Music

Gene Simmons is finally kissing his Beverly Hills mansion goodbye ... and now it's going to get a facelift.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the KISS frontman just closed on the sale of his two-acre property in Benedict Canyon for $16 million.

He's getting less than asking ... as we first told you, Gene put the home up for sale back in October for $22 million but couldn't unload it, so then he made some renovations and relisted it in March for $25 mil.

Our sources say the buyer is Max Nobel of Nobel Development Group ... and we're told he's planning to remodel the estate.

The property is 16,000-square-feet with 7 bedrooms ... or now, the bells and whistles include a 60-foot water slide, professional size tennis court and parking for 35 cars.

We’re told Gene bought the property back in October 1986 for $1,337,500.

Kelly Clarkson has been a single woman for nearly 2 months, TMZ has learned, but a clerical error has thrown everyone off the scent.

Brandon Blackstock's lawyer, Samantha Spector, filed legal docs which lays out what has been decided so far in the divorce and what issues remain. There's a notation in the docs, saying the actual divorce will become final on 1-7-2022. That obviously makes it seem like Kelly and Brandon are still married.

We've learned this was a screw-up by the clerk, who mistakenly wrote 1-7-2022. In fact, Kelly and Brandon have been divorced since August 3. We're told the clerk is correcting the mistake.

TMZ broke the story ... the judge has already upheld the prenup -- something Brandon was aggressively contesting. There was a trial and the judge said Brandon signed it fair and square. That said, the property issues should be fairly easy to resolve, although in a nasty divorce -- which this is -- nothing should be taken for granted.

Kelly's income is separate, and considerable ... she earns $1.9 million a month. Brandon makes $10k a month.

21 Savage's notorious ICE case from 2019 is circling back again ... the rapper's now facing gun and drugs charges in connection with the original incident with ICE agents.

According to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office ... Savage is facing 2 new charges related to his arrest in Atlanta back in Feb. 2019 -- possession of a schedule II controlled substance, and possession of a gun.

The rapper turned himself in to authorities Thursday and bonded out right away. According to 21's lawyer, Charles Kuck, this is a state law charge related to his incident with ICE 2.5 years ago.

Kuck tells us, "Last night’s manufactured charges are yet another example of how our justice system, from ICE down to the local level, unjustly targets young Black men who seek to exercise their rights. There is no legitimate basis for these charges nor for ICE’s continued antics, and we will fight until Mr. Joseph is justly vindicated.”

As we reported back then ... Savage was arrested and placed in ICE custody because it was discovered that his visa expired and he's been here illegally for years. ICE is still trying to deport Savage to England ... something the rapper has been fighting.

What TMZ has now learned, is that during the Feb. 2019 arrest ... authorities allege 21 threw a bottle of liquid that had codeine in it out of his car, and a handgun was found inside the vehicle.

Hence, he's now been formally charged with drug and gun possession as his upcoming hearing in immigration court approaches. It's set for November.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner just sold their L.A. residence ... unloading the beautiful Jae Omar-designed sanctuary for top dollar.

The couple sold their 15,000-square-foot house for $15.2 million. The new buyers will enjoy the property's 6 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms and 3 half bathrooms. Omar, a famous designer favored by A-list celebs, specifically designed the home for the famous couple.

The home features beautiful outdoor living options the open-style kitchen is great too.

There's a lap pool, spa, custom wine cellar, gym, theater room, and 6-car garage. And, get this ... the home also features a 2-bedroom guest house outfitted as an entertainer's paradise ... with an aquarium, cigar humidor, kegerator, disco lights and even a DJ station.

Too tired to hit the golf course? There's also a putting green!!!

The sale comes on the heels of Joe and Sophie dropping $11 million for a Miami mansion.

Universal Music is on the verge of commemorating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's "Nevermind" with several multi-format reissues ... but the grown-up baby on the iconic album cover has one message -- don't use the damn genitalia pic!!!

Spencer Elden -- the man who was the naked baby pictured in a swimming pool on Nirvana's 1991 iconic album cover -- has already sued over the image. His lawyer, Maggie Mabie, tells TMZ ... she's demanding Universal redact the image of Elden's genitalia from all future album covers.

What's more ... Mabie says it's time to "end this child exploitation and violation of privacy." She says every year, during the anniversary of the release of "Nevermind" ... Elden has to brace himself for renewed, unwanted attention from the media and fans alike.

