NFL

Brett Favre says he was concerned for his good pal Toby Keith in the days leading up to the country music star's death ... telling TMZ Sports that after speaking recently with the musician, he could tell the guy was simply exhausted.

The former Green Bay Packers quarterback said he gave Keith a ring just two weeks ago to check in on him ... after he noticed the 62-year-old didn't look so hot following some December performances in Las Vegas.

Favre -- who told us he would call Keith every three-or-so months following his stomach cancer diagnosis -- said the "Red Solo Cup" crooner complained about the damage chemotherapy had done to his body during ... before adding that Keith seemed fatigued.

"I think in the end," Favre said, "he was just tired."

"He did say that to me when we had our conversation," the Hall of Famer continued. "He said, 'Brett, whatever happens, I'm OK with it.'"

Keith ended up passing away days later, on Feb. 5, while surrounded by his family.

Favre -- who first befriended Keith at a concert near Lambeau Field back in the 90s -- was heartbroken over the news ... though he was clearly proud of how Keith battled in his final days.

"He handled it with grace and faith and family," Favre said, "and stood up to the cancer about as good as you can."

Favre then recalled some of his favorite memories with Keith -- which included several fun trips around golf courses.

"I can't remember a good or a bad shot he hit," Favre said of one of their outings, "I can just remember him smiling, and had everyone hooting and hollering and having a lot of fun."

The owner of the only Chiefs-inspired bar in San Francisco is clearing up whether 49ers fans are actually "banned" -- as has been suggested -- and he's saying they're not, but also noting ... it might be hard to get in come game day.

Here's the deal ... Vlad Cood -- who owns the sports bar Buzzworks in SF, which has come to be known as a Chiefs-friendly haven for Kansas City diehards -- tells TMZ that recent reports he and his staff weren't letting San Fran fans into the establishment are false.

There were a lot of headlines locally that ran with that narrative, but Cood says his words were taken out of context -- although, he does admit ... it could be difficult for the 49ers faithful to actually get into the building, especially around Super Bowl weekend.

While he tells us his doors are open to any and all -- regardless of team affiliation -- Cood says that his bar tends to get packed with Chiefs fans on football Sunday early and often ... and that's just how it's gone for a while.

Cood says 49ers heads can certainly swing by anytime they want, but by the time kickoff starts -- he tells us Buzzworks is usually stuffed with Chiefs people ... and he doesn't expect that to change for the SB. In other words, come as you are ... but come with time to spare!

He also says this ... if 49ers fans are truly interested in coming to his business, he's got an alternative for them where they can congregate and pound booze among their brethren. As it turns out, Cood owns another bar across the street there called Butter, which he says has more than enough room for anyone who wants to file in and catch Super Bowl LVIII.

Here's the irony in all this ... Cood tells us he himself is actually a longtime 49ers fan -- so even though Buzzworks caters to Chiefs lovers, it sounds like he'd love to be with his own kind.

Tech N9ne is gearing up for his Kansas City Chiefs to play in the Super Bowl ... by hosting a party at a famous Las Vegas strip club across the street from the football field!!!

The Strange Music co-founder is working with Crazy Horse 3, kicking off their Super Bowl party lineup Thursday night at a special event -- and they're making sure he's all set to do his thing for the big weekend ... and yes, the specifics are very stripper-friendly.

Our sources say Tech N9ne's contract calls for him to get $20,000 in singles to throw in the club. Yeah, it's gonna be raining greenbacks in there ... and Tech's gonna be tossin' cash.

Tech N9ne's deal also includes a supply of 10 magnum bottles of 10 tequila -- those are the big boys -- with 5 bottles of Clase Azul and 5 bottles of Don Julio 1942. Nothing but the best for Tech.

The guy's a massive Chiefs fan and his "Red Kingdom" song has kinda become the unofficial team anthem ... so we're guessing the crowd is gonna favor KC.

NFL players expected to appear include ... Dallas Cowboys wideout KaVontae Turpin, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Taylor Swift's party plans for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas are top secret and a promoter with a close tie to Taylor isn't spilling the beans ... but he's got other party options for ya.

