BRITNEY SPEARS - BRITNEY SPEARS CELEBRATES ALBUM AWARD IN OCEAN OF BAD NEWS

BRITNEY SPEARS CELEBRATES ALBUM AWARD IN OCEAN OF BAD NEWS

Britney Spears may have had a 2008 to forget so far, but at least her last album has been honoured by radio listeners in France.

The troubled singer's Blackout was named the best international album of the last year at the NRJ music awards in Cannes.

Spears' latest album, which peaked at number two in the UK charts, beat off competition from Amy Winehouse, Mika, James Blunt and Rihanna to claim the top prize.

The win is in stark contrast to the singer's rapidly-spiralling-out-of-control private life, which has seen the 26-year-old in the public eye for all the wrong reasons.

Winehouse, another singer more likely to make headlines for her private life than music career, had been due to perform at the Palais de Festivals, but had to pull out after entering a drug rehab centre on Thursday.

Among the other winners in France was R&B singer Rihanna, who was awarded the gong for best international song (Don't Stop the Music).

Mika was named best international revelation, with Avril Lavigne and Justin Timberlake winning the best international female and male awards respectively.