California Highway Patrol arrested Britney Spears, the famous pop singer, on suspicion of drunk driving before releasing her in the early morning, with a court date set for early May.
Her representative acknowledged the incident was "inexcusable."
On 5 March 2026, international news agencies reported that Britney Spears, the 44-year-old globally renowned pop singer, was detained by California Highway Patrol officers at around 9:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday after being suspected of driving under the influence in California, USA.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office in California confirmed to local media that the arrest did occur and that Spears was released early Thursday morning, with a court appearance scheduled in Ventura on 4 May.
Meanwhile, Spears' representative told the media that the incident was regrettable and inexcusable, adding that the singer will comply with the law and hopes this event marks the start of necessary changes in her life. They also said that her family and close associates are planning support to care for Britney Spears' mental health and well-being during this difficult time, and that her sons will be spending more time with their mother.
Reports also noted that Spears' Instagram account appeared to have been deleted shortly after news of the arrest spread.
Britney Spears is one of the world's most successful pop artists with numerous hits. However, in 2024, she announced she would not return to the music industry. Her latest work was a duet with Elton John in 2022.
Additionally, she was under legal conservatorship for 13 years until 2021, during which her personal life and assets were controlled by her father. She later shared her experience in a memoir titled The Woman in Me, published in 2023. Her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, also released his own memoir in 2025 called You Thought You Knew.
Source: BBC