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Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson kept their rekindled romance to themselves in order to protect her career ... TMZ has learned.

A source close to Brian tells TMZ ... the couple didn't break up as many times as the public was led to believe -- and were actually together while she was promoting her memoir "This Is Me: A Reckoning" in the months before her death.

Our source says Hayden was advised by her team to distance herself from Brian, at least publicly, even though they were still romantic in private.

The reason ... Hayden's camp felt Brian was "bad for business" while she was promoting her book. We're told their complicated history was perceived as being bad for book sales -- but they were still in constant communication during the promotional tour.

Influencer Santos Salazar is a free man, 'cause he has been released from jail after spending several days behind bars in connection with an alleged attempted murder investigation, TMZ has learned.

We got photos of Santos leaving an L.A. jail Monday evening, grinning from ear to ear and relishing in his new-found freedom. He's joined by some fellow inmates whom he seemingly made friends with while in the slammer.

According to online records, the case was rejected by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office ... meaning prosecutors did not file criminal charges against Santos at this time -- after he had been booked on suspicion of attempted murder last week.

Hayden Panettiere's costar in the hit musical drama "Nashville" Charles Esten shared a loving tribute after her shocking death ... remembering he smacked her with a door during their first meeting.

The actor took to Instagram Monday to share series of photos taken during their time working on the TV show from 2012 to 2018 ... all shots of them flashing huge smiles.

He started off his caption by writing he and his wife -- Patty Hanson -- were shocked to learn of Hayden's death ... before he launched into the story of how they met.

Authorities have recovered what appears to be human remains in a desert 15 miles from Nancy Guthrie's home. The Pima County Sheriff says so far there's no indication the bones are connected to Guthrie, but we have a more definitive answer.

Law enforcement sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ, the bones were discovered in a "very remote" area of the desert ... only accessible by a long hike. One source said, "Our boots on the ground say the bones are definitively not Nancy Guthrie."

We're told the remains are "bleached white bones" which have been there for a long time. Bleached white bones occur when ultraviolet rays from the Sun break down the organic components of the bones, resulting in a loss of color and turning them white.

Alex Cooper is a Fairy God Daddy ... because she's giving back and helping other moms-to-be with their baby wish lists.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... the "Call Her Daddy" host has been paying for items and clearing out fans’ baby registries, deciding the best way for her to give back to her followers is to help them get ready for their own little ones.

Over the last week, Alex has been reposting fans’ requests to her Instagram Story, with some followers later sharing that their registries have been completely filled ... thanking the entrepreneur for her generosity.

Nancy Mace is sending out thoughts and prayers to those social media users allergic to ink -- her ink specifically ... blasting everyone offended by her tattoos.

The Congresswoman took to X on Monday to mock the uproar regarding her tattoos after she showed off her body art on her YouTube Show "Get Maced" over the weekend.

She wrote, "Thoughts and prayers to all those affected by my sleeves. Made the mistake of opening my social media this afternoon. Some of yall are OUT OF CONTROL. My biceps should NOT be a news story. We have more important things to worry about. Goodness. And God Bless America."

Andrew Gillum is swapping jail for rehab ... but the court will still be keeping close tabs on him.

According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ, a judge ordered the former Florida gubernatorial candidate released from the Baldwin County Jail Friday ... so he could enter Cumberland Heights Treatment Center in Nashville.

Gillum must wear a GPS ankle monitor during his release ... and remain at the facility for at least 30 days, or however long it takes him to complete a drug and alcohol treatment program.

Can you guess the iconic reality TV queen and her sexy racer boyfriend?

Thank goodness he has practice handling curves while driving in F1 races ... because her sultry silhouette is unmatched.

Hayden Panettiere packed a lot into her 36 years before her sudden and tragic death ... and TMZ is taking you back through all of her notable moments ... both good and bad.

Hayden is born in Palisades, New York -- a town just 25 miles from New York City -- to actress Lesley R. Vogel and NYC fire captain Alan Lee Panettiere. She is the first of the couple's two children.

Hayden begins her acting career early ... earning her first role in a commercial for a Playskool toy train in 1990, less than a year after her birth.

Luigi Mangione will not go on trial for murder next month ... the start of his state proceedings have been delayed after his federal guilty plea last week.

