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MTV Spears Britney for VMAs
The MTV Video Music Awards have carried off some major shockers over the years. Britney Spears attempting to launch a comeback with a "surprise" performance from its stage, however, will not be one of them.
After weeks of speculation on whether the dethroned pop princess would be taking the stage at Sunday's Sin City-bound VMAs—which became increasingly less speculative as a wave of media outlets, E! Online included, began verifying her appearance, and Spears herself confirming as much to paparazzi this week—MTV has finally fessed up that the tabloid target will indeed be opening the show.
In a statement released Thursday by the musically inclined cable net, event organizers confirmed Spears will not only perform her new single, "Gimme More," LIVE (emphasis MTV's, though time and TiVo slo-mo will tell) to kick off the show but she consulted with starlet-approved illusionist Criss Angel for the performance.
While MTV is keeping mum on exactly what fans can expect from the big night, this year's VMA executive producer said Spears won't disappoint.
"You can expect the things we want and expect from Britney—that will all be there," Jesse Ignjatovic told MTV.com. "What I've seen of it is great. She'll be dancing, performing, doing her thing. That's exactly what we all want. Fans that are familiar with her performance on previous VMAs will not be disappointed.
"She'll kill it," he said. "She'll captivate everyone, and set the tone for the rest of the night. There's no one better."
Or, likely, with as much at stake.
Spears' single, off her still untitled fifth studio album, due out Nov. 13, was leaked online last Thursday and has already garnered plenty of airplay—and criticism. It was one of a slew of supposed Britney tracks that leaked over the past few weeks, though the only one confirmed to appear on her long gestating forthcoming album.
To capitalize on the VMA performance and generate more ubiquity for the tune, ringtones of both "Gimme More" and its Shakespearean opening line, "It's Britney, bitch" will be available on mtv.com after the show.
But while Spears has generated—and probably will continue to generate—the most headlines from her performance at the event, she's not the only heavy-hitter descending upon the Palms Casino & Resort stage.
She joins a bill that includes Justin Timberlake—who last month opted not to comment on persistent rumors he would join his former partner onstage—Kanye West, Fallout Boy, Rihanna, T.I. and Adam Levine, among many others.
But while Spears will be taking center stage at the do, two of her contemporaries won't be so lucky.
Amy Winehouse, who is up for three awards, pulled out of the gig last month, after canceling all upcoming appearances—save a performance at London's GQ Men of the Year Awards Tuesday—citing a desire to focus on her health.
Fellow Brit Lily Allen was also forced to back out of her performance, as well as postpone her forthcoming stateside tour, after her U.S. work visa was revoked in the wake of getting arrested for allegedly assaulting a paparazzo in London.
Timberlake and Beyoncé are both up for a leading seven nods apiece. The VMAs will air at 9 p.m. Sunday.
(Click in to E! Online beginning Sunday at 4 p.m. PT, as Planet Gossip's Marc Malkin will be liveblogging the red carpet and the ceremony.)
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