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Tragedy has struck NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin ... his dad has died following a devastating house fire in North Carolina that also left his mother critically injured.

On Monday evening, Gaston County EMS confirmed 75 year old Dennis Hamlin died from injuries suffered in the blaze. Hamlin's 69 year old mom, Mary Lou Hamlin was injured in the fire and remains in critical condition.

Before this kiddo with Christmas presents turned into a musician, he was just growing up in the cold, posting covers on Vine, and started playing guitar at 13 years old.

He can definitely hold his own, but he's collaborated with music's biggest stars like Justin Bieber and Camila Cabello. When he's not in the studio, catch him hiking with his shirt off!

"I love it when you call me Señorita!"

Mario Rodriguez -- the man who accused Tyler Perry of sexual battery last week -- says friendly text messages the two allegedly exchanged don’t undermine his claims and are actually consistent with his account.

The model and actor told PEOPLE ... “I want to briefly respond to what’s being said about me right now. People are pointing to messages where I was polite, grateful, or vulnerable — and trying to use that to discredit me.”

He continues, “When someone has influence over your career, your income, your future, you don’t feel free. Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate.”

Rodriguez adds that the messages don’t negate his allegations. “That does not mean abuse didn’t happen. Those text messages were sent at a time when I was especially vulnerable, as can be seen from the context. Continued financial support and access are not inconsistent with abuse — they are often part of the power dynamics that follow it.”

Dakota Johnson reportedly split from Chris Martin earlier this year ... and now she's been spotted out with another singer -- Role Model.

A new photo shows Dakota and RM -- whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury -- huddled over a candlelit dinner over the holiday with friends, and we're told they got very close.

Sources tell us Dakota was lying on him all cuddled up at the cozy dinner.

Dakota was snapped taking a sip from her glass as they both leaned forward, engulfed in conversation with another dinner guest.

A worker at Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas got the shock of her lifetime when Taylor Swift dropped a massive tip ... a gesture so shocking, the suite staffer had to frame one of the six fresh Benjamins.

TMZ has learned a viral Facebook post from a stadium employee named Robyn Gentry talking about the superstar's Xmas generosity is legit ... TS indeed tipped $600 to the unsuspecting worker.

As Robyn tells it ... TS was at the Christmas game to watch fiancé Travis Kelce play maybe his last NFL game ... and superstar was so appreciative of staff working on the holiday, she was handing out her own gifts ... that being cold hard cash.

One of the biggest sports video game franchises in the world is seemingly distancing itself from D4vd as the Celeste Rivas death investigation continues ... with the singer's song getting quietly pulled from "Madden NFL 26."

The controversial artist's "What Are You Waiting For" was initially part of the popular football game's soundtrack when it was released back in August ... and was sandwiched between BIA and Alex Warren on the playlist.

Now, it's nowhere to be found.

Glen Powell and Michelle Randolph are officially turning up the heat ... the new couple was spotted sneaking in a South Florida getaway over the weekend.

TMZ obtained photos of the pair leaving 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami on Saturday and making a beeline for a private airport. The duo didn't go straight there, though. They made stops for gas and even swung by a smoke shop along the way. Glen showed he's still got his leading man manners, holding the door open for his new girlfriend like a total gentleman.

Sources tell TMZ ... the romance is moving fast, and after leaving Miami, the couple took things international, jetting off to the Caribbean hot spot of St. Barts to keep their holiday vacation going.

Itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny polka-dot bikinis are here ... but which 2-piece has you wanting more?!

Beauty influencer Meredith Duxbury tied up her sexy selfie in pink, and YouTuber Adelaine Morin's white dots will make ya' wink!

The question here is: Who'd You Rather?!

VOTE NOW! 

The tragic crash that injured Anthony Joshua claimed the lives of two people close to the boxing superstar -- his trainers and longtime friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin "Latif" Ayodele, according to the president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The politician shared his condolences in a statement released minutes ago ... saying he spoke directly with AJ regarding the devastating losses.

In their conversation, Tinubu said Joshua assured him he is receiving the "best possible care."

Singer D4vd will likely face murder charges for the death of Celeste Rivas, and that's because the grand jury that's hearing the case will be asked to hand down an indictment ... sources tell TMZ.

