Britney Spears revealed that Beyoncé is on repeat, sharing videos of herself dancing to several of the singer’s songs and admitting she has been unable to stop listening to one album in particular.
“So weird how all i listen to is the last @beyonce album,” Spears wrote on Instagram, referring to Beyoncé’s 2024 release Cowboy Carter, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Spears also mentioned returning to an older Beyoncé project, joking that she was unsure why she kept going back to it because “the dress told me to do it.”
In the videos, Spears appears to freestyle choreography to Beyoncé’s earlier songs, including “Haunted” from the 2013 self-titled album Beyoncé. Wearing a short black dress and heels, she also danced to Rihanna tracks including “Love on the Brain” and “Unfaithful.”
Beyoncé’s two albums
The two Beyoncé projects Spears referenced represent different eras of Beyoncé’s career.
Cowboy Carter, released March 29, 2024, marked Beyoncé’s move into country music and became the second installment of a three-part project that began with 2022’s dance-focused album Renaissance.
Beyoncé has said the album was inspired by an experience years earlier when she felt unwelcome in the country music space. Fans have speculated she was referring to her 2016 Country Music Awards performance of “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks, which drew backlash at the time despite support from many fans.
Beyoncé described Cowboy Carter as “not a country album,” calling it instead “a ‘Beyoncé’ album” and a continuation of Renaissance.
The older “naughty” album Spears referenced is widely believed to be Beyoncé’s 2013 self-titled surprise release. The album included “Haunted,” the song Spears danced to in her videos and featured more explicit and sensual themes compared with some of Beyoncé’s later work.
A familiar ritual with new context
Spears has long used Instagram as a personal stage, frequently sharing videos of herself dancing at home. Her latest clips continue that trend, coming months after a suspected DUI arrest that was later resolved with a reduced charge.
Spears was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on March 4 in California after the California Highway Patrol pulled her over around 9:30 p.m. local time. The stop occurred in Westlake Village near the Ventura and Los Angeles county border.
According to an investigation report reviewed by CBS News, Spears was drifting between lanes on U.S. 101 before being stopped. The officer reported that it took her about 15 seconds to respond to commands to pull over and noted “the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage” coming from the vehicle.
The report stated that Spears argued with officers for about 10 minutes before leaving the car. Once outside, she appeared unsteady and displayed “rapid and slurred” speech, while the officer also noted “dramatic mood swings” during the encounter.
Following the arrest, a representative for Spears addressed the incident in a statement.
“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” the representative said, according to People magazine. “Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
The statement added that Spears’ sons would spend time with her and that her loved ones planned to support her long-term wellbeing.
The legal resolution
Spears was sentenced to 12 months of probation and one day in jail, credited as time served, after admitting to a vehicle code violation known in California as a “wet reckless.”
The charge acknowledges the presence of alcohol but is less serious than a full DUI conviction and generally carries lower fines and reduced jail exposure.
Spears was also ordered to meet with a psychologist weekly and a psychiatrist twice a month. She agreed to allow searches of her vehicle for alcohol or drugs.
Her attorney, Michael A. Goldstein, addressed the outcome in a statement.
“She has taken significant steps to implement positive change, which is clearly reflected in the Ventura County District Attorney’s decision to reduce the charge in this case and dismiss the DUI,” Goldstein said, according to NBC News. “Britney appreciates this discretion and is also grateful for the outpouring of support she has received.”
