The wife of an American governor has apologised for saying she wanted to shoot Britney Spears.

Kendel Ehrlich, wife of Maryland governor Robert Ehrlich, said pop stars like Britney set a poor example to youngsters.

She said: "You know, really, if I had an opportunity to shoot Britney Spears, I think I would."

She laughed, and went on: "I hate to say that, but you know, like I said, I'm raising a boy... and I think 'Oh my goodness, what would I do if I had a daughter who is seeing these images and having peer pressure?"'

Initially the remarks were described as a "figure of speech" by a spokesman for Mrs Ehrlich, who has a son aged four and is expecting a second child.

But Mrs Ehrlich has now publicly apologised to Britney. She also suggested the 21-year-old star should stage a benefit concert to raise money for domestic violence awareness.

Britney has undergone an image shift in recent months.

Her "no sex before marriage" stance was ruined when she admitted sleeping with Justin Timberlake.

She has recently featured in provocative poses in magazines and kissed Madonna on stage during the MTV Video Music Awards.

Britney Spears has revealed her mother had no problem with watching her kiss another woman - because Madonna is so cool.

The chart star shared an open-mouthed kiss with the queen of pop as they performed together at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Spears admitted in an interview for this week's edition of Top Of The Pops Saturday she was a little embarrassed knowing her mother had seen her in a clinch with another female.

"It was a little awkward - my Mom saw me kissing a girl, oh my God," she said.

But Spears added: "If it was any other girl I think she'd really have something to say.

"But because it was Madonna she was like, 'all right baby, you're cool'."

Spears's former lover Justin Timberlake had a face like thunder as he watched the pair, who were joined onstage by Christina Aguilera.

Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst claims Britney Spears' life is out of control.

The rock star, who went on a string of dates with Britney last month, says she has a life like Michael Jackson.

And he told fans that he doesn't want to speak to her, after reports claimed she enjoyed a date with Irish actor Colin Farrell.

Durst wrote on his official website: "When I met her I thought, "wow, this is just a sweet Southern girl". But actually, she has a life like Michael Jackson.

Britney Spears, Atomic Kitten and Blue are auctioning off signed pillow cases for charity.

They are joined by Lennox Lewis, Ant & Dec, Claudia Schiffer and Nickleback to help raise funds for the Wishes 4 Kids charity.

The celebrities were asked to "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On" for the charity, which grants wishes for troubled children.

Fred Durst says his fans and the media need to "chill" over his relationship with Britney Spears.

He claims the media is trying to cause controversy over a relationship that is "simple, honest and pure."

And, the Limp Bizkit frontman, has blasted his fans for criticising him for dating a pop star.

Writing in his diary at the band's official website, Durst says: "Well I'm sure we've had it up to our necks with all the hype. Isn't it amazing how something very simple, pure, sweet, and innocent can be blown so far out of proportion?

"Who really gives a s*** that I wanna be with Britney Spears? It seems as if everyone does. The only person that should give a s*** is Britney.

"I never meant to be in this situation. S*** happens. What's the big deal? Yeah, she is a big pop star and her last relationship with another big pop star was a big deal, but damn y'all need to chill.

"Do you think I should not like someone because you don't want me too? F*** that! You people are my family and I respect you, as you should me. I never meant to fall into all of this.

"All the media is doing is trying to create a lot of controversy. To them it's just more interesting to make up lies and crazy dramatic s***."

Durst, who is 10 years older than Britney, broke up with long-term partner Jennifer Rovero, in 2001.

Britney Spears says she dreams about having a family and wants a baby by the time she is 28 years old.

The 21-year-old told German paper Bild: "I dream about having a child. I want to have a baby by 28 at the latest."

But the singer said she wouldn't push her own children into the spotlight.

"If they really wanted a pop career there would probably be nothing I could do to stop them. But I think it would be better for them to follow their own dreams and do what they really wanted to do."

Britney, who complained to the paper about being exhausted and suffering with stomach pains, said she found life as part of the pop industry hard: "Sometimes it all really wears me down.

"Then I most like to go home and rest. I did that in 2002 after I had been on tour non-stop for the past three years. I just needed some time to build my strength back up. But even then I could only spend four weeks with my family."

The wife of a US governor says she would shoot Britney Spears.

