Could Britney Spears be heading back home to Louisiana?

Yes, we hear exclusively that the popstress has promised her little sister that she'd return home to Kentwood, La., when Jamie Lynn gives birth. We hear the official due date is June 29.

"At the baby shower, she told her little sister she wanted to be there for her the entire time," said a friend close to the Spears family. "I'm not sure how Casey is going to feel about that. But Jamie Lynn seems pretty excited."

There’s just one hitch.

Britney has to ask her daddy for permission to go.

"She had to ask him if it was okay to go back for the shower," said the friend, adding that the baby shower was the first time Britney had been home in 16 months. "He has to give her permission to travel, and the money to do it. It's not that he doesn't want her there for her little sister. It's just that he thinks it's best to keep Britney close to home right now."

Well, we understand that, given Brit's recent mischief-making past. But do our insiders really think he might stop Brit from going?

"Oh, probably not," said the Britney pal. "It would be pretty coldhearted to say no."

Sounds like Jamie Lynn may be getting some help from sis when the baby comes.