Britney Spears Says She Will “Never Return to the Music Industry”

If anyone was hoping for one more hit from “…Baby One More Time” singer Britney Spears, it might be time to let this dream go. In a new Instagram post, the pop icon stated that she will “never return to the music industry.”

“Just so we’re clear most of the news is trash !!! They keep saying I’m turning to random people to do a new album … I will never return to the music industry !!!” Spears declared.

Instead, Spears said, “When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people !!! 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 !!! I’m a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way !!!”

Spears’ comments follow reports from Page Six and The Sun claiming that Charli XCX and Julia Michaels had been tapped to work on a new album. In a follow-up report, Rolling Stone said that the artist’s team had been preparing new music for her in hopes that she will return to work. “Right now, management and A&R are trying to get her excited for the music,” a source told Rolling Stone. “As of right now, she’s not actively in recording but they’re getting [songs] done to present to her.”

Rolling Stone added that Spears’ team allegedly tapped Michaels, Charli XCX, producer Cirkut, and several Glory collaborators — including Jason Evigan — to join the project. However, the source stated that “nothing is cemented or in stone.”

Spears was recently featured on one-off singles “Hold Me Closer” with Elton John and “Mind Your Business” with will.i.am, but she has not released a new full-length studio album since her 2016 release, Glory.

Spears also used the Instagram post to dispel rumors that her recent memoir, The Woman in Me, was released illegally without her permission — stating that this is “far from the truth.” The memoir offers an unprecedented look at the entertainment personality — sharing details of her generational trauma and censorship, alongside various personal anecdotes.