Nicole Scherzinger
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Reports have recently surfaced that Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger will be involved in a staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera," and MTV News has confirmed the report that Schzeringer is working with Lloyd Webber on his new play, "Love Never Dies."

Scherzinger's level of involvement with the production is still unknown, and her rep said that no further details are available at this time.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Lloyd Webber made the announcement about the follow-up to the highly successful "Phantom" in a statement. As of now, the show will open at the Adelphi Theatre in London on March 9, and a Broadway opening will follow on November 11, 2010. There are also plans to bring the show to Australia in 2011.

The story will follow the play's heroine Christine as she and the Phantom have run off to Coney Island, New York, 10 years after the end of "Phantom." "There's unfinished business," Lloyd Webber told reporters in London. "I don't regard this as a sequel; it's a stand-alone piece."

Recently, Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton told MTV News that the group is on hiatus, but assured fans it was in no way an official breakup. "Right now the Pussycat Dolls are on a break. It's actually a much-needed break," Thornton said. "It's like when you're with your sisters for 24 hours a day and you need to take your own shower."

• Nicole Scherzinger
• Pussycat Dolls

Jim Cantiello and Melody Thornton from the Pussycat Dolls
Photo: MTV News

Are the Pussycat Dolls on the outs? There have been rumors circulating that the girls may be going their separate ways, but Melody Thornton assures her fans that the group isn't going anywhere, although they are taking some time off.

However, that doesn't mean they won't be taking some time off. "Right now the Pussycat Dolls are on a break. It's actually a much-needed break," Thornton told MTV News. "It's like when you're with your sisters for 24 hours a day and you need to take your own shower."

Thornton said that the Dolls will eventually find their way back to one another again after they all take a breather. "Yeah, we're taking a break. No, [we're not broken up] ... everybody keeps saying that, but it's like, let me see who took a break? Dave Chappelle. Remember when Dave Chappelle took that break? OK, maybe Dave Chappelle's a bad example. What about, like, Hootie and the Blowfish?"

Sure, Hootie and the Blowfish did take some time off only to get back together again, but it's worth noting that Darius Rucker has been recording solo for some time now. Is a solo album in the cards for Thornton? Well, she didn't specify — she just emphasized that she's always making music regardless.

"Well, I always tell people that I've been working since the beginning of Pussycat Dolls and making records and always staying true to my passion, which is music, 'cause I love it," she said. "Absolutely I'm making music. I love it and I'm gonna live it."

A rep for the Pussycat Dolls had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time.

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Omarion, Keri Hilson and Chris Brown
Photo: Greg Tidwell/Pacific Coast News

Just one week before he's officially sentenced following the plea deal he struck in the Rihanna case, Chris Brown appeared at ease as he joined Keri Hilson in Los Angeles on the set of what is apparently Hilson's next video, "Slow Down."

The pair were joined by plenty of musical company: Omarion, Monica, Polow Da Don and Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton were all also on set.

	Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

At press time, it was unclear what will the premise of the video will be. Chris Robinson is apparently helming the clip — the director spoke with Rap-Up.com earlier this week and confirmed he was in town to collaborate with Hilson. The director previously worked on Hilson's most recent video, for "Knock You Down."

Representatives for Brown and Hilson were not available at press time to confirm details about the video.

Brown was clad in Billionaire's Boys Club garb on set and once again sported his "Ooops" chain. The singer drew the attention of bloggers and fans alike when he wore the same pendant during Diddy and Ashton Kutcher's white party in Los Angeles over the 4th of July weekend. After Brown agreed to a plea deal following his February altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna, he apologized to the public in a YouTube broadcast.

Images from the set have popped up online, but they appear to have been taken during breaks or after production of the shoot.

Brown is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on August 27 to be formerly sentenced to community labor service, therapy sessions, and probation.

• Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

• Chris Brown
• Keri Hilson
• Omarion
• Monica
• Polow Da Don

Audrina Patridge
Photo: Miranda Penn Turin

Sure, everyone expects hot stars like Angelina Jolie (#26), Scarlett Johansson (#34), Penélope Cruz (#30) and the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger (#46) to make Maxim magazine's Hot 100 for 2009. But the men's magazine's annual roster of sexy ladies has also become a home for reality-TV stars, including some girls from "The Hills."

