Britney Spears won't perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this weekend, but will open the show with something "fun and unexpected," according to MTV president Van Toffler.

Spears confirmed the gig in a statement: "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."

Toffler said that he thinks people are "rooting" for Spears and said that she's "on the road to recovery."

"It feels like it's her year," Toffler said, noting that the pop singer is nominated for three awards. "It's our 25th anniversary of the VMAs, and she's been such a critical piece of MTV's history."

That history includes her critically lambasted performance last year in less-than-good shape and her infamous kiss with Madonna in 2003.

Toffler said that the network is trying to get Michael Jackson to appear on the show, too.

"We've been talking to him as well, I don't know if that's going to happen," Toffler said. "People fall in and fall out up until the day of the show."