Brief
Britney Spears releases unreleased 2001 duet with Justin Timberlake
The pop star unveiled the song as the first of five previously unheard tracks on the deluxe edition of her 2001 album.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Britney Spears, 44, has released an unreleased song she co‑wrote with former boyfriend Justin Timberlake more than two decades after its original recording, according to the Independent.
What happened
The track, titled “She’ll Never Be Me,” was recorded in 2001 for Spears’ self‑titled third album but never appeared on the original release. On 10 October 2026, Spears uploaded the song to streaming services ahead of the 25th‑anniversary edition of the album, scheduled for 6 November 2026. The song is the first of five previously unheard tracks to be included on the deluxe reissue, which also features “Am I A Sinner,” “When I Say So,” “My Big Secret,” and a studio version of “Right Now (Taste The Victory).”
What the report adds
The Independent notes that the lyrics feature Spears confronting an ex who has moved on with a look‑alike, with lines such as “There’ll never be another me / Can’t get you out of my mind.” The outlet also details that the original album produced singles like “I’m A Slave 4 U,” which peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, and other hits such as “Overprotected” and a cover of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll.”
What was said
Spears has not publicly commented on the release, but her official Facebook page posted a teaser promising “more surprises are coming every week” until the anniversary edition arrives.
How it came about
Spears and Timberlake first met on the set of The Mickey Mouse Club in 1992 and dated from 1999 to 2002. Their collaboration on the original album also produced the track “What It’s Like To Be Me,” which was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2003 Grammy Awards. In her 2023 memoir *The Woman In Me*, Spears wrote that she felt the narrative around their breakup was dominated by Timberlake’s perspective.
Key facts
- Britney Spears released the previously unheard song “She’ll Never Be Me” on 10 Oct 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- The track was co‑written with Justin Timberlake and recorded for her 2001 self‑titled album. (independent.co.uk)
- It is the first of five unreleased songs on the 25th‑anniversary deluxe edition due 6 Nov 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Spears’ Facebook page hinted at more weekly surprises leading up to the reissue. (independent.co.uk)
- Spears and Timberlake dated from 1999 to 2002 and previously collaborated on “What It’s Like To Be Me.” (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Britney Spears shares unreleased song she wrote with Justin Timberlake”
