Britney Spears Demands Random Drug Tests for Crew on Circus Tour

The following italicized article is from www.news.com.au:

BRITNEY Spears is demanding her 225-strong support crew - including local production staff and support acts - be given random drug and alcohol tests while in Australia.

In a bid to keep her tour clean, Spears has ordered her tour party obey the terms of a confidential contract outlawing alcohol and drugs on her sell-out tour, Circus.

The ban extends to 150 local staff working on the tour, the Sunday Herald Sun reports.

"Britney's rule is clear - zero tolerance," a well-placed concert industry source said.

"No drink. No drugs. If you do not comply, you do not tour with Britney."

Spears will perform in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in November.

The restrictions are designed to keep alcohol and drugs away from Spears, who suffered a substance-fuelled meltdown two years ago.

Spears must stay clean to avoid child custody issues.

Sons Sean Preston, 4, and Jayden James, 3, will travel to Australia with Spears.

Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, will also be in the tour entourage.

Spears carried out drink and drug testing before and during her US tour and before her European dates.

"She will demand the same rules here," the source said. "You are not allowed to drink and, obviously, there are no drugs."

The alcohol ban extends to drinking beer or wine with a meal, even on days off.

A concert industry insider showed the confidential contract clause to the Sunday Herald Sun.

It states: "No alcohol. No drugs. These are terms of being on this tour."

Anyone found breaching those terms would have their contract terminated.

It also said everyone on Spears' Circus tour is subject to random drug and alcohol tests.

The tests involve giving a urine sample to Spears' tour management team.

Those who sign the contract are bound by a confidentiality agreement.

A spokeswoman for Spears said she was not aware of the zero-tolerance clause in the tour contract.

Her tour publicist said: "Our focus is the amazing show Britney is bringing to Australia."

Tour director Steve Dixon, said the formerly troubled superstar was in a good place.

"Part of her new life is balance," Dixon said last month.

"She's in great shape, she loves being on stage - it's her favourite part of the day. "The hard point is getting from place to place.

"But once we're there, we have this little city backstage and it's great."

Source: News.com.au

Spears Determined to Win Her Kids Back

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

BRITNEY SPEARS is preparing to move for full custody of her two sons with ex-husband KEVIN FEDERLINE - because she's reportedly concerned her boys are picking up bad habits from their dad.

The Toxic hitmaker was recently granted an extension on the equal custody agreement she has with Federline to share care of Sean Preston, four, and Jayden James, three, while she's on tour.

The former dancer was handed primary custody of the kids last year (08) after Spears suffered a mental breakdown.

But the pop star is reportedly considering filing legal documents to make her the primary guardian when her world Circus tour comes to a stop this November (09), reports the National Enquirer.

A source says, "She is ready to fight to get her boys back. Britney feels that leaving Kevin in charge has turned her sons into cursing, ill-mannered little boys who don't behave. Britney wants to be the one who chooses where the boys go to school and where they go to church.

"She wants full custody and for Kevin to have visitation. Britney feels that Kevin is now the one with problems that the judge needs to hear about. She believes he's become a poor role model for Sean and Jayden. The boys are used to Kevin's foul-mouthed, lazy, unemployed dancer friends, who either live at the house or hang out there. Britney doesn't want the boys growing up thinking that kind of lifestyle is acceptable."

Federline, who has piled on the pounds in recent years, was this week (begs05Oct09) accused of failing to keep up with rent payments on his Tarzana, California home.

Source: Contact Music

Britney Custody Order Extended

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

Britney Spears will share 50/50 custody with Kevin Federline at least through the end of the year -- TMZ has learned.

An L.A. County Superior Court judge extended the order that was initially put in place for Britney's concert tour. Under the terms, Britney gets to travel with Sean Preston and Jayden James and must provide K-Fed with a place to stay if he wants to follow them on tour.

Sources tell us the sealed order is very detailed, but Britney gets minimum 50/50 custody and at times even more.

As for Kevin, in addition to the $20,000 a month Britney pays him in child support, he gets between $20,000 and $25,000 a month when the kids are outside of California.

At the end of the year the judge will reevaluate custody. We're told it's looking like a 50/50 split is the way of the future.