She says with the 30th anniversary of the album release slated for Friday, Elden's once again fears he'll be subjected to public scorn and ridicule.

Then there's this ... Universal is planning to release several multi-format reissues beginning November 12. There will be a total of 94 audio and video tracks -- including 70 previously unreleased -- made available in digital, CD and single-disc vinyl with a bonus 7-inch. The reissues have all been digitally remastered. The video tracks are CD and Blu-ray.

That's all fine and dandy ... but Elden wants Universal to quit using the famous naked baby on future album covers.

Jennifer Hough -- the attempted rape victim of Nicki Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty -- says she's been bombarded with hate-filled messages from Nicki's fans ever since giving her first on-camera interview about her lawsuit against the couple.

Hough's getting a flurry of disturbing direct messages and some threats ... according to her attorney, Tyrone Blackburn. He tells TMZ it all started immediately after Jennifer went on "The Real" earlier this week.

We've obtained some of the DMs sent to Jennifer, which include inflammatory insults, someone wishing death upon her, and we're told there was also a concerning tweet in which someone shared her personal contact information.

Blackburn says the scary response from Nicki's fans reinforces what Jennifer expressed in her 'Real' interview -- she's had to live her life in constant fear for years, change her phone, move and quit jobs ... all because of her connection to Petty.

If you aren't familiar, Jennifer was the victim in Petty's 1995 conviction for first-degree attempted rape in NY -- which is why he has to register as a sex offender. You may recall, Petty was charged with not registering in California, and recently took a plea deal.

In August, Hough sued Nicki and Kenneth for allegedly harassing and threatening her to not speak about the incident. On a more positive note, Blackburn says Jennifer's TV appearance has inspired other women to tell their own stories, and they've reached out to say they're standing behind her.

It's that time of the year again -- "The Masked Singer" is on a roll ... and wouldn't ya know it, there might be Kardashian clout among the contestants. You heard it here first, folks.

Production sources tell TMZ ... somebody in and around the Kardashian empire will be all costumed up for this season from head to toe, and if that manifests like we're hearing ... they'll be singing their heart out as part of next week's Group B premiere.

Kiiiinda makes you wonder if Kim K was on to something last week at the Met Gala ... or perhaps telegraphing what's to come on the big stage. She herself was fully covered in something very similar. 😅

Anyway, we know what you're thinking -- the Kardashian clan is pretty damn big, so it could literally be anybody. True ... but you gotta figure that if it's any one of the sisters (sans Khloe and Kendall, who are tall AF) the costume they get stuffed in might match that height.

One person we're sure it WON'T be is ... Caitlyn Jenner. She showed up last season as the Phoenix, and got the boot relatively early. So, yeah ... they ain't gonna be double-dipping there. It's gotta be someone else entirely -- only question is ... who???

Oh and FWIW, we've learned that one of the BEST singers this season will be unmasked in the first few weeks ... in what many backstage are calling one of the biggest upsets ever.

Drake went all out for a shin dig down in Miami ... renting out an entire Dave & Buster's and partying the night away with tons of celebs and scores of twerking hotties.

The fun and games went down Wednesday night at the D&B in Miami's Dolphin Mall ... and other celebs in attendance included Future, Yella Beezy and Alexis Skyy.

Folks who were there told us everything was free, courtesy of Drake, and the rapper played his number one album, "Certified Lover Boy."

As you can see, Drake's party people were having a blast ... the tunes were bumping and there were about 1,000 ladies in the house, many of whom got up on the arcade games and started twerking!!!

NBA star Dwight Howard busted his ass getting ready for "The Masked Singer" ... taking singing and dancing lessons in preparation for his performance on the hit TV show.

TMZ Sports talked to the 35-year-old Lakers center after he was eliminated from the FOX show Wednesday night, following his performance of "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard, while wearing an extravagant Octopus costume.

"I did singing lessons. I did dancing lessons. I even did my own stuff, my own homework, drills that I never thought you'd have to do for singing."

Bottom line ... whether it's on the basketball court or stage, Howard doesn't like to lose.

"I was infatuated with The Masked Singer, and trying to win this show. It was crazy."

Unfortunately for Dwight, he was eliminated at the end of episode 1 ... but let's be honest, he was (literally) at a giant disadvantage.

Howard is 6'10" ... and regardless of the costume concealing his face and body, it was still clear the Octopus was a really tall person.

So, when it came time for judges Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke and Nicole Scherzinger to guess who was in the outfit, they were all in the ballpark ... and The Hangover star actually correctly guessed Dwight.

FYI, Jenny guessed Dennis Rodman (6'7"). Nicole, Shaquille O'Neal (7'1").

We asked Howard what he was thinking as Jeong guessed it was him.

"I was like 'dang, he got me!' I couldn't believe that he got me, but I knew he had a chance because we actually did a commercial together. It was an Adidas commercial."

But, even though he was axed on night 1, Dwight says his time on the TMS was amazing.

"I'm sorry that I didn't make it to the end of the show, but I had so much fun. It was one of the best things that I've ever done in my life."

"The Masked Singer" is off and running -- and so are their wild card contestants ... one of whom locked lips once upon a time with Jenny McCarthy. Question is ... who??? 👀

Here's the deal ... we've learned there will be two costumed crooners on Thursday's episode that come out of left field and are unpredictable in every sense of the word ... making 'em way harder to figure out than perhaps any other masked singer in the past. But ... we have a really good clue.

Production sources tell TMZ .... one of these wild cards actually made out with JMC in the past. Now, that isn't to say you can look at Jenny's dating history and figure it out, because, let's face it ... making out and dating are not necessarily one in the same. HOWEVER, we're told it could be someone she dated ... emphasis on COULD.

There's the Jim Carrey era, the Brian Urlacher days ... and then the Chris Hardwick rumors from MTV's 'Singled Out' days. We're not saying for sure it's any of these guys  -- but this is something of a road map.  The question ... is this the right road?

BTW, related but unrelated ... there's this new costume this season that it's absolutely wild -- and unlike anything any of us have seen before.

They call it ... Mother Nature, and it looks like just it sounds. Word is, the 'Masked Singer' team has been trying to get this puppy showcased for years. We're told producers felt the getup might be cursed, because they tried it twice before but each time the contestant had to drop out right before the show for personal reasons -- one was a Golden Globe-nominated actress and the other was a 2-time Emmy-winning actress -- but now, it's finally happening.

If Jamie Spears opened the door to end his daughter's 13-year-long conservatorship, then Britney and her lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, have just barreled through that door, because they've just filed documents setting the stage to end the conservatorship this Fall.

Rosengart just filed legal docs in which he agrees with Jamie Spears on one point -- the conservatorship no longer serves a legitimate purpose and should end immediately. Furthermore, Rosengart agrees with Jamie that the conservatorship should be terminated without any further medical evaluation ... something Britney expressed to the judge back in June.

Rosengart says there have been changed circumstances that warrant the end of the conservatorship ... namely, the judge already allowed Britney to select her own lawyer ... the point being she has the "capacity and capability to identify, engage, and instruct counsel of her own choice."

In the docs, Rosengart quotes Jamie's document, "If Ms. Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr. Spears believes that she should get that chance." In effect, Brit and her lawyer are saying, True That!

Britney is asking that a "termination plan" be formulated immediately so the conservatorship could wind down in its entirety.

Now, the hearing a week from today is to get Jamie out of the conservatorship immediately, and Rosengart offered a litany of reasons why that must happen. He claims Jamie has raked in millions and he needs to be out immediately.

Rosengart says Jamie never had any business being a conservator ... he has no training in economics or finance and his own finances were in disarray.

Britney's lawyer says the judge should appoint a conservator of her estate on a temporary basis to replace Jamie while a plan is put in place to end the conservatorship altogether.

And, Rosengart confirms TMZ's story earlier this month ... that a family law attorney is already drafting a prenup between Britney and Sam, and the conservatorship of the estate may be needed to validate it.

Introducing the newest member of the Orlando Magic ... a 6'2" guard from Fayetteville, North Carolina ... J. Cole!!!

Okay, so maybe not quite ... but the superstar rapper DID work up a sweat with a bunch of Magic players at a workout this week -- and he looked GOOD!!

Of course, Cole is known for his skills on the mic AND the court ... and rap legend/former NBA hopeful Master P told us back in 2020 the rapper was interested in pursuing a career in the league.

Now, Cole was able to put his skills to the test against guys like Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton ... with the Magic posting footage of the squad hooping on Wednesday.

The vid is impressive -- Cole holds his own against the pros by draining three-point shots and dishing dimes.

Cole even got to chat it up with the guys after ... saying, "Any time I get to act like a kid around professionals, I appreciate it."

The Magic even gave Cole his own custom #15 jersey to top it all off!!

