Family

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.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined forces with First Daughter Ivanka Trump to do battle on behalf of women in business.

The 2 met at the White House to promote women in business. They both spoke to President Trump and female business executives.

Madonna had multiple good reasons to end her custody war over Rocco ... if she didn't, her bid to adopt two kids from Malawi would have come to a grinding halt.

The judge who green lit Madonna's adoption last week spent a long time understanding the circumstances surrounding her custody dispute with ex-hubby Guy Ritchie ... so says an official from the Malawi courts. We're told the dispute was of "paramount concern" because the judge didn't want the adopted kids thrown into a "toxic" family environment.

Since the case settled and all seemed copacetic with Guy, the judge gave the thumbs-up.

As we reported, Rocco bailed on Madonna a year ago during her tour and moved to London to be with Guy. Rocco now spends the school year in London and summers in NYC.

A court-appointed guardian will travel to the U.S. and evaluate the family dynamic before the adoption's finalized.

If you were impressed with Lonzo Ball's little brother, LaMelo, notching 92 points in a high school game this week get used to it, 'cause the Ball brothers' dad says it'll probably happen again next year.

TMZ Sports talked to LaVar Ball and he told us the astounding 92 points 'Melo scored Tuesday night was a hint of what the 15-year-old will do next year when he doesn't have to share the team with his brother, LiAngelo.

"That's a preview of what he's gonna do ... on the fact that Melo is my only son that won't have to share the spotlight."

When we we asked if it was possible the kid could average 40 or maybe even 50 points a game next year, Ball's answer was simple ... "Easily."

BTW -- LaMelo pops into the video at the end ... and even though he's a basketball wizard, it's obvious he's something else, just a humble 10th grade kid who lets his dad do the talking for him.

And pops is really good at his job in this video ... especially when he gave it to the haters who've been criticizing the way 'Melo got his 92.

Robin Thicke isn't letting his bitter custody war with Paula Patton sour him on being a parent.

Robin was all smiles Friday at LAX when asked what people should know about him as a father. Of course, Paula's accused him of spanking their son too hard -- and just recently allowed him to begin having monitored visits with 6-year-old Julian.

If the ordeal's getting him down, Robin didn't let it show.

Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter, Maddie, appears to be out of the woods ... and her adorable little smile's all the proof you need.

Jamie Watson posted a photo with 8-year-old Maddie in a helicopter and saying they're headed home after a grueling week in the hospital following the scary ATV accident. Jamie thanked first responders at University and Children's Hospital in New Orleans.

As we reported, Maddie was awake and breathing on her own Tuesday, a family spokesperson said there's no apparent neurological damage.

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!

AZ Cardinals running back Chris Johnson is definitely up for the Son of the Week honors -- CJ2K just surprised his mom with his BRAND NEW RANGE ROVER ... and the video is great!

Why the new car? Why not? He's rich and she wanted a new whip. It's that simple.

Johnson's mom couldn't have been happier -- she actually starts busting out a DJ Khaled "I Got The Keys" dance.

The nephew ordered to stay away from Katherine Jackson says he knows what is really going on ... some of Michael Jackson's siblings are plotting a money grab against the MJ estate.

A judge clearly sees it differently, siding with Katherine, who claims Trent Jackson has been fleecing her out of money and isolating her from her family. Trent, who Katherine says she is now scared he may physically harm her, has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from her and her home.

Sources close to Trent tell TMZ, he's adamant he did nothing untoward and believes some of MJ's brothers and sisters want him out of the way so they have a clear path to Katherine and MJ's estate.

We're told Trent believes some of Katherine's kids will now try and influence her to put pressure on Michael's estate to give her a bigger piece of the pie, and he believes they want to cut themselves in on the action.

Here's the problem with Trent's theory. Katherine has no right to simply get more money because she wants it. She gets a healthy stipend, and the duty of those in charge of the estate is to preserve and grow the assets for the benefit of Michael's 3 kids and his designated charities.

Madonna's third time adopting was a charm because what usually takes 3 to 7 months was accomplished in just 2 weeks ... according to Malawi court officials.

Madonna first applied to adopt Esther and Stella on January 25, which is when the story first got out ... and when she flatly denied she was adopting. Court spokesperson Mlenga Mvula tells us Madge returned this past Tuesday to get the court's sign-off on the adoption. Just like that her brood grew to 6.

We're told this isn't a case of celeb favoritism, but more about Madonna already going through the process twice in Malawi. We're told the court took that into consideration, as well as her extensive charitable work in the country.

It's not a done deal -- a government appointed guardian will travel to the U.S. with Madonna and the girls to do a Home Study Report on how she cares for them. Mvula says that could take up to 12 months, but once it's complete ... the adoption will be fulfilled.

As for the twins -- we're told their mother died 5 days after giving birth, and their father put them in an orphanage because he had 5 other kids and couldn't afford the extra mouths to feed.

Although it was a quickie adoption, Madonna's known Stella and Esther for a while. She posted this pic of Lourdes with them at the orphanage last summer.

