Britney Spears Cracks Whip On New York TV Circus Show 12/2/08

Britney Spears has turned New York into a Circus show with another hit TV performance, days after wrapping her whirlwind European tour. The pop star followed televised shows in Germany, France and the U.K. as she tamed the thousands of fans who turned out to see her perform on Good Morning America on Tuesday (02Dec08) - marking her 27th birthday.

Spears showed off her newly-fit figure wearing a belly-baring black top, skin-tight pants and top hat as she took the stage at the Big Apple Circus Tent. The star unleashed a team of dancers dressed as clowns and circus freaks who were caged behind her, and later re-emerged from a ring of fire wearing booty-bearing shorts, black fishnets and a cropped red top as she continued her lip-synced remix of songs.

But the Toxic hitmaker was in for her own surprise when fellow stars Hugh Jackman, Reese Witherspoon and Taylor Swift wished her a happy birthday in a video montage - and she was then presented with a towering cake. Smiling, Spears told the roaring crowd, "That's so sweet thank you," as her two sons, Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, watched from the front row with the singer's mum, Lynne.

Spears also confirmed her plans to embark upon a North American tour beginning in March (09), with the first show near her hometown in New Orleans, Louisiana. But preparations will be put on hold as she continues her birthday festivities with a star-studded, "very private, Circus-theme event," reportedly scheduled for Tuesday night at New York nightspot Tenjune.