Britney Spears is not only a pop icon, but also a mother of two whose tumultuous family history has made headlines for years.
The “Toxic” singer has two teenage sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, with ex-husband Kevin Federline.
She and the former backup dancer were married from 2004 to 2007, and their first son was born in 2005, followed by Jaden in 2006.
Spears’ relationship with her children after K-FED’s split was somewhat shrouded in mystery, as her private life was hidden from the public during her 13 years as conservator.
However, the Princess of Pop’s conservatorship was terminated in November 2021. When she married Sam Asghari the following June, her children did not attend the wedding.
There continued to be tension between the Grammy Award winner and the teens, with Federline telling the Daily Mail in August 2022 that he decided not to see her for several months, and the following year, his brother also moved to Hawaii with Feder.
Here’s everything we know about Spears and Shawn and Jaden’s relationship.
become a mother
Spears and Federline welcomed Sean Preston in 2005.
“We are so happy to announce the birth of our son!” the new mom wrote on her website at the time (via Us Weekly), adding, “Everyone is happy, healthy, and living a great life. Thank you for all the love and well wishes!”
A year later, she welcomed Jaden. Spears told Access in 2006 that “everything was wonderful” about their back-to-back babies.
Spears recently reflected on her nursing journey on Instagram.
“I breastfed my two sons like a freaking milk factory,” she wrote in March 2020. “I literally pumped out six full bottles and had them ready to go while I was breastfeeding because I never wanted my babies to go hungry! They were so full of milk that they were always spluttering and leaking. My breasts were a little sore!”
She recalled, “I remember how strong my back was to support them.”
memory lane
In May 2021, the “Toxic” singer reflected on her sons’ childhood via Instagram.
“I had a baby at a young age… At every pool we went to on tour, the babies flocked to me because I always brought the most toys 🧸🪁🪀… I’m truly a baby mama 😜😜😜 !!!!,” she wrote alongside a throwback photo of her boys by the pool.
Explained child custody rights
Spears and Federline’s custody agreement has changed over the years, with the former couple initially sharing their son 50-50.
However, in September 2019, the two legally changed their child custody agreement, agreeing 70-30 in favor of Federline. As part of the deal, the songwriter must pay Federline several thousand dollars a month.
The following month, Spears documented a fun trip to Disneyland with her sons, writing about the “amazing time” on Instagram and thanking Sean and Jaden for taking the photo.
When the actress’ conservatorship ended two years later, the terms of her contract with Federline remained unchanged.
secretive sons
In September 2021, Spears shared a rare look inside her relationship with Sean and Jaden, telling fans that they are “very private.”
Spears’ post read, “There is nothing stronger than the love between a mother and son,” along with a lengthy caption about her evolving role as a mother.
“My sons’ birthday was last week…unfortunately they are grown and want to do their own thing,” she wrote in the post. “They are such independent little guys that I had to ask permission to post them!!!”
Although she wanted to explain their fun birthday celebration, Spears clarified:
“And if they’re reading this…I’m sure they aren’t…I love you two little devils so much,” she concluded at the time.
That same month, Spears shared another fun moment with her sons when they visited the Van Gogh Museum in Los Angeles.
“No matter how stupid I act when I open my mouth, I went with the people who love me anyway 😂 😂 😂!!!,” she wrote of the outing, calling it “VIP.”
boy to man
The pop star didn’t talk much about her children publicly, but as they grew up, she shared more.
“(Watching them grow up) literally sucks,” she wrote on Instagram in March 2022 (via Us Weekly). “They don’t need me anymore. … I cried a lot for my boys, no lie!!! I hope someday I can show them recent pictures of us, but until then I will respect their wishes!!!!”
Looking ahead to her September birthday in six months, she gushed, “This week is my two little guys’ birthdays!!!!!! You’re all getting older and so much bigger and so much cooler than me!!!!! I love you both to the moon and I hope all your birthday wishes come true!!!!!!”
birthday boy
Spears posted a nostalgic photo with her sons to celebrate their birthdays in September 2022 while they were separated.
“Happy Birthday Preston and Jayden 🎉🎈!!!,” she captioned the social media slideshow. “I love you both so much 🥰!!! These photos are from last year!!!”
The same day, Spears posted a video of herself crying and dancing on Instagram, telling her followers they needed to “let go.”
wedding mom drama
After Federline’s bombshell interview in 2022, Spears fired back at Federline for airing their personal family drama so publicly.
“Just one word: Hurt,” she wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. “I am sad to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss my relationship with our children. As we all know, raising teenage boys is never easy for anyone.”
She also addressed K-FED’s criticism of Spears’ frequent posting of nude content on her Instagram account, noting that now that her conservatorship is over, she has the freedom to post what she wants.
“I needed permission just to take Tylenol!!!” she wrote. “You should start doing something amazing instead of being topless on the beach like a baby!!!!”
Spears’ husband echoed his post, writing, “His comments about distancing himself from his children are unwarranted and it is irresponsible for him to make such statements publicly.”
“The boys are very smart and will soon turn 18 and be able to make their own decisions. And in the end, they may realize that the ‘hard’ part was being modeled by their father, who hasn’t worked much in over 15 years,” Asghari continued.
Hate is a “stronger” word
Later that same week, Spears took to social media to drag down her sons for having been “hateful” in their past.
“I know teenagers are hard to deal with…but come on, hang in there,” the Grammy winner wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Aug. 10.
“Some acts are disrespectful, some acts are hateful,” she added. “They come to visit me, walk in the door, go straight to their room and lock the door!!! The monitor told me they just like being in their room. I wonder why they come to visit me when they don’t come to visit me!!!”
Spears said she was relieved that her sons asked her to visit less often, and wrote that she “made many efforts” to bond with them.
“It was kind of a relief to not have to ask what day my students would be coming this week and wait 2-3 days for a response!!!,” she told her Instagram followers.
caught on tape
Spears was reportedly captured arguing with her sons in a video shared by Federline in August 2022.
In the undated footage, the “Crossroads” actress appeared to scold her children in her bed and beg them to respect her.
“I want you all to start treating me like a woman of value,” Spears said in the video, adding, “I’m a woman, okay? Please be nice to me. Do you understand?”
Another video showed Spears punishing her son Sean for walking into a store without shoes and taking his phone away.
“Have you lost your mind? Have you lost your mind?” she allegedly shouted. “I’m shocked at you and I don’t know what to do. And I’m scared of you because you’re going through puberty and you’re a weirdo. And I don’t know what to say. But I care more than you know.”
book bomb
Spears called her relationship with Sean Preston and Jaden “complicated” while slamming Federline’s bombshell “You Thought You Knew” memoir via X in October 2025.
“I have always begged and cried for my sons to live with me,” she wrote. “I will always love them and if you really knew me you wouldn’t pay attention to the tabloids about my mental health and drinking.”
In Federline’s revelations, he claimed that Spears snorted cocaine while she was breastfeeding and watched them sleep “with a knife in hand.”
Federline opened up about the brothers’ personalities in the book, calling Sean Preston a “thinker and deep feeler” with a “steady, calm presence, keen creativity and love of music,” and Jaden as “bold, expressive, and a firecracker full of creative energy.”
