Ahead of the release of her new single “Lucky,” Halsey has confirmed she received Britney Spears‘ “blessing” to interpolate Spears’ 2000 song of the same name.

The Columbia Records artist shared the news via X on Thursday morning in response to a fan’s question about Spears’ involvement in getting the sample cleared. “Yes of course!,” Halsey wrote, adding “I wouldn’t even dream of doing it without her blessing!”

The confirmation may come as a somewhat of a surprise to those following Spears on social media, which seems to be the only source for Spears’ public communication these days. In a now-deleted Instagram post denying rumors she was making music with Charli XCX, Spears announced “I’m never returning to the music industry.” It was later confirmed by Charli that she had actually written music for Spears, although it was never recorded.

Representatives for Halsey did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

Halsey’s “Lucky” will arrive on July 26 after first being introduced on July 1 with a teaser that revealed the interpolation of Spears’ song, which touches on the emotional rollercoaster that comes with fame. “She’s so lucky, she’s a star/ But she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking/ If there’s nothing missing in my life/ Then why do these tears come at night?” Halsey sings in the chorus of her reimagined take.

Halsey added, “When I was five, it always felt like Britney was singing directly to me. 24 years later, these words hit different. love you forever.”

“Lucky” was preceded by the single “The End,” in which Halsey gets candid about her health struggles. In a series of Instagram posts, the singer-songwriter revealed she had been diagnosed with Lupus SLE (an autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain and other organs, per the National Library of Medicine) and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in 2022.

“Long story short, I’m lucky to be alive,” Halsey wrote on June 4. “Short story short, I wrote an album. It beings with The End.”

“Lucky” is also expected to be a part of Halsey’s upcoming album. It is her fifth studio album, and her first since 2021’s Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross-produced “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.” The LP will be released under Columbia, with whom she signed last year after parting ways with her longtime label, Capitol Music Group.

Source: https://variety.com/2024/music/news/halsey-britney-spears-blessing-sample-lucky-1236077569/

Britney Spears has recently spoken in favour of Kate Beckinsale against online trolls.

Taking to Instagram on July 17, the singer-songwriter wrote, “I adore Kate Beckinsale especially because she’s from London!!! I realised how incredibly cruel people were talking about her IG saying she needs more age-appropriate content.”

“She’s in her 50s and I thought it was pretty badass how she responded with a mini bow in her hair looking literally 4 years old,” wrote the 42-year-old in a lengthy note.

The singer and actress revealed she could relate to Kate amid criticism as she is “not as bad as some of my comments saying it’s sad that I am as old as I am”.

Britney mentioned she actually “taught dance class last week to a couple of teenagers”.

“I know what it’s like to be judged so it’s a ridiculous and stupid subject initially,” she continued.

Britney pointed out, “But I think it’s important to HELP EACH OTHER and invite each other to places that help our souls grow!!!”

“What are you gonna do to help someone out and bring their dreams to life besides being like me and Kate’s haters saying we’re too old or don’t have appropriate content???” she stated.

Britney asked, “Do you think perhaps they might be offended by what they see?”

“Let them see how my students are nourishing and living THEIR LIVES!!!???” she noted.

The singer pointed out, “It’s good for the soul yet frankly it’s not condescending AT ALL it’s BEING… a Smart ass and damn those are usually pretty attractive!!!”

Meanwhile, the Grammy winner confessed that the world can be “incredibly cruel” and people have to be “extremely careful” over who they decide to include in their “circle and hearts”.

Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1210916-britney-spears-speaks-in-favour-of-kate-beckinsale-against-online-trolls

No one puts Britney Spears in a corner.

The singer was mentioned in a recent episode of “The Osbournes Podcast” in which Ozzy Osbourne said he was “fed up with seeing poor old Britney Spears” dancing on social media.

“You know, it’s sad,” the legendary rocker said. “Very, very sad.”

His family, wife Sharon and adult children, Kelly and Jack Osbourne, agreed.

Spears, who frequently posts videos of herself dancing on social media, got wind of it and posted a lengthy note.

She started her post referencing Kate Beckinsale’s 2001 movie “Serendipity” and noted that “incredibly cruel people were talking about [Beckinsale] needs more age appropriate content.” Beckinsale, who is in her fifties (a fact Spears also mentioned), has been known to take on social media trolls.

Spears then pushed back on the Osbournes’ complaints. She said she hardly ever dances and replied to Sharon Osbourne calling her “a poor little thing” by writing “I’m not poor at all!!!”

“I taught dance class last week to a couple of teenagers… a lot of the kids were too thin and some were too big,” Spears wrote. “I know what it’s like to be judged so it’s a ridiculous and stupid subject initially but I think it’s important to HELP EACH OTHER and invite each other to places that help our souls to grow!!!”

As for the Osbournes, whom she referred to as “the most boring family known to mankind,” Spears ended her note telling them to “kindly f**k off.”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/entertainment/britney-spears-ozzy-osbourne-message/index.html

Britney Spears doesn’t appear to be working on new music, so fans shouldn’t get their hopes up that they’ll hear from the superstar soon. In lieu of a single or even an album, the masses are still listening to the tunes that made her a household name and propelled her to the top of the charts, and all their love has sent her back to one ranking.

“Toxic” returns to Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs chart this week. The smash appears at No. 23 on the 25-spot ranking of the most-streamed dance and electronic cuts in the U.S.

The single isn’t new to the list, but it also hasn’t been seen for a short while. Older hits like Spears’ “Toxic” regularly fall off of, and then find their way back to, charts like the Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs ranking. Their presence is usually dictated by renewed interest in the musician or the title itself, as well as competition from newer tracks.

“Toxic” has now spent 29 weeks on the Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs tally. With another turn on the tally, the cut ties as her second-longest-charting hit on the list. It’s now on the same level as “Scream & Shout,” her most successful collaboration with Will.I.Am.

Spears’ longest-charting hit remains “Hold Me Closer,” her duet with Elton John. That single held on for 41 weeks. It is also the singer’s only No. 1 on the Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs chart.

“Toxic” is one of four tracks that bounce back onto the Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs roster this week, and it’s not even the highest-ranking of the bunch. Calvin Harris and Rihanna’s “This Is What You Came For” returns at No. 21, and it’s now racked up 146 stays on the list. Behind Spears, Avicii’s “Wake Me Up!” and Usher and Pitbull’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” reappear at Nos. 24 and 25, respectively.

Spears released “Toxic” in 2004, and it turned 20 earlier this year. The smash only rose as high as No. 9 on the Hot 100, so while it doesn’t rank as one of the singer’s loftiest placements on the chart, it does stand out as one of her most memorable. The tune also earned the superstar her only Grammy, as she won Best Dance Recording for the intoxicating song.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/07/10/britney-spears-returns-to-the-chartsand-this-week-is-special-for-one-of-her-biggest-hits/