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Former "American Idol" winner Samantha "Just Sam" Diaz says their unglamorous return to singing in New York City subways for money isn't the final chapter -- instead, the bounce back is underway.

Just Sam joined us Friday on "TMZ Live" and told us why winning a show like 'Idol' isn't always all it's cracked up to be ... especially under some very unique and onerus circumstances.

While lots of folks, Sam included, look at 'Idol' as a potential golden ticket to fame and fortune ... the non-binary singer says the reality is quite different.

Sam says a perfect storm resulted in their returning to their subway roots to make cash. They won 'AI' at the beginning of COVID, and the pandemic made it virtually impossible to get into the studio and record. Plus, glossing over contracts and blindly signing didn't help either.

Despite initially feeling embarrassed by reverting back to subway busking to eat and pay bills ... Sam says last month's headlines actually helped, because tons of big name artists are reaching out and showing love.

Now, Sam says they have a few collabs in the works, and they aren't afraid to go a different route to make it in the music biz.

A Pride event in Tennessee is facing the reality of heightened threats and tension toward the LGBTQ community this year, beefing up security after warnings from the Aryan Nations.

Memphis is hosting the Mid-South Pride Festival Saturday, but Vanessa Rodley, Festival Director and President of the org, tells TMZ ... threats have been thrown at the group ahead of the big bash -- including claims that the Aryan Nations will be showing up to protest.

For those unaware, Aryan Nations is a large group of neo-Nazis, often composed of white skinheads that tout racist and homophobic beliefs. She says this year has been the worst in terms of threats ... but thinks it helps the group be more prepared in terms of security.

Vanessa adds her team is working with local authorities, FBI and Homeland Security to make sure the whole thing is safe -- adding they've been meeting with cops for the past few months in preparation.

BTW, 2 featured guests slated for Saturday's event are "RuPaul's Drag Race" stars Kameron Michaels and Lady Camden, joining a group of 50 drag performers, the most they've ever had.

In terms of Tennessee laws against drag, we're told they've figured out how to work around the grey areas ... stuff like performers arriving in costume due to laws mentioning "the act of unveiling costumes" and buckets for tips instead of directly accepting cash.

Claire Elisan, founder and Executive Director of the Florida-based LGBTQ+ nonprofit Project No Labels, tells us her team will also be enhancing security for all of its events this month.

Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre don't think their upcoming "Doggystyle" 30th anniversary will be any fun if their homies involved in the Writers Guild of America strike can't get their piece -- so they're moving the date!!!

Like we previously told you, the hip hop legends announced they're taking over the Hollywood Bowl on June 27-28, but on Friday, Snoop announced the new dates as October 20 and 21 ... with the first one being his 52nd C-Day!!!

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ Hip Hop the "Doggystyle" anniversary is designed to be a joyful celebration of the 1993 classic album, and conducting it while having a considerable portion of the creative community in turmoil just didn't sit right with Snoop and Dre.

Snoop has been especially passionate about the issue ... likening Hollywood's paltry conditions to the low payouts artists receive through their existing recording contracts.

The WGA is currently on its 5th week of striking -- with further public support from Lil Wayne and Flavor Flav -- but they've made it clear a negotiation with the Director's Guild of America won't get them instantly off the picket lines.

We're also told Snoop and Dre are in the process of rolling out lunch orders for the striking writers ... so stay tuned for more updates!!!

Naomi Osaka and Cordae just revealed ... they're having a GIRL!!!

The "Gifted" rapper and the tennis superstar announced the major news on Friday ... sharing a pic of Cordae kissing Naomi's baby bump at their pink-themed baby shower.

The couple had an awesome celebration with their friends and family ... with Osaka and her growing belly standing in front of pink flowers, balloons, and a sign that read, "A little princess is on the way."

Osaka's fans were incredibly happy for the new parents ... flooding the comments with well wishes.

"Congratulations!" one user said. "Can’t wait for your matching tennis outfits."

Cordae, 25, was super excited ... channeling his inner Kobe Bryant by posting the hashtag "#GirlDad."

The 4-time Grand Slam champ and Cordae announced they were expecting their first child by posting a sonogram of the baby back in January.

Of course, this upcoming blessing has Osaka sidelined from tennis for a bit ... but she's previously vowed to be back for the 2024 Australia Open.

She's serious about her comeback, too ... and shared videos of her training on the court and beach while pregnant earlier this year.

Big Time Rush fans were treated to big time sugar rush thanks to their favorite band passing out doughnuts to celebrate the release of their new album!!

We got the guys out in NYC on Friday as they left "Today" to promote the drop of their fourth studio album, "Another Life" ... and, it just so happens to be National Donut Day.

Band member Kendall Schmidt seemed to totally dig his new gig as doughnut man, personally handing out free doughnuts to the screaming fans ... who obviously ate it all up.

