In late 2003 Robin Antin decided to start from scratch and conducted open auditions to create a new troupe of Pussycat Dolls that would ultimately be part of a musical project. Nicole Scherzinger (aka Kea), formerly of the band Eden's Crush, winners of Popstars, an American Idol precursor, became the group's lead vocalist. Music business veteran Jimmy Iovine was brought in as an executive producer alongside Antin and A&M Records president Ron Fair.

In April 2005 the Pussycat Dolls took their next steps forward in the entertainment business. The Pussycat Dolls Lounge at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas was opened as a permanent venue for the Pussycat Dolls stage act. Later in the month the group's first single "Don't Cha" was released to radio and retail. It included a guest performance from rap star Busta Rhymes. In classic Pussycat Dolls style it features the teasing line "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?" The single reached #1 on the pop singles chart in late July.

The Pussycat Dolls proved they were not a one-hit wonder when the single "Stickwitu" became the group's second #1 hit single in the U.K. and made its way to #2 on the U.S. pop singles chart.