THE BUZZ.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Streep to play `Queen': Meryl Streep is set to star in ``Daughter of the Queen of Sheba,'' a project based on the acclaimed memoir by Jacki Lyden that portrays the pathos and humor of being raised by a manic-depressive mother. Streep is slated to portray Lyden's flamboyant mom. Lyden's memoir describes a Wisconsin childhood in which her mother could be transformed by psychosis into the Queen of Sheba or Marie Antoinette, and an adulthood that led Lyden to seek her own tumultuous journeys in the Middle East war zones as a National Public Radio correspondent. Although Lyden said her mother - now more stable and in her 60s - was thrilled by the idea that Streep would portray her in the film, she still had concerns. Lyden said, ``She asked, `But do you think she can do the job?' ''

Grant to star, produce: Hugh Grant will next star in ``Mickey Blue-Eyes,'' a romantic comedy to be produced by his and Elizabeth Hurley's Simian Films. The story centers on a Manhattan art dealer whose impending marriage is threatened when his fiancee reveals that her father is a mafioso. Filming starts Jan. 5 in New York.

Fugees' album breaks mark: The Fugees' ``The Score'' sailed past the 6 million mark to become the highest-certified rap album by a group, according to the Recording Industry Association of America's gold and platinum certifications for October. The album also becomes one of the five best-selling rap/hip-hop albums of all time, trailing MC Hammer's ``Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em'' (10 million), 2Pac's double CD ``All Eyez on Me'' and Vanilla Ice's ``To the Extreme'' (7 million each) and tying the Notorious B.I.G.'s double disc ``Life After Death'' (6 million).

Meanwhile, Elton John's Princess Diana tribute single, ``Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight,'' was certified at 11 million, increasing its lead as RIAA's all-time highest-certified single.

MCA re-signs Sublime: Sublime, whose lead singer and main songwriter Brad Nowell died of a heroin overdose in May 1996, has signed a new three-record deal with MCA Records. The three new Sublime releases will be culled from the band's studio archives. The releases are expected to include a live Sublime album, a Nowell acoustic CD and a greatest hits compilation.