Britney Spears showed up to court today, didn’t freak out, looked relatively normal and healthy, and managed to stay for all of the court proceedings. She was accompanied by her lawyer Blair Berk and both of her parents. Though the details are a little vague, it appears that Britney has won some “expanded” visitation rights with her sons. According to Us Weekly, she will have three days of supervised visitation each week. The Huffington Post picked up an article from the Associated Press that’s headlined, “Britney Spears Granted Overnight Visits With Her Kids,” – however the article itself never mentions any overnights, so we’re not sure if that’s accurate.

Britney Spears’ visitation rights to sons Sean Preston and Jayden James were expanded Tuesday following a custody hearing with ex-husband Kevin Federline. There was no change in custody, Federline’s attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan said at a press conference, but he said her time with her boys will be “more than it has been.” He would not elaborate. Spears will get three days supervised visitation a week and visitation on Mother’s Day, TMZ.com reported.

“The court made orders today, they were orders that the parties were able to mostly agree to,” Kaplan said. “It represent a cautious step moving forward.” Kaplan said the court was “pleased with the progress that seems to be occurring” with Spears daily. He called the court’s ruling “a step in the right direction. The children are doing great — that’s the key,” Kaplan said. “That’s what all of this is about.”

Court spokesman Allan Parachini also read a statement from Britney’s parents, Jamie and Lynne. “We are so pleased with Britney’s progress, and we are very appreciative of the court’s recognition of this progress,” they said in their statement.

[From Us Weekly]

All the media outlets reported that Britney, her parents, K-Fed, and all the lawyers smiled and gave positive reactions upon leaving the courthouse. Some noted that Britney seemed upset during a break in the court proceedings halfway through the day, and was seen holding her mother’s hand. Say whatever you want about her parents’ behavior raising her – they have definitely been there for her in the past few months. It’s scary to think where Britney might be right now if her father hadn’t stepped up as her conservator. It would have been nice if they’d done a better job earlier on, but at least they’re here now, and it seems like she really appreciates that.

It sounds as if everything is going well for Britney, and the court recognized all the positive changes she’s made. According to TMZ, her goal is to have a 50/50 custody split by August. If Britney keeps up the good work, that seems very attainable.

Here’s Britney arriving to court today. Images thanks to Splash.

I’ve been reserving judgment, and too scared of turning blue to actually hold my breath, but TMZ is reporting that the weaved wonder, Britney Spears, has actually shown up to her custody hearing this afternoon - on time and without the Brown Boots of Mental Illness. TMZ has the blow by blow report, and sources say that Brit and her slimeball ex, K-Fed, may be close to hammering out a mutual custody agreement out of court.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have just entered the courtroom and their case is about to begin.

Brit walked in with her hands clasped in front of her, looking down. Someone told her she looked good and Brit just smiled back. According to all accounts, “Brit looks good.”

Kevin and Britney were both sworn into court. A motion to close the court was granted — so everyone was kicked out. FYI — Elliot Mintz, K-Fed’s attorney’s rep, got the boot too.

The Commish has taken a recess and Brit is out in the hall looking very upset. Our spy says that while Britney isn’t actually crying in the hallway — it looks like she might have been crying inside the closed courtroom.

Mom and Pop Spears are still in the courtroom with Brit’s attorney, as is K-Fed and all his people.

Stay tuned …

UPDATE 10:28 AM PT — Brit is back in the courtroom.

UPDATE 10:38 AM PT — Britney is back out of the courtroom, smiling and holding hands with Blair Berk.

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline (along with all their respective parties) are back in the courtroom after spending close to an hour in a private meeting room.

Brit walked into the courtroom hand-in-hand with her mom Lynne.

Could an amicable compromise be on the horizon?

[Compilated from multiple reports on TMZ]

Whatever happens today, Britney should feel good about the following: 1) She showed up at court, on time, appropriately dressed, and without holding a Fanta and a pack of cigarettes. 2) Thanks to her mom and lawyer, she was able to keep her composure on the stand- which may be a first. 3) The photos and court drawings actually make her look pretty good.

