A twelvemonth after launching a calamitous comeback attempt, pop genius Britney Spears swept the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards by winning the first terzetto Moonman statuettes of her career.
The singer, whose calling has been overshadowed in recent years by a litany of personal woes, took home the awards for video of the year, best pop tV and best female video, all for the melodic phrase Piece of Me.
"I'm in shock right now," the 26-year-old starlet said, after taking the stage for the third time to receive the coveted prize for video of the year.
In her brief acceptance speeches, she doled out multiple thanks to God, her family and her fans.
But the 25th annual broadcast of the modus vivendi cable channel's flagship do did non begin promisingly for Spears.
After weeks of speculation, the channel proclaimed last calendar week that Spears would open the ceremony and promised some surprises.
All she did, however, was deliver four sentences, shielding her lower face with her microphone.
"Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I'm here tonight to lionise a identical important natal day, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now."
The audience, primed for fireworks, scantily had time to digest her passing delivery before R&B singer Rihanna belted out the the first-class honours degree of many musical performances.
Spears inadvertently stole the show last year. Clearly unfirm and out-of-shape, she ill lip-synched a song, drawing bewildered stares from the high-wattage audience and universal proposition derision in the messy aftermath.
But the tabloid aim seems to have avoided any calamities in late months.
While she puts her life back together, her ex-husband has full custody of their two sons, and her father and a lawyer have taken control of her business affairs.
BUSH WHACKED
Other winners included R&B isaac Bashevis Singer Chris Brown's With You for charles Herbert Best male picture, Linkin Park's Shadow of the Day for best rock picture, and rapper Lil Wayne's Lollipop for best rap music video.
The demo was hosted by British comedian Russell Brand, world Health Organization is known for his scene-stealing turn as a lovably tinny rock star in the romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Brand implored Americans to elect Democratic presidential campaigner Barack Obama, and described US President George W Bush as a "mentally retarded country fella".
He also ridiculed the oaths of virginity undertaken by fresh-faced teenager idols the Jonas Brothers, declaring that "Eight years of Bush is what the Jonas Brothers ar going to have to cram into their unmarried man parties".
But American Idol victor Jordin Sparks came to the brothers' defence, locution, "It's non bad to wear a promise hoop, because non every guy or daughter wants to be a slut".
High School Musical wizard Ashley Tisdale also entered the fray on the brothers' behalf, telling reporters backstage that Brand's jokes were "not really nice".
Even Paris Hilton - star topology of an infamous cyberspace sex mag tape - took pity on the terzetto. "Don't pick on them. That's something cool for a kid to keep."
The awards were held in Los Angeles for the first time in a decade, on the historic studio lot of MTV's corporate sibling, Paramount Pictures.
The lifestyle cable network used the simulated city streets, rooftops, and sound stages all over the Paramount lot to show various performances.
Last yr, 7.1 million MTV viewers watched the festivities, according to Nielsen Media Research.
While viewership was up from 5.8 billion the year before, the numbers were a far cry from the record 12 trillion viewers for the 1999 version.
ON THE RED CARPET
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Earlier in the evening, Hollywood's biggest name calling provided plenitude of shocks on the red carpet.
Rap star T-Pain arrived while riding�an elephant, while�Fatman Scoop turned up like he'd just now got out of bottom with his�boxer drawers and�white undershirt ensemble.
Other outfit shocks included Rihanna's jungle number, former Miss USA Tara Connor's befuddled effort, Beyonce's babe Solange's overly bright ensemble and Perez Hilton's pyjama suit.
The awards were�hosted by British comedian�Russell Brand.
* Check out�our photo gallery for all the photos from the MTV Awards.
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