Source: TMZ

Spears Bans Sons From Federline's TV Show

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

BRITNEY SPEARS is set for legal action against her ex-husband KEVIN FEDERLINE - to stop their children appearing on his new TV show.

Federline hopes to land a deal to document his day-to-day life with his two sons and his new girlfriend, Victoria Prince, for a new reality series.

But his pop star ex is refusing to give permission for Sean Preston, three, and two-year-old Jayden James to appear on the programme - and is considering launching a legal battle to limit filming.

Spears and Federline famously allowed TV cameras into their lives in 2005 for the MTV series Britney & Kevin: Chaotic.

Source: Contact Music

Britney Scores More Kiddie Time than K-Fed

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

We've learned Britney Spears and K-Fed have reached a new agreement on custody -- and now Brit has the kids more than 50% of the time -- at least during her concert tour.

Lawyers for Brit and Kevin Federline have filed docs with the family law Commissioner Scott Gordon, stating they have reached a new temporary custody arrangement. During June, July and August, Britney will have physical custody of Jayden James and Sean Preston more than 50% of the time. The lawyers submitted a calendar outlining who gets the kids on which day.

Contrary to some reports, we know that before the change Britney had the kids 50% of the time.

The 50/50 split will go back into effect once Britney's tour is over.

Source: TMZ

Alli Sims Opens Up About Life With Britney Spears

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

Britney Spears’ former assistant, Alli Sims, is breaking her silence for the very first time about the years she spent with the music superstar.

Alli lived with Britney in the pop star’s former gated community for over a year. She saw everything and in an Access Hollywood exclusive, revealed even at it’s worst, things with the pop star weren’t as bad as they were portrayed.

“I feel like the media made it appear a lot more insane than it really was,” Alli told Access.

Alli revealed that while she was at Britney’s side, they were constantly followed by the paparazzi.

“It was a minimum of 50 people following us,” she said. “It made everything look so much more hectic. It was crazy.”

Alli was Britney’s assistant for one year until reports said she was let go.

When asked if she was fired from the job, Alli said, “No.”

“I still lived with her after I wasn’t working with her and we’re still best friends,” Alli said.

When asked about the reports that Britney’s dad, Jamie Spears, said she couldn’t come around anymore, Alli said that was true.

“Yeah, he definitely said that,” she said. “You know, they’re very controlling and that’s fine and I just stepped back. I’m not going to fight nine lawyers and parents.”

In fact, it was a team of lawyers that handled a divorce, child custody and questions about Britney’s mental health. And with Jamie in charge, they brought order to Britney’s life.

“They pretty much cut out everyone, honestly,” Alli said.

And despite reports that Britney is bi-polar or suffers from post-partum depression, Alli said she didn’t see evidence of such conditions.

“I just feel like, you know, she had kids fast,” Alli said. “There was a divorce going on and that’s a lot for a young person to handle.”

In January 2008, Britney barricaded herself and son Jayden at her then home, refusing to give him back to ex-husband, Kevin Federline. Alli said the reason Britney refused is quite simple.

“She was just like, ‘I wasn’t ready for them… you know, to go home,’” Alli recounted. “It was a mom just being protective and a mom that didn’t want her kids to leave… I mean, it’s weird when you have kids three days a week and you’re used to having them all day everyday.”

During one stretch of Alli’s tenure with Britney, the star was hospitalized twice in one month. The second time she was taken by ambulance to the UCLA Medical Center’s Psychiatric Ward.

When asked how Britney was in the hospital, Alli said she was OK.

“Fine, fine. Honestly, fine,” she said.

As a result, Britney temporarily lost visitation rights to both her boys in January 2008.

“I think that was a really harsh step,” Alli said. “It looked a lot worse than it was… I actually got subpoenaed for the custody case and I was in there for eight hours and it was brutal. But, I mean, I just sat in there and told the truth. There was nothing bad to say.”

Alli hasn’t spoken to Britney in over a year. She’s spent the time doing what she says Britney encouraged her to do – pursue her music.

Alli’s first single, “Driving Blind,” is about missing someone. In this case, Britney.

