OK! must really be getting desperate for stories. Either that or they have some really hot, shockingly implausible gossip. The British version of the mag claims that the US version (yes you read that right) that Britney Spears is finally reuniting with Justin Timberlake to work on a duet for her upcoming album.

The two famously parted ways after Spears cheated on him, which seemed to kickoff her downward spiral. After that she married a guy for 24 hours, then married K-Fed (almost equally ill-advised moves), popped out two kids in rapid succession, divorced K-Fed, and then really went crazy.

Justin has long refused to have anything to do with Britney, wisely realizing that it could hurt his career and his credibility. But according to OK!, he’s finally changed his mind.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake will reunite to sing a duet for Britney’s newest album. The singer, who recently became an auntie, will get a helping hand from the SexyBack singer, reveals OK! USA exclusively.

Madonna recently revealed she would love to reunite the pair during her world tour. Britney is currently working on her latest album, which is yet to be assigned a release date. Her record label said: “[Britney] is spending her summer in the recording studio, working on a brand new album.”

“She’s working with a team of top-notch producers and songwriters and we’re very excited about what she’s accomplished so far.” Britney and Justin met on Disney TV show, The Mickey Mouse Club, in 1993, they started dating in 1998 but split in 2002. It is widely thought that Justin’s singles Cry Me A River and What Goes Around were written about Britney.

[From OK! Magazine UK]

It sounds like OK! is jumping to conclusions based on what they’d like to see happen. It’d be interesting if they recorded together once Britney’s completely got her life together and is back at the top of her game. Anything else will seem like charity. Justin is noted for his perfectionist tendencies, which could lead to a really good song with Brit. But right now she’s still a little out of practice, and it’s probably important that she pick herself up, with the help of family and professionals. Not by being rescued by an ex-boyfriend.

While it seemed like everything was getting better for Britney Spears lately, several sources claim she had a significant mental health relapse after little sister Jamie Lynn Spears gave birth to her daughter last month. Now magazine claims that Britney’s visit to see her new niece Maddie was so short (just one day) because she had a severe emotional breakdown. She and father Jamie hightailed it back to Los Angeles, where Brit was seen visibly upset at the airport. Everyone assumed that was because of the paparazzi crush, but now it looks like it might have been due to some emotional turmoil.

And for the next two days, says the publication, Britney’s dad Jamie — who is staying with the troubled star because he’s in control of all her affairs — became more anxious about his daughter’s deteriorating state.

A source says Britney was “a bit dazed and distant”, wouldn’t answer any of her dad’s questions and “had no enthusiasm for anything”. And on June 21, at around 9.30pm, Jamie found his daughter naked on the bathroom floor, crying hysterically and mumbling to herself about wanting a baby girl. Jamie rang the doctor, who rushed to Britney’s side and diagnosed a breakdown.

A source says, “Seeing her little sister give birth was too much for Britney. It made her realize what a mess she’s in. She’s insanely jealous of Jamie Lynn having a girl because she’s always been desperate for a daughter. Jamie found her sobbing her heart out and repeating: ‘It’s not fair, Dad, it’s not fair.’ He sat with her, cuddled her and stroked her hair. Then he got her some clothes and helped her into the bedroom before calling the doctor, who ordered her to rest. They bumped up her Melleril and Ativan because of the drama she was creating.”

[From Showbiz Spy]

If it’s true, that’s an incredibly sad story. It sounds like Brit’s dad did just the right thing, and she’s really lucky to have him around to take care of her. I know a lot of people will disagree with me on this, but I don’t think this is actually completely scary behavior. Children and babies are a sensitive subject; and feeling brokenhearted at the loss of her own sons makes sense. Shortly after this, Britney was granted her first overnight visit with her sons in months, so her psychiatrist must have felt she recovered decently well.

