Christina Aguilera
Photo: Kevin Parry/ WireImage

Though Christina Aguilera seems omnipresent with her music, jewelry, perfume and numerous endorsement deals, the songstress superstar has never actually been in a movie. She's lent her voice to "Shark Tale," and she was featured in Martin Scorcese's Rolling Stones documentary, "Shine a Light," but she's never gotten to be anyone but herself onscreen.

But now, she's getting her chance to test her talents as an actress. According to Variety, Aguilera will make her big-screen debut in "Burlesque," a contemporary musical.

Aguilera will play "an ambitious, small-town girl with a big voice" who aspires to stardom (as all ambitious, small-town girls do) and finds work at a neo-burlesque club in Los Angeles inspired by Bob Fosse's "Cabaret." Things apparently turn out all right for the determined singer, because she ends up finding love, success and family as a result of her career in cabaret. The film begins shooting late this year, just in time to benefit from the buzz of Aguilera's newest album, which is reportedly due in September.

Steven Antin (who you might remember as Troy in "The Goonies," and who probably knows a little something about burlesque, given that his sister is Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin) will direct the film. Antin's script has been revised by Susannah Grant ("Erin Brockovich").

"I couldn't be more excited, as this was a project written with [Aguilera] in mind," Screen Gems President Clint Culpepper told Variety.

Will the vampires grab more trophies than the slumdog? What was the year's ultimate onscreen WTF moment? It's up to you to decide the winners of the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. Vote now, and tune in on May 31 at 9 p.m. ET, when the big show airs live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

There are reports out there that Christina Aguilera is interested in starring in "Burlesque," a film about a modern-day striptease dancer, sources tell E! Online.

Although the site doesn't have further information about how far along Aguilera is in the process of securing the role, there is word that "Dancing With the Stars" favorite Julianne Hough has also met with producers about co-starring as a pregnant showgirl.

Steve Antin, whose sister is Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin, wrote the script and is reportedly going to direct the film as well. Screen Gems, the studio behind the project, has confirmed that the movie in development, but added that it's "too preliminary to comment on." The studio is aiming for a January 2010 production start date.

A rep for Aguilera had no comment about the casting news when reached by MTV News.

Playing a burlesque dancer on film wouldn't be too difficult for Aguilera, who got saucy covering Labelle's "Lady Marmalade" for the "Moulin Rogue" soundtrack. She followed that up with her stint as "Dirrty" Christina on her 2002 album, Stripped, posing topless for the cover. Then, in 2006, she embraced her inner pin-up for Back to Basics. This would be the first major film role for the singer.

While she's kept quiet on the possibility of making her mark on the big screen, Aguilera has talked a bit about the follow-up to her recent best-of release, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits. She told MTV News that said she wants the new album to have a more "futuristic" vibe: "It's a challenge and an exciting new project for me to reinvent what I am doing yet again, and come up with something new and fresh."

• Christina Aguilera

• Britney Spears
• MGMT
• Chris Isaak
• Christina Aguilera
• John Mayer

Britney Spears in "Slave 4 U"
Photo: Jive/Zomba

Valentine's Day — you either love it or hate it. It makes sweethearts swoon and others want to stab fat cherubs with a bow and arrow. Between the chocolate hearts, the red roses and the teddy bears shoved in our faces, the holiday stirs up a cocktail of emotions: happiness, despair, jealousy, grief, sadness, desire ...

MTV News has all your mood swings covered. In honor of this beloved and dreaded holiday, we're rolling out the Best Love Songs, Best Breakup Songs, Best Make-Out Songs and Worst Love Songs in recent memory. It's our Valentine's Day gift to you, minus the dinner-and-a-movie part. So slip into something comfortable, and stay for a while.

Lust is in the air tonight — impress your love with your vast knowledge of iPhone apps another night. Grab your valentine-of-the-moment and get your groove on.

10. Tweet (featuring Missy Elliott) - "Oops (Oh My)"
Follow along to this striptease with your crush tonight.

9. Rufus Wainwright - "Instant Pleasure"
Rufus swaps foreplay for instant gratification in this indie classic. Hey, at least he's direct with his intentions.

8. John Mayer - "Your Body is a Wonderland"
John sings about getting touchy-feely in this 2003 track. Even Alice is blushing.

