driver's license.

Spears, who has been MIA throughout the proceedings, might have to put in face time in the court if she's convicted.

"Her lawyer can stand in for the sentencing hearing, but the judge might want it all done on the record," Alec Rose, a Santa Monica criminal defense attorney, tells E! News.

The maximum sentence is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine—not to mention the knowledge that a much less costly and solution, which included zero time behind bars, without the embarrassment of a public trial could have been, had Spears accepted prosecutors' plea deal earlier this month.

Rose, who's not involved in the case, doesn't expect much of a penalty even if the singer is found guilty.

"No one gets sentenced jail time" in these kind of cases, says Rose. "She would probably only
have to pay a fine of few hundred dollars and be on one to three years of summary probation."

Three witnesses, including Spears' father Jamie, testified before Friday morning's closing statements.

For his part, Jamie did his best to justify her out-of-state license and play down the fact that his daughter had tied the knot and twice given birth in the Golden State, saying her real home was and will again be Louisiana.

Source: E! Online

Britney Court Update: Verdict Most Likely Delayed Until Monday

The following italicized article is from www.x17online.com:

The jury in Britney's driving without a license trial began their deliberations just about twenty minutes ago (at 2pm PT), and at least one person believes we won't get a quick verdict: her attorney.

In fact, J. Michael Flanagan has left the proceedings in the hands of an associate...to go golfing.

The session will break at 4:15pm regardless of whether or not they reach a verdict, so it seems that we may have to wait until Monday.

But we're staying for the long haul, so if we get any new updates, we'll be sure to pass them on...

Oh, the dramz!

Source: X17

Jury Begins Deliberations in Britney Spears Traffic Trial

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

After hearing closing arguments, a jury began deliberations Friday in Britney Spears's driving-without-a-license trial.

In a half-hour closing argument, prosecutor Michael Amerian told jurors that Spears, 26, should be convicted of the misdemeanor charge because she did not have a California driver's license at the time of a August 2007 fender bender.

"Every significant occurrence of Britney Spears's life has occurred in Los Angeles," he said, referring to her marriage, the birth of her two sons, and divorce. "She is a California resident."

He added that the fact that the singer applied for (but did not receive) a California license four months prior to the accident "shows her intent to stay here."

"If you follow the law and use common sense, you'll find the defendant is guilty," Amerian told the panel.

Spears's defense called her father to testify that Britney considers Louisiana home. The pop star says she had a Louisiana license at the time of the accident (though she since has gotten a California one).

Her lawyer, Michael Flanagan, told jurors that Spears "doesn't want to be here (in California). She's a Louisiana girl. She's only here because of her custody case. She keeps thinking, maybe next month I can go home."

He pointed out that a dozen paparazzi vehicles follow the singer's every move daily. "You got a glimpse of what it's like for her to be here. No doubt that's why she's been driven crazy, why there's a conservatorship, why she was hospitalized," he said. "Do you blame the girl for wanting to go home (to Louisiana)?"

But prosecutor Amerian said there was no hard evidence presented that Spears even had a Louisiana license on the day in question, other than Jamie's testimony.

If convicted, Spears faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Source: People

Britney Spears Picks Up The Kids From School Again

Last Friday we saw pics of Britney Spears, with her father and conservator Jamie Spears in tow, picking up her children from their preschool in Encino, CA and today we get to see a couple more pics of Britney, once again, pickin’ up Sean Preston and Jayden James from school:
Wee! It looks to me like this may become a weekly occurrence. I love the sight of Britney with her kids. I think it is a very stabilizing thing for her young sons to enjoy regular quality time with their mother. I really hope that Britney’s weekly pick-up run at the boys’ school (leading into weekend visits with her) become the routine because I really think it will benefit both mother and children alike. It’s a great sight to see.

Source: Pink Is The New Blog

Spears Is Friends Again With Husband Of 55 Hours

The following italicized article is from www.contactmusic.com:

BRITNEY SPEARS has reignited a friendship with her ex-husband JASON ALEXANDER - the man she married and ditched after a controversial Las Vegas ceremony.

The pair tied the knot in a Sin City chapel on 3 January 2004 - a union that was annulled just 55 hours later.

The brief marriage appeared to have ended Spears and Alexander's romance and longterm friendship, but the 27-year-old clothing entrepreneur's manager Susan Ferris insists they are pals again, four years on from the headline-grabbing wedding.

Ferris tells Us Weekly, "They are friends again and have been for six or eight months."

Source: Contact Music

Britney Spears Scoops Up the Kiddies

The following italicized article is from www.celebrity-gossip.net:

Enjoying another visit with her two young sons, Britney Spears Britney Spears was out picking Jayden James and Sean Preston up from their school in Encino on Friday (October 17).

Accompanied by her father, Jamie Spears, and one of her nannies, the “Gimme More” singer looked to be in a pleasant mood, sporting a sleeveless summery top with jeans.

See more pics here!

