Britney Spears up for three MTV Video Music Awards, may perform

Britney's back.

A year after she bombed onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards, Britney Spears snagged three nominations for this year's show, including the coveted Video of the Year prize.

Thanks to thousands of fans' votes, her video for "Piece of Me" will also vie for Best Female and Best Pop Video honors - giving her 16 nominations over her career.

Such kudos were unimaginable a year ago, when Spears' attempt at a comeback during the awards show backfired miserably.

Her sloppy, lip-synched performance of "Gimme More" was universally panned and ushered in a year of lousy luck for the pop icon, including a failed child custody battle and a stint in rehab.

"Britney Spears made last year's MTV Video Music Awards a memorable one with her performance of 'Gimme More' - albeit in ways she may not have intended," MTV wrote on its Web site yesterday. "But on Sept. 7, Spears will get a chance at VMA glory."

It's unclear whether the pop princess will make an encore performance at the 25th annual show, giving her a chance at redemption.

The only confirmed performers are Jonas Brothers, Lil' Wayne and Kid Rock, but a spokeswoman for the network said earlier this week that Spears is in negotiations to take the stage again.

Spears is also showing that she has a sense of humor about her infamous performance.

In promos for the show, a trim and dolledup Spears mindlessly banters with host Russell Brand as a 9,000-pound pachyderm walks behind them - signaling that last year's lousy act is the elephant in the room.

Spears is always a ratings juggernaut on the program. She seems determined to raise eyebrows whenever she appears on the show - including in 2003, when she and Christina Aguilera exchanged kisses with Madonna while performing "Like a Virgin."

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