Tattle | 'Potter' paying off big for Daniel Radcliffe

DETAILS ABOUT

Daniel Rad-

cliffe's birthday celebration yesterday were sparse, but what says "I'm 18" better than $19 million?

That's what People magazine reports the "Harry Potter" star has squirreled away - and now gets control of - since he was cast at age 11 in the blockbuster film series based on the novels of J.K. Rowling.

Brit gossip ragsters say it's more like $35 million - and he reportedly has a $50 million paycheck coming for the final two films in the "Potter"series.

He certainly has worked hard for the money. And his bespectacled moon face may be so tied to the Potter character that his acting career is over. Shouldn't he cash in while he can?

"It's not a big deal today," a woman who answered the phone for Radcliffe's publicist said.

She refused to elaborate, saying the boy wizard's finances - and birthday party - were a personal matter.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," now in theaters, grossed $32.5 million over the weekend.

The final book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," came out Saturday.

Before her moody new album, "My December," came out last month, singer Kelly Clarkson got mighty peevish about artistic freedom vs. corporate pressure from her label, RCA, and head Clive Davis. He was said to be concerned there was no hit among the Clarkson-written songs on the disc.

Well, it's true there's been no huge single, but "December" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has sold a respectable 463,000 copies in the United States so far.

Time to get gracious.

"A lot has been made in the press about my relationship with Clive," Clarkson, 25, writes on her Web site. "Much of this has been blown way out of proportion and taken out of context . . . ."

She goes on to describe Davis as "one of the great record men of all time. He has been a key advisor and has been an important force in my success to date. He has also given me respect by releasing my new album when he was not obligated to do so."

"I really regret how this has turned out and I apologize to those whom I have done disservice," she continues. "I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I love music, and I love the people I am blessed to work with."

Queen Latifah has added her name to the performance lineup for a Sept. 18 fundraiser to help build a memorial to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall.

Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Garth Brooks and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds also are on the bill for the Dream Concert, to be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Tickets, at $250 to $1,000, go on sale Monday through TicketMaster.

Quincy Jones, Russell Simmons and Tommy Hilfiger are organizing the event. About $81 million of the $100 million needed to build and maintain the King Memorial at the D.C. site has been raised.

You get drunk and scratch your momma across the face, then clutch your 15-month-old son to your breast as police drag you off to jail.

Maybe country singer Mindy McCready, 31, was working on some new material when, police say, these events transpired in Fort Myers, Fla., over the weekend. McCready, out on $1,000 bail after being arrested on misdemeanor charges, has denied all and accused the cops of using excessive force.

"They tackled me. They didn't give any directions. They just tackled. There was no reason for it. To take down a woman holding a baby, it's just not right."

McCready, already on probation for a drug offense, had a hit in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time." Yeah, and it often doesn't go well for them, either.

in your pocket or . . . ?

We know a few men who might not mind being mistaken for porn stars. We don't know Manuel Alex Saez, a model and dancer, yes, but not a porn star, he says in a libel suit against New York City's Splash nightclub and HX Magazine. A New York state Supreme Court justice has ruled he can proceed with the suit.

The mag - described on its Web site as "the Totally Biased, Politically Incorrect Party Paper, the hottest guide to gay nightlife and culture in New York City!" - allegedly used a photo of a bare-chested Saez wearing open jeans and described him as "Big City Video Porn Star Alex," based on a press release sent by the club. A correction and retraction were published.

Laila Ali and retired NFL star Curtis Conway were married over the weekend, her manager, Eric Kaufman, said yesterday. They met two years ago, and Conway proposed last Thanksgiving.

No wedding details were released, but People magazine reported on its Web site that guests included Ali's parents, Muhammad Ali and Veronica Porsche Anderson; and Conway's 12-year-old twin sons and 8-year-old daughter.

The 29-year-old quadruple-crown super-middleweight champion and former "Dancing With the Stars" competitor wore a champagne silk- charmeuse, strapless mermaid gown, the magazine reported. *

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Howard Gensler has the day off.