A judge in Manhattan has given state prosecutors until October 9 to respond to Luigi's request to dismiss the case ... thus pushing back the previous September 8 start date.

As we reported ... Luigi's legal team filed to dismiss the state case right after he pled guilty to federal stalking charges -- arguing that the guilty plea now bars the state case from moving forward under the federal Constitution and New York's double jeopardy law.

Hayden Panettiere, or someone close to her, was treated with meds typically used for overdose victims ... TMZ has learned.

We've confirmed, through sources in Greenville, SC, that Narcan was found in the apartment where she died. Narcan is administered nasally to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and we're told the device used to dispense it was found on a mattress.

We know first responders on the scene mentioned an "overdose" and CPR efforts while reporting back to dispatch.

However, we also know 2 ambulances rushed to the apartment, which seems to point to 2 people in distress in the apartment ... so, it's unclear who received the dose of Narcan.

The NAACP joined Nolan Wells' family in their legal fight for answers ... and the organization is saying enough is enough as questions swirl about the teen's mysterious death.

The NAACP said Monday it has offered additional investigative resources to Nolan's family ... demanding "truth and transparency" in the case that's captivated the nation.

As you know, Nolan went missing after taking a boat out to Horn Island with friends on the Fourth of July. His body was found days later in the water, near where he was last seen alive.

Pinky Cole's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" blowup apparently got a little too close to "The Wire" for Bravo's taste ... because the network turned her gun talk into a vague reference to a "device."

Here's the deal ... during the Season 17 reunion show part two, which aired Sunday night, Pinky and Phaedra Parks got heated when Pinky ripped Phaedra for ratting her out to "higher-ups" over Pinky having, in her words, a "significant device" to protect herself.

A source with direct knowledge tells us the device was a gun, and Phaedra wasn't down with the new 'RHOA' member bringing it up. To clarify, we're told Pinky was never in possession of a gun on set at any point and time.

Here's Draya Michele absolutely oozing sex appeal over in Asia ... and her trip to Thailand has us all hot and bothered.

The famous hottie made sure to snap a bunch of Thai thirst traps ... showing off her toned stomach, legs, tattoos, and big boobs.

It looks like Draya spent the whole trip in a skimpy swimsuit ... and we're not mad at that!!!

2:30 PM PT -- Lee Budner, attorney for the child's biological parents, tells TMZ ... the baby underwent surgery this morning and "is now recuperating under the loving care of his parents and his heroic team of doctors, nurses, and medical staff."

Budner tells us ... "This is the last update on Rumi's health that his family intends to share. His condition remains critical and complex, and his family seeks privacy in caring for their son on his long road to recovery."

He adds ... "Meanwhile, Ms. West continues to assert baseless claims for custody of Rumi, in violation of multiple courts orders out of both Alaska and California. We look forward to quickly defeating those claims as Rumi's parents continue to focus on his health and safety above all else."

We're told the Norwood procedure is the first of three surgeries required within the first several years of life for children born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

The biological parents who wanted their surrogate to terminate the pregnancy are now taking steps to keep their newborn alive ... telling a judge they've decided their son will undergo major heart surgery.

According to a court filing, obtained by TMZ, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed have elected to have the baby undergo the Norwood procedure after consulting with doctors at Children's Health.

The Norwood procedure is a complex open-heart surgery performed on newborns with hypoplastic left heart syndrome -- the condition doctors discovered during the pregnancy. It helps the side of the heart that works pump blood through the body.

Hayden Panettiere was found dead by a friend inside a South Carolina home ... and Emergency Medical Service workers responded to a call about a person in "cardiac arrest" and an "unresponsive female," TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Hayden's friend called 911 at 1:51 PM Sunday to report that the actress was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest inside the residence in Greenville, SC.

TMZ obtained the dispatch audio of responders sending medics to her location to perform CPR on someone who overdosed, which you can hear above. Page Six was first to report.

It's unclear if Hayden's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson placed the call.

We're told Greenville police officers and EMS workers quickly responded, and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Hayden using "advanced cardiac life support." Our sources say this treatment builds on CPR by adding special medicines, breathing tubes, and heart rhythm tracking.