Britney Spears announces career hiatus to look after ailing father

LOS ANGELES, United States — Pop superstar Britney Spears announced Friday she is placing her career on hold indefinitely to take care of her sick father.

"I will not be performing my new show Domination," she wrote in an emotional post on Twitter which featured a picture of herself as a young child alongside her parents.

I don’t even know where to start with this, because this is so tough for me to say. I will not be performing my new show Domination. I’ve been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart. pic.twitter.com/kHgFAVTjNA

— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) January 4, 2019

The 1990s and 2000s icon had been due to kick off a series of concerts at the MGM resort in Las Vegas in February as part of a new residency in the city.

"I've been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart," the 37-year-old continued.

"However, it's important to always put your family first… and that's the decision I had to make. 

"A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We're all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him."

As a result, she said, she had decided to "put my full focus and energy on my family at this time."

Reports indicated Spears' father Jamie suffered a colon rupture but is expected to make a full recovery.

Spears had previously held a Las Vegas residency between 2013 and 2017.