Paramore's been the little band that could since the release of 2005's All We Know Is Falling (one of my favorite go-to, in-lieu-of-coffee albums). And they've only gotten bigger since their sophomore album Riot!, nabbing magazine covers, a platinum album, best-of lists, sold-out tours and festivals, and even a Grammy nomination.

But one music milestone Paramore hasn't tackled yet is the VMAs. This year's will be Paramore's first, and they'll be pulling double duty as performers and nominees -- they're up for Best Rock Video against rock veterans like Foo Fighters and Slipknot and contemporaries Fall Out Boy.

VMA performances are known for taking careers -– from Madonna, to Nirvana, to Rihanna -- to the next level. Could Paramore be poised to break through to game-changing level after their VMA performance Sunday night?

Watch Paramore's live performance of "That's What You Get" from mtvU's Spring Break 2008 and "crushcrushcrush" from MTV's New Year's Eve party, and check out photos of legendary VMA performances from the past 24 years.

As the world buzzes over whether or not Britney Spears will appear at the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards this weekend (we don't know, honest!), MTV News correspondent John Norris recalls a simpler time, when he visited the then-rising pop starlet at her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, in 1999.

Check it out on the MTV Newsroom blog.

Yes, that's Lil Mama, and no, sadly, this photo wasn't taken at Heidi Klum's annual Halloween party. Lil Mama actually arrived at the 2007 VMAs dressed like she'd just crawled out of the womb. And as if purple satin and puffy babydoll sleeves weren't criminal enough, Lil Mams had the gall to top it off with a matching bonnet and bejeweled passy. Classy! We get it, we get it. You're the voice of the young people. And the voice of the sippy cup set too, apparently. Except we can't really understand what the hell you're saying because you've got a DAMNED PACIFIER IN YOUR MOUTH, which makes us wonder if you were wearing a diaper under there too.

Thankfully Lil Mama's grown up and glossed up a bit in the past year on America's Best Dance Crew and hopefully will restrict he whole voice-of-the-young-people thing to metaphor.

But, that leaves room for someone else to take home an unofficial Moonman for worst-dressed celeb at this year's VMAs. Who do you think will show up to the 2008 VMAs in an outfit that, well, totally sucks?

The Jonas Brothers -- who are committed to just saying no to sex and drugs -- and VMA host Russell Brand, who's a former drug and sex addict, have more in common than you'd think!

For starters, they all have backgrounds in theater and comedy -- Russell started acting as a kid, Nick did Broadway, and Joe originally wanted to be a comedian -- they all favor skinny jeans, they'll all be at the 2008 VMAs on Sunday, September 7th, and they all share great respect for Nick, Kevin, and Joe's (and Frankie's!) mom, Denise Jonas.

In a recent interview with MTV UK, Russell Brand commended the Jonas Brothers by way of Denise, commenting, "How the Jonas Mother was able to keep an amp in her uterus is one of the greatest mysteries, because them boys were born already possessing an incredible talent.”

Read the rest of Russell's MTV UK interview and see what he has to say about VMA VIPs like The Hills girls, Miley Cyrus, and Lindsay Lohan, watch Denise Jonas wake her boys up in the morning, and get more Russell Brand.

As someone who knows little about sports, the main talking points I know about Michael Phelps, aside from the fact that he won eight gold medals at the Olympics, is that he listens to Lil Wayne, he has the wingspan of 18 condors or something, and he can eat, like a billion pizzas for breakfast because he burns off that many calories just by pulling on his Speedo.

What I also know: Michael Phelps is basically single but also been seen making out with hot chicks, including Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice, who was dating his rival, Eamon Sullivan. (And according to one of our VMA production assistants here, "I don't think making out with your rival's girlfriend makes you not single, it only makes you awesome." Very well then!)

Also: Michael Phelps will be presenting a Moonman at the 2008 VMAs on Sunday, September 7th, and his presence alone could be absolute mayhem -- he's reached rock star status himself at this point, and he'll be one of the most eligible bachelor in Hollywood that night, because everyone knows that the VMAs are basically one big hook-up fest that just so happens to involve acceptance speeches.

Okay, so we've established that Michael Phelps, is totally loaded -- hellloooooo Nike endorsement deal -- basically single and arguably one of the 2008 VMAs' more totally eligible bachelors (besides the men of Tokio Hotel, and by the way, happy birthday Kaulitzes).

And that's good for lots of ladies, including Miley Cyrus, who'll also be presenting an award. And after winning five awards this year (two Teen Choice Awards, two Nick Kids' Choice Awards, and a Young Artist Award), an album that opened at #1 and a VMA nom for Best New Artist, she's like the Michael Phelps of teen pop! And after winning 16 total medals, Michael Phelps is like the Miley Cyrus... of swimming! AND Miley's also arguably single -- she's MAYBE dating Step Up 2: The Streets' Adam Sevani (who just so happens to resemble her ex, Nick Jonas). But I don't see any ring on Miley's finger. And you know who could afford a really nice ring? MICHAEL PHELPS!

They're both Disney darlings, they've both been on TRL, um, their names both start with "M," and they'll both be presenting awards at the 2008 VMAs! THEY HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN ANYONE EVER THOUGHT! So, a Miley and Michael hook-up? Someone needs to make that happen. MP + MC 4ever? MAYBE!

Plus:
+ Night of a 1000 Eminems at the 2000 VMAs
+ Michael Jackson crowns himself 'Greatest Living Artist' in 2002
+ Photos: VMA mayhem throughout the years...

Panic At The Disco's Beatles-inspired "Nine In the Afternoon" video also inspired a 2008 VMA nomination for Best Direction.

Panic will be at the 2008 VMAs. And if they win, director Shane Drake -- he also directed two videos up for a 2008 Best Rock Video VMA -- Paramore's "crushcrushcrush" and Fall Out Boy's "Beat It" -- will share the honors. Shane, one of the most creative and prolific directors of the decade, also directed Panic's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" video, which won them the Video of the Year award at the 2006 VMAs.

In the Best Direction category, Panic's up against Erykah Badu's "Honey," Linkin Park's "Shadow of the Day," Rihanna's "Take a Bow," and Pussycat Dolls' six-time-nominated "When I Grow Up" video. Do you think "Nine In the Afternoon" retro-nuevo style can beat out the competition?

Watch "Nine In the Afternoon," check out Buzzworthy's behind-the-scenes footage of Panic at the video shoot, and tell us if you think Panic can pull it off.

Also, please tell us which member of PATD -- Brendon, Ryan (happy day-after-your-birthday, by the way), Spencer, or Jon -- will show up to the VMAs looking the most like George Harrison/ Devendra Banhart?

I don't know WHAT Chris Brown did to deserve that type of cruel and unusual punishment, but if I were him, I'd definitely do it again.

Yes, that's Ciara, looking very "Black Cat"-era-Janet Jackson, putting Rihanna's man in his place at the BET Awards back in June. (For the record, five years before Ciara was born, Janet opened the 1990 VMAs with "Black Cat.")

Yes, Ciara recently signed with Wilhelmina Models and is in talks with Victoria's Secret to start rockin' their barely-there gear.

Yes, Ciara looks hotter than ever, and yes, she'll be presenting an award at the 2008 VMAs. And while I'll be bloggity-blogging away from the red carpet on the big night -- Sunday, September 7 -- as a non-famous person, I'm definitely glad I don't have to actually share the carpet with her. Not that the red carpet's a competition. But really though, um, it is.

So, who do you think's even got half a shot at looking as hot as Ciara on the red carpet next Sunday, or will Ciara outsex the whole show like she did at the BET Awards?

For a little inspiration, check out her "Like a Boy" video, which earned her a 2007 VMA nomination for Best Choreography, and check out more photos of her striptastic pas de deux with Chris Brown, and watch the performance here.

Two years ago, Chris Brown showed up to the 2006 VMAs in New York City looking like a flyer version of Ronald McDonald. Fly, but still -– dude was dressed a few fries too close to burger royalty, landing him on nobody’s best-dressed list that year.

But the following year, at the 2007 VMAs, he owned the show, and his explosive performance -- which included a rendition of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" -- caused many people who keep track of that sort of thing to cite that night as a major moment in his career. The night that catapulted him from pretty-sure-I-know-who-that-guy-is status to that-guy’s-pretty-much-everywhere.

This year Chris Brown's nominated for four VMAs -- Best Video, Best Male Video, Best Dancing In a Video, and Best Choreography, and he’ll be at the show, so if he wins, he’ll be picking up his Moonman/-men in person. And I bet you four or five Happy Meals that he won’t be wearing baggy jeans and hip-hop Hamburgular gear.

Which brings me to my next question: will he show up to the 2008 VMAs with Rihanna, who’s performing that night?

Absolutely no one buys that song and dance that they’re not a couple, and while I GUESS we should all respect their privacy and their “no comment” policy, they’re just too freaking attractive to ignore. Plus it looks like they’re moving in together. And, they’ve got an uncanny knack for showing up separately, denying, denying, denying, playing cat-and-mouse with inquiring minds, sneaking out a VIP back door, and then spending the rest of the night getting all “lovey dovey, kiss kiss” on each other’s laps at an after party. SO ANNOYING!

Watch their 2007 VMA performance, and place your bets -- will Chris Brown and Rihanna will show up to the VMAs together, or will they roll solo and act like perfect strangers?

This just in: Danity Kane to join the ever-growing list of celeb eye-candy slated to drop by at next weekend's VMAs! Expect to to see the lovely ladies of Making the Band 4 sashaying down the red carpet...undoubtedly while wearing the cutest/most uncomfortable strappy stiletto sandals in creation.

And it looks as though the glamazon girl group will have their very own cheering section in the form of MTB's on-again, off-again choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson (whose legendary lack of volume control is almost as well-chronicled as her infamous throwdown with Diddy himself).

Anyhow, it all works out great, actually, seeing as how the girls have an excellent shot at taking home the highly coveted Best Dancing In A Video Moonman. (That is, assuming they can triumph over the Pussycat Dolls and their unabashed ode to famewhoring).

So, to recap: Sunday, September 7th, 2008, MTV Video Music Awards: Danity Kane (i.e. Aubrey, Aundrea, D. Woods, Dawn and Shannon) will be there! Laurie Ann Gibson will be there! Day 26 may or may not be there! And, most importantly, you will be there -- if only in the metaphorical watching-it-on-tv-instead-of-doing-your-homework sense.

Hey Upper East Siders,

Gossip Girl here, with your latest VMAs scoop. And hold onto your Hermes, because this time, it concerns one of our own. As we all know, it's almost Labor Day weekend, which means it's only a matter of time before all the popular preppies hop the next Hampton Jitney back to Manhattan. But looks like someone's about to miss an annual Summer tradition -- next weekend's official back-to-school bonfire.

One of my many well-placed Moonman sources tells me that CC (better known to you all as It-Boy Chace Crawford) already has other plans for Sunday, September 7th. According to VMAchik393, he'll be ditching the beach blowout to walk his fine preppy self down the red carpet at next weekend's 2008 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet pre-show. Wonder whether CC will be flying solo or flanked by his dual lady loves, BL and LM? Or possibly even bro-bud Ed Westwick, (whose unfortunate initials completely warrant a full-name shoutout).

Don't believe me? Guess you'll have to tune in and see for yourselves. And trust me, you're not gonna want to miss seeing this VMA VIP strut his stuff -- who knows, maybe he'll even ditch the blue blazer and go black-tie for once. Or ... maybe not.

Until next time! You know you love me ...

xoxo
Gossip Girl