New mom Spears plans comeback on NBC sitcom
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-02 11:53

Pop star Britney Spears will give her first public performance since giving birth last fall when she appears in an upcoming episode of the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace."

Hollywood's self-appointed style guru Mr Blackwell savaged pop princess Britney Spears, pictured in concert last year, in his annual list of worst-dressed celebrities, branding her a "fashion flop". [AFP]

Rather than singing or playing herself, Spears, 24, will take a stab at comedy acting, portraying a Christian conservative talk show host in a guest appearance on the gay-themed series, NBC said on Wednesday.

She will share most of her scenes with the flamboyant "Will & Grace" character Jack, played by Emmy winner Sean Hayes, an NBC spokesman said.

The episode, marking Spears' first gig as an entertainer since giving birth to a son in September, will be taped February 15 and air on April 13. Her last real experience as an actress came in the 2002 teen road film "Crossroads."

Spears has kept a relatively low profile since marrying dancer Kevin Federline in September 2004, saying then she was taking some time off to "just chill." In April 2005 came the news she was pregnant with her first child.

That did not stop celebrity magazines and paparazzi photographers from following Spears' every move as she vacationed, shopped and prepared for motherhood.

A reality show chronicling her courtship with Federline, "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic," also aired last year on UPN, but that was made up of home video footage shot before their marriage.

In another sign of Spears' return from self-imposed maternity leave, she and Federline showed up at a Hollywood after-party following the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday. Pictures of Spears dancing at the event are to be published on Friday in People magazine.

Spears has sold more than 60 million albums since she burst on the scene with her 1999 debut "...Baby One More Time." With the subsequent release of "Oops! ... I Did It Again" and "Britney," she became the first female performer in the history of Billboard magazine to land her first three albums at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts.