Alright…so if you’re keeping track at home, you know that it’s been an interesting half-decade for Britney Spears.  If your memory doesn’t serve you so well, we’ll recap.

Five years ago, the singer was fresh out of rehab after shaving her head in a Los Angeles salon – and attacking a paparazzo with an umbrella.  A year after that, she was forcibly strapped to a gurney and placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold.  And yeah, we’ll admit that she seemed like she was on a downward spiral – with no upswing in sight.

But my, how the years can change.

Granted, it helps that Spears had family members, lawyers, and “handlers” who helped drag her back from the brink…something some other Hollywood starlets might need.  Cough cough, Lindsay Lohan, cough cough.

So, fresh off an engagement announcement, Spears looks to join Simon Cowell’s singing competition on Fox, “The X-Factor.”  After a few weeks of negotiations,  the singer has agreed to join to judging panel for a mere 15 million dollars, an insider told E! News.  Not shockingly, Britney is a lot more expensive than the judges she’s replacing.  Nicole Scherzinger reportedly made 1.5 million, while Paula Abdul pulled in 2.5 million.  Take that, Jennifer Lopez, and your paltry 12 million dollar “American Idol” salary!

Songwriter/producer James “Jim Beanz” Washington – who worked with Spears on her albums “Blackout” and “Circus” – said that, “I had a lot of fun working with her.  I think she’ll do amazing on “X-Factor.” 

“She obviously had a nervous breakdown, but her team really saved the day,” said Eileen Koch, owner of the Eileen Kock and Company public relations firm in Los Angeles.  “She seems to really have it together now.  She’s 30, she looks good, her boys are growing up, she still has her talent and the paparazzi has sort of left her alone.  I think she’s on the right track,” said Koch – who is also a longtime friend of Spears’ longtime manager Larry Rudolph.

So what do you think?  Does Britney have the right people surrounding her now?  Can Simon Cowell put her back in the positive end of the limelight?  Only time will tell, but you can let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Click Here for some photos of Britney.