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A couple of big names in country music aren't just embracing Beyoncé's new album, they also think it's a tipping point for the genre ... which is why Chris Young's inviting her to get in-studio with him.

We caught up with Chris in NYC, and he told us he loves Bey's "Cowboy Carter" album -- especially Dolly Parton's intro on the new "Jolene" rendition. As he put it, Beyoncé's venture into the country scene proves the industry's more welcoming now than before.

Showing off some of that southern hospitality, Chris says ... "Tell [Beyoncé] I'm here for her."

Sorry, Big3 fans ... WNBA coach Stephanie White believes you will NOT see Caitlin Clark in the 3-on-3 league this year -- this despite the obvious temptation of Ice Cube's $5 MILLION offer.

The Connecticut Sun head coach told Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" on Wednesday she feels the legacy Clark can build in the WNBA will ultimately trump the Big3's cash when it comes time to make a decision.

Of course, Clark has yet to mull everything -- she said last week she wants to wait until Iowa's run in the NCAA tournament comes to an end before she chooses her next move.

Conjoined twin Abby Hensel did not list her sister, Brittany, as one of her witnesses at her wedding ... something we've now confirmed through an official document.

TMZ has obtained Abby and Josh Bowling's marriage certificate, and it provides some interesting information, including the fact that Brittany Hensel -- who partially shares a body with Abby -- is not on the witness list ... although another Hensel sibling is.

Abby put down her other sister, Morgan, as one of her witnesses ... and somebody named Cosmo Naut is listed as the other witness, presumably offered up from Josh's side.

La ex de Diddy -Cassie- ha estado en contacto con las autoridades en la investigación federal, y no solo eso, nos dicen que está cooperando y que otros han hecho lo mismo.

Fuentes directas nos dicen que Cassie está entre los testigos con los que los federales han estado en contacto en relación con la investigación de Diddy. Nos dicen que ha estado trabajando con los investigadores durante varias semanas, presumiblemente incluso antes de que las casas de Diddy fueran allanadas.

Parece que Cassie puede haber ayudado a los federales a establecer una causa probable para lograr que un juez firme las órdenes de registro. Otras mujeres, se nos dice, también han estado en contacto con los investigadores federales.

Un mapache se manifestó en un parque temático de Pennsylvania la semana pasada y causó un caos total al atacar a los transeúntes inocentes... TMZ tiene un video de todo el asunto.

El pequeño salvaje se veía muy feroz el viernes en Hersheypark -en su día de apertura por cierto- donde aterrorizó a un grupo de pasajeros que esperaban en la cola de la montaña rusa SooperDooperLooper... ¡incluso mordió a una niña y huyó con su zapato!

Échale un vistazo al clip, es puro terror. Gritos de pánico se escuchan en medio del frenesí mientras los espectadores aterrorizados luchan por escapar de la bestia.

Diddy's ex, Cassie, has been in touch with the authorities in the federal investigation -- not just that, we're told she's cooperating  ... as are others who've sued him.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... Cassie is among the witnesses the feds have been in contact with in connection with the Diddy investigation ... we're told she's been working with investigators for several weeks ... presumably even before Diddy's homes were raided.

Given the timing, it seems Cassie may have helped the feds establish probable cause to get a judge to sign off on the search warrants. Other women, we're told, have also been in contact with federal investigators.

A feisty raccoon crashed into a Pennsylvania theme park last week and caused utter chaos by attacking innocent bystanders -- and TMZ's got video of the whole thing.

The wild critter was looking pretty damn fierce Friday at Hersheypark -- opening day for the year, BTW -- where it terrorized a group of waiting riders who were in line for the SooperDooperLooper coaster  ... even biting a young girl and running off with her shoe!

Check out the clip ... it's pure pandemonium, and yes -- damn scary. Panicked screams are heard amid the frenzy as terrified onlookers scramble to get the hell away from this beast.

El cuento de hadas de Gypsy Rose Blanchard con su marido tras su salida de la cárcel llegó a su fin la semana pasada y ahora sabemos exactamente lo que llevó a la ruptura.

Fuentes con conocimiento directo le dicen a TMZ que Gypsy le ha estado diciendo a su familia y amigos que su exmarido Ryan Anderson se había vuelto súper peleador con ella tras salir de la cárcel y la hacía sentir constantemente como si no pudiera hacer nada bien.

Nos dicen que uno de los principales puntos de fricción en la relación de Gypsy y Ryan eran los celos que sentía por el tiempo que pasaba con su padre, o eso es lo que nuestras fuentes dicen que Gypsy le ha estado diciendo a la gente a su alrededor.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's post-prison fairytale with her husband came to an end last week -- and now ... we know exactly what led up to the split.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ...  Gypsy has been telling family and friends that her estranged hubby, Ryan Anderson, had become super argumentative post-prison release and was constantly making her feel like she couldn't do anything right.

