Music

Kelly Clarkson's recent step back from her popular talk show isn't a cause for alarm despite all the online rumors ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... the singer-turned-TV personality has been noticeably absent from "The Kelly Clarkson Show" since early last week -- disappearing suddenly just before a show and abruptly forcing actor Simu Liu into an impromptu hosting role.

KC returned for a couple episodes last week ... but, she hasn't been onstage since March 5 -- and, it led to a whole lot of online speculation about her health.

Tank is the newest bright-eyed star on Broadway with his new role in Alicia Keys' "Hell's Kitchen" and he's learning and respecting everything about the process ... including the ticket prices!!!

We spoke to Tank ahead of his big debut in 'HK' about the growing outrage in the NYC area ... Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal's "Othello" going rate of nearly $1K per ticket!!!

It's no different than their box office draw as movie titans ... Tank says both Denzel and Jake have earned the right to charge what they want, but audiences should still budget reasonably to partake in the theater arts!!!

Dawn Robinson, the leading voice for R&B powerhouses En Vogue, Lucy Pearl, and even Dr. Dre's Firm supergroup at one point, is cleaning out her closet ... revealing she's been homeless, sleeping in her car for nearly 3 years.

The brave and shocking revelation came on Dawn's YouTube channel in a vid titled, "YOUR NEW LIFE IS IN THE SCARY 🫣" ... her channel sat dormant for a year and 6 months before Tuesday.

Dawn explains she fell on hard times during the pandemic and had been staying with her parents in Vegas before that situation fizzled.

The WNBA could be adding a bit of mom's spaghetti flavor to it in the near future ... TMZ Sports has learned Eminem is currently in talks to join a bid for an expansion team.

A spokesperson for the legendary rapper tells us ... Marshall has had some preliminary discussions about securing a spot in an ownership group that's trying to bring the W back to Detroit.

So far, we're told he hasn't officially signed on just yet ... although, he does apparently have some big interest.

50 Cent isn't calling Rick Ross' inclusion on Bow Wow's "Millennium" tour a win like everyone else ... he suspects "The Boss" simply can't sell tickets to his own shows now!!!

The G-Unit rap star didn't waste the opportunity to throw digs at Ross and Big Meech in a since-deleted Instagram post roast.

The tour began last week on March 7 and 50 called out Ross for slipping through the cracks ... "HE not a surprise guest he can't sell a ticket. LOL," 50 wrote, causing Uncle Murda and Nate Dogg's son NHale to burst out laughing in the post.

Legendary singer Gladys Knight is back home after a scary illness landed her in the hospital ... and, she's leaning on her husband during this difficult time -- wrapping her arms around her man.

TMZ has obtained a picture of the happy reunion between Gladys and her husband of almost 25 years, William McDowell ... arms wrapped around him while she snuggles her face into his chest.

Knight and McDowell met back in 2001 ... and, after just a few months together, they decided to take the leap and tie the knot. McDowell is Knight's fourth husband.

Selena Gomez accidentally sold her iconic diamond "B" ring -- yes, the exact one she posted when she went public with Benny Blanco -- to multiple fans.

Here's the situation ... the singer officially kicked off her “12 Days of Really Rare Stuff” to celebrate her upcoming album with Benny, "I Said I Love You First." As part of the promo, she's selling a personal sentimental item each day.

Fans were blown away when they saw she was selling THE "B" ring for a mere $12 ... especially after the custom Jacquie Aiche design was reported to be worth more than $3,000. Of course, multiple fans added it to their bag and checked out ... and were naturally confused when they realized more than one had been sold.

There will be no renditions of Renegade, Savage or Corvette Corvette in the West Virginia football team's locker room this year ... Rich Rodriguez just revealed he's banned his players from TikTok dancing.

The Mountaineers head coach told reporters this week he believes when his players record themselves shaking their tailfeathers on the popular social media app ... it gives the portrayal of softness -- a huge no-no in his book.

"It's like, look," he said, "we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you're in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ain't quite the image of our program that I want."

SZA's "S.O.S." album legacy is being aligned with Michael Jackson's "Thriller" -- and the award-winning singer/songwriter cannot find the words, for once!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with SZA outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Tuesday, fresh on the heels of her and the late King of Pop sharing the record for the longest-running Top 10 album by a Black artist on the Billboard 200 chart.

MJ's music didn't get boosted from the streaming era, but "S.O.S." is barely 2 years old and has accomplished such a feat ... classic albums win differently as the generations change!!!

Ice Spice's Munchkin fan base can sleep through the night again ... she's gained her twerking weight back and is flaunting her stuff out in Paris!!!

The rapper had social media in a tizzy a few months ago with a skinny selfie -- but that status is no longer the case as she posed in front of the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday.

She captioned the post, "Thick Again" ... which is likely the name of her next single, judging from the audio that's floating around.

The woman who sued Jay-Z for allegedly raping her when she was just 13 years old after the MTV Video Music Awards back in 2000 has been caught on an audio recording apparently admitting the alleged incident never happened.

The audio -- obtained by ABC News -- was recorded by a couple private investigators ... and, in it, the woman who filed the suit against Jay-Z walks back the claim she made in her lawsuit, filed by attorney Tony Buzbee back in December.

Listen to it for yourself ... the woman -- identified only as a Jane Doe -- can be heard telling the investigators that Jay-Z was at the party, but he never engaged in any sexual activity with her.

Jamaican-bred reggae legend Cocoa Tea died Tuesday at the age of 65, cementing a legacy that spans four decades.

According to the "Young Lover" singer's wife Malvia Scott, Cocoa died earlier today in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and she recounted his turbulent last days to the Jamaica Gleaner.

"I got a call early this morning to say that he had been transferred from the facility to the hospital ... which is like five minutes away ... because he was vomiting. He was initially diagnosed with lymphoma in 2019, but for the last six months he was also struggling with pneumonia," Malvia revealed.

Eminem's classic on-screen rap battle in the final scenes of "8 Mile" wasn't completely an act, turns out ... Slim Shady was actually shooting real-life darts at Anthony Mackie!!!

Of course, Mackie played the "Papa Doc" role who got lyrically trounced by Em's "B-Rabbit" character ... but he's revealing the brutal bars were literally about him.

The newly minted Captain America relived the experience on the 'Pivot' podcast ... "8 Mile" was his first role and he and Em got considerable time on set getting to know each other.

Late Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul lives on ... because his legacy now includes a cookbook ... a realization of one of his lifelong dreams.

Vinnie's posthumous recipe book, "Drumming Up An Appetite," just dropped today ... and it features his favorite Sunday Funday meals and a bunch of photos of him working his magic in the kitchen with celebrity guests.

Comedian Carrot Top, Vinnie's good friend, provides the foreword ... and the book is broken down into three chapters --- main courses, side dishes and desserts.

Boosie Badazz's concert in Akron, Ohio was halted mid-show early Monday morning after gunshots rang out, leaving the Louisiana-born rapper fleeing for his life ... and 3 people injured.

Akron PD Deputy Chief Michael Miller tells TMZ Hip Hop ... At least one shot was fired while Boosie was performing onstage.

Boosie's actions appear to confirm the narrow miss in video ... you can hear the sounds, then see him flinch, duck, and run for cover as the fans inside the Field House Lounge scatter for safety.

Some of Hollywood's biggest celebs were out for a night on the town in Paris on Monday -- and they made quite the splash in their fashionable outfits.

Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, Sydney Sweeney, Ana de Armas, Jaden Smith, Alicia Vikander and Gigi and Bella Hadid were just some of the bold-faced names strutting their stuff through the French capital after flying in for Paris Fashion Week.

Check out photos, obtained by TMZ ... Hailey and Zoë looked amazing in their snazzy get-ups while leaving the Yves Saint Laurent's womenswear show. Hailey was all legs in her white blazer dress ... Zoe chose to cover up in tights and a long black coat, with both women wearing stiletto heels.