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Lance Bass learns he’s distantly related to Britney Spears

An ancestry test has revealed that Lance Bass is distantly related to long-time friend and fellow pop star Britney Spears.

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The “Bachelor in Paradise” host learned about his unexpected family connection during an episode posted online Monday of Ancestry’s “2 Lies and a Leaf.” As part of the show, Bass competed against his husband, actor Michael Turchin, to answer questions about their family histories. Bass incorrectly guessed that he might have been related to the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley, while Turchin correctly guessed Bass’ connection to Spears.

Earlier in the show, Bass said he knew little about his ancestors, but added, “It’s something I’ve been interested in my whole life.”

>> Related: ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass, husband Michael Turchin welcome twins

“I wanted to be related to the queen (of England), well, now I’m related to the Queen of Pop,” the 42-year-old said after learning that he and Spears are sixth cousins, once removed. “That is so crazy though because I mean, I feel like she’s my little sister, and this whole time she’s been my little cousin.”

The former ‘N Sync crooner and Spears, 39, have known each other since they both rose as teen superstars in the ‘90s. Bass noted on “2 Lies and a Leaf” that he and Spears were born about an hour away from each other in Mississippi.

“For some reason, I always felt we looked like family, even when we were kids,” he said. “I mean, this means so much to me. … She is like family to me, so the fact that we are blood related is amazing.”

In a 2019 episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Bass said that he came out to Spears in 2004, two years before he came out publicly.

In a July appearance on the “Heather Dubrow’s World” podcast, Bass said that he hadn’t spoken to Spears in years and voiced support for the #FreeBritney movement aimed at giving her autonomy from her 13-year conservatorship.

>> Related: Judge suspends Britney Spears’ father from conservatorship

“We’ve been kept away from each other for quite a while,” he said, according to Billboard.

In September, a Los Angeles judge suspended Spears’ father from acting as her conservator, a role he had been in since 2008. In June, Britney Spears told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny that she wanted to end the conservatorship, calling it “abusive.”

A judge is set to hear petitions to end the conservatorship in its entirety on Friday, according to USA Today.