Britney celebrates Circus bday
2008-12-03 12:40
New York - Britney Spears starred in
her own Circus on Tuesday, performing songs from her new
album of that name under a big top in New York City, unveiling
plans for a 2009 tour and celebrating her 27th birthday.
Spears performed new songs under the Big Apple Circus tent
in Manhattan for ABC breakfast show Good Morning America and
announced plans for a 26-city North American tour, starting in
New Orleans on March 3, and two concerts in London in June.
The pop star is attempting a comeback from a high-profile
meltdown, which included stints in rehab and psychiatric
hospital units, an ugly divorce, losing custody of her two sons
and shaving her head.
"Old Britney I think is back," said Jamal Alexander, 24,
from Brooklyn, who couldn't get inside the circus tent and
stood outside to hear Spears perform.
"This seems more real,
more put together. She has the right people behind her now."
Since early this year, Spears' father, Jamie, has taken
over management of her affairs and helped get her life back on
track.
'I've never stopped loving her'
She has made guest appearances on the US television
series How I Met Your Mother and regained custody of her sons
Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden, 2, for three days a week.
"I have never stopped loving her," said Kate Trunkwalter,
23, a bartender who travelled from Atlantic City, New Jersey,
even though she didn't have a ticket for the show.
"I always
stood up for her when she was going through her rough times."
Womaniser, the first single from Circus, hit No 1 on
Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart in October.
The album - from Jive Records which is part of by Sony
Music Entertainment Inc, a unit of Sony Corp, marks the follow-up to 2007's Blackout.
That was also billed
as a comeback but failed to return Spears to the commercial
heyday she enjoyed at the turn of the century.
"I know she's back, I'm really excited for her," said
Giovanna Arredondo, 25, who lives in the Dominican Republic.