Turns out reports of Britney Spears appearing on the cover of the new issue of Vogue were greatly exaggerated. Or to put it more accurately, untrue.

The confusion began when Liz Smith reported that Vogue's Patrick Demarchelier "has come to the U.S. from London to photograph Britney Spears."

Sure, he shoots for Vogue, but Spears must be posing for another magazine, because as hot as she's become lately, she's still, well ... not Vogue.

See Exhibit A below ...

Britney Spears reacts to winning thrice at the VMAs. The former train wreck has been doing a lot better lately, but hasn't quite returned to the level of celebrity style icon.

Spears' first and only appearance on the cover of Vogue was back in November 2001 for an issue dedicated to American celebrity fashion.

Apparently it did not do well, as editor-in-chief Anna Wintour "will never put her on the cover again... She's just not a Vogue kind of girl."

Fortunately for Britney, she's still doing OK! Like every week.