Spears ditches parenting book
2007-12-20 10:00
Los Angeles - The mother of Britney Spears has shelved plans for a book on parenting, Christian publishers said on Wednesday, as news of a pregnancy involving the pop star's 16-year-old sister gripped US media.
Lynne Spears had been due to release Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World via publisher Thomas Nelson in April next year.
However a spokesperson for the Tennessee-based publisher said the book's publication had been postponed after discussions with Spears last week.
"It has been postponed indefinitely," Lindsey Nobles told AFP. "Lynne spoke to us last week. We have no further comment."
News of the postponement comes as Lynne Spears grapples with yet another bombshell revelation concerning her children - the pregnancy of teenage daughter Jamie Lynn.
Jamie Lynn - the star of the US television show Zoey 101 - has told OK! magazine in an interview to be published on Friday she is three months pregnant. According to the interview, the father of the baby is the young actress' boyfriend, Casey Aldridge.
A statement from US cable television channel Nickelodeon, which airs Zoey 101, said the network was supporting Spears.
"We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation," the statement said.
"We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well-being."
Elder sister also struggling
News of the pregnancy comes as Spears' more famous elder sister is battling for custody of her own two children with ex-husband Kevin Federline amid a series of lurid headlines about her parenting skills.
A parenting coach in the custody battle issued a damning assessment of Spears performance as mother to sons Sean Preston and Jayden James according to court documents released in October.
The coach found that "her (Spears) choices are dependent more upon what she wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children."
It added that Britney Spears household: "Ranged from chaotic to almost somber with no communication at all."
Spears has also had a strained relationship with her mother Lynne, reportedly asking her earlier this year to stay away from her before reuniting in October.