Britney Spears’s father Jamie had his leg amputated a month ago and is ‘not doing well.’
According to TMZ: ‘Jamie had a massive infection in one of his legs that landed him in a hospital for weeks. He had 5 unsuccessful surgeries to contain the infection, and doctors decided the only way to proceed was amputation.’
Britney has started making amends with her mother Lynne, 68, and there is now hope that she can start to repair her fractured relationship wtih her father, 71.
It’s thought that no matter what has happened, she still misses him and he harbours no resentment towards her following the conservatorship battle fall out.
The site reports that Jamie – who has had a well-publicised battle with alcoholism, is not doing well. ‘He’s had other ailments and has been downcast amid the torrent of criticism over his handling of the conservatorship … something he thinks is terribly unfair.
‘Jamie is the one who moved from Louisiana to care for his daughter back in 2007. Lots of people who were involved back then say Jamie may have saved Britney’s life.’
It’s not clear whether re-establishing a relationship with her father would have an impact on the legal action which is currently ongoing over allegations over the conservatorship.
MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Britney Spears for comment.
Back in October, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Jamie was back living with his youngest daughter Jamie Lynn at her newly built home in Louisiana, after another failed stint in rehab for alcoholism.
Jamie – whose lengthy battle with booze was first detailed by his ex-wife Lynne in her 2008 book Through the Storm – left rehab in July after completing a 30-day program, according to a Spears family insider, who claims that the father-of-three has since struggled to stay sober.Britney’s father has been living in a guest house at Jamie Lynn’s property in Hammond, Louisiana, with her husband Jamie Watson and their daughters Ivey, five, and Maddie, 15, a source shared – adding that his drinking has sparked serious concern among his family members.
‘Jamie just got out of rehab, but is already drinking again, which worries Lynne and Jamie Lynn,’ they said.
He himself revealed in December 2022 that he had moved in with his younger daughter Jamie Lynn during an interview with The Mail on Sunday, although at the time he blamed the decision on health problems.
In 2008, Jamie took complete control over Britney’s life when he became her conservator following a mental breakdown at her home on Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills, California.
In 2014, Britney told a judge that presided over her conservatorship that she suspected her dad was drinking again. His attorney denied this at the time.
Jamie suffered a serious health scare in 2018 when his colon ruptured. The condition can be caused by years of alcohol consumption, according to the World Journal of Emergency Surgery.
‘A couple of months ago my father was hospitalized and almost died,’ Britney tweeted at the time. ‘We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him.’
The Toxic singer cancelled her second residency in Las Vegas, Domination, to care for her father.
Her first residency Piece Of Me in Sin City had her performing almost every night for four years, from 2013 until 2017, and was one of the most lucrative residencies in Las Vegas’ history.
‘I am dedicating my focus and energy to care for my family. We have a very special relationship and I want to be with my family at this time just like they have always been there for me,’ she wrote at the time.
‘It’s important to always put your family first… and that’s the decision I had to make.’
But, in a court deposition in 2021, Britney alleged that Jamie forced her to say she was pulling the plug on Domination to care for him as she detailed the horrific abuse that she was forced to endure during her 13-year conservatorship.
Britney told the court that her father had her admitted to a mental health facility against her will as retaliation for voicing opinions during dress rehearsals about cancelling the residency.
Britney stated she ‘didn’t want to ever go there,’ referring to the mental health facility, which saw her undergo extreme treatment methods generally used on those with severe mental health issues.
‘I remember calling my dad on the phone crying, and he said “You have to listen to the doctors. I can’t help you now,'” she told the court.
The pop princess also claimed that her father told her that – if she ever challenged the treatment option he chose – she would lose the battle.
‘Now you don’t have to go, but if you don’t go, we’re going to go to trial and you’re going to lose,’ Britney claimed her father told her at the time.
In court documents filed by Britney’s attorney Matthew Rosengart, who was instrumental in getting the star free from the conservatorship – Jamie was referred to as an ‘alcoholic and gambling addict’.
Britney has not spoken to – or seen – her dad since her conservatorship ended in November 2021.
The latest news comes after it was revealed Britney’s mother Lynne is trying to get closer to her daughter after their relationship cratered in the wake of the dissolution of her conservatorship.
After recently reuniting with Britney for her 42nd birthday — is ‘really making an effort to be in Britney’s life,’ a source told People on Monday.
‘Her mom does love her. There is no doubt about that,’ the insider said.
However, they noted that things between the two were complicated because ‘Britney can be very stubborn.’
Lynne was trying to surmount that obstacle by being ‘very apologetic’ to her daughter as she goes through a divorce from her husband Sam Asghari.
They added that Lynne also ‘takes full blame’ for the rift that developed between them.
‘Lynne is really making an effort to be in Britney’s life. She likes spending time with her,’ the insider continued. ‘They have a complicated relationship, but it seems they both need each other.’
Britney’s mother’s attempts to get back into her life were illustrated when she was spotted at her birthday bash.
Photos obtained by TMZ showed Lynne leaving the house of Britney’s manager Cade Hudson the morning after her birthday, suggesting that she and Britney had spent the evening together.
A second source told PEOPLE that ‘being together and celebrating [Britney’s] birthday was a really nice moment for the family.’
The Toxic singer’s older brother Bryan Spears, 46, was also at her party, though he doesn’t appear to have had as contentious a relationship with her compared to his parents or other sibling Jamie Lynne Spears, 32.
Back in May of this year, Britney shared on her Instagram that she and her mother were working to settle their differences.
‘My sweet mama showed up at my door step yesterday after 3 years,’ she wrote at the time. ‘It’s been such a long time … with family there’s always things that need to be worked out … but time heals all wounds !!!
‘After being able to communicate what I’ve held in for an extremely long time, I feel so blessed we were able to try to make things RIGHT !!! I love you so much !!!’ she added. ‘Psss… I’m so blessed we can have coffee together after 14 years !!! Let’s go shopping afterwards !!!’
However, the detente appeared to be in jeopardy months later when Britney was reported to be back to feuding with her mother.
Her memoir The Woman In Me didn’t help matters when she aired years of grievances about how her mother treated her, both at the height of her fame and after her conservatorship was instituted.
The arrangement, which severely restricted her financial dependence and controlled many aspects of her daily life, was dissolved in November 2021.
Among Britney’s complaints about her mother was that Lynne allegedly hid or threw out her dolls and journals from their family home.
Lynne subsequently denied trying to sell the items, but she has been accused of selling her daughters outfits and accessories to a local used clothing shop to help make money after funds from Britney’s conservatorship were cut off.
Among the items allegedly sold was a hat the Stronger singer wore to the Billboard Music Awards in 2000, as well as Butterfly boots featured at the 2003 Kids’ Choice Awards and a top worn for an appearance on MTV’s TRL in 2002.
Britney has taken steps to suggest she is improving her relationship with other family members.
In November, she shared an Instagram photo of her older brother in what looked like a green full-body protective suit.
‘My big brother who’s like a dad and my best friend !! Not sure what’s going on with this outfit though,’ she joked in her caption.
Britney also indicated that she was mending fences with her sister Jamie Lynn when she claimed that she had visited her on the set of her movie Zoey 102, even though it appeared that the show had been filmed largely on the East Coast.
Jamie Lynn has been tight-lipped about their relationship, but during a recent stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, she simply said ‘I love my sister’ when asked if she ‘g[ot] on’ with Britney now.