Source: Celebrity Gossip

Christina Roots For Brit

The following italicized article is from www.foxnews.com:

The pop stars have been out in force this week in merry old England! First pop diva Christina Aguilera gave a shout out to her reformed former Mouseketeer buddy Britney Spears during her concert at London’s world famous Royal Albert Hall. Aguilera said she was “rooting for” her pal and that “its great she is back on track.”

Source: FOX News

Britney's Back On the Cover of Rolling Stone!

Well, this obviously isn't the cover, of course! Props to X17 for the report yesterday on Britney's Rolling Stone cover with the old photo -- but this is a shot from inside the shoot! We can't show you the sets and the outfits because they have been deemed TOP SECRET! It was a super fun shoot and Brit was dancing around the set having a great time. :)

More details coming soon!

Source: BritneySpears.com

BritneySpears.com Open For Biznazz

After much hype and even more delay, BritneySpears.com has finally launched and is live right now. You may recall that at the start of this month we were told that Britney’s new official website would be launching “soon” but that registration for the site was underway at CircusVIP.com. Then, around the time that the Womanizer music video was to debut, BritneySpears.com started counting down … to something. Many folks believed the countdown was to the site’s official launch but the number reached zero — and nothing happened. Now, about a week later, the site is finally live and functional:
This is the first message posted to visitors of the site: Hey everyone!! Team Britney here! Brit’s sent us some awesome videos she shot recently and we’re so excited to show them to you! Brit was in Los Angeles doing some fun interviews for the site and the whole crew from Entertainment Tonight were outside the door in the next room waiting to talk to her! But Brit took some time out of her busy schedule to record a message for you guys! Hope you enjoy the vid! More later… bye!

The site offers a blog, videos, music, photos and “more coming soon”. The site is pretty bare as is it stands but I can see the potential for more to come … especially as the release date for her new album Circus nears.

Source: Pink Is The New Blog

Britney Spears Will Rule Again, Says Taio Cruz

The following italicized article is from www.mirror.co.uk:

Britney Spears will make a success of her comeback, according to Taio Cruz.

The RnB star exclusively told Mirror.co.uk he thinks her new material is “cool” and she’s beaten her demons, despite her not choosing any tracks he wrote for her new album.

“She should have taken my songs,” he told us on the red carpet at the Mobo Awards.

“But she’s an icon, a pop icon. She’s definitely gonna do big things again.”

And it looks like he's spot on. Spears' single Womanizer, the first from her comeback album Circus, jumped straight to the top of the US Billboard charts yesterday, setting a new record for digital downloads.

Source: Mirror

Britney Leaving Quixote Studios In Los Angeles

Britney was at Quixote Studios all day on Stage 4, when she finally left she made sure her face was completely covered by her purse.

Quixote Studios - Stage 4

Source: Untouchable Britney

Britney Spears' 'Womanizer' Director Joseph Khan Talks 'Toxic' Comparisons

The following italicized article is from www.mtv.com:

Joseph Khan, the director of Britney Spears' steamy "Womanizer" video, is no stranger to working with the pop star. And having directed her in "Stronger" and "Toxic," he decided to make the clip for her new #1 single a nod to the latter.

"I didn't see it as a direct sequel but a 2008 answer to ['Toxic']," he told MTV News. " 'Toxic' was a crystallization of her career at that time, and the tough part was that we knew there were going to be comparisons."

As in "Toxic," "Womanizer" shows Spears playing a handful of strong, hyper-stylized characters seeking revenge against a guy who has done them wrong.

"There are elements and moments of 'Toxic' that I felt could be improved," he added. "This one is a bit more fashion-forward. The only big difference is that she's been through a lot, and the big curiosity for me was how much she can give me on set."

And Khan said Britney was determined to prove to everyone that she still loves being a pop star. "When I see her on set, she's extremely professional, and it's a job," he said. "There's really literally no messing around. ... Whatever accolades she gets, she deserves."

According to Khan, the video was a completely collaborative effort. She came to him with a clear idea and a strong-enough song that made directing a piece of cake. "Any director could come on," he said, "because with that fierceness and determination she has, they would look like they knew what they were doing.

"I think that it's funny she didn't have to say much, and the song spoke volumes about the visual," he added.

The video's male eye candy, Brandon Stoughton, got in on the collaboration as well. "They both took it very seriously. They're inventive. He would come up with ideas."

Khan said he noticed one major change between his last project with Britney and this one: "It's a much more mature sound and much more mature lyrics, and she always has the greatest ideas," he said. "The initial kernel of the idea always came from her. She's hyper-aware of pop culture.

"She's a mom now," Khan added, "and one of the concerns was that she wants to work hard, and she wants to see her kids. I had to know exactly what I wanted."

After everything that Spears has been through in the last couple years, Khan said he wanted to make the best possible video for her. "I love working with her, and I do care about doing the best that I can for her. I don't want to be the guy that failed. I don't want to be the guy. I want to be a help, not a hindrance."

Source: MTV

Britney Returning to Kentwood?

The following italicized article is from www.ok-magazine.com:

For anyone who thought they had heard the last bit of legal double-talk from lawyers for Britney Spears — think again. The pop star is currently on trial for the misdemeanor charge of driving without a California license, and her legal eagle is pulling out all the stops to make sure she skates away from the charges.

