‘Her’ party, without the crying

How would you celebrate winning two Grammy awards?

If you’re Kelly Clarkson -- winner for best pop vocal performance and best pop vocal album -- it’s simple. “With a drink in my hand!” the grinning 23-year-old said, holding up a short glass of red liquid. What kind of drink is that? “Vodka and cranberry!” And how late was she gonna go? “Until morning! I won two Grammys!”

Clarkson was the lady of the night at Sony BMG’s post-Grammy bash at the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Tropicana pool bar.

There was no way to push through the crowd to rub elbows with “the Boss” Bruce Springsteen and wife Patty Scialfa, seen chatting with crooner Tony Bennett. Best new artist winner John Legend was surrounded by well-wishers, including ever-ethereal Fiona Apple, after changing from that pristine white suit to more party-practical black.

But Clarkson was hugging everyone who walked by, including Maroon5’s Adam Levine, Nikka Costa, songwriter Diane Warren and her old “American Idol” pal Randy Jackson. She even spent time chatting with Anastacia about a joint music project. “You’re so pretty,” the Texas-born singer gushed as the gals, both wearing black, talked about their respective Lasik eye surgeries and music making.

“She’s adorable and we’re both big fans of each other’s music,” Anastacia said afterward. “We have similar styles so it wouldn’t surprise anyone for us to do something together. And tonight we found out just how much alike we are. We were finishing each other’s sentences!”

Remember that old joke, “What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians? A drummer.” “Or Kevin Federline,” one party-goer suggested when he spotted K-Fed with wife Britney Spears, not quite back to her touring weight, judging by the black floaty cloak layered over her black mini.

“It was a great show,” Clive Davis said, emphasizing performances by Bono, Paul McCartney and Springsteen. “But I’m a little tired tonight,” he admitted, just before midnight. With good reason: His big pre-Grammy blowout party went till 2 a.m. the night before.

Hey, even a legendary music man needs his beauty sleep.

Booth’s still open -- the role, that is

Who will be Booth? That’s the burning question as Walden Media and producer Lawrence Bender search for an actor charismatic enough to play actor-assassin John Wilkes Booth in “Manhunt.”

Whoever is chosen will costar with Harrison Ford, recently a presenter at the Golden Globes and the People’s Choice Awards. Ford has already signed on to play Col. Everton Conger, who led the hunt for President Lincoln’s killer in April 1865.

The period film will be based on Lincoln scholar James Swanson’s just-released book, “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer.”

“I just heard a report that they’ve made an offer to someone but I haven’t heard who it is,” Swanson said from his Washington, D.C., home. “Johnny Depp would be perfect. But Will Kemp, Orlando Bloom or Christian Bale would also be good. So would Matthew McConaughey. He actually looks very much like Booth around the eyes.”

The actor who plays Booth would also have to grow a mustache and then shave it off, which Booth did while hiding in swamps.

“The problem with casting someone to play John Wilkes Booth is that you really need to find another John Wilkes Booth,” Swanson said. “Theatrical, incredibly handsome, seductive, an incorrigible ladies man. When he was captured (in a tobacco barn in Virginia), he was carrying photos of five girlfriends.”

Steven Spielberg’s already planning his own Lincoln movie, “The Uniter” -- based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book “Team of Rivals: The Genius of Abraham Lincoln” -- a film rumored to star Liam Neeson as Lincoln. Last time Spielberg worked with Neeson was in that little Oscar-winning ditty “Schindler’s List.”

What’s it called, the AARPy?

Proving you’re never too old for awards, AARP The Magazine presented its Movies for Grownups awards Tuesday at a gala dinner at L.A.’s Hotel Bel-Air. Although this is the fifth such award (who knew?), it was the first time the mag held an event in L.A. for the annual kudos.

Presenter Shelley Berman (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) admitted to being confused by one category: the intergenerational award. “I don’t know what that means and unless I get a pretty good answer, I’m not going to give it out,” he said.

Reading his scripted remarks, Berman continued: “Hollywood has long made intergenerational films.” Then he ad-libbed, “ ‘Lolita’ comes to mind.” Guests -- including Arianna Huffington, Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams, Rupert Friend, Dana Delaney, Angela Lansbury, Doris Roberts, Jacqueline Bissett, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Peter Coyote and Shirley Jones -- cracked up.

The best intergenerational movie award went to “Dreamer,” which starred Dakota Fanning (the preteen who acts like an adult) and Kurt Russell. Coincidentally, Russell’s longtime love Goldie Hawn (who’s 60 but still acts like a teen) is this month’s AARP magazine cover girl.

Jeff Daniels, who was named best actor 50 and over for his role in “The Squid and the Whale,” also picked up his La Chaise d’Or (the golden sofa?) award, which is given to special guests.

Brian J. White, accepting the best grown-up love story award for “The Family Stone” costars Craig T. Nelson and Diane Keaton, told the audience that Nelson and Keaton would’ve loved to have been there, but “it’s 10 p.m. and they’re already asleep.”

Ledger explains his SAG giggles

Heath Ledger is horrified that some people who watched him introduce a clip from “Brokeback Mountain” at the Screen Actors Guild Awards misinterpreted his stage fright as some kind of gay spoof.

Ledger called to explain. Seems the jitters started when he was sitting at the table with the “Brokeback” cast the night of the Jan. 29 awards show and he wondered aloud who was going to introduce their cast.

“I leaned over and asked Jake [Gyllenhaal] and he said, ‘We are! Didn’t you get the script?’ I said, ‘What?’ I thought it was a script for the Directors Guild Awards a few nights earlier.”

There was no time for them to rehearse, Ledger said, and they were told to go out onstage. Gulp.

“I am not a public speaker and never will be.... I’m just not one of those naturally funny, relaxed actors who enjoy the spotlight and are so good at it. And this was really weird because we were basically introducing ourselves, like here’s this brilliant cast and guess what, it’s us.”

So he got the giggles. “How can you say all that stuff -- ‘two brave cowboys’ -- with a straight face? It was just so surreal.”

As for his self-described “teacup hand” position, “I’ve stood like that since I was a kid. You can ask me mum. It’s nerves I guess.”

Ledger wanted to set the record straight. “I am so sorry and I apologize for my nervousness. I would be absolutely horrified if my stage fright was misinterpreted as a lack of respect for the film, the topic and for the amazing filmmakers.”

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Snead writes “Styles & Scenes” as a blog for TheEnvelope.com, a Times website devoted to Hollywood’s awards season.