8:36am UK, Tuesday August 26, 2003

Britney Spears has splashed on two £10,000 rings for Madonna and J.Lo to apologise for pulling out of a gig with them.

The three chart queens were due to team up for a performance of Madonna's hit Like A Virgin at the MTV video music awards.

180 Britney Spears 2003 Teen Choice Awards

Gems for J.Lo and Madonna

But whenBritney heard that J.Lo was considering pulling out because of filming commitments she decided leave Madonna to sing on her own.

A source close to Britney told the Daily Star: "She just wants to watch Madonna go for it.

"She wanted to buy each woman a ring as a small gesture to say how much she was honoured to have been asked to sing with them."

Britney will still grace the stage at the world famous Radio City Hall in New York during the event to present awards.

British band Coldplay will join US stars Beyonce and Mary J Blige as some of the performers on the night.