"Piece Of Me" climbs this week, in the official UK top 75 singles chart, to #46, rising 23 places from last week's debut in the top 75 at #69, whilst "Gimme More" also climbs 20 places from last week's #63 back to #43 this week, in its 11th week on the chart. Meanwhile, in the official albums chart, "Blackout" re-enters the top 75, rising 13 places to #65 this week from #78.

Taking photographs of Britney Spears can earn a paparazzo photographer in excess of £100,000 a year, according to Adnan Ghalib, who Britney plucked from the 40 or so photographers stalking her to join her in her hotel, where she spoke to him for hours about her personal life. "I think she's awesome, she's a great person, the people she surrounds herself with have made her how she is." He admitted, he'd be "lying if he said no," as to whether her life would improve without the paparazzi attention. "She’s so unpredictable… she is lucrative in that sense... the clip of her admitting to taking a lighter ran for over £20,000. Maybe the only friends she’s going to have that treat her with the respect that she deserves are going to be the photographers that work her 24 hours a day. It’s going to have to be us… I think we are her friends now. Until she tells us to go away."

"Piece Of Me" has taken a huge jump on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in the USA, following up her #3 hit with "Gimme More" earlier this year, as it jumps 24 places to #21; the music video is now available to download from iTunes USA!

Devo Springsteen has uploaded the finished version of "Let Go," one of the "Blackout" demos that leaked a few months back, to his official MySpace page here; the ballad, originally titled "To Love, Let Go," was written by Britney alongside Devo and Tom Craskey, but was not included on "Blackout," as it did not fit alongside the rest of the material.

A special deluxe edition of "Blackout" is reportedly due to be released on 17th June 2008, according to an internal document detailing new releases for 2008 from ProMusicae Spain, the official company representing the Spanish recording industry; a coallition of record companies and retail stores nationwide. The document lists information about forthcoming releases and provisional release dates and features Britney in the SonyBMG section, saying the release will be a "special edition," including the original critically acclaimed album, alongside 4 new songs, remixes and a DVD documenting the production of 'the riskiest project of Britney's career'.

Britney's fifth album climbs back into the top 80 albums chart this week, climbing to #78 this week, whilst "Gimme More" falls to #60 in the singles chart. Britney also has a second song in the top 75 as "Piece Of Me" makes its debut on downloads alone at #69; the commercial physical CD single, featuring the album version and remix, will be released on 7th January 2008.

Britney has reportedly spent $500 on a luxury gift basket for her pregnant sister, Jamie Lynn, personally calling up baby boutique, Petit Tresor, to order Jamie Lynn an Tuni & G tanktop, emblazoned with "Hot Mama 2 B," white items including a blanket, stuffed elephant toy, onesies, socks and sneakers; the note attached says, "Dear J.L - We love you! Brit, Sean & Jayden!"

Amidst rumours that she had to personally ring "OK!" magazine herself to ask for a copy of the interview, Britney Spears has released the following press statement regarding her sister's pregnancy, saying, "Britney is aware of the news regarding Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. She wishes her sister nothing but the best and asks for privacy during this time." Lynne Spears' Christian parenting book, due for release early next year, has been postponed indefinitely in light of the news, saying, "We are standing behind Lynne at this time and understand that she needs time with her family; we support that."

Britney's 16 year old sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, has confirmed to "OK!" magazine USA that she is 3 months pregnant with her first child and is keeping the baby. The exclusive interview, with both Jamie Lynn and her mother Lynne Spears, reveals her shock over the pregnancy, that the father is Casey Aldridge, who she has been dating for some time following their initial meeting at church and that she took two weeks where she didn't tell anyone, bar one friend, before she told her parents and friends. Lynne Spears adds that she was shocked and surprised; "I didn’t believe it because Jamie Lynn’s always been so conscientious. She’s never late for her curfew." Nickelodeon, who employ Jamie Lynn as the star of their show, "Zoey 101," said, "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being." In the interview, Jamie Lynn says, "I haven’t spoken to (Nickelodeon) personally, but they have always been so great to me over the past years and have given me so many opportunities. I definitely don’t think [sex before marriage] is something you should do; it’s better to wait. But I can’t be judgmental because it’s a position I put myself in.”

A court hearing held today has resulted in another continuance, with no change in the custody agreement, until February 2008. Mark Vincent Kaplan called the meeting, asking for the 23rd January hearing to be delayed until 19th February so that he may have more 'time for discovery' to dispose more witnesses. Once again, Kaplan will be attempting to use paparazzi videos in court, and has subpoeaned TMZ for videos of Britney out and about on the evening of her desposition, which she missed due to 'anxiety'. It is rumoured that Kaplan intends to drag the case out for as long as possible,

Wayne Isham, who directed the "Piece Of Me" video, his first video with Britney since 2001's "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman," spoke to "People" magazine about the experience saying, "On set, she was very professional, excited to work and beautiful as always. I was impressed with her focus as she choreographed the dance herself. Her endurance was remarkable, as we had a long day. She almost outlasted me, which is amazing! It was a pleasure to work with her again."

