Britney's brand new single, "Gimme More," produced by Nate Hills, better known as Danja, has leaked onto the Internet, alongside a second new album track, "Hot As Ice," written by T-Pain. You can hear "Gimme More" in full above, and check out the lyrics here; the lyrics to "Hot As Ice" are here! "It's Britney, bitch..." - she is back - Britney.com, Britney's official home at Jive Records, has been updated with a new Flash animation, featuring a looped clip of the song; "Gimme More" has already started getting airplay across the world, and is due to go for radio station adds in the USA on 5th September!

VMA performer, T-Pain, was in the studio with Britney Spears a few months ago, right in the wake of her visit to rehab, describing Britney as normal. So normal they were able to knock out three songs - "Cold As Fire," "Boyfriend" and "One Of A Kind" - in a short amount of time. When she met up with him in the studio, "she had a wig & cowboy hat on. She came in there, shook my hand & went right into the booth. She was smiling the whole time. In an hour we had a song. I sang it first and she sung over what I did, in key and everything! She was about her business. I came out the studio and across the street [were] people with cameras on top of the building, waiting for her to come outside. I come out, they are like, 'Oh, oh, stop.' I was like, ‘What about me? I got hits!'"

Britney's brand new single, "Gimme More," scheduled to hit radio stations worldwide next week (with sources say it could be as early as this weekend), was apparently written by Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, alongside Keri Hilson and Jim Beanz, all three of whom have been long-term Timbaland cohorts, collaborating on Nelly Furtado's "Loose" and Timbaland's own album, "Shock Value" (which also features fellow Britney contributors, The Clutch). Britney is also rumoured to be performing at the LAX nightclub, which she is scheduled to open in Las Vegas this Friday night, 31st August 2007, with the club's co-owners Steve Davidici and DJ AM revealing to US television show, "Extra," that there 'may be a surprise' that 'they will get in person'."

Britney's brand new single, "Gimme More," scheduled to hit radio stations worldwide next week (with sources say it could be as early as this weekend), was apparently written by Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, alongside Keri Hilson and Jim Beanz, all three of whom have been long-term Timbaland cohorts, collaborating on Nelly Furtado's "Loose" and Timbaland's own album, "Shock Value" (which also features fellow Britney contributors, The Clutch). Britney is also rumoured to be performing at the LAX nightclub, which she is scheduled to open in Las Vegas this Friday night, 31st August 2007, with the club's co-owners Steve Davidici and DJ AM revealing to US television show, "Extra," that there 'may be a surprise' that 'they will get in person'."

The first single from Britney Spears' long-awaited fifth studio album will debut next week, according to Jive Records. "Gimme More," produced by Timbaland right-hand-man Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, will appear on Britney's new album, but sources say it has yet to be decided whether it will be the official lead single or simply a setup track. A source said, "People are going to love the new single. She's got a whole new sound. She's funky.'' Another insider said: "'It's a smash! She's going to come out strong." A third source says the forthcoming album is expected to hit shelves this November-December with little to no promotional setup.

A new Britney Spears song has been registered at ASCAP, entitled "Grow." The song is listed as being co-written by Britney Spears, Lisa Greene and Steve Anderson of the British production team, Metro, who worked on "Breathe On Me" for "In The Zone." You can see all articles related to the forthcomingalbum, & all known details of producers and writers submitting songs here!

Britney's former manager, Larry Rudolph, who is being pursued by Kevin Federline's legal team, who want to subpoena him to testify in the custody case, has released a statement, saying, "Despite the things that Britney has publicly said about our relationship in the past, I truly understand where she’s coming from and why she’s said the things she said about me post-rehab and I don’t take it personally. As her former manager, I know & understand Britney better than anyone, I know what makes her tick and I understand everything she’s going through. With that being said, my loyalty will always stay strong with Britney. I have consulted with my lawyers and I do understand that eventually the time will come when they will find me, but until then, I’m trying to avoid being brought into this mess. She’s going through so much right now and I wish Britney the best."

According to reports, Britney's close friend 'Sam', who spoke exclusively to the X17 photo agency earlier this month (you can read what he told them here) has been involved in a head-on car crash with Kevin's legal team, as he tried to drive away from them and prevent them from serving him with a subpoena to testify in the custody case. 'Sam' is fine, although his new Mercedes will need a lot of repair; 'Sam' spoke to X17 about the incident, a video clip of which can be viewed here.

