IF YOU'RE OLD enough to remember the old "Sonny & Cher Show," you might recall they used to occasionally bring out their cute, little blond moppet of a daughter, Chastity Bono.
Make that Mr. Chastity Bono.
According to TMZ.com, Chastity/ Chaz, best known for her civil-rights advocacy, is in the early stages of changing gender - transitioning from female to male.
She began the process earlier this year, shortly after she turned 40.
(Some women will do anything to avoid menopause.)
"Yes, it's true - Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity," Bono's publicist, Howard Bragman, said.
"He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago.
"We ask that the media respect Chaz's privacy during this long process as he will not be doing any interviews at this time."
Tattle always loves the irony of a publicist asking the media to give a client privacy.
Wedding-bell blues
There's usually an usher at a wedding, but at a divorce?
In Touch reports that Usher and his relatively new bride, Tameka Foster, are calling it quits on their marriage.
"The Grammy winner has been living apart from his wife for nearly a year after almost two years of marriage," an anonymous insider, who oddly referred to Usher as "the Grammy winner" told In Touch. "Usher's primary concern is for his children (Usher Raymond V, 18 months, and Naviyd, 6 months). He is a great father and just wants to do what is right for them."
Divorce papers were allegedly filed in Atlanta yesterday morning.
* Maybe this particular "Wife
Swap" should have lasted a little longer.
Jamie Czerniawski, a New Jersey mother who once was featured on the idiotic ABC reality show in an episode in which she traded places with a mom from Arizona who was a tattooed freak-show performer, has been accused of stabbing her husband, Charles, on Memorial Day.
She told the New York Post it was self-defense. Her husband's lawyer says it wasn't.
Jamie was charged in Monmouth County with aggravated assault and is free on $75,000 bail.
Tattbits
* What's Peter Paul and no Mary?
a) The maker of Almond Joy.
b) Two saints in search of a sinner.
c) What you'll be getting at the Kimmel Center Sunday night - Mary Travers has had to cancel due to a respiratory infection.
