CELEBRITIES; STREISAND, BROLIN PLAN TO GET AWAY DOWN UNDER.

Byline: MARILYN BECK & STACY JENEL SMITH

Barbara Streisand and Jim Brolin have returned from Las Vegas, and are settling down at their Malibu home.

But not for long. In March, they leave for Australia, where she'll not only give concerts in four cities Down Under, she and Jim will also have an extended holiday. We're told, in fact, that it was their desire to explore Australia that motivated her agreement to perform there.

Vacations are a big thing for the Brolins, and they get away often - most frequently along our country's West Coast. This might be hard to believe about the reclusive star, but her idea of happiness these days is setting off in the car with Jim and stopping whenever and wherever the mood strikes.

Remarkably, they get little notice from strangers. We understand that a few who have noticed them have noted she looks somewhat like Barbara Streisand.

One assumes that Jim wears a cap on their excursions. His gorgeous head of gray hair would be a giveaway anywhere.

SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT

Rob Thomas isn't taking much time to bask in the glory of his Grammy nominations for "Smooth," his monster hit collaboration with Santana. The sexy singer-songwriter's deep into work on his next album with his own band, Matchbox 20.

"It's almost done; by the end of the month, it will be," he tells us.

He also tells us the new disc will be out May 2, and that Matchbox 20 will definitely be taking to the concert tour trail in conjunction with its release.

With Rob will be his bride of three months, Marisol, who is not in the business - but who is a veteran of touring, having shared the road with him before.

Thomas, who co-wrote and sings on "Smooth," which is up for record and song of the year honors, wants to work with the great Carlos Santana again.

He says, "We've talked about my wife and me going by his place near San Francisco, staying for a weekemd and working on stuff, I'd love it, once we have some down time. It's such an honor to be associated with him. When people talk to me about success, I think of him. My whole goal is to do this for a living, so I won't know for the next 25 years whether I've made it or not."

WORTH CELEBRATING

Clint Black and Lisa Hartman, who received a Grammy nomination this week for their hit duet, "When I Said I Do," from his "D'lectrified" CD, are acting more excited about the honor for each other than for themselves.

Clint has received several Grammy nominations in the past, and was among those who walked home with the trophy last year for the collaboration album "Same Old Train."

But no song could be as important to him s "When I Said I Do," written by him about the woman in his life, his beloved wife, Lisa.

Interestingly, she was hesitant about joining him on the recording, but as it's turned out, the song has become his first crossover hit single, and No. 1 on the Billboard country charts twice since its release last September.

A FIRST FOR TNT 

Tom Selleck teams up with Faye Dunaway Tuesday to begin work on "Washington Slept Here," a comedy flick for TNT - but not just any comedy flick for TNT.

This one, we understand, is destined for theatrical release. It's the vehicle with which the company expects to launch its new big-screen arm.

Meanwhile, Tom's just completing overseeing post-production on the TNT small-screen "Crossfire Trail," which he's producing, and in which he stars with Virginia Madsen and Mark Harmon.

THE GRANNY VOTE

"Stark Raving Mad's" Heather Paige Kent wants her grandma to help the series nab a People's Choice Award on Sunday.

"This year, they're doing an Internet vote-in - and I told my grandma to call all of her friends at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, and have them log on to CBS.com and vote for us.

"My grandma's 81 years old, and she's really into the online thing. ...I love that."

Kent says that as Tony Shalhoub's friend Maddie, she enjoys playing "the voice of reason among these slightly crazy people. It's a very unusual role for me. I once played Jason Bateman's lunatic ex-girlfriend on 'Chicago Sons,' played a shoplifter on 'Early Edition,' a very hard, sarcastic waitress on 'Life With Roger,' and on 'Jenny,' I was this wacky girl from a little town in the big city. So, it's kind of fun to play normal."

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) Streisand

(2) Brolin

(3) Selleck

(4) Dunaway