TMZ reports that Britney is being subjected to an 'active investigation' by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, as part of the ongoing custody dispute between her and Kevin Federline; the investigation does not involve does not involve physical mistreatment of her children, citing 'poor eating & sleeping habits' & is the second time the DCFS has been asked to investigate Britney, following a 'complaint' in July, which went nowhere. An unscheduled hearing was held today at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, with Britney's lawyer, Dennis Wasser, father of Laura Wasser, who represented her in her divorce from Kevin, alongside Mark Vincent Kaplan, who is representing Kevin Federline, present. Documents relating to the now-closed divorce proceeding were filed under seal, with the first custody hearing due to be held on 4th September; the children spent the weekend at Kevin Federline's house, as per the current custody agreement, where they were cared for by Britney's parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, and a nanny, as Kevin had flown to film a guest appearance in the teen soap opera, "One Tree Hill."

Julie McDonald, the agent for choreographer and dancer, RJ Durell, who has been photographed with Britney in the past few days, has confirmed that they are planning her surprised performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, alongside Nick Flores. "They’re working together. He is co-choreographing her performance for the VMAs with Nick Flores, who worked with her as dancer before, so he brought RJ in. They’re very good at what they do; they’re young and fresh. He’s very talented. Hopefully it will work out well, and they’ll work together again. We hope this continues." On the performance itself, she added, "It’s being kept under wraps. They started working together a couple of weeks ago and have been spending time together rehearsing the number." She also denied media reports that RJ and Britney are dating, saying, "I doubt that" - RJ's MySpace profile says he is gay.

Amidst more and more rumours that she is planning a comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on 9th September, Britney was seen out last night at the Opera nightclub with her dancers and RJ Durell, who choreographed "Erotica, "La Isla Bonita" and "Lucky Star" on Madonna's "Confessions" tour, and also danced with Britney at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, when she premiered "I'm A Slave 4 U." After leaving the club, they headed to a hotel where they met with illusionist, Criss Angel, who confirmed to "People" he was working on a performance with Britney. Durell recently said working with Britney was the most exciting night of his life; "It was at the height of Britney's career, the song was hot, the choreography was hot and I had an amazing time performing with my friends in New York. There was such hype at that time;, it was just fun to party and soak in the atmosphere."

A demo from 2004's potential "Original Doll" sessions, that also included "Mona Lisa," has been leaked online, entitled "Baby Boy." Despite reports, the song is not a new recording, and is not being considered for inclusion for her forthcoming fifth studio album; read the lyrics to the song here! It is rumoured that the song is on a CD containing nineteen demo tracks written and recorded at around the same time, and including the demo of "Mona Lisa."

As "OK!" magazine USA report that "in a desperate bid to keep her children, Britney has conjured up the idea of fleeing to England, where she could start over fresh with her children," a Dutch tabloid has reported that Britney, who hasn't been photographed in public for days, arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, last night, and has been seen out, including visiting a club, in the city. The rumour has been proved untrue - Britney is still at home in Los Angeles, with her two children, and was visited by her former manager, Larry Rudolph yesterday. Rudolph told "Access Hollywood" that he was 'on vaction hiding out from Kevin’s processors', having been informed by work colleagues that Kevin Federline's lawyers are tracking him down to serve him with a subpoena.

Despite a report in today’s "Page Six," saying Britney had cancelled plans to record a duet with her ex-boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, "US Weekly," reports no such plan ever existed. A source told them, "There have been lots of discussions about who Britney is working with and Justin has not been one of them. Nothing with Justin was ever even discussed. Jive is still supportive of Britney and has no doubt she will deliver when the time comes. They are invested in her but obviously a little nervous for the VMAs performance because nobody exactly knows what she is going to do. But she is working feverishly to pull it off."

Believe, the new fragrance from Britney Spears and Elizabeth Arden, following the highly successful Curious and Fantasy, and offsprings, Curious: In Control and Midnight Fantasy, officially launches in the USA on 24th September 2007. Elizabeth Arden describe the fragrance as having a 'top note' of "inner light shining outward with a mouthwatering hint of guava pulp and golden tangerine," the 'heart' being "a delicate blend of feminine honeysuckle, intertwined with hints of linden blossom" and the 'dry down' as being "a balance of sophistication and youthful spirit, patchouli aura wrapped in a wink of sensual amber and pink pralines." USA residents can pre-order on Elizabeth Arden's official site here, and receive a free Believe T-shirt.