After starring in her spin-off, "The City," this year Whitney Port made her big debut at #83. Audrina Patridge, meanwhile, jumped 17 spots from #74 last year to #57 this year. But it's not such good news for Heidi Montag: Despite making music videos in her bikini, the new Mrs. Pratt fell to #81 this year, dropping a whopping 45 spots. And it might be even worse news for Lauren Conrad, who completely fell off the list after making it to #56 on last year's list.

Although Maxim's #1 hottest woman in entertainment won't be revealed until Wednesday (May 13), some other big names from the list have already been released. Hilary Duff was named the 31st hottest babe, thanks in part to her role as Bonnie Parker in "The Story of Bonnie and Clyde," due out in 2010. Singer Ciara has her steamy duet with Justin Timberlake to thank for making the list at #32. Funny girl and MTV Movie Awards nominee Anna Faris made the list at #39. "Twilight's" Nikki Reed (#42) and Ashley Greene (#68) also made the list, along with a couple of the Jonas Brothers' favorite ladies: Joe Jonas' current girlfriend, Camilla Belle, is at #72, and ex Taylor Swift is at #50.

• Our Nominees For The 2009 Maxim Hot 100

• Pussycat Dolls
• Hilary Duff
• Ciara
• Taylor Swift

Adam Lambert performs "Feeling Good" on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images/ Fox

The bright white suit, the hot-pink staircase: Adam Lambert's entrance on Tuesday night's "American Idol" was one part Rat Pack homage, one part theatrical glam-rock extravaganza. What else might we expect from the front-runner with the eyeliner and the virtuosic voice on a night that paid tribute to the group of '60s crooners led by Frank Sinatra?

The song Adam chose was "Feeling Good," originally penned by the team of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd," which debuted in Britain in 1964 to little public acclaim. However, Tony Bennett picked up another of the musical's songs, "Who Can I Turn To?" and turned the track into a hit recording while "Greasepaint" was touring the United States. The musical eventually landed on Broadway in 1965.

The song's connection to the Rat Pack was a 1966 cover by Sammy Davis Jr., but it has been covered by countless artists — almost no two alike. Two versions appeared on platinum-certified albums in 2005: one by jazz singer Michael Bublé (It's Time) and one by the Pussycat Dolls (PCD). Perhaps the most well-known adaptation belongs to soul goddess Nina Simone on her album I Put a Spell on You.

But the arrangement Lambert selected comes by way of the British alt-rock group Muse, whose organ-driven take on "Feeling Good" appeared on their 2001 album Origin of Symmetry. The band, which Lambert didn't credit by name on Tuesday, actually once sued Nestlé for an unauthorized use of "Feeling Good" in a TV ad for instant coffee.

The lyrics couldn't have been more apt for Lambert, who finds himself on the precipice of an "Idol" victory after another routine that wowed the judges. "It's a new dawn/ It's a new day/ It's a new life for me," he sang with a more serious look in his eye than in performances past. "And I'm feeling good."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• Jim Cantiello's Instant 'Idol' Reactions
• Adam Lambert's Theatrical Roots
• 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds

• Adam Lambert's Wild "American Idol" Journey
• "American Idol" Season 8: Live Performances

• Muse
• Pussycat Dolls
• Michael Bublé

Melody Thornton (file)
Photo: Joe Fox/WireImage

At a stop on Britney Spears' Circus tour in Phoenix on Friday night, Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thorntonmade an eyebrow-raising comment about the group.

According to Perez Hilton, who also posted a video of the incident, Thornton, who is from Arizona, thanked the crowd during a break in the show. She also said to them, "Thank you for supporting me even though I'm not featured!" regarding the recent billing of the Dolls as "Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger" on some recent singles.

"That's right, Phoenix," she shouted to the crowd. "Let me hear you! What's up everybody? I'm Melody and I'm a native of Phoenix, Arizona. Let me give a shout-out to my family. Thank you for supporting me, even if I'm not featured. You know what I'm saying?"

