diff --git a/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py b/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py
index 4930a3063b3b..deee43fc4116 100644
--- a/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py
+++ b/superset/connectors/sqla/models.py
@@ -530,11 +530,7 @@ def select_star(self) -> str:
         # show_cols and latest_partition set to false to avoid
         # the expensive cost of inspecting the DB
         return self.database.select_star(
-            self.table_name,
-            sql=self.sql,
-            schema=self.schema,
-            show_cols=False,
-            latest_partition=False,
+            self.table_name, schema=self.schema, show_cols=False, latest_partition=False
         )
 
     @property
diff --git a/superset/db_engine_specs/base.py b/superset/db_engine_specs/base.py
index 77d5aae1aed5..a1b31e597ceb 100644
--- a/superset/db_engine_specs/base.py
+++ b/superset/db_engine_specs/base.py
@@ -611,7 +611,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-locals
         database,
         table_name: str,
         engine: Engine,
-        sql: Optional[str] = None,
         schema: Optional[str] = None,
         limit: int = 100,
         show_cols: bool = False,
@@ -624,7 +623,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-locals
 
         :param database: Database instance
         :param table_name: Table name
-        :param sql: SQL defining a subselect
         :param engine: SqlALchemy Engine instance
         :param schema: Schema
         :param limit: limit to impose on query
@@ -634,23 +632,20 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-locals
         :param cols: Columns to include in query
         :return: SQL query
         """
+        fields = "*"
+        cols = cols or []
+        if (show_cols or latest_partition) and not cols:
+            cols = database.get_columns(table_name, schema)
+
+        if show_cols:
+            fields = cls._get_fields(cols)
         quote = engine.dialect.identifier_preparer.quote
         if schema:
             full_table_name = quote(schema) + "." + quote(table_name)
         else:
             full_table_name = quote(table_name)
 
-        if sql is not None:
-            subselect = f"(\n{sql}\n) AS {quote(table_name)}"
-            qry = select("*").select_from(text(subselect))
-        else:
-            fields = "*"
-            cols = cols or []
-            if (show_cols or latest_partition) and not cols:
-                cols = database.get_columns(table_name, schema)
-            if show_cols:
-                fields = cls._get_fields(cols)
-            qry = select(fields).select_from(text(full_table_name))
+        qry = select(fields).select_from(text(full_table_name))
 
         if limit:
             qry = qry.limit(limit)
@@ -660,10 +655,10 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments,too-many-locals
             )
             if partition_query is not None:
                 qry = partition_query
-        select_star_query = database.compile_sqla_query(qry)
+        sql = database.compile_sqla_query(qry)
         if indent:
-            select_star_query = sqlparse.format(select_star_query, reindent=True)
-        return select_star_query
+            sql = sqlparse.format(sql, reindent=True)
+        return sql
 
     @classmethod
     def estimate_statement_cost(
diff --git a/superset/db_engine_specs/hive.py b/superset/db_engine_specs/hive.py
index fd2c85dbde55..7c680cb00c4c 100644
--- a/superset/db_engine_specs/hive.py
+++ b/superset/db_engine_specs/hive.py
@@ -354,7 +354,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         database,
         table_name: str,
         engine: Engine,
-        sql: Optional[str] = None,
         schema: str = None,
         limit: int = 100,
         show_cols: bool = False,
@@ -368,7 +367,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
             database,
             table_name,
             engine,
-            sql,
             schema,
             limit,
             show_cols,
diff --git a/superset/db_engine_specs/presto.py b/superset/db_engine_specs/presto.py
index 0cf48a3c23c8..2bfe255457f7 100644
--- a/superset/db_engine_specs/presto.py
+++ b/superset/db_engine_specs/presto.py
@@ -394,7 +394,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         database,
         table_name: str,
         engine: Engine,
-        sql: Optional[str] = None,
         schema: str = None,
         limit: int = 100,
         show_cols: bool = False,
@@ -418,7 +417,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
             database,
             table_name,
             engine,
-            sql,
             schema,
             limit,
             show_cols,
diff --git a/superset/models/core.py b/superset/models/core.py
index 5730add209c5..d489e0169877 100755
--- a/superset/models/core.py
+++ b/superset/models/core.py
@@ -383,7 +383,6 @@ def compile_sqla_query(self, qry: Select, schema: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
     def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         self,
         table_name: str,
-        sql: Optional[str] = None,
         schema: Optional[str] = None,
         limit: int = 100,
         show_cols: bool = False,
@@ -398,7 +397,6 @@ def select_star(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         return self.db_engine_spec.select_star(
             self,
             table_name,
-            sql=sql,
             schema=schema,
             engine=eng,
             limit=limit,