Grand jury to hear drunken driving charge

Nashville, Tenn. – Mindy McCready’s drunken driving charge will be heard by a grand jury.

The country singer appeared Tuesday for a hearing, where attorneys tried to get the case thrown out by discrediting the field sobriety test she was given.

If the grand jury returns an indictment and McCready is found guilty, she could spend a minimum of 48 hours in jail, as well as serve 11 months and 29 days probation.

McCready, 28, had a No. 1 hit in 1996 with “Guys Do It All the Time,” but has suffered a series of legal and personal problems in the past year, including two suicide attempts.

Her boyfriend, William McKnight, was charged with attempted murder in May after he allegedly broke into her home and assaulted her.

McCready said last week that she still loves McKnight and has been with him since the attack. She said she became pregnant by McKnight unintentionally in July and is carrying his baby.

Last year, McCready was convicted of fraudulently obtaining prescription painkillers.

Hilton subpoenaed as witness in criminal case

Los Angeles – Paris Hilton has been subpoenaed as a witness in a criminal case.

“She’s not charged with anything,” district attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison said Tuesday. “She just happens to be a witness.”

The case involves burglary, robbery, kidnapping and carjacking charges against Darnell Riley, 28, who was arrested Jan. 22, 2004, for allegedly breaking into the home of “Girls Gone Wild” creator Joe Francis and trying to kidnap him, Robison said.

Riley pleaded not guilty, said his attorney, Ronald Richards. However, one of Riley’s associates, allegedly told Hilton of Riley’s alleged involvement.

“That was the basis for the probable cause to locate my client’s photo, which coincidentally Joe Francis identified,” Richards said.

The subpoena was served at the hotel heiress’ Hollywood Hills home last week. Her spokesman, Elliot Mintz, said she will “comply with the law” but “I don’t see what contribution, if any, she’s going to be able to make in that case.”

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21. It was not known whether Hilton will be called to testify.

Jackson likely won’t return to live in United States

New York – Michael Jackson will come back to the United States, but it’s unlikely the King of Pop would ever make it his home again, says his father.

“He’ll come back to visit, but not to stay, not to live,” Joseph Jackson told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Jackson said his son, who was acquitted in June of child molestation, has received lots of threats in the United States. The superstar now lives in Bahrain and his attorneys have said that he no longer considers his Neverland Ranch in California as his home.

“They didn’t treat him right here. I know if I was him, I wouldn’t come back,” his father said.

However, the elder Jackson said he expects Michael to return to his music career – and hopes it would include a reunion with his brothers.

“I’m trying to motivate them to go ahead and do this record,” he said of his other sons. “They want to do it, but they’re too slow. They’d rather do it with Michael.”

Michael Jackson is working on a charity single for hurricane relief with stars such as R. Kelly and Snoop Dogg.

Osbourne to miss Spike TV’s Video Game Awards

Los Angeles – Ozzy Osbourne will skip a scheduled appearance at Spike TV’s Video Game Awards to make time for Queen Elizabeth II.

“The Prince of Darkness” was invited to perform at the annual Royal Variety Performance in Cardiff, Wales, on Nov. 21, Osbourne’s spokesman, Lathum Nelson, said Tuesday.

Osbourne, 56, will join an international slate of entertainers that includes Andrea Bocelli and the Blue Man Group. His wife, Sharon, will also participate.

This is the second time Osbourne has been invited to take part in the Royal Variety Performance. A scheduling conflict prevented him from attending in 2004, he said in a statement.

“I cannot turn down this incredible honor twice,” Osbourne said.

Osbourne, whose latest album, “Under Cover,” was released Nov. 1, had been scheduled to appear at the Video Game Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 18. The show will air Dec. 10.

McMillan confronts gay ex-husband on TV

New York – Stella isn’t happy about losing her groove.

Terry McMillan appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” Wednesday to confront her gay ex-husband, Jonathan Plummer, who inspired McMillan’s 1996 novel “How Stella Got her Groove Back.” The book, later adapted into a movie, chronicled the adventures of a 40-something woman who falls for a guy half her age.

McMillan filed for divorce in January after 6 1/2 years of marriage when she learned Plummer was gay.

“I always thought Jonathan was not the most masculine man that I had been with,” the 54-year-old author told Winfrey. But she says she never suspected anything because “all men aren’t masculine. He wasn’t effeminate.”

When Plummer joined McMillan on stage, she told him, “You didn’t say anything about being gay. You said everything but that.”

“I did expect her to be upset,” Plummer said. He said he only realized he was gay in the final two years of the marriage.

The divorce was an ugly one with each having restraining orders filed on the other and Plummer suing for spousal support. The fallout led McMillan and others to conclude Plummer married only to get his U.S. citizenship – he’s a native of Jamaica, where they met.

As to why he sued, Plummer refused to comment, saying he didn’t want to “restir things right now.”

But while the two argued during much of the show, questioning each other’s account, they said they are now approaching reconcilement.

“I regret hurting her,” said Plummer. “There are better ways to be doing this.”

McMillan acknowledged, “I think that Jonathan did love me, because you can’t fake this stuff.”