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
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