Express & Star

Britney's back in Birmingham and she's Stronger than ever

Britney Spears will perform the final UK arena tour date of her number one Las Vegas residency show at Arena Birmingham tonight.She’s one of the biggest stars in the world and can list Beyoncé, Jay Z, Lady Gaga, Kirsten Dunst and Calvin Harris among her fans.

Published
Last updated
Britney's back in Birmingham

Fans can look forward to a night of classics such as Baby One More Time, I’m A Slave 4 U, Toxic and (You Drive Me) Crazy. The Grammy-Award winning, multi-platinum selling Pitbull will also be playing.

But despite her success, Britney says she leads a normal life when she’s off the road. In fact, her kids don’t even consider her famous.

“They don’t see me as famous. They’re really into skateboarding right now. They’re not into celebrities –they’re into celebrity skateboard people. So mum’s show business thing isn’t really their interest.”

Britney’s sons – Sean Preston and Jayden James – have joined her for some of her North American and European dates.

“They enjoy it,” she says, recalling one of her kids’ adorable reaction to hearing a remixed version of her song on the radio. “He’s like, ‘Mum! That is so cool!’

“I’ll support whatever they want to do as long as they stay true to themselves.”

Britney tour is her first since 2011, when the singer, dancer and songwriter hit the road to play her Femme Fatale shows. They were launched in support of her seventh studio album of the same name and the show was inspired by femmes fatales throughout the ages.

Piece of Me is her ninth tour and it largely mirrors her Las Vegas residency, Britney: Piece of Me, which started in 2013 and concluded in December 2017 The stage-show has been updated with new remixes, production technology, visuals and set list modifications to accommodate for Arena shows.

Britney has no immediate plans beyond the end of her present tour. There have been no new releases since her 2016 album Glory – but that could change in the future.

“I just want to keep making music for my fans. I’m open to other opportunities that may come along in the future, you never know what could happen.

“I’m excited about the future, hopefully releasing new music when I’m ready! Seeing other artists do cool things and hearing their music is exciting to me – I’m inspired by everything from pop to rock to urban.” As well as selling more than 100 million album sales, Britney is also an successful businesswoman; her perfume brand, with Elizabeth Arden, has sold more than $1.5 billion of product.

Britney looks up to fellow entrepreneurial singers like J Lo for inspiration. “I really admire the way Jennifer Lopez so gracefully handles being a successful entertainer, a businesswoman and, most importantly, a mum.”

The key to her longevity has been being surrounding herself by the right people; her team have shielded her from some of the challenges along the way.

“I was lucky enough to have an amazingly supportive team around me. But I don’t think anyone can really prepare you for the roller coaster.”

Britney has lived her adult life in the spotlight but says her stage persona is actually a way to combat shyness. Her spectacular show features plenty of incredible choreography and lifts, many with her boyfriend and trainer, Sam Asghari. “He’s a trainer so everything has to be so perfect.

“I’m very sensitive and sometimes I just want to run away because I’m a very shy person. I think energy is contagious and when I get onstage with the dancers, we all kind of vibe off each other. We feel the same energy and we connect.

“I think it’s healthy to be able to put on the persona of being confident.

“I think it’s an escape because honestly with how shy I really am, I don’t think it’s healthy.”

Britney says performing helps to boost her confidence. “It’s like an alter-ego type thing. Something clicks and I go and turn into this different person. I think it’s kind of a gift to be able to do that.

“I just love what I do, every morning when I wake up, I cannot believe it’s a job. I get the chance to meet the people I work with, it’s my fans who inspire me every day.”