I find it more than a little interesting that this is the first post-Lutfi era court appearance, and Brit shows up with no problems. Jump to your own conclusion- I know I have.

Britney is shown outside the gym on 5/5/08, thanks to WENN.

Britney Spears finally got to see her very pregnant 17-year-old sister Jamie Lynn when she flew to her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana to attend Jaime Lynn’s baby shower. Britney left Los Angeles via private jet on Friday, and spent most of Saturday afternoon with her mom and little sis. According to Life & Style, Britney, 26, had to butter up her father Jamie to get him to let her attend.

Britney Spears is heading home today for a big reunion with her younger sister, Jamie Lynn, an insider tells Life & Style exclusively. The occasion? Jamie Lynn’s baby shower!

Britney is leaving LA today to arrive in Kentwood, La., in time for tomorrow’s baby shower at mom Lynne Spears’ house, Serenity. Britney was last seen in Kentwood in November 2006. “The shower’s on Saturday at Lynne’s house,” the insider tells Life & Style.

“At first, Jamie [Brit’s dad and also her guardian these days] didn’t think it was a good idea for Brit to go. He thought it might create chaos in Kentwood, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to put Jamie Lynn — or Britney — in the middle of that.

“Britney can’t travel without Jamie’s permission, so she worked really hard to talk him into it; it was so important for her to be there for her little sister. He finally gave in, knowing it’d be good for Brit and Jamie Lynn to finally see each other.”

[From Life & Style]

E! News that Britney is staying at Lynn’s home, and the place was flooded with security and police officers. TMZ has pictures of Britney at the baby shower, hanging out on the porch of her mom’s house smoking a cigarette - but luckily pregnant Jamie Lynn is nowhere in sight. They’re that lovely “from above” type photograph that means TMZ either had a helicopter or some photographers hanging from trees. All for a former pop star’s sister’s baby shower.

Even though her life is slowly coming back together, it’s been pretty clear that Britney Spears has done a lot of damage over the last year or so. You know, since the crazy set in. A lot has been made of her money issues, and her extravagant spending. Honestly I didn’t think it could possibly be that bad – I mean she has a lot of dough. And aside from a few nice cars, Britney always looked so trashy and ate so much fast food that I assumed she wasn’t spending a lot of cash on designer clothes and gourmet meals. Turns out you can blow a lot of money on Taco Bell and Mercedes. Like $61 million.

When Britney Spears’ father, Jamie, was named her co-conservator on February 1, he took over her financial affairs. But after going through her books, Jamie must have learned just how much of a toll Britney’s crazy behavior, which started in February 2007 when she shaved her head, has had on her bank account — she’s lost nearly $61 million. “It’s staggering how much money has been used up,” a family friend says.

In addition to the enormous tab for legal bills, rehab and psychiatric care, Britney’s inability to work has cost her a fortune. “By not touring for her last album [Blackout], she lost out on $50 million,” estimates Robert Bianchi, an LA-based CPA who isn’t an accountant for Britney. Jamie hired his own accountants to sort out the money mess and bring an end to the 26-year-old’s excessive spending. “It’s been quite a challenge getting things under control,” the insider says. Luckily, as Britney’s mental health improves, so does her bottom line. “She’s spending about a fifth of what she used to,” the insider adds.

[From In Touch]

That is an insane amount of money. I don’t even know how it’s possible to spend that on useful stuff like a few houses or something. But I doubt Britney has much of anything to show for that $61 million. She does have a home or two, but those are arguably investments, and didn’t cost her anywhere near $61 million. They say all the little stuff adds up – but really, how many Frappuccinos can a girl drink?

Brit’s legal bills are pretty extensive, so it makes sense that that’s probably a significant chunk. Hopefully she’ll continue to get her act in gear and go on tour soon. If she can really pull things together, she can make that money back.

Here’s Britney wearing sweats, on her way to a Bally’s gym in Ventura, California on April 25th. That joker smile always scares the crap out of me. Images thanks to WENN.

