Last year's “comeback” performance was a cause for a universal lambasting, but this year Britney Spears has come out a winner at the 2008 MTV Video Music awards.
Picking up three awards for her “Piece Of Me” video, the 26-year-old starlet was visibly emotional.
"I'm in shock right now," Spears said as she accepted her awards.
"Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I'm here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday, the 25th anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now."
Performing at last year's awards, the singer was out of sorts – stumbling through a poorly lip-synched rendition of “Gimme More”, and attracting wide critical condemnation.
It followed a sour year for the troubled star, who was embroiled in a raft of personal, family and professional woes – including a custody battle between ex-husband Kevin Federline for their two children Sean Preston and Jayden James.
Some have suggested that the multiple awards were a consideration to boost Spears’s spirits.
The awards were hosted by British comedian Russell Brand, best known to Americans for his role in the smash hit Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Brand was not shy to take potshots at American politics – describing U.S President George W. Bush as a “retarded country fella”.
The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards made a return to Los Angeles for the first time in a decade – taking place on the historic studio lot of Paramount Pictures. The faux city streets, sets and sound stages were used as performance spaces for various live highlights.
While 7.1 million people tuned in for this years show, up from 5.8 million last year, the numbers paled in comparison to the record 12 million viewers in 1999.
Winners in bold:
Video of the Year
Chris Brown - “Forever”
Jonas Brothers - “Burnin’ Up”
Pussycat Dolls - “When I Grow Up”
Britney Spears - “Piece of Me”
The Ting Tings - “Shut Up and Let Me Go”
Best Male Video
Chris Brown - “With You”
Flo Rida (featuring T-Pain) - “Low”
Lil Wayne (featuring Static Major) - “Lollipop”
T.I. - “No Matter What”
Usher (featuring Young Jeezy) - “Love in This Club”
Best Female Video
Mariah Carey - “Touch My Body”
Katy Perry - “I Kissed a Girl”
Rihanna - “Take a Bow”
Jordin Sparks (featuring Chris Brown) - “No Air”
Britney Spears - “Piece of Me”
Best New Artist
Miley Cyrus - “7 Things”
Katy Perry - “I Kissed a Girl”
Jordin Sparks (featuring Chris Brown) - “No Air”
Taylor Swift - “Teardrops on My Guitar”
Tokio Hotel - “Ready, Set, Go!”
Best Pop Video
Danity Kane - “Damaged”
Jonas Brothers - “Burnin’ Up”
Panic at the Disco - “Nine in the Afternoon”
Britney Spears - “Piece of Me”
Tokio Hotel - “Ready, Set, Go!”
Best Rock Video
Fall Out Boy (featuring John Mayer) - “Beat It”
Foo Fighters - “The Pretender”
Linkin Park - “Shadow of the Day”
Paramore - “Crushcrushcrush”
Slipknot - “Psychosocial”
Best Hip-Hop Video
Mary J. Blige - “Just Fine”
Lupe Fiasco (featuring Matthew Santos) - “Superstar”
Flo Rida (featuring T-Pain) - “Low”
Lil Wayne (featuring Static Major) - “Lollipop”
Kanye West (featuring Chris Martin) - “Homecoming”
Best Dancing in a Video
Chris Brown - “Forever”
Danity Kane - “Damaged”
Madonna (featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland) - “4 Minutes”
Ne-Yo - “Closer”
Pussycat Dolls - “When I Grow Up”