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Carrot Top was handed a $2 million demand just days before his attempted suicide ... and within hours, his lawyer was telling the court the comedian was being extorted ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained a pair of emails laying out the heated legal battle that unfolded last Monday -- four days before Carrot Top was hospitalized.

In the first message, Brian Evans -- whom Carrot Top's team has accused of extortion -- proposed a $2 million deal to end the legal fight involving himself, Carrot Top -- real name Scott Thompson -- and several others.

"America's Got Talent" is the latest TV show debating moving production out of California ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to production tell TMZ … the NBC competition reality show, judged by Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Mel B, is reviewing options to film season 22 in Georgia or possibly Nashville.

We're told the move comes down to money ... with other states offering bigger production incentives and tax credits that could save the show a significant amount.

Dolly Parton's nephew, who announced her death, has been fired from his longtime role protecting the country legend's properties ... and the abrupt security shake-up is fueling an escalating war over her estate.

TMZ obtained a termination notice sent to Bryan Seaver -- Dolly's nephew and former head of security -- informing him that he and his security companies were immediately dismissed from every Dolly property.

Sources tell TMZ ... the notice landed Wednesday, just as replacement guards descended on Dolly's main home in Nashville. Her museum, downtown residence and warehouse were also taken over by the new security team.

Bobb'e J. Thompson's headed to prison for a couple years ... but he won't be abandoned by his longtime friends on the outside ... 'cause Kyle Massey says he's got the dude's back.

We caught up with Kyle -- who starred with Bobb'e J. on the beloved Disney Channel show "That's So Raven" -- at LAX on Monday ... and our photog asked about Bobby recently being sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

Kyle immediately sends love to Bobb'e ... adding "Free Bobb'e J" and calling him his brother. He says he and others support Bobb'e, and they're always going to have his back.

Jennifer Eckhart was fighting a $1 million defamation lawsuit when she died ... filed by a Florida couple who claimed she falsely linked them and their business to sex trafficking.

Court docs obtained by TMZ show a woman named Darby Annunziata, her husband John, and their lash salon, Sugar Pie Lashes, sued the former Fox News producer in February ... about 7 months before she died by suicide in her Florida home.

According to the complaint, Jennifer allegedly walked into a nearby boutique and warned people not to do business with the salon, claiming Darby "doesn't really support women at all, especially single hard-working mothers working sex trafficking."

NBA legend Elgin Baylor's family is fighting over his estate, years after his death ... and it's getting nasty.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Elgin's daughter, Alison Clayton, filed a petition claiming her stepmom, Elaine Baylor, is withholding information about her inheritance. 

Elgin died on March 22, 2021, at 86 ... and Alison said her stepmom, who was with Elgin at the time, didn't let Alison or her brother know their dad had died, and has since refused to reveal any information about the estate. 

Carrot Top's Las Vegas shows at the Luxor have been canceled through next Monday as the comedian remains hospitalized following a suspected overdose involving prescription pills ... TMZ has learned.

The 61-year-old's performances through Sept. 28 have been called off while he continues receiving medical care.

As we first reported Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, took prescription pills Friday before suffering the suspected overdose.

Hayden Panettiere's celebration of life brought out some major stars ... and more than a dozen people took the stage to pay tribute to the late legend.

TMZ has obtained the memorial program ... which provides more detail about what actually went down behind closed doors.

According to the program -- which featured a black-and-white headshot of the late star looking over her shoulder -- there were many more speakers than the ones we previously told you about.

50 Cent is taking his business empire to the casino floor ... launching a new live table game inspired by the legendary New York street dice game Cee-lo.

The rapper and mogul is teaming up with gaming company TCSJOHNHUXLEY to create 50 Cent Headcrack ... a casino version of the three-dice game rooted in New York street culture and hip-hop.

The game will make its global debut at G2E Las Vegas 2026 ... one of the gaming industry’s biggest events ... taking place September 29 through October 1 at The Venetian Expo.

Police investigating Presley Gerber's suspected overdose interviewed other people living at the rehab facility where he died as they try to find the source of the alleged drugs that potentially killed him ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the investigation tell TMZ ... the probe is in its early stages, but one of the first orders of business is finding out if Presley took drugs, and where he got them.

We're told authorities are looking into whether or not Presley was prescribed the drugs he allegedly took or if he got them from a dealer or friend ... and finding the potential source is key.

Our sources say cops have already conducted interviews with folks who were at the rehab facility when he died.

Presley Gerber was living at a rehab facility in Santa Monica before his death Sunday ... and TMZ has details of the recovery program offered at the facility.

The rehab website describes its Santa Monica operation as a "structured recovery residence," rather than a traditional hospital or detox center.

According to the company's website, the program is designed for people transitioning out of more intensive treatment and trying to rebuild their lives in a supervised, sober environment.

The program specifically works with people dealing with substance abuse issues, mental-health conditions, trauma, eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders.

Cops say Jennifer Eckhart's mother is the one who discovered her dead in her Florida home ... with a small knife nearby.

TMZ has obtained the incident report from the Martin County Sheriff's Office, which says Eckhart's mother contacted authorities after arriving at her daughter's home Saturday and finding her dead inside the bathtub in the master bathroom.

The report says deputies found a folding pocketknife near Eckhart and observed serious injuries from lacerations. Crime scene investigators and the Medical Examiner's Office were then called to the home.

Carrot Top was hospitalized following a suspected overdose from prescription pills ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Clark County Fire Department tells TMZ ... crews responded to the comedian's Las Vegas home around 4:20 PM Friday after receiving a call about a 61-year-old male who was "not alert."

We're told a City of Las Vegas ambulance and a private ambulance responded. Carrot Top's condition was unknown at the scene, and he was transported to a hospital by the private ambulance.

Sources familiar with the investigation tell TMZ ... Carrot Top took prescription medication before suffering the suspected overdose.

Tony Rock is sending love to Carrot Top following his recent suicide attempt ... while reminding people there is often pain behind a comedian's smile.

We got Tony at LAX Monday, and he offered prayers for Carrot Top and his family ... saying a crisis like this affects far more than one person.

Tony says comedians still deal with real stress, trauma and drama offstage -- something audiences can lose sight of while watching them perform.

10:40 AM PT -- Jennifer Eckhart's mother found her dead inside a bathtub with a knife nearby.

Former Fox News associate producer Jennifer Eckhart has died by suicide ... TMZ has confirmed.

Jennifer died in Florida ... according to a rep for the Martin County Medical Examiner's Office. Law enforcement sources tell us ... the case has been ruled a suicide.

A heavy police presence was spotted outside her Hobe Sound home on Saturday morning ... she was reportedly found dead in her home.

Presley Gerber may have hoped to fend off his addiction issues with ibogaine, but one expert says it's not as simple as taking a magic pill ... diving into the realities of the treatment.

Bryan Hubbard, the CEO of Americans for Ibogaine, joined "TMZ Live" Monday to discuss the psychoactive drug that Presley took a few months before his death.

Bryan described the substance for us in detail ... explaining how it's known to rewrite neural pathways -- and give people with addiction a fighting chance against their demons. He also notes a major risk with ibogaine.