NEW YORK — It took a few years, but Tom Cruise says he regrets the tongue-lashing he gave Matt Lauer on NBC's "Today" show the last time he was on.

An apologetic Cruise returned to the morning program yesterday to sit for his first interview with Lauer since criticizing Brooke Shields in 2005 for taking antidepressants.

"That's one of those things you go, OK, I could have absolutely handled that better," Cruise said.

That now-infamous conversation grew heated when the star told Lauer he was glib and didn't know about psychiatry. Cruise, a Scientologist, agrees with the religion's long-running campaign against psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry.

PERRY AMONG BET HONOREES

NEW YORK — Tyler Perry is among the luminaries BET plans to celebrate at its second annual BET Honors.

The successful filmmaker is set to join R&B queen Mary J. Blige, ex-basketball star Magic Johnson, dance pioneer Judith Jamison and South Carolina Congressman James E. Clyburn on Jan. 17.

The awards will air on the network Feb. 9. They are part of BET's festivities for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. BET is putting on its first inaugural ball that will air Jan. 20.

MADONNA'S COST OF SPLIT AT $76M

LONDON — Madonna has settled her divorce with ex-husband Guy Ritchie for at least $76 million, the singer's spokeswoman said yesterday.

Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press the settlement was in the range of $76 million to $92 million as part of their divorce agreement.

Their multimillion-dollar settlement is about twice the size paid out in Britain for another high-profile celebrity divorce, that of former Beatle Paul McCartney and model Heather Mills.

Rosenberg said custodial arrangements for the couple's three children have yet to be finalized.

FOUR IN REVIVAL OF BECKETT CLASSIC

NEW YORK — Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman and David Strathairn will all be "Waiting for Godot" this spring on Broadway.

The four actors will appear in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the Samuel Beckett absurdist classic April 30 at Studio 54.

Lane, who will play Estragon, was last on Broadway in the David Mamet comedy "November." Irwin — set for the role of Vladimir — won a Tony Award for his performance as George in the 2005 revival of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf."

ROCKERS HELP HOSPITALIZED KIDS

SARASOTA, Fla. — A new music therapy room at a hospital on Florida's Gulf Coast is being named for AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson.

Johnson has supported an effort to buy music equipment and provide music education for children.

Equipment and enhancements to the room at Sarasota Memorial Hospital are from the John Entwhistle Foundation, named for the late bassist for The Who. Johnson and other rockers have raised money for the foundation.