Britney Spears will open the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday with a heartfelt message to her fans.
The news ends weeks of speculation about the pop star's role in this year's show, which will be hosted by comedian Russell Brand.             
Spears has appeared alongside Brand in an ad for the telecast and gossips have suggested she'll perform and present an award with Olympic champion Michael Phelps.
 In a statement, Spears says, "MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs? I'm excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated."
 Spears has been nominated for 16 Video Music Awards but has yet to win one. She's nominated for three prizes on Sunday - Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for Piece of Me.
 She hit the headlines at last year's VMAs after giving a lackluster performance.

Troubled pop star Britney Spears has credited her father Jamie with saving her life - after he stepped in to help her following a series of breakdowns.

The "Toxic" hitmaker was hospitalized at the beginning of this year under a mental health order, and her father subsequently took over her legal and business affairs - becoming conservator of her estate.

Spears was also stripped of visitation rights to her two sons, but following several months under the guidance of her dad she has won back the right to see her children and is now working on a career comeback.

And Spears insists she will always be grateful to Jamie for helping her sort her life out.

She tells British newspaper the Daily Star, "My father saved my life. I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. I've not always been a good daughter; but he basically gave up his job and his life to look after me at a time when I wasn't even sure I wanted to go on living.

"I owe him my life."

Hip hop mogul Pharrell Williams has advised Britney Spears not to worry if she fails to win at this year's MTV VMA awards - because she is too big a star to bother about grabbing any further honors.

The superproducer, who worked with the "Toxic" hitmaker on hit tracks "I'm A Slave 4 U" and "Boys," is backing the singer to walk away with a handful of awards at the ceremony on September 7.

Spears is nominated for Best Female and Best Pop Video categories, for her track "Piece of Me."

But Williams has told Spears not to be concerned if fans fail to acknowledge her achievements at the ceremony - insisting she has already made a hugely successful dent in the music industry.

He tells People.com, "She's made her mark with her career. She's super-talented. She's an entertainer."

"I'm not sure (if she will win). I don't even know if it really matters whether she wins or not."

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