Britney Spears has shot down rumours she is working on a new album, saying she will “never return to the music industry”.

The 42-year-old pop star was responding to claims in the US that she was sourcing songwriters, including singers Charli XCX and Julia Michaels, to work on new material.

In a post on Instagram, Spears wrote: “Just so we’re clear most of the news is trash!!!

“They keep saying I’m turning to random people to do a new album… I will never return to the music industry!!!”

She went on to say she only writes songs “for fun” or for other artists now.

The star revealed she had written more than 20 songs for other people over the last two years.

Spears, whose hit songs include Toxic, Oops!… I Did It Again, and …Baby One More Time, said: “I’m a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way!!!”

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She also ended rumours that last year’s memoir, The Woman In Me, was released without her approval, which she said was “far from the truth”.

The book received rave reviews, with critics praising her for its “raw and unfiltered” depiction of fame, motherhood and life under a conservatorship.

It was even credited with spurring a book-buying boom in the run-up to Christmas.

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The Instagram post was accompanied by an image of the 17th-century painting titled Salome Bearing The Head Of St John the Baptist by Italian baroque artist Guido Reni.

It is not the first time Spears has indicated she is retiring from bringing out her own new music.

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Shortly after being released from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021, she wrote on Instagram she was scared of the entertainment business and that not doing her own music was an act of defiance against her family.

However, the next year she collaborated with Sir Elton John on Hold Me Closer – her first new music in six years.

The last song she released was Mind Your Business, a collaboration with Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, in July, while her last full album was 2016’s Glory.

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In August, her husband of less than a year, Sam Asghari, filed for divorce.

Her nine career studio albums have all enjoyed chart and sales success.

She has also won one Grammy for best dance recording for her song Toxic and has been nominated for a further seven along with four Brit Awards.

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