While Britney was looking after their children, Kevin Federline partied the night away, smiling and chainsmoking until 4am at the Tao Nightclub in Las Vegas on Friday night, with a party of 25 people. "He was drinking straight from the vodka and Jagermeister bottles I didn’t see him with a drink in his hand that much, but he drank out of the bottles a few times." Stationed at a VIP table, Federline chatted with a few of the girls surrounding him, and later migrated to the table full of women adjacent to his. "He was grinding up on a few of the girls and he had a flashlight and was shining it on some of the girls around him.&quot

Promises Rehab Centre has become the latest to be served with a subpoena from Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, regarding the custody of his two children with Britney Spears, Sean Preston and Jayden James. This is the latest subpoena to be served in the custody battle, with Kaplan having already served Alli Sims, Shannon Funk, Daimon Shippen, and according to some reports, Jonathan 'J.R' Rotem. A spokesperson from Promises refused to comment, saying, "This is a confidential facility and we cannot comment." Pepperdine University Law Professor Steven M. Cron, says, "Strategically I think they are interested in how she responded to the treatment, rather than the treatment itself. Specifically, if she participated as she was supposed to; did she have a positive attitude, and did she complete it successfully, or was she a screw up?"

Illusionist Criss Angel, who shares management with Britney, both working with Jeff Kwatinetz of The Firm, has confirmed he is working with Britney Spears for her performance at the forthcoming MTV Video Music Awards. "It’s amazing what people think. We’re not together. Her manager is my manager, and I’m helping with one of her shows. I’m helping with her appearance on MTV." Rumours flew after the star, 39, was spotted with Britney in LA, meeting with her and her friends at a restaurant and going with her into a hotel. "Yes, I’m here working on some stuff, and we went to that restaurant with 10 people. We were talking about how she wants to do something more with the show, and about me helping out and hoping to work with her on doing something to make her MTV appearance more innovative. It’s amazing how you can’t do anything now without people making up stuff."

 
As she unfortunately did not meet with Judith Newman for an interview, "Allure" magazine have published her story of attempting to meet with Britney in LA earlier this year (the "Allure" photoshoot was conducted on 25th April 2007, but it does not state exactly when Newman was attempting to meet with her for the interview). You can read the article, exclusively, here, and photographs from the entire shoot and behind the scenes at the shoot are available in the photo gallery.

