A timeline of Britney Spears’ troubled past

Britney Spears’ life has been filled with troubling moments, including her recent DUI arrest in California.

The pop star was arrested on the evening of March 4, 2026, by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of driving under the influence, Page Six confirmed.

She was released the following morning and a court date was set for May 4, 2026.

Spears’ struggles date back to 2007, when she infamously shaved her head and attacked a paparazzo with an umbrella.

Her more recent behavior includes dancing with knives on Instagram, driving erratically after leaving a restaurant and walking out of a wine bar with a champagne flute in her hand.

In addition, Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline made damning allegations about the pop singer — including that she allegedly did cocaine while breastfeeding their sons Sean Preston and Jayden James — in his 2025 memoir, “You Thought You Knew.”

Here’s a full timeline of Britney Spears’ troubled past.

2007: Britney shaves her head and attacks a paparazzo with an umbrella

At the height of her career, Spears infamously walked into Esther’s Haircutting Studio in Tarzana, Calif., one night in 2007 and asked for her hair to be shaved off.

The salon’s owner, Esther Tognozzi, refused, so Spears took matters into her own hands by grabbing a clipper and giving herself a buzzcut while paparazzi snapped photos through the windows.

Just days later, the “Toxic” singer was photographed attacking a photographer’s car with an umbrella.

The incidents were followed by Spears checking into rehab. She spent around 24 hours at Crossroads Centre and then entered Promises Malibu Treatment Center for a 28-day program, leaving in March 2007.

At the time, Spears was going through a divorce and custody battle with Federline.

The exes finalized their divorce in July 2007 and initially agreed to joint custody of their sons. Federline later got full custody of the boys in 2008.

2008: Britney is placed on  psychiatric hold

In February 2008, Spears was placed on back-to-back psychiatric holds, leading her father, Jamie Spears, to petition for an emergency temporary conservatorship over his eldest daughter.

The conservatorship was later made permanent in October 2008.

April 2019: Britney checks into a mental health treatment center

In January 2019, Spears announced she was going on an “indefinite work hiatus” after her father suffered a life-threatening illness.

She revealed at the time that her upcoming album and planned second Vegas residency, “Britney: Domination,” would be delayed.

Come April 2019, Spears checked into a mental health facility.

2021: Britney claims her conservatorship is abusive

Spears’ conservatorship drama came to a head when the 2021 documentary “Framing Britney Spears” spotlighted how severe media scrutiny had led to her downfall with substance abuse and mental health issues.

That sparked the #FreeBritney movement, which demanded she be freed from the conservatorship.

In March 2021, the Grammy Award winner officially filed a court petition requesting that Jamie be replaced as conservator over her personal affairs.

During her first public hearing in June 2021, which she attended virtually, Spears alleged that her conservators were “abusive” and “bullying” her. She also claimed they forced her to use birth control despite her wishes to marry and have a baby with her then-boyfriend, Sam Asghari.

Jamie, 73, filed a petition on Sept. 7, 2021, to finally end the conservatorship. Two months later, the conservatorship was officially terminated by Judge Brenda Penny.

September 2023: Britney is pulled over for driving without a license

On Sept. 10, 2023, Spears was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol and was issued a violation for not having a valid license in her possession and a second violation for failing to provide an officer with proof of insurance.

Her attorney Mathew Rosengart told Page Six at the time, “Britney at all times had a license and insurance; this is the functional equivalent of a parking ticket.”

September 2023: Britney dances with knives

 Authorities performed a wellness check at Spears’ house in Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Sept. 27, 2023, after she posted worrisome videos of herself dancing with knives.

Captain Dean Worthy of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office told Page Six that a sergeant had been dispatched to the singer’s home after responding to the call from a concerned individual.

When police arrived at Spears’ home, security told them Spears was “fine” and “nothing was going on.”

The “Circus” singer later spoke out about the entire ordeal, admitting that she knew she “spooked” her fans with her concerning video but insisted that they were “fake knives.”

Around that time, Spears released her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” where she revealed that she had an abortion during her relationship with Justin Timberlake, whom she dated from 1999 to 2002.

Her book came out three months after Spears separated from Asghari, whom she married in June 2022. They finalized their divorce in May 2024.

May 2024: Britney fights with boyfriend Paul Richard Soliz outside Chateau Marmont

An ambulance was called to the Chateau Marmont in LA in the early morning hours of May 2, 2024, after Spears and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Paul Richard Soliz, allegedly had a dispute at the hotel.

Photos obtained by the New York Post showed Spears holding a white pillow and a brown blanket outside of the swanky celebrity hotspot.

Spears later called the news about the incident “fake” and claimed that the paramedics came to the hotel “illegally.”

October 2025: Kevin Federline makes damning claims about Britney in his memoir

Federline — who was living in Hawaii with his and Spears’ sons — wrote in his book that the singer’s “erratic behavior” is worse than what is seen on the surface and that she’s “racing toward” a tragic ending with her erratic behavior.

In one of the allegations, Federline claimed that their sons woke up to Spears watching them sleep while holding a knife.

He also alleged that Spears punched their eldest son in the face and wished the children were dead.

Spears denied Federline’s allegations and claimed his book was a money grab.

As for Spears’ sons, Jayden reconciled with his mom in 2024 and even spent Christmas in 2025 with her following years of estrangement, while Sean Preston has declined Spears’ pleas to see him.

October 2025: Britney swerves while driving

Spears made headlines for swerving while driving home from a restaurant on the night of Oct. 22, 2025.

After news broke, Spears claimed it was not her in the concerning video — but a “lookalike.”

The restaurant manager defended Spears and claimed she was not “intoxicated.”

November 2025: Britney leaves wine bar with a champagne flute

Spears was spotted holding a champagne flute after exiting Stonehaus wine bar in Westlake Village, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2025.

Her team insisted to the Daily Mail that the A-lister was not drinking any alcohol during the rare outing.

Spears blasted the photos in an Instagram video, calling the paparazzi “incredibly mean” and saying they always take “the worst photos” of her.

March 2026: Britney arrested for a DUI

Spears was arrested on suspicion of a DUI on March 4, 2026, around 9:28 p.m. local time. She was booked at 3:02 a.m. the following morning and released at 6:07 a.m.

Dispatch audio obtained by Page Six revealed Spears was allegedly swerving and speeding in her Black BMW sedan before she was pulled over.

Her manager, Cade Hudson, told Page Six in a statement that he hopes Spears’ detainment is “the first step in long overdue change.”

“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” he said in part. “Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law. … Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”

Hudson also claimed that Spears’ loved ones, including her two sons, “are going to be spending time with her.”

A court date has been set for May 4, 2026.