But, does Cole really have what it takes to be in the NBA?? Ex-pro Larry Sanders certainly thinks so -- he told us back in August 2020 the dude could legit make it if he worked at it.

Keep ballin' out, J.!!

Jenny McCarthy's all geared up for the new season of the insanely popular singing competition, "The Masked Singer," and says it will lead to a new kind of reveal ... of the judges' egos.

Jenny's one of 4 judges on the show -- along with Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger -- and she joined "TMZ Live" Wednesday to talk about its surprise success ... and what they're doing to keep it fresh on Season 6.

If ya haven't heard ... there's a brand new elimination twist -- the Take It Off Buzzer -- that allows the judges to guess the contestant's identity at any time if they are confident enough. And, if they're right ... that singer has to reveal themselves and go home.

Like Jenny says, it's a total game-changer and could lead to some glorious moments for the judges ... or humiliate them if they're wrong!!!

McCarthy also reminisced about how stunned she was when her hubby, Donnie Wahlberg, was revealed as one of the masked performers on Season 5 ... but listen to who she says really gave her a surprise as far as singing talent goes.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are moving their family down south for the winter, or so it seems, because they just scooped up a luxury home ... while still having 2 others on the market.

The still-pretty-new parents -- their daughter Willa recently turned 1 -- have bought a home in Miami for a whopping $11 million ... a waterfront property located in the exclusive island community, Bay Point.

The place is a mansion -- 10,416 square feet with 6-beds, 8.5-baths, gym, swimming pool, spa, sauna, fireplace, wine cellar, indoor gardens and a koi pond ... and plenty of space to raise a toddler.

It seems the singer and the "Game of Thrones" star got a pretty good deal too, because the place hit the market for $12 mil last year.

What's interesting about this home purchase is the timing -- Joe and Sophie just listed their 15,000 sq. ft. Encino mansion for nearly $17 mil in early summer ... but it doesn't seem it's sold yet.

Likewise, they listed their Manhattan pad about a year ago for nearly $6 mil, but there's no report of a sale there either.

Britney Spears paid tribute to her teenage sons who she says are growing up way too fast for her.

The singer got emotional expressing a mother's love after Sean and Jayden celebrated their birthdays last week. Jayden turned 15 on September 12 and Sean turned 16 two days later ... Brit shares custody of her kids with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline.

Britney said, "My boys' birthdays were last week ... and unfortunately they are growing up and want to do their own things ... I have to ask their permission to post them because they are extremely independent little men."

She said it's astonishing to her how fast they're growing up ... literally and figuratively. She said it makes her crazy "because they are so tall and geez they are still growing." What's more ... Brit said the boys went to a dance last week ... and it made her emotional.

Britney said, "They went to a dance last week and I cried for two days. My babies in a suit!!! It's crazy!!! And girls get ready cause my boys are so handsome!!!"

The tribute, of course, comes one day after the singer deleted her Instagram. Remember, she took it down for all of 7 days but returned to update her fans about her weekend getaway to Palm Springs to celebrate Sam Asghari popping the question.

Lil Baby needs to bend his ear for a minute ... celeb jeweler Ben Baller's offering sound advice on how the rapper can avoid another fake Patek Philippe watch fiasco.

We got Ben out in WeHo Tuesday morning to get his take on the "Drip Too Hard" rapper dropping $400,000 for one of the most luxurious watches in the world ... only to find out it was a total fake.

Ben -- who has done sick bling work for the likes of Elon Musk, Kid Cudi and A$AP Rocky, to name just a few -- says it all comes down to building relationships. How, specifically?

The celeb jeweler tells us Lil Baby's best bet is to hit up Patek Philippe authorized dealers on and buy small, establish yourself as a loyal client and build your way up.

For the uninitiated ... Lil Baby was hyped about copping the 40th-anniversary Nautilus Patek Philippe watch. Problem was ... after posting a pic on Instagram ahead of his arrival at the Met Gala, watch aficionados realized -- and alerted Lil Baby -- his watch was a fake.

The rapper was furious ... to the point he publicly called out the jeweler who sold him the watch, Rafaello & Co. The jeweler has since admitted it sold the rapper a fake by mistake.

The company also issued a public apology, gave Lil Baby a full refund and gifted him 4 diamond rings "as a token of our sincere apologies."

That's cool and all ... but Ben Baller's other big advice for Lil Baby -- never, EVER buy a Patek Philippe from a jeweler. The watch game right now is so insane ... there's only one place you'd wanna go to spend this kind of money for a luxurious watch.