Britney, Whitney & Two Deadbeat Husbands

The amazing Britney Spears wants to do everything she can to help her jackass spouse Kevin Federline get his hip-hop career off the ground, but music industry sources think that in doing so, she could be putting her own career in jeopardy.

Now there's a stunning revelation. You mean associating with a guy who may be the worst rapper in history, and who is also a detestable human being, is potentially bad for your image? Crazy!

Yes, crazy. Britney is contributing her voice to a duet called "Crazy" on K-Fed's album, Playing With Fire. So not only is she married to this loser, she's going to be fully integrated into his "music."

Peeps in the music biz are saying Britney could be setting herself for a fall by association, much like another singer in the news these days -- Whitney Houston.

"It's very reminiscent of what happened to Whitney after the baby and 'Something in Common,'" an industry insider said of Sutton Pierce's mama.

Indeed, after Whitney and Bobby Brown recorded that stellar 1993 collaboration, Houston never quite recovered -- despite having cranked out one of the biggest singles of all time, "I Will Always Love You," less than a year earlier.

Besides her myriad personal problems, Whitney's musical production stalled, and although she had two more #1 singles in the 1990s, she's fallen far from her past glory. Precipitously.

As for Britney, she doesn't have a musical mentor like Clive Davis to guide her through the rough creative patches, so it could be an ever rougher road ahead. Plus, K-Fed should be knocking her up again any minute now. Sutton Pierce and Sean Preston -- better get ready for some more company! Mid-September of next year, approximately.