7. Christina Aguilera - "Dirrty"
Christina takes it from the couch to the wrestling pit for full-on body contact.

6. The Donnas - "Take It Off"
I guess I can take off my shirt — I mean, coat. Only if you assist — I mean, insist. That came out funny. Is it a little hot in here?

5. MGMT - "Electric Feel"
Granted, most of us here at MTV News spaced out in bio class. But, we're pretty sure this "electrical eel" business is a reference to sex. We also know kids come from cabbage patches.

4. Nine Inch Nails - "Closer"
Get your freak on to the driving beats of this intense R-rated wonder. File this one under the "hot & heavy" category.

3. Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"
The Followill boys ignite our libidos with "Sex on Fire." Let the track consume you and your hookup hottie.

2. Chris Isaak - "Wicked Game"
This airy lullaby has been one of the dreamiest make-out songs on the planet for the past gazillion trillion years.

1. Britney Spears - "I'm a Slave 4 U" Brit snags the top spit-swapping spot for making us sweat along to this smash hit single.

Do you love it or are you just not that into our picks? Tell us why in the comment section below.

Now that you have the tracks to set the mood, you should gauge your plans with what the celebs are doing. No date? Don't forget that there are single, hot guys that you might have a chance with. Happy Valentine's Day!

• Valentine's Day: Best Make-Out Songs

• Chris Isaak
• Britney Spears
• John Mayer
• Christina Aguilera
• Nine Inch Nails

Eminem
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

After another year that saw a serious decline in record sales, the music industry is, once again, hoping that 2009 will be the one that turns around a nearly decade-long sales spiral. And, judging from the boatload of marquee talent expected to drop new discs this year, it's possible that the bleeding could at the very least be slowed down. Maybe.

And with a list of heavy-hitters expected to release fresh material this year (which, like everything on this list, is subject to change) including Eminem, U2, Dr. Dre, Green Day, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, R. Kelly, Black Eyed Peas and Christina Aguilera, who knows?

Here's our round-up of expected album releases:

January:

» The-Dream, Love vs. Money — The in-demand songwriter comes back with a sophomore album with help from Lil Jon on "Let Me See the Booty."

» Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Working on a Dream — The Boss' 16th studio album is an extension of his sessions for 2007's Magic, recorded during breaks on the E Street Band's 2007-2008 tour.

» Franz Ferdinand, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand — The Scottish band's third album reportedly has some African influences.

» LeATHERMOUTH, XO — The debut from My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero's 1990s hardcore-inspired new band.

» Bobby Valentino, Rebirth — The singer's third studio album is an introspective meditation on relationships ... and sex.

February:

» Bow Wow, New Jack City 2 — Six albums in, Bow Wow has already set up this latest with the Soulja Boy collabo "Marco Polo."

» Chris Cornell, Scream — The former Soundgarden/Audioslave singer's solo collaboration with Timbaland will finally see the light of day.

» The Fray, The Fray — The Grammy-winning Denver soft-rockers finally follow up their 2005 debut, featuring the first single, "You Found Me."

» Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Lonely Road — The emo-punkers' second full-length kicks off with the single "You Better Pray."

» Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You — After a difficult year, the British pop wreck returns with a more straight-ahead pop album featuring songs about drugs, God and commercialism.

» Lonely Island, Incredibad — The boyhood friends behind such "SNL" viral smashes as "Di-- In a Box" and "Ji-- In My Pants" offer up a full disc of sonic goodness.

» Mos Def, The Ecstatic — Expect songs produced by Madlib and Chad Hugo, and collabos with Slick Rick and pal Talib Kweli.

» Busta Rhymes, Back on My BS — Label drama behind him, Busta returns with songs produced by Pharrell and the late J Dilla and featuring Kardinal Offishall, Common, T.I., Lil Wayne and Akon.

» 50 Cent, Before I Self Destruct — Frequently delayed, 50's fourth album will come with a movie of the same title written, produced, directed and starring Curtis himself.

» Erykah Badu, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) — After busting into many critics' top lists for 2008 with the urban confusion first episode, Ms. Badu comes back with the more spiritually focused sequel.

March:

» Kelly Clarkson, TBA — Not much is known about the original "Idol" star's next one, other than the provocative lollipop-licking cover for the first single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," and a heavy dose of help from pop maestros Dr. Luke and Max Martin.

