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Tom Cruise's mother, Mary Lee South -- who in recent years had battled health issues -- died in her sleep.

The former special education teacher was the driving force behind Tom's pursuit of acting. He frequently credited her for inspiring him.

She died last week and a service was already held ... which Tom and his 3 sisters attended.

We last saw her back in 2013 when we tried getting her to spill some Christmas secrets.

People first reported the death.

Mary Lee was 80.

Jerry Sandusky's 41-year-old son has been arrested in Pennsylvania for allegedly sexually assaulting a child ... officials say.

Jeffrey Sandusky was arraigned on Monday. Charging documents show he's also been hit with multiple counts of child pornography, child sex abuse and corruption of minors.

Officials say an investigation was launched into Sandusky back in November after the child's father called police to report that Jeffrey had been sending his kid text messages requesting naked pictures.

Sandusky was reportedly dating the child's mother.

Sandusky's bail was set at $200,000 and he was ordered to stay away from minors.

Jerry Sandusky is currently serving 30 to 60 years in prison for raping several young boys while he was the assistant football coach at Penn State.

Nick Cannon doesn't see himself shooting the next season of "America's Got Talent" ... after NBC execs considered firing him over a racial joke he told in his comedy special.

TMZ broke the story ... NBC and 'AGT' honchos felt Nick had disparaged them and breached his contract by joking the network doesn't want him using the n-word, and insinuating it generally crushes his swagger while hosting 'AGT.' The special aired Friday night on Showtime.

That news pissed off Nick ... who now says he's loved hosting 'AGT' but "my soul won't allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices." He also says he doesn't care about the millions they pay him.

He adds, "I can not see myself returning." He told Howard Stern last week that he'd sue if they ever fired him over a joke.

As we told you, NBC decided to let the whole joke slide, but Nick clearly isn't forgiving.

He ended his FB post with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King -- "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter."

Derek Jeter's gonna be a dad!!

The Yankees legend's wife, Hannah Jeter, just made the announcement on Derek's website, The Players' Tribune ... saying she's pregnant with a little girl!!

It's the couple's first child. Hannah says Derek has a name picked out but she won't reveal it.

Derek and Hannah were married in July. He's 42. She's 26.

Derek retired from the Yankees back in 2014. Glad he's keeping himself busy!

Congrats!

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch -- who also founded Little Caesars Pizza -- has died at 87 ... his family confirmed.

Ilitch was worth a fortune ... reportedly more than $6 BILLION.

He also owned the Detroit Red Wings ... who won 4 Stanley Cups under his ownership.

“My father was a once-in-a-generation entrepreneur, visionary and leader, setting the tone for our organization and our family” ... Ilitch's son said in a statement.

Ilitch's family says he died at a local hospital.

Saints RB Mark Ingram won the Super Bowl of hunting this week, popping a GIGANTIC 600 LB BOAR during a hunt in Tennessee ... and his NFL pals were definitely impressed.

Ingram bagged the beast at the Spartan Hunting Preserve in Grandview, Tennessee earlier this week -- and claims he took it down in one shot.

The picture is CRAZY ... Mark is a 210 pound NFL player, and he basically looks like a toddler standing next to the outstretched boar.

Ingram's former Alabama teammate, Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, could barely believe it.

'Bama just got some love on "The Price Is Right."

A Tide superfan named Annette made it all the way to the big wheel and dropped a primal "ROLL TIDE, ROLL" that shook the studio!

Drew Carey even shouts out Nick Saban.

Education Sec. Betsy DeVos had a loud, angry, face-to-face clash with protesters ... which sounded like a recreation of a famous "Game of Thrones" scene.

DeVos, in only her 3rd full day on the job, was attempting to visit Jefferson Academy in Washington, D.C. -- but was turned away when the protesters blocked an entrance and screamed, "Shame!"

