Ups and downs. Britney Spears and her mother, Lynne Spears, have had a rocky relationship through the years.
Nearly 10 years after hitting it big with her debut single, “Baby One More Time,” Britney was placed under a conservatorship — run by her father, Jamie Spears — in February 2008 after a series of public personal struggles. For several years, Jamie had control over his eldest daughter’s estate and person until Jodi Montgomery took over in 2019. Lynne — who finalized her divorce from Jamie in 2002 — got involved in the legal battle in 2020 when she requested to be included in financial decisions on the “Circus” singer’s behalf. Britney, for her part, has been vocal about how her parents managed her affairs.
“I just want my life back. It’s been 13 years, and it’s enough. It’s been a long time since I’ve owned my money,” the “Stronger” performer said during an emotional court testimony in June 2021. “And it’s my wish and my dream for all of this to end without being tested. … I would honestly like to sue my family, to be totally honest with you. I also would like to be able to share my story with the world, and what they did to me, instead of it being a hush-hush secret to benefit all of them.”
She added: “I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry. It’s insane. And I’m depressed.”
The conservatorship was ultimately terminated in November 2021, but the bad blood between Britney and her family have remained.
“A woman introduced the idea [of the conservatorship] to my dad, and my mom actually helped him follow through and made it all happen,” the former Mouseketeer alleged in a since-deleted August 2022 video shared via YouTube. “It was all basically set up. There were no drugs in my system. No alcohol. No nothing. It was pure abuse.”
Britney continued at the time: “How the f—k did they get away with it? How is there a god? Is there a god? I was so, so weak … I was scared, broken. I’m sharing this because I want people to know I’m only human … how can I mend this, if I don’t talk about this?”
The Grammy winner further alleged that she was angrier at her mother than her father because she could have helped — but didn’t.
“The whole thing that made it really confusing for me is these people [the #FreeBritney movement] are on the street fighting for me, but my sister [Jamie Lynn Spears] and my mother aren’t doing anything,” Britney claimed in her bombshell recording. “To me, it was like they secretly honestly liked me being the bad one — like I was messed up, and they kind of just liked it that way. Otherwise, why weren’t they outside my doorstep, saying, ‘Baby girl, get in the car. Let’s go.’ I think that’s the main thing that hurt me. I couldn’t process how my family went along with it for so long. Their only response was, ‘We didn’t know.’”
Lynne, for her part, responded to her daughter’s claims via Instagram that August. She wrote: “Britney, your whole life I have tried my best to support your dreams and wishes! And also, I have tried my best to help you out of hardships!”
The “If U Seek Amy” performer has since kept her distance from her family — including Lynne, Jamie and the Zoey 101 alum — none of whom were invited to her June 2022 wedding to Sam Asghari.
Scroll below for a timeline of Britney’s relationship with her mother:
Four years after Lynne and Jamie welcomed son Bryan Spears, the A Mother’s Gift author gave birth to the pop star. Courtesy of Lynne Spears/Instagram
As Britney burst onto the pop scene in 1999 with “Baby One More Time,” Lynne was a fervent supporter of her daughter’s endeavors. They pair even co-wrote Britney Spears’ Heart to Heart, which was released one year later. Eight years later, Britney was placed under the conservatorship after her divorce from Kevin Federline. Lynne’s involvement was kept out of the spotlight. Broadimage/Shutterstock
Amid Britney’s pleas to end the conservatorship, a source told Us Weekly that Lynne wanted to see her daughter back in treatment, which “angered” Britney. Charles Bennett/AP/Shutterstock
As Britney’s legal battle continued, Lynne filed a motion to be included in decisions regarding the Glee alum’s finances. The Mississippi native’s petition was ultimately denied by the court. Matt Baron/Shutterstock; Michael Simon/startraksphoto.com
After Britney broke her silence about the conditions of the conservatorship during a court hearing, Lynne’s attorney Gladstone Jones defended her as a “very concerned mother.” Shutterstock (2)
“Pssss my dad may have started the conservatorship 13 years ago … but what people don’t know is that my mom is the one who gave him the idea !!!! I will never get those years back. She secretly ruined my life,” Britney alleged in an Instagram post after the conservatorship ended, claiming Jamie wasn’t “smart enough” to run it without Lynne’s guidance. Matt Baron/Shutterstock
After a source confirmed to Us that Britney’s parents and siblings did not make the guest list at her wedding to the Hacks star, Lynne shared her well-wishes via Instagram. “You look radiant and so happy,” she wrote via Instagram in response to Britney’s ceremony photos. “Your wedding is the ‘Dream’ wedding! And having it at your home makes it so sentimental and special! I am soooo happy for you! I love you!” Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Britney released an audio recording in August, in which she alleged that her family “literally killed me” with the conservatorship. “How much effort and work and heart I put in to what I did when I did work, even down to the details of how many rhinestones are going to be in my costumes. I care so much. And they literally killed me,” she claimed in her since-deleted video. “They threw me away. That’s what I felt — I felt like my family threw me away.” Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock
Lynne responded to Britney’s allegations via Instagram, noting she remains in her corner. "Britney, your whole life I have tried my best to support your dreams and wishes! And also, I have tried my best to help you out of hardships,” she wrote at the time. "I have never and will never turn my back on you! Your rejections to the countless times I have flown out and calls make me feel hopeless! I have tried everything. I love you so much, but this talk is for you and me only, eye to eye, in private.” INFphoto.com
After Britney admitted via Instagram that she had an “extremely hard time” letting the past go, Lynne apologized for her actions. “I'm sooo sorry for your pain! I have been sorry for years! I love you so much and miss you,” Lynne wrote via Instagram comment. “Please unblock me so I can speak to you in person! Britney, deep down you know how much I love and miss you! I apologize for anything and everything that's hurt you!” Shutterstock; MEGA
Britney responded to her mother’s requests to “unblock” her from social media, noting via Instagram that Lynne can “take your apology and go f—k yourself.” She added: “I pray you all burn in hell!” Rob Latour/Shutterstock
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