» U2, No Line on the Horizon — The Irish giants' 12th studio album finds them reteaming with production wizards Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite for what has been described as a throwback to 1991's rocking Achtung Baby.
  April:

» Flo Rida, R.O.O.T.S. — How will the Grammy-nominated "Low" Rida follow up his first album? With songs produced by some of the same dudes who helped him on his debut.

» Dave Matthews Band, TBA — Following the death of founding member LeRoi Moore, the jam heroes bounce back with a record produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance).

Spring and beyond:

» Paula Abdul, TBA — The "American Idol" judge has been threatening to release her first new album since 1995 for over a year.

» Christina Aguilera, TBA — The Dirrty mom has promised to go all futuristic and electro on her next one, with collaborators such as Ladytron and Goldfrapp.

» Andre 3000, TBA — The movie-loving half of Outkast has said he's working on his solo album pretty much ... solo.

» Beastie Boys, TBA — After an all-instrumental affair, the pioneering New York rap trio are slated to return to the mic.

» Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. — Described as a musical "diary," the latest from the hip-hop group will reportedly be a constantly evolving project that is frequently updated.

» D'Angelo, TBA — The long-missing R&B crooner will return to the frame after more than eight hard years on the fringes.

» Dr. Dre, Detox — The doc's swan song has been cooking for more than five years, but the concept album is reportedly on for 2009.

» Eminem, Relapse — Speaking of comebacks, Slim Shady is prepping one after almost five years out of the game, with Dre reportedly helping out on most of the album.

» Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3 — The totally not retired former music mogul will offer up a Kanye West co-produced disc as part of his final release on Def Jam.

» Josiah Leming, TBA — Last season's "American Idol" crying boy will drop his heart-on-sleeve full-length debut.

» Lindsay Lohan, Spirit in the Dark — The actress' third album has been described as a dance/hip-hop affair with production from J.R. Rotem, Stargate, The-Dream and Timbaland.

» Green Day, TBA — How do you follow up American Idiot? We'll find out this summer when the pop-punkers-turned-concept-album-kings unleash their Butch Vig (Nirvana) produced album.

» Kid Sister, Dream Date — The upstart Chicago rapper known for her "Pro Nails" will finally drop her debut.

» Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Eye Legacy — The posthumous album from the late TLC member includes collabos with Tupac, Missy Elliott, Bobby Valentino and Lil Mama.

» Prince, MPLSOUND, Lotus Flower, Elixir — The Purple One has plans to release a trio of albums this year, with the first one reportedly evoking his "Purple Rain" salad days.

» Missy Elliott, Block Party — Speaking of long-awaited, Missy finally unwraps her latest, with expected assists from Timbaland, Pharrell and T-Pain.

» R. Kelly, 12 Play: Fourth Quarter — The first release since the singer's acquittal on child pornography charges is slated to feature songs such as "Hair Braider" and "Skin."

» Lupe Fiasco, LupE.N.D. — How does a three-disc final effort sound to you?

And, finally, what to do now that we don't have Chinese Democracy to kick around anymore? The long-delayed Guns N' Roses album that finally emerged with a thud in late 2008 was an album-release-story punch line for more than a decade — and now that it's out, which long-rumored albums do we look to for solace?

There's always the perpetually just-around-the-corner Detox, the frequently delayed Amerie album, Because I Love It, and 50's latest ... not to mention the years-in-the-making albums from former 'NSYNC star JC Chasez and former Hole leader Courtney Love, as well as Eve's oft-bumped Here I Am, the legendary next Michael Jackson album, Ja Rule's now-you-see-it-now-you-don't comeback, The Mirror, and, of course, that Nicole Scherzinger solo album, Her Name is Nicole.

• Eminem
• Jay-Z
• Christina Aguilera
• Dr. Dre
• 50 Cent

Christina Aguilera in Los Angeles on Sunday
Photo: MTV News

Christina Aguilera gave birth to her first son, Max, in January, and she just popped out a new CD two weeks ago, so she can be forgiven for missing the news of the latest additions to the ranks of pop star parents, Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson.

"Oh, did they give birth? Oh, how exciting! Congratulations," she told MTV News on Sunday, after her performance at the American Music Awards. "I give my best. They're about to be on the ride of their life. It's just the most amazing thing you could ever experience."