Kendall says we can expect a whole lot more in the near future from the band -- including an upcoming tour -- also mentioning they'd love to collab with Taylor Swift.

The boy band, which also features, James Maslow, Logan Henderson, and Carlos PenaVega, first formed back in 2009 after starring in Nickelodeon's, "Big Time Rush."

The current leaders of U.S. military forces apparently have no tolerance for drag shows on military bases, but that's a huge departure from days past, because drag shows were embraced by the brass during World War II.

In 1942, the military joined forces with the USO and the American Red Cross to entertain our troops -- both at home and abroad -- with drag shows. Not only that, the soldiers were the ones in drag.

The Army Special Services published a handbook on how to produce these shows. The handbook referred to the productions as "Girly Shows," and even gave tips on how to make the GIs look good for the highly choreographed "Pony Ballet." The Pony Ballet was described as GIs wearing tutus along with army boots.

And get this ... General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, said at the time, "The USO has given an impressive demonstration of the way people in our country of different creeds, races and economic status can work together when the nation has dedicated itself to an all-out, integrated effort."

This is in stunning contrast to the current landscape ... Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said there's no place for tax-supported drag shows on military bases. A drag show scheduled this month at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada -- to celebrate Pride Month -- was canceled, despite the fact there were 2 previous shows in recent years.

The drag queen who was supposed to headline that show -- "RuPaul's Drag Race" star Coco Montrese -- told us on "TMZ Live" Thursday Secretary Austin was wrong -- these shows were privately funded.

Danny Bonaduce is going under the knife ... set for brain surgery in the wake of a serious health scare that's left him unable to walk or balance.

The actor and radio host tells TMZ ... after seeing hundreds of doctors for a mystery illness, in March he was finally diagnosed with hydrocephalus ... a neurological disorder caused by a buildup of liquid in the brain.

Surgery is set for Monday, and the hope is it can alleviate the symptoms.

Last April, "The Partridge Family" star began battling the mystery illness after his wife noticed his speech was off and he lost the ability to walk or balance. He was hospitalized for 5 days and underwent a battery of tests. Doctors ruled out a stroke, but couldn't come up with a diagnosis.

While Danny says no one knows for sure how he got in such bad shape, he wonders if it's related to all the wear and tear he's put his head through over the years ... like taking guitars to the face and boxing Jose Canseco.

Danny says the surgery will drain the liquid from his brain through a shunt.

In the meantime, Danny's been doing his radio show from home.

Of course, Danny acknowledges there's always a chance the surgery won't fix everything ... but it sounds like he's going into the operating room with the right frame of mind.

Before Aaron Judge attempts to swipe bags at Dodger Stadium ... he loaded up shopping bags in Beverly Hills -- spending some of his fat, new contract on Rodeo Drive!!!

The Yankees superstar was spotted out with his wife on the famous strip in L.A. the day before New York kicks off its much-anticipated series with the Dodgers ... and it's clear, he wasn't having any issues breaking out his wallet.

The 31-year-old was seen holding multiple bags from Prada -- and while it's not yet known what exactly was inside of them -- it's safe to say the items didn't come cheap!

Of course, Judge ain't sweating price tags much these days ... the outfielder just inked a 9-year, $360 million agreement with the Yanks this offseason -- so, yeah, throw down that credit card!!

Judge seemed to be relaxed and happy while on his day off ... a great sign for the Yankees -- as the weekend series promises to be an eventful one.

Both L.A. and NY are well over .500 this season ... and many expect the two to be legit World Series contenders by the end of the year.

Cynthia Weil, one of the most prolific and successful songwriters of all time, has died ... TMZ has learned.

Cynthia's daughter, Dr. Jenn Mann, tells TMZ ... "My mother, Cynthia Weil, was the greatest mother, grandmother and wife our family could ever ask for. She was my best friend, confidant, and my partner in crime and an idol and trailblazer for women in music."

Jenn says her mother, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, passed on Thursday night.

Cynthia's catalog is eyepopping ... The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin," Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again," The Drifters' and George Benson's "On Broadway," The Crystals' "Uptown," The Righteous Brothers' "You're My Soul and Inspiration," The Animals' "We Gotta Get Out of this Place."

The list just keeps going, with Paul Revere & the Raiders' "Kicks," The Ronettes' "Walking in the Rain," Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire," which Kanye West sampled for his debut solo single, "Through the Wire" ... and that's a VERY short list of the hits she wrote.

Cynthia's writing partner for many of her hits was her husband, Barry Mann. They were married for 62 years.

They were nominated for an Academy Award and won 2 Grammys for Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram's "Somewhere Out There" from Steven Spielberg's "An American Tail."

She and Barry received the first-ever National Academy of Songwriters Life Achievement Award.

