Britney Spears, the renowned pop star, has put an end to the speculations surrounding her alleged new album and her involvement with songwriters Charli XCX and Julia Michaels. Taking to Instagram, the 42-year-old singer dismissed the claims, stating that she will never return to the music industry. In a post, Spears expressed her frustration with the media, emphasizing that most of the news circulating about her is "trash." She clarified that she only writes songs for fun or for other artists now, revealing that she has written more than 20 songs for other people in the past two years. While she did not disclose the names of the artists she has worked with, Spears has previously been credited as a songwriter on many of her own songs, including the deeply personal "Everytime."

Addressing the rumors surrounding her memoir, "The Woman in Me," Spears vehemently denied claims that the book was released without her approval. She asserted that such allegations were "far from the truth" and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and love she has received. The memoir, which offers a raw and unfiltered portrayal of fame, motherhood, and life under a conservatorship, garnered rave reviews and contributed to a surge in book sales during the Christmas season.

In a peculiar move, Spears accompanied her Instagram post with an image of the 17th-century painting titled "Salome Bearing The Head Of St John the Baptist" by Italian baroque artist Guido Reni. This choice of artwork added a cryptic element to her message, leaving fans and media outlets speculating about its significance.

This is not the first time that Spears has hinted at retiring from releasing her own music. Shortly after being released from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, she expressed fear of the entertainment industry and stated that not producing her own music was an act of defiance against her family. However, she surprised fans the following year by collaborating with Sir Elton John on the song "Hold Me Closer," marking her first new music in six years. Her most recent release was the song "Mind Your Business," a collaboration with Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, in July. Her last full album, "Glory," was released in 2016.

In addition to her music career, Spears has faced personal challenges, including her recent divorce from husband Sam Asghari, which occurred less than a year after their marriage. Despite these struggles, Spears has achieved tremendous success throughout her career, with all nine of her studio albums achieving chart and sales success. She has also won a Grammy for best dance recording for her hit song “Toxic” and has been nominated for a further seven Grammys, as well as four Brit Awards.

While Spears' recent announcement may disappoint fans who were eagerly anticipating new music from the Princess of Pop, it is evident that she is content with her current role as a ghostwriter and is focused on exploring other creative avenues within the industry. As the news of her retirement from the music industry spreads, fans and critics alike are left wondering what lies ahead for this iconic pop star.