Jamie Spears

Britney Spears' father Jamie simply does not get enough credit.

Sure, he gets a solid $1,500 a week in compensation for making sure his daughter doesn't go off the rails. But after the work he's done for humanity, he's underpaid.

Take a look at Britney Spears pics before her conservatorship - giving Jamie control over her personal, financial and professional affairs - took effect and you'll see why ...

Ouch! Yeah. She was a regular Jessica Simpson for a time there.

But luckily, with a little discipline and cutting back on pork rinds and Starbucks consumption, Britney Spears' body - like her career - is back in a big way.

The photos posted yesterday, in which she's rehearsing for her Circus tour, make it abundantly clear that she is in far better shape. Here's a prime example ...

Thank you, Jamie.

What economic recession? The recording industry's venerable cash cow is such a strong producer, she can get milked like a madwoman and not feel a thing!

The judge in Britney Spears' conservatorship case has ruled that Jamie Spears, her dad, can get thousands more a month for the work he's been doing on her behalf. Jamie was getting $10,000 a month as the conservator of Brit's estate.

Today the judge adjusted that to $16,125 a month, in order to better reflect all the additional work Jamie did - including planning her tour for next year.

The judge also gave the green light for Jamie to get office space - Britney Spears will be on the hook for the full $1,200 a month for that, of course.

Seems steep, but then again, Jamie put the kibosh on Britney hanging out with seedy ingrates like Sam Lutfi and Adnan Ghalib. No fee is too high.

And there's more. Britney's bro, Bryan Spears, will receive $200,000 for services rendered prior to the time the conservatorship was established.

What that means, we have no clue. As for Britney's team of lawyers ... the bills for all of them put together are approaching a cool $1 million.

Then again, Britney Spears was earning $737,868 a month - and that was in 2007, before she even started working on Circus. We think she'll live.

In Touch Weekly is reporting that Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden, who split from Paris Hilton less than a month ago, is dating Britney Spears.

“They’ve been on a few dates,” a snitch close to Madden revealed. “They met once at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills for dinner in a hotel suite.”

We highly doubt this is even a little bit true. However, the absurd rumor apparently stems from Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, and her manager, Larry Rudolph, creating a list of potential new boyfriends for the recovering pop star.

The list supposedly included:

• Good Charlotte rocker Benji Maden
• Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford
• Occasionally beaten actor Jesse Metcalfe
• Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps

A source dished to the celebrity gossip magazine: “Larry made some phone calls and Benji ended up being the most interested in being fixed up.”

Wow, Michael Phelps wasn't interested? You've gotta be kidding. That would have been a great couple. Too bad Caroline Pal really has him whipped.

According to the report, Rudolph would love to use Benji and Britney’s burgeoning new romance to promote her new album, Circus, and world tour.

“He plans to make a big, splashy announcement to help publicize her upcoming tour,” says a source. We'll be sitting here holding our breath.

With her dad, Jamie Spears, leading her way, pop sensation and recovering train wreck Britney Spears arrived at LAX after taking her "Circus" act to Tokyo for a week.

Some have questioned if Britney is being pushed too hard, but at least Jamie is there for support. Here they are returning to the good ol U.S. of A...

Following his daughter all the way across the Pacific Ocean and even carrying her bags, papa Jamie Spears is definitely earning his $1,500 a week.

Click to enlarge more Britney Spears pictures from her uneventful return to America. We couldn't part with our national treasure for much longer. Also included is a bonus picture of Brit smokin' a cig in front of a Japanese burger joint!

[Photo Credits: Splash News Online]

Lynne Spears feels she is to blame for her daughter Britney Spears' public meltdown last year - although that hasn't stopped her from trying to cash in!

At one point, Lynne debated accurately titling her autobiography It's All My Fault. In the end, she went with the vague, melodramatic Through the Storm.

"I can laugh about it now, but did I feel that way at the time? Yes, I did and, if I'm being totally honest, I still do," she told the UK's Daily Mail.

"When her life was such a success, what did she need me for? And when things took a turn for the worse, I was out, because other people - dancers, managers - were closer, and with her day and night. Being a mother, you can't help but have regrets about what you did and didn't do for your kids, and I'm no different."

Lynne Spears reflects on her greatest parenting achievements.

Follow the jump for many Lynne Spears quotes from her recent interview. This woman is definitely in the running for Top Sellout and Worst Parent of '08 ...

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Britney Spears has been fighting with her father, Jamie Spears, quite often of late. As her conservator, he's got the final say over her financial, legal, medical, professional and personal decisions. So conflict was inevitable.