The UCLA Medical Centre has been under scrutiny because of confidential details of celebrity treatment being leaked to the media, most notably the medical details of Britney Spears’ breakdown (her psychiatric records were supposedly closed to generally employee access) and Farrah Fawcett’s cancer treatment. Now it seems that at least one employee, Lawanda Jackson, is going to face criminal charges about the incident.

The indictment refers to an unidentified national media outlet, but a source familiar with the matter confirmed that the paper was the National Enquirer.

According to the indictment, Jackson received at least $4,600 from the publication through checks made out to her husband. The agreement lasted from about 2006 until at least May 21, 2007, according to the indictment.

Jackson faces up to 10 years in prison if she is convicted of the charge. Such charges involving the disclosure of medical records are rare.

LA Times

While anyone in the public eye gives up a certain amount of their privacy, it is absolutely wrong to violate someone’s medical records, particularly for the paltry sum of $4,600.

We reported in March that 13 UCLA staff members had been fired, a further six were suspended, and another six doctors had been disciplined for looking at Britney Spears’ files. This was not the first time staff had snooped at records, they looked at Britney’s medical files (psychiatric files are closed to all other areas of the hospital) when she was hospitalized in January for a breakdown, and also when she gave birth to her first son Sean Preston in 2005.

The hospital tried to claim that it was an interest in a ‘particular person’ referring to Britney, but since then it has also been revealed that Farrah Fawcett’s files were looked at, the information sold to the National Enquirer, and this is the case in question today. Lawanda Jackson is the first employee to be charged with leaking information to the media, despite the hospital’s previous statement there was ‘no evidence to suggest that any employee leaked information or sold it’.

The hospital has a PIN number system that shows who is looking at medical records, but doesn’t have a system in place to stop people from looking at the records. While it would be great to be able to trust all of the hospital’s employees, someone like Lawanda Jackson might just sell the information if they need the money badly enough. The LA Times reports she was $37,300 in debt in 2001, when she filed for bankruptcy.

UCLA should make all medical records private, not just a celebrity patient’s information. If you were undergoing an acrimonious divorce, or were involved in a car accident, or any kind of incident that might get you attention from the media, you would not want your personal history up for sale to the highest bidder either.

Photos are of Britney’s breakdown in early January, thanks to Splash.

Lynne Spears is featured as an inset story on the cover of Life & Style this week, where they say they have an exclusive interview with her. The interview was so brief I wondered if she had been cornered in a car park, or if the quotes comes from a “source,” but Life & Style presents it as if Lynne is speaking for herself.

She says, “I’m a bit disappointed that my youngest daughter got pregnant at such an early age. All I can do is turn to God for answers.”

But Lynne has no doubts that Jamie Lynn is going to be a “wonderful mother.”

She explains, “She really has a way with children - she’s a natural. I just wish she had waited a bit.”

And for her eldest daughter, Lynne only has prayers for the troubled mother of two. “I pray for Britney every day to be a better mother.”

“She’s gone through a lot of trauma, but she seems to be coming out of it - and it’s showing in her relationship with the boys. They’re really bonding.”

Life & Style via AHN

Turns out, they didn’t exactly have an interview, her rep denies Lynne ever spoke to the magazine.

Her spokesperson tells OK!: “When Lynne Spears is ready to give an interview I can assure you it will be a true account without speculation as to whether or not she participated.”

OK! Magazine

However, OK! magazine has, according to reports, paid $1 million for the exclusive on Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy and baby pictures, so is it possible Lynne talked but is now backtracking to protect her investment with OK! Magazine.

The things she said are probably what you’d expect Lynne to say, and it’s a pretty big call for Life & Style to claim that she spoke to them. They could have attributed the quotes to a friend, particularly since there’s nothing particularly salacious in her statements. Why bother to fake such a dull interview?

Anyway, Jamie Lynn Spears seems to be doing okay, her mother is in LA right now with Britney, but hopefully the plan is to settle things with Britney so when new baby Spears is born Lynne can give her full attention to her youngest daughter. While Britney needs some help, you would think Lynne would never want to be more than a few minutes away from her teen daughter and her newborn.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Lynne Spears is shown on 4/18/08 outside of Bally Total Fitness, where she squirted water on the photographers waiting for her and her daughter. Thanks to WENN.

