Britney Spears Blackout

DIVA DOWN UNDER: American pop star Britney Spears, left, boards a private flight for Perth during her transit stop at Sydney airport. Picture: The Daily Telegraph

November 04, 2009 07:41am BRITNEY Spears arrived in Perth on a private jet this morning ahead of her first Australian concert tour, which starts in Perth on Friday.

The American pop queen - who has had more than her fair share of sensational headlines - touched down at Sydney airport just after 3am Perth time today.

“Longest flight ever but we had a great time … So excited to be here,” Spears said on Twitter after arriving.

She then boarded a private jet for Perth. Spears touched down in Perth about 9am, with her plane taxiing into a private hangar.

She was ushered into a waiting van, disappointing autograph hunters.

Police, paparazzi and fans had converged on the airport for her arrival. She has since been spotted at the Hyatt, with sources stating that her entourage are residing at the Sheraton.

Ex-husband Kevin Federline arrived alongside Spears as a babysitter to their two sons Jayden James and Sean Preston.

Her father Jamie Spears, who is the singer’s permanent conservator of her estate, is also in tow.

Her worldwide Circus tour - with a cast of 44 dancers, magicians, clowns and acrobats - opened in New Orleans in March.

She will perform 15 concerts in Australia, starting in Perth on Friday, followed by Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before finishing in Adelaide on November 29.
Britney Spears’s stormy career

Spears’ first concert is at Burswood Dome on Friday night, with a second show on Saturday night.

The Circus tour began in New Orleans in March and is costing $30 million to stage, with 60 tonnes of equipment in 34 trucks needed for the cross-Australia leg.

No less than 4000 storage cases will hold all the lights, sound equipment and costumery and wigs.

The singer - who has sold 63 million albums world-wide - is bringing 360 tour costumes and will make nine changes during each show.

In pre-tour publicity, Spears exclaimed: “I’ve wanted to tour Australia for quite some time and now it’s finally happening. My Circus tour is the best show I have ever created and I can’t wait to perform it for all of my Australian fans. See you guys soon.”

A lover of the sun and sea, Spears has started her tour in the right place, with beach weather predicted for Perth for the rest of the week.

If you see Britney - beachside or otherwise - tell us and send your pictures to PerthNow here for publication on WA’s No 1 news and entertainment website.

And read The Sunday Times this week for concert pictures and a review of the show.

Source: PerthNow