In a poll of over 16,000 readers, "Blackout" has been picked as album of the year for 2007, with over 38% of the vote; Bruce Springsteen came second, followed by RBD, Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson and Ashley Tisdale.

 
"Piece Of Me," the second music video from Britney's fifth album, "Blackout," premiered last night in the USA, and can be streamed online here in full; the international version of the video has now been added to The Box, The Hits and other UK digital music channels; 40 video captures from the international music video have been added to the photo gallery!

The international music video for "Piece Of Me," featuring Britney in a different outfit, with a short, cropped blonde wig, surrounded by paparazzi flashes, will premiere in Canada tomorrow at 10am on AXS, with the UK and European premieres to follow this week; you can see a clip of the international version on the MuchMusic blog web site here!

The explosive music video for "Piece Of Me" will be premiered in the USA at 10pm EST on ABC as part of a "20/20" Chris Connelly special report on Britney Spears and her relationship with the paparazzi; the video wil then premiere online on Britney's official Jive Records site approximately 1hour and 1minute after the programme has ended at 11.01pm (4.01am UK time). You can see a 26 second sneak preview of the video, featuring Britney in two different outfits, exclusive at People.com here!

Britney Spears was unable to attend her court-ordered deposition today, due to an illness, Mark Vincent Kaplan, Kevin Federline's lawyer announced. In an e-mail, Britney's friend and assistant, Sam Lufti, said, "She's sick, both physically and high anxiety; there weer millions of press outside, it became too much." A new date has been selected, but not revealed; Kaplan is said to be pursuing a court-sanction against Britney in order to force her to complete the deposition. So far, he has gathered evidence from her former manager, Larry Rudolph, her friend and assistant, Alli Sims, and former bodyguard, Daimon Shippen.

"Piece Of Me" will be released in the UK on 2-track CD on 7th January, backed by the Böz O Lö Remix; the central European release wil be the following week, 15th January 2008, and in addition to the 2-track CD, a maxi CD will also be released, featuring remixes from Bimbo Jones and Vito Benito, as well as the Lil' Kim remix of "Gimme More" - full details are in the discography!

In its fifth week on the UK Albums Chart, "Blackout" falls out of the Top 75, falling from #70 to #80 this week; a television advertising campaign is due to start in the next few weeks, showing both "Gimme More" and "Piece Of Me." In the singles chart, "Gimme More" falls to #30 this week, having spent 9 weeks on the chart, and having sold 150,000+ copies.

Virgin Media have nominated "Blackout" in the shortlist for "Best Album Of 2007," alongside albums from Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem, Mark Ronson, Radiohead, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and Britney's closest rivals in the poll, Girls Aloud. You can register your votes for "Blackout" on the Virgin Media voting page here!

Dani Brubaker, who shot private portrtait sessions with Britney Spears and her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, could sell the black and white photos she took in Britney's home, due to a lack of confidentiality agreement. Brubaker issued a press release on 4th December about the shoot, taking obvious pride in having been picked for the shoot; sources say Brubaker has no reason to be faithful to Britney, and could sell the proofs in an auction for various magazines, adding Britney has no one advising her.

SonyBMG UK are offering you the chance to be a 'piece of Britney' by appearing in a special mosiac fan cover for her new single, "Piece Of Me," released in the Uk on 7th January 2008. The cover will be available for download around the same time as the UK CD release date, and will be compiled of fan photographs; to submit your photo, send a photo of yourself (you must own the copyright to the photograph), sized 200x200pixels here, with the subject line, "Britney Piece Of Me" - spaces are first come, first served!

"Piece Of Me" has been playlisted by BBC Radio 1, ahead of its release on 7th January 2008; the song is currently on the C-list, guaranteeing it airtime over the next week. SonyBMG UK have sent out two promotional CDs of "Piece Of Me," one featuring the album version of the track, and the second featuring the clean censored radio edit; check out the discography for more.

Fashion photographer, Dani Brubaker, has shot private portrait sessions with Britney Spears and her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James; the classic black and white photos, taken in Britney's home, depict her with the children playing in the yard. Dani says of the photoshoot, "The kids were so adorable, it’s obvious they are well loved. For me it’s all about the eyes, the connection I have with my subjects. My camera embodies a powerful medium of expression and communication; nothing is more moving than capturing raw human emotion. Capturing those moments for posterity is what my photographs are about."

Britney attended the Scandinavian Mansion Of Style party last night, with friends Alli Sims and Sam Lufti, as part of an early birthday celebration - Britney is officially 26 years old today! 22 photos from the event are in the photo gallery!