Celebrity Health

Barbara Walters, not just a legendary broadcaster but beloved in New York social circles, has been living her life within the confines of her New York apartment, showing significant signs of age and receiving almost no visitors ... TMZ has learned.

The 87-year-old icon has become increasingly forgetful and confused ... sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ.

She almost never leaves her apartment, we're told, because she has an intense fear of falling down and breaking a hip ... something that often results in a downward spiral for older people.

Barbara does not want to receive guests. We're told she has shut herself off to almost everyone at ABC, and she only sees a few people who have been close to her.

Barbara does have a trainer who sees her weekly.

As one source says, the effects of aging are clearly present.

Usher and Lil Wayne have the right idea for coping mechanisms ... make more music, according to Jermaine Dupri.

We got Jermaine outside of Craig's in WeHo Thursday night and asked him how Usher has been holding up since news of his herpes scandal broke. Jermaine's been in the studio with Usher and it sounds like Usher's head is focused on other things than drama.

As for Lil Wayne, Jermaine seems to think him going back to the studio so soon after his recent hospitalization from seizures isn't a bad idea either.

Lil Wayne's back grinding in the recording studio -- despite doctor's orders to cool out -- and he has an All-Star guest with him.

Damian Lillard was hanging with Weezy Thursday at a studio we believe to be in Los Angeles. Lillard captioned the pic "#Confirmed" ... letting fans know the rumors are true, they're doing a track together. This is also the first time we've seen Wayne since his hospitalization earlier this week.

TMZ broke the story ... Wayne suffered multiple seizures Sunday in Chicago. Doctors released him Tuesday, but recommended he chill at home for at least 2 weeks.

So much for that. He and the Portland Trail Blazers superstar clearly had work to do.

That's pretty much what mega-producer Scott Storch said when he posted his own shot with Wayne.

Ric Flair ain't just not dead ... The Nature Boy's doing so well, he could mount a WWE comeback -- so says Brooke Hogan, who just talked to Ric on a trip to see her dad.

Hulk Hogan's daughter told us Naitch was so fired up (WOOOOO!!) ... she wouldn't put it past him to return to the ring after he completes his recovery.

"He sounded like he was all full of piss and vinegar," Brooke told TMZ Sports.

"Guys like Ric are pretty indestructible ... they keep comin' back."

Flair's buddy, Stone Cold Steve Austin, basically said the same thing ... so don't rule it out.

As for Hulk ... Brooke says he's looking great at 64 -- and told us the one thing that would 100% get him to throw down again.

Usher just fired back at the 2 women and a man who claimed he exposed them to genital herpes ... and he says it's all BS.

Usher's legal team just filed a response to the California herpes lawsuit. He denies everything ... specifically, their claims he had sexual contact with them, and the claim he exposed them to herpes.

One of the women, Quantasia Sharpton, said in a news conference with her lawyer, Lisa Bloom, she did not contract herpes when she allegedly had sex with him after celebrating her 19th birthday at an Usher concert ... but she claims he exposed her to the STD.

Usher, through his lawyers Laura Wasser and Zia Modabber, also raises an interesting argument ... the 3 plaintiffs can't win because they have "unclean hands." That means he's alleging they did something wrong, although he's not specific.

And there's this ... Usher claims the 2 women and the man don't have a legal claim because anything Usher might have done was unintentional. The intimation ... if he had herpes, he didn't know it at the time.

Lil Wayne's manager, Cortez Bryant, says the only thing Lil Wayne is addicted to is work, and brushed off an early retirement, despite Sunday's hospitalization for seizures.

We got Cortez at LAX Wednesday and he told us Weezy has no plans to slow down. Doctors have sidelined him for 2 weeks, but Cortez says Wayne will be back.

As for what caused the recent episode, Cortez didn't blame it on lean, but did offer an explanation.

Wayne's been spotted double-cupping at shows throughout the year, but seemed fine the night before he was taken to the hospital.

Aaron Carter's trying to buy a gun and has threatened to harm family members ... at least according to anonymous callers who got cops to visit Aaron's house 3 times in a 24-hour span.

According to docs obtained by TMZ ... someone called St. Petersburg PD in Florida at 11:47 AM Tuesday saying Aaron has been trying to buy a gun in the last couple weeks. Cops went to his house, but no one answered the door.

They returned at 2:12 PM after another caller said Aaron needed psychiatric evaluation because he refused medical attention after a car accident. Police discovered Aaron had indeed totaled his BMW, and broke his nose, but was otherwise fine.

The third incident came at 4:18 AM Wednesday, when the caller said Aaron was threatening to harm family and others. Cops showed up, knocked on the door but someone shut off a light and closed the blinds.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will expand their brood by 1 come Winter.

We're told baby #3 is due at the end of January.

TMZ broke the story, Kim and Kanye hired a surrogate because she has a medical condition -- placenta accreta -- that became extremely serious during her second pregnancy and we're told it could become life-threatening if she tried to carry another baby to term.

They paid $45k for the surrogate, who is prohibited from smoking, drinking or doing drugs during the pregnancy. Also, no hot tubs, hair dye and raw fish.

We're told so far, so good.

