Jason Alexander, the childhood friend who infamously married Britney Spears for 55 hours, says he was “in love with her” and calls their annulment “bullsh*t.”Alexander reflects on his whirlwind marriage in a new “20/20″ interview.

He was summoned by Spears to Las Vegas on New Year’s 2004, and went to “have a good time.”One thing led to another, Spears suggested they get married, and they did. “I went with my feelings. I was in love with her,” says Alexander. “I feel like she felt the same way.”

After Spears told her family and professional team about the wedding, recalls Alexander, “Everyone went crazy because there was no prenup.”He calls the annulment, which said Spears “lacked understanding of her actions,” “bullish*t.”Alexander says he signed the documents hoping that they’d get back together.

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Love her or hate her, Britney Spears is a deeply entrenched phenomenon of popular culture that captivates, enthralls and frustrates. A figure that is constantly surrounded by controversy, misunderstanding and the spotlight, Spears is the perfect cannon for all our hopes, dreams and fears, and coupled with her impressive decade of top 10 hits, is the perfect material for a cabaret.

Though given some of the recent lame and unsuccessful attempts to take artists song books and turn them into them into engaging legitimate theatre, I didn’t have high expectations for this production. Boy was I wrong. Far from the poxy sanitized pop love-in or tiresome tribute you’d think it might be, Britney Spears: the Cabaret is a fantastic, dark and insightful study of stardom and a single mother in the spotlight betrayed by her family, lovers and herself.

The exceptional Christie Whelan shines brightly in the lead as Britney, telling the story of her life using the songs that she made into hits. Whelan, as Britney, weaves a humourous, honest and reverent mix of truth and rumour, fact and fiction that makes up the tales of Britney spears life.

Every word and it’s delivery is carefully considered and delivered with an artistry that would even make Liza proud. Far from painting an image of a vacuous, tabloid celebrity slash car crash that Spears is better known as, the production reveals a rich and engaging human story; A fantastic, dark and insightful study of stardom and a single mother in the spotlight betrayed by her family, lovers and herself.

Dean Bryant (director) and Mathew Frank are the masterminds behind this brilliant production, and they have masterfully constructed a work full of humanity, dignity, intelligence and sensitivity.

From a production point of view, the set is a picture of stripped back simplicity that plays perfectly in setting up ‘reality’ and a feeling of a genuine intimate experience of cabaret.

Cleverly delivered humour, often positioned within the songs that she made famous, come to life with additional meaning and depth. You’ll laugh for sure, but you’ll also be deeply moved by the raw darkness and realness of this show. It’s as if you’re experiencing all the things Spears herself would say if only she could have the insight of being both inside and outside the experience of being herself.

Britney Spears: the Cabaret first premiered at the 2009 Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has spent the past few years touring around the country doing festivals circuit. It’s not hard to see why it’s been getting all the rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.

It’s a totally captivating theatrical experience that feeds on the contemporary language and symbols of our time, unashamedly fusing them with the complex struggles and realities of humanity. You know, what real cabaret should be. I can’t say it enough… See this show if you haven’t already. And if you have, see it again!

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"#willpower", the latest solo album from collabo-happy Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, is shaping up to be a crowded set indeed, as the singer has revealed in a new interview that the forthcoming LP will feature guest appearances from the likes of Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, LMFAO, Shakira, Busta Rhymes and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger (who, in case you hadn't heard, has just been booted from her judging slot on FOX's "The X-Factor"), among others.

"I have a song with Alicia Keys – me, Alicia and Swedish House Mafia," will.i.am told UK radio station Capital FM. "I have a song with The Beats, which is pretty grand. Me and Shakira have been trying to finish the stuff we started, and me and Britney is really crazy."

Indeed, the new album is truly star-studded - its lead single "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" featured vocals from both Mick Jagger and Jennifer Lopez. That track has so far reached a peak of No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. "So we got a song with me, LMFAO and Eva Simons," he continued. "A song with me and Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz. I got a whole other bunch of collaborations."

LMFAO, not incidentally, are signed to will.i.am music, the singer's Interscope-distributed imprint. Will.i.am previously revealed that the duo would be performing with Madonna at the upcoming Superbowl halftime show. "#willpower" is expected to see release sometime this year.

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Britney Spears' lawyers have accused the singer's former manager, Sam Lutfi of "wrongful retention" of her drug test results in 2007. The results were ordered sealed as Spears was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute at the time with ex-husband, Kevin Federline, and Lutfi wants to use them as exhibits in the upcoming trial, where he sues the pop star and her family for breach of contract and defamation.

Team Spears wants to ensure that the information is not shown to jurors. Lutfi is suing the singer's parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears along with the pop queen. Lynne wrote a book, 'Through The Storm', that discussed Lutfi's role in Britney's life leading up to her very public meltdown, which resulted in Jamie gaining conservatorship of his daughter in 2008.