With her very first single, Britney Jean Spears, from Louisiana, redefined what it meant to be a pop star. But nothing comes that easily these days in her chaotic, meticulously documented world, by Judith Newman.
What would I do if I were 25, world famous, unimaginably wealthy and no one could say no to me? Well first, I'd sleep with Dick Cheney (it's my world, welcome to it). Then I'd get my children private tutors, move to England, buy a castle, pimp it out with heating, air conditioning and wireless, and entertain all the scholars, inventors, politicians and comedians who'd want to get to know me. Emma Thompson would be my BFF. I'd throw great parties. I'd probably drink a lot too.
I'd had a lot of time to ponder this question. Four days, to be exact. That's how long I'd been waiting for Britney Spears to see me. I was in the Sunset Towers in West Hollywood, ready to conduct her comeback interview. We were all excited.
I admit I didn't quite understand the hold she had on the public imagination. Spears is a terrific dancer, with modest musical talents; she's like the cutest girl at the cutest high school in Cuteland, USA. It's a look that doesn't necessarily age well. But it's what young girls aspire to, and it's fodder for middle-aged men everywhere: 10 year old girls wanted to be her and 40 year old boys wanted to do her. This created the woman who has sold over 31million albums in the USA, and has made her, at barely a quarter-century old, the 8th best selling solo female artist in American music history. Still, somehow that wasn't enough. When the creative spark waned, giving way to babies and the utterly predictable husband who was Kevin Federline, she always could rely on her most loyal suitors - the tabloids. However much money she made for the record industry, I bet it couldn't compare to what she made for Us Weekly, People and the National Enquirer. Really, they couldn't have invented a better cash cow. Biggest celerity on the planet walks into a gas station barefoot! Biggest celebrity gets her knickers in a twist over - oh wait, she doesn't have any knickers! Every zit, every pound gained and lost, every teetering moment: recorded for posterity.
In a funny way, with my story of the new, reinvented pop princess, I wanted to help. Lots of people do. Monday evening, I checked into the hotel. My interview with Britney was scheduled at the house she'd been renting up in the canyon for 1pm Tuesday. At 12.15pm Tuesday, I was in a cab, almost there, when the call came from the publicist. Britney was delayed by important work in the recording studio and couldn't meet me. How about tomorrow? Of course, work takes precedence. I'd be there tomorrow. The paparazzi found her a few hours later at the salon having her nails done. That night I met my uncle, actor Barry Newman, for dinner. My uncle does not approve of this new breed of starlet (though he dated them). "In my time, no one would ever miss an appointment like that, no matter how big she was. We had respect." Of course, this was the man who, at the height of the feminist movement, enjoyed telling reporters women should be barefoot and pregnant, so maybe 'respect' was a relative term with him. Still, he had a point. Another day, another crisis. Something to do with her custody battle with Federline. There was tsuris - or anyway, the Louisiana version of tsuris. Could I stay one more day?
I kept thinking about the conversation I'd had with Moby several days earlier. Moby had produced a song for her 2003 album, In The Zone, entitled Early Mornin'. He told me she was sweet and far savvier than people knew. She was also troubled in ways he didn't understand. He gave me questions to ask: What's your favourite city in the world? Describe your perfect party, describe your perfect day. "When you have a damaged four year old, you don't ask 'What's wrong?' You say, 'Here's a crayon, draw something nice'." So I waited, and I e-mailed. Friends e-mailed with their thoughts. My friend Spencer recalled taking his 8 year old daughter to see Crossroads, her first movie project. And it wasn't only people I knew. Every bellboy, every cab driver in LA, seemed to have a Britney story. I began to think of these tales as '6 Degrees of Intervention', since most revolved around a friend of a friend who met her in rehab. And according to one man, whose friend apparently owned a strip club, Britney was a frequent visitor. The stories made me sadder. However, as I sat in the hotel, Britney was at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, with a personal shopper, spending $32,849. I had a really good Cobb salad from room service for $25.
This was not the first time I'd tried to interview Britney. In 200, I was enlisted to interview her, with the article vetted by her publicists. Our interview took place on her cellphone, whilst she was driving down the LA freeway. "I'm not a very good driver," she confessed, to the sound of much honking. After some prodding, I found out her favourite colours (baby blue and baby pink), her favourite kind of food (ice cream, hot dogs, chicken and dumplings) and what she was reading at the moment (horoscopes). I asked what she thought about her fame. "Everyone thinks of you as not human. I just want to be a normal girl - not a role model, except perhaps to my baby sister. But I can't worry about people's opinion of me, because I'd go crazy." She was about to turn 18. I asked who she was voting for in her first presidential election (removed by her publicists). "My dad and mum are cool. Whoever they voted for, I'll vote for."
On 28th June 2007, after her parents and manager allegedly forced her into rehab, she publicly delivered a letter to her mother, asking her to stay away from her children. In West Hollywood, I ordered a limo to take me to a photoshoot in Santa Monica, for a new campaign for Britney Spears Believe, her latest fragrance. The interview was scheduled for 12pm, but started 3 hours late. A representative for Elizabeth Arden screams at me and the publicist. Apparently, he had not been informed about this, and the five hour shoot was costing $400,000. I suggested we talk whilst she was in hair and makeup; he suggested I get lost. So I did; I was beginning to enjoy the variety of Cobb salads in the LA are. I invited the limo driver to have lunch with me - startled, he declined. 4 hours later, I returned to the studio, wanting to make sure I was there as soon as it ended. I was scared that a tired and fed-up Britney would retreat. I needn't have bothered, she'd already left. According to sources, she left in a flurry of tears, the shoot uncompleted, but her rep maintains she finished early. I didn't want to think about the guy who yelled at me.
But all was not lost, I was assured Britney very much wanted to give me her undivided attention, and her publicist advised me to meet her at the Four Seasons hotel. Perhaps feeling a missed opportunity by declining my inappropriate and desperation-induced invitation to lunch, in the ensuing 45minute drive, I learned that a) he didn't believe anyone was born gay, b) that he was - had he mentioned this? - not gay, and c) he'd driven Britney Spears several times. she was rude. We pulled up to the gates, when my editor at Allure rang. Britney wasn't going to show. Apparently, Britney's publicist was too mortified to call me again. I thought about inviting the limo driver to dinner, then thought better of it.
At the magazine, there was talk about staying another day. At home, there was talk of a divorce. I decided to go home. My plane was at 10am. I sat in the hotel room, staring at my computer. My friend, NYC psychotherapist, Jane Greer, called.
"The fact that she didn't show says how little she has to give at this point. Obviously, I've never treated her, but she would turn her world upside down with the proper medication." Greer, who has a number of bipolar patients, doesn't believe rehab gets to the root of the problems. "Her behaviour suggests bipolar disorder. The manic episodes with impulsivity, and loss of control - the flashing, head shaving, hitting the photographer's car with the umbrella - are what we see. Part of manic behaviour is the flight from reality and the anger. People who are manic get angry at people who try and take away their high - like her mother, for example - by introducing any element of reality. What the public doesn't see are the depressive episodes, where drinking is an effort to self-medicate - to make herself feel better and keep the demons at bay."
That makes sense to me. And this is what else makes sense: here is a girl who wants a normal life, with genuine love and genuine acceptance. But since she was very young, Spears had, in lieu of that, fame. Which do you embrace? Which do you throw away? Spears might as well be shouting: I want your love, but will you still love me if I shave my head? If I wear no underpants? If I get sloppy? You loved me when I was cute, you loved me when I was pretty, you loved me when I said I was a virgin. Love me now?

