Britney Spears is facing charges of driving under the influence, according to authorities and US media reports.
The pop star was arrested in California on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 before being taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol at around 9:30 pm Pacific Time.
Officials later confirmed that she was released in the early hours of Thursday, March 5, 2026 morning and she is expected to appear before the Ventura County Superior Court on May 4, 2026.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A representative for Spears described the arrest as an “unfortunate incident” and said the singer intends to comply with the law.
The statement also indicated that those close to the star are working to ensure she receives support during what they described as a difficult period in her life.
“Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life,” the representative said, adding that her family and loved ones are planning to support her moving forward.
Shortly after the news broke, Spears appeared to have deleted her account on Instagram, where she has often shared personal updates with fans.
Spears remains one of the most successful pop artists in modern music history, known for global hits including Toxic, Everytime, Gimme More, Womanizer, Stronger, and Baby One More Time.
In January 2024, she announced that she would “never return to the music industry,” although she had earlier hinted on social media that she might consider performing live outside the United States, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia.
The singer’s life and career have remained under intense public scrutiny since the end of her controversial conservatorship in 2021, which for 13 years placed control of her finances and personal affairs under her father.
In 2023, Spears published her bestselling memoir The Woman in Me, detailing her rise to fame and struggles during the conservatorship. Her former husband, Kevin Federline, released his own memoir, You Thought You Knew, in late 2025.
