Glen Campbell says he was ‘over-served’

Singer defends drunken-driving charge

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updated 3:03 p.m. ET July 1, 2004

NEW YORK - Glen Campbell has defended against his drunken driving charge, claiming he “wasn’t really that drunk,” but was “just over-served.”

Campbell was arrested in November near his Phoenix home after causing a minor traffic accident. He pleaded guilty to extreme drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident and was sentenced to 10 nights in jail.

“I wasn’t really that drunk,” he told syndicated entertainment TV show “Access Hollywood” in an interview. “I was just over-served.”

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Campbell also said he didn’t remember anything because he was “in a blackout mode.” Excerpts of the interview were released Tuesday.

A mug shot showed a scowling Campbell.

“When I saw the mug shot, I said, ‘Who is that guy?”’ the 68-year-old singer said. “Everybody says it’s the devil, but it isn’t, it’s God’s way of telling you to slow down.”

Campbell was to serve his sentence starting Thursday. He is barred from drinking alcohol during his two years’ probation.

His hits include “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Galveston,” “Gentle on My Mind” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.”