Russell Brand didn’t give Britney Spears his full attention when they filmed ads for this Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards.

The pair shot a series of commercials to promote the annual event, which the comedian is hosting.

Unfortunately for Britney, 26, they were joined by an elephant – which mesmerised Russ, 32.

‘I enjoyed meeting Britney, she was lovely,’ he tells the Daily Mirror.

‘But it was very distracting because there was an elephant there.

‘I know Britney is very attractive, but I’ve never met an elephant before.

‘They’re eye-catching. They get the attention, an elephant.’

Meanwhile, the singer, who is up for three gongs, will be joined on stage by former rival Christina Aguilera, 27, at the music bash in Hollywood.

Britney has already announced she will kick off the show.

Credit: Piece Of Britney

Britney Spears’ first lover has come forward.

Reg Jones, now 30, has been revealed as the man who the ‘Gimme More’ singer lost her virginity to at the age of 14.

The troubled star’s mother Lynne outed him in her tell-all book ‘Through The Storm’ which claims the former high school American football star had sex with the singer when he was 17.

The jilted lover - who Britney dumped for ‘SexyBack’ singer Justin Timberlake - admits he still thinks of the pop star and keeps a picture of his ex wearing a black bra.

He is quoted by Britain’s Daily Star newspaper as saying: “We were madly in love and Britney was very passionate. I’d often stay over at her house and we’d fool around like any young couple.

“Although there was a couple of years difference in our age, it didn’t seem to matter.

“She was everything a boy could have wanted - great-looking, always laughing and liked by everyone.

“One time she called me from Los Angeles, saying, ‘Guess who I’ve just beaten at ping-pong? Leo DiCaprio.’ How do you compete with that?”

Lynne’s book also reveals how Britney - who broke down in tears when she found out her most intimate secrets were to be published - took drugs at 15 and started drinking aged 13.

Credit: Piece Of Britney

Britney Spears is in danger of another VMAs missfire, following the news that rival Christina Aguilera will be taking centre stage at the Video Music Awards.

Britney confirmed her appearance at the VMAs yesterday, announcing she would be opening the show hosted by Russel Brand.

She added, “MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs?”

Yet pop sensation Christina - who recently gave birth - is preparing for her own comeback, and organisers have booked the belting beauty to perform on the night as well.

The last time both Christina and Britney were at the VMAs they were fighting for the attention of Madonna’s affections on stage.

It seems nothing has changed, except maybe this time it will be Russel Brand they are scrapping over?

Credit: Piece Of Britney

MTV VMA host Russel Brand talks straight about the big awards show bash, giving dish on Britney Spears and giving Michael Jackson a shout out!

Location, Location, Location! Brand says shooting the VMAs at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios will give way to a theme of “things are not what they seem.” “The magic, the movies, smoke and mirrors, mystery, strangeness, props, trap doors…” are the motifs Brand says viewers will enjoy.

He also says he doesn’t know any details about Britney Spears’ appearance, but calls her “beautiful” and “talented.”

Click to stream.

Credit: Piece Of Britney

The paps caught up with Britney Thursday afternoon. She went to visit an apartment building on Wilshire, and she brought Larry Rudolph along, too. Click the picture for entire set.

Credit: Piece Of Britney

Source: X17

British comic Russell Brand won’t spill the beans on what exactly Britney Spears will do when she opens Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards.

But he’ll tell you this much: “She’s not serving canapés or doing a bizarre haircut on herself!” he said on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show Thursday.

“She’s not performing, but she’s certainly doing [the show] in a professional capacity,” said Brand, 33, who serves as host.

He admitted he has some tricks up his sleeve for the pop star.

“I might get the opportunity to pinch her back in revenge for the trailer,” he joked, referencing their cheeky TV promo. “I know at some point I will try and pinch her!”

In a statement Wednesday, the 26-year-old singer — who suffered an embarrassing performance at last year’s show — said she was “excited” about returning to the stage.

