Britney, Jonases, Pussycats Vie For Top VMAs

After delivering one of the worst performances in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards, Britney Spears has a chance to be crowned this year as the absolute best.

The rebounding pop queen is nominated for video of the year for "Piece of Me," a clip that had fun with her reputation as a tabloid queen. Other nominees included the Jonas Brothers for "Burnin Up," Chris Brown for "Forever," the Pussycat Dolls for "When I Grow Up" and newcomers the Ting Tings for "Shut Up and Let Me Go."

Other nominees announced today -- Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Slipknot, Linkin Park and Foo Fighters -- were in the category of best rock video.

This is Spears third nomination for this year's VMAs; earlier, fans nominated her for best pop video and best female video, both for "Piece of Me."

Spears' nominations are ironic considering neither the song nor the album from which it came, "Blackout," were significant hits; both were released amid Spears' spectacular public decline over the past year, and her performance at last year's VMAs in Las Vegas represented one of the lowlights of her fall from grace.

She was universally ridiculed for her unkempt look and sloppy performance, which kicked off the VMAs and instantly became one of pop's classic moments.

However, the artist may appear during the Sept. 7 VMA telecast, and is already featured in promo ads for the event.

Billboard.com 15 August 2008