Logan Paulson, a Las Vegas promoter, joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and gave us a rundown of the different weekend parties ... ranging from the free to the super exclusive.

Taylor and Travis Kelce are renting a villa next to the Kansas City Chiefs team hotel, the Westin Las Vegas Resort & Spa, and while Logan's girlfriend, Natalie Peterson, is one of the singer's backup dancers, he played it coy when we asked him if Taylor and Travis were hosting a house party.

The strip is more Logan's specialty -- specifically nightlife at the Wynn -- and he says the property's famous XS club is expecting a packed house Friday with performances from Lil Wayne, Diplo and Shaq.

Logan says Friday is pretty much sold out, and the only way to get in at this point is to buy a table ... it's gonna cost ya, the cheapest table is going for $8,000 ... and it's outside.

For those ballers on a budget, Logan says Hakkasan has a free party this weekend, where revelers will be treated to a Travis Scott gig ... and Logan has other free parties too.

Everyone wants to know where Taylor, Travis and the Chiefs are going to have their postgame bash ... and Logan says history points to XS at the Wynn ... so keep that in mind, Swifties.

Los planes de Taylor Swift durante el Super Bowl en Las Vegas son un gran secreto y un promotor con un estrecho vínculo con Taylor no está contando las primicias, pero sí está compartiendo otras opciones de fiesta para disfrutar este fin de semana.

Logan Paulson, un coordinador VIP de Wynn Nightlife, se unió a "TMZ Live" el miércoles y nos dio un resumen de las diferentes fiestas, desde las gratuitas hasta las súper exclusivas.

Taylor y Travis Kelce van a alquilar una villa junto al hotel del equipo de los Kansas City Chiefs, el Westin Las Vegas Resort & Spa y aunque la novia de Logan, Natalie Peterson, es una de las bailarinas de apoyo de la cantante, no quiso responder cuando le preguntamos si Taylor y Travis estaban organizando una fiesta en su casa.

El striptease es más de la especialidad de Logan, específicamente la vida nocturna en el Wynn, y dice que el famoso club XS de la propiedad espera una casa llena el viernes con actuaciones de Lil Wayne, Diplo y Shaq.

Logan dice que está casi todo vendido para el viernes y la única manera de entrar en este momento es comprar una mesa, y la más barata va por $8,000 y es afuera.

Para aquellos que tengan un presupuesto más ajustado, pero quieran salir de fiesta con estilo, Logan dice que Hakkasan tiene una fiesta gratis este fin de semana, donde los juerguistas presenciarán un concierto de Travis Scott. Logan tiene otros datos gratuitos.

Todo el mundo quiere saber dónde será la celebración post-partido de Taylor, Travis y los Chiefs y Logan dice que la historia apunta a XS en el Wynn, así que tengan eso en mente, Swifties.

Everybody's talking about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce ahead of the Super Bowl, but they're getting associated with a different kinda bowl -- a toilet bowl, to be exact -- before the Big Game ... with Dude Wipes launching new ads inspired by the superstar couple.

TMZ Sports has learned -- the popular wet wipe company came up with a cheeky way to get in on the Traylor craze while promoting its product in Las Vegas this weekend ... by whipping together some silly slogans to feature on the massive Resorts World display.

Some of the ads include pretty timely Swift-related mentions ... including a nod to her new album, "The Tortured Poets Department," which she announced at the Grammys just days ago.

One sign reads, "If you're living in the Tortured TP Department, welcome to the Wet-Wiping Era" ... with another channeling the singer's "Anti-Hero" hit -- "It's me. Hi. I'm the solution. It's Me. Not TP."

But one in particular addresses the relationship that's taken over the world ... with "We love a clean tight end, too" shown in big white letters above a package of Dude Wipes.

The company teamed up with Max O'Neil at Clear Channel and the Curiosity agency to execute the campaign ... which will be seen by millions throughout Sin City this weekend.

Of course, Taylor has taken over the Super Bowl this year ... with her presence being felt all over -- including countless Swift-related questions during media availability, themed parties, and a free wedding ceremony offer from a local venue.

There's a BIG party going down in Sin City for the Big Game ... a Super Bowl watch party with stars from the 'Little Women' reality franchise mixing up drinks and pouring shots!!!