Mark Vincent Kaplan's relentless mission to subpoena everyone around Britney Spears and her two children, working on behalf of Kevin Federline, in order to help him secure the 70-30 custody arrangement he is seeking, is continuing, with Britney's former assistant, Shannon Funk, becoming the latest to receive a subpoena. Funk, who it has been reported was behind the recent failed "OK!" shoot, and who is rumoured to have sold personal photos of Britney to Splash news and be selling a full feature to "OK!" USA this week, about her being Britney's 'lover' (the cover features an 'exclusive photo' of Shannon Funk kissing Britney in a swimming pool, the day of the failed shoot), responded, "What can I do about this? Is this a big deal? Honestly, I have nothing negative to say about Britney so let Kaplan go after me. I’m on Team Britney! I support her no matter what. Kevin’s a bad father."

 
Although she unfortunately didn't meet their requests for an interview, Britney appears on the front cover of this month's 'Allure' magazine in the USA, looking stunning with a dark brown wig; the full feature will be available soon.

As reported earlier in the week, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline were not present in court today, for the sealing of the divorce file, which wasn't a custody hearing (due for 14th September) as has been widely reported. Whilst walking down the street, followed by photographers, Britney's lawyer, Laura Wasser, commented, "Britney and Kevin join in trying to keep the documents regarding their children private. And if you look around, you guys will understand why that is," referring to the paparazzi. When one pressed Wasser about the custody documents, as media organisations, such as "People" magazine have requested a motion to block Britney's request to keep the custody documents private, Wasser commented, "There are things in there that aren’t anybody else’s business except for the families. They are minors and this doesn't fall under the First Amendment purview. When we meet again in September, that is what you will see." It has also been reported that both music producer, Jonathan 'J.R.' Rotem, who has worked with Britney Spears, Kevin Federline & Alli Sims, and Britney's bodyguard, Daimon Shippen, have been issued with subpoenas to testify for Kevin Federline, and that more will be issued to members of her inner circle, in what is described as an 'ongoing situation'.

It has been confirmed that "All The Way," a track which Dr. Luke (Lukasz Gottwald, who has worked with Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Kelis and Sugababes, amongst others) stated Britney had recorded, was written by him with Cathy Dennis, who wrote the lyrics and melody to "Toxic," and Jack Splash, a member of the LA-based electrotechnofunkrock group, Plantlife. You can see all articles related to the forthcoming fifth album, and all known details of producers and writers submitting songs, thus far, here!

It is widely rumoured that Britney Spears will make her big comeback with a surprise performance at the 9th September MTV Video Music Awards, having hit headlines with her performances at the show in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. MTV have, today, added fuel to the fire, with a representative releasing a statement that says, "I cannot confirm or deny the reports."

