Country singer faces trial

Country singer faces trial
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The drunken driving case against country singer John Michael Montgomery is heading to trial, the prosecutor said.
Jack Miller, assistant Fayette County attorney, said he is pushing forward with all the charges -- including carrying two loaded handguns in his vehicle without a permit and carrying prescription drugs in an improper container.
Defense attorneys say Montgomery has a permit for the guns and a prescription for the drugs.
A trial date will be set at another hearing June 12. Montgomery, 40, won't attend that hearing, but he must attend the trial.
Montgomery's attorney, Brent Caldwell, said prosecutors had originally indicated the charges might be dropped. He said the credibility of the arresting officer could be a factor.
Officer Joshua Cromer was forced to apologize for postings on his MySpace.com Web site. The site included comments from other police officers congratulating him on the arrest as well as an altered picture of Montgomery and a fan, with Cromer's head superimposed over the fan's.
In addition, Caldwell says he has witnesses who will testify Cromer was off duty and in the same bar as Montgomery the night of the arrest.
2 awards for Blunt
LONDON -- James Blunt's chart-topping hit "You're Beautiful" won two trophies at Britain's prestigious Ivor Novello songwriting awards.
The song, written by Blunt, Amanda Ghost and Sacha Skarbek, was named international hit of the year and most performed song of the year at the awards handed out Thursday by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
"I should probably be rude about it before anyone else is, so thank you very much for the Most Overplayed Song award," said Blunt, a former army officer who shot to fame with his debut album, "Back to Bedlam."
The award for best song went to "Suddenly I See," the breakthrough hit by Scottish singer-songwriter K.T. Tunstall. "Wires" by London band Athlete was named best contemporary song.
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, the men behind cartoon band Gorillaz, were named songwriters of the year, while Ray Davies, former frontman of The Kinks, received an award for outstanding contribution to British music.
Today's birthdays
Basketball Hall-of-Famer Jerry West is 68. Singer Gladys Knight is 62. Singer Billy Vera is 62. Singer John Fogerty is 61. Actress-director Sondra Locke is 59. Actor Brandon Cruz (TV series "The Courtship of Eddie's Father") is 44. Country singer Phil Vassar is 44. Singer-musician Chris Ballew (Presidents of the USA) is 41. Rapper Chubb Rock is 38. Singer Kylie Minogue is 38. Television personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck ("The View") is 29. Actress Monica Keena is 27.