SIMPSON EDITED OUT OF PARTON TRIBUTE

Jessica Simpson has asked producers to pull her portion of a tribute to Dolly Parton at the Kennedy Center Honors out of the upcoming televised show. Simpson drew unwanted attention earlier this month (DEC06) when she flubbed the words to Parton’s song 9 TO 5 during a taping and grew flustered and fled the stage. Producers gave her a second chance to sing the song, but after she saw a tape, she requested that the second attempt be pulled from the show, which airs on 26 December (06) on US network CBS. Simpson’s spokeswoman, CINDI BERGER says, “She really wasn’t happy with her performance and she did want it to be perfect for Dolly, who she idolises.” Besides Parton, the Washington DC tribute honours SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, ZUBIN MEHTA, SMOKEY ROBINSON and STEVEN SPIELBERG. The show’s producer, GEORGE STEVENS JR adds, “We appreciate the time and energy Ms Simpson put into this event and respect the high standards she has for herself and that of the Kennedy Center honors.”