Kendel Ehrlich, wife of Maryland's Robert Ehrlich, was speaking at a domestic violence conference at Hood College in the state.

She said women should get as much education as possible to avoid becoming dependent on anyone else.

She then added: "It is incredibly important to get that message to young women. You know, really, if I had an opportunity to shoot Britney Spears, I think I would."

Her spokeswoman, Meghann Siwinski, said Mrs Ehrlich is a working mother raising a young son and she made an inadvertent comment while expressing her concerns about the influence of pop culture on children.

Ms Siwinski said Mrs Ehrlich made an "inadvertent figure of speech".

Jive Records, the New York-based label that represents Spears, said in an e-mailed statement that Ehrlich had "shot her own self in the foot by promoting violence."

Britney Spears has revealed she was the "man" in her relationship with Justin Timberlake.

And the singer - once the world's most famous virgin - said she only slept with Timberlake because she thought they would one day marry.

In an interview with GQ magazine, out on Thursday, the singer said having sex did not make her a "bad person".

The couple, who worked together as child stars, dated for a number of years.

Spears, 21, said: "I've always been a tomboy, I've always ended up being the man in the relationship.

"I know it sounds really weird, but it's very hard for me to let go and let the man take control."

Spears, who has shed her innocent image since first finding fame, recently enjoyed a brief fling with heavily tattooed rock hardman Fred Durst of limpbizkit, the band formerly known as Limp Bizkit.

Speaking about her sex life, Spears told GQ: "As far as the whole sex thing goes, I really did think that Justin was the one I was going to marry so I did do the thing with him after three years.

"And I don't think that's a bad thing. Just because I've admitted to having sex doesn't make me a bad person, does it?"

The singer said she would not sleep with a man in the early days of a relationship, and prefers to simply kiss. She said: "When you're first dating a guy, you can't really go there with him. I think it's more sacred and special if you just kiss."

Britney Spears is auctioning off more than 160 items including the famous green bra and mini skirt outfit she wore on her I'm A Slave 4 U video.

She is selling more than 60 items of clothing, as well as other memorabilia including signed posters and photographs and childhood possessions, for charity.

All of the money raised will go to her own charity organisation, the Britney Spears Foundation, which funds a week long performance arts camp for disadvantaged children.

Also up for sale in the online auction is the red catsuit she wore to sing Oops!...I Did it Again at the 2000 Grammys.

The items will be available for bids at www.gottahaveit.com until June 3.

Britney told MTV: "Financially, we didn't have that much at one point, but I could go to singing and dancing lessons. But there's some kids who don't have that."

Britney said some of the clothes were "kind of iconic or whatever, but it's not like I'm going to be wearing them anytime soon.

"And although I'm kind of sad about some of the pieces going, I know that the money we raise will have a huge payback."

Britney Spears and Madonna lead the nominations for this year's Razzie Awards - a spoof version of the Oscars.

Britney is up for eight awards for her debut movie Crossroads, while Madonna's Swept Away received seven nominations, including worst actress.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, also received seven nominations, including worst picture and worst director for George Lucas.

Worst-actress nominees also include Angelina Jolie for Life Or Something Like It, Jennifer Lopez for Enough and Maid in Manhattan, and Winona Ryder for Mr Deeds.

The other worst-picture contenders are Eddie Murphy's sci-fi comedy The Adventures of Pluto Nash, and Roberto Benigni's live-action version of Pinocchio.

Nominees for the 23rd annual Razzies, organised by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, were announced in Los Angeles today, a day before Oscar nominations.

Britney Spears attended a film premiere on the arm of former Ballykissangel actor Colin Farrell.

The premiere of The Recruit took place in Hollywood.

Farrell, who stars in The Recruit, has formerly starred with Tom Cruise in Steven Spielberg's Minority Report.

Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst says he's dating Britney Spears.

The rock star, who is 10 years older than Britney, has described her as a "sweet, amazing girl."

The pair met while working on her new album, which is due out later this year.

Durst told The Sun: "Anybody who has a serious problem with my feelings for Britney should just chill. You can't help what happens in life because everything happens for a reason. I am a good judge of character and so is she.

"She just happens to be a person that I wouldn't have thought could make me feel this way.

"I have never felt this way. I really like her. She's a sweet, amazing girl and I'm happy to know her right now."