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Spears and Brand set for MTV show Spears scoops awards at MTV show
(about 16 hours later)
Troubled singer Britney Spears will join British comic Russell Brand to kick off the MTV Video Music Awards show in Los Angeles later. Troubled singer Britney Spears swept the board at the MTV Video Music Awards show in Los Angeles.
The 26-year-old, whose comeback performance at last year's show was widely panned, will not sing at this year's event. The 26-year-old, whose performance at last year's show was widely panned, won best video, best pop video and best female video for Piece Of Me.
Instead, she has promised something "fun and unexpected". Spears, who did not sing at the event, thanked "God first and foremost for just blessing me like this".
Brand is making his first major US live appearance on the show, which features Kanye West and Christina Aguilera. The show was hosted by British comic Russell Brand and featured performances by Kanye West and Christina Aguilera.
Rihanna, Kid Rock and the Jonas Brothers are also confirmed as performing at the event, which takes place on Sunday evening at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood. Rihanna, Kid Rock and the Jonas Brothers also performed at the event, which took place on Sunday evening at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
Spears will be hoping her appearance gives her career a lift after a year of health problems and legal difficulties which saw her lose custody of her children, while her father James has taken legal control of her affairs. Spears has suffered a year of health problems and legal difficulties which saw her lose custody of her children, while her father James has taken legal control of her affairs.
Brand praised Spears when he spoke to the BBC's Peter Bowes
Brand, who has appeared with Spears in advertisements for the show - along with an elephant in the room - praised his co-star in an interview with the BBC's Peter Bowes.Brand, who has appeared with Spears in advertisements for the show - along with an elephant in the room - praised his co-star in an interview with the BBC's Peter Bowes.
"She seems ever so sweet, but some people have been ever so battered by fame," the 33-year-old said."She seems ever so sweet, but some people have been ever so battered by fame," the 33-year-old said.
"She's been kicked in all directions by the media. She's a little bruised, but she's a very sweet, lovely person.""She's been kicked in all directions by the media. She's a little bruised, but she's a very sweet, lovely person."
Spears' video for Piece of Me is up for the showpiece video of the year prize, along with Chris Brown's Forever, Burnin' Up by the Jonas Brothers, When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls and The Ting Tings' Shut Up And Let Me Go. Spears' video for Piece of Me beat Chris Brown's Forever, Burnin' Up by the Jonas Brothers, When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls and The Ting Tings' Shut Up And Let Me Go to the coveted prize.
Kanye West will close the show with a performance, after having fallen out with MTV following last year's ceremony. Brand praised Spears when he spoke to the BBC's Peter Bowes
He had promised to boycott the awards after losing out in all five categories he was nominated for, while in 2006 he publicly complained about not winning best video at the MTV Europe awards. She had been nominated 16 times before but never won.
Speculation that Michael Jackson will make an appearance at the 25th VMAs has been played down, with MTV president Van Toffler saying: "I don't know whether that's going to happen." Presidential race
Brand said the night marked the "launch of a very new Britney Spears era".
"Consider this the resurrection of Britney Spears," he said. "If there was a female Christ, it's Britney."
During his innuendo-laden opening monologue, Brand discussed the upcoming US presidential election.
"Some people, I think they're called racists, say America is not ready for a black president," he said.
"But I know America to be a forward-thinking country because otherwise why would you have let that retard and cowboy fella be president for eight years.
"We were very impressed. we thought it was nice of you to let him have a go, because, in England, he wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors."
Kanye West closed the show with a performance, after having fallen out with MTV following last year's ceremony.
He had threatened to boycott the awards after losing out in all five categories he was nominated for, while in 2006 he publicly complained about not winning best video at the MTV Europe awards.
Last year's big winners were Justin Timberlake with four awards, including top male artist, and R&B star Rihanna, who won video of the year for Umbrella.Last year's big winners were Justin Timberlake with four awards, including top male artist, and R&B star Rihanna, who won video of the year for Umbrella.