LeAnn Rimes understands Britney Spears' 2007 meltdown

Leann Rimes "totally" understands Britney Spears' 2007 breakdown because she could have easily been in the pop star's shoes.

The Can't Fight the Moonlight singer began her music career as a youngster and grew up in the spotlight like Britney. While she didn't have a public breakdown like the Oops!...I Did It Again star in 2007, when Britney infamously shaved her head and attacked a car with an umbrella, LeAnn admits she could have easily suffered the same fate because she was also struggling to cope with fame.

"I've been in those shoes, too, and I know those experiences," she told Britain's Metro newspaper. "The shaving head thing? I totally understand it. I didn't go there but I definitely had the feeling of it, I'm sure, at some point."

Britney sought treatment following her breakdown, which saw her temporarily lose primary custody of her two sons Sean Preston and Jayden James and her father Jamie Spears given control of her finances and career decisions. She embarked on a Las Vegas residency in 2013, regained primary custody of her boys last year (15) and is working on new music, and LeAnn is glad Britney has turned her life around.

"I look at her and think it's really amazing what she's overcome," she added. "It's nice to see someone come out the other side and be successful again."

LeAnn also told the newspaper she would never recommend being a child star because you don't have a childhood or the chance to discover your own identity.

"Parts of me still needed to develop and grow into this woman that I am," she continued. "You could never figure out who you were because there were so many other opinions. I don't recommend it to anyone, let's put it that way."