Las Vegas Weekly

November 30, 2008 · 7:10 AM

Britney Spears headed to New York; plans for NYE show on Strip still undecided

By Robin Leach

Britney Spears is coiffed.

Photo: MTV

Pop princess Britney Spears flies to New York today (Sunday) from London after a four-day whirlwind mini-tour of Europe to launch her new album, Circus, which is being released Tuesday to tie in with her 27th birthday.

Last night (Saturday), she appeared on Simon Cowell's hit British TV show X Factor, and TV critics and pop reviewers were unanimous in their praise for her. Simon, who is a judge here on American Idol, presented an American-themed program, which also featured Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus.

After appearing on X Factor, Britney and her group went to G-A-Y nightclub in London, where she was presented with a birthday cake. Security had a tough time handling the unexpected mass turnout of zealous fans, and concerns for her safety cut the visit shorter than hoped.

She was never planning to perform at the club, contrary to reports published elsewhere, but she smiled for photographers and videographers and waved to clubgoers before she was hurriedly hustled off to her hotel. It's this very real worry about crowd control that is causing the delayed decision about appearing on the Strip on New Year's Eve for the "America's Party" live telecast with host Randy Jackson.

Today at noon London time hidden behind sunglasses, a hat and a hooded coat, Britney boarded her private jet and is due to arrive in New York between 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Britmania now erupts on the East Coast, where tomorrow she gets a brief rest before her 27th birthday on Tuesday. Depending on how security handles the frenetic fan frenzy in New York, we'll get an indication Wednesday about the Vegas Dec. 31 appearance.

Britney, reported to be traveling with a 45-strong entourage of assistants, wardrobe and hair stylists, makeup artists, her father, Jamie, manager Larry Rudolph, and her dancers, will appear live on Good Morning America early Tuesday with a performance of her hit single "Womanizer" from the Big Apple Circus big top at Lincoln Center. Her 90-minute, commercial-free special airs tonight (Sunday) at 10 p.m. on MTV. Click HERE for our Friday story of Britney's European schedule and the video preview of her For the Record TV documentary.

A final “go” or “no-go” decision for Britney's hoped-for New Year’s Eve appearance on the Strip will be made in New York tomorrow (Monday), and Vegas DeLuxe will advise this week if next Monday's (Dec. 8) press conference announcing host Randy Jackson's guests, including Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps, also will headline Britney as the main superstar attraction.

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