Britney Spears Praises Madonna For Being ‘Wise’ and ‘Incredibly Strong,’ Says She Looks Up to Fellow Pop Superstar ‘More Than Anyone’

It’s been 23 years since Britney Spears and Madonna famously locked lips at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, but despite Brit publicly stepping back from her music career she still holds a special place in her heart for her fellow pop superstar. In an Instagram post on Sunday (Jan. 18), Spears shared an iconic image of Madonna from a 2003 shoot with photographer Steven Klein in which the “Ray of Light” singer models a crimson red bejeweled headpiece and crystals all over her face.

“The beast within … I prefer to call it the spiritual animal awakening. It’s been a long time for me … I know the wild ones more than anyone !!!,” Spears wrote. “Yet, we’re honestly all the same under our mask we secretly wear every day !!! Vulnerability, fragility, insanity, real innocence … but also confusion, depression, extreme hurt, anger … stuck in our heads.”

Spears also opined on the masks we wear on a daily basis and the “dangerous” game of tapping into our inner spirit animal to “cross to the other side.” But what she really wanted to impart was her love and respect for Madonna’s fierce public persona. “This picture is clearly an understanding ‘DO NOT PISS HER OFF’,” she wrote of the arresting Madonna pic. “I admire and look up to Madonna more than anyone … wise, incredibly strong and has remained gentle and genius. Again … DO NOT PISS HER OFF !!!”

The plaudits for Madonna came after Spears, 44, announced earlier this month that she doesn’t plan to ever tour in the U.S. again. More than seven years after wrapping her global Piece of Me tour, Spears posted a throwback snap from her pop juggernaut days in which she’s seated on the bench of a white grand piano while praising the musical chops of her youngest son, 19-year-old Jayden James Federline.

“Sending this piano to my son this year!!!,” she wrote. “I will never perform in the U.S. again because of extremely sensitive reasons,” Spears said without explaining what those reasons are, while also suggesting overseas fans might see her on stage in the future. “But I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son…” she teased. “In the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon. He’s a huge star and I’m so humbled to be in his presence!!! God speed, little man!!!”