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Britney Spears has a previously unreleased song out, nearly 25 years after it was recorded!

The 44-year-old pop superstar’s song “She’ll Never Be Me” was officially released on Friday (October 9), after circulating among fans for years.

The track was recorded in 2001 during the sessions for Britney‘s third studio album, Britney, but it did not make the final tracklist.

Now, the song is getting an official release as part of the rollout for the album’s 25th anniversary edition, which is scheduled to arrive November 6.

There’s also a surprising detail about the song: Justin Timberlake, who was dating Britney when it was recorded, helped write it!

So, what is the song about, and why wasn’t it released back in 2001?

What is Britney Spears’ “She’ll Never Be Me” about?

“She’ll Never Be Me” is about a woman who believes her ex will never find someone quite like her.

In the song, Britney sings about a former boyfriend who has started dating another woman who looks a lot like her. She points out that the new girlfriend has similar blonde hair and style, but insists that nobody can take her place.

The singer also suggests that her ex is still thinking about their relationship, even when he’s with someone new.

At one point, she addresses the new girlfriend directly, telling her that she’s being compared to the woman who came before her.

The song is ultimately about confidence and knowing your worth after a breakup. Britney is telling her ex that he can move on, but he’ll never be able to replace her.

Did Britney Spears write “She’ll Never Be Me” with Justin Timberlake?

Yes, Justin Timberlake is credited as one of the song’s writers.

“She’ll Never Be Me” was written by Britney, Justin, Alex Greggs and Bradley Daymond.

The song was produced by Alex and Bradley, who worked together as Riprock ‘n’ Alex G.

Britney and Justin were still dating when the track was recorded in 2001.

That makes the writing credit especially interesting, since the song describes a relationship that has already ended.

Over the years, fans have speculated that the lyrics were inspired by Justin‘s later relationship with Cameron Diaz. However, the timeline doesn’t support that theory.

Britney and Justin split in 2002, while Justin and Cameron began dating in 2003.

Since the song was recorded in 2001, it was written before those relationships changed.

Why wasn’t “She’ll Never Be Me” released in 2001?

The song was recorded during the sessions for Britney, but it was never completed for the original album.

In January 2022, producer Alex Greggs appeared on The Original Doll podcast to discuss the recording.

According to Alex, the original recording was still a demo, and other material was prioritized for the album. He also disputed the idea that the record label rejected the song because of its lyrics.

The song became familiar to longtime fans after recordings circulated online, even though it wasn’t included on an official release.

Interestingly, Alex referred to the track as “Never Be Me,” while the newly released version uses the title “She’ll Never Be Me.”

Is “She’ll Never Be Me” on Britney Spears’ 25th anniversary album?

Yes, the song is part of the rollout for the 25th anniversary edition of Britney‘s self-titled third album.

The expanded edition is scheduled to arrive on November 6, 2026, marking 25 years since the original album was released.

Britney originally featured hits including “I’m a Slave 4 U,” “Overprotected” and “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.”

“She’ll Never Be Me” gives fans a chance to hear more of the music Britney was working on during that era.

The release also comes after Britney reportedly sold her music catalog and other rights earlier this year.

Listen to “She’ll Never Be Me” and check out the lyrics below!

Listen to Britney Spears’ “She’ll Never Be Me”

Read the Lyrics to Britney Spears’ “She’ll Never Be Me”

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