Brit clearly isn’t entirely put back together yet, but I can understand how something like this could trigger an emotional break for her. It’s long been reported that she wanted a daughter. She barely sees her two young sons anymore. She’s widely viewed as a bad mother. Seeing her much younger sister have a daughter and handle the whole thing reasonably well probably triggered some feelings of deep inadequacy. It’s incredibly hard as an older sibling to feel like you don’t measure up to the younger one, and that’s probably a new feeling for Britney.

She still has a ways to go in terms of getting her life on track. Who knows, in ten years Brit may be totally together, have a great family, and be able to really appreciate the things that matter.

Here’s Britney arriving at LAX after spending one day in Louisiana. She was surrounded by 30 paparazzi and that there was a fight between one of her bodyguards and a photographer, which resulted in the cops being called. Images thanks to WENN.

Further proving that she’s getting her life back on track, Britney Spears is spending her summer in the recording studio, working on her next album. And it seems like Brit is really committed this time around – she’s working her butt off, according to her manager and producers. After her last album sucked in a monumental way, Brit must realize she’s got to get her music together; fans are unlikely to forgive her more than one bad album.

Britney Spears’s summer won’t be all rest and relaxation this year: The pop singer will be spending time hard at work on her yet-untitled next album, according to her manager.

“Britney Spears is spending her summer in the recording studio, working on a brand new album,” manager Larry Rudolph announced Tuesday in a statement released by Jive Records.

“She’s working with a team of top-notch producers and songwriters, and we’re very excited about what she’s accomplished so far. No album release date has been confirmed yet.”

[From People]

Britney started spending time in the studio this past spring. By her own manager’s account, it was simply recreational and for fun. He made some comments to People that implied he didn’t think anything would come of it, noting:

“She’s been going to the studio, she’s been having some fun. But it’s all recreational for her,” he told PEOPLE in May. “She’s like, ‘I want to go to the studio because I want to have some fun’ and that’s what it’s all about. There’s no schedule, there’s no agenda, there’s no anything. She is just enjoying herself.” In the studio, “She’s giggly,” he added. “Some days she’ll go in and get nothing done. Some times she’ll just play around a little bit.”

But Rudolph said there was a reason behind the playtime. “She’s the type of person who has the eye of the tiger,” he said. “She’ll likely wake up one day and decide she wants to do more than that. Whether that is a day from now, a month from now or a year from now or five years from now, I have no idea.”

[From People]

Someone must have helped Britney realize that just “wanting to have some fun” wasn’t exactly going to help her career in the long run. Or the short run. It seems like Britney’s done a decent job of figuring out she can’t just have fun all the time.

Here’s Britney shopping at Fred Segal with her bodyguards on June 24th. Images thanks to WENN.

Jamie Lynn and her Lynne in October, 2007

The Spears family continues their full-on media blitz about what a star mom 17-year-old Jamie Lynn is. Maybe they’re trying to make up for all the damage Britney caused. The very fact that Jamie Lynn moved home to Kentwood, Louisiana and seems to be planning on raising daughter Maddie there does say a lot about her commitment to doing what she feels is best for her baby. OK! has some sort of deal worked out with the Spears clan, and had an interview with Lynne yesterday, in which they talked about how Jamie Lynn is handling being a new mother.

How proud are you of the way Jamie Lynn handled the pregnancy?
She’s been totally responsible. She is an old soul and very wise at such a young age.

As she was getting closer to her due date, what were your biggest concerns for her?
We have a history of difficult labors, and I didn’t want her to be terrified and never want to have another baby because mine were traumatic. I really worried about that, but my goodness, she just flew right on through it.

Describe that first moment when you saw Jamie Lynn, Maddie and Casey together.
Oh, my god. That is one of your most precious moments ever. Just that sight. It is indescribable.

What do your grandkids call you?
I started out being Nonnie, but it turned into Me-Ma.

What kind of mom is Jamie Lynn going to be?
A very good mom. She’s warm and nurturing. And the most fun time will be when she’s the soccer mom, the carpool mom. That was the most fun I had as a mother.

You don’t live very far away from Jamie Lynn. Are you planning to babysit?
It’s too soon for that yet with an itty-bitty baby, but I’ll go over as often as she wants and help with the dishes or the laundry. I’m always ready for my phone call.

