NEW YORK (AP) – It’s synch or swim for Ashlee Simpson on her second go-round on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

The vocally disparaged singer will perform this weekend, almost a year after the “SNL” audience heard her voice – singing the wrong song – while she held a microphone at her waist.

Even though lip-synching has been around for years, the incident resulted in Simpson being lampooned as an example of today’s style-over-substance culture.

Simpson’s manager-father, Joe Simpson, has said she used “extra help” because acid reflux disease had made her voice hoarse.

The 21-year-old singer will perform songs from her upcoming album, “I Am Me,” according to Simpson’s Web site.

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On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday-Night-Live/

http://www.ashleesimpsonmusic.com/

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NEW YORK (AP) – Here’s something you don’t hear every day: Regis Philbin and Donald Trump singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

The duet by the daytime talk-show host and the real estate mogul-TV reality star is featured on “The Regis Philbin Christmas Album,” Hollywood Records announced Tuesday.

Philbin, co-host of “Live With Regis and Kelly,” made his Hollywood Records recording debut last year with “When You’re Smiling,” a collection of American pop standards – and his first new recording in 36 years.

Among other holiday favorites on the new album: “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” sung by Philbin and his wife, Joy; “Marshmallow World,” sung with Steve Tyrell; “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”

Trump’s NBC reality show, “The Apprentice,” is now in its fourth season.

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On the Net:

http://hollywoodrecords.go.com/

http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/regisandkelly/

http://www.nbc.com/The-Apprentice-4/

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ASBURY PARK, N.J. (AP) – Bruce Springsteen chipped in for hurricane relief efforts, playing a benefit concert in the Jersey shore city famously associated with him.

Proceeds from the Tuesday night show at the Paramount Theatre, a boardwalk fixture, went to the Jersey Coast chapter of the American Red Cross.

Springsteen regaled concertgoers with samplings from his decades-long career, including selections from his latest album, “Devils & Dust.”

Between songs, the Boss urged members of the audience to make additional donations to the Red Cross through its Web site.

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On the Net:

http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/