Music

Gary Estes, the Texas man who dropped $4,000 to smash a Taylor Swift guitar with a hammer, says she didn't actually put pen to instrument ... even though it features her autograph, and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Gary joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and settled a point of debate about the viral moment ... namely, was this guitar signed by Taylor?!?

Taylor did NOT sign the actual guitar ... instead, Gary says, it looks like Taylor signed a different piece of memorabilia that was affixed to the guitar.

The Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards are back for the second year, giving pioneering rap stars their flowers in the form of PHAT finances -- and Terry Crews will be front and center as this year's host!!!

The Las Vegas-based non-profit Paid In Full Foundation announced Wednesday Grandmaster Caz, Roxanne Shante and Kool Moe Dee are the 2024 honorees ... and they all should be in for their just desserts.

Last year’s honorees, Rakim and Scarface, will also be in the building -- they both received $500K apiece at the inaugural event!!

Jaylen Brown stirred up a stink online with Ice Spice's Munchkins fanbase when he declared her "Think U The S**t (Fart)" song was the worst flood of diarrhea hip hop music ever experienced ... a comment on par for the opinions and buttholes equation, claims "Fisherrr" rapper Bay Swag!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Bay Swag in NYC earlier this week ... he, Ice Spice and Cash Cobain helped spread the sexy drill movement with the "Fisherrr (Remix)" earlier this year, which marches to the same drum as Ice's "Fart."

Of course, that means nothing to the 2024 NBA Finals MVP ... JB says Ice's pooting was the first song that came to mind ... and Bay Swag tells us JB has a right to feel that way, even if he doesn't agree.

Otis Williams has Frankie Valli's back, calling out all those claims he's the victim of elder abuse ... saying it’s just flat-out wrong to think the icon's team is forcing him to hit the stage at 90.

We caught up with Otis, and he tells TMZ he thinks Frankie’s out there performing because he genuinely loves it -- and he's speaking from experience, saying he himself is grateful to still be doing his thing as he gears up for his own 83rd birthday.

We also asked Otis if he's ever faced pressure to hang up the mic like Frankie -- and he said not yet.

Gary Estes, the Texas man who spent $4,000 to destroy a Taylor Swift guitar, is shaking off criticism following the highly debated viral moment.

The 67-year-old has spoken out in the aftermath of the controversial video, which saw him bidding thousands of dollars to obtain a guitar allegedly signed by the pop star ... only to smash it with a hammer directly after buying it.

Estes says he didn't have any "malicious" intentions behind the destructive gesture ... clarifying it "was just a joke" -- and one he didn't even come up with.

Tyga's taking a humble approach to hitting a huge milestone -- his 2018 summertime smash "Taste" just got certified Diamond with 10 million sold!!!

We caught up with T-Raww at LAX this week and he says his "Taste" celebration simply means making more hits -- the grind doesn't stop for plaques -- plaques are a result of the grind!!!

Tyga recently posted up with his record label Empire's execs and got handed his shiny new hardware for his trophy case ... and he tells us the outpour of love was appreciated all across the board.

R. Kelly's daughter broke down in tears as she opened up about how she once looked at her dad with admiration ... but his multiple sex crime convictions later shattered her world.

In the trailer for "R Kelly's Karma: A Daughter's Journey," Joann Kelly admits there was a time when her father was her "everything" ... but when his convictions for possessing child pornography and engaging in sexual acts with underage girls came to light, it completely changed her life.

Joann notes no one wants to be the child of someone who hurt women and children -- adding her dad knows exactly why they can’t have the relationship she once hoped for.

Tim Walz was all about spreading the love at the Vice Presidential debate -- rocking a friendship bracelet that gave a massive nod to Taylor Swift's Kamala Harris endorsement.

Walz flashed the accessory during Tuesday's debate with J.D. Vance ... showing a few glimpses of it under his white sleeve as he gestured with his hands on stage.

It's not confirmed if Walz's bracelet is from the $20 Harris-Walz campaign merch that dropped after T-Swift's endorsement last month, featuring both candidates' names. But either way, it had Swifties buzzing with excitement!

Wendy Williams is finally weighing in on all the Diddy drama -- and her views are pretty much what you would expect from the former talk show host who was always judgmental of the Bad Boy Records CEO.

Wendy gave an interview Tuesday to the Daily Mail in which she said many people have approached her since Diddy's arrest about two weeks ago to give her credit for calling out the music mogul for his alleged criminal wrongdoing.

She said, "What is really weird is that I have been told by so many people -- 'Wendy you called it' -- including some people from my family who have said the same."

The smashed-up Taylor Swift guitar from a recent viral video is back on the auction block ... because someone is selling it on eBay.

The seller says this is the guitar a man infamously bought at a charity auction for $4,000 and then proceeded to smash with a hammer in a video that's gone viral on social media.

The eBay listing says the man donated the guitar back to the Texas nonprofit he originally bought it from, the Ellis County Wild Game Dinner, and the sale proceeds will be put towards supporting agricultural education for local youth.

Lady Gaga is talking openly about her relationship with fiancé Michael Polansky — and you might just be surprised how he proposed to her.

Gaga sat down Tuesday with host Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to promote her new film, "Joker: Folie à Deux," but she also discussed her engagement to Polansky.

Jimmy was first to bring up the subject, prompting Gaga to reveal Michael — a tech entrepreneur -- proposed to her after her birthday in March.

Diddy is assembling a legal dream team, Britney Spears is recalling a near accident and Pete Rose is being remembered ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles explain why Diddy is beefing up his legal team in an effort to get out of jail.

12:12 PM PT -- One of Diddy's attorneys, Erica Wolff, tells TMZ … "As Mr. Combs’ legal team has emphasized, he cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus. That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors. He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation."

Diddy is about to be hit with lawsuits for sexual assault and abuse, and a Houston-based law firm representing 120 accusers is telling some of their stories for the first time ... including allegations Diddy sexually abused a 9-year-old boy.

Attorney Tony Buzbee says a wave of lawsuits will be filed against Diddy in the next 30 days, including from an accuser who claims he was only 9 years old when Diddy and others sexually abused him at the Bad Boy Records studio in New York City.

Rapper YG is facing legal heat ... cops say he's been arrested for a misdemeanor DUI in Burbank, California.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ there wasn’t any call about an incident -- we're told cops just happened to roll up on YG after he drove over a curb and was standing outside his car early Tuesday morning.

TMZ has also obtained a photo from the scene, which appears to show YG sitting on the curb with his head resting on his arms, just a few feet away from his car as a police officer stands in front of him.

Selena Gomez cozied up with Edgar Ramirez at the NYC premiere of "Emilia Pérez" -- keeping the buzz going after their racy grinding session days earlier.

Even though they made it clear they're just pals, Selena wasn't shy about flaunting their close friendship once again by wrapping her arms around Edgar at a screening for the movie at the New York Film Festival Monday evening.

Looks like the buddy love was mutual for Edgar, too -- he couldn’t stop grinning as he leaned in to whisper something in Selena’s ear, even giving her a little peck on the cheek.