Britney Spears sells magazine covers, so the tabloids are going to exploit every little change in her life and body to the fullest extent possible. She’s been working out to potentially get a gig representing the fitness chain Bally Total Fitness, and she probably has firmed up. She looks fine and I’m not bashing the girl, but she doesn’t look a hell of a lot different to me.

Last week’s Star says that Britney and Kevin shared a kiss during a moment when they were discussing their two boys, and the way they described it sounded so romantic and fake:

“The were discussing the boys and how they’re doing,” a family insider tells Star, “when she suddenly got in close and kissed Kevin. She did it because she felt so close to him at that moment.”

Kevin’s reaction? “He loved the kiss, of course,” reveals the insider. Kevin’s only concern was that they smooched right in front of Sean, 2, and Jayden, 29 months. “Should we be doing this in front of the boys?” he asked Britney, according to the insider. Her rsponse: “We’re their parents, so why not?”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, April 28, 2008]

Star also claims these two talked to a therapist for two hours on April 5, but even if that happened it’s just as likely that it was about their boys and not their nonexistent romantic relationship. Star claims that they’re headed for a reunion, but that’s highly doubtful. Britney is more likely to get super fit. I would bet that she does get in shape, but it seems a little premature to be putting her on the cover and touting her success.

Here’s Britney with her dad going to a bank in Beverly Hills yesterday, thanks to WENN. Header image thanks to popbytes.

Britney Spears has been ordered to foot the bills for all the lawyers working on her conservatorship and custody cases, none of which are for more than three months’ work, and the total fees amount to nearly $400,000. In most cases Britney is being charged for work done by lawyers completely against her will.

A Los Angeles court on Thursday ordered payment of nearly $400,000 to the numerous lawyers involved in Britney Spears’s affairs – with the pop star footing the bill.

All the attorneys have been working on the case for less than three months.

Samuel Ingham, Spears’s court-appointed attorney, will continue to receive $10,000 a week, Commissioner Reva Goetz ruled.

Andrew Wallet, the co-conservator of Spears’s finances, will receive an advance of $100,000. (Wallet had not been paid since becoming involved last February.).

The firm which won Jamie Spears control of his daughter’s affairs will also be advanced $175,000, and a lawyer representing Britney’s brother Bryan Spears will get $22,500, while Stacy Phillips, Britney’s new divorce lawyer, will receive $75,000.

The singer’s father and Wallet remain in control of her life until a July 31 hearing.

[From People]

If I was Britney Spears I would be pissed! Her dad stepped in and really stemmed her massive spending, but instead of getting cars, chandeliers, wigs and bad fashion for her money she has to get by on $1,500 a week and all the rest goes to attorneys making up reasons to bill her. There have been accusations that the lawyers in the custody battle working for Kevin are inventing reasons to call hearings and press conferences because Britney’s paying for it all. Given the massive amounts of money we’re talking about that’s probably true. It’s not much of a logical leap to assume that most all of the lawyers working on something for Britney are trying to find creative ways to drag out the conservatorship and custody cases, complicated though they may be. At least she can see her kids again, but no wonder she’s getting back to work already. She has to pay all the people working to make sure she keeps them on gravy train.

Britney is shown outside the recording studio and leaving a hair salon yesterday, thanks to WENN.

In her quest to get her life back – or at least her dad’s quest – Britney Spears is getting both her mental and physical health in shape. Britney’s got her old manager Larry Rudolph back on her team, and with the help of her dad/conservator Jaime Spears, she seems to really be getting her act together. Brit’s lost a good deal of weight and is looking much healthier – you hardly ever see her with Cheetos or a Frappuccino in hand anymore. TMZ is reporting that Britney is in negotiations to be the frontwoman for Ballys Fitness.

