Rise & Fall: Of Britney Spears

Ah, Britney. Where did it all go wrong? Was it the child stardom, the 76 million records sold worldwide, the very public break-up with your first true love, Justin Timberlake, the 55-hour quickie marriage to Jason Alexander, the rebound wedding with layabout loser Kevin Federline, the stress of being a mum of two before your 25th birthday, or something else?

Yet, although he won't confirm reports that he's back working with Britney Spears, her former manager Larry Rudolph reckons the troubled star is in "great shape."

"I've seen her a few times over the past week or two. I've spent some time with her just socially. I've gone up to the house. I've sat with her. She's in great shape," he told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS FM radio show.

"I couldn't be happier to see the condition she's in. But this is not a time to talk about business with her.

"What she needs now is the public to be on her side and root for her, because she deserves it and that means a lot to her," he added.

Larry went on to praise Brit's recent guest appearance on sitcom How I Met Your Mother and commented on her parents newfound presence in the singer's life, saying; "She needs people around her who are there for the right reasons."
He was also optimistic about her future.

"I can't think of a situation where somebody's been set up for a bigger comeback than that girl," he said.

Britney Spears' comeback TV appearance has not only boosted her career, it has also changed some opinions of her.

Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) was so impressed by her turn on the US comedy How I Met Your Mother that she invited the troubled pop star to spend some time in their offices.

It's a complete turn-around for the animal rights organisation, who have blasted Britney in the past for her fur-wearing and buying dogs from pet stores.

"After seeing your excellent performance as a receptionist on How I Met Your Mother, PETA would like to offer you a real job as a receptionist," wrote Ingrid.

"It could be for as little as an hour, and you would see - from the inside - why we are so concerned about issues like fur and homeless dogs and cats. As a 'thank you' for your willingness to learn and help, we would donate 1,000 dollars to a children's charity."

She added: "We might have criticised you in the past for contributing to the dog overpopulation crisis and wearing real fur, but perhaps now that your own crisis has abated, a new day calls for a new relationship, a new outlook, and a new understanding."●