In her early years, Cynthia was an actress, singer and dancer and became a protégé of Tin Pan Alley songwriter Frank Loesser.

Cynthia and Barry had massive hits in the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s.

She worked with other collaborators to produce hits like "Running With The Night" and "Love Will Conquer All" with Lionel Richie. She also worked with David Foster for the soundtrack to "St. Elmo's Fire," including the hit, "For Just a Moment." And then, there's Peabo Bryson's "If Ever You're In My Arms Again,” and "He's So Shy" by The Pointer Sisters.

BTW ... "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" was the most played song of the 20th Century!

Cynthia received 112 pop, country and R&B awards from BMI.

Cynthia and Barry produced another big hit ... their daughter, Jenn Mann, AKA Dr. Jenn, a psychotherapist, author, and host of VH1's "Couple's Therapy." Jenn and her fiance Eric Schiffer were by Cynthia's side when she passed.

The family adds, "Cynthia Weil's Grammy award winning lyrics touched the hearts and souls of hundreds of millions of people around the world, making her one of the most iconic songwriters of the 20th Century. Her husband, Barry Mann, says, "I'm a lucky man. I had two for one, my wife and one of the greatest songwriters in the world, my soul and inspiration."

Cynthia was 82.

The shocking death of Ms Jacky Oh! is not only affecting "Wild 'N Out" fans, but it's also impacting NFL players like Odell Beckham and Keenan Allen ... who are mourning her passing.

As we reported, Ms Jacky Oh! (real name Jacklyn Smith) died on Wednesday in Miami, but the details surrounding her death are not yet clear. A since-deleted social media post claimed she was having "mommy makeover" surgery.

Beckham -- who recently signed with the Ravens -- paid tribute to the former "Wild 'N Out" star on his Instagram story by sharing her family's statement and a photo of her and her kids.

"Rest Easy Angel," OBJ wrote in the post on Thursday.

He also said on Twitter, "Don’t take this life for granted, we’re here for the blink of an eye. Y’all plz love on your loved ones while they’re still here."

OBJ knows Smith through Lauren Wood, mother of his 1-year-old son Zydn, who was a former "Wild 'N Out" star.

In fact, Smith and Wood recently took a girl's trip to Belize to celebrate Lauren's birthday.

"We are in Belize!!! It's my best friend's birthday -- Lauren," Smith said on a YouTube vlog while on vacay.

Smith also attended Beckham and Wood's baby shower.

"This hurts so bad," Wood said in an IG post on Friday. "When I lost you I also lost the version of me when we were together. Our banter. Our humor. Our dynamic. So unique to us."

"I can't imagine this life without you. It just got a lot more darker and lonelier. I'm having a really hard time saying goodbye and accepting this grave reality."

Wood added, "I look forward to the moment we get to experience each other again. You will forever be in my heart. Connect to my soul, sister."

Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen was also heartbroken over her sudden death ...  revealing Smith is the reason he met his wife.

"Damn man! Truly an angel," Allen said on his IG.

"Jacky introduced me to the wife I have today. Praying for your babies and DC! It’s all perfect timing even though we don’t understand. God is in."

Smith is survived by her three children.

Kim Zolciak allegedly assaulted her estranged husband Kroy Biermann and the cops responded to their Georgia home ... but she wasn't arrested.

Two officers arrived at the couple's house in Atlanta on May 4 after receiving a call of a domestic dispute ... this according to the NY Post, citing a police document.

Kroy told police Kim punched him in the head during a heated argument over their assets, but had no visible injuries and refused medical treatment.

Per the police report ... Kroy decided not to press charges against "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum despite having a recording of their encounter.

But that's not all ... the report states Kroy locked Kim's pricey pocketbooks and jewelry into a safe, claiming it was all joint marital property. He said he planned to sell the items to offset losses incurred by Kim's gambling addiction, noting she had recently suffered a heavy loss.

On the other hand, Kim told cops she owned all the goods -- totaling $175,000 -- having acquired them before she tied the knot with the ex-NFL linebacker.

The officers checked out the contents of the safe and found some valuables -- such as Kim's passport in a Louis Vuitton case -- but no fancy purses.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi aren't walking down the aisle yet, but they're partying like they are ... going all out commemorate their engagement with family members.

The "Stranger Things" star made sure to snap several photos Thursday with her fiancé, Jake -- Bon Jovi's 21-year-old son -- during the private party. And, the couple couldn't look happier, as they posed in front of a sign reading "Mr and Mrs Bongiovi."

19-year-old Millie donned a bridal lace co-ord set -- and Jake was suited and booted in green.

Hairstylist Pete Burkill shared several photos from the celebration, congratulating the young couple and showing off their hair for the event.

As we reported, Millie announced her engagement back in April ... sharing a photo of Jake hugging her, and flaunting her stunning diamond ring.

