Tuesday, 29 August 2006

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Jessica Simpson loses her voice

Star cancels shows due to laryngitis

Jessica Simpson's new album, A Public Affair, dropped Tuesday – but her promotional efforts were silenced that same day when she had to cancel a scheduled Today show appearance due to laryngitis.

Today host Matt Lauer announced on the air that Simpson's live concert in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza had been re-scheduled for Friday. However, Simpson is expected to stop by the NBC morning show on Wednesday for a brief appearance, PEOPLE has learned.

Simpson's rep, Rob Shuter, tells PEOPLE that in addition to Tuesday's Today postponement, the singer, 26, had to back out of appearances on MTV's Total Request Live and the Late Show with David Letterman.

Shuter added, "Jessica has lost her voice on the eve of her album release. We hope she can recover. The timing could not have been worse."

A source close to Simpson told PEOPLE that on Monday she visited doctors. "If she does not observe vocal rest, she could lose her voice forever," said the source. "Her party is (Tuesday) night. If she goes to the party, she won't be able to talk."

Simpson's album is her first for Epic Records. She was previously on Columbia Records. This is also her first album since her divorce from Nick Lachey.