A source close to Britney and Alli, called "Jeff," spoke exclusively to X17 after leaving a club on Friday night, having accompanied Britney and Alli, talking about the drugs rumours("she does not do drugs; she might enjoy a drink or two when she's out, but that's it"), the lollipops she is often photographed with ("they're Tootsie Roll pops; I've never even heard of suckers laced with drugs or whatever!"), Kevin Federline ("he was hardly even present during most of the marriage, but she considered staying with him - staying with a liar just to make life easier for your children; if that’s not pure devotion for your kids, then what is? Britney can get any guy she wants, it’s just hard to weed out the good ones from the bad ones") and the custody battle ("Britney isn't worried, because she knows no one has any evidence of her doing anything negative; anyone close to Britney knows that she’s an angel when it comes to being a mom and a friend"). He also spoke about the custody battle, raising the issue, if Kevin is truly worried, why not call Child Protection and get urgent attention, and if he truly loves his children, why did he not fight for more custody over his children with Shar Jackson? With regards to the press, "Jeff" said, "Britney is very clever. She’s a seasoned celebrity veteran, if anyone knows how the press spins stories. Get it straight people, Britney doesn’t go out when her kids are home! Come on, she has shared custody; there is half the week when she’s not with her kids! The press needs to quit being so ignorant at times. If you had 50 cameras and cameramen hovering around you, inches away from you at all times, pushing and shoving, wardrobe malfunctions are bound to happen," and on the issue of her family, he said, "Britney is all about family. I just believe at the moment, she’s angry, she feels betrayed and she has every right to feel this way. Deep down, that entire family does love one another and it’s just a matter of time before they’re all together again." He also confirmed the reports that Britney shaved her head in order for the hair to be drug tested for marijuana traces, and that she was forced into rehab with an interventionist, that the rehab administed medication unnecessarily, and that all drug tests she had were returned clean; he added that she is considering legal action against Promises rehab centre, and said, "I think she certainly has a case against the rehab center, I feel what they did to her was not only cruel and embarrassing, it added more ammunition aiding Kevin’s eagerness for custody over her finances, whoops, I mean children." He finished by saying, "Britney is the most generous person you could meet; she's like a little girl sometimes with men, she would love to find the right man. I think she forgets sometimes that she's an icon who changed the face of music, that still has a lot to learn & a lot to offer."

A divorce court hearing is to take place today, confirmed by Kevin Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan. He says that the hearing is not strictly to discuss custody arrangements of Sean Preston and Jayden James, as it's a procedural hearing regarding the sealing of the divorce files, but that it may be raised, as both he, and Britney's lawyers, will be present.

Sources connected with the custody battle between Britney Spears and Kevin Federline tell TMZ, money may really be at the heart of the tussle over the kids. Keivin Federline only just agreed to a 50-50 split with regards to custody of the children, then, he turned around almost immediately and filed papers asking for 70-30. Given that Federline’s had absolutely no contact with Spears for almost three months, it's puzzling - we’re told she’s begging him to communicate because of parenting issues, but he won’t play ball. Sources say there are declarations from Kevin, both of his lawyers, Kevin’s nanny and a nanny who interviewed with Britney in October 2006, before the couple separated. In the papers, Federline’s lawyer also included various magazine articles about Britney. Alli Sims, Britney’s cousin, was served over the weekend, as Kevin’s lawyer wants to take her deposition. Federline’s lawyer also wants to take Britney’s depo, but a source connected with Alli says the deposition notice Britney received is all financial - in other words, the references are all about money, not Sean Preston and Jayden James. A Federline source says it’s all about the kids and not money; Federline wants Britney under oath talking about whether she drinks and how she parents the kids. Kevin’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, is also asking that Britney pay his legal fees for the hearing and preparation - and they’re in the six figures.

"Life & Style" are erporting that Kevin Federline’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, served Alli Sims, Britney’s friend and assistant, with legal papers at 3am this morning. According to a source, Alli was at an LA house party, and was “absolutely angry” about what was happening; only a few hours earlier, Britney was seen having dinner with two male dancer friends, totally unaware of the unfolding drama. The documents reportedly state that Alli will be grilled in depth about Britney’s parenting skills, including whether or not she changes diapers, and whether or not she drinks too much. Aaron Cohen, who owns IMS-Security, an elite Hollywood security firm made up of Israeli Counter Terror commandos, accompanied Kaplan to serve Alli with the papers.

Jive Records are yet to confirm a release date for Britney Spears' forthcoming fifth album, according to Billboard. Gina Orr, a publicist at Jive Records, told Billboard that there is nothing currently scheduled for release, meaning nothing is defnite as yet.

Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of "Allure" magazine, has decided to run the photoshoot that Britney completed for them, without an interview, saying, "The first time we photographed the former Mouseketeer, she was 18 years old and full of promise. It’s hard to remember that Britney. I’d seen her at the MTV Video Music Awards, when she ripped off her tuxedo down to a nude, sequined bodysuit and flung herself and her long blonde extensions around the stage. Anyone with a pulse could tell that this was an electrifying performer. For her second Allure cover, in 2005, Britney was slightly world-weary: newly married for the second time, she vowed to get her life, her body, and her career back in shape. This time, with two children, a divorce, a stint in rehab, and an apparently breakdown involving an electric razor, Britney seemed to be joining Paris Hilton in the tabloids with nothing to promote except questionable judgment. Still, I had hope. Spears had been in the recording studio on and off for the past two years, slowly working on her next album. I thought we could present the profile as her comeback. Perhaps Britney’s story would be redemptive, like those of Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, and Mariah Carey before her. Britney showed up for Allure’s cover shoot on time and ready to work. She was entirely unself-conscious: She took off her wig and then stripped down to the waist, for no apparent reason, before sitting for hair and makeup. She was agreeable and cooperative on the shoot and left at the end of the day, followed by a trail of paparazzi. And that was the last we saw of her. She missed four appointments for an interview with us. Britney has long lost her role-model status. That dream of a comeback seems to occupy an ever-more-distant speck on the horizon. Deeply flawed, confused, and unsure of whom to trust, Britney Spears still commands our attention - perhaps even more so now than before her life imploded. It is this phenomenon that Judith Newman captures in her story. Liberated from an interview, Newman delivers an insightful piece about the nature of celebrity in 2007. And that is why Britney is on our cover."

Kevin Federline has filed an order to show cause for primary physical custody of his two sons with ex-wife, Britney Spears, according to a source. The documents are said to have been filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday by Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, and reportedly state that the would-be-rapper is worried Britney is exposing the boys to "unnecessary risk." Britney's lawyer, Laura Wasser, is yet to comment on the situation, but is expected to in the near future.

Elizabeth Arden and Britney Spears are launching their latest fragrance, entitled Believe, with the photoshoot completed earlier in the summer; contrary to reports, a representative for Elizabeth Arden said, "The only person in the national print ad for Britney's Believe fragrance is Britney Spears." The press release says: "We all have beliefs that are treasures in our soul. Some are fun with a superstitious twist, others are words to live and love by, the remainder serves as inspiration when we need it the most. Britney's next fragrance is a reflection of her soul. As she shares her beliefs, we reflect on our own."

After months of self-management, following the sacking of Larry Rudolph, who was rehired late last year, TMZ report Britney Spears has signed to The Firm management company, with Jeff Kwatinetz serving as her new manager. Kwatinetz was recently fired by Kelly Clarkson, having represented her for 3 years, been instrumental in securing a release for her third album, "My December" (on which he also served as executive producer) and defended her in a battle with her record company 'boss', Clive Davis. The Firm has also worked with Dixie Chicks & Courtney Love, currently working with Mandy Moore, who is signed to their record company.

Kevin Federline's divorce lawyer, Mark Kaplan, has spoken to "Us Weekly" about the divorce, which was finalised this week, saying, "I don't want to talk about the kids, but I can say that Kevin is a hands-on dad and I think that he is a very focused parent which believes that any kids, but especially kids of this young age, need to have structure and consistency and that he has always provided that and wants to make sure that they get the benefit of that as much as possible. He is someone who has gone out of his way to protect his kids as much as possible. I don't recall ever seeing a picture of him with his kids in tow out in public because he feels that could subject them to an unnecessary risk and doesn't benefit them. His desire is that these kids have a chance to grow up free, in as normal an environment as possible. He's somebody that never has tried to boost his appearance in public through his children."

The article published on Britney's failed photoshoot with "OK!" USA has been published in the UK "OK!" magazine this week, available for £2. The article lists the clothes and jewellery items Britney is accused of damaging/removing from the shoot, and discusses the day as a "meltdown"; it is featured in the new "OK!" USA pull-out in the middle of the "Hot Stars" section. The USA edition is set to rank third or fourth out of the six most popular weekly gossip tabloid magazines, with around 800,000 sold.