Ryan Phillippe's "freak" leg injury that landed him in a hospital bed was from a UTV running it over ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the "Shooter" star tell us he was off-roading back in July when the utility task vehicle rolled over, so Ryan and a stranger tried to flip it back on its wheels. Problem was -- the parking brake wasn't on, so when they turned it upright it started rolling downhill towards a crowd.

We're told Phillippe rushed to grab the UTV's steering wheel and steer it to safety, but it was moving too fast and yanked him underneath ... causing the full weight of it to run over his right leg and crush it.

As we reported ... Ryan gave a thumbs-up update of his injury shortly after it happened, explaining it was a freak accident and not work-related.

Lil Wayne's been released from the hospital, and we're told he's taking a break from work to get himself right ... on doctor's orders.

Sources close to the rapper tell TMZ ... the seizures that forced him into the hospital Sunday were due to a super busy schedule mixed with the fact he was getting NO sleep. We're told the attack had nothing to do with him frequently sipping lean.

As we reported ... Weezy was the picture of health onstage at back-to-back concerts before the seizures struck. However, we're told he was going out after shows, and then straight to the studio, and the lack of rest triggered the emergency.

Justin Bieber was visibly shaken by news that his pal Lil Wayne had to be hospitalized -- and also broke some news himself ... saying he's got no beef with Floyd Mayweather.

Justin was leaving Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills when our photog let him know Weezy had suffered multiple seizures in Chicago over the weekend. You can hear it in his voice ... Justin had no idea.

Then the convo turned to his other famous friend, and Justin explained what really went down between himself and Mayweather. He claims it was just about "setting boundaries."

Maria Menounos is looking like a million bucks just a few months after brain surgery ... and she thanks her fiance and Sylvester Stallone for making it happen.

We got Maria out in NYC with her boo, Keven Undergaro, and she tells us she's happy, healthy and cancer-free ... enjoying living in the moment. Our guy asked her what's helped her recovery process and, along with her man ... she gives major props to another inspiring dude -- Rocky Balboa.

As we reported ... the E! News anchor left her gig after discovering she had a brain tumor and had surgery to remove it. Maria tells us her mom -- who's battling brain cancer herself -- is also doing well ... which is awesome.

Keep moving forward, ladies!!!

Lil Wayne continues playing with fire by downing sizzurp, and there's plenty of visual evidence he's been doing it regularly for months leading up to his latest seizure.

TMZ broke the story ... Wayne was hospitalized Sunday night in Chicago after suffering multiple epileptic seizures. He's always insisted the attacks are purely due to his epilepsy -- but it's known that large amounts of sizzurp, or lean, can trigger seizures.

You'll recall, Weezy was hitting the stuff hard in June 2016, when he suffered another round of seizures. We wondered if he'd eased off since then, but these photos -- from February through August of this year -- show him consistently rocking the double cup ... commonly used for the codeine cough syrup concoction.

As we told you, Wayne canceled a Sunday night Vegas gig due to hospitalization. As for his condition now -- we've reached out to his camp, but no word back.

8:55 PM PT -- A rep for Wayne confirms he suffered multiple seizures and his Vegas show has been canceled. We're told he's currently resting.

Lil Wayne was hospitalized yet again this weekend for his ongoing bout with epilepsy and the seizures that come with it, TMZ has learned, and this time it might have torpedoed Sunday night's Vegas gig.

Multiple sources tell us Wayne was hospitalized Sunday in Chicago after he was found unconscious in his hotel room at the Westin on Michigan Avenue after suffering at least one seizure.

He was rushed to Northwestern Memorial, where we're told he suffered yet another seizure. Our sources say his team tried to have him discharged late Sunday afternoon so he could make it to his Vegas show.

However, doctors advised against the discharge, saying he should be grounded for a few days. Wayne has suffered seizures while flying before, and the doctors felt it was too risky. He very well may still be at the hospital.

Wayne is supposed to perform at Drais Beachclub in Vegas at midnight alongside Rae Sremmurd, although it's unclear if he's still planning to show as of this writing.

Seizures have plagued Wayne for years. Just last year he had to cancel an appearance in Vegas because of his epilepsy.

Let it be known worldwide ... "Nature Boy" Ric Flair is back, baby!!! WOOOOOO!!!

The legendary wrestler just posted a video -- while wearing an incredible t-shirt -- to all his fans saying he's "back up and running."

This is the first time Ric's spoken in person since his medical emergency hospitalized him on August 11, although he did tweet last week that he'd be back.

Naitch made good on his promise just a few days later with this epic promo thanking all his fans for the love and support ... and promising to see everyone very soon.

Hell yeah.

Time for a medical update on Isaiah Thomas' hip ... courtesy of his good friend (and former NBA player) Jason Terry.

Obviously, IT's hip has been all over the news -- with the Cavs almost pulling out of a trade with the Celtics due to concerns over the injury he suffered in the playoffs.

So, we spoke with Terry -- who's super tight with Thomas -- and he essentially told Cavs fans to CHILLLLLLL ... the hip is solid.

In fact, Terry says Isaiah is so good, the Cavs should build the whole team around him if LeBron James bails again ... and if that happens, "The Brink's truck WILL come out."