Elton John

Some of music`s hippest artists are lining up to record an album celebrating the 80th birthday of one of entertainment`s original hipsters, Tony Bennett.

Bono, Sting, Michael Buble, the Dixie Chicks, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang and Diana Krall are set to record duets with Bennett, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

In addition, Clint Eastwood is producing a documentary about the crooner, the Smithsonian American Art Museum has put his painting of Central Park into its permanent collection and the National Endowment for the Arts named Bennett a Jazz Master.

Bennett, who turns 80 on Aug. 3, was honored last month at Washington`s Kennedy Center as well.

Scissor Sisters are busy at work on the follow-up to their 2004 self-titled debut album, which they hope to have finished in time for a late spring release, and the newly married Elton John has been helping them.

The group are producing the record in their own New York City studio, and John has dropped in to contribute. A number of other guests have also been recruited to take part. A source close to the band (we're betting it's their damn publicist) told NME.com that making the album has involved:

"Jamming in a Central American jungle with people who have spent time in a studio with Def Leppard, Elton [John] coming by to make tea and lay down some mean Bo Diddley grooves, picking banjos above a hair extension parlor, employing a 25-piece choir comprised solely of unemployed Brooklyn haircutters, a famous glam rock figure [or two] wondering just what they can buy at the Jamaican grocery downstairs and plenty of swimming with and jumping sharks."

"The songs still sound like old friends," the insider added, "but perhaps a slightly different set of friends than you had round the last time."

Among the songs in the running to make the album are "Can't Decide," "Hybrid," "Other Side," "Cher Baby," "Paul McCartney" and "Everybody Wants," which the band debuted onstage at Live 8 last summer.