Britney Spears’s collaborative comeback single with Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” (titled “Hold Me Closer”) meets controversy as tabloid misinformation and music leaks drive fans into a media frenzy. The single’s release shifted from August 19 to August 26 amid music leaks and (frankly) an unclear promotion timeline.
Britney Spears in 2022
After being freed from her 13-year conservatorship, Spears “un-paused” her life. Rumors swirled from her penning a tell-all book slated for a late 2022 release (according to her Instagram) to her having a sit down with Oprah (which hasn’t been confirmed.) But, amongst these accusations, the Grammy-winner found peace away from the chaos by taking vacations to Hawaii with her now-husband, Sam Asghari.
Yes, husband! Spears exchanged vowels with 28-year-old Iranian-American model Sam Asghari on June 9, 2022. After meeting Asghari on her 2016 sleeper hit “Slumber Party” (feat. Tinashe), they dated under the watchful eye of the conservatorship. However, due to its extreme regulations, Spears was not allowed to marry or have kids under guardianship.
Attendees include pop royalty like Madonna and Selena Gomez, DJ socialite Paris Hilton, and movie actress Drew Barrymore. Also in attendance was the designer of Spears’s gown, fashion icon Donatella Versace. Together, the stars giddily sang along to Madonna’s “Vogue” in a cute video.
As many music leaks spread online, one was totally left field. Spears recorded a demo for the 2016 film “Suicide Squad” titled “Sucker For Pain,” which never made the cut. Instead, Imagine Dragons, Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa are the credited artists on the release.
Lili cantou pra princesinha do pop pic.twitter.com/NP6KX1fYdf
— t4leaksgag (@t4leaksgag) August 19, 2022
Will Britney Return To Music?
Spears was plagued with music comeback rumors ever since her 2021 conservatorship liberation. Some “insiders” said she’s excited to return with a “new sound” and “new energy.” Or that Spears has been “sitting on plenty of new material.” Well, nine months later, Spears finally unveils the “new material” insiders wanted to exploit. “Hold Me Closer” is a rendition of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” which will be the pop star’s first duet single with the icon. Though an explosion of tabloid misinformation and music leaks lead to a not-so-surprising remark from a Britney “insider.”
One of Britney’s confidantes told The Sun: “The constant rumours and conspiracy theories around her need to stop. She’s amazing and she adores her fans but at times they run the risk of hurting her with their claims and allegations.” pic.twitter.com/7FtODyPSaP
— Hugh 🌹🚀 (@KEVINFElGE) August 21, 2022
Whether the statement is true or not is minuscule when producers probe fans for fun. And, on release night, Britney Spears herself left her Pringles and dancing dreamland to stalk her fan accounts which mention audio leaks of “Hold Me Closer.” Even companies like Spotify and Grindr were gearing up for its August 19 release before realizing it was not coming.
As August 19 came, so did another surprise: the actual release date of “Hold Me Closer” paired with seemingly makeshift cover art. Spears and Elton John are in glitter baseball attire in one photo, and another photo is a childhood photo of each. With the release now scheduled for this Friday, August 26, they shared a snipped of the single. And, for starters, the pop star does sound fresh (thanks, “insiders!”)
@eltonjohn #HoldMeCloser with @britneyspears. Coming August 26 🌹🚀 #newmusic #electronic #remix
Artists like European pop idol Kylie Minogue and Rupaul’s Drag Race alum Derrick Barry expressed their excitement for this release.
Are you excited about Britney Spears and Elton John’s “Hold Me Closer” coming this Friday, August 26th? Let us know in the comments!
