Washington, Feb 23 : Singer Dolly Parton has jumped to the defence of Jessica Simpson, who has been ridiculed by the media for her fuller figure and stage blunders. Simpson, 28, was criticised after she appeared looking curvier than her usual self, and after that for breaking down onstage while supporting Rascal Flatts in Michigan, forgetting her lyrics and eventually walking off in tears.

But Patron, who collaborated with Simpson on her country album Do You Know, is defending her fellow superstar, insisting that she has been victimised by the media.

"I think every entertainer''''s had nights when things go wrong. I mean you can''''t remember everything all the time, and especially if you''''re having hard times personally," Contactmusic quoted her as telling U. S. talk show host Larry King.

"I say people always treat her bad. They always talk bad about her. I just recorded a song with her a few months ago. And I''''ve never had - I''''ve never been around a person any sweeter in my life. And she''''s a great singer.

"And I''''ve been fat and I''''ve been skinny. And I''''m not about to say something about somebody else''''s weight because I know how hard it is when you gain, you know, five or six pounds, and certainly 10 or 12...

"But I know that Jessica is a good girl. She''''s beautiful to me. And I''''m sure that she''''s going to get some weight off just because people won''''t leave her alone," she added. (ANI)