Let the diva-tude begin!

Filming got underway on Tuesday for the super seksi flick Burlesque.

Christina Aguilera was on set filming a scene where her character packs up and leaves for El Lay to pursue a singing career and eventually gets hired by Cher to work at her burlesque club.

When X-Tina wasn't filming she was closely followed by her own personal umbrella holder to shield away those pesky UV rays.

Hey, she never claimed not to be a diva!

[Image via On Location News.]

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As Bette Midler comes to the end of her run in Las Vegas, Cher is returning not only this month (and through December 20th), but also in Spring 2010!

YES!

Tickets for the legendary diva's spring run at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace are going on sale this Saturday, November 14th!

Cher returns to Vegas on November 19 with a whole new opening sequence for concertgoers to enjoy. Director and choreographer of Cher's show, Doriana Sanchez explains:

“We are so excited to return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and have made wonderful, new changes to the show, including a number choreographed by my dear friend Tyce Diorio from So You Think You Can Dance. It pays homage to the great movie musicals, complete with incredible costumes by Bob Mackie. We are thrilled to be able to present some really fun and new things for the audiences to see.”

As for her spring shows, there will be 24 performances between April 10 - 25 and May 8 - 30.

Will U be heading to Sin City to catch Cher in action?

[Image via AP Images.]

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In a two-part interview with Entertainment Tonight airing both this evening and tomorrow, Chaz Bono opens up about his gender reassignment surgery and the decision-making process.

He sounds truly happy about his transformation and it's good to hear!

Here are some HIGHlights:

On making the decision to undergo surgery:
"It wasn't a sudden decision. I've been doing therapy for a long time. It’s a long process going back almost a decade. I got clean and sober in 2004 and I couldn't have done this before that. I always felt like the male from the time I was a child. There wasn't much feminine about me. I believe that gender is something between your ears not between your legs…It was just a long process of being comfortable enough to do something about it. I was turning 40 and I thought it's now or never. I want to still feel vibrant and be able to enjoy my life in a male body and not wait until I am an old man."

On taking male hormones and "top surgery":
"I started in March. It lowered my voice. Fat redistributes, muscle growth, hair growth, sex drive increases. It doesn't change anything mentally and emotionally. [I'm] still not anywhere near what I will look like but really for the first time I am feeling much more comfortable with how I look physically. Most people call it top surgery. The construction of the male chest from a female chest. When I went through puberty and started to grow breasts, it was very uncomfortable and emotional."

On the changing process:
"I will be changing for about 4 to 5 years in total but I'll be on testosterone for the rest of my life. The nice thing about this process is it is slow. I am literally going through puberty. I shave about once a week now. It kind of started to come in just like peach fuzz. I always wanted to shave. It is a very natural process. For my birthday I got a lot of shaving stuff."

On why he's going public with his personal decision:
"[I'm] trying to use my life experience to educate people. I feel more like myself more than I ever felt. I feel happier and more confident. I used to live most of my life in my head because I was so uncomfortable in my body. The most important thing about this for me is that my outsides are finally starting to match my insides. I feel like I'm living in my body for the first time and it feels really good."

ET asked about mother Cher's reaction and Chaz responded that he could not speak for her, but he does say that the people in his life are "just happy that I'm doing this and seeing the positive effect that its having on me."

We're happy that you're happy, Chaz!

[Image via Getty Images.]

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Cher's daughter is speaking out for the first time since he left Chastity behind and became Chaz Bono. His first interview since his sex change will air on Entertainment Tonight, starting Thursday, and will air over several shows.

Conveniently, it airs on the first day of November sweeps (granted it's still in October.)

We're actually quite interested to hear what he'll have to say about his mom and their relationship as well as how grueling the procedure must have been for him!

Any of U planning to tune in?

[Image via WENN.]

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You must CLICK HERE to read a great interview the Los Angeles Times conducted with Perezzers yesterday in Las Vegas.

We talk about a lot of celebrities in the article - and many of them won't be happy with what we have to say!

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As we previously reported, Cher, Christina Aguilera and Twilight's Cam Gigandet have signed on to Burlesque, a semi-musical revolving around a burlesque club.

We were wavering on it before, but now the deal is sealed for us!

Kristen Bell is on board!

The former stage actress is set to play the lead dancer at the nightclub run by Cher. But, when Xtina shows up and steals the show, mayjah catfights ensue.

Loves it!

Plus, Stanley Tucci just signed on and everything he does is amazeballs!!

As much as the plot sounds like Showgirls, we're gonna have to see it!

Will U?!

[Image via WENN.]

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But we won't be hearing it until next year!

Tricky Stewart, the mastermind behind Rihanna's Umbrella and Beyonce's Single Ladies, is working with Christina Aguilera on her upcoming album.

He says:

"It's just great. I wouldn't say that it's alternative, I wouldn't say that it's different. Christina's always been an artist that moves the bar and that's what the great ones do. They don't stay in the same place for too long and this album is just another move for her. I really feel it's one of her best bodies of work that I've heard since Stripped."

Aguilera also collaborated with different artists on the album including M.I.A., Santigold, Sia, Le Tigre, Ladytron and Flo Rida.

Sounds like it's going to be good, but the pop star is concentrating on her movie career at the moment, working on Burleseque with the legendary Cher.

Tricky says:

"She's gonna do the film first. She didn't want to not be able to promote this record because it's going to be a big record for her. The album is finished. She's mixing. She hasn't made a final decision about what the first single is, but I know everyone feels good about their options."

Well that's exciting!

Are U looking forward to hearing Xtina's newest track?

[Image via Adriana M. Barraza / WENN.]

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Caliente!

Twilight's Cam Gigandet just signed on to star in Burlesque, a musical film, opposite Cher and Christina Aguilera.

"It's about a girl from the Midwest who moves out to Los Angeles to pursue her career as a singer," explains Cam. "Obviously, it's Christina Aguilera, so she has an amazing voice. She finds a club run by Cher, a burlesque club. And she takes it to a whole new level and, of course, meets me — the love of her life."

The film has been highly anticipated since it was announced last June and the hottie may be just what the movie needs by way of teenage girl appeal.

"I am a struggling piano player, and I'm currently working as a bartender at Cher's burlesque club," said Gigandet of his character. "Christina and I meet, fall in love, and drama ensues."

But, can he sing and dance?!

Absolutely not, he claims, but, "It's a very sexy, sexy movie."

We're not sure if he can act either, but remove that shirt and we'll believe anything he says!

[Image via AP Images and WENN.]

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Any volunteers, fellas?!

As Chaz Bono undergoes a sex change operation from female to male, he hopes to marry his partner, Jennifer Elia, within the year and start a family.

The couple are shopping for a sperm donor and Chaz's mother, Cher, is there to lend her support.

"After Chaz told his mother about getting married and planning for a baby, Cher offered to help," divulged a family friend. "Cher doesn't care if the baby is a boy or girl. But she's insisting on a donor with intelligence, creativity and good looks.

Although the pair first decided on an anonymous donor, they are now open to someone they know.

"So Cher is putting together a file of prospects, and as you can imagine, they're all handsome and brilliant. Chaz and Jen are sticking to strict criteria, but ultimately, all three of them want a healthy baby," continued the source.

Just the fact that this kid will have Cher as a grandma is enough to make anyone jealous!

Update: Unfortunately we've just heard from Chaz's rep and have been informed that the baby news is not true! Sad.

[Image via WENN.]

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