In this week's Billboard cover story superstar Britney Spears shares why her Las Vegas residency "clicked", being inspired by Celine Dion, her new album not being a "full priority", new romance and more.
Spears opens up about her Vegas stay, telling Billboard that she was inspired by Celine Dion's residency off the Strip in 2003.
"I remember how beautiful it was -- really cool, low-key -- and [Celine's] dressing room was great," Spears, now a 33-year-old mother of two, says. "I was actually jealous, like, 'Oh, my gosh, she gets to be in one place all the time.' Everything clicked: To have your children and your family and that way of life, it just makes sense to have everything in one place."
The Vegas routine seems to suit her well. On show nights, she'll spend an hour getting her hair and makeup done while rocking out to Taylor Swift's 1989 ("It's so much fun -- 'Out of the Woods' is a good one") before heading downstairs for a prayer with her team.
V egas has enabled another kind of comeback for Spears in her personal life. Having weathered public struggles and a string of breakups since her divorce from ex-husband Kevin Federline in 2006, Spears has regained primary custody of sons Jayden James, 8, and Sean Preston, 9, and recently found new romance with boyfriend Charlie Ebersol, 32, son of Olympics producer Dick Ebersol.
"Our passion for life is on the same page," says Spears of Ebersol.
Beyond Vegas, Spears is still working: on a lingerie line and "slowly but surely" recording her ninth album.
But "there's a lot going on with my kids and schools and adding new sports," she says. "I'm going to try to do my best to do an amazing album. But it's not my full priority right now."
