NAMES & FACES

An Inspirational Moment

While the Grammy Awards are bearing down on us, the Doves -- the Grammys of gospel -- are bubbling up. Nominations came out yesterday for the April 13 awards: Eternal favorite Michael W. Smith led with eight nominations, including artist and song of the year for "Healing Rain." His rivals for top artist are Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Selah and Switchfoot.

The Casting Crowns collected the second highest number of noms -- a mighty seven -- while lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall got six. The Crabb Family raked in six, and the group's patriarch, Gerald Crabb, got six more.

Up for male vocalist are Israel Houghton, Jeremy Camp, Jackson Crabb, Mark Hall and Fernando Ortega. Their feminine counterparts: Bethany Dillon, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, Christy Nockels and Joy Williams.

"I think it all boils down to a song," the happy Smith said. "I knew when I wrote it, it was something special."

Acts Before Congress

Tomorrow night marks the Washington Press Club Foundation's Congressional Correspondents Dinner. (Yes, this season's dinner circuit has begun.) And the Creative Coalition -- that nonpartisan, nonprofit public advocacy arm of the entertainment industry -- has talked Ron Silver, Alfre Woodard, Fran Drescher, Tim Blake Nelson, Daphne Zuniga and Cady Huffman into attending, with emphasis on its after-party co-hosted by Congressional Quarterly. "All signed, sealed, delivered, no deposit, no return," Creative Coalition Executive Director Robin Bronk joked with us yesterday about the big-namers. At this point all we can say is: Party on!

Noted . . .

Dennis Rodman is the latest celeb to jump in bed with PETA and its "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign. The heavily tattooed former basketball pro bares it all -- obviously -- in an ad that reads: "Think Ink, Not Mink: Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin and Let Animals Keep Theirs." And, on the off chance that you're still wondering about Rodman's point of view, he divulged to the Associated Press yesterday: "I'm very against people mistreating animals in any fashion" . . . It seems Jenna Bush and six of her gal pals hung out at the waterfront restaurant Bangkok Joe's Dumpling Bar and Cafe for a few hours Friday night. We hear the presidential daughter was very gracious when people approached her, even signing an autograph for chef/owner Aulie Bunyarataphan. "She was very pretty and lovely," Bunyarataphan told us. "She's just nice" . . . And The Donald wants you! Oh, Martha too! You only have a few days to prep for the open casting calls for next season's "The Apprentice" and "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," taking place Friday at Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria. For more info, check out www.nbc4.com.

. . . and Quoted

"Being rich and famous is my biggest problem."

-- Kelly Osbourne, 20-year-old daughter of rocker Ozzy and wife Sharon, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

Correction

A Feb. 5 Names & Faces item on an Evite to Michael Saylor's birthday party was based on a copy of the invitation that had been partially forged before it was sent to The Post. The original Evite from MicroStrategy's CEO said the party will be "exotic, mysterious and ebullient," but it did not say "erotic." It said "Think 'Alias' (the TV show), but sexier," but did not include "much sexier," as was reported. The original also specified "cocktail dresses," but did not say "the shorter the better." And, the original did not end with -- or even contain -- the words "no one leaves alone." Nor was there anything in the original invitation unfit for a family newspaper. The birthday celebration involved dinner and dancing at the Ortanique restaurant for about 200 guests.

-- Compiled by Anne Schroeder

from staff and wire reports

The Reliable Source will return tomorrow.