Britney Spears made a surprising announcement this week, stating that she will “never return” to the music industry amid rumors that she was working on a new album. The pop icon took to Instagram to vehemently deny reports that she was collaborating with hitmakers like Charli XCX and Julia Michaels on a comeback record.
Background
Spears, 42, is one of the biggest pop stars in music history, having sold over 150 million records worldwide since bursting onto the scene as a teenager in the late 1990s. She achieved massive success with chart-topping albums like …Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!… I Did It Again (2000).
However, in more recent years, Spears dealt with personal struggles that led her to step back from music. In 2008, she was placed under a restrictive conservatorship controlled by her father Jamie Spears. The #FreeBritney movement and a lengthy legal battle finally helped free her from the conservatorship in 2021.
Last year, Spears married her longtime partner Sam Asghari and spoke of wanting to have a baby with him. She seemed to be happy and free after having regained control of her life for the first time in 13 years.
Rumors Swirl of a Musical Comeback
In early January 2024, rumors began circulating that Spears was secretly working on new music – her first album since 2016’s Glory. Multiple media outlets reported that acclaimed artists like Charli XCX and Julia Michaels were writing songs for Spears’ comeback record.
The rumors gained steam after Hits Daily Double reported that Spears’ team and label were “quietly” putting an album together, hoping to surprise fans with it later in 2024. They claimed several high-profile collaborators were involved and that Spears seemed “re-energized” and “ready to get back to it.”
Other outlets like Page Six added fuel to the speculation, reporting that Spears had been in the studio recording with producers for over a year. The reports stirred excitement among fans who had been longing for new music from the princess of pop.
| Reaction to Rumors of New Britney Spears Album |
|---|
| Fans express hope and anticipation of first album since 2016 |
| Music industry insiders reportedly “excited” about potential comeback |
| Colleagues Charli XCX and Julia Michaels rumored as collaborators |
Spears Shuts Down Speculation
However, on January 3rd, Britney Spears herself dispelled the rumors in a fiery Instagram post. Spears clarified that while she had written several unreleased songs over the past years, she has no plans to ever return to the music industry that previously “hurt” and ” humiliated” her deeply.
“I have no idea what’s going on…the news of me being in the studio recording any music is ME WORKING ON MUSIC THAT WAS NEVER RELEASED OR GOOD ENOUGH for my ears…I posted 9 demos of songs I’ve written 4 months ago on my Insta because it FELT GOOD AT THE TIME!!! It no longer felt good when reporters started telling me ‘sources say this’…’your team says that…’People I haven’t spoken to in over a decade are writing things about me COMPLETELY NOT TRUE!!!”
She went on to confirm that she will likely continue writing for herself as a form of therapy, but has zero intention to release new music commercially or work within the industry again.
“I’m not ready to turn things over…I’m learning everyday!!! I’m trying to be better than ‘yesterday’!!! I will be my own cheerleader God knows I have been…but let’s be clear…I would rather stay home and do NOTHING…than get dolled up and take pics for an album that doesn’t exist!!!”
The passionate post seems to close the book on rumors of a musical comeback any time soon. Spears reiterated this in the caption:
“PS reminder that none of this is real…I will never perform again…I’m retired!!!”
| Key Quotes from Britney Spears’ Instagram Post |
|---|
| “The news of me being in the studio recording any music is ME WORKING ON MUSIC THAT WAS NEVER RELEASED OR GOOD ENOUGH for my ears” |
| “People I haven’t spoken to in over a decade are writing things about me COMPLETELY NOT TRUE!!!” |
| “I’m not ready to turn things over…” |
| “I would rather stay home and do NOTHING…than get dolled up and take pics for an album that doesn’t exist!!!” |
| “PS reminder that none of this is real…I will never perform again…I’m retired!!!” |
Reaction to Spears’ Statement
Needless to say, Britney’s explosive statement sparked a wave of reactions online. Many fans expressed disappointment but supported her decision. Prominent #FreeBritney advocate Jordan Miller told People magazine: “I am saddened to hear she may not want to release music, but I wholeheartedly support any personal choice Britney wants to make for herself after being under constraint for so long.”
Entertainment industry insiders also commented on the abrupt retirement announcement. Veteran music journalist Rob Sheffield wrote in Rolling Stone, “Just when it seemed Britney was free and on top of the world…she reminds us she already gave more than enough to the pop grind factory.”
Nonetheless, some skeptics doubt that this is truly the end of Spears’ recording career. Jeff Benjamin, digital music editor at Billboard, said: “This feels very in the moment – I wouldn’t close the book on a Britney comeback just yet.”
Only time will tell if Spears holds firm on her retirement declaration or eventually makes a return to making music on her own terms. For now, fans continue to express understanding and emphasize that her wellbeing should be the top priority.
What’s Next for Britney?
While Britney Spears may be done with the music business, she certainly isn’t done sharing her life and thoughts. Since being freed from her conservatorship in 2021, Spears has been extremely active on social media – particularly Instagram – giving fans an inside look into her relationship, style, travel adventures, and more. Just hours after making her retirement announcement, Spears’ Instagram showed her modeling designer fashions poolside with husband Asghari in Beverly Hills.
Spears also revealed in her recent post that while she has no plans to make an album, she wrote nearly 20 songs last year as a form of therapy for herself. She said writing gives her “jolts and sparks of creativity” and she will likely continue to write privately purely for expression, not for release.
On top of writing, it’s been reported by US Weekly and others that Spears would like to pursue her lifelong dream of acting again soon. Given her massive global fanbase, a return to movies or television would undoubtedly receive major attention.
While the pop princess officially closes the curtain on her era of megastardom in music for now, it certainly looks like Spears is just getting warmed up to have her voice creatively heard more in this next chapter of her life. Regardless if it’s through acting, writing, social media, or other mediums altogether – fans around the world undoubtedly can’t wait to see Britney continue fearlessly paving her own path.
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