featuring @britneyspears
Britney Spears has surprised fans with the release of “She’ll Never Be Me,” a previously unreleased collaboration with Justin Timberlake recorded for her 2001 album Britney. The track arrives as a preview of the album’s 25th anniversary edition, scheduled for release on November 6.Recorded when Spears and Timberlake were dating, the song also features contributions from songwriters and producers Bradley Daymond and Alex Greggs, longtime collaborators of *NSYNC who worked together under the name Riprock ’n’ Alex G.The release came with little fanfare, appearing in a reel on Spears’ Facebook page without a broader announcement on her website or other social media accounts. Her longtime record label, RCA, also did not issue a press release. The understated rollout may reflect Spears’ decision to step away from the music industry, which she publicly discussed in 2024.According to the Facebook post, “She’ll Never Be Me” is one of five previously unreleased tracks featured on the anniversary edition. The other songs include “Am I a Sinner,” “When I Say So,” “My Big Secret” and a full-length version of “Right Now (Taste the Victory),” which was originally used in a 2002 Pepsi commercial.Although the recordings date back more than 25 years, their release marks the arrival of previously unheard Spears material from her earlier career. Her most recent released collaboration was “Mind Your Business” with will.i.am in 2023, a track that was also assembled using older recordings.Spears said in 2024 that she would “never return to the music industry.” In January, she also stated that she would never perform in the United States again, further reinforcing her decision to distance herself from the stage and recording studio.Since being released from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, Spears has regained control over her personal life and finances. She has largely maintained a low public profile, occasionally sharing personal statements and videos of herself dancing online. Some of her social media posts have prompted public concern about her well-being.The upcoming anniversary edition of Britney offers fans an opportunity to revisit a defining period in Spears’ career, with “She’ll Never Be Me” providing a rare glimpse into the music she recorded during her highly publicized relationship with Timberlake.
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