FLASHBACK! Watch Britney Spears' 2007 VMA Performance

Posted Sep 05 via USWeekly Sep 5, 08

This Sunday, Britney Spears is set to open the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards live from Hollywood - but a year ago, it was her disastrous "comeback" performance of "Gimme More" that had fans envisioning an end to her career (Watch above). Following her lackluster lip-syncing and slow, uncoordinated dance moves, Spears was spotted "crying badly" backstage. "She's devastated," a source told Usmagazine.com at the time. "She was really nervous and knows she screwed up." See photos of the most outrageous moments in MTV VMA history. One backstage source told Us: "She came running off the stage, yelling 'Oh, my God, I looked like a fat pig! I looked like a fat pig!' She was inconsolable." See photos of Britney Spears' sexy new bikini bod. The New York Times called her "awful," writing that she "tottered around the stage, dancing tentatively and doing nothing that sounded or looked like real live singing." Spears said Wednesday that she's "excited" to kick-off this year's show. "MTV has long played an important role in my career," she added. See Britney Spears' various on-set looks. Though she is nominated for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me," she has been nominated 17 times before but never walked away with a "Moonman." The 25th annual VMAs, hosted by British actor/comedian Russell Brand, will air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT Sunday from Paramount Studios in Hollywood. See photos of worst dressed stars of VMA history.