The visit was organized by the teacher's union, which says it wants to make sure DeVos knows they support public schools. She's come under fire for having zero connection to public schooling or the education field at all.

Charles Oakley says he DID drink alcohol before things exploded at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night ... but insists he was not drinking INSIDE the arena.

The Knicks legend sat down with FOX 5 in NYC and told the reporter before the interview that he believed the team was trying to portray him as a guy who was drunk and out of control at the time of the incident.

The reporter followed up on the claim when the camera was rolling ... and Oakley admitted to having "a couple drinks" before the game.

Joe Mixon's victim told police the Oklahoma star and his friends were pissed she rejected their catcalls before the incident ... and called her a "bitch" and a "whore" before things got violent.

Steve Francis is the new Lindsay Lohan -- 'cause he was just ordered to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet after violating the terms of his bond.

The trouble all stems from the ex-NBA star's drunk driving arrest back in November -- when cops say he was driving around Houston while hammered and in possession of weed.

At the time, Francis was released on bond -- and was ordered to NOT drink a drop of alcohol. He was also ordered to put a breathalyzer device in his car.

But, officials say he blew off his blowing obligations and didn't use the device -- a violation of the terms of his bond.

He appeared in court Thursday, where the judge dropped the hammer by ordering him to wear a SCRAM bracelet -- which constantly monitors alcohol consumption. It also has a GPS tracking device (he's not allowed to leave Texas).

If Francis doesn't get his new accessory by tomorrow, the judge says she will issue a warrant for his arrest.

George Clooney and his wife, Amal, are expecting twins.

Julie Chen from "The Talk" is connected in Hollywood, and she just confirmed what we've been hearing ... they're pregnant ... reportedly with a boy and a girl, although George and Amal have yet to comment on the news.

Rumors started swirling Amal was pregnant when she showed up to a Netflix screening in London last month rockin' a baby bump ... and earlier this month looking bigger in Barcelona.

George and Amal got hitched in 2014 ... a long time coming for George, who once swore off marriage and kids as one of Hollywood's most notorious bachelors.

Congrats.

The NY Knicks say Charles Oakley is LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH -- claiming "dozens" of Knicks staff, security and NYPD cops witnessed his "abusive behavior" before he was kicked out of MSG.

The Knicks just issued a new statement in the wake of Oakley's media blitz in which he denied any and all wrongdoing in the Wednesday night incident. The Knicks are calling BS.

"There are dozens of security staff, employees and NYPD that witnessed Oakley's abusive behavior."

"It started when he entered the building and continued until he was arrested and left the building. Every single statement we have received is consistent in describing his actions."

"Everything [Oakley] said since the incident is pure fiction."

WWE superstar Big Show has a message for Shaq -- a big, giant sweaty message -- GET READY TO GET YOUR ASS KICKED AT WRESTLEMANIA!!

Big Show has been training for their big showdown at WrestleMania 33 in April -- after months of smack talk.

Now, Big Show is showing off his progress with a gym pic and a message mocking Shaq who's been spotted at an Oreo cookie event recently and lip-synching on Instagram.

"@Shaq! Karaoke? Doughnuts? You better get serious. All roads lead to @WrestleMania. The only giant!"

You know what this means? SHAQ'S GOTTA SELFIE BACK!

Crazy mob scene at Pebble Beach Thursday ... when a bunch of pro autograph seekers bombarded Peyton Manning -- who handled the hectic situation like a pro.

Our friends at BayAreaHQ caught the whole thing on video -- a scene that woulda caused most celebs to freak out and shut down.

If ever a video was gonna make you get up and get your lazy ass to the gym, it's this one ... 81-year-old golf legend Gary Player burning up a treadmill with all the AARP swag in the universe.

Player is notorious for his fountain of youth fitness habits, and even posed nude in ESPN The Magazine's Body issue at 77 ... but we gotta say, this might be even more impressive.

Look, is he Usain Bolt? No. Is he going harder than we do? HELL YEAH!!!