The sore subject of the hour: Adnan Ghalib!

Britney desperately wants to see her ex-boyfriend, the infamous celebrity gossip photographer, but so far, papa Jamie has steadfastly refused.

Adnan Ghalib has been in touch with Brit for the past couple of months, but they haven't spent any time together - even though Brit has asked to.

She's also been complaining that daddy won't let her go out, especially when she wants to go clubbing. May have to do with her aversion to pants.

Britney also doesn't understand why Jamie Spears won't let her take her kids, Sean Preston and Jayden James Federline, out in public during the day.

Bottom line - Britney Spears doesn't like her dad as her conservator.

What, if anything, she can do about that is another story. Friday, Britney was complaining about Jamie Spears at a hearing - to the point where the court commissioner called the star into chambers and spoke to her for 45 minutes.

Basically, Britney Spears is acting like a 15-year-old and "has not been very contrite" about the behavior that led to the conservatorship in the first place.

Fortunately, she appreciates what Jamie has done to get her business affairs in order. She just doesn't get that he's doing the same for her personal life.

Britney Spears was in court Friday to talk business pertaining to dad Jamie Spears' control over her estate - namely, her plans for an upcoming tour.

"There isn't a lot I can tell you about it," court spokesman Allan Parachini said during a press conference afterward. "There was discussion of Ms. Spears' future immediate business plans. Particularly touring in support of her album."

Jamie Spears' conservatorship, signed off on February 1 when Britney Spears was briefly hospitalized for a psych evaluation, was made permanent last month, meaning her camp will have to file a separate petition to extract herself from it.

The hearing in downtown Los Angeles was most certainly not called, though, to address a change in the conservatorship arrangement, Parachini added.

Another promotional photo for Britney Spears new album, Circus.

"No, that did not come up. I have been asked by a couple of you whether the purpose of today's proceedings was to express a desire for a change in the status of the conservancy. No, she didn't raise that. That didn't come up."

"It was not part of today's hearing. It was about the tour. She has an album that is coming out. All of what is necessary to support the album."

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Britney Spears' father, Jamie Spears, has been named permanent conservator of her affairs, a Los Angeles court ruled on Tuesday. He's now permanent co-conservator of her estate, along with an attorney, Andrew Wallet.

"I've met several times with [Britney Spears] and she requested that I not object to a permanent conservatorship," the singer's lawyer Samuel Ingham said.

L.A. Court Commissioner Reva Goetz stated that the permanent conservatorship was "necessary and appropriate." But this permanent status doesn't necessarily mean forever, it is more "indefinite" - until something changes things.

In many cases, this is just a formality to take the pressure off and avoid the logistics of having to renew a temporary status over and over again.

Jamie Spears has been in charge of Britney Spears' medical, legal and financial affairs since her pair of hospitalizations in January. [Photo Credit: Splash News]

A source close to Britney Spears concurs with the decision, saying:

"This is by no means something that's going to last forever. The conservatorship being made permanent in name is primarily to ensure increased time with her children, and provide support for her music and work goals."

Economic times are tough for tens of millions of Americans, and who better to step in and lend a helping hand to those in need than Jamie Spears.

At Jamie's direction, an oil portrait of struggling singer Britney Spears is being auctioned to raise money for the non-profit Promises Foundation.

The charity provides assistance for low-income mothers and their children.

The 5-by-4-foot oil painting was created by artist Daniel Maltzman. The star herself has autographed the artwork, which depicts Britney Spears topless in a bikini bottom with her eyes closed and her arms crossing her chest.

The painting is being auctioned on eBay with a starting bid of $10,000. The winner will receive an ownership letter from Spears' father Jaime.

Yesterday's court hearing passed without incident and Britney Spears is still officially under the control of her father, Jamie Spears.

The court extended the conservatorship through December 31. There's a status hearing October 28, when his status will be revisited.

The judge is leaving the option open to end the conservatorship early.

Jamie Spears, 56, was named temporary conservator of her affairs February 1 following Britney Spears' two forced hospitalizations in January.

"The extension of the conservatorship was at the request and suggestion of Britney's doctors," says a family source. "They've indicated that she has made great improvement, but it's a work in progress. Jamie Spears doesn't want the conservatorship to last a day longer than the doctors recommend."

Also Thursday, Spears' court-appointed attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, did not seek to extend the restraining order against the singer's one-time pal Sam Lutfi, because the superstar has cut all ties with Lutfi anyway.