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13 January 2022

Britney Spears’ sister Jamie Lynn says ‘love is still there’ amid rift over conservatorship

"I've only ever loved and supported her and done what's right by her, and she knows that..."

By Alastair James

Words: Alastair James; pictures: ABC News and Instagram/britneyspears

Britney Spears’ sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, has said “love is still there” between the two sisters as she opened up about their relationship ahead of the release of her upcoming book, Things I Should Have Said.

It follows speculation that the two have grown apart in recent months as the ‘Stonger’ singer battled to have her conservatorship ended, which finally happened in November.

Sharing her thoughts on her sister, the conservatorship, their relationship, and more, Jamie Lynn Spears has said she had to “honour my voice” in writing the book.

“I’ve only ever loved and supported her”

In an exclusive interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday (12 January) the songwriter and mother of two discussed how growing up she viewed her sister, Britney, as “another momma” whom she “adored”. 

However, she describes Britney’s behaviour in the lead-up to the conservatorship, which came in in 2008 after the singer’s widely publicised troubles, as “erratic,” “paranoid” and “spiraling”. 

In June of last year, Britney gave an explosive testimony in court, accusing her father, Jamie Spears, of “conservatorship abuse” and also detailing to what extent her life had been controlled for the last 13 years. This included being prevented from marrying or having more children. 

Asked by ABC News’ Juju Chang what Jamie Lynn makes of Britney’s current state of mind the younger sister says she “can’t really speak to anyone else’s state of mind. I don’t think that’s fair. But I’m allowed to say how I felt in those because that matters. It matters that I was in pain.”

On her reaction to Britney’s conservatorship being terminated, Jamie Lynn said she was “happy” when she heard the news adding she didn’t understand it when it was put into effect as she was only 17-year-old. 

“I was about to have a baby, so I didn’t understand what was happening. Nor was I focused on that. I was focused on the fact that I was a 17-year-old about to have a baby. I understand just as little about it then as I do now,” she says.

Jamie Lynn claims to have been asked by Britney “of her trust and will if I would be the person to ensure that her boys got what they needed” which she says seemed normal conservatorship or not when it came to her involvement in the financial and personal arrangement. 

She also reveals she has always been her sister’s “biggest supporter” and that she tried to put Britney in touch with people who would help her end the conservatorship saying “If it’s going to cause this much discord, why continue it?”

Jamie Lynn also says there was only so much he could do and that while she could try and help it was up to Britney “to walk through the door.”

Responding to her sister’s criticism of her performance of some of Britney’s songs at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards, Jamie Lynn is confused as to why it was an issue but says they have spoken about it and it has been “cleared up”. Last July, Britney posted on Instagram to say the performance had “hurt me deeply”. 

Jamie Lynn insists that “love is still there.” She goes on to say, “I’ve only ever loved and supported her and done what’s right by her, and she knows that, so I don’t know why we’re in this position right now.”

The Attitude February issue is out now. 

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