People

MARIAH CAREY'S MAY OPT FOR OWN LABEL

Troubled Mariah Carey, still trying to get her record and acting careers back on track after her "Glitter" project self-destructed, may be about to start her own record label. Insiders tell MSNBC that after Carey got out from under her deal with EMI -- being paid $28 million to quietly go away -- she says her next album may be self-published. She's quoted as saying that some of the problems she had at EMI stemmed from the fact that she did not have enough "autonomy" in dealing with content and concepts. Carey also apparently thinks it would be fun to record others and is rumored to be toying with the idea of taking others into any new label. Meanwhile, she is reportedly talking with other major labels in case she abandons the "go it alone" route. The last thing she needs is to have another project end in disaster.

HOME DIVA STEWART HEADED FOR HOME DEPOT?

Now that one of Martha Stewart's favorite venues for merchandising, K-Mart, is undergoing reorganization and drastic downsizing, is she thinking of taking her linens on the lam? Well, according to published reports, Stewart's negotiations with Home Depot for the placement of a "line of something" there do not mean that she's going to take her yard goods and bolt. Apparently the "home items queen" may simply expand her stable of products, using Home Depot as a second outlet for her growing line of wares. Over the years, Stewart has been franchising more and more home-related products, some -- including paint and lawn furniture -- having nothing to do with bath, bedroom or kitchen.

LIZA LOOKING BETTER

When New York gossip columnist Liz Smith took "love birds" Liza Minnelli and fiancée David Gest to a show recently, Smith noticed that the singer has continued to slim down and looks better than ever. Smith says the trio attended a performance of venerable Elaine Stritch's one-woman show -- "Elaine Stritch at Liberty" -- and the paparazzi swarmed around the soon-to-be-married couple. Minnelli and Gest reportedly acted like teenage lovebirds, holding hands and even "smooching" for the cameras. But the amazing thing might be the fact that Liza has continued to get back into shape and, at the same time, satisfy her appetite for food. After the show she and her beau feasted on "a big lobster-shrimp-seafood platter at Sardi's." If it's any consolation, it was Diet Coke that flowed like wine during the feast.

GRAHAM APOLOGIZES FOR 30-YEAR-OLD REMARK

It was not just former President Richard Nixon whose personal remarks were captured on tape by the White House recording system. Hundreds of others were recorded during what they thought were secret conversations with the controversial chief executive. Among them, the Rev. Billy Graham. Something he said in a meeting with Nixon was a source of great embarrassment for the cleric when one conversation was made public. In it, Graham told Nixon that Jews had a "stranglehold on the media." He said that the nation was being ruined by Jewish influence in the press and that the situation was untenable. The remarks were made in the summer of 1972. Now, some three decades later, Graham has issued a public and formal apology for his statements. He noted that although he has no memory of the conversation, he disavows his comments and says he will continue to work for better relations between Christians and Jews.

COLLINS GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE

It wasn't too many hours after colorful, outspoken 68-year-old actress-author Joan Collins tied the knot with her "boy toy" husband Percy Gibson that Collins came out swinging against world media. The London Guardian newspaper says that Collins thinks that many in the press poked too much fun at her and her now husband before their marriage, particularly about the difference in their ages. She is quoted as saying that: "The truth seems not to enter into (the reporters') concoctions." She accused one London journalist of writing "two pages of tripe" about what a mistake marrying the 31-year-old Gibson was. Collins suggests that the reporter "get a life."

MR. BROOKS GOES TO WASHINGTON

ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, say it's going to present Garth Brooks with its prestigious Golden Note Award next week. (As if Brooks needs another plaque.) The event will be held in the Russell Senate Office building on the north side of Capitol Hill. Many members of Congress have been invited, along with songsters Pat Alger, Alan Bergman, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Hal David, David Gates and Jimmy Webb. A "surprise" guest has been tapped to do a special tribute to Brooks. Some past winners of the award include Sir Elton John, Tom Petty and Andre Previn. By the way, ASCAP had hoped to present Brooks with the award last fall, but it picked the wrong date to stage the event ... 9/11.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 281

Since good weather IS approaching in some areas and the attention of many is turning toward baseball, here's a question related to that game. Recently a magazine published by Costco contained a comment that it was about time that baseball is downsized. The proof that the national sport has become diluted is that too many home runs are being hit, hence there aren't enough good pitchers. So, today's question: "What is your feeling about the current status of baseball?" Put BASEBALL in the subject line and send to [email protected] via the Internet.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to a reprogramming of computers, the RESULTS of previous surveys will not be available for a short time. When I can access them again, I promise to catch up. Meanwhile, keep the cards and letters coming. GBA.