Britney Spears is no 'Puppet', says Keri Hilson

Britney Spears is not a "puppet" strung along and directed by label higher-ups, says R&B star Keri Hilson.

Hilson -- who wrote Spears' smash hit single Gimme More, and has been recruited to work on her upcoming album -- insists Britney is a "bright" girl who makes her own decisions.

She says, "She really isn't the puppet that people make her out to be.

"She has an opinion and she's a very, very bright girl."

Hilson says Britney is "a pleasure to work with" and finds being in the studio with the star "refreshing".

"I got to step outside of what I normally do," Keri says. "I'm not normally this huge pop writer...and Britney, she's special.

"I can't say that she's guarded, but I understand why she doesn't want to talk about certain things and I respect that about her.

"[She] never mouth[s] off," Keri says. "She's a very, very sweet person, takes direction very well."

Keri, who's putting the finishing touches on her own album, In a Perfect World, also has some words for the Toxic hitmaker's army of critics.

"Right now she's dealing with life," she says. "She's just dealing with life. Leave that girl alone."