"Little Women: NY" star Little Jess tells TMZ ... she's bartending a ticketed event at the Nerd Bar on Fremont Street with two other reality stars, and there's an open bar.

Little Jess says the other bartenders include "Little Women: Dallas" star Tiffani and "Little Women: NY" star Jordanna James ... they're calling themselves the "Tiny Tenders," short for bartenders.

With all of the ladies under 5 feet tall -- Jess says they are "hot little people" and "the hottest chicks you will ever meet under 5 foot" -- they are going to use a raised platform so they can be eye-level with customers and reach the bottles.

The ladies are experienced ... Little Jess says they've all bartended in the past and she has 15 years under her belt ... and they'll be wearing black booty shorts with matching black tiny crop tops emblazoned with "Tiny Tenders."

Tickets are going for $60 in advance or $100 at the door ... and Little Jess says 50 tickets have been sold so far and they're expecting several hundred folks to show up to a venue with a 1,000 max capacity.

Doors open at 1 PM on Super Bowl Sunday and the open bar is from 3 PM to 5 PM ... which should cover the first half of Super Bowl LVIII.

Little Jess says the open bar includes well drinks, draft beers, Capri Suns, Jell-O shots and failed drug test shots served in urine cups. The open bar also has discounts on premium booze, like $5 for Jack Daniels.

Once Usher hits the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show, it's back to regular pricing.

Little Jess says they're going for a "Coyote Ugly" vibe ... and they'll be going around serving up body shots and doing some go-go dancing. She says Jordanna James worked at the OG 'Coyote Ugly' bar in NYC.

No good Super Bowl party is complete without food ... and Little Jess says they'll be serving up appetizers like tater tots, pigs in a blanket and pizza nuggets.

An open bar in Las Vegas on Super Bowl Sunday has the potential to get rowdy ... but Little Jess says the ladies will all be wearing whistles which they use if anyone steps out of line and causes trouble.

Be warned ... Little Jess says, "We will blow the whistles three times to indicate there is trouble and then our 6-foot all-male security guards will take care of the situation."

It appears Taylor Swift might not be at the Super Bowl after all ... 'cause Travis Kelce just seemed to tell reporters he's unsure if his girlfriend will make it.

The Chiefs star dropped the nugget on media members just minutes ago at a news conference in Las Vegas ... when answering a question about whether or not Swift has given him a championship "pep talk."

Swift's boo explained with a laugh that she hasn't ... telling a crowd full of microphones that she's currently focused on entertaining the masses at her latest "Eras Tour" shows out in Japan.

Then, he added, "The Super Bowl, we'll worry about if she can make it" -- implying that it's nowhere near a foregone conclusion that she'll be in attendance on Sunday when he takes on the 49ers.

Swift, of course, is slated to be in Tokyo performing until Saturday ... but most have thought she'd be able to jet off to Sin City in enough time to catch Kelce's kickoff at Allegiant Stadium.

Clearly, though -- at least in the eyes of Kelce -- that's no sure thing.

It'd obviously be a pretty big blow for Chiefs Kingdom -- she's been at every single one of their playoff games so far this postseason ... and K.C.'s won them all.

Kelce was also unsurprisingly peppered with a few other Swift questions while on the podium Wednesday, and he hilariously said he never would've thought his Swift shoutout on his "New Heights" podcast over the summer would've led to all this.

But, he sure seemed pleased it worked out ... even if she somehow won't be able to join him Sunday.

Jackass star Steve-O joins this episode of The TMZ podcast to discuss the day's trending topics!

Kanye West was spotted out with wife Bianca Censori, who was wearing a VERY revealing clear poncho and nothing else. 👀

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has responded to the backlash the organization has received for their heavy Taylor Swift coverage ... saying the "Taylor Swift effect" has had a positive effect on the season!

Plus, Lil Jon has an upcoming album and it's not what you're thinking! After prioritizing fitness and wellness in his life he's decided to release his very own meditation album! 🧘‍♂️

Subscribe to The TMZ Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

Vegas has rolled out the red carpet for Super Bowl LVIII weekend ... capitalizing on the sporting event of the year with some exclusive swag.

