Britney Spears with sons Sean Preston and Jayden James in 2019.Photo:Britney Spears/Instagram
Britney Spears/Instagram
Britney Spearsis reflecting on the restrictions placed on her during her 13-year conservatorship.
In hernew memoirThe Woman in Me, the pop icon says she stopped challenging the court-ordered conservatorship — which gave her father Jamie and a lawyercontrol over her personal and financial affairsin 2008 following a public breakdown — so that she could spend time with her children.
The “Hold Me Closer” singer writes that, after being hospitalized twice for involuntary psychological assessments, she had tried to push back being under her fatherJamie Spears’ control of her life and estate.
“After being held down on a gurney, I knew they could restrain my body any time they wanted to,” Spears writes. “And so I went along with it.”
Jayden James, Britney Spears and Sean Preston in 2013.Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
The superstar writes that she did what was asked of her so as not to ruin her chances of seeing her two sons,Sean Preston, 18, andJayden James, 17, whom she shares withex-husbandKevin Federline.
“My freedom in exchange for naps with my children — it was a trade I was willing to make,” Spears writes.
InThe Woman in Me, the “Toxic” singer writes of how she felt shewas “robbed” of her freedomandstripped “of [her] womanhood”after being placed under the conservatorship in 2008 following a public breakdown.
Her father was her conservator for nearly 14 years until he wasremoved from the rolein September 2021 after Spears gave an impassionedpublic testimonypleading to end the conservatorship in June of that year. In November,the conservatorship was terminated.
Britney Spears' The Woman in Me.
Ahead of the release ofThe Woman in Me, the pop star opened up to PEOPLE in anexclusive cover storyabout feeling empowered to tell her own story for the first time.
In an email interview, she shared that, even with her iconic music career, she’s still proudest to be a mom to sons Sean Preston and Jayden James.
“Starting a family was my dream come true,” she told PEOPLE of her boys, who now live with their dad in Hawaii but remain in contact with Spears. “Being a mom was my dream come true.”
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Spears will releaseThe Woman in Meon Oct. 24 through Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. It is now availablefor pre-order.
For an exclusive excerpt and interview with Britney Spears, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
source: people.com