Lawyers for Spears' conservatorship accuse Lutfi of violating a previous judge's ruling in the custody dispute that sealed the drug test results, by attempting to introduce those documents into his lawsuit against the Spears clan, Radar Online reported.

Lutfi wants to formally introduce into evidence at the trial a declaration from Britney that she gave in 2007 which dealt with her medication's effect on her ability to drive her children along with declarations from drug testing officials and her former doctor, Dr. James DeLong, which addressed her physical and mental health and a monitored visitation report.

Spears lawyers contend that Lutfi has no legal right to introduce this evidence unless he formally files a motion with the judge that had ordered those documents sealed. The recently engaged pop star's lawyers want the judge handling the lawsuit to not allow the disputed exhibits because he does not have the proper jurisdiction to do so.

A hearing date for this latest legal salvo in the ongoing Sam Lutfi saga has not been set because a new judge has yet to be assigned to the case after the previous judge was reassigned to a judicial panel. It's quite obvious that Sam Lutfi is seeking these drug test results in order to prove his claim that he never drugged her.

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Britney Spears’ lawyers have accused the singer’s former manager, Sam Lutfi of “wrongful retention” of her drug test results in 2007. The results were ordered sealed as Spears was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute at the time with ex-husband, Kevin Federline, and Lutfi wants to use them as exhibits in the upcoming trial, where he sues the pop star and her family for breach of contract and defamation.

Team Spears wants to ensure that the information is not shown to jurors. Lutfi is suing the singer’s parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears along with the pop queen. Lynne wrote a book, ‘Through The Storm’, that discussed Lutfi’s role in Britney’s life leading up to her very public meltdown, which resulted in Jamie gaining conservatorship of his daughter in 2008.

Lawyers for Spears’ conservatorship accuse Lutfi of violating a previous judge’s ruling in the custody dispute that sealed the drug test results, by attempting to introduce those documents into his lawsuit against the Spears clan, Radar Online reported.

Lutfi wants to formally introduce into evidence at the trial a declaration from Britney that she gave in 2007 which dealt with her medication’s effect on her ability to drive her children along with declarations from drug testing officials and her former doctor, Dr. James DeLong, which addressed her physical and mental health and a monitored visitation report.

Spears lawyers contend that Lutfi has no legal right to introduce this evidence unless he formally files a motion with the judge that had ordered those documents sealed. The recently engaged pop star’s lawyers want the judge handling the lawsuit to not allow the disputed exhibits because he does not have the proper jurisdiction to do so.

A hearing date for this latest legal salvo in the ongoing Sam Lutfi saga has not been set because a new judge has yet to be assigned to the case after the previous judge was reassigned to a judicial panel. It’s quite obvious that Sam Lutfi is seeking these drug test results in order to prove his claim that he never drugged her.

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For Britney Spears' father Jamie, his one wish for his little girl's big day is that she will be married a free woman. Mr Spears has been the conservator of his daughter's affairs for almost four years after the singer's life spiralled out of control in 2007.

But that could all change very soon if Jamie gets his wish and is able to convince a judge to halt the conservatorship before Britney's upcoming nuptials to fiance Jason Trawick. A judge handed control of Britney's mass fortune, as well as all other aspects of her life, over to her father after her very public meltdown.

At the height of her problems Britney lost custody of her two children, Sean Preston, now six and Jayden James, now five, shaved her head and had to be forcibly strapped to a hospital stretcher after refusing to hand over her children to their father Kevin Federline.

But Britney has managed to put all the drama behind her and is back on top in all aspects of her life- motherhood, love and career. Because of Britney's incredible improvement and the stable nature of her relationship with Trawick, her father is hoping a judge will accept his request.

A source tells the Sunday Express: 'Jamie wants to go to court in early February so Britney will be a free woman in every sense when she marries.'According to the source Jamie is hoping the conservatorship will be dropped in time for her nuptials, which are reportedly due to take place on Valentine's Day on the Hawaiian island of Maui. Here is hoping Jamie is successful!

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Britney Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline has been rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest during a reality show. The former dancer was doing a series of training drills with new AFL team Greater Western Sydney as part of Channel 9's reality show 'Excess Baggage' when he was struck down with chest pains.

Paramedics at the scene suspect that Federline suffered a minor cardiac arrest. He has been taken to Blacktown hospital where he is undergoing a series of blood tests, the Herald Sun reported. Federline, 33, was expected to remain at the hospital overnight.

It is not clear whether he will be able to return to the show. In recent times he has been nicknamed "K-Fat" because of his weight gain. Federline said he decided to become a contestant on 'Excess Baggage' "to become fit, healthy and buff once more".

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Pop star Britney Spears' sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, will be the ringbearers when she marries third husband Jason Trawick this summer. The 30-year-old Toxic singer will tie the knot with her former agent later this year and she wants Sean Preston, six, and five-year-old Jayden James, her boys from her marriage to second husband Kevin Federline, to play a big role.

