The recently rehabbed singer is rumoured to be involved with 26-year-old US singer-songwriter Howie Day, according to Life & Style magazine.

According to the mag, Brit "fell hard" for Howie during her four-week stay at the Promises rehab facility in Malibu and may even be planning to take him along to her cousin Erin’s June wedding as her date.

"Britney just lights up and seems back to her old self when she talks to Howie or tells people about him," the magazine quotes an insider as saying. "She thinks he’s very talented - and says he’s the best kisser ever!"

Howie’s publicist identified him as Britney’s tennis partner during their time in rehab - but apparently not everyone is thrilled about the alleged romance.

The singer’s mum Lynne is said to be concerned about his lifestyle and troubled history.

Howie has been arrested twice in the past three years and was sentenced to one year’s probation in April last year.

"Lynne wants Britney to be with someone outside the music industry," the insider tells the magazine. "Howie is always on the road and exposed to influences that are discouraged in rehab."

Britney’s post-rehab music career - April 4 2007
A music producer working with Britney Spears on her new album is convinced the comeback record is going to knock everyone’s socks off.

Sean Garrett, who has twiddled knobs for J-Lo and Beyonce amongst others, told People: "It’s really coming together right now. I know that she’ll do exceptionally well now that she’s out of rehab."

He and Brit were in the studio before the singer’s recent problems, collaborating on five tracks for her upcoming disc.

Describing the sound of the songs, he says: "[It’s] like Toxic times 10. It’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s really exciting. We did a lot of great work before her break."

Britney’s work has fallen by the wayside recently - well she has had motherhood, marriage and partying to fit in. But since her split from K-Fed - before she headed to rehab - the star seemed to have been focusing on resurrecting her career.

As for her recent travails, Sean admits: "The pressure sometimes gets to you, but I think she has done such a great job keeping her composure under the circumstances."

He adds: "Britney is a superstar."

Britney and K-Fed strike custody deal - Mar 30 2007
Britney and K-Fed have reached a settlement over child custody and finances in their divorce, a spokesman for the wannabe rapper’s lawyer said.

After a five-hour meeting in Los Angeles with their lawyers present, the couple signed "a global settlement on all issues of their marriage," said Michael Sands, a spokesman for Kev’s attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan.

He declined to elaborate on terms of the settlement, saying only that it covers child custody and financial matters. Brit’s lawyer, Laura Wasser, declined to comment.

The settlement came more than a week after the troubled singer checked out of a luxurious LA rehab centre.

During her stay at Promises Malibu Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment Facility, the pair shared joint custody of their two young sons under a temporary agreement.

When Britney filed for divorce on November 7, she cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending her two-year marriage, and sought custody of the children, with visitation rights for K-Fed.