Britney Spears is not working on a new album and doesn’t plan to return to the music industry, the American singer-songwriter said in an Instagram post on Thursday, revealing that she has written over 20 songs as a “ghostwriter” in the past two years.

Her post came in response to a report about her collaboration with British singer Charli XCX and US-based singer Julia Michaels on a song for a new album.

“Just so we’re clear, most of the news is trash!!! They keep saying I’m turning to random people to do a new album … I will never return to the music industry,” the Criminal singer confirmed alongside Italian artist Guido Reni’s painting titled Salome with the head of John the Baptist.

Britney trashed all the rumours about her writing songs for a new album and mentioned that she has been working as a ghostwriter for other people’s music. “When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people…I’ve written over 20 songs for other people the past two years!!! I’m a ghostwriter and I honestly enjoy it that way,” she wrote.

Referring to her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me, which traces her journey from a teenage girl to a mother while juggling fame, the 42-year-old singer wrote, “For those of you who have read my book, there’s loads that you don’t know about me.”

She also addressed speculations about her memoir being published without her approval. “People are also saying MY BOOK WAS RELEASED WITHOUT MY APPROVAL ILLEGALLY and that’s far from the truth … have you read the news these days??? I’m so LOVED and blessed,” Britney concluded her note.

Britney’s last music album Glory came out in 2016, following which the singer has ventured into writing. Her memoir became a bestseller overnight with over 1.1 million copies sold in the first week of its release.