A year after vowing never to perform on the MTV Video Music Awards again, hip-hop star Kanye West will close the show's 25th annual ceremony in Hollywood on Sunday, joining a lineup that includes Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers, organizers said.
The outspoken rapper was upset by his treatment at last year's show, when his performance was relegated to a small stage in the Las Vegas venue.
West also failed to win any prizes, and accused the music cable network of exploiting Britney Spears, who inadvertently stole the show by badly lip-synching and dancing to her new tune.
The faded pop star will again open the show this year, but she will not perform.
"She will be ... doing something so mindbending, it'll probably make you want to start families with each other in a random, possibly Mormon, way," the show's host, English comedian Russell Brand, joked during a press preview at the Paramount Pictures lot where the ceremony will be held.
He was joined at the preview by Aguilera, who will be making her first televised performance since giving birth to a baby boy in January.
Another performer, rapper T.I., was also on hand at the preview. The trio posed for photographs before Aguilera walked to a waiting limousine and sped off.
Brand described Disney teen idols the Jonas Brothers as "God's favorite virgins," and suggested that their request to be introduced at the event by teen country starlet Taylor Swift was "a decision made from below their sexy little waists."
In recognition of the ceremony's silver anniversary, Brand said MTV would pay homage to the show's storied past. In particular, Katy Perry, the singer of the summer's biggest hit "I Kissed A Girl," will cover Madonna's "Like A Virgin."
"There's a lot of virginity and lesbianism, let me tell you that, going on at the show," said Brand.
Other previously announced performers include R&B singer Rihanna and Detroit rocker Kid Rock, who allowed the media to watch him rehearse his big new hit "All Summer Long."
COPYRIGHT: (c) Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
The outspoken rapper was upset by his treatment at last year's show, when his performance was relegated to a small stage in the Las Vegas venue.
West also failed to win any prizes, and accused the music cable network of exploiting Britney Spears, who inadvertently stole the show by badly lip-synching and dancing to her new tune.
The faded pop star will again open the show this year, but she will not perform.
"She will be ... doing something so mindbending, it'll probably make you want to start families with each other in a random, possibly Mormon, way," the show's host, English comedian Russell Brand, joked during a press preview at the Paramount Pictures lot where the ceremony will be held.
He was joined at the preview by Aguilera, who will be making her first televised performance since giving birth to a baby boy in January.
Another performer, rapper T.I., was also on hand at the preview. The trio posed for photographs before Aguilera walked to a waiting limousine and sped off.
Brand described Disney teen idols the Jonas Brothers as "God's favorite virgins," and suggested that their request to be introduced at the event by teen country starlet Taylor Swift was "a decision made from below their sexy little waists."
In recognition of the ceremony's silver anniversary, Brand said MTV would pay homage to the show's storied past. In particular, Katy Perry, the singer of the summer's biggest hit "I Kissed A Girl," will cover Madonna's "Like A Virgin."
"There's a lot of virginity and lesbianism, let me tell you that, going on at the show," said Brand.
Other previously announced performers include R&B singer Rihanna and Detroit rocker Kid Rock, who allowed the media to watch him rehearse his big new hit "All Summer Long."
COPYRIGHT: (c) Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
Comments