Posted by Adam

Wednesday January 19, 2011

MELISSA Etheridge is going punk.

The Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer has agreed to step in for Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong while he takes a break from performing in his Broadway musical, American Idiot.

Etheridge will play drug dealer “St. Jimmy” from Feb. 1 to Feb. 6. Armstrong, the composer and co-author of the musical, returns Feb. 10.

American Idiot follows three working-class characters as they wrestle with modern life. One joins the Army, one becomes a father and one descends into a drug-fueled life — thanks to St. Jimmy.

“This character is seductive, thrilling and dangerous. Melissa Etheridge is all that and so much more,” said director Michael Mayer.

Meanwhile, Etheridge — who recently had a bitter breakup from her longtime partner Tammy Lynn Michaels — is said to be getting”hot and heavy” with Hollywood producer/writer Linda Wallem, the creative force behind the hit cable TV series Nurse Jackie.

“Linda has been talking constantly on the set about how she and Melissa are in love and how they’re in a committed relationship,” a source told American tabloid the National Enquirer.

Melissa and Linda have known each other for years. Linda was the best friend of Tammys.

When Tammy and Melissa exchanged wedding vows in 2003 in a lavish ceremony at Dick Clark’s Malibu estate, Linda was in the wedding party.

“In lesbian terms, Linda was the ‘best lady,’” the source said.

“Now she’s taken Tammy’s place.”

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