Brushes with the law are turning into a regular thing for the former New Edition lead singer. Brown was charged with drunken driving in April in Atlanta, and was charged last year with assaulting a patron at a Florida nightclub after a dispute over a woman. The assault charges were dropped last month after Brown's accuser agreed to settle a civil suit.
Houston, who's starring in the seasonal feel-good film The Preacher's Wife, has had woes of her own this month. After telling the world she was pregnant, she had a miscarriage. The couple have one daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
STOCKING STUFFERS * Another lump of coal for the single girl: Brad Pitt's flacks have made it official: Mr. Hunky-Hunk is off the market. Pitt became engaged to actress Gwyneth Paltrow over the weekend.
And an even bigger lump for Ethan Hawke: Entertainment Weekly gave the actor's first novel the dubious distinction of capping its worst-books-of-the-year roundup. ``A thin, predictable novel about a young actor named William who falls in love with a young woman named Sarah. Safe to say this coltish effort would never have gotten onto a major publisher's racetrack were it not for Hawke's celebrity,'' sniffed the mag. Another worst contender: Jay Leno's Leading With My Chin (``amiable, toothless pastiche'').
THE WORKING CLASS * Talk about coals to Newcastle: Ivanka Trump, beauteous offspring of The Donald and Ivana Trump, nabbed a spokesperson gig with Sasson Clothes. ``It's, like, out of this world,'' the teen said. Yeah, like, whatever.
Don't hope for much under the Christmas tree, though, if you pal with Sarah Ferguson, the job-seeking Duchess of York. Debt-ridden Fergie's said to be giving chocolates to those on her list. Only the royal daughters will get anything else.