She captioned the photo with a quote from Taylor Swift's song "Lovers" -- "I've loved you 3 summers now, honey, I want 'em all."

Jake also shared the special moment on his page, posting photos with the caption, "forever."

Millie and Jake have been together since 2021, after initially connecting on social media.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson says he's put aside his years-long beef with "Fast & Furious" star Vin Diesel ... confirming his ass-kicking character, Hobbs, will be back in the driver's seat.

DJ let fans in on his big return Thursday, saying Vin's been like a bro to him for a while -- adding the idea of them resolving their differences was big for him, and what the series has cookin' in its final stretch is way more important than their spat.

He also says Luke Hobbs' return to the silver screen was hard as hell to keep under wraps, and is loving seeing people's reactions to his character -- who entered the game way back in 2011 -- make his big comeback after being last seen in 2019's "Hobbs & Shaw."

As we reported, Dwayne's return came in the form of a post-credit scene in the latest flick, "Fast X" ... despite the actor wanting NOTHING to do with Vin or the franchise.

For those unaware, Vin begged Dwayne to come back to the car-racing family in 2021, telling him online he has "a very important role to play." Dwayne clapped back after the public plea -- saying his cries were just a bunch of "manipulation" and there was "no chance I would return."

Sounds like Dwayne DOES have an important role to play in the end of the series -- there's no other way to read his decision to return.

Just before he killed himself, Jeffrey Epstein tried but failed to connect with -- of all people -- fellow pedophile Larry Nassar ... according to a new report.

The Associated Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the federal Bureau of Prisons and obtained 4,000 documents, detailing Epstein's life and declining mental health inside the Metropolitan Correctional Center in NYC.

Epstein's attempt to reach out to Nassar -- who was also locked up in federal prison -- was part of the avalanche of docs released Thursday by the AP.

The records state Epstein wrote a letter to Nassar and mailed it to him while the two were incarcerated in separate facilities. The letter was apparently received by Nassar's prison, but correction officials sent the note back to Epstein, yet he never saw it again.

The docs say Epstein's letter was found unopened in the mail room of his prison weeks after he hanged himself in his cell in August 2019. The words, "Return To Sender," were stamped across the envelope.

A prison official wrote in an email to a colleague ... "I am not sure if I should open [the letter] or should we hand it over to anyone?”

The contents of the letter were not publicly disclosed.

As we reported, Epstein was facing decades behind bars before his suicide after the feds indicted him on charges of sex trafficking minors.

Boosie Badazz is sticking to his G-code when it comes to wishing Gunna the worst ... even with a hypothetical Bezos-sized payday on the line.

TMZ Hip Hop got the Louisiana-bred rap legend Thursday in NYC, where he couldn't resist the opportunity to lump Gunna in with the city's infamous rat infestation.

Boosie makes it clear he believes Gunna snitched on Young Thug when he took a plea deal in the YSL RICO case. The embattled YSL rapper is currently back in the studio ... likely laying down some rebuttals for all his haters.

We asked Boosie if he would swallow his street pride to record with Gunna ... IF someone offered him a billion dollars, but he immediately shut down because -- as he put it -- the convo was about a "rat."

One topic he was happy to address is cars -- Boosie weighed in with some advice for Cardi B, whose current rich people problem is possessing too many luxury automobiles she doesn't even drive.

Boosie flat-out tells us filling up your garage with cars is a waste of money, and says he sold off "damn near" all of his whips.

Former "Wild 'N Out" star Jacky Oh! -- who's also DC Young Fly's longtime partner -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us she died Wednesday in Miami. We don't have details yet about the cause of her death, but a since-deleted social media post claimed she was in Miami to undergo a "mommy makeover."

Jacky Oh!'s real name was Jacklyn Smith, and she and DC met in 2015 ... the same year he made his premiere on MTV's hit show "Wild 'N Out."

Jacky was already being featured as one of the show's "Wild 'N Out" girls at that point.

Jacky was no longer on 'WNO' ... she'd gone on to launch her own lip gloss line called the J Nova Collection.

Of course, DC is still one of the show's biggest stars, and we're told he was actually in Atlanta shooting new episodes when he got the tragic news about Jacky's death.

The "Wild 'N Out" social media page posted about Ms Jacky's death, writing, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacklyn Smith, known to the world as Jacky Oh, a talented Wild 'N Out family member whose impact will be forever treasured and missed. Jacky Oh was a loving friend and beloved colleague of the Wild 'N Out cast throughout five seasons."

They continue, "More importantly, she was a tremendous mother to three beautiful children. The BET Media Group extends our condolences to the Smith family, DC Young Fly, B Simone, Nick Cannon and all friends who loved and cared for Jacky Oh during this difficult time."

Although Jacky and DC never married, they remained a couple and had 3 children together -- daughters Nova and Nala, and their son Prince was just born last year.

Jacky was just 32.