Trawick texted Access Hollywood on Friday morning to confirm what the media had long expected: "Yes, we are engaged. I am over the moon, as [is] she."
The pair began dating in 2009, and appeared officially as a couple at the 2010 Grammys.
She may have been married twice already, but Spears has only been engaged once before — for three months before she married Kevin Federline in 2004. With the announcement of her engagement to her former agent Trawick, it looks like this time around, the pop star will get a lot more time to enjoy that element of her relationship.
That's because, in the time-honoured fashion, Trawick had to ask Spears' father, Jamie, for permission to marry the singer; in an unusual twist, that's because Jamie has conservatorship over all Spears' affairs, including her marital status. Without Jamie's signoff, the pair would not be allowed to marry.
"If he doesn't consent, then her marriage would not be legal," family law expert Lisa Helfend Meyer was quoted as saying by E! News. "It's very restrictive. It's not like you are marrying an adult."
Spears turned 30 earlier this month, but since her 2008 meltdown — where she was put on psychiatric hold after refusing to give up custody of her children with Federline — she's been considered incapable of taking care of herself. It was made permanent later that year, with Spears' approval — and she hasn't petitioned to have it lifted since.
Even with Jamie's approval, which the announcement on Thursday night of the longtime couple's engagement indicates Trawick has secured, there are some roadblocks down the aisle.
Spears has several lawsuits against her, including one from former manager (and ex-boyfriend) Sam Lutfi. Being under conservatorship, her lawyers have successfully argued she is not competent to be deposed in lawsuits — if she's allowed to marry, lawyers for Lutfi and others may well argue she's clearly of sound mind again. So it looks like Jamie will be planning to sort out her lawsuits before any vows are exchanged. That could take time.
Taking time, however, doesn't seem to be a concern for Spears this time around. Already last week, her record label confirmed she's planning to have a quiet— in career terms, at least —2012. "She's going to take a little time off next year," said Joe Riccitelli, executive vice- president of RCA Records.
In the past, the singer has appeared headline-grabblingly eager to tie the knot — marrying childhood friend Jason Alexander at 5am on Sunday, January 4, 2004 in the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Las Vegas Strip. The marriage, which came after a night of partying, was annulled as soon as family court opened on Monday morning. According to Spears, she and her friend "took a joke too far by getting married".
But she didn't wait long to take a trip down the aisle again, marrying back-up dancer Federline in September that year, following their July engagement. She'd met him three months earlier. After two children — Sean Preston and Jayden James, born a year apart — and two years of marriage, they divorced.
How big is the rock?
Jason Trawick collaborated with top celebrity jeweller Neil Lane to design an engagement ring for his beloved.
Lane's spokesperson said Trawick personally worked with the designer to make Spears' "dream ring." The ring includes a large diamond — rumoured to be around 4 carats — and pave diamonds on a platinum band.
How did he pop the question?
At a romantic dinner on Thursday to celebrate his 40th birthday in Los Angeles, although some media outlets had reported he was meant to do it the next night at his birthday party in Las Vegas. After Britney gave him his gifts — including a custom-made motorcycle worth $45,000 (Dh165,276) and a $940 leather jacket — he got down on bended knee in the presence of her two sons, 6-year-old Sean and 5-year-old Jayden.
Who is Jason Trawick?
Britney Spears' fiance Jason Trawick appears to be cut from a different cloth to her previous husbands Jason Alexander and Kevin Federline. As an agent at bigwigs William Morris Endevour, Trawick represented not only Spears (from 2006-2009) but also Taylor Swift, Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton and Heidi Klum, and held a position there for 12 years. He's older (he popped the question on his 40th birthday last Thursday), educated (a graduate of Michigan State University with an MBA from Texas A&M University) and if that's not good enough, now has the backing of Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart, who tapped him to run f*star, a digital media brand created by the musicians. He's also reportedly got the approval of Spears' parents. "Her parents love and trust Jason with their daughter," a source close to the family tells RadarOnline.com. "For a long time it was uncertain if Britney would ever be able to find true happiness and love because of her various mental health issues, but Jason is so patient, loving and understanding, and fully supportive of Britney. Jason is very close to Britney's mum, Lynne." Trawick is also often seen helping her care for her sons (above), and appears with her in the video for Criminal.
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