Britney Spears announces career hiatus to look after ailing father

“I will not be performing my new show Domination,” she wrote in an emotional post on Twitter which featured a picture of herself as a young child alongside her parents.

The 1990s and 2000s icon had been due to kick off a series of concerts at the MGM resort in Las Vegas in February as part of a new residency in the city.

“I’ve been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart,” the 37-year-old continued.

“However, it’s important to always put your family first… and that’s the decision I had to make.

“A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him.”

As a result, she said, she had decided to “put my full focus and energy on my family at this time.”

Reports indicated Spears’ father Jamie suffered a colon rupture but is expected to make a full recovery.

Spears had previously held a Las Vegas residency between 2013 and 2017.