THE plans for Britney Spears’ comeback have been quietly paused after worrying photos of her looking dazed outside an LA hotel came to light.
We revealed late last year that Charli XCX had been writing for the project, which was earmarked for this year to mark the 25th anniversary of Britney’s 1999 debut album . . . Baby One More Time.
Since our last report, insiders told me Britney’s team had been negotiating a new deal for her with Sony Music — ensuring she would be in the driving seat after years controlled by a conservatorship.
But now, those close to her tell me plans are being slowed down to make sure she is in the right place to move on.
A source said: “The team have been working on exciting plans but her wellbeing is in the front of their minds, and no one wants to rush.”
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Fans were understandably concerned after seeing shots of the US singer outside the Chateau Marmont hotel, with police and an ambulance attending.
She was quick to fire back at claims she’d had an altercation with on-off boyfriend Paul Soliz and insisted she’d had an accident.
Britney said: “I really twisted my ankle last night, like an idiot, just to show proof.
"It’s so bad — f*ing idiot, tries to do a leap in the living room at the Chateau and I fell, embarrassed myself and that’s it.
“Paramedics came to my door illegally, of course, caused this huge scene which was so unnecessary, and all I needed was ice. “It is actually pretty bad but st happens.”
‘I was set up’
Britney also pointed a finger of blame at mum Lynne, and alleged it was her who had called the paramedics and photographers.
Britney claimed: “I know my mum was involved.
“I haven’t talked to her in six months and she called right after it happened, before the news being out. I was set up, just like she did way back when. I can’t stand her — I honestly don’t care, I will say it.”
But fans of Britney, who has sold 150million records worldwide, will be reassured to learn she is being looked after by her lawyer Mathew Rosengart, who helped her to escape her 11-year conservatorship.
The music industry can be a brutal place, so I’m glad Britney’s team are looking out for her after she endured years of gross control and mani- pulation at the hands of the people who were supposed to protect her.
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LILY CAN’T FACE OP
SPARE a thought for Lily Allen, who is too busy with work to have a facelift.
On her podcast Miss Me?, which is filmed and posted online, Lily, said:
“I live in New York City and may or may not have gone for a consultation at a couple of plastic surgeons, and said I was maybe thinking about having a facelift. Do you want to know how much they quoted? $150,000.”
Lily, who returns to the UK this summer for a stint in highbrow play Hedda, in Bath, added: “Now that we’ve got a weekly podcast, I actually can’t do it, because it would take me three weeks to recover.
"Unless I’m going to sit here with bandage face and sunglasses on. ”
JOANNA’S ON POINT
AS if Eurovision wasn’t camp enough, Absolutely Fabulous actress Joanna Lumley is getting in on the action.
She will be delivering the UK’s scores during the grand final next Saturday.
Joanna is the most high-profile booking for years, following in the footsteps of Catherine Tate, Amanda Holden and AJ Odudu, and I’m sure she’ll be a hit.
Revealing the news, Joanna said: “It’s such a fabulous honour to give the iconic douze points.”
The first semi-final is on BBC One at 8pm on Tuesday.
Our Howell will be providing all the gossip from Malmo in Sweden from Wednesday.
MARTIN’S DEAD LINE
MARTIN KEMP has been thinking about what will happen when he shuffles off this mortal coil.
On podcast FFS My Dad Is Martin Kemp, which he hosts with his son Roman, the Spandau Ballet bass player said his only obit would be on my pages.
Martin, who played on hit song Gold, told Roman, “I’d get a little star down the bottom of the Bizarre column. The headline would be, He Is Mould.”
Genius, Martin.
And worry not, we’d splash it all day long.
But before you go, God forbid, I want you in for a shift on the column!
Yello there, Jessie
HATS off to Jessie J for juggling being a mum and a singer.
She flew to Brazil for a huge gig in Rio and looked like a ray of sunshine as she performed hits in a bright yellow dress.
Jessie gave birth to son Sky last year.
She told fans about being away from him: “I miss this face so much. I definitely sobbed today.
“Shout out to all the working mums.
“It isn’t easy being away from your kids.”
SHANIA TWAIN is getting fans in the mood for her UK tour by releasing her biggest hits on vinyl.
Greatest Hits Summer Tour Edition 2024 will be out on June 28, two days before Shania, above, performs in Glasto’s Legends slot.
It will feature Man! I Feel Like A Woman, That Don’t Impress Me Much and You’re Still The One.