“I want her to know when she hears [it], that it is about her and I miss her friendship,” Alli said.

Source: Access Hollywood

Judge Approves Over $1 Million In Legal Bills, Payments From Britney Spears

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

Britney Spears is back with a hit album and a worldwide 2009 tour, but going from her troubled start at the beginning of 2008 to the top of the charts hasn’t come cheaply.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved over $1.5 million in payouts to those who have assisted the pop singer, who has been under a conservatorship overseen by her father, Jamie Spears and attorney Adam Wallet, since earlier this year.

“My client has made an informed consent to all of these fee amounts,” Britney’s lawyer, Sam Ingham, said in court Monday.

Britney’s father, Jamie, has been receiving $10,000 a month for working as part of the conservatorship to assist his daughter. And on Monday, the judge approved a pay raise for Jamie due to Britney’s hectic schedule, allowing him to now receive $16,125 a month. He was also approved to receive $37,556 from previous business.

The judge also approved $1,200 per month for Jamie to rent an office, where he will be working on the conservatorship.

Britney’s older brother, Bryan Spears, who is a trustee of a trust established in Britney’s name, was also approved for a payment of $200,000 for his services to the “Circus” singer prior to the establishment of the conservatorship.

Sam Ingham, who serves as Britney’s attorney, was approved to receive $143,643, while $81,849 was approved for co-conservator Wallet.

Luce Forward’s law firm, which represents Jamie Spears, was approved for the largest sum of money — $509,080 – for their work.

Michael Flanagan, who was Britney’s lawyer during her driver’s license case earlier this fall, was ordered to be paid $11,811.

A payment of $15,275 was approved for Laura Wasser, the counselor who serves as Britney’s family law attorney.

Additionally, the judge ordered a $1.5 million dollar bond as insurance to protect the conservatorship.

Source: Access Hollywood

Britney And Kevin 'Getting Back Together'

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

Britney Spears has reportedly asked Kevin Federline to move back in with her.

The singer has decided that she wants to get back together with her ex-husband, according to Look magazine.

"Kevin has been staying over a lot but I don’t think it will be long until they are living together full-time again. They have slipped back into their old relationship really easily," a source told the publication.

'Kevin is excited about living with Britney again because he finds it tough being a single dad. She is thrilled because she can have her kids back and a relationship with someone she trusts."

Federline currently has full custody of the couple's two children, Sean Preston, three, and two-year-old Jayden James.

"Britney and Kevin have come to realise they still love each other. They have been seeing a counsellor and have drawn up a list of rules so they can improve their relationship," said the source.

Spears recently added a further six dates to the UK leg of her 'Circus' tour. She will hold a 'mini residency' at Londons 02 arena from June 3 until June 14.

Source: Digital Spy

Britney Spears: "I Worry All the Time."

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

Few people — and even fewer celebrities — ever have a year like the one Britney Spears has had in 2008.

From a nasty custody battle to hospitalizations to handing over the reins of her life to her father, this could easily have been the lowest point in her life. But then again, she's got a hit song, a new album, a reinvigorated relationship with her formerly estranged family — so 2008 hasn't been without its good side.

"The whole year has been a hell of a year for me," the pop superstar admits in the new issue of Glamour. "I didn¹t know exactly where I stood with everyone."

A big turning point for Brit was her triumphant return to the MTV Video Music Awards in September, one year after almost throwing her career away with a dazed and lazy performance at the ceremony. "When I received the awards and [the audience] stood for me, it showed me how much love is out there," she explains.

"Recording this album has helped take my mind off certain things," says Britney about her new CD, Circus, which will be released on Dec. 2, which also happens to be her 27th birthday. "For me, my music is therapy."

The one-time party girl, who has photographed pantie-less with the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan also says that that's not the real Britney. "I don't like going out," she reveals. "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."

With the clock running out on 2008, Brit's mind is on her resolutions for 2009. "I would like to stop worrying so much, because I worry all the time. 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!"

Source: OK Magazine

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

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

Although Britney Spears admits in a new film that she "totally lost my way, lost focus, lost myself," that won't stand in the way of her comeback, says her manager.

"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."