We're told one of the major sticking points in Gypsy and Ryan's relationship was his apparent jealousy over her spending time with her dad -- that's what our sources say Gypsy has been telling people anyway.

Un informe afirmaba que 50 Cent estaba siendo considerado para reemplazar a Diddy como la cara de Ciroc... pero ahora sabemos que era mentira.

Fuentes relacionadas con la marca de vodka le dicen a TMZ que no hay nada de cierto en los rumores o afirmaciones de que 50 es el nombre que se baraja entre los ejecutivos de Ciroc. Todo esto a raíz de que Diddy y Ciroc (y su empresa matriz Diageo) irán por caminos separados a principios de este año.

Incluso un informe llega a citar a un trabajador anónimo de Ciroc que supuestamente le dijo a 50 Cent que él fue la elección inicial para dirigir la empresa el 2007, con esta persona anónima afirmando que Diddy se abalanzó y "robó el acuerdo".

A report claimed that 50 Cent was being eyed to replace Diddy as the face of Ciroc -- something we now know isn't the case ... despite the guy himself seemingly leaning into it.

Sources connected to the vodka brand tell TMZ there's no truth to rumors or claims that Fiddy is the top name getting kicked around among Ciroc executives -- this in the wake of Diddy and Ciroc (and its parent company Diageo) going their separate ways earlier this year.

One report even goes so far as to cite an anonymous Ciroc honcho who supposedly said 50 Cent was actually their initial choice to lead Ciroc way back in 2007 ... with this anonymous person going on to claim that Diddy swooped in and "stole the deal."

Gene Simmons is coming to JoJo Siwa's defense after the internet claimed she was ripping off the iconic rocker's aesthetic with her whole "bad girl" persona ... 'cause the rocker digs it.

The KISS singer tells TMZ ... he likes JoJo's new "demon" look, praising her edgier new vibe as badass, and adding ... anyone hating on her, simply doesn't get it and they might just be jealous.

Gene also says, "Never be ordinary. Always be extraordinary. JoJo is extraordinary and she looks cool."

Michael Jackson's estate is calling BS on an upcoming auction of a "Thriller" jacket ... claiming the auction isn't making it clear MJ never actually wore it in the iconic music video.

In a letter fired off Tuesday to Gotta Have Rock and Roll, the auction house, the estate's attorney, Jonathan Steinsapir, declares -- in no uncertain terms -- the jacket up for sale wasn't on Michael's back at any point during production of the "Thriller" short film.

Jonathan writes there were only 2 genuine "Thriller" jackets worn in the film, and one was auctioned for nearly $2M over a decade ago -- which is 20 times more than the minimum bid GHRR is seeking for their jacket.

The University of Connecticut isn't playing around this year ... with both their men's and women's hoops teams in the Final Four, the U isn't takin' any chances, removing all the light poles from the campus to stop any debauchery square in its tracks!

TMZ Sports talked to UConn on Tuesday -- and with both basketball teams just two wins away from Natty's -- we asked about precautions ... given how crazy things got during last year's celebration after the men won.

Remember, students caused hella damage to the Storrs campus, including ripping down light poles and throwing them through buildings.

Kroy Biermann's divorce drama with Kim Zolciak is hitting a new rough patch -- he claims she's dragging her feet on handing over important financial docs, so now he's simply exposing her alleged spending himself.

TMZ has obtained Kroy's response to Kim's motion to compel handing over her financial docs, and he's suggesting her excuses -- about protecting the kids' privacy and fears he's leaking confidential info to the media -- are just smokescreens to keep her spending habits under wraps.

In Kroy's docs, he's attached a spreadsheet of those spending habits during their marriage -- and he claims she dropped more than $600K from 2016 to 2023 ... mostly on swanky gear from Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Ave, Chanel, Versace, and Agent Provocateur.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard isn't hooking up with her ex-fiancé, Ken Urker, despite getting matching tattoos with him -- but he does have her best interest at heart -- much more so than her husband ... so says Ken's mom anyway.

Raina Williams tells TMZ that Ken recently flew from his home in Texas to go hang out with Gypsy in Louisiana amid her ongoing separation from Ryan Anderson -- and the reason, we're told, is because he wanted to be there for support ... and serve as a rock for GRB.

Ken's mother says he told her he'd always be there for her, and even though they're not together anymore ... we're told Ken felt compelled to be with Gypsy during this hard time.