Thornton added that young people in the crowd should follow their dreams in spite of any setbacks. "And I feel like it's my responsibility to say to all the little boys and girls in the house tonight that myself and Ashley Roberts are examples that you can do anything that you want to do," she said to the screaming audience. "Don't give up on your dreams and don't let anyone stomp on them ever!"

On the band's latest single for their song "Hush Hush," as well for their recent single "Jai Ho"(with "Slumdog Millionaire" composer A.R. Rahman), the girls have been billed as the Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger.

A rep for the group had not granted MTV News' request for comment at press time.

• Pussycat Dolls

Pussycat Dolls
Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

The Pussycat Dolls are ready to dominate the pop world again when they re-release their Doll Domination. Doll Domination 2.0 will have album favorites like "When I Grow Up" and "Bottle Pop," but it will also include a few new tracks. (Note: At press time, the CD was scheduled for an international release only and the label had no release date, although the tracks may be available digitally.)

"We've got the new single 'Jai Ho,' " Nicole Scherzinger told MTV News about the album reboot, which features the group's version of the "Slumdog Millionaire" song. "We're really blessed. The train is moving, so you got to jump on it."

The re-release features "Jai Ho" and the new song "Painted Windows," as well as "Top of the World," the theme song from "The City." "We have a song 'Hush Hush' that we remixed [from the original Doll Domination] that we added with 'I Will Survive' remixed into it," Scherzinger said. "I think the fans are going to love 'Hush Hush,' because it was a ballad and now it's a dance remix."

The girls are on the road with Britney Spears on her Circus tour, and Nicole loves performing two songs in particular. "I love it when we perform 'I Hate This Part' and 'Jai Ho.' Even though 'I Hate This Part' is a new single, people sing along, and it means so much to me, because that song [means so much to me]. 'Jai Ho' is so spiritual and uplifting, and for people to accept it and it comes from a special place, I really love that."

Nicole is really excited to also take Doll Domination 2.0 on the road when the girls head back on their own tour post-Circus. Scherzinger loves sharing the PCD experience with fans, because she thinks they have something no one else does. "PCD is edgy, and there's something new and there's history behind it," Nicole said. It's unlike any other female pop group."

[This story was originally published at 7:50 am E.T. on 04.03.2009]

• Pussycat Dolls

Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger
Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Since March, the Pussycat Dolls have been busy supporting Britney Spears on her Circus tour. Before that, the Dolls had been traveling the world on their own tour, and the ladies wouldn't want it any other way.

"It's been nonstop," Nicole Scherzinger told MTV News. "We were on our Doll Domination Tour all throughout Europe, and now we're on Britney's tour, and after this, we're going to go back on our Doll Domination Tour."

So how do they handle the group's never-ending tour schedule? "It's the PCD gods and angels around us," Scherzinger said.

Nicole could only use one word to describe the hectic atmosphere of touring with someone like Britney: "It's really a circus. It's crazy. I think the tour's been really good for us doing what we do best: singing and dancing. A lot of people have told us the fans' ultimate wish is to have Britney Spears and PCD on tour."

The hectic schedule also means that the Dolls haven't been able to get any time to chill out with Britney. "This is her tour, and I'm sure she's busy, and I'm always doing press right before we get onstage," she said. "We haven't had too much interaction, but we're always planning stuff."

Perhaps the girls will all be able to meet up onstage at some point during the tour. "That would be super fun," she said. "We did that when we were [on tour] with Christina [Aguilera]."

Nicole also hopes that touring with a pop staple like Britney will attract a new fanbase to the Dolls. "Britney's been around so much longer and been around people who might not know us," she said.

For Brit's Circus, the girls decided to do a mini-version of their Doll Domination show. "We kept our same original look. We kept it PCD-style," she said. "We were on tour already, and we picked one outfit from the costume changes. We wanted it to be colorful and fun and sparkly and things that the kids could relate to."

If the ladies ever find time in their schedules, maybe they could squeeze in a Britney-vs.-Dolls dance-off. "I would be afraid. She can throw down. She's got some moves," Nicole said. "If we had a dance-off, maybe it would be more of a collaboration dance or maybe one of the other girls can do it; I'll just stand and watch. She's a great dancer and a great performer."