Source: People

Britney: My New Life Is Worse Then Jail

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

WEEPING Britney Spears has admitted her new image is a SHAM — and claims she would feel freer if she was in prison.

The troubled pop princess moans that her new controlled lifestyle after hitting rock bottom last year feels “like Groundhog Day”.

Britney, 26, stunned delighted fans by bouncing back from her breakdown. But in a new fly-on-the-wall documentary she tearfully admits: “There’s no excitement, there’s 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 every day.”

Britney, who performs on X Factor next weekend, believes she is still “paying” for her public meltdown when she shaved her head and lost custody of her two sons.

She says: “I think it’s too in control. If I wasn’t under the restraints I’m under, I’d feel so liberated. When I tell them the way I feel, it’s like they hear but they’re really not listening.

“If you do something wrong in your work, you can move on, but I’m having to pay for a long time.

“I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free.”

Former Mickey Mouse Club child star Britney admits her “weird” life is all she’s known, but didn’t realise how famous she was until her breakdown.

She adds: “I think I’ve learnt my lesson now and enough is enough.”

Source: The Sun

Britney Puts Sons Before Madonna

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

BRITNEY SPEARS has cancelled a planned concert performance with MADONNA in Miami so that she can spend the run-up to the Thanksgiving holiday with her kids.

Brit was supposed to make a guest appearance on the final show of the Material Girl’s American tour on November 26.

However, despite rave reviews for their appearance together in Los Angeles, the singer has decided to put her family before her career.

Britney has been granted custody of sons JAYDEN JAMES, two, and SEAN PRESTON, three, for the period leading up to the US holiday – which falls on November 27.

Her current custody arrangement with ex-husband KEVIN FEDERLINE means she has two visitations and one overnight visit with her sons per week.

A pal said: “Britney had always agreed to perform in Miami but her circumstances have changed over the past couple of months.

“She and Kevin are getting along fine now, Britney will have Jayden and Sean just before the holiday and Kevin will spend Thanksgiving day with them.”

Britney will then head to France to appear on Star Academy – their version of The X Factor.
Yesterday her mum LYNNE posted a message on her official website saying: “Looks like Britney will be spending her Thanksgiving holiday in Europe.”

Source: The Sun

Federline Won't Seek Hearing on Son's Health Scare

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

Kevin Federline has no plans to ask a family court to investigate his son's weekend health scare while in ex-wife Britney Spears's care, his lawyer says.

"We're not going to jump to conclusions right now," attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan tells E!. "I don't anticipate there being a hearing. I anticipate that Kevin and Britney as concerned parents will exchange information and satisfy themselves that what happened was a freak occurrence and do what they have to do to make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Jayden, 2, was hospitalized overnight on Sunday in McComb, Miss., after suffering a "terrible allergic reaction" to something he ingested, a source close to the Spears family tells PEOPLE.

Spears had taken her sons Preston, 3, and Jayden for a family visit to her hometown of Kentwood, La. It was the first time she was allowed to take them out of state since losing all custody earlier this year.

"Kevin was considering going to Louisiana (after the hospitalization)," says Kaplan, "but the information that we had was Jayden was already checked out. There wasn't an emergency."

Source: People

Jayden Rushed To The Hospital

Britney Spears rushed her two-year-old son Jayden James to hospital yesterday after he suffered a suspected seizure during a long-awaited family trip to her hometown.

In what could be a devastating setback for the singer, who has just got her life back on track after a public meltdown earlier this year, Jayden James was raced to the emergency ward after lapsing into a "vague and unresponsive" state.

The toddler fell ill yesterday afternoon at the family home in Kentwood, Louisiana. The entire Spears clan made the 25-mile dash to Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Centre, Mississippi.

Doctors were unable to pinpoint the problem straight away and kept the toddler in for overnight observation.

Reports suggest a distraught Britney, refused to leave his side and asked for a bed next to him in the ward.

Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is now believed to be making plans to jet out of Los Angeles to be at Jayden's bedside.

It's the first time Britney has been allowed to leave California with sons Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden since their dad K-Fed was given full custody in July.

