Are Britney and Christina rivals?

It's anyone's guess as to whether or not Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera will lose their teenybopper sweetness and indulge in an episode of fierce rivalry at this year's Grammy awards.

Britney and Christina are both nominated inthe same two categoriess: best female pop vocal performance -- Christina for "Genie In A Bottle" and Britney for "...Baby One More Time" -- and best new artist.

Both singers got their start on "The Mickey Mouse Club" (as did two members of 'N Sync and "Felicity's" Keri Russell.) But Christina (19) and Britney (18) insist there's no jealousy between them, Reuters reports.

"It is crazy that we were on 'The Mickey Mouse Club' together, and now we grow up and we're competing in the same categories for a Grammy," said Aguilera. "I know the press and what-not have always wanted to make this sort of rivalry between Britney and I. But come on -- we are very different artists. People will see more and more how different we are, so maybe that will stop this idea that we're competing with each other."

Christina went on to explain that she and Britney were friends on the Disney show and she's proud of her pop colleague for making it big.

Christina is also trying not to be lumped into the same teen-pop category that has crowned Britney its official queen.

"I think it's really sad that pop music right now happens to be a lot about gimmick, a lot about a package deal, a lot about a song that's very easy to remember, catchy, and that's not what I wanted to be about," Christina told JAM! Music last year.

"That's why I didn't really want to release 'Genie In A Bottle' because it has many of (the qualities) I just described in it. It portrays a lot of that. But if you listen past the surface of 'Genie In A Bottle', you will get soul and certain soul ad libs that are very R&B."

As far as Britney is concerned, she thinks it's an honour just to be nominated.

"I remember a year ago, I was watching the Grammys and was like, "What would I wear if I went to the Grammys?'" Britney said. "And, man, to be nominated for one just a year later, that's amazing."

Britney is also trying to branch out from the simplistic pop songs that earned her international fame. She says her second album will be more mature and funkier.

--AllPop