Britney Spears is working on a huge new duets album with two huge Brit stars on her wishlist
BRITNEY Spears hasn’t performed live for almost five years but she is still aiming to give back to her fans.
I’ve learned she is planning on going into the studio to work on a number of collaborations following the success of Hold Me Closer with Sir Elton John last year.
Among those on her hit list of who she would like to work with include Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and Sam Smith — who have all said they are fans of the superstar.
A music insider said: “Britney will not go out and promote anything current, so a duets album is a good way of her avoiding having to do any promotion while still getting the tracks played around the world.
“Britney loves nothing more than releasing music, so this is a way she can keep relevant while allowing her the time to work out how she wants to take her next steps.
“Each day is being taken as it comes, and this is a very low-risk way of staying connected with her fans while also opening up some amazing collaborations.”
Other acts who she could work with include Katy Perry, Kim Petras and K-pop boyband BTS.
Britney has sold more than 100million records worldwide and is known as one of pop’s biggest superstars, so I have no doubt that artists will be jumping at the chance of working with her.
Although it is understandable that she will want to take baby steps in getting back into music, given she has had a difficult few years in escaping her conservatorship, which gave her father, among others, power over her life and finances.
She hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Glory, but she does have another project on the way, in the form of her autobiography.
It was recently delayed amid legal concerns regarding claims she makes in the book about some of her former romances.
It is still expected to be released at the end of the year as she handed in a final manuscript.
To have a few tunes alongside it certainly wouldn’t go amiss.
BROOKS, PLEASE SIDELINE SIDEMEN
SOMEONE might want to have a word with Brooklyn Beckham and get him to rethink his latest career move.
Insiders tell me the budding chef is being lined up as the big-name celebrity signing for a charity football match being held by controversial YouTube group Sidemen.
The collective has come under fire, and rightly so, for things their most notable member, KSI, has said over the years.
He and the rest of the group last month had to issue a grovelling apology after he used a racist slur in a video when they were seen pretending to be part of an episode of Countdown.
Before that, KSI has been accused of mocking disabled people and the transgender community.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but given Brooklyn has been criticised for taking rubbish pictures of elephants and for teaching his fans how to make a sandwich – I found it enlightening, personally – shouldn’t someone be advising him about the big red flags that are being waved here?
On the good side, Sidemen have held a number of charity football games, raising almost £2million since they started in 2016.
But for a nepo-baby who already comes under fire for skirting around the flames, I think he could be fully throwing himself into the fire if her does this.
And given his dad David won an award for multicultural achievements back in the day . . . I think a quick phone call should be on the cards.
The only saving grace will be if Brooklyn can play football as well as his dad.
But I’m not holding my breath.
Kip's dream come true
US country singer Kip Moore will be living out his dream when he headlines the Albert Hall for the inaugural Highways Festival this Saturday.
The Beer Money singer said: “It’s the all-time bucket list venue for me.
“I’ve been dreaming of playing that room for ten years. This is a dream come true.”
It is a new Americana and country event for the UK, where the genre is quickly gathering fans, but he admitted it has been tough performing here in the past.
Kip, from Georgia, explained: “There’s an investment we’ve made with this crowd and they’ve invested in us.
“Each year we come back and the audiences get bigger and bigger.
“When you’re travelling all this way with a band and a crew, that doesn’t make any financial sense. You have to know that you’re going to take a big hit for the first few years.
“But through those years we’ve built up something solid with the fans.”
Kip has released an album every three years since 2012, with the most recent one being last month’s Damn Love.
But there won’t be so long a wait now.
Kip explained: “I’ve already written a whole other record.
“I write every single morning.”
TOM’S ON YOUR SIDE
TOM Grennan has slammed other pop stars for ripping off fans with extortionate VIP packages.
The Remind Me singer said he decided to keep his ticket prices low for his recent arena tour after being outraged by the tactics of other artists.
Beyonce and Taylor Swift are among those who have been criticised for expensive tickets.
Tom said in Principle Magazine’s digital cover story: “It’s embarrassing when people do it.
“For me, my experience with fans is that they have invested in me anyway, in my music and their time.
“And I don’t want anybody to feel like they’re being taken for a mug.
“I wanted to keep prices down and for everybody to come away from that tour happy and still to have money in their pocket.”
Scott's new venture
RADIO 2 host Scott Mills will juggle his weekday show with a stint on stage after signing up for his first panto.
The popular presenter will play an as-yet undisclosed role from December 15 to January 7 at De Montfort Hall in Leicester.
He said: “I do love a new challenge so in a year where I’ve already moved to a new radio home and somehow managed to survive 24 hours on a treadmill, it’s time to tread the boards, darling.”
He is also planning on getting married in Spain next year, so that paycheck ought to help cover it.