Britney Spears Returns To Open MTV Awards

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

It’s Britney, baby, one more time. Despite her train-wreck performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, the network confirms Ms. Spears will kick off the show once again. But it won’t be a performance. Instead, the president of MTV Networks Music Group, Van Toffler, said Wednesday, it’ll be something “fun and unexpected” on Sunday night’s show.

Unexpected is probably the kindest way to describe Ms. Spears’s performance at last year’s VMAs. In what was heavily promoted as the troubled singer’s comeback, she instead gave an unfocused, almost unwatchable performance of “Gimme More,” one of the many low points in her year of debacles.

So what made Ms. Spears and MTV reunite one more time?

“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,” Ms. Spears said in a statement.

“I think for Britney, people are rooting for her, and she’s really on the road to recovery,” Mr. Toffler said, noting that MTV had nominated her for three VMAs, including video of the year, for her clip “Piece of Me.”

“It feels like it’s her year,” he added. “It’s our 25th anniversary of the VMAs, and she’s been such a critical piece of MTV’s history.”

While she bombed in 2007, Ms. Spears has given the VMAs many highlights over the years, from her kiss with Madonna to her performance with a writhing snake.

Ms. Spears also equals ratings gold: Last year’s VMAs were up 23% over the 2006 show.

In recent months, Ms. Spears, who’s working on a new album, has appeared to have cleaned up her act (although a judge on Wednesday refused to dismiss a misdemeanor driving-without-a-valid-license case against her). Her father, James, has been in control of her personal and professional matters as her legal conservator, and she drew high ratings and positive reviews when she made guest appearances on CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother” earlier this year.

So far, the confirmed performers for Sunday’s show include the Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, T.I., and Kid Rock.

Mr. Toffler also raised the possibility of another troubled pop icon appearing: Michael Jackson.

“We’ve been talking to him as well, I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” he said. “People fall in and fall out up until the day of the show.”


The New York Sun

© 2024 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use