Nicole Scherzinger stuns fans with Britney-inspired 'Buttons' confession

Nicole Scherzinger has spilled the secret behind one of The Pussycat Dolls’ most iconic hits, and it all traces back to Britney Spears.

The 47-year-old singer revealed that her vocals on Buttons were directly inspired by Britney’s early 2000s smash I'm a Slave 4 U.

Speaking to Billboard, Nicole admitted she deliberately channelled that same airy tone while crafting the now instantly recognisable hook.

While recalling the moment, she said she had Toxic hitmaker's vocals in mind, even mimicking the whispery delivery that made Slave 4 U unforgettable.

But that’s not the only blast from the past the Dolls are reliving.

Nicole, alongside bandmates Kimberly Wyatt and Ashley Roberts, also looked back at the whirlwind success of their breakout hit Don’t Cha. 

The trio laughed about the moment they found out Busta Rhymes would feature on the track, with Ashley admitting she immediately rang her mum in disbelief.

“It felt insane,” Kimberly confessed.

Nicole also paid tribute to CeeLo Green, who penned Don’t Cha, revealing he played her a song called Crazy before it became a global sensation with Gnarls Barkley.

“I told him, ‘That’s your song. Nobody can touch that,’” she said.

Now, the Dolls are gearing up for a major comeback. 

Reuniting as a trio, they’ve announced their PCD FOREVER world tour kicking off in the US this June before heading to the UK later this year, including a Birmingham date on September 29.

They’ve also dropped a brand new single, Club Song, marking their first release since 2019’s React.

However, fans will notice some familiar faces missing, with Jessica Sutta, Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton sitting out this new era.

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