Her success underlines the trend in the field towards stars from the United States and away from acts from the UK and Ireland.

George Michael: Three nominations

The 17-year-old American singer, who had a hit with Baby One More Time, has been shortlisted for Best Female, Best Pop, Best Breakthrough and Best Song.

George Michael and Boyzone have three nominations each, as do US acts Offspring, Backstreet Boys, TLC and Lauryn Hill.

Fatboy Slim, Jamiroquai and Westlife have two nominations each.

The Spice Girls, big winners on previous occasions, have not been nominated, although they have released just one single in the past year.

Boyzone's Ronan Keating could end up presenting himself with an award

The awards are to be presented in Dublin on 11 November, with Boyzone lead singer Ronan Keating as host.

Guest presenters include Fun Lovin' Criminals, LL Cool J and James Bond star Pierce Brosnan.

Acts playing on the night include Britney Spears herself, The Corrs, Marilyn Manson and Whitney Houston.

MTV Europe president Brent Hansen said: "This year's awards is going to have the strongest performer and presenter line-up we've ever had, and I am confident that this is going to be the best show we've ever broadcast in the history of MTV Europe."

Viewers can vote either by phone or via the Internet for their favourite stars.

Nominations
• Best Male - Ricky Martin; George Michael; Sasha; Will Smith; Robbie Williams.
• Best Female - Geri Halliwell; Lauryn Hill; Whitney Houston; Madonna; Britney Spears.
• Best Breakthrough - Eminem; Jennifer Lopez; Britney Spears; Vengaboys; Westlife.
• Best Group - Backstreet Boys; The Cardigans; Jamiroquai; The Offspring; TLC.
• Best R&B - Mariah Carey; Lauryn Hill; Whitney Houston; Jennifer Lopez; TLC.
• Best Pop - Backstreet Boys; Boyzone; 5ive; Ricky Martin; Britney Spears.
• Best Hip-Hop - Beastie Boys; Busta Rhymes; Eminem; Sean "Puffy" Coombs; Will Smith.
• Best Dance - Basement Jaxx; Chemical Brothers; Fatboy Slim; Jamiroquai; Mr Oizo.
• Best Rock - The Cardigans; Lenny Kravitz; Marilyn Manson; The Offspring; Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
• Best Album - Millennium, Backstreet Boys; By Request, Boyzone; The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill; Americana, The Offspring; Californication, Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
• Best Song - I Want It That Way, Backstreet Boys; Beautiful Stranger, Madonna; As, George Michael with Mary J Blige; Baby One More Time, Britney Spears; No Scrubs, TLC.
• Best UK & Ireland Act - Basement Jaxx, Boyzone, Lynden David Hall, Manic Street Preachers, Texas, Westlife.
• Best Video - Windowlicker, Aphex Twin; All Is Full Of Love, Bjork; Coffee And TV, Blur; Praise You, Fatboy Slim; As, George Michael with Mary J Blige.