Britney Spears Nominated -- By Fans -- For VMA

The following italicized article is from www.showbizspy.com:

Britney Spears still has her fans on her side.

The singer has been shortlisted by MTV voters as one of the nominees at this year's Video Music Awards (VMAs) for 'Piece of Me', it has been revealed.

The votes were cast online. Britney's is the only nominee whose name has come out – the names of the other women in her category remain under wraps. Her competition, as well as contenders for Best Male Video, will be unveiled on Pete Wentz's FN'MTV Friday night at 8 p.m.

The nomination gives the 26-year-old 15 total in her career; however, Britney has yet to score a Moon Man at the award show.

Britney's performance at last year's VMAs was branded the most "perplexing and vilified" in recent award show history.

Many speculated that the lackluster performance was down to Spears being thrown off after hearing comedian Sarah Silverman rehearse her monologue (which ripped Spears and called her kids "mistakes").

As well as being vilified by her fans, three New York newspapers tore into Spears' perceived comeback in their front-section news pages: "Britney Spears phoned it in for her 'comeback' performance ... It was a far cry from her energetic outings at VMAs past," the Daily News wrote.

"Totally lame, pathetically lip-synched," lamented the New York Post. As for "Gimme More," said the paper, "the song about lusting for too much wasn't enough to launch a dinghy, let alone re-launch the career of this ditzy disaster."

The New York Times said of Spears: "She didn't disappoint; she was awful. Visibly nervous, she tottered around the stage, dancing tentatively and doing nothing that sounded or looked like real live singing."

Britney was said to be embarrassed by the performance.

A source told People magazine last year, "She was just plain nervous because of all the hype and she's embarrassed."

Meanwhile, another surprising choice for this year's event: the host. British comedian Russell Brand will take the reigns when the show airs live on September 7, it was confirmed yesterday.

"I've just been invited to do it," Brand said.

"It'll be good to preside over what is sure to be only vaguely coordinated televised insanity.

"That's how I've made my name in [England]: Flying very much by the seat — and the crotch — of my pants."

Brand, 33, was recently criticized for making a hoax call to the emergency services during a stand-up gig.

As previously announced, the teen pop trio The Jonas Brothers will perform at the anything-can-happen event. Other performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.

Source: Showbiz Spy

6 months after near self-destruct, Britney Spears is all about music & kids

The following italicized article is from www.nydailynews.com:

Six months ago she was forcibly strapped to a stretcher and placed on psychiatric hold in two different hospitals.

A judge cut off all contact with her two toddler sons.

Her "Blackout" album failed to go platinum as a deafening papaparazzi circus took the place of actual promotion.

It seemed like an irreversible slide destined to end in tragedy. That was then.

Six months later, a feisty and focused Britney Spears is putting her life back together.

"She's the best I've seen her in three years," a well-placed source in Britney's camp told the Daily News. "She has her kids back now and she's working on a new album. Hopefully it will be out by the end of the year."

Britney, 26, isn't stopping with music. She's reading TV treatments and looking to executive produce a show in the same vein as Ashton Kutcher or Randy Jackson, the source said.

"It has to be organic to her, maybe something related to music or fashion," the source said.

As for acting, she's shopping for a supporting role in a romantic comedy to follow up her well-received cameo on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," the source said. She also stepped in front of the camera last week when she taped a video short for the stage show of Madonna's upcoming "Sticky & Sweet" tour.

"These are baby steps. She's taking every opportunity to see her kids, and the last thing she'll do is tour for three months or take the lead in a feature and be away from them again," the source said. "Maybe she'll go out on tour after the new year, but something short."

Last month a judge reinstated Britney's overnight visits with Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2, after she patched things up with divorce lawyer Laura Wasser and made a "businesslike" court appearance opposite ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"The overnight visits are great positive reinforcement for her. She almost has the equivalent of one-third custody back, and being able to care for them is enormously helpful to her progress," another source close to the singer said.

A custody trial is set for next month, and Britney remains under a court-ordered conservatorship run by dad, Jamie Spears, at least until July 31.

It was Jamie and Britney's once-estranged mom, Lynne, who swooped in last January, won a restraining order against mock manager Sam Lutfi and brought Larry Rudolph, who discovered Britney at 13 and built her career, back into the fold.

Now the paparazzi who snapped the minutiae of her meltdowns are filing photos of Britney hitting the gym, working on her sixth album or vacationing with fellow rehabber Mel Gibson, another client of her powerhouse criminal lawyer Blair Berk.

"She's a true professional in the studio. She's very focused, and she stays as long as it takes to get the job done," said songwriter James (Jim Beanz) Washington, who's collaborating with Britney and mega-producer Nate (Danjahandz) Hills on the new Jive Records album.

Experts say a triumphant comeback is possible if Britney stays focused.

"We heard all this talk of a comeback last year, but she wasn't committed. She seemed committed to becoming a train wreck, not the beloved pop star," said Morris Reid of Washington image consultancy Westin Rinehart.

"We know this woman is talented. And who knows, maybe all the pain is both a curse and a gift," he said. "Difficult times are when some artists create their best work. She could use her music to express her feelings right now. And we all know people are interested in Britney's feelings

Source: The Daily News