People: Some baby steps for Britney
Britney Spears might be making a comeback both as a mother and a pop star.
Spears, who lost custody of her two young sons to ex-husband Kevin Federline earlier this week, has been granted visitation rights – and is getting a driver’s license to satisfy the court.
And her new song “Gimme More” has jumped to No. 3 on the Billboard singles chart – and No. 1 on the Hot Digital Songs list.
After a hearing Wednesday, a court official indicated Spears would be allowed monitored visits every other day with 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James.
Spears, who has come under criticism from the court for her alleged drug and alcohol use and poor parenting skills, lost custody of the children for the time being in part because she did not have a valid driver’s license.
But a temporary license was issued late Tuesday after she completed all licensing requirements, a DMV spokesman said.
Spears has been charged with misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run and driving without a valid license for allegedly crashing into a parked car in August.
Another custody hearing will be Oct. 26.
Her back? The O’s have it
The embattled Britney Spears also is getting some public support from fellow entertainers.
Actress Tatum O’Neal said on “Entertainment Tonight” Wednesday that Spears needs to overcome her addictions.
“I relate to her and feel really sad for her,” said O’Neal, who had similar issues as a young mom. “I did the drug testing. … It was very humbling. … I wanted those kids in my life.”
And singer Sinead O’Connor, while discussing her own battles with bipolar disorder on Thursday’s “Oprah Winfrey Show,” also said she sympathizes with Spears: “She had two babies within the space of two years, (and there) doesn’t seem like a terrible amount of support from the people around her.”
A little monkey for Punky
Former “Punky Brewster” child star Soleil Moon Frye is expecting her second child.
Frye and producer husband Jason Goldberg already have a 2-year-old daughter named Poet Sienna Rose Goldberg.
Father refigured
Lindsay Lohan, who’s been rehabbing in Utah following DUI problems, is spending some time with father Michael at a remote mountain retreat in hopes of reconciliation.
They had been on the outs for more than three years before he visited her last month.
Fighting dirty with Fairplay?
Former “Survivor” contestant Jonny Fairplay has filed a police report claiming that Danny Bonaduce threw him and knocked out a few teeth during a reality TV awards show.
Former “Patridge Family” child star Bonaduce says he was defending himself.
Fairplay, a wrestler, came in third on 2003’s “Survivor: Pearl Islands” but was roundly condemned for concocting a lie that his grandmother was dead to win sympathy.
The birthday bunch
Comedian Bill Dana is 83. Actor Jeff Conaway (“Taxi”) is 57. Actress Karen Allen is 56. Singer Bob Geldof is 53. Comedian Bernie Mac is 50. Actor Daniel Baldwin is 47. Actress Parminder Nagra (“ER”) is 32. Actress Kate Winslet is 32.