Star sightings: Christina Aguilera, Rachelle Lefevre, Amber Valletta

With award season heating up by the day, stars are finally emerging from their early-January slumber. The Ministry has tabs on who, what, where and what they're wearing.

We've got sightings of "Twilight" star Rachelle Lefevre, model and mom Amber Valletta, movie-making vamp Christina Aguilera, crooner Usher and more.

Soul singer Aguilera, who's getting her first at-bat in a feature film, was spotted on L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard today filming "Burlesque." The slender songstress stars alongside Cher and Kristen Bell as a small-town girl who pursues her musical dreams in Hollywood.

Former "Twilight' vamp Lefevre is helping make dreams come true as well, for the furry set ...

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart say yes to cheap dates, no to the People's Choice Awards

Who knew! After all this time, it looks like Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are just a couple of low-key kids who really don't like attention that much.

HollywoodLife is reporting that the two not only kept it low-key for their New Year's Eve on the Isle of Wight, but they did it on the cheap.

The maybe-couple showed up at a "dive bar" called Winter Gardens, HL says, where the cover charge was only around $5 per head, with $1.50 shot specials.

“Rob and Kristen were totally normal,” a source said, “they acted like regular people and blended in with the regulars.”

Well, we know millions of regular people who won't get to see these two tonight ...

'Twilight's' Jackson Rathbone turns 25 in Las Vegas

 

Sin City is the perfect spot for any vampire to celebrate his birthday -- or unbirthday, as it were.

Jackson Rathbone, who plays Jasper Hale in "The Twilight Saga" franchise, celebrated his 25th in Las Vegas over the weekend, hosting a blowout bash at the Bank nightclub inside the swanky Bellagio. 

Rather than taking in one of Vegas' mainstay acts or popping bottles in one of the city's other countless dance venues, Rathbone trotted out his band 100 Monkeys on Friday night. Party-goers tell us that Rathbone, clad in an oversized black hat, beige henley and red bandanna, rocked the crowd but then took time to greet fans, sign autographs and pose for photos (as seen above).

On Saturday, Rathbone kept the party going (his actual b-day was Monday) with a steak dinner with pals at Bellagio's Fix steakhouse, then decamped to R&B crooner Ray J's hosted bash at the Mirage's Jet nightclub.

-- Matt Donnelly

[For the record, 4:56 p.m., Dec. 22, 2009: An earlier version of this post said Jackson's actual birthday was Sunday. He was born on Dec. 21, 1984, and the 21st this year fell on Monday. Thanks to commenter tierneyoraclair for making sure we get it right. And yes, for a few seconds, this correction said Jason instead of Jackson, but hey, you didn't see that, did you?]

Photo: Jackson Rathbone poses with female fans at the Bank at the Bellagio. Credit: Shadow

Related posts on the the delicious cast of 'The Twilight Saga':

'The Runaways' trailer: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning rock it like Joan Jett, fangs-free

'New Moon' nearly blindsided -- should Robert Pattinson zip it about abstinence?

'Twilight: New Moon' rises in L.A.: red carpet in Westwood

Photos: Taylor Lautner is buff and brooding for Rolling Stone

Shocking shock! 'New Moon' is mightier than 'Dark Knight'!

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is only six months away. Keep checking back with the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter and Facebook for the latest headlines.

'The Runaways' trailer: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning rock it like Joan Jett, fangs-free

Alas, Kristen Stewart emerges from her ongoing lunar cycles to try her hand at a role that's not Bella Swan.

The trailer for "The Runaways," Cherie Currie's story of Joan Jett and the Runaways that had Stewart shaggy-haired for months, has finally hit the Internet.

In the clip, she and fellow "Twilight Saga" star Dakota Fanning (who costars as the Runaways' Currie) chronicle the rise of Jett and the band to rock stardom in the '70s. The clip sees sweat drenching, guitars strumming, cars peeling out of strip mall parking lots rebelliously — and that hair just keeps happening. 

— Matt Donnelly

[For the record, 6:01 p.m., Dec. 17, 2009: An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to "The Runaways" a Joan Jett biopic; it is a history of the band the Runaways, which included Jett, based on the book "Neon Angel" by fellow band member Currie. It incorrectly placed the movie in the '80s; it chronicles the Runaways in the late '70s. Thanks to commenter "me" for making sure we get it right.]

Related Kristen Stewart and 'Twilight' dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

PREACH IT! Enjoy the 'Twilight' while it lasts, Edward Cullen -- the witches are coming for you!

'New Moon' nearly blindsided -- should Robert Pattinson zip it about abstinence?

Ministry of Gossip Q&A: Harry Potter's Tom Felton

With this week's DVD release of "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," we move another step closer to the final curtain falling on the boy wizard phenomenon.

