Christina to perform at MTV awards

12:40pm Friday 5th September 2008

Britney Spears may not sing at this weekend's MTV's Video Music Awards, but Christina Aguilera will.

Aguilera will join other top-name performers, including the Jonas Brothers, TI, Pink, and Kid Rock, awards host, British comedian Russell Brand announced.

Speaking on the backlot of the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Brand bantered with Aguilera, who emerged from a limousine, and rapper TI, who shimmied down a fire escape on a street made to look like New York.

"It's going to be, actually, bloody exciting," Brand said of the awards show, which will celebrate its 25th year on Sunday.

Brand, largely unknown to US audiences, displayed his brand of humour best described with one British word: cheeky.

During the presentation, he described the Jonas Brothers as "God's favourite virgins" and racily commented on Aguilera's physique.

Aguilera touted her upcoming appearance as her first televised performance since giving birth to son Max in January.

The comedian also poked fun at himself, saying that bulldozers were working overtime to keep his wild mane of hair in check.

Brand laced his remarks with "bloody" and "'ell" and a few unprintables. But he also kept the buzz going about the VMAs, an awards show known for creating infamous pop culture moments. Almost as a footnote, he noted that Kanye West had signed on to close the show with a performance.

West has apparently mended his volatile relationship with MTV.

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