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LeAnn Rimes on Rumors: 'I'm Going To Take the High Road'

By Shruti Dhalwala

06/03/2009 at 09:45 PM EDT

"You know what, I’m a classy woman, I’m never ever going to battle anything out in the press," says LeAnn Rimes, following allegations of "stalking" being lodged at her by the wife of her Lifetime movie costar Eddie Cibrian.

The country star tells PEOPLE she's protective of those close to her.

"I have respect for everyone that is involved and everyone's family, including my own," she said at the Dior Beauty Lunch at the Shangri-la Hotel in Santa Monica on Wednesday afternoon.

Continues the singer: "I would never want to hurt my husband or anyone else with more lies dragged out in the press."

Earlier on Wednesday, a rep for Rimes stepped in, calling the "stalking" accusation by Cibrian's wife Brandi Glanville “incredibly defamatory.”

"It is what it is," says Rimes. "I can’t control other people but I can control what I say and what I don’t. I refuse to get down on any one else’s level and I’m going to take the high road on everything."