There was a report last month that the grand jury was an "investigative" grand jury ... a grand jury that helps authorities gather evidence but one that does not indict. An investigative grand jury can be useful to subpoena and then force uncooperative witnesses to testify.

Our sources say, however, the grand jury that has been hearing witnesses in the Celeste Rivas murder is actually one that will vote on indictments, and multiple sources tell TMZ that authorities -- including prosecutor Beth Silverman -- believe D4vd was involved in the death of Rivas.

"Owning Manhattan" star Chloe Tucker Caine says she swiped left on the man who would eventually become her husband several times ... before her mom took over her dating apps.

The breakout reality star stopped by "TMZ Live" Monday and imparted a bit of wisdom for anyone in the market for a spouse.

Chloe told us ... "A lot of times our parents see the best in us and they see a lot of times what we're missing."

But it took some serious convincing for Chloe to hand over the fate of her romantic life to her mother. Her mom persuaded her this was the way to go based on her own life experience. According to Chloe, her mother admitted to her that she picked someone based solely on looks ... and didn't want her daughter to suffer the same fate she did.

So this is how their little love operation worked ... Chloe says her mom posed as her, essentially screening Chloe's matches for her.

Chloe explained, "They didn't know it was her. They thought they were talking to me!"

Sally Struthers was seen in public on Monday ... weeks after her "All in the Family" costar Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were brutally murdered in their Brentwood home.

Sally was snapped out and about in Los Angeles ... and her mood appeared to be glum ... understandable given the recent double killings that rocked Hollywood.

TMZ broke the news ... Rob and Michele were butchered in their home on Dec. 14 ... and their son Nick has since been arrested and charged with their murders.

Tyler Perry's alleged text messages with his sexual battery accuser Mario Rodriguez seem to show the other man asking Perry for money prior to filing a lawsuit against him.

We've obtained alleged text messages between Rodriguez and Perry ... with several sent on August 31 of this year.

Check out the messages which were allegedly sent by Rodriguez ... beginning with him writing he hasn't been feeling well recently and blaming it on his teeth.

Former A&E personality Tony McCollister -- who was arrested on child and animal abuse charges -- has been court-ordered to stay away from the two dogs he allegedly abused in Ohio ... and, specifically, not to have sex with the animals.

As we reported ... McCollister's canines were taken into custody by the Warren County Sheriff's Office -- and are now being well cared for following the December 23 arrest of the former star of A&E's "Neighbors with Benefits," Sheriff Barry Riley told TMZ.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the judge ordered McCollister to keep at least 500 feet away from not just his pets, but all animals ... and all minor children as well.  The judge notes that McCollister must refrain from "forcing sexual relations" upon his minor children and dogs.

"Southern Hospitality" star Grace Lilly was arrested Monday ... after cops pulled her over and say they found a bottle of "happy pills" in her purse late Sunday night.

According to a police report, obtained by TMZ, Grace was driving through Charleston, South Carolina, in her Mercedes C-Class sedan with a man in her car. Officers say they initiated a traffic stop when Grace failed to use her turn signal to change lanes.

Cops say there was already a warrant out for her arrest in the system, so officers ordered her to step out of the vehicle and they detained her in handcuffs.

While detained, Grace allegedly asked if she could bring her purse with her to the detention center ... and cops say they found a container of pills inside the bag labeled "Happy Pills."

After a promising start to getting the rehab he desperately needs, former 'Ned's Declassified' star Tylor Chase is back on the streets, TMZ has learned.

"Mighty Ducks" star Shaun Weiss tells TMZ ... Tylor was evaluated by a mental health crisis team after Jacob Harris -- the owner of Shipwreck Barbershop in Riverside, California, who has been a major advocate for Tylor -- called them. The crisis team placed Tylor in a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold, but they inexplicably released him, according to Shaun.

Shaun says, "They were supposed to hold him and then transport him to a detox facility that we had arranged. Instead, they let him out without contacting any of us."

According to Shaun, when Jacob found Tylor back on the street in Riverside late at night last week, the crisis team was called again. This time, they once again assessed Tylor to be a danger to himself -- Shaun tells us he was told Tylor was "smoking meth during the evaluation with no shoes or jacket in the freezing cold."

But Shaun says they still left him out on the street. Shaun also tells us ... despite some fans' well-meaning gestures to help Tylor out by giving him money on the street, that's been working against his recovery.