Next Stop for Britney: The American Music Awards?

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Will Britney Spears be the big surprise at Sunday's American Music Awards?

It would certainly make sense. She does, after all, have her soon-to-be-released new album, Circus, to promote.

But don't ask show host Jimmy Kimmel about it. If he knows anything, he's not saying. "They have these surprises that 75 people on the crew know about, but they won't tell the host," Kimmel insists. "Apparently, there is some big surprise. I sent...the producer an email yesterday and he was like, I can't tell you."

The pop princess last appeared on the AMAs two years ago, around the time she had filed for divorce from Kevin Federline.
But things didn't go so smoothly...

Spears presented an award immediately following a skit in which Kimmel throws Federline (well, a lookalike K-Fed) into a box and dumps him in the ocean. "She didn't think that was funny," Kimmel remembers.

Spears or no Spears (her music label rep says she has no plans to be there), Kimmel says everyone is a target for his jokes—even the young ones. "I feel like a babysitter with all these kids," Kimmel says. "It's like being a counselor at summer camp. Aren't the Jonas Brothers like 10, 11 and 12? Miley Cyrus is only 16—but then again she sounds like she's 38."

And being the self-deprecating comic that he is, Kimmel promises not to attempt another dance performance like he did oh-so-horribly last year. "I really try tried to learn that stupid 'Soulja Boy' dance," Kimmel says. "I really had it down, but as soon as I got on stage I could not follow it at all."

The AMAs broadcast live Sunday night from Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre. Among the scheduled performers are Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis,Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

Let's hope Spears is added to the lineup. Don't ya think it's time for a live "Womanizer" performance?

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Britney Spears: Life Is "Like Groundhog Day"

Los Angeles (E! Online) – New excerpts from Britney Spears' upcoming MTV documentary, For the Record, have just been revealed by the U.K.'s The Sun, in which the pop star says that while her career is back in the zone, her controlled existence in the wake of her breakdown last year is often a struggle.

"There's no excitement, there's no passion. I have really good days, and then I have bad days," says Britney, whose father, Jamie, continues to serve as permanent conservator of her estate. "Even when you go to jail, you know there's the time when you're gonna get out. But in this situation, it's never ending. It's just like Groundhog Day every day."

"I think it's too in control," she adds. "If I wasn't under the restraints I'm under, I'd feel so liberated. When I tell them the way I feel, it's like they hear but they're really not listening. I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free."

For the Record premieres Nov. 30 on MTV, two days before Brit turns 27 and releases her sixth studio album, Circus.

Britney Shows Up in Court to Talk Touring
Los Angeles (E! Online) – Maybe Britney Spears was just waiting for the madness to die down—and the music to get turned up.

The popster, who chose to remain absent from what turned out to be her mistrial on an invalid-license charge and the majority of this year's conservatorship hearings, was in court Friday to talk business pertaining to dad Jamie Spears' control over her estate—namely, her plans to hit the road.

"There isn't a lot I can tell you about it," court spokesman Allan Parachini said during a brief press conference afterward. "There was discussion of Ms. Spears' future immediate business plans. Particularly touring in support of her album."

The conservatorship, signed off on Feb. 1 when Britney was briefly hospitalized for a psych evaluation, was made permanent last month, meaning her camp will have to file a separate petition to extract herself from the arrangement.

Today's hearing in downtown Los Angeles was most certainly not called, though, to address a change in the conservatorship arrangement, Parachini added.

"No, that did not come up. I have been asked by a couple of you whether the purpose of today's proceedings was to express a desire for a change in the status of the conservancy. No, she didn't raise that. That didn't come up.

"It was not part of today's hearing. It was about the tour professional. She has an album that is coming out. All of what is necessary to support the album."

Britney, clad in a black dress and stiletto heels, arrived with her dad, parking underground (and surrounding herself with sheriff's deputies) to best avoid the paparazzi.

On her way out of the courthouse, however, she smiled (and said, "Thank you," when complimented on her appearance) at reporters. The "Womanizer" chanteuse then held what looked like a board game or other flat object in front of her face to prevent the paps from taking her picture in the car on her way out of the garage.

Spears' upcoming album, Circus, is due out Dec. 2, the singer's 27th birthday. And apparently a tour will follow after.

—Reporting by Whitney English and Claudia Rosenbaum