Britney: “I’ve had ups & downs but I’m grateful for it all”
It’s been two decades since she shot to fame, and began a sometimes terrifying roller-coaster journey. Here, we look at how Britney Spears survived the lows and staged her epic comeback
❛ BRIT WAS UNDER UNIMAGINABLE PRESSURE AT THE HEIGHT OF HER CAREER ❜ ❛ SHE DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE GIVING HER ADVICE ❜
After her infamous 2007 meltdown, which saw her shave her own head and be involuntarily held at a psychiatric ward, Britney Spears’ life was put under the control of her father, Jamie, following a court-ordered conservatorship.
A decade later, her £170m fortune, Hollywood home and credit cards were still supervised by Jamie. But last year marked a distinct turnaround for 37-year- old Britney, with the most significant indication yet that her troubled times are finally behind her, after reports surfaced that Jamie was in talks to have the conservatorship lifted.
While Britney and her family have been tight-lipped over whether the order has been removed, sources reveal how the star – who has sons Sean Preston, 13, and Jayden James, 12, from her marriage to Kevin Federline – had been “feeling confident” enough to “take control of her life” as she embarked on a world tour last summer.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
A source says, “Britney is feeling better than ever and feels she’s completely turned her life around. In the early days, she didn’t have the right people around her giving her advice, but now she feels that she has a really strong support system and can stand on her own two feet. She’s realised that her family are the most important thing to her and she’s working on a happy future with them.”
Just last month, the pop sensation – who has been dating personal trainer Sam Aghari since 2016 – announced that she was taking a break from the limelight after her dad was hospitalised and “almost died.”
She said, “I am dedicating my focus and energy to care for my family. We have a very special relationship and I want to be with my family at this time, just like they have always been there for me.”
The source says, “Brit has taken years to slowly recover from the unimaginable pressure on her at the height of her pop career and now wants to be there for her dad. If anything, it’s given her a boost that she’s now in this position to help, whereas ten years or so ago she never thought she would be.
MENTAL WELLBEING
“She loves Sam to bits and he’s been incredible in helping her focus on her fitness, which has given her structure and purpose. In addition, it also works wonders for her mental wellbeing, boosting her moods.”
Opening up about her road to recovery, Britney previously
revealed, “I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health. There were many decisions that were made for me and that I didn’t make myself.”
And it’s been quite a journey to reach that point, with two failed marriages behind her – the first to her childhood friend Jason Alexander in January 2004, which was annulled after just 55 hours, and the second to dancer Kevin in September 2004, which ended after two years. Things then came to a dramatic head in January 2008 when, at the height of her troubles, she was sectioned and wheeled out of her LA home on a stretcher.
HAPPY FUTURE
But speaking in 2017, Britney revealed, “My life has done a complete 360. Things are really good now.”
And reflecting on where it all began with her first album 20 years ago, she posted on Instagram recently, “Can you believe that this album was released 20 years ago today??!! I can’t. It’s definitely been the journey of a lifetime, full of ups and downs, but I’m grateful for every single moment of it all.”
The source adds, “Britney feels she’s entering into a new, more settled phase of her life with her family and Sam. She’s focusing on a happy future and is excited about starting a new chapter.”
HER LIFE HAS COMPLETELY TURNED AROUND ❜