According to attorney J. Michael Flanagan, while Brit may have been calling California home for several years (and by almost all legal accounts, she should have finally gotten a California license years ago), home is where the heart is, and the singer's heart is apparently still in Kentwood, La.

"She was residing in California — I'm not trying to get tricky with the terminology — but 'resident' has a different definition," Flanagan attempted to explain to the jurors in the case.

The charges stem from an August 2007 incident in which Britney hit a parked car while pulling into an L.A. parking lot.

While Brit was not required to be on hand for the trial, her father — and conservator — Jamie Spears testified under oath the 26-year-old had been planning to move home to Louisiana at the time and was only waiting to resolve the custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Spears could face a maximum six months in jail if convicted but is more likely to get a fine and probation.

Source: OK Magazine

Britney Launches New Site: ‘I’m Taking You Where No Paparazzi Lens Ever Could’

The following italicized article is from www.accesshollywood.com:

Britney Spears landed the No. 1 song in the country with “Womanizer” this week — and now, she has a brand new Web site, too.

BritneySpears.com relaunched on Thursday after a promised weekend launch, but the pop princess is hoping it was worth the wait. The site currently includes photo galleries, news and videos — including a personal message from Brit herself.

“Hi everybody, welcome to the new Britneyspears.com. I want to thank you for all of your support, it really means a lot to me.” Britney says in a black-and-white video on the site before offering to take fans “where no paparazzi lens ever could.”

“I’ll be updating the site all the time with new videos and photos and lots of other cool stuff,” she says.

Britney’s next album, “Circus,” is due Dec. 2.

Source: Access Hollywood

Both Sides Rest In Spears Driving Case

Britney Spears did not appear at her driver's license trial Thursday. Instead, her father did the talking.

Spears' defense 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 attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, said in his opening statement that she was exempt from having a California driver's license 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 possibility 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 misdemeanor count of driving without a valid license 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 license 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 percent 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 license.

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.

Spears' fate will be decided by a jury of eight women and four men.

Once a jury was seated, the case barreled forward, with Amerian spending two minutes to give his opening statement. He called the case "very straightforward."

The prosecution's first witness, Gary Edmonds, said records indicated that Spears had not applied for a license 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 license 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.

Flanagan has said he will appeal if Spears is convicted. Before the trial he had said he was considering mounting no defense, but changed his mind and called Spears' father. He was able to speak with authority about his daughter's affairs since he has controlled them since February, when a court granted him conservatorship over Spears' personal and financial matters.

Source: Yahoo!

Dad Testifies Britney Spears's Home Is Louisiana

The following italicized article is from www.people.com:

Britney Spears's father Jamie testified in her misdemeanor driving-without-a-license trial Thursday that California isn't her permanent residence.

"Her home is Louisiana," he said in a Southern drawl. As for when she'll be returning to Louisiana, "There's plans right now," he said.

The 26-year-old pop star, who was not in court, faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine on a charge of not having a valid license at the time of an August 2007 fender-bender. She had a Louisiana license, but prosecutors contend Spears should have had a California license as a resident of the state.

The prosecution rested its case after calling one witness: Department of Motor Vehicles investigator Gary Edmonds, who testified a DMV document showed that Spears was not licensed in California on the day of the accident.

Jamie Spears, 56, who legally controls his daughter's affairs, took the stand for the defense, saying that his daughter is in California for the sake of her two sons.

"We're here with her kids," he said. "We have visitation rights. We have to stay to augment those rights."

Britney, whose ex-husband Kevin Federline has primary custody of their children, will move back to Louisiana once "we can travel with the kids (out of state) and spend time there," her father said.

He went on to describe numerous family members who currently live there, including Britney's mother, sister, aunts, uncles, and her newborn niece.

Britney currently owns homes in Louisiana, New York, Florida and California. She acquired her Louisiana home "eight and a half years ago," he said.

Asked where he lives, Jamie replied, "I live with her. In Beverly Hills." Then asked for his primary residence, he said, "Louisiana."

Prosecutor Michael Amerian countered by stating that Spears's voter status in Louisiana is inactive because she hasn't voted there for some time. He also showed the jury her divorce filings, which indicated she was a California resident.

Closing arguments were set for Friday morning.

Source: People

Britney Launches BritneySpears.com

The following italicized article is from www.etonline.com:

Britney Spears is launching her brand-new Web site -- www.BritneySpears.com -- and she's showing it to ET first!

"Check out my Web site," Britney tells ET, "and log in right now."

It's Britney raw, uncensored and unfiltered: The pop diva personally gave our own Mark Steines a surprising sneak peek of her new site, which is a perfect way to bypass the tabloids and get true access to Britney's private world: Personal messages, new photos, exclusive videos, the latest news and more!

Britney's new album, Circus, drops December 2 (which also happens to be her birthday), and you can see the sizzling video for her meteoric, chart-topping new single "Womanizer" on her Web site now! "Womanizer" is breaking Billboard records, shooting from No. 96 to the top spot on the charts in just one week!

Source: ET Online