[From OK!]

It’s always hard to tell how much of what’s said is honest and how much is PR bullshit, especially with a magazine like OK!. That said, it seems like Jamie Lynn is doing a really good job handling an unexpected situation. True, she has more advantages that most teenage mothers, but it’s got to be overwhelming for her no matter what.

Celebitchy reported that Jamie Lynn and Lynne were supposedly fighting because Lynne was planning on going to Los Angeles to help big sister Britney. OK! reports that she did indeed jet off to the west coast on Thursday. Jamie Lynn has had three weeks of being a mom… under most circumstances, it seems like it’d be fine for Lynne to leave. But it really does sort of seem like her 17-year-old daughter with a new baby should have a bit more of a priority than being with Britney while she puts out a new CD.

In early June Celebitchy wrote an article pointing out the obvious bias against southerners that could be found in some of the coverage of Jamie Lynn Spears’ pregnancy. Now that she’s given birth to Maddie, the press hasn’t exactly laid off her. Page Six reports that Jamie Lynn is turning into Britney.

When I saw the headline, I was assuming they had a story about how she’s a negligent mom or making dumb mistakes or something. Nope. She’s turning into Britney because of her penchant for Diet Coke and the fact that she probably won’t marry her baby’s father. And we all know what a slippery slope that is. Diet Coke clearly leads to driving with your baby on your lap.

Jamie Lynn Spears, who just gave birth to daughter Maddie Briann Aldridge at the ripe old age of 17, is in danger of heading down the same road as her sister, Britney. A Louisiana source tells us, “She only has Diet Coke in the house. How redneck is that?” As for her engagement to Casey Aldridge, the spy adds, “I doubt that’ll ever happen. Her mama [Lynne] doesn’t like him and thinks she can do better. They don’t want him anywhere near [Jamie Lynn's] cash.” Britney, whom Jamie Lynn refers to as “my crazy sister,” has a well-known affinity for soda and Cheetos and had her first marriage, to Jason Alexander, annulled at her mother’s insistence. A rep for Jamie Lynn didn’t return calls.

[From Page Six]

I only have diet orange soda in my house. I’m pretty sure that makes me a “redneck” by that definition. It’s the joy of soda, but with the class of Cheetos coloring. I will grant that a new mother should probably have some milk. But it’s not like she’s only got some Boone’s in her fridge.

I really think the press should lay off Jamie Lynn if she makes some mistakes. Pretty much all new parents do, they just don’t have Page Six examining their every move. But Jamie Lynn is only 17. I’m sure that she’s just as overwhelmed and scared as most new parents are – perhaps more so. Some mistakes are inevitable, but it’s unfair for people to be watching everything she does to see when she’s about to fail like Britney did. I’m guessing she’s probably learned from her older sister’s mistakes, and will likely be able to keep it together.

I think it’s pretty clear that Madonna is really doing Britney Spears a whopping favor by including a video of the Britster on her upcoming concert tour. Details just leaked out about exactly what the video is, and it doesn’t seem to have a single thing to do with Madonna as a person, Madonna’s music, or Madonna’s concert. It’s pretty much a random few minutes of Britney. It’ll probably look good, but I’m guessing it’ll leave the audience wondering what it has to do with anything.

The shoot took place today at the Lot in West Hollywood, the former site of Warner Hollywood, United Artists and the Samuel Goldwyn Studios. An on-set source said that Britney arrived at around 9 a.m. and was holed up in her dressing room by 9:30. The “Toxic” singer didn’t start shooting her scenes until noon and was still on the set a few hours later.

According to our insiders, the planned “short movie” will take place inside an elevator, where seven cameras will be strategically placed to capture the magic. The scene-by-scene breakdown goes like this:

Britney, partially disguised by a gray hoodie, walks into the elevator. As she starts traveling upward, she seems particularly nervous and anxious. The popster starts pacing back and forth. Then she progresses to kicking and smacking the walls, all frantic-like. She screams into one of the cameras. Then she starts climbing the wall, pulls down her hood and, into another camera, says:

“It’s Britney, bitch.”

