As of Friday afternoon, however, Spears' Instagram post was deleted. Other posts unrelated to faith were also deleted from her Instagram account, such as her talking about owning her first iPad.
Spears, a native of McComb, Mississippi, was raised Baptist. She first rose to fame as a child on the television show Star Search, before being cast on the The All-New Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 11. She released her debut album, “...Baby One More Time” in January 1999 at the age of 17.
While some online were taken aback by Spears’ sudden announcement of her religious conversion, she has expressed an affinity for the faith in past Instagram posts. Spears has repeatedly posted prayers, including the Hail Mary, and speaks frequently about her prayer life. Her Instagram bio reminds people to “Pray Every Day 🙏🏼✝️.”
While Spears was raised Baptist and now says she is Catholic, it is not certain if she was previously baptized, and it is unclear if she has received any other sacraments.
After a public breakdown in 2007, Spears has been under a conservatorship. She made headlines earlier this year when she requested that her father, Jamie Spears, be removed from his position as conservator. A “#FreeBritney” movement was established online to show support for Spears’ independence.
Spears’ mother Lynne Spears, sister Jamie Lynn, and nieces Maddie Aldridge and Ivey Joan Watson, are practicing Catholics, with Jamie Lynn joining the Church fairly recently.