Source: MSN

X17 XCLSUVIVE: BREAKING NEWS - BRIT LEAVES FOR LOUISIANA WITH THE BOYS!

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

Britney and her boys just boarded a Gulfstream IV jet, headed for Louisiana.

This is the first time she's taken them out of state since losing custody to Kevin.

The jet took off from Van Nuys airport at around 10:30 this morning.

Think they're headed for a visit with Auntie Jamie Lynn and cousin Maddie?

How fun!

Source: X17

Brit's Dad Still the Boss

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

With the Dec. 2 release of her new album, Circus, a live performance on Good Morning America and an album party in NYC that night, birthday girl Britney Spears will be celebrating more than just turning 27.

She’ll also be riding high from the Nov. 30 airing of MTV’s 90-minute documentaryFor the Record, featuring extensive interviews and revealing footage from her own production company.

But while Britney’s career is on the rise, the “Womanizer” singer’s personal life remains stalled: On Oct. 28, her dad Jamie Spears’ status as her legal conservator was continued for the foreseeable future.

“Legally, Britney is basically a child,” a source close to the case tells OK!. “She can’t make any financial or legal decisions for herself, and she can’t regain custody of her sons, Preston and Jayden.”

However, with the safety net the conservatorship provides, Britney is expected to get longer visitations with her children starting this month.

"Britney desperately wants to have control over her own life, but if she wants to keep her finances in order and spend the maximum time with her kids, she needs to leave well-enough alone,” the source says. “But the conservator will likely end in 2009.”

Source: OK Magazine

Britney May Never Regain Full Custody

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

Popstar Britney Spears may lose her kids forever, as she has agreed to a court ruling that put her dad in permanent charge of her affairs.

The ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ hitmaker and pals hope the deal will let her visit her sons, Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, more often.

Legal experts have said that after admitting that Britney is unfit to look after herself, the singer may lose her chance getting full custody of the boys, who live with their father, Kevin Federline.

“If one court found she’s not capable of taking care of herself and her affairs, how is another court going to find her able to take care of the affairs of two babies?” The ‘Daily Star’ quoted a family law specialist, as saying. After her public meltdown, Britney is now fighting to be back at top spot.

Source: Screen India

Britney Spears Back With Adnan Ghalib - Report

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

Britney Spears is back with her paparazzo ex Adnan Ghalib, according to tabloid reports.

Spears - who dated and split from the British-born photog earlier this year - is secretly communicating with Ghalib behind her dad's back, reports the National Enquirer.

A source tells the publication, "Britney and Adnan are constantly on the phone or text messaging each other.

"Britney gets excited when he calls or texts because he lavishes her with compliments.

"Adnan searches the Internet for photos of her and then calls and comments on her outfits and her hair, and she loves it.

"She also wears the promise ring he gave her when they were dating."

The source adds that Britney's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is not happy about her reunion with Adnan: "Kevin is clear about one thing, though.

"If Britney goes to Adnan, she will never get back custody of the kids, and she can forget about ever taking them traveling with her."

Source: Showbiz Spy

Britney's Dad To Stay In Control

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

BRITNEY SPEARS' personal and business affairs will be controlled by her father on a permanent basis.

JAMIE SPEARS was put in charge of the singer's property and finances in February following her public meltdown and the conservatorship was due to end on December 31.

However an LA judge ruled yesterday that Jamie will will stay on indefinitely as co-conservator, with attorney ANDREW WALLETT, following recommendation from Britney's lawyers.

Her court-appointed attorney SAMUEL INGHAM told the judge: "I've met several times with (Britney) and she requested that I not object to the permanent conservatorship."

It is claimed that Britney hopes the move will help her to regain custody of her two children with ex-hubby KEVIN FEDERLINE.

While her case was being sorted out, the singer had another brush with the law yesterday - she got a parking ticket.

Britney's car was parked outside the International Dance Academy in Hollywood while she was shooting her new music video.

Source: The Sun

Britney's Trial Victory a 'Turnaround' for Singer

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

Britney Spears's victory in her misdemeanor driving-without-a-license trial this week "closes a chapter on her past troubles," her lawyer Michael Flanagan tells PEOPLE.

"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).

Source: People