Britney looks better than she has in 3 years on Madonnas clip

The highly anticipated pictures of Britney on set of her "Sticky & Sweet" cameo have arrived and she looks better than she has in 3 years.

Britney's roller-coaster ride over the last two years has seemingly stopped in its tracks - or better yet is on the incline. In place of late night trips to the pump and multiple pit stops at her local Rite Aid, are recording sessions in the studio, gym workouts, and cameo's for CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," and an intro for Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" tour filmed just this week. And it doesn't stop there.

"These are baby steps," says a well-placed source in Britney's camp to the Daily News. "She's taking every opportunity to see her kids, and the last thing she'll do is tour for three months or take the lead in a feature and be away from them again. Maybe she'll go out on tour after the new year, but something short."

The Daily News is also reporting that Britney is currently looking to executive produce a show in the same area as Ashton Kutcher or Randy Jackson. "It has to be organic to her, maybe something related to music or fashion," the source said. Perhaps the reason Britney has her bodyguard turned cameraman filming her every public move.

Last month a judge in the custody case reinstated more visitation rights to Britney after she re-hired divorce lawyer Laura Wasser and made a "businesslike" court appearance opposite ex-husband Kevin Federline. "The overnight visits are great positive reinforcement for her," another source close to the singer said. "She almost has the equivalent of one-third custody back, and being able to care for them is enormously helpful to her progress."

Expert Morris Reid of Washington image consultancy Westin Rinehart weighs in on Britney's possible comeback saying: "We heard all this talk of a comeback last year, but she wasn't committed. She seemed committed to becoming a train wreck, not the beloved pop star. We know this woman is talented. And who knows, maybe all the pain is both a curse and a gift," he said. "Difficult times are when some artists create their best work. She could use her music to express her feelings right now. And we all know people are interested in Britney's feelings."

The source close to Britney continued: "She's the best I've seen her in three years. She has her kids back now and she's working on a new album. Hopefully it will be out by the end of the year."

Put your hands up ladies and gentlemen, and enjoy the roller-coaster's smooth free-fall back into pop stardom we all know and love.

Aunt Britney is taking her new title seriously.

The singer went shopping at the True Religion Warehouse with her mom Lynne on Friday - and Jamie Lynn's little girl was first and foremost on her mind.

Britney specifically picked out items for her new niece, Maddie Briann, from the toddler collection. Everything from T-shirts and hoodies to jeans for the little girl, a source tells E! News. She also selected some similar clothes in boys' styles for Sean Preston and Jayden James.

For herself, Spears picked up tank tops, T-shirts and jeans, to name a few. She loved True Religion's new puffy jackets for fall, scooping up a vest and a hooded jacket, both in red. She also liked the headwear - she chose some baseball hats as well as a winter-weight fedora.

"She was very happy," says the source. "She loved trying everything on. She looked great."

According to a source, Britney did not mention Madonna or the video shoot she's been busy with. She was focused on shopping and was very gracious.

"They had a great time - they thanked us when they left," a source tells E! News. "They were very polite and sweet."

After shopping, Britney and mother Lynne headed to ABH, the new rooftop hot spot at the Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel. The mother-daughter duo munched on sushi rolls and sipped soft drinks from Bond St., the restaurant downstairs, along with an assistant and bodyguard.

"Britney was very mellow, normal, grateful and sweet to staff," an onlooker tells us.

Britney Spears, her mother Lynne Spears and legal friend Blair Berk were expected to attend the final hearing in Brit's custody case on Tuesday before her five-day trial begins on August 25. But now OK! has confirmed that the hearing has been delayed until Friday.

The reason? Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, says he needs the time to prepare.

"It was my idea to delay it for a day," Kaplan told OK! on Monday. "But the next available day for Wasser and I was Friday, simple as that. I think I will know better what is needed to go to trial then, than I do now."

Kaplan says the delay has nothing to do with any kind of settlement.

"It's more for technical reasons in a complicated case like this," he told OK!. The door is open if [Laura] Wasser and Blair Berk want to walk through it, but there is no delay because of an impending settlement."

A previous mediation to settle Brit's custody case failed, leaving K-Fed's option for sole legal and physical custody of their two sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, on the table.

Court insiders have speculated that the singer could request further mediation to avoid going to trial, and in the meantime may ask for more visitation.

Meanwhile, Kevin and his lawyers are moving full steam ahead in order to win permanent full custody.

"I'm preparing to go to trial until I don't have a reason to go to trial," Kaplan told OK! on Monday.

Source: OKmagazine.com