People

CAROL BURNETT MOURNS DEATH OF DAUGHTER

Actress-writer Carrie Hamilton has died. She was the daughter of comedienne Carol Burnett. Her father was the late producer Joe Hamilton. Published reports indicate that Carrie Hamilton died of cancer. In her brief life she had appeared in a variety of roles in several hit TV shows, including "Murder, She Wrote," "Fame," Beverly Hills 90210" and "thirtysomething." While barely out of her teens she talked with the media about her addiction to drugs and her fight to go straight. Just this past year she and her mother collaborated on a play based on Burnett's best-selling autobiography "One More Time." Two sisters survive. Carrie Hamilton was only 38.

HARRISON HIT ON THE CHARTS AGAIN

It's been a long time since former Beatle George Harrison rocketed to the top of the international charts with the song "My Sweet Lord." Now, according to the people who track record sales around the world, some 31 years after its original release, the song is again on British pop charts. The reason, of course, is a renewed interest in the singer-songwriter in the wake of his death several months ago. The song, first released in 1971, was re-released recently by Harrison's widow Olivia, through a special arrangement with EMI. When the song was played on radio stations and heard in documentary retrospectives at the time of Harrison's death, the haunting, repetitive creation of the enigmatic Harrison was discovered by a whole new generation of music lovers. One proviso that Olivia Harrison put on the re-release of the record is that profits go to a charity formed by her late husband in 1973, the Material World Charitable Foundation.

WARNER RENEWS 'REBA'

The popular sitcom "Reba," starring country star-turned Broadway star-turned TV star Reba McEntire, has been renewed for a second season. WB's president for entertainment, Jordan Levin, tells country.com that McEntire has proven herself "to be a natural television star with impeccable comic timing." Just recently (Jan. 13) McEntire won a People's Choice Award as favorite female performer in a television series. It was not too many years ago that fans of the country singer thought of her as just that, a country singer -- additionally a songwriter. Now, in the wake of her enormous success on Broadway, playing in the lead of "Annie, Get Your Gun," and her other screen appearances, she is being looked upon as a versatile star who is excelling in a variety of fields. For more, check out rebamcentire.com on the Internet.

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN

Many major stars never see their hometown again, after they leave. Some, though, remain fiercely loyal to their hometown. For example, take the late comedian Red Skelton. Throughout his career Skelton often mentioned that he was from Vincennes, Ind., and often visited there. A major Interstate bridge over the Wabash River at that city was christened the Richard Skelton Bridge. In today's cadre of stars one who loves to go back home is Wynonna Judd. She's back in Ashland, Ky., this week for a concert to mark the re-opening of the newly renovated Paramount Arts Center. According to Cathie Shaffer, writing in the (Ashland) Daily Independent, Judd often reminisces about her early appearances at the Paramount. "I was 8 years old," she tells the reporter. " ... and we were doing the can-can." She remembers that somehow she got out of line and when the curtain fell, she was outside of it. Proceeds from Judd's hometown concert will go to help keep the old Paramount going. By the way, she will also be a part of the pre-game pro-America concert prior to the Feb. 3 Super Bowl. She will join Sir Paul McCartney, Yolanda Adams, James Ingram, Patti LaBelle and Barry Manilow, among others.

BRITNEY AND BEAU TO TIE THE KNOT

It would seem out of character for Britney Spears to get married, but that's the word from People magazine. She will tie the knot with long-time beau Justin Timberlake at a time yet to be announced. Spears made the announcement at an international music and film festival in France to assembled media. Britney is 20-going-on-35. Timberlake is 20. For months each has been adamant about the fact that they were not engaged and had no plans of marrying. Part of the subterfuge might have been an attempt on the part of Spears to be able to retain her sultry, bedroom-eyed, single status. Being single allows her to move in ways that hubby Timberlake might not like ... a kind of modern-day version of husband and wife Jack Benny and Mary Livingston just "being friends" so Jack could flirt on their show, or Roy and Dale -- until late in the run of their series -- living separate on-the-air lives. Spears and Timberlake met on the set of the new "Mickey Mouse Club" show when they were both 11.

DON'T MESS WITH TEXANS ... LITERALLY

For as long as anyone can remember, citizens of the Lone Star State have used the phrase "Don't Mess with Texas!" Now, according to the Houston Chronicle, a new survey shows that Texans are not even messing with themselves ... at least not being as messy as they used to be. The audit of Texas highways reveals that the amount of litter found along roads in that state is down an amazing 52 percent in just the past six years. Still, about 1 billion pieces of trash are found along the roadways each year; the clean-up is a major cost factor in the state's budget. The demographic group most likely to make the mess is the under-24 set. One member of the state highway commission notes that it's young drivers who seem to live in their cars ... and eat there, too. An official "Don't Mess with Texas" anti-littering campaign is set to hit the media soon.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 252

For the rest of the week I've lined up some work-related questions. Last night a long-time friend called to tell me that he has been laid off ... again. He is a computer programmer with the skills to get another job, but he's tired of having dot-com companies fold under him. So, today's question: "What was the best job you ever had that you lost, either through being fired, laid off, company went bust or a personal situation (unrelated to the job) that forced you to move on?" Put FIRED in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

RESULTS OF QUESTION NO. 247 (HOUSE)

Recently we asked the number of houses you can remember you lived in over the years. Here are some of the replies: Janet is among the few who remember only two over the years. She reports she's 52. Pauline has lived in three houses, one in which she grew up (in Detroit) from 1973 to 1984. Fran might seek the record for the number of far-flung domiciles; she reports that she grew up in France and also lived in Ecuador. Karen is one who lived in a house that had been handed down from generation to generation. "I was the seventh generation of our family to live in my parents' house," she reports. "It was so cool that my bedroom was my grandmother's when she was growing up." Today, though, she owns her own house. Well, Karen, start a new tradition. Chris is among those who have lived in trailers, apartments and homes. A few have lived in 20 or 30 homes. But, as far as I can tell from a cursory examination of the mail, Pamela holds the record. "I actually have lived in 52 houses in 46 years ..." she says. "My parents moved a lot." This question evoked a ton of responses. Wish I had had the time to print all the replies. GBA.