Britney Spears’ father Jamie was hospitalized with a bacterial infection, PEOPLE can confirm. The 71-year-old was severely ill and was hospitalized with the infection, but he is now in an infectious disease outpatient facility and is on the mend. Page Six was the first to report that Jamie had been hospitalized.
A representative for Jamie did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. This is not the first time Britney’s father has been hospitalized in recent years. In November 2018, he became “seriously ill” and was rushed to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, where his colon “spontaneously ruptured.” According to a statement from Britney’s team obtained by PEOPLE at the time, Jamie underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for 28 days.
“After a long, complicated post-operative period, he is recuperating at home and gaining strength, and is expected to make a full recovery,” the statement said.
“I am dedicating my focus and energy to care for my family,” Britney, 41, added in the statement at the time. “We have a very special relationship and I want to be with my family at this time just like they have always been there for me.”
Two months later, the singer spoke about her dad’s health in a post X (formerly known as Twitter), where she said in a since-deleted post that she would be taking an indefinite break from work and delaying her Las Vegas residency, Domination.
“It’s important to always put your family first… and that’s the decision I had to make,” she wrote in January 2019. “A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him.”
Jamie also shares daughter Jamie Lynn, 32, and son Bryan, 46, with his ex-wife Lynne, 68.
Britney has had a complex relationship with her family since she was placed under a conservatorship in 2008 that lasted over a decade and was terminated in November 2021. Two months before the conservatorship ended, her father was removed from his role as Britney’s estate conservator.
In May, the “Lucky” singer revealed that her mother had visited her home for the first time in three years.
“My sweet mama showed up at my door step yesterday after 3 years … it’s been such a long time … with family there’s always things that need to be worked out … but time heals all wounds !!!” her Instagram post began.
Discussing her feelings about the meet-up, Britney continued, “After being able to communicate what I’ve held in for an extremely long time, I feel so blessed we were able to try to make things RIGHT !!! I love 💕 you so much !!! Psss… I’m so blessed we can have coffee together after 14 years !!! Let’s go shopping afterwards !!!”
Britney’s upcoming memoir, The Woman in Me, will be released on Oct. 24. PEOPLE exclusively revealed the release date in July, following an announcement in 2022 that the singer had signed a book deal with publishing house Simon & Schuster.
In other news – Tristan Thompson branded bad father by eldest son’s family
After Kim Kardashian issued some major praise for Tristan Thompson’s parenting, his family of his eldest son, Prince, wants to set the record straight.
The socialite called Tristan “such a good friend and such a good dad” on a recent episode of The Kardashians, but now Prince’s aunt Kai Cyre has claimed that is far from the truth. She claimed in an Instagram post: “It’s so painful to see how Tristan can find the time to do these nice things for others but can’t seem to show up and be a real parent for my nephew Prince. Read More