Check it out ... the NFL Super Bowl Experience at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center is selling some funky gold sequined SB branded tops -- a must-have if you wanna stand out at those watch parties.

For those hoping to keep things low-key, there's also some casual clothing merch on sale ... and you can make a touchdown of your own by grabbing one of the footballs lining the walls.

Oh, and there are loads of toys on sale to keep those kiddos preoccupied while you enjoy the match.

Of course, excitement is high ahead of the game, with Vegas gearing up how they know best -- tons of Elvis Presley impersonators, bright lights, and massive SB billboards everywhere down the strip.

Preparation is also underway at Allegiant Stadium, where either the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs will reign supreme come Sunday.

Donna Kelce has apparently forgotten that her son is dating a known billionaire -- 'cause she's out here acting like she might not be in the luxury suite come game time.

Travis Kelce's mom did an interview on the 'Today' show Wednesday, and they were asking her where exactly she'd be sitting in the private luxury suite that Taylor and Co. will be in during the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.

Hoda suggested DK oughta sit next to Taylor for good luck -- amounting to a pretty standard and easy softball question ... but instead of knocking it out the park, Donna muddied things up a bit.

Check it out ... she says that the suites referenced are actually quite expensive (indeed, they are) and that as far as he knows, she'll be in the bleachers cheering Travis on around a bunch of normies. You can tell the 'Today' crew wasn't buying it ... and nobody else is either.

Fact is ... Donna will almost certainly be among the select few in the private box -- just like she has been for several weeks this season -- and it goes without saying ... Taylor and Travis's camps can absolutely afford it, even if it is in the price range of millions.

Even though most everyone assumes this ... Donna is almost making it seem like she's not sure where she'll be sitting -- and on its face, it sorta makes Taylor and Travis look bad, which is bizarre. You'd think this issue would've been cleared up by now ... apparently not!

Remember, Christian McCaffrey's mom also recently suggested she wouldn't be in a private suite because of the astronomical price ... but her son's GF, Olivia Culpo, quickly clarified that her potential future mother-in-law was, in fact, gonna be sitting pretty in a box at the game.

Ya gotta imagine Taylor and Travis will do the same as well at some point. Yes, Mama Bear ... you're gonna have a great freakin' view, and you're 100% getting the VIP treatment.

The winner of Super Bowl LVIII could grab the Lombardi Trophy AND a whole lot of booty ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned a Nevada brothel is offering the Big Game's winner a "sextravaganza" -- free of charge!

Two workers at the famed Chicken Ranch brothel, Alice Little and Addison Gray, tell us bookings for their services have skyrocketed this week due to Las Vegas' Super Bowl festivities ... and in order to thank the NFL for it all, they've come up with an offer that the Niners or Chiefs will be hard-pressed to turn down if they win on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

The two say whoever gets the dub will have access to a "no-holds-barred orgiastic blowout" at the establishment's 40-acre campus.

The package, the two say, includes a free limo service, access to the bar, swimming pool, VIP Bungalows ... and sex specialty areas. They added that "nothing is off limits" ... explaining that anything the winners desire is 100 percent on the house.

"It's only right that we play our part and express our sincere appreciation to this year’s champions for their invaluable contribution to our industry," Gray said.

The brothel is also extending the invite to the players' WAGs ... with Grey telling us there's no need for the significant others to be left out.

"If any player would like to invite his wife or girlfriend, many of our ladies specialize in threesomes, orgies and swinger sessions," Gray said. "All guests, male and female, are welcome to participate."

The two tell us sex is not mandatory for the special deal ... saying the winning team can just pull up to party away from the Vegas chaos if they choose.

"We're going to treat the Big Game winners like the gridiron gods they are," Little said.

Brock Purdy has a passing resemblance to the man who assassinated John F. Kennedy -- something he was asked about this week ahead of the Super Bowl ... and it was awkward.

The 49ers QB was made aware of comparisons people have been floating lately between himself and Lee Harvey Oswald -- who, of course, killed JFK in 1963 using a sniper rifle. He's one of the most infamous people in American history ... and BP kinda looks like him.