At the awards show, Aguilera did a remix of some of her classics in honor of her new greatest-hits album, Keeps Gettin' Better — A Decade of Hits, which was released earlier this month exclusively at Target. "[The performance was a] seven-minute medley based on seven of my greatest hits, which was jam-packed and full of vigor and life and a lot of momentum and a lot of stamina ... but it was really, really fun going through 10 years in seven minutes."

Aguilera said she couldn't believe the album debuted at #9, considering that everyone has already heard most of the songs on it. "Well this is the last 10 years in the making," she said. "[I'm] very excited about the fact that it' even in the top ten being that these are songs that have already been hits and recreations of those hits."

She added, "So I'm in the studio currently working on my new album of all-new material, but this one in part is a fun thank you from me to the fans for helping me build such an amazing career."

• Christina Aguilera
• Ashlee Simpson
• Fall Out Boy

Christina Aguilera
Photo: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic

The last time we saw Christina Aguilera, she was masquerading as a singing, dancing Vargas girl, a 1940s pinup re-imagined as a 2000s pop princess. Since her last album, well ... let's just say things are a little bit different.

Because when Aguilera unveiled her brand new look at the 2008 Video Music Awards, it was as if that retro queen had been packed into a capsule and rocketed headlong into the future. Gone were the soft curls and pleated skirts, replaced instead with impossibly angular bangs, thigh-high boots and enough pleather to make Catwoman blush.

It was, to coin a term, "future fetish." And when MTV News sat down with Aguilera last week in Los Angeles to talk about her greatest-hits album, Keeps Getting Better, and her "futuristic" new record, we decided to run our new phrase by her ... and, surprise, surprise, she sort of liked it.

"I wanted to give [fans] a little sneak preview of what's to come [with the VMA performance]. The vein of the new material is a futuristic take on what is inspiring me at the moment ... and it's got a very pop-art feel, visually," she explained. "[There's a] throwback to Andy Warhol and all the colors and vividness and bright boldness that was in that artwork. I'm a big collector of pop art and graffiti art at this point, too — D*Face and Banksy, also Roy Lichtenstein ... and it's been very fun venturing off into that zone."

Of course, there are plenty of folks out there who couldn't help but notice that Xtina's new look was also slightly influenced by a more, uh, "contemporary" source, electro-pop sensation Lady Gaga, right down to the penchant for patent leather and the raccoon eye makeup (you can judge for yourself over in our Newsroom blog).

But Aguilera just laughs those comparisons off. And though she name-drops artists like Sia and Goldfrapp as big inspirations for her current look and sound, she's quick to point out that she's not terribly focused on the current state of music. Rather, she's styled herself in a manner that pays homage to artists from the past, all while looking towards the future too.

"I was very inspired by the look and feel of that [pop-art] genre, your Jane Birkins, your Blondies, females who have come before who have done this so many times and so well — almost as an homage to them," she explained. "Also, speaking of Warhol, Nico from the Velvet Underground ... so it all kind of ties in to a pop-art feel and twist, with a mod look. But a futuristic taste of what's to come."

• Christina Aguilera: Past And Future

• Christina Aguilera

Justin Timberlake
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

This Sunday marks the end of an era — MTV's "Total Request Live" will go dark after more than a decade on the air. Current host Damien Fahey and former host Carson Daly will oversee its swan song, a special dubbed "Total Finale Live," which is set to air on MTV at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

On Tuesday (November 11), MTV revealed that Justin Timberlake, Kid Rock, Snoop Dogg, Nelly and JC Chasez will be joining previously announced guests 50 Cent, Fall Out Boy, Ludacris, the Backstreet Boys and Beyoncé at the Times Square studios to commemorate the show's momentous conclusion.

Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Christina Aguilera will also be part of the big show, appearing via satellite to say a few words and share some of their favorite "TRL" memories. It will be Barker's first appearance on MTV since surviving a plane crash in late September that killed four people.

Ludacris, Snoop and Nelly will be sharing the stage for a one-time-only collaboration, adding another big moment to the long list of hot performances that have taken place in the "TRL" studios over the years. Others expected to appear during the "TRL" farewell show include Diddy, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Hilary Duff, Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel Madden, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit and Korn frontman Jonathan Davis.

