Hayden Panettiere and her drug dealer engaged in numerous text conversations for years -- right up until the week she died -- and the DEA is now laser-focused on the thread of incriminating evidence ... sources tell TMZ.
Sources involved in the investigation with direct knowledge tell us ... Hayden and her dealer were very specific about purchasing black market pills. As one source put it, "There are a slew of messages about drugs." We're told the text messages are now a centerpiece of the investigation.
TMZ broke the story ... the DEA believes Hayden died after taking an oxy pill laced with fentanyl. Our sources say Hayden took various pills with her on the flight from L.A. to South Carolina, the night before she died. Her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, gave police a bag of Hayden's meds, which could reveal other pills laced with the deadly drug.
The folks who call the shots for the Super Bowl halftime show have two megastars at the top of their list for the 2027 event ... Justin Bieber and Harry Styles.
Sources tell us both singers are high on Roc Nation's short list. Jay-Z and his company are partnered with the NFL, and as the league's "live music entertainment strategist," Jay has final say on the halftime performer.
We're told Justin and Harry have not been approached about the show yet ... and sources tell us Justin and Harry are both unlikely to take the gig if they are finally approached.
The 2026 Emmys honored a long list of television legends during their In Memoriam ... but several familiar names were noticeably missing, including Chuck Norris, Daveigh Chase, Nicholas Brendon and more.
Chuck, who passed away in March, had a decades-long TV career and was most known for his 9-season action series "Walker, Texas Ranger" -- leaving fans shocked he was left out of the tribute.
In addition to his 9 seasons on 'Walker,' Chuck had appearances in "The Goldbergs," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Sons of Thunder" -- he even had his own animated series called "Chuck Norris: Karate Commandos."
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards may have included Meg Stalter painted gold on the red carpet, a cameo from Taylor Swift, and moving tributes to the legends we lost this past year, but the winners were front and center at tonight's awards!
Sally Field took home an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Award for her role in the adaptation of the novel "Remarkably Bright Creatures".
Matthew Rhys also set Emmy history by winning both Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Award for "Widow's Bay" and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Award for "The Beast in Me.
The Emmys red carpet is officially heating up ... Zendaya, Selena Gomez, and Nicole Kidman are already making major style statements!
Ciara Miller, the "Summer House" star and one of the hosts of E!'s Emmys red-carpet coverage, turned heads as she arrived at the Peacock Theater Monday night.And Adam Brody was another early standout, keeping things sharp in a classic black suit with a pop of color.
Host Mariska Hargitay is looking like the trophy herself -- the 'Law & Order' star is stunning in red before she hits the stage hosting TV's biggest night.
Rep. Nancy Mace is calling for Lindsay Clancy to be publicly executed ... saying the Massachusetts mom accused of killing her three children "should be dead too."
The South Carolina congresswoman made the explosive comments while discussing Clancy's case and her attorney's recent push to have the charges resolved without another trial.
Jacobcaught up with Mace who argues Clancy should face the ultimate punishment and says she should be publicly executed ... saying "Her children are dead, she should be dead too."
Sommer Ray is officially 30 ... and we're ringing in the big 3-0 with some seriously steamy shots.
From showing off her bikini bod to serving up sweaty gym selfies, Sommer's never been shy about giving fans plenty to look at ... and we're celebrating her milestone birthday with some of her hottest pics.
When she's not working out or behind the DJ booth, she's soaking up the sun and showing off the results.
Taylor Swift is back at Arrowhead Stadium ... and once again, all eyes are on the stands as she cheers on her husband, Travis Kelce.
Swift was spotted at Monday night's Kansas City Chiefs game against the Denver Broncos, marking her return to Arrowhead as Kelce kicks off his 14th NFL season.
The newly wed wifey was spotted sitting in next to actor Tom Cruise in her usual signature seat ... looking down and locked in on her hubby as he works the field.
Canadian actress Lynne Griffin was 30 years old when she played Pam -- the hot Elsinore Beer heiress who falls in love with the hockey hunk -- in the 1983 comedy/crime film "Strange Brew."
Griffin shared the big screen with Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas and Max von Sydow.
this tribute to Catherine O'Hara at the Emmys was soooo sweet wow. and the camera cuts to Martin Short and Steve Martin crying...I'm not okay. her on-screen children Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy spoke so highly of her
Culkin recalled how he called his "Home Alone" co-star "mama," explaining she wasn't just a mother to her own kids, but felt like a mother figure to him, too.
Then, Reba McEntiretook the stage to sing an emotional rendition of the late legend's song "Appalachian Memories," with a powerful vocal performance that would make Dolly proud.
The 2026 Emmy Awards honored Hayden Panettiere during the In Memoriam segment of their broadcast Monday.
Her photo flashed across the screen during the montage, which was underscored by Noah Kahan's rendition of Simon& Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson was being heckled for the late actress’ death moments before his bar altercation that led to his brother Zach’s arrest, TMZ has learned.
Sources close to the brothers tell TMZ … Brian, who has lost around 40 pounds while grieving Hayden’s death, was encouraged to leave the house this weekend by his brother.
We’re told Zach wanted Brian to get out because he has been extremely heartbroken since Hayden’s death ... and convinced Brian to go out for a low-key night to watch the game at a local restaurant.
Taylor Swift wasn't physically at the Emmys Monday ... but that didn't stop her from making an appearance.
The pop star made a quick cameo in an 'SVU' sketch alongside Emmys host Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T.
Waiting for your permission to load the Twitter Tweet.
The bit was full of meta jokes as the team tried to crack whether or not Taylor would be attending TV's biggest night -- and Taylor's cat, named after Mariska's 'SVU' character, was her co-detective.
