She’s one of pop music’s most beloved icons, but it’s bad news for Britney Spears’ fans. The singer has confirmed she’ll never return to the music industry, announcing the decision on social media.
Posting to Instagram on Thursday, Spears shared a picture of Guido Reni’s painting Salome with the Head of John the Baptist.
In the Bible story, Salome seduced her stepfather King Herod at her mother’s request so he’d kill John the Baptist, after the Jewish Prophet condemned the marriage. The painting depicts the princess holding the severed head of John the Baptist on a serving dish, smiling coldly at the viewer.
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Entertainment
In the caption, Spears slammed the press, calling most of the news about her “trash.” The unusual image choice follows several cryptic Instagram posts the Grammy winner has shared recently.
“They keep saying I’m turning to random people to do a new album…I will never return to the music industry!!!” the 42-year-old wrote, explaining that she now only writes music for fun or for other artists.
“For those of you who have read my book, there’s loads that you don’t know about me… I’ve written over 20 songs for other people the past two years!!!” she continued. “I’m a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way!!!”
Spears also denied reports that her memoir, The Woman in Me, was released illegally without her consent. The book was published in October 2023 and caused a stir online with its shocking revelations.
“That’s far from the truth,” Spears said. “I’m so LOVED and blessed!!!”
Newsweek has reached out to Britney Spears for comment via email.
Earlier this week, rumors began to circle that a number of big names had been tapped to write music for Spears’s 10th studio album.
According to Page Six and the US Sun, British singer-songwriter Charli XCX and Grammy award nominee Julia Michaels were two of the artists penning tracks for the Princess of Pop.
Spears last album, Glory, was released in 2016. The record received positive reviews from critics and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The “Toxic” singer announced a hiatus from music in 2019 in protest against her controversial conservatorship. The 2008 ruling gave her father, Jamie Spears, control of Spears’ estate following her public mental-health battle, along with control of her financial and career decisions.
Spears released albums and conducted her lauded Las Vegas residency while under the conservatorship, as well as joining The X Factor USA as a judge for three seasons.
She described the move as a “F*** you” to her family, preventing her estranged father from profiting from her success. Jamie Spears was suspended from the conservatorship in 2021 and replaced by an accountant selected by Spears and her legal representation.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.