In addition, "TRL" will be bringing back its former hosts and VJs for their last stand, including Lyndsey Rodrigues, Vanessa Minnillo, Dave Holmes, Jesse Camp, Hilarie Burton, La La Vasquez and Quddus.

Don't miss the end of an era! "Total Finale Live" airs live Sunday, November 16, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

• MTV News' Top 'TRL' Moments

• Justin Timberlake
• Christina Aguilera
• Travis Barker

Christina Aguilera
Photo: MTV News

Christina Aguilera has gone retro before, but this time she's putting a new spin on her own history.

For her greatest-hits-with-a-couple-new-songs album, Keeps Gettin' Better — A Decade of Hits , out Tuesday, the 27-year-old pop star is looking back on some of her biggest hits while also moving ahead.

"It was tough looking back — it was surprising," she told MTV News last week. "It was really gratifying to see how much hard work I've put in over the last 10 years. When you're in it, you just don't realize as it accumulates how much you've done and how far you've come. I can't believe it's been a decade already. [On the album,] I wanted to include all the songs that I know I loved and that are crowd pleasers and real staples of my career thus far."

Of course, a lot has changed for the singer in recent years. She's gotten gotten married and became a mom when her son, Max, was born earlier this year.

"It's such a special time for me, being a new mom, releasing this [album] the first year of my son's birth," she explained. "I'm looking forward to the next 10 years, which is partly why I named the album, Keeps Gettin' Better, 'cause it does."

(On a more serious note, the singer also talked about her strong opposition to California's recent Proposition 8 ruling.)

Aguilera decided to reinvent two of her biggest hits, "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful," for the new LP. "They are two of my favorites for that reason. I think my fans at this point know I like to change and revisit my catalogue every time I go on tour to give my songs a fresh new life, and I think they appreciate that," she said. "I wanted to give them a little sneak preview of what's to come, and the vein of the new material is sort of futuristic — what was inspiring me at the moment, and it has a very pop-art feel visually."

These songs, as well as the album's single "Keeps Gettin' Better," are only a taste of what Aguilera fans can expect for her next album, which she was inspired by the likes of cultural icons such as Blondie, Velvet Underground chanteuse Nico, and artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. She said she's diving deep into "electro in particular" and she's lined up a slew of dance-music artists to collaborate with including Goldfrapp (who are strongly evoked in the sound of "Keeps Getting' Better") and Ladytron.

"It is a sneak preview of what's to come for the next record, hopefully to be released in the summer of 2009, which is very exciting," she said. "It's a challenge and an exciting new project for me to reinvent what I am doing yet again, and come up with something new and fresh."

• Christina Aguilera: Past And Future

• Christina Aguilera

Photo: MTV News

• Christina Aguilera

Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Peter Facinelli, More Celebrate LG In LA

• Vanessa Hudgens
• Ashley Tisdale
• Christina Aguilera
• Robin Thicke

Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, More On The 2008 American Music Awards Red Carpet

• Miley Cyrus
• Jonas Brothers
• Ashley Tisdale
• Akon
• Christina Aguilera

Stars Rock The Vote At Hollywood Party

• Aly & AJ
• Danity Kane
• Christina Aguilera

Successful Celebrity Couples

• Bono
• Christina Aguilera
• Gavin Rossdale
• Gwen Stefani
• Seal

2008 Grammy Award Nominees: Akon, Fergie, T.I., More

• Akon
• Amy Winehouse
• Jay-Z
• Christina Aguilera
• Justin Timberlake

Christina Aguilera, Nicole Scherzinger, More at Rock The Vote Red Carpet

• Christina Aguilera
• JC Chasez
• Nicole Scherzinger
• Blake Lewis
• Samantha Ronson

Baby Bump Watch: J. Lo, Christina, Gwen, More

• Jennifer Lopez
• Christina Aguilera
• Gwen Stefani

Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

• Britney Spears
• Justin Timberlake
• Timbaland
• Nick Cannon
• Lil Jon

The 2007 MTV Video Music Award Nominees

• Beyoncé
• Justin Timberlake
• Shakira
• Amy Winehouse
• Kanye West

Highlights From "People" Magazine's 2007 Most Beautiful List

• Jessica Simpson
• Fall Out Boy
• Beyoncé
• Christina Aguilera
• Fergie