Will Britney Spears NEVER perform in the US anymore?
Britney Spears has sparked fresh speculation about a dramatic return to music, and an even more dramatic refusal to ever perform in the United States again, while signaling that her teenage son could be at the center of whatever comes next.
Over the Christmas period, the pop icon used social media to lash out at several relatives, but on Thursday she made it clear that one family relationship is not only intact, but flourishing. The 44-year-old shared Instagram videos of herself dancing with her son Jayden, before following up with another post that hinted he could soon join her on stage.
Alongside the videos, Britney posted an old photograph of herself seated at a white Yamaha piano, smiling brightly as she sat on the edge of the bench facing an audience.
Referring to the image, she wrote: "Sending this piano to my son this year!!!" She then appeared to connect the sentimental gift to the dance clips she had shared earlier in the day.
Explaining her often-criticized Instagram dancing, Spears added: "Interestingly enough, I dance on IG to heal things in my body that people have no idea about. Yup and it’s embarrassing sometimes… but I walked through the fire to save my life…"
She then dropped what fans have been waiting years to hear, details of a potential comeback, but with a major caveat for her American audience. Britney made it clear that any future performances will not happen on US soil.
"I will never perform in the US again because of extremely sensitive reasons but I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon," she wrote.
She went on to heap praise on Jayden, adding: "He's a huge star and I’m so humbled to be in his presence!!! God speed, little man!!!"
Spears last performed live in 2018 during her Pieces Of Me tour. Her latest comments mark a sharp shift from her stance in September 2022, when she declared she would never perform again. At the time, she briefly posted, and then deleted, a message complaining about being forced to share the stage with what she described as the “tiniest girls” as backup dancers.
Earlier on Thursday, Britney also shared another photo from her reunion with Jayden, captioning it with a unicorn emoji, a nod to how rare and special she considers him to be.
In the videos, mother and son stood in front of open French doors leading to a balcony. Jayden filmed a mirror selfie as Britney danced and spun around him in a pink dress, while he smiled proudly at the camera.
The posts surfaced shortly after Jayden was photographed out in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, he was seen stopping by the high-end grocery store Erewhon with a small group of friends.
Although Britney and Jayden reunited over the holidays, her older son Sean Preston, 20, was unable to travel to California due to work commitments. Britney shares both sons with her ex-husband Kevin Federline, whom she married in 2004 before divorcing three years later.
A source told People in December: "Britney had a fun time celebrating Christmas with Jayden. It's been such a special holiday."
The reunion marks continued progress in repairing her relationship with her children after a period of estrangement. Jayden and Sean moved to Hawaii in 2023 to live with Federline, but in June 2024, a separate insider told the Daily Mail that Britney had reconnected with both boys, with help from her brother Bryan.
"Britney has been speaking to, and working on, her relationship with Sean Preston and Jayden for months now," the source said. "The boys have so much love for their mother, as she does for them. Things are fully back on track and they are looking forward to the future together."
Britney has publicly shared glimpses of this renewed bond. Last June, she posted a selfie taken with Jayden during Father’s Day and captioned it: "Went to church today !!! Sang and praised !!!"
According to TMZ, Sean Preston could not join the family in California for Christmas due to work obligations in Louisiana. Instead, he spent the holiday with his aunt’s family and his grandmother, Lynne Spears.
Britney’s sister Jamie Lynn Spears also shared a Christmas photo that included Sean. Jamie appears to maintain a close relationship with both boys and previously reunited them with her own children in a rare family photo posted in September.
However, the holiday season also reignited Britney’s long-running family feud. Shortly after Christmas, she posted an image of a decorated tree alongside a sharply sarcastic message aimed at her estranged relatives.
"Merry late Christmas to my beautiful family who have never disrespected me, harmed me, ever done anything completely unacceptable or caused unbelievable trauma, the kind you can't fix," she wrote.
She continued: "To my dear sweet innocent family … so so sorry I was busy this Christmas but I will definitely show up and surprise you soon … I can't wait."
In the same post, she gave a chilling shoutout to her seven-year-old niece: "Hello, beautiful Ivy … I just want to hold you, my love."
She signed off with: "Godspeed, friends."
Britney’s relationship with her family has been deeply strained since her 13-year conservatorship, which ended in November 2021. In January 2022, she publicly attacked her sister following the release of Jamie Lynn’s memoir Things I Should Have Said.
Addressing her sister directly on Instagram, Britney wrote: "The timing of your book was unbelievable Jamie Lynn." She insisted that despite claims to the contrary, her "whole family" knew about the abuse she says she suffered under the conservatorship.
She added sarcastically: "Congrats best seller … I'm not surprised at all. The nerve of you to sell a book now and talk st but [you're] f*ing lying."
During her legal fight for freedom, Britney also made explosive accusations against her father. Speaking in court, she said: "My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a key role in punishing me, they should be in jail."
In November, Spears shared another cryptic Instagram post referencing pain and reflection. Alongside a video of herself dancing to Adele’s Send My Love (To Your New Lover), she wrote about hardship and transformation.
At one point, she reflected that "sadness and darkness" can "make an understanding of losing someone and of the hurt and pain…" before adding: "Sometimes through suffering and ugliness and sacrifice, extremely rare and beautiful things can be manifested and shared that can touch another person so they understand they are not alone..."
She concluded with a defiant note: "the woman in me will make sure I find my destination."
The post came shortly after she briefly deactivated her Instagram following the release of Kevin Federline’s memoir You Thought You Knew. In the book, Federline alleged that Britney once stood outside her children’s bedroom holding a "knife in her hand", and also claimed she used cocaine while breastfeeding.
Despite the explosive claims, Federline later said that Britney has since spoken with and reconnected with their children.
Britney remains active on Instagram and recently posted a reel showing off her dance moves in a sheer outfit. Although she experienced a wardrobe malfunction during filming, she caught it before posting and covered her chest with a flower emoji, another reminder that even amid controversy, she remains firmly in control of her narrative.