Britney Spears was taken into custody in Southern California on Wednesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to local law enforcement. TMZ was first to report the news of Spears’ arrest.
The 44-year-old singer was arrested around 9:30 p.m. by the California Highway Patrol in Ventura County. Records show she was released early Thursday morning after spending the night in custody, and her vehicle was towed from the scene. Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the traffic stop, though law enforcement sources say the arrest involved a suspected DUI. Spears is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on May 4, 2026.
In a statement following the incident, a representative for Spears said, “This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable.” The spokesperson added, “Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
The representative also noted that the singer’s sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James — whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline — will be spending time with her as family members work on a plan focused on her well-being. “Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well being.”
The arrest comes during a period of intense public attention surrounding Spears’ personal life. She has remained closely watched since a judge ended her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, which had granted control of her finances and personal decisions to her father, Jamie Spears. In recent years, she has frequently shared videos and personal reflections on social media, often filmed at her home in Thousand Oaks. Her Instagram account appeared to have been deactivated shortly after the news of the arrest surfaced.
One of the most successful pop artists of the past few decades, Spears is widely known as the “Princess of Pop,” with chart-topping hits including “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops!… I Did It Again!,” “Womanizer,” and “I’m a Slave 4 U.” She also won a Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Dance Recording for her hit “Toxic.” Recently, she reportedly sold the rights to her music catalog to the publishing company Primary Wave for an estimated $200 million.
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