“MTV has long played an important role in my career,” she said. “How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs?”

Spears, who has been nominated 17 times, is also up for three awards for her “Piece of Me” video.

Plenty of people will be rooting for her.

“She is so on her game and ready to prove to everyone that she is back,” Lance Bass told Usmagazine.com at a Facebreaker bash in Hollywood on Wednesday. “She needs no advice from me - she is a seasoned professional.”

Source: Us Magazine

Britney Spears will kick off the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, the network announced on Wednesday.

And the pop star couldn’t be happier.

“MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs?” Britney said in a statement to MTV. “I’m excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated.”

Britney, who has never won a VMA [despite 16 past nominations], is up this year for Video of the Year, Best Pop Video and Best Female Video for her single “Piece of Me.”

However, following her highly criticized musical opener of “Gimme More” at last year’s VMAs, Britney will not open this year’s show with a performance.

Instead, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said it will be something “fun and unexpected” to kick off Sunday night’s show.

“Britney has done everything from perform with a snake, lock lips with Madonna and prove that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas,” Toffler said, referring to last year’s uninspired number. “I can’t wait to see what she does to kick off this year’s show.”

Her manager, Larry Rudolph, confirmed the news to Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush. Larry added in that Britney’s performance would be more of a cameo.

“She is not performing,” Larry told Billy. “She looks great and is very excited to be there.”

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Britney taped a promo spot with VMA host Russell Brand, which features Brand and Britney, along with a very large, and overtly metaphorical elephant in the room.

The pachyderm performs tricks in the background as Britney and Brand joke about his less-than-household-name-in-America status.

The 25th MTV Video Music Awards air Sunday, September 7 at 9 PM EST.

Source: AH

A few celebrities weigh in on what they think about Britney’s fashion sense.

Tim Gunn from Project Runway says:

I’m sorry! Well, she’s a mess. I mean, I know she’s getting better. I’m woeful about her. I’m dubious about how much she wants to succeed. I think she’s in a bubble, but I don’t trust it will last. I don’t mean to be mean, but she’s difficult.

He’s just mad that his show went no where.  Suck it up, Tim.

Then there’s Richie Rich:

Just show off her body. She’s looking great these days. I think Britney needs to show it off. [That's] what she’s the best at. … Everybody wants to root for her. It’s gonna be good!

Now there’s a man who knows what he’s talking about. Jolly good show.

And last we have June Ambrose, Stylist to the Stars:

All Britney needs this year is clothes. She was naked last year, so clothes, she explained. I think she should accentuate her legs, show soft cleavage — not overt cleavage — and less sparkle. … Go more matte and mod, more ’40s pinup. It can be hot for her.

I will just shut my mouth from now on. Thanks.

Source: yougottea

Pop tart Britney Spears was an out-of-control teenager who was drinking at thirteen and sexually active by fourteen, Spears Family matriarch Lynne claims in a new tell-all book set to hit booksellers’ shelves later this month.

In Through the Storm, Lynne, 53, alleges Britney was already drinking when she first kissed stardom as a featured dancer on The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1990s.

The showbiz mama also accuses her superstar spawn of losing her virginity to an eighteen-year-old high school boyfriend when she was just fourteen.

“You really feel for Lynne,” an In Touch Weekly insider has revealed. “All she ever wanted was to raise a happy and healthy, loving family.”

Lynne Spears: Through the Storm arrives September 16.

Source: Pop Crunch

==========

Troubled Britney Spears began boozing aged 13, lost her virginity at 14, then started taking drugs at 15, according to a shocking tell-all book by her mum.

Wild child Britney allegedly first hit the bottle after joining Disney’s squeaky-clean Mickey Mouse Club.

Mum LYNNE claims 14-year-old Britney then had sex with an 18-year-old high school footballer soon after she quit the TV show.

And she had her first taste of drugs at 15 when she went to Los Angeles to record her debut album Baby One More Time.

