Britney Shows Up in Court to Talk Touring

Popster and dad go to court to discuss touring plans in support of her new album

Maybe Britney Spears was just waiting for the madness to die down—and the music to get turned up.

The popster, who chose to remain absent from what turned out to be her mistrial on an invalid-license charge and the majority of this year's conservatorship hearings, was in court Friday to talk business pertaining to dad Jamie Spears' control over her estate—namely, her plans to hit the road.

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

The conservatorship, signed off on Feb. 1 when Britney 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 the arrangement.

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

"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 professional. She has an album that is coming out. All of what is necessary to support the album."

Britney, clad in a black dress and stiletto heels, arrived with her dad, parking underground (and surrounding herself with sheriff's deputies) to best avoid the paparazzi.

On her way out of the courthouse, however, she smiled (and said, "Thank you," when complimented on her appearance) at reporters. The "Womanizer" chanteuse then held what looked like a board game or other flat object in front of her face to prevent the paps from taking her picture in the car on her way out of the garage.

Spears' upcoming album, Circus, is due out Dec. 2, the singer's 27th birthday. And apparently a tour will follow after.

—Reporting by Whitney English and Claudia Rosenbaum

(Originally published Nov. 21, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. PT.)