With the recent distraction of Robert Pattinson and his dreamy, fang-laden "Twilight" gang, let me remind you that the "Potter" franchise now spans 12 years, millions and millions of dollars, and the triumphant literary and cultural ascent of J.K. Rowling, and has made stars out of several charming young adults (including Mr. Pattinson, who played Cedric Diggory in "The Goblet of Fire").  

One such star is Tom Felton, a major antagonist and archenemy of Daniel Radcliffe's Harry. Felton, 22, spoke with me about his role as an increasingly vicious and vacant Draco Malfoy, the final two films currently in production, his admiration of tatted-up Megan Fox and more.

Read on for the full Q&A.

Star sightings: Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, Josh Brolin, Selena Gomez, Camp Freddy

The weekend delivered another sweet meet-up for Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner in Los Angeles, some Russian delights for a "Dancing With the Stars" diva, luxe facials for awards-season contenders and more!

Click onward for the Ministry's roundup of stars playing, partying and even grooming. 

PREACH IT! Enjoy the 'Twilight' while it lasts, Edward Cullen -- the witches are coming for you!

Not that I’m completely trying to make the whole "Twilight" phenomenon go away, but there’s a new Hollywood franchise rising that just might help make the whole "Twilight" phenomenon go away.

I’m totally not gleeful. At all. That the next major teen obsession may actually have a pulse. And a leading lady that is not a doormat. And a universe in which sparkling in the sun is not considered to be a major tragedy.

Here’s what we know: Hollywood works fast. Warner Bros. has snatched up the movie rights to a new novel series called "Beautiful Creatures" (not to be mistaken for the boyfriend murder picture co-starring Rachel Weisz and Susan Lynch) and the first book installment was released right about yesterday.

It stars a human teenage boy named Ethan Wate. He meets a girl, Lena Duchannes, who is new to his southern town. She is 16 and suffering from a terrible curse, presumably something bigger than an addiction to "Gossip Girl"...

'New Moon' nearly blindsided -- should Robert Pattinson zip it about abstinence?

The box-office crown held by Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "New Moon" appears to be safe for another weekend. But just barely.

Company Town has an early look at the box office, plus theories about why the second "Twilight Saga" installment dropped off 70% in sales from last weekend, while "The Blind Side" ticket sales jumped 18% on great word-of-mouth.

One theory that makes sense to the Ministry: Ticket sales dropped off after boffo initial box office because the rabid fan base just had to see the vampire flick ASAP -- but also just had to spend Thanksgiving weekend with the family, who preferred to see Sandra Bullock in the football-themed "The Blind Side."

And, you know, maybe Mom and Dad had the car keys.

Another possibility?

Leaked 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' footage? It's the glitter versus the litter!

Video Game - E3 2010 - Comedy

The twisted minds over at "Attack of the Show" are working the "Twilight Saga" wave, skipping "Eclipse" and driving straight toward the still-hypothetical  "Breaking Dawn."

(Apparently getting some inspiration from an errant Australian gossip mag along the way.)

The Ministry wants to know: Is that what age is going to do to Taylor Lautner?

Say it isn't so! But wait, there's more at G4tv.com from Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

P.S. Hat tip to In-House Consultant Jevon Phillips. 

Photo: Kellan Lutz, who's in "The Twilight Saga" but not in this video, leaves an after party for the "New Moon" screening Nov. 19, 2009, in New York. Credit: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images for D&G.,

Click on for related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip's temporary Office of Never-ending Twilight: 

Rachelle Lefevre ribs 'The Twilight Saga' once again

While we at the Ministry support Rachelle Lefevre's moving on after her "Twilight Saga" firing as evil vampire Victoria, we detect a note of sour grapes today on her official Twitter.

On location in Puerto Rico, the fiery redhead updated fans from the set of her new flick, "The Caller," with a tiny jab to her former undead brethren. 

"Filming thriller 'The Caller' in Puerto Rico [with] Stephen Moyer from 'True Blood' but it's weird -- not a single vampire in the whole movie," she tweeted, topping it off with a smiling, winking emoticon.

Wink indeed, Rachelle. Could our ginger friend be stirring the pot because "New Moon" (which includes her last appearance as Victoria before Bryce Dallas Howard takes the reins for "Eclipse") just made box office history?

Tell us in comments: Is Rachelle bitter, brazen or just poking fun?

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Rachelle Lefevre gives us her best "I don't need you, anyway!" smirk at a November BAFTA tea party in Los Angeles. Credit: Toby Canham / Getty Images

Related Twilight news from the Ministry of Gossip:

Taylor Lautner takes it off for Rolling Stone magazine

"New Moon" makes records at the box office at home and abroad

Red carpet: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart light up L.A.'s "New Moon" premiere

 Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Facebook and Twitter (we're @LATcelebs).