During a press conference Tuesday, Brock had the question posed to him -- namely, was he aware folks have been calling him an Oswald look-alike? Unsurprisingly, he said he wasn't.

When Brock denied any knowledge about it, he was asked the obvious follow-up ... what do you make of the comparison? His response is funny -- you can tell he's at a loss for words.

It's probably not the greatest feeling knowing you're a bit of a dead ringer for the man responsible for murdering a U.S. president ... and Brock's stammering here reflects that.

The dude already had a lot on his mind right -- y'know, on account of the fact that he's gotta try and lead his team to a win on Sunday in the biggest game of the year -- and now ... he's got this weird connection to LHO that's been concocted by the Twitter-sphere. Not great!

Taylor Swift ha vuelto a hacer lo que mejor sabe: subirse al escenario y cantar, solo que esta vez está en Tokio, dando inicio al primero de 4 espectáculos antes de ir a Las Vegas.

La estrella del pop reanudó el miércoles el tramo internacional de la gira Eras, apareciendo en el Tokyo Dome para cantar su set completo de canciones frente a un estadio lleno, y miles de fans. Por lo que se ve en estas fotos, no ha perdido ni un paso desde noviembre.

TayTay lució su vestuario habitual para el concierto y estaba llena de energía, como suele ser. Y sí, los Swifties llegaron temprano para disfrutar de todo el show.

Recuerden, esta es la primera vez que Taylor realiza una actuación así desde Acción de Gracias, cuando tuvo un par de conciertos en Brasil y uno terminó en tragedia.

Una vez que terminó esos espectáculos, sin embargo, regresó a Estados Unidos y pasó el resto de las vacaciones con Travis Kelce, así como con amigos y familiares, y ha tenido un buen descanso de su vida profesional estos últimos dos meses.

La rutina, sin embargo, comienza de nuevo, pues estará actuando regularmente de nuevo en todo el mundo durante el resto de este año, aunque con algunas breves lagunas aquí y allá.

En cuanto a este próximo fin de semana, en el que Travis y los Chiefs se enfrentan a los 49ers en el Super Bowl, se espera que Taylor aparezca, pues tendrá un montón de tiempo.

Ella podría llegar en un jet porque de todas maneras estará al frente y al centro para animar a su novio como lo ha hecho durante gran parte de la temporada de la NFL. Su último show en Tokio termina el sábado, tras lo cual puede volar en su jet sin presiones.

Mientras tanto, sus fans en Tokio podrán disfrutar de ella por los próximos días.

Taylor Swift is back to doing what she does best -- hitting the stage and belting out tunes ... only here she's in Tokyo, kicking off the first of 4 shows before darting back to Vegas.

The pop star resumed the international leg of the 'Eras' tour Wednesday, popping up at the Tokyo Dome for her regular full set of songs in front of a packed house ... and thousands of fans. From the looks of these photos, she hasn't lost a step since November.

TayTay was rocking all her usual costumes and wardrobe for the concert -- and she was full of energy, just like she usually is. And yes ... the Swifties got there early to take it all in.

Remember ... this is the first time Taylor has performed in a setting like this since right around Thanksgiving time -- when she had a few gigs lined up in Brazil ... some of which ended in tragedy.

Once she wrapped those shows, though, she came right back to the States and spent the rest of the holidays with Travis Kelce -- as well as friends and family ... and she's had a nice long break from her professional life these past couple months.

The grind, however, kicks off anew now ... and she'll be regularly performing again all over the world through the rest of this year -- albeit, with some brief gaps here and there.

As for this upcoming weekend -- when Travis and the Chiefs play the 49ers in the Super Bowl -- Taylor is expected to show up for that come Sunday ... she'll have plenty of time.

Granted, she might be jet-lagged -- but by all accounts, TS will be front and center to cheer on her boyfriend like she has been for much of the NFL season. Her final show in Tokyo finishes up on Saturday ... after which, she can just jet back here with no real pressure.

In the meantime ... her Tokyo fans get to enjoy her for the next few days. Win-win!

Taylor Swift tribute artist and "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestant Jade Jolie is calling all Swifties ... for a meet and greet and Swiftie look-alike contest ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

Jade is hosting the contest at the Cat's Meow in Downtown