We're told the 4-year-old girls have no idea about Madonna's fame ... she's just Mom now.

Katherine Jackson is the victim of elder abuse at the hands of her nephew ... according to legal docs she just filed in Los Angeles.

Katherine just obtained a restraining order against Trent Lamar Jackson. In her papers she claims he is an "abusive con-man" who manipulated Mrs. Jackson for years so he could take control of her finances, stay rent-free in her guest house and estrange her from her kids.

She believes Trent was taking money from her accounts and says she has to hide in her closet so she can speak freely to her kids. Katherine says Rebbie and some of her other children are willing to testify against Trent.

Katherine also fears physical harm, saying, "Now that he knows his conduct will be revealed, she fears what he may do to her upon her return." She's currently in London visiting Janet.

The 86-year-old says she tried to fire Trent from his job as her nearly 6-figure driver on February 3, with the Sheriff present, but Trent took off just as deputies and her lawyer arrived.

Madonna now admits she adopted 4-year-old twin girls from Malawi -- something she flatly denied 2 weeks ago when she was in the African nation.

Madonna posted a pic with the girls, Esther and Stella, to announce she'd officially "completed the process" of adopting them. She's now adopted 4 children from Malawi -- she got David in 2006 and Mercy in 2009.

Madonna insisted she was not adopting, and only doing work with her charity last month. It now seems clear she lied in an attempt to keep a low profile until the adoption was stamped and approved ... most likely to avoid the criticism she got after David's adoption.

You'll recall his biological father came forward and said Madonna swooped in to get David after another woman was set to adopt him.

For the record, she now has 6 kids. Your move, Angelina Jolie.

Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter, Maddie, is now breathing on her own as she recovers from the horrific ATV accident that left her submerged for several minutes.

A Spears family rep says the 8-year-old girl regained consciousness on Tuesday ... "Doctors were able to remove the ventilator today and she is awake and talking." Maddie is still receiving oxygen, but the rep told People it appears she did not suffer any neurological damage.

TMZ broke the story ... Maddie was driving a Polaris ATV Sunday when it flipped and submerged her in a pond.

Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter, Maddie, probably should not have been a driver or a passenger in the Polaris that flipped over and critically injured her, and we've learned there's been a big problem with the company's ATVs rolling over.

The Polaris in question, the RZR 170, has an instruction manual which reads in part, "Never allow a child under age 10 to operate or ride as a passenger in this vehicle." There is a qualifier ... "Permit continued use only if you [the parent] determine that your child has the ability and maturity to operate safely."

Maddie is not close to 10 ... she's 8 years old.

We've also found lawsuits involving RZRs that flip over. In one case, the RZR -- not the 170 -- rolled and the metal portions of the roll cage pinned the driver's head and neck, fracturing his spine.

There's another case in which a RZR flipped and the driver was severely injured when the roll cage collapsed on her.

We contacted the company that appears to have sold Maddie's family the RZR 170, but they had no comment other than to offer prayers to the child.

A spokesperson for Polaris tells us, "The safety of our riders is our absolute top priority. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."

TMZ broke the story ... Maddie was critically injured Sunday when her RZR flipped over and submerged into a pond, trapping her underwater for several minutes as her mother and stepfather frantically tried to remove her seat belt.

Gigi and Bella Hadid must have really wanted their mom to move to NYC with them ... 'cause she's dumping her L.A. pad and heading East.

Yolanda Hadid just listed her L.A. condo after living there for little more than a year. She wants about $5 mil for the sky-high view from the 4,000 sq. ft home in the famed Westwood Corridor.

Mama Hadid bought it for $4.59 mil, and it includes a private elevator foyer, floor-to-ceiling windows, crystal chandeliers and a separate guest suite in the building.

As for what prompted the move ... we're told Yolanda just wants to be closer to her kids. Even her son, Anwar, is modeling in NYC.

Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter, Maddie, got a Polaris ATV for her 7th birthday and it's matching up as the one in which she was critically injured.

Jamie surprised her daughter in June 2015 with the off-road vehicle. TMZ broke the story, Maddie was riding in a Polaris Sunday when it flipped over into a pond, submerging her for 2 minutes as her mom and stepdad frantically tried to unfasten her seat belt.

Britney asked for people to pray for her niece, who remains in critical but stable condition.

J.R. Smith's miracle continues ... the NBA star finally got to hold his preemie daughter (born after only 21 weeks) ... and says it's one of the greatest days of his life.

As we previously reported, Smith's wife gave birth to baby Dakota in early January almost 5 months before her due date. Dakota only weighed 1 pound at birth.

Now, more than a month later ... Dakota is still fighting and doctors determined she's strong enough to allow her parents to hold her in the NICU.

Smith posted a photo of their first "skin to skin" session. Smith wrote, "Today is one of the greatest days of my life. Today I get to hold my youngest for the first time! GOD is GREAT! #DakotaStrong."

J.R.'s entire family has been by Dakota's side at the hospital -- even reading to her as she continues to battle.