A career change

Joaquin Phoenix is quitting movies to focus on music. "He has said that 'Two Lovers' is his last [film]. But this is not strange. Joaquin has been directing music videos and been involved in music for the last number of years," Susan Patricola, Phoenix's publicist, said yesterday. Phoenix first talked about his decision to "Extra" this week while attending a fund-raiser in San Francisco, abruptly ending the interview after the reporter wondered whether he was joking. (AP)

Mackenzie Phillips has pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and will go into drug treatment. The actress entered the plea yesterday in Los Angeles to a felony drug possession count. The district attorney's office says two counts of possessing heroin and a needle were dismissed, and Phillips was ordered to complete an 18-month program. Phillips, 48, was arrested Aug. 27 at Los Angeles International Airport after police found small amounts of narcotics during a security screening. (AP)

Mindy McCready was released from a Franklin, Tenn., jail yesterday after serving about 30 days for violating probation on a 2004 drug charge. The Williamson County Sheriff's Department said that the country singer had to serve about half of her 60-day sentence because of credits she received for good behavior and doing janitorial work in the jail. (AP)

"I can officially announce now that [Oprah and I] are best friends. I don't know who is gonna tell Gayle, but...it's over." Tina Fey, referring to Gayle King, best friend of Winfrey, who recently filmed a cameo on "30 Rock"