In what could prove a courageous or crazy move, Britney Spears has announced she will return to the MTV Music Video Awards a year after her catastrophic attempt to re-launch her career at the event.
After spending the past few years in and out of hospitals and rehab clinics, the pop singer is to open the Hollywood ceremony on Sunday, but instead of performing she will deliver something "fun and unexpected", MTV said.
In a statement, Spears, 26, declined to reveal her plans for the awards ceremony but said she was looking forward to the weekend: "MTV has long played an important role in my career."
"How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs? I'm excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated."
After a drawn-out public meltdown, Spears attempted a comeback at last year’s MTV awards with calamitous results. Performing the single Gimme More, the perennial chart-topper forgot the words to the song as well as the steps for her dance routine. Clearly lip-syncing, at times she stopped singing altogether leaving the audience hearing her voice but watching her unmoving mouth.
The performance made headlines around the world and shortly afterwords her health deteriorated further. She lost custody of her two children to former husband Kevin Federline and was admitted to a hospital’s psychiatric ward amid a paparazzi frenzy.
This Sunday’s comeback appearance holds more promise. The singer’s father was awarded conservatorship by a court in February, giving him control of her estate and her life, and Spears has since shown marked improvement.
She has won visiting rights to her sons, made a solid TV appearance on comedy How I Met Your Mother, and paparazzi have been denied any scandalous shots.
Sunday’s awards could also show she still has artistic chops. The singer stands to scoop gongs for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for the paparazzi-mocking track Piece of Me.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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Britney Spears' Mom Tells Secrets
She lost her virginity at 14, started drinking at 13, and began taking drugs at 15, according to revelations from Britney Spears' mom's new book.
Lynne Spears wrote Britney Spears started drinking alcohol when she was on Disney's Mickey Mouse club. She also says that when Britney left the show at 14, she had sex with an 18-year-old high-school footballer.
And the drugs? According to Lynne, that started when a 15-year-old Britney headed to Los Angeles to make her hit debut album, Baby One More Time.
The revelations have been leaked ahead of the release of Lynne's new memoirs, Through the Storm.
The 53-year-old talks of how she regrets handing over Britney's career to managers, and allowing Britney to be promoted as a sex object at such a tender age.
Britney has twice been admitted to a psychiatric hospital and this year lost custody of her two children, who will now stay with her ex, Kevin Federline.
And, according to the Mirror, Lynne believes her daughter's problems stem from her tumultuous teenage years and the pressures of fame.
Mother and daughter have a checkered history, and became estranged when Britney's marriage broke down in 2006.
But Lynne stepped in this year when Britney started suffering with psychiatric problems.
Hopefully the new book, out on 16 September, won't prove to be a huge stumbling block in their newly-reconciled relationship…
