AFTER almost a decade as head of Denise Rich Songs, Jimmy Hester has been let loose. While a rep for the award-winning songwriter declined comment, a pal of Denise said: "Jimmy wasn't doing anything for her. Her songs weren't being sold." A Hester pal countered: "Jimmy was trying to team her up with everybody, but her work is too old-school." Rich told us: "Jimmy and I went in different directions. I wish him well."
Unfortunately for Denise, someone already had written and recorded "Stand by Your Man."
HBO does "Monica in Black and White" March 3. About "the thong thing," as she called it on this program, she says: "I didn't flash my thong as everyone's reported. It was really a very small gesture. There were 20 other people in the room, and nobody else but the president noticed it." She said the flirtation came to realization when she told the president, "I have a crush on you" and he invited her into his office.