• Pussycat Dolls

Nicole Scherzinger
Photo: MTV News

In a story published on the Desi Hits! Web site on Friday, Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger admitted that she initially "kind of didn't want to" re-record an English-language version of A.R. Rahman's "Slumdog Millionaire" hit, "Jai Ho."

"I was really scared and I kind of didn't want to do it," she told the site. "I heard the song and fell in love with it ... and I was scared to death to touch it. I was afraid for people to hear it before I even wrote it." But she said her producers and label exec gave her the courage to see the project through. "Every night I would pray" for it to turn out right," she said. "If people like it, then I'm really grateful."

Last month, when MTV News spoke with Scherzinger at the kickoff to Britney Spears' Circus tour, she detailed the long and fairly complicated process of making "Jai Ho," while not being quite so outspoken about her anxiety.

"The people at the label, Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, asked me to see the movie and listen to this new producer, A.R. Rahman, so I studied him, and I saw the movie and was captivated and thought it was the most genius thing ever," Scherzinger explained. "And they said, 'Well, that's good, because you're going to have to rewrite it and do your own version of it.'

"So, we were on tour at the time — we were in London, and we all went to go see the movie — and while we were doing our shows, I just worked on the song," she continued. "It's an honor to be part of this project in any way, before all the Oscars happened, because the story is unbelievable."

So after finding out she would have to not only rewrite the song's Hindi lyrics, but do it while PCD were wrapping their Doll Domination tour, Scherzinger had no choice but to buckle down and work.

"It's crazy how the whole thing came about," she said. "It just happened so quickly. I'm a writer, and I've been fortunate enough to write for the Dolls, but when they asked me to look at the movie and do my own version, I was really afraid to take on the task of rewriting the lyrics," she said. "Because I thought the movie was so profound, I didn't know how to make sure I kept the integrity of the movie and the love story, but also make it cool enough for the Pussycat Dolls and for people all over the world to connect to.

"I just followed my heart and I came from a very spiritual place," she continued. "I just wanted people no matter where they are, whatever relationship they're in — be it spiritual or a guy/girl relationship — to be able to connect to the song. So it was kind of unbelievable to be able to do that. I hope people don't hate it!"

• Pussycat Dolls
• Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger
Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

The Pussycat Dolls have canceled their Monday night (March 23) show opening for Britney Spears at New York's Nassau Coliseum, according to a post on the group's Web site.

"Due to the illness of lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, the Pussycat Dolls are canceling tonight's performance at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY," the message reads. "Britney Spears' performance will proceed as planned."

Nicole's illness was addressed on Britney Spears' Web site: "Britney and her camp wish Nicole a speedy recovery!" the post reads.

A rep for the Pussycat Dolls declined MTV News' request to elaborate further on the cancellation

PCD have been opening up for Spears on her Circus tour since it kicked off in New Orleans earlier this month.

When they kicked off the tour on March 4, the girls were excited to be touring with Britney and described the experience as "amazing." "This whole show is amazing ... it's a perfect match, really," Doll Ashley Roberts said. "Britney Spears is truly a Pussycat Doll, and she's an icon and she's someone I have watched and always looked up to, as a triple-threat entertainer. So it's a perfect match — PCD and Britney Spears, in the circus."

The only reservations the group had about doing the tour was having to perform in the round. "You always wanna stay connected to the audience ... so it's hard, because when you're on one side, your butt cheeks are facing everyone else. And when you go to another part of the circle, then your back is against someone else," Scherzinger laughed. "So you constantly wanna keep it moving and be able to spread the love everywhere, even though your backside is to some of the people."

• Pussycat Dolls
• Britney Spears

Britney Spears' Circus Tour Kicks Off In New Orleans

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Pussycat Dolls Purrrform In London

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

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The Pussycat Dolls Perform At Hollywood & Highland

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VMA 2008: Winners

• Britney Spears
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2008 MTV Movie Awards Performers & Presenters: Tom Cruise, Lindsay Lohan And More!

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The Pussycat Dolls Rock Fashion Week

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Grammy Parties: Scarlett, Christina, Justin, Katharine And More

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Red Carpet Spectacular: Photos From The 2007 Grammy Awards

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Mike Shinoda, Pussycat Dolls, Roots, More At Grammy Style Studio

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