Sources tell TMZ Britney Spears is in negotiation with Bally Total Fitness to be a frontwoman for the company — and backwoman, too! Here’s what we know. Brit’s parents have both been talking to Bally about making a deal. Daddy Jamie has the power as co-conservator to make it happen. It all happened because Larry Rudolph, who is coming back to manage the Britster, has a close friendship with John Wildman, the Chief Marketing Officer of Bally.

During the negotiations, Brit has been going to the club at least once a day and up to as many as three times a day. She’s training with two of the company’s top personal trainers — we’re guessing one for the front and one for the back. She’s also working with the company’s nutritionist, who has put Britney on five to six quality meals a day. No Taco Bell, no Fanta … life can really suck.

[From TMZ]

TMZ is quick to point out there there’s no deal yet; both sides are still negotiating. Brit does get to work out for free – so that saves her about $20 right there. TMZ says a “company insider said, “We’re more interested in Britney Spears’ health than her $19.” I’m not quite so sure it’s her health they’re worried about – I think it’s more her ass. I’m kidding, but obviously they’re interested in her health for the sake of their company. Anything that gets Britney up, out, and moving has got to be a good thing. And if she has to leave the chalupas alone, so be it.

Here’s Britney leaving Bally Total Fitness after a private training session in Los Angeles yesterday. Images thanks to WENN.

Update by Celebitchy: Bally Total Fitness is well known for scamming and pressuring people into signing multi-year contracts that can’t be canceled. A friend of mine had his credit ruined when he tried to get out of a long contract there. I was once put in a room with a salesperson there and pressured into signing a contract after a friend of mine brought me for a workout. They’ve been sued many times for this tactic. The company went bankrupt in August of last year, and was bought out by a hedge fund.

Maybe if they would have set rates for specific packages and would publish their membership fees they wouldn’t need to try and use Britney to lure in more people to scam. You should be able to know what the rates are for a club ahead of time and not be pressured to sign a contract right away.

Britney Spears was involved in a minor fender bender at around 8:15 Saturday night on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles. Britney’s car hit the car of the guy in front of her in stop and go traffic. She tried to brake but it was too late, and she hit him at about 10-15 mph. That guy’s car then bumped into the car in front of him, but there was no damage to the third vehicle.

She passed standard sobriety test after causing minor accident
Britney was given a field sobriety test by the California Highway Patrol and passed, and apparently that’s standard procedure with a car accident at that time of night. She was not behaving as if she was drunk and officers did not suspect that she was.

The guy in the car Britney hit was 21, and he told TMZ that he was checking out Britney in his rearview mirror before she hit him and noticed that she was applying makeup. It wasn’t until after the minor crash that he realized who she was.

Britney did not apologize to the guy she hit, but her bodyguard did. She did mention that she was on her way to have dinner with her mom.

Why was Britney driving if she still had to do her makeup and was presumably late for dinner? She had a bodyguard in the car who just as easily could have driven for her.

What kind of makeup was she applying?
What I really wonder is what kind of makeup she was applying, because this is an important detail. It’s moderately dangerous to put on lipstick while you’re driving. You can do a little touch up without looking in the mirror if you’re careful and driving slow enough. Maybe you could apply some blush if it’s the stick kind, I love that type because it’s so convenient, as long as you do it without checking yourself out in the mirror, and don’t blend it until after you’re stopped.

But there’s no way you should ever put on concealer or any kind of eye makeup while you’re driving, because you can’t do that without seeing yourself, and that’s way too distracting. I will admit to putting on mascara twice while I was driving, because I was super late to something and was young and stupid enough to think that it was ok. I don’t put on any kind of makeup now while I’m operating a motor vehicle, probably because I’m older and less vain, but I also have a kid and he’s usually in the car with me. It’s just not worth the risk. You may as well be 10 minutes late.

What’s Britney’s excuse? She was just going to meet her mom. She gets her photograph taken everywhere she goes, but all she has to do is put on sunglasses and wait to do her makeup in the bathroom once she gets there.

It’s possible that a lawsuit might result from this minor accident. The guy Britney hit told TMZ that his back was hurting the next day. Oh please.

[Details from several reports on TMZ.com] Thanks to WENN for these photos of the accident.