Britney Spears "3"
Courtesy PhotoBritney Spears is ready to be her own cheerleader — and make some new music.
In a new Instagram video posted late Wednesday (Dec. 22), the pop superstar films herself in front of a bathroom mirror while belting out some sky-high notes and finishing with a soulful low run.
“I just realized this today guys … after what my family tried to do to me three years ago … I needed to be my own cheerleader !!!!” she wrote in the caption. “God knows they weren’t …so I just read up on my self and this is what I found.”
Spears goes on to quote her RCA Records artist bio, which reads in part: “Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Britney Spears is one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers in pop history with nearly 100 million records sold worldwide. In the U.S. alone, she has sold more than 70 million albums, singles and songs, according to Nielsen Music.”
Spears says she’s finally realizing just how successful she’s been in her music career. “I’m not auditioning for anything !!!! I’m reminding myself and the world of who I am !!!!” the caption continues. “Yes … I will be my own cheerleader … why ???? I’m here to remind my white ‘classy’ family that I haven’t forgotten what they did to me nor will I ever forget !!!!”
And that’s not all: For the first time since the #FreeBritney movement put a spotlight on the star’s controversial and now-scrapped 13-year conservatorship, Spears says she’s working on new music.
“Pssss new song in the works,” she writes. “I’m gonna let you know what I mean
The estate of Prince has shared a previously unheard recording of “With This Tear,” a track the late icon originally wrote before passing it on to Celine Dion in the early 1990s.
The newly revealed version, released through NPG Records and Legacy Recordings, presents Prince’s own recording of the piano driven ballad, fully written, produced and performed by him. It was initially recorded at Paisley Park in November 1991 and had stayed in the vault until now.
Dion’s interpretation of “With This Tear” was included on her 1992 self titled album, highlighting one of many moments where Prince created songs for other artists while holding back his own versions. His original recording feels more minimal, putting the focus on his vocals and piano arrangement.
The newly issued version has been given an updated mix by Grammy nominated producer Chris James, who has worked on several Prince related releases before. This drop is part of the Prince Estate’s ongoing effort to open up more of his deep archive of unreleased music.
The release arrives at a meaningful moment, just ahead of the 10th anniversary of Prince’s passing. Since 2016, a consistent flow of archival material including deluxe reissues, vault recordings and rare collaborations has kept his legacy active in today’s music landscape while offering a closer look at how much he created.
“With This Tear” also highlights Prince’s long established role as a songwriter for others. Across his career, he wrote and produced tracks for a wide range of artists, often shaping songs that evolved into entirely new identities outside his own discography.
The release comes amid growing attention around Prince’s archive in recent years. In 2024, a demo of “Baby Doll,” an unreleased collaboration between Prince and Kylie Minogue, surfaced online and showed just how much material still remains unheard.
While there has been no official confirmation of a larger vault project, reports continue to suggest that more archival releases could be on the way.
