Britney Spearsis determined to create change for her life going forward.
During aconservatorship hearingin Los Angeles court on June 23, the princess of pop, 39, pleaded for more freedom when she gave an emotional — and at times shocking — 23 minutes of testimony. Now as she moves forward, she is focused on seeing that her desires become a reality, a source close to the Spears family says in this week’s PEOPLE cover story.
“Britney was very nervous about speaking in front of the judge, but this is her life — and she wants big changes,” says the family source.
Britney’s speech in court marked the first time in 13 years that she has publicly addressed her conservatorship, under which her father, Jamie, and others have held the power to make her personal and financial decisions since 2008, when her erratic behavior culminated in two involuntary 5150 holds in a psychiatric hospital.
Britney Spears on the cover of PEOPLE.
Britney’s explosive court allegations followed the January 2019 cancellation of her planned Las Vegas show and her announcement of a career break in order to support Jamie as he recovered from his own health crisis, a ruptured colon.
In August 2019, Jamie, 69, was involved in an alleged altercation with Britney’s son Sean Preston, now 15. Weeks later, court documents revealed that Jamie was stepping down as his daughter’s personal conservator after more than a decade.
At the time, Jodi Montgomery, Britney’s longtime care manager, temporarily replaced Jamie as the conservator of her person, responsible for medical decisions. Jamie remains co-conservator of her estate, along with wealth-management company Bessemer Trust.
Since then Britney has battled in court to prevent Jamie’s potential return as her personal conservator
“Britney was close with her dad for years. It really seems that she realizes he saved her life in 2008, but she doesn’t agree that the conservatorship should have continued on for all these years,” says the family source. “She hasn’t had contact with her dad for a long time and was beyond upset after Jamie’s altercation with her son.”
Jamie’s lawyers declined multiple requests for comment from PEOPLE.
A source close to the situation previously told PEOPLE that since taking over the role, conservator Montgomery “and a team of experts have concentrated on giving Britney the tools to get better. The hope is that she can get out of the conservatorship.”
Britney Spears.Nicholas Hunt/Filmmagic
Britney was first determined to have lost the capacity to make decisions for herself in 2008, following years of struggles in the public eye.
In 2008, after multiple rehab stays for reported drug and alcohol abuse, Britney hit a personal low as she battled in court with ex-husbandKevin Federlineover custody of Sean Preston and their son Jayden James, now 14. During each of her 5150 psychiatric holds, a medical professional deemed Britney a danger to herself and others. (Britney’s diagnosis and medical records remain private.)
“In 2008 Britney clearly needed the conservatorship,” says the family source. “People close to her believe that she wouldn’t be alive without it. She didn’t sleep, drove around 24/7 and acted very distressed. There were huge concerns about her mental health.”
Adds a music-world source: “She used to be involved with the decisions made about her career and finances, but things changed when she had public outbursts and other issues.”
RELATED VIDEO: Britney Spears Breaks Silence After Conservatorship Hearing: ‘I Apologize for Pretending Like I’ve Been OK’
By the end of the year, the star was able to gain more visitation time with her sons and reignite her career with the release of her sixth studio album,Circus, as the conservatorship was made permanent.
In the years that followed, she had several successful world tours, a stint as a judge on the Fox talent competition showX Factorand a Las Vegas residency.
Earlier this year Jamie’s attorney Vivian L. Thoreen told ABC News that her client had boosted the singer’s fortune, which she claimed had dwindled to $2.8 million at the height of Britney’s troubles, to nearly $60 million over the past decade.
“Jamie saved Britney’s life,” said Thoreen. “He has collaborated with her to help her regain custody of her children. He has brought her finances back from disaster. And he’s created a safe environment for her to live her life the way she wants.”
Still Britney feels “a lack of trust for Jamie and the conservator team,” says the family source.
While Jamie is now only in change of Britney’s finances as estate co-conservator, “he still has to approve everything, because everything is related to finances at the end of the day,” says the source close to the situation. “If she wants to go to Hawaii, he has to approve that because it costs money. If she wants to take her friends to dinner, he has to approve that because it costs money. He has the right to say no to certain things.”
In court it’s now up to Britney — who sources say has no current plans to return to the stage — to file a petition to terminate the conservatorship.
“It’s a complicated and complex situation,” says the family source. “There are clear issues with the conservatorship. It’s in place to protect Britney. Yet so many things that Britney is unhappy about are valid. She should definitely have more freedom. This is her life.”
For all the details on the fight over Britney Spears' future, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
source: people.com
