Timberlake, Doherty in limelight at MTV Europe
LONDON (Reuters) - All eyes at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards in Munich will be on U.S. star Justin Timberlake, who dominated the show in 2006, and British singer Pete Doherty's performance on Thursday night.
One of pop music's biggest events outside the United States will see Timberlake, who leads the field with four nominations, take on a heavyweight chasing pack who all have three after an online poll of music fans.
They are Amy Winehouse, Avril Lavigne, Beyonce, Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Nelly Furtado and Rihanna.
Timberlake was named best male and best pop act in Copenhagen last year and hosted the ceremony.
This year, he may have to share the limelight with Doherty and his band Babyshambles.
Their latest album has been well received but Doherty's torrid personal life, which makes him front-page news in British tabloids, will have viewers craning to see if his performance can live up to the critical acclaim.
With MTV handing control of most of the awards to online voters, Timberlake has been shortlisted this year for Video Star Award for "What Goes Around", Headliner Award after a world tour, Ultimate Urban Act and Solo Artist of 2007.
In the coveted Solo Artist category he is up against Canada's Furtado and Lavigne, Barbados-born Rihanna, U.S. star Christina Aguilera and Lebanon-born Mika.
Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte and Tokio Hotel fight it out for the Band of 2007 award while Album of the Year pits Akon against Winehouse, Lavigne, Linkin Park and Furtado.
Lavigne, My Chemical Romance, Mika and the Foo Fighters are expected to perform at the OlympiaHalle, while U.S. hip-hop star Snoop Dogg will host.
