Britney Spears pulled out of a planned performance at the MTV European Music Awards in Liverpool on Thursday.

The “Womanizer” star was scheduled for a surprise performance at the awards bash, but has cancelled the appearance due to another engagement.

“Britney is gutted but she has family commitments,” a source tells Now Online.

“Due to the ongoing court case involving her sons, Britney has to remain in the US to show she’s available for her kids as often as possible, and she has to be around this week!”