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Britney Spears has confirmed that she is in the process of writing a book, confirming recent reports in US media that the star intended to pen a new tell-all memoir, BBC reported.

Spears shared the news in a message posted on Instagram on Monday night. 

The singer said the memoir will tackle painful events in her life that she has "never been able to express openly". 

In November, a judge ended a legal guardianship that controlled many aspects of her life for over a decade.

Spears was put into a conservatorship managed by her father, Jamie Spears, in 2008, when the star faced a mental health crisis. 

The controversial arrangement allowed him to take power over her finances and career decisions plus major personal matters, such as her visits to her teenage sons and whether she could remarry.

While the star didn't reveal any details about a potential release date or publisher, Page Six reported in February that she had reached a $15m ($11.4m) deal with the publishing house Simon & Schuster to chronicle her life, career and relationship with her family during and after her conservatorship, according to BBC.

Spears wrote that the process of writing the book has been "healing and therapeutic," though she added that it had been difficult bringing up past events in her life. 

The 40-year old added that she has taken an "intellectual approach" to writing the memoir. 

However the star also hit out at her mother and sister, who she accused of taking an "indulgence by writing their own books as I couldn't even get a cup of coffee of drive my car". 

Spears has been engaged in a public dispute with her sister, Jamie Lynn, since the later she appeared on Good Morning America to promote her book, Things I Should Have Said. 

The book details her own life story, including her young daughter's near-fatal accident in 2017, her relationship with Britney and the role she played in the singer's controversial conservatorship, BBC reported.

Foo Fighters have won three prizes at the 2022 Grammy Awards, just a week after the unexpected death of their drummer, Taylor Hawkins, BBC reported.

The group won best rock song album for Medicine at Midnight, rock performance for its opening track, Making A Fire and rock song for Waiting On A War.

Presenter Jimmy Jam accepted the prizes in the band's absence, "with prayers to their loved ones".

Hawkins died in Colombia shortly before the band were due to play a festival.

Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. He did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said.

Opioids, marijuana and other drugs were found in the 50-year-old's system after he died, investigators said, but it is not known whether they contributed to his death, according to BBC.

Foo Fighters had been due to play the Grammys this weekend. Instead, organisers played a video tribute to Hawkins, set to the Foo Fighters' song My Hero.

"Our thoughts go out to Taylor's family, his friends, the Foo Fighters family and all of their fans around the globe," said host Trevor Noah.

The show, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, also honoured Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, who died last November at the age of 91, BBC reported.

Olivia Rodrigo won three trophies so far at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, with her win for best new artist putting her in esteemed company including Carly Simon, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Tom Jones, the Beatles and Billie Eilish, Associated Press reported.

A veteran of the “High School Musical” series, Rodrigo became the breakout music star of 2021, leading with her massive viral hit “Drivers License” and following with the single “Good 4 U” and the aching album “Sour,” which took best pop vocal album. 

“This is my biggest dream come true,” she said after her best new artist win. She thanked her parents for supporting her dreams, which at one point involved being an Olympic gymnast and quickly veered toward music, Associated Press reported.

“I want to thank my mom for being so supportive for all of my dreams, no matter how crazy. I want to thank my mom and dad for being equally as proud of me for winning a Grammy as they were when I learned how to do a back walk.”

The night’s festivities grew grim when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering with an update on the war and his numbers included children injured and killed. “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos,” he said. “We are fighting Russia, which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music.”

He ended by saying: “Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV. Support us in any way you can any, but not silence. And then peace will come to all our cities.”

John Legend then performed “Free” with Ukrainian exiles including singer-actress Mika Newton and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk, according to the Associated Press.

Silk Sonic — the all-star union of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak — opened the Grammys in Las Vegas with their high-energy, infectious fix of retro soul and funk by performing their “777.” They returned to the stage a short time later to collect the song of the year trophy for “Leave the Door Open.”

The win helps Mars tie the record for most song of the year wins. He had previously won for “24K Magic.”

Both Mars and .Paak jumped out their seat, threw up their hands and dance to their song.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be doing this with than anyone other than you,” Mars said to .Paak. “We’ll be singing this song together for the rest of our lives.”

Host Trevor Noah introduced the duo’s opening performance by saying they were singlehandedly bringing back the 1970s, “which might explain the inflation.”

By the time the show started on CBS, Jon Batiste has already taken home four Grammy Awards, including his first ever. Batiste won for best American roots performance, best American roots song, best music video and tied with Carlos Rafael Rivera for best score soundtrack for visual media. His song “Freedom” in the music video category beat out several other tough competitors, including Rodrigo, Lil Nas X and Eilish. All the honors were handed out during a pre-telecast ceremony.

“I am so grateful for the gifts that God has given me and the ability to share that for the love of humankind,” Batiste said. “We just wanted everyone to see it. Any depression, any bondage or any darkness that was over your life is completely removed by just the love and the joy of the video.”

US actor Will Smith has resigned from the Oscars Academy after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during last Sunday's ceremony, BBC reported.

"My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," his statement said.

The Academy said it accepted the resignation and would "continue to move forward" with disciplinary proceedings.

Smith slapped Rock over a joke about his wife's shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia.

Less than an hour later, he was awarded the best actor award for his role in "King Richard", where he played the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

"The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home," Smith said on Friday.

"I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken."

The actor said he wanted to "put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements", according to BBC.

He concluded that "change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason".

The Academy's president David Rubin said it had accepted Smith's resignation, but would continue its disciplinary proceedings. 

Rock addressed the episode during a stand-up show in Boston on Wednesday, saying he was "still kind of processing what happened".

The comedian, 57, who is currently starring in his "Ego Death" tour of the US, was greeted with a standing ovation by fans.

Rock had earlier decided not to press criminal charges against Smith, reports say.

Smith's wife, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, broke her silence in a brief Instagram post on Wednesday, writing: "This is a season for healing and I'm here for it."

Resigning from the Academy is a big deal. Membership of this illustrious, invitation-only body is seen as a mark of achievement in itself, BBC reported.

Only a handful of people have ever been expelled: they include Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski - although it wasn't clear that the same fate awaited Will Smith. He would have found out in a few weeks. 

But the actor decided to seal his own fate, and forfeit his esteemed role as an Oscar voter - by quitting now. His mea culpa is strongly worded, but not the end of the story. 

The Academy says its disciplinary proceedings will continue, which leaves open the possibility that he could be stripped of the Oscar he won on Sunday - although that seems unlikely - or he could be denied future appearance at Academy Awards ceremonies. 

But Hollywood is a forgiving place, and Smith a hitherto well-liked character. Perhaps his next starring role will be opposite Oprah Winfrey, to explain all, according to BBC.