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Britney Spears' longtime manager clarifies comments on her never performing again

LOS ANGELES — It's not looking like Britney Spears fans will see her on stage performing any time soon, according to her longtime manager, Larry Rudolph.

In a new interview with TMZ, Rudolph told the tabloid site she won't be going back to her Las Vegas residency, which Spears put on indefinite hold earlier this year.

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“Last summer, when she wanted to tour, she called me every day,” Rudolph said. “She was excited. She hasn’t called me in months. Crickets. She clearly doesn’t want to perform now.”

TMZ reported that Rudolph has not and never has been involved in Spears' conservatorship, which has been in place since 2008. He is only told medical information that directly impacts his client's career.

“As the person who guides her career -- based on the information I and all of the professionals who work with her are being told on a need-to-know basis -- from what I have gathered it’s clear to me she should not be going back to do this Vegas residency, not in the near future and possibly never again,” Rudolph said.

Britney Spears (L) and her longtime manager Larry Rudolph pictured in 2017. Rudolph told TMZ Spears isn't interested in performing compared to last year.

Spears put her residency and her career on hold after her father, Jamie Spears, was hospitalized with a spontaneous colon rupture. Jamie Spears handles his daughter’s conservatorship.

"My father was hospitalized and almost died," Spears said in a Jan. 4 statement. "We're all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him. I had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time. I hope you all can understand."

Rudolph said the timing of her father’s illness coincided with Spears’ medication no longer working.

“It was the perfect storm,” he said. “We had to pull her show because her meds stopped working and she was distraught over her dad’s illness.”

Rudolph told TMZ he's there to support Britney should she decide to go back to performing onstage.

“I don’t want her to work again until she’s ready, physically, mentally and passionately,” he said. “If that time never comes again it will never come again. I have no desire or ability to make her work again. I am only here for her when she wants to work and, if she ever does want to work again, I’m here to tell her if it’s a good idea or a bad idea.”

As news of his interview with TMZ spread, Rudolph clarified his comments, telling Billboard he was referring to her Las Vegas residency.

“Other media sources seem to be picking up my quotes to TMZ as implying that Britney will never work again. That’s not what I said,” Rudolph said. “I simply said that the Vegas residency is now officially off and that she hasn’t called me in months to talk about doing anything so I’m not sure if or when she will ever want to work again. It’s that simple.”

Rudolph also reiterated that he has no role in her conservatorship, including her medical treatment and her children.