Cher Says Burlesque Solo Nearly Cut After Executive Feared She Would ‘Ruin’ the Film
Cher has never been shy about speaking her mind, and nearly 15 years after the release of Burlesque, the Oscar-winning icon is shedding new light on just how precarious her role in the film once was.
During a recent appearance on Armchair Expert with host Dax Shepard, Cher revealed that one of her major musical moments in the film was almost removed entirely, not for creative reasons, but because a powerful figure behind the scenes allegedly worried that her presence would overshadow the project itself.
“The song that I did in the movie, he said, ‘I’m cutting that song out ’cause I don’t want Cher to ruin my movie,’” Cher recalled during the conversation. She was joined on the episode by her Burlesque co-star Kristen Bell, who appeared genuinely surprised by the revelation, though she agreed that the production itself was far from smooth. “It was a hard shoot,” Bell said, nodding to the tension Cher described.
Cher played Tess, the owner of the struggling Los Angeles burlesque lounge that serves as the emotional and narrative backbone of the film. While she didn’t specify which song was nearly cut, she recorded two tracks for the movie: the brassy, scene-setting “Welcome to Burlesque” and the sweeping power ballad “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me.” Both songs are central to the film’s arc, particularly the latter, which underscores Tess’ determination to save her club amid mounting financial pressure.
Written by Diane Warren, “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” went on to become one of Burlesque’s most celebrated elements, winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2011. The track also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media, notably outperforming Christina Aguilera’s “Bound to You,” despite Aguilera being the film’s lead and musical centerpiece as aspiring performer Ali.
In hindsight, the idea that the song could have been removed seems almost unthinkable, but Cher suggested the behind-the-scenes drama extended far beyond that single dispute. While she declined to name names, she hinted that interpersonal conflicts among individuals in positions of power had a significant impact on the atmosphere on set.
“It could have been a really good, fun movie except for you know who, except for both of them,” Cher said cryptically, clarifying only that she was not referring to any of her fellow cast members.
Shepard offered additional context, noting that when Bell was filming Burlesque, there was a high-level romantic relationship unfolding behind the scenes that frequently spilled onto the set. “That was playing out on set quite frequently and dramatically,” he said. Cher agreed, adding with a laugh, “Well, there was another thing that I cannot mention, but I can’t mention it.”
Despite the turmoil, Burlesque has endured as a cult favorite, in large part because of Cher’s commanding presence and the emotional weight of her performance.