"It's going to be a very intimate wedding with only immediate family and very, very close friends. It will probably be a destination wedding in a very warm, tropical location. There is absolutely no drama with the planning of the wedding and Britney will probably wear an off-white dress that will show off her killer bod," a source said.

"Britney's sons are absolutely going to be a part of the ceremony as ringbearers, and Jason has something very special planned for the boys that will take place during the wedding."However, Spears won't be marrying Trawick until she has settled several lawsuits against her as she wants to start married life with a clean slate.

"Britney doesn't want to get married until all legal matters have been dealt with. She wants to begin her life with Jason on a fresh clean slate," the source added. Besides Federline, Speard also had her first marriage to childhood friend Jason Alexander annulled after just 55 hours in January 2004.

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Since premiering at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, this tongue-in-cheek homage to a dubious pop princess has already enjoyed several successful seasons in various cities.

It does not really matter how accurate the facts are or that the 'real' Britney's bizarre antics and troubles have created a multitude of jokes. Britney Spears The Cabaret seeks to play with, tease, even illuminate both the performer and the person.

The creative duo of Dean Bryant & Mathew Frank have managed to create a fascinating, often hilarious and at times touching biography of a life lived thus far. A life that is given more dignity and class than reality suggests.

Dean Bryant's writing and direction is the driving force that manages to capture the innocence of a child sent out to work and a confused adolescent struggling to graduate to adulthood. This works for most of the 70 minutes' running time. Unfortunately the last few scenes tend to be too dark. The tone here needs to be lifted somewhat to deliver a lighter ending.

Mathew Frank has done a superb job at re-arranging the icon's music catalogue into something quite interesting and even classy. Songs take on new meanings and become the perfect backdrop to the monologues. What was once over-produced tracks, is now given a slicker cabaret-style charm with just Frank on piano.  

But of course, the star of the show is the stunning Christie Whelan. Over the last few years, this very talented performer has cemented herself as a true musical theatre leading lady. Here she shines, not only in the persona of Britney, but in her delivery of both monologues and lyrics. Whelan knows how to be very funny, but can quickly turn the card and evoke not only sympathy but even admiration for her Britney. We dont see a victim. We discover a survivor.

Britney Spears The Cabaret is a simply staged production, but one that will keep finding a captive audience. The talented trio of Bryant, Frank & Whelan have created a show which may even surprise Ms Spears herself.  

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Britney Spears has been called a multitude of things - Among them, the queen of pop and a performance artist. She showcased the polished side of her many personalities in front of a sold out crowd at the Hp Pavilion in San Jose. Her show contained a massive stage, two solid opening acts and a barrage of visual effects. It was just what her fans were expecting and they made their approval evident with ear splitting screams.

Rapper extraordinaire Nikki Minaj kicked the night off. Minaj is slowly proving that she can be comfortable in any situation. The female Weezy flew through a 45 minute set which showed off her singing, rhyming and even her acting skills. It is an arena tour after all, so Nikki was sure to include a storyline which revolved around one of her alternate personalities named Roman. Although it really didn't work, the music made up for it.

Minaj has a good balance of straight up rap and pop hits that are featured on Kids Bop albums. Fans of one side of Minaj aren't necessarily fans of the opposite side. Somehow, she was able to bring her songbook and personalities together for a live set that was entertaining.

The countdown started 30 minutes before Spears emerged on stage. Another feat Britney has accomplished: she can create a frenzy without even entering a building. Finally the clock expired and Britney appeared center stage in one of dozens of costumes to be worn throughout the night. Spears wasn’t alone on that stage. She had a crew of dancers following every move she made. Other Spears employees were dancing on separate tiers of the massive set up and catwalk while Britney launched into one of her dozens of hit songs.

The fact that Spears has kept herself relevant enough to continue to sell out arena tours is a startling feat. Say what you will about the songstress but one thing is for sure. She knows how to move tickets. She also knows how to put on a show. Two years ago she had a string of sold out gigs in the Bay Area that featured a circus theme. This year was a little different. But the atmosphere still had a circus feel. Whether that was accidental or not it merely added to the spectacle.

Face value of each ticket was also startling. For a premium seat fans were expected to shell out upwards of 300 dollars. Which they happily did. Scalpers were having a field day in the parking lots surrounding the venue as tickets quickly became a hot commodity. This is expected every time Britney comes into town and she makes sure to give everyone their money's worth.

Sure, at times Spears seemed a bit robotic. Like her head wasn't in the game. After doing this for so long the allure of a cavernous stadium full of screaming people may have worn off. But when Spears lifted up from below the stage straddling a giant guitar and ended up thirty feet above her admiring fans, it was a pure Britney moment. One of many highlights. The music may be annoying to some, dance club fodder that will soon be forgotten. But for millions of people the spectacle and grandiosity of a Spears concert is worth the price of admission. And Britney never lets her fans down.

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