Las Vegas Weekly

September 2, 2008 · 10:35 AM

Britney back on the Strip for LOVE, but keeps her top on at topless pool

By Robin Leach

Exactly 12 months ago, pop-princess Britney Spears hit rock-bottom in her downward spiral of bizarre behavior when she wrecked her own performance at the Video Music Awards in the Palms. She didn’t return to the "scene of the crime" this weekend to mark the anniversary, but ironically did return to the Mirage for a mini-vacation. Ironically, at 6 a.m. that morning a year ago it was at the secret side entrance of the Jet nightclub at the Mirage’s north valet she was found all alone on a bench as dawn broke -- and pandemonium followed until she finally went on stage without sleep!

This weekend she was back at the Mirage again -- and after flying in on a private jet checked into one of the resort’s high-roller villas, where Pamela Anderson had her surprise shock wedding to Rick Salomon last fall. It was a week to the day that former hubby Kevin Federline was in Vegas rocking up a getaway with visits to no less than five nightclubs while Britney looked after their two young sons. This weekend he had the daddy duties, which let the 27-year-old mom take off on her Vegas getaway.

Then Brit showed up making her first lengthy stop at the resort's topless adult pool, Bare. I’m told she wasn’t bewildered or blushed over the "festival of flesh" on show in the titillating European-styled swimzone. Brit stuck to plain Fiji water as she sun-bathed for almost two hours in the VIP section and everybody paid compliments about how great she’d gotten her body back into perfect shape for the teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy white floral bikini. She also wore jean cut-off shorts and her now back-to normal hair from its one-time bald state was tied up in a ponytail. She kept her bikini top on when she stopped texting on her cell phone from her chaise-lounge long enough to go for a brief swim.

Britney also toured the new baby cubs and tigers habitat at the neighboring Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and watched the swimming dolphins on display. After "hiding out" in her luxury villa -- complete with private patio and pool -- she and her group of friends went to see the 10 p.m. Beatles LOVE show from Cirque du Soleil. She walked through the back-stage area en route to her theater seats. “Walrus” performer Hassan El Hajjami greeted her just before curtain up -- and photographer Denise Truscello snapped our one lucky shot.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Britney Spears with friends at the Mirage.

Slightly snackish, Brit ordered up a hot dog to eat during the show. Britney again stuck to water while joining in the Beatles song sing-alongs and applauding throughout the show. Without a word to anyone she quickly and quietly left the stage just as the show ended -- and wound up playing blackjack in the Mirage’s High Limit lounge. Hopefully she won enough to pay for a private after-midnight meal at the sleek Japonais restaurant that stayed open late just for her before heading for bed at 2 a.m.

Britney has been nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards this year at next Sunday’s telecast in Los Angeles. She could win three Moonman awards for "Video of the Year," "Best Pop Video" and "Best Female Video." She is expected to appear in an opening number but not perform, sing or dance!

The queen, now on her comeback quest, is also interested in returning to the Strip this New Year's Eve for a live telecast that American Idol judge Randy Jackson is producing and hosting. Her new album will be released in November and she might possibly be one of the guest stars that her former boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, is recruiting this fall from Gollywood for an upcoming charity concert fundraiser.

Incidentally, one of the best-kept secrets in showbiz just came to light -- and incredibly the video hasn’t even surfaced on YouTube, MySpace or any video Internet sites. Britney has apparently already made her public return debut. When she was on vacation recently in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Britney decided one evening to join the band and try out a couple of old hits and a couple of new songs. Everyone in her group advised her not to for fear of something showing up on the Web that wasn’t professional staged and shot. Halfway to the stage Britney decided her friends were correct with the advice -- and she went back to her table. But one gracious hero told her that to conquer her fear, she should go past where she'd hesitated and back on stage and sing. So a shaky Brit decided to go for it -- and the reaction was phenomenal. She got a standing ovation and thunderous applause from the hotel guests -- and everybody promised "no sneaky cell-phone video." So far the secret has been kept beautifully but for the record, Britney conquered her fears and turned in a fantastic debut comeback performance!

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