Britney Spears calls off engagement

Britney Spears and Jason Trawick (R) began dating in 2010 following a turbulent years in Spears’ personal and professional lives. After more than two years of relationship, Spears called it quits. AP

|      Jill Serjeant & Eric Kelsey     |

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Pop star Britney Spears on Friday called it quits with fiance Jason Trawick. Spears also confirmed that she has quit as a celebrity judge on “The X Factor” talent show.

Spears, 31, and Trawick, 41 – her former agent – got engaged in December 2011.

“Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement,” Spears said in a statement. “I’ll always adore him and we will remain great friends.”

The couple began dating in May 2010, following a turbulent few years in Spears’ personal and professional life in which she lost custody of her children, entered rehab and shaved off her hair.

Trawick added in a statement: “As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever.”

The wedding would have been the third for Spears. She divorced dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she had two children, in 2006.

The singer also spontaneously married childhood friend Jason Alexander during a trip to Las Vegas in 2004. That marriage lasted 55 hours before the singer annulled the union.

Spears and Trawick announced their split the same day that the “Toxic” singer confirmed she was leaving “The X Factor” after just one year as a judge on the Fox singing show, saying it was time to get back to making music.