Britney Spears may be back on top with a hit single, primetime spots on TV shows around the world and an album that early indicators suggest may lead the U.S. charts next week, but her mother, Lynne, has admitted that during the dark times, she feared for Britney’s life.
When the pop star was battling very public breakdowns in late 2007 and early 2008, Lynne said she, like many of Britney’s loved ones, was fearful her beloved daughter might have tried to end it all.
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“Yes, I did worry that that might happen,” Lynne told Britain’s Daily Mail in a new candid interview. “I couldn’t see Britney, and you worry more when you’re looking at things from a distance.”
Lynne, who is currently promoting the release of her memoir, “Through The Storm,” to the UK media, told the paper she felt blame for the troubles her daughter encountered. And she even considered naming her book, “It’s All My Fault.”
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“I can laugh about it now, but did I feel that way at the time? Yes, I did and, if I’m being totally honest, I still do,” she said.
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According to Lynne, it was Britney’s great success – topping the charts and selling out tours – that got in the way of the mother-daughter relationship. But when the music stopped, Lynne found it hard to get back in to Britney’s life and look after her daughter.
“When her life was such a success, what did she need me for? And when things took a turn for the worse, I was out, because other people — dancers, managers — were closer to her, and with her day and night,” Lynne told the Mail. “Being a mother, you can’t help but have regrets about what you did and didn’t do for your kids, and I’m no different.”
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But as things went from bad to worse, like when Britney lost custody of her own kids – Sean Preston and Jayden James — the light at the end of the tunnel was Britney’s mom, who the pop star reached out to for help.
And Kevin Federline, who Spears split with in 2007, was also supportive, Lynne said.
“He has been real good with Britney, and doesn’t want to keep the kids from her at all,” Lynne revealed.
“He’s not a bad guy and he has a good heart,” she added. “I would have chosen a prince or a state governor for her, but Kevin’s worked a lot to help out, and I can’t say anything bad about him.”
Another person Lynne has no ill words for – her ex husband, Jamie Spears, who has headed up the conservatorship that helped get Britney back on track.
“I admire Jamie for making the effort and trying to do it well,” Lynne said. “We decided he should be the one to do it, because he’s the stronger figure. Moms always give in to their kids because we’re softies, and what Britney needed at the time was the stronger person.”
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PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: Britney’s Happier Times, Part 1
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