Russell Brand to host VMAs

By Nellie Andreeva

British comedian Russell Brand will return as host of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

The show will be held Sept. 13, returning to New York City. It will be staged all over Manhattan, including Radio City Music Hall.

Brand's first VMAs hosting stint last year, when the show was held in Las Vegas, drew solid ratings and stirred some controversy, mostly surrounding the comedian's repeated mocking of the Jonas brothers' purity rings.

"We are thrilled that despite numerous death threats from Jonas Brothers fans, Russell Brand has accepted our offer to put his life on the line and host the VMAs again this year," said MTV general manager Stephen Friedman.

Added Brand, "This year will be a controversy free festival of love and discrete orgasms."

Country-pop star Taylor Swift will make her first VMAs appearance singing a new version of her hit "You Belong With Me." Also set to make their VMAs debut is the British rock band Muse who will debut their latest single "Uprising."