Officials in Florida are hunting for country star Mindy McCready after she allegedly took her son from his father's home without permission.

The singer has been fighting her mother, Gayle Inge, for custody of her five-year-old son Zander ever since she was released from prison after serving time for a probation violation in 2008.

The youngster was at his father Bill McKnight's home in Cape Coral when McCready, who turns 36 on Wednesday, allegedly took him in the last few days.

Family members have filed a missing person report, and officials for the Department of Children and Families held an emergency hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

A judge ruled McCready must hand back her son by Thursday or face arrest, according to Florida's Wink News.