Etheridge 'responds to wife's poverty claim'

Melissa Etheridge has dismissed her estranged wife Tammy Lynn Michaels's claim that she cannot afford to feed the pair's 4-year-old twins.

The musician told Us magazine that she supports Michaels's right to publicly express her opinion about the end of their relationship.

"Well, all is fair in love and war," she said. "A woman is always entitled to speak her mind, and that's the way she speaks her mind."

When questioned as to whether her former partner's assertion of living in extreme poverty is true, Etheridge responded by saying: "No, it's not."

She continued: "It's always one person's perspective, and one person's perspective through hurt and fear, and anger. You're going to get a pretty dark picture. We're working things out, how about that?"

The 'Come To My Window' singer also revealed that she has begun dating once again.

"Have I jumped into dating? Suffice it to say, I am a very happy woman. Yes."