The sensational revelations were leaked last night ahead of publication of Lynne’s memoir, titled Through the Storm.

Lynne, 53, tells how she regrets handing over control of Britney’s career to managers and allowing her daughter to be promoted as a sex object in raunchy videos at such a young age.

She believes Britney’s wild behaviour as a teenage star is the root of her current problems.

Britney, now 26, has twice been admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward this year.

After the Mickey Mouse Club, Britney spent a year at high school in her home town of Kentwood, Louisiana, where she is said to have lost her virginity at the home of her footballer boyfriend.

As Britney later pursued her pop career, Lynne let her 16-year-old daughter sleep with teen sweetheart Justin Timberlake, despite claiming she was a virgin.

A source said: “Lynne thought Britney was in love and Justin was good for her.”

Lynne’s book reportedly tells of her horror when Britney, still just 16, was caught with cocaine and cannabis on a private jet.

The book, out on September 16, is set to deepen the rift between Britney and Lynne.

They have been estranged since Britney’s marriage to KEVIN FEDERLINE broke down in 2006, sending the star off the rails.

K-Fed, 30, has custody of the couple’s toddler sons, and Britney’s dad has taken legal control of her life while she recovers from her psychiatric problems.

Source: The Sun

And counting. Just thought these were fun for VMA week. And Britney’s the only person I’m ever really excited to see there…you know it’s boring without her!

BRITNEY! Her mark and proof she will be at the VMAs on Sunday. Excited? Of course you are! Even if she isn’t performing. Oh, and if she doesn’t win one this year, then I will raise hell. MTV has cut her out way too many times.  It’s about time she gets one. Plus, WE voted. And you all know what happens when we vote…

Source: MTV

Britney is seen here leaving recording studio. September 3rd. Click the picture for entire set.

Credit: Piece Of Britney

He wins

Whether or not it’s because she’s a celebrity, Britney Spears still has to face the music at some point.

A judge has rejected her camp’s motion to dismiss a year-old misdemeanor charge against her for driving with an invalid license, leaving the possibility of an October trial on the table.

Spears’ attorney, Michael Flanagan, who has maintained that his client is getting a bum rap thanks to her high profile, told E! News Tuesday that he was hoping that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James A. Steele would toss the case.

“The law is clear,” Flanagan said. “She should have just been issued a notice to correct pursuant to the vehicle code. The law says you shall issue a notice to correct. They did not do that. They just moved to prosecute. And she corrected it by obtaining a valid California license before she even got the notice.”

Steele didn’t agree with that rationale, however, writing in his decision that Spears may have picked up new paperwork in October, but she was considered a California resident for 17 months before her hit-and-run accident in August 2007—and people only have 10 days to obtain a new license after establishing residence.

Spears, who was carrying a Louisiana license when she was involved in the minor fender bender, could not “simply procure a California driver’s license after the fact and then have the charge dismissed,” the judge wrote.

But before her driving case goes to a jury (if it comes to that), Spears faces a trial by fire on Sunday.

The 27-year-old songstress will be returning to the scene of one of 2007’s biggest pop-culture crimes, having signed on to open the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards with something “fun and unexpected,” according to network music group president Van Toffler.

“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,” Spears, who’s up for three awards this weekend, said in a statement.

Source: E!

It’s Britney, baby, one more time.

Despite her train-wreck performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, the network confirms Spears will kick off the show once again.

But it won’t be a performance. Instead, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said Wednesday, it’ll be something “fun and unexpected” on Sunday night’s show.

Unexpected is probably the kindest way to describe Spears’ 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 lowpoints in her year of debacles.

So what made 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,” Spears said in a statement.

“I think for Britney, people are rooting for her, and she’s really on the road to recovery,” 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.”

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

In recent months, Spears, who’s working on a new album, has appeared to have cleaned up her act. 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’ “How I Met Your Mother” earlier this year.

Source: MTV