Pop/rock singer/songwriter Meredith Brooks is readying a new LP, titled Deconstruction, for release this year. Rapper Queen Latifah reportedly will appear on one track.

Brooks, who rose to prominence with her 1997 hit "Bitch" (RealAudio excerpt), turns 41 today. Born Meredith Ann Brooks in Oregon City, Ore., she learned to play guitar at age 11 and graduated from high school when she was 15.

Brooks polished her guitar skills in various bands in Portland, Ore., and Seattle before striking out on her own and selling her self-produced records at her shows. She then moved to Los Angeles and gigged in bars until 1988, when she joined former Go-Go Charlotte Caffey's band, the Graces. That band split in 1992.

Brooks began running a restaurant with her husband and worked there until she met manager Laurie Levy in 1995. Levy charge of Brooks' career and encouraged her to resume singing full time. Brooks also started writing songs again, sometimes with her friend Shelley Peiken.

The result was Brooks' EMD/Capitol Records debut LP, the platinum-selling Blurring the Edges (1997). "Bitch," co-written by Peiken, was the only one of the album's tracks to be produced by Los Angeles punk veteran Geza X. The rest of the LP was helmed by David Ricketts, formerly of David and David, who had recently worked with Sheryl Crow.

The album also included titles such as "I Need" (the second single), "Somedays," "What Would Happen" and "Wash My Hands."

"Bitch" was nominated for 1998 Grammy Awards for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song. Despite the song's success, its angry lyrics drew charges from critics that Brooks was an Alanis Morissette wannabe, or that she was trying to titillate her listeners with profanities.

In 1997, Brooks took part in the Lilith Fair and toured worldwide into 1998. She received media attention when she was heckled while opening for the Rolling Stones in Argentina. At the end of '97, one of Brooks' early demos, with tracks such as "The Look," "Company Men" and "Pick It Up," was released as See It Through My Eyes.

Last year, Brooks contributed the song "Sin City" to the Nicolas Cage film "Snake Eyes." She also wrote and performed "Careful What You Wish For" for the recent Ron Howard-directed movie "EdTV."

In March, Brooks teamed with Queen Latifah for the track "Lay Down," scheduled to be on the forthcoming Deconstruction.

Other birthdays:

Chick Corea, 58; Roy Harper, 58; Reg Presley (the Troggs), 56; Barry Bailey (Atlanta Rhythm Section), 51; Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), 48; Brad Delp (Boston), 48; Rocky Burnette, 46; John Linnell (They Might Be Giants), 40; Michael Hausman ('Til Tuesday), 39; Bardi Martin (Candlebox), 30; and Pete Farndon (the Pretenders),

1953-1983.