[From E! News]

Ummmm… alright. I know that’s Britney’s slogan or whatever, but… what the hell does it have to do with anything Madonna’s doing? I’m hoping they’re incorporating Madge’s music or some element of her show in some way. Otherwise it seems like a giant non sequitur. And I think it’ll be clear to everyone that it’s just one celeb doing a favor for another.

E! says that Brit was “very professional” during the shoot. Though several sources said she was nervous and biting her nails, they said she did a good job and was nice to everyone. So that’s all good. Hopefully this got her back into performing mode, and will be further motivation for her.

Here’s Britney Spears out and about in Los Angeles yesterday. Images thanks to Splash.

The Britney Spears Slow Comeback Tour continues. And in Britney’s case, I think a slow, steady, gradual comeback really is best. Britney is going to be on Madonna’s upcoming tour – but in a smaller, digital way. She’s filming something – though no one will really say what – that’s going to be shown at the concerts. And I think that’s a pretty good baby step. She can’t mess up anything that’s pre-recorded. I assume.

Britney Spears will team up with Madonna – virtually – during the singer’s upcoming Sticky & Sweet tour.

“Britney is going to film something for Madonna’s show in the next week or so,” Madonna’s rep, Liz Rosenberg, tells PEOPLE.

As for details about what they will be doing – and where it will be filmed – Rosenberg says, “I don’t know. It’s a secret.”

Contrary to published reports, Spears is not in New York to film the video segments, nor has she already shot anything.

Spears is not expected to perform with Madonna, whose tour kicks off in Wales next month. The U.S. leg of her tour starts Oct. 4 in East Rutherford, N.J.

[From People]

It sounds like Madonna is trying to help Britney out – but in a way that will still work with her perfectionist nature. Brit has really been looking good lately – and appears to be working on her appearance to get back into performing mode. Here she is looking happy (albeit displaying a bit of the bipolar joker grin) as she left a hair salon yesterday. Images thanks to WENN.

Paris Hilton has supposedly come up with an absolutely genius idea. And by genius, I mean for her. Which means not all that smart, but not the very stupidest thing she’s ever come up with either. Paris wants to get all her favorite paparazzi victims together to dish (and I’m guessing bitch/complain) about their lives, and what it’s really like to be them. I’m guessing there will be a lot of complaining about being followed by photographers, with no appreciation for all the money and free stuff.

I know it seems like another reality show is about the last thing the world needs. But I’ve learned Paris Hilton — herself no stranger to the reality TV experience — has dreamed up an intriguing concept for a new show.

According to a Paris pal, the hotel heiress got an inspiration watching both Dina Lohan’s and Denise Richards’ new reality series. Her plan? To try to gather together as many targets of the supermarket press and paparazzi as she can.

Just imagine Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Tori Spelling — as well as Richards, Hilton and her former ”The Simple Life” co-star, Nicole Richie — together in one big two-hour special sharing ”their side” of what it’s like to be them.

That concept alone reportedly has intrigued a couple of cable channels initially contacted about the concept: Bravo and Lifetime.

[From the Chicago Sun-Times]

Even though I find the idea pretty annoying, I’d still watch it. If for no other reason than to see who Paris actually talks into doing this. Tori Spelling and Denise Richards have nothing to lose. The other starlets could go either way. But if some kind of fantastic crazy fight were to break out, that’d be pretty much the best thing ever. I cannot imagine what could happen with all the egos in that room. Diva behavior could very well rise beyond Diana Ross proportions. It could be epic.

Photos are from the beginning of Britney’s breakdown a few years ago. That’s what happens when you put Paris, Britney, and Lindsay in such close proximity.

Madonna is set to play 10 European dates starting in August on her “Sticky and Sweet” tour, which will last just under a month. She knows that in order to remain relevant she’s got to pull out all the stops, which may include bringing in a younger tabloid target in a blatant attempt to get press. For her last tour Madonna rehashed some of her tired old blasphemy, and that worked slightly, but this time she’s ready to really get people talking.

The Sun reports that Madonna will record a video with Britney tomorrow that will be shown as a background during her upcoming show. Madonna has also reportedly asked Britney to join her as a walk-on guest on the tour. There’s some analysis that this will help Britney’s stagnant career, but unless she can pull it together in less than a month that’s doubtful.

MADONNA has asked troubled BRITNEY SPEARS to join her on tour — and pals hope she will give guidance to the young star.

The Queen Of Pop, 49, is set to record a video with Britney, 26, in New York tomorrow.

The footage will be broadcast on huge screens as part of Madge’s Sticky and Sweet tour, which kicks off on August 23.

Madonna has also invited Britney to appear in person on some of the world tour dates.

A source close to Britney revealed: “They are recording a video together on Sunday that will provide the backdrop for part of Madonna’s show.

“And they are talking about Britney taking the stage on a few of the dates too.

“There’s no doubt that her [sic] and Britney together will spell fireworks again.

[From The Sun]

This is all about Madonna, and no matter how Britney performs she’ll bring attention to Madge and her show. This woman likes to rub her crotch all over the Catholic church and staged a mock crucifixion while wearing a crown of thorns for her last tour. She even invited the pope to come see it. Madonna doesn’t give a shit if Britney is mentally or physically prepared to go on stage with her. She’d prop her up on a platform and wheel her around if she could get away with it. Madonna puts on an amazing show, there’s no doubt about that, but she also does whatever she has to do to stay famous, and it sure has worked for her so far.

Madonna and Britney are shown in the inset in Britney’s “Me Against The Music” video in 2003. The header is undated but is probably from around that same time. (Who wants to see that photo of them kissing at the VMAs again?) Here are Madonna and Guy going to – you guessed it, Kabbalah, yesterday. Madonna supposedly got caught in the rain, but she’s looked like a wet rat in quite a few candids recently. She is shown leaving in the one where her hair is all fluffy.

Britney Spears got a pretty big reward for all of the hard work she’s done straightening out her life. Last week it was reported that Britney was granted some overnight visits with her sons. This past Saturday Sean Preston and Jayden James spent the night at their mother’s home for the first time since she was hospitalized in January.

Britney Spears spent Saturday night with her boys at her Los Angeles home. It was the singer’s first overnight visit with Sean Preston, 2 1/2, and Jayden James, 1 1/2, since she was hospitalized at L.A.’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in January. The boys were dropped off Saturday and picked up around 10 a.m. Sunday, according to a source.

“Britney was very upset after the kids left,” the source tells Usmagazine.com. “She now does not know when she will get them next for an overnight. She complains it could be next week, or it could be three months.”

Meanwhile, Spears and ex Kevin Federline — who was spotted partying in Miami over the weekend — are gearing up for a custody trial, set to begin August 25. Federline’s attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told E! that a mediation session last Thursday didn’t result in a custody agreement. Federline is seeking sole physical and legal custody of sons Preston, 2 1/2, and Jayden, 1 1/2 and wants Spears to continue her current visitation terms. Said Kaplan, “If the existing arrangement was acceptable to both parties … we wouldn’t have to go to trial. But that didn’t happen.”

[From Us Weekly]

I can understand how her boys leaving could be very hard for Britney. I’m sure it would rip out any parent’s heart, but the fact that the overnight visitation is so up in the air must have made the whole experience very bittersweet. If she knew if/when she could count on having her sons again, it probably would have made it much easier.

It’s too bad Britney and K-Fed haven’t been able to come to an agreement in terms of custody yet. Though from my understanding, that’s something that is almost always in a state of flux, at least to some extent. As the boys grow and change their needs will as well. And hopefully over time Britney will grow more and more stable and be able to take a more active role in her son’s lives. It sounds like she made it through a tough experience, and hopefully will get to see a lot more of her boys soon.

Here’s Britney leaving SUR restaurant in L.A. on Friday night. Images thanks to WENN.