Photos: Britney Spears stuns twice at MTV taping at Rain at the Palms

Roderick Trestrail

Britney Spears performs “Till the World Ends” at Rain at the Palms on March 25, 2011.

By Robin Leach (contact)

Saturday, March 26, 2011 | 5:42 p.m.

Britney Spears at Rain at the Palms

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Britney Spears at Rain at the Palms on March 25, 2011.

TVT

Britney Spears at Rain at the Palms on March 25, 2011.

It was the return of Britney Spears to the power of three. Brit wowed, dazzled and delighted her fans at two MTV tapings at Rain at the Palms last night and early this morning. Three because she performed three songs from her new album Femme Fatale that drops next week.

Three because she changed into three sparkling outfits. And three because she danced three fierce choreographed numbers with newfound and electrifying energy. Plus, “3” is one of Britney’s most recent hits, so it could be power of four!

It was clear that the slim, trim and smiling Britney -- with a full head of hair swirling -- was having a great time and enjoying every moment of reconnecting close up with her fans. Plus, big news from Britney’s dad Jamie and manager Larry Rudolph that her stops in Las Vegas and next week in San Francisco and Hollywood are warm-ups for a new world tour.

Britney is going back out on the road again, although I haven’t been able to pin down specific dates. I do know her opening act will be a Spanish hit singer, although the identity is being kept under wraps for now. It isn’t Enrique Iglesias or Ricky Martin, as they could headline on their own, and Ricky is at The Colosseum on April 30.

Originally, Britney was to record one show for MTV’s invited guests and fans at 8 p.m., but then she agreed to a second one as Rain opened for its weekly Clash Fridays with DJ Diplo. With so many fans and revelers on hand, the original ticket price of $60 jumped to $100, and there were still masses in line hoping to get in for her midnight appearance.

Jersey Shore star DJ Pauly D was the guest deejay for the evening. Not only did he introduce the femme fatale, but he also spinned his wheels of steel in between her songs as crew members maneuvered the steel staircases and giant, illuminated amp speakers on the small stage, which had been extended for her gig.

Some fans had driven in from California at 6 a.m. yesterday to be first in line for the first taping. I’m told that the best of both tapings will be edited and then aired next week with the MTV programs shot two weeks ago at the Palms for Spring Break.

Fans were in frenzied overdrive for Britney and Pauly D. They cheered as he got them all fist pumping, but that turned to wild screams as Britney pranced and danced all over the stage and up, over and on steel structures with fiery pyrotechnic explosions to end the shows.

“It’s a huge night for us,” Palms owner George Maloof told me. “She was fantastic. Everybody loved her!” Photographers weren’t allowed inside except for Britney’s official photographer Roderick Trestrail, but here are photographs I snapped with my digital camera and iPhone.

The performances were filmed by MTV as part of an upcoming Britney Spears special that will air next week in celebration of her album release Tuesday. The three hit singles she performed were her No. 1 smash “Hold It Against Me,” her current Top 10 single “Till the World Ends” and “Big Fat Bass.”

“We are extremely excited to have had one of the most iconic artists of all time back at the Palms. Britney’s performances were unbelievable, and her fans will never forget this night,” George said. “We have a great relationship with MTV and feel fortunate to be a part of her upcoming special.”

This was Britney’s second show at Rain. She stunned fans with an unannounced performance in 2003. “I love being in Las Vegas and at the Palms,” she said.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

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