Saturday January 5, 2008

The Britney Spears rumor mill was in full swing yesterday as a media circus tried desperately to locate the troubled pop princess.

Reporters and photographers phones were buzzing with speculation as reports claimed the singer had been released from hospital.

And in yet another bizarre twist in the Britney saga, reports surfaced suggesting the Toxic star could to be appearing on the Dr Phil show this week.

Britney, 26, was thrust into the spotlight in spectacular fashion last week, after she was hospitalized on Thursday night.

The troubled singer was restrained and rushed to the Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, with cops suspecting she was under the influence of drugs.

The LA Police Department were called after Britney locked herself in the bathroom with youngest son Jayden James and refused to hand him over to ex-hubby Kevin Federline.

Press swarmed outside the Beverly Hills hospital as soon as news broke of Britney’s admission, and paparazzi photographers camped outside the emergency department 24 hours a day trying to catch a glimpse of friends and family.

But the Baby One More Time star seemingly threw the sneaky shutterbugs off her tail and was released from hospital on Saturday morning.

According to reports, Britney left the building flanked by cop cars and made her way out through an underground tunnel.

Celebrity news website TMZ claimed just hours earlier the singer had been visited by Dr. Phil.

The television personality is believed to be taping a special Britney edition of the “Dr Phil Show” on Monday, which is expected to air on Wednesday.

News of Britney’s release from hospital threw the world’s media into confusion – with earlier reports having predicted the Gimme More star would spend at least 72 hours under observation.

But it soon emerged that the “5150 hold” Britney was under meant she could be held against her will for 72 hours – unless the hospital deems her no longer a danger.

A spokesman for Cedar’s Sinai said she was unable to confirm or deny Britney’s release, because it was against patient confidentiality laws.

Earlier on Saturday, TMZ reported the troubled star had thrown a fit on the seventh floor of the hospital, pulling out her IV and demanding to leave.

Speculation is rife about the root of Britney’s problems – and what her next step will be. Some reports claim the singer was under the influence of drugs, while others state she is showing signs of bipolar disorder.

Another report suggested Britney would ‘voluntarily’ enter a psychiatric ward following her release from hospital.

On Friday the singer was stripped of her rights to visit her sons Sean Preston and Jayden James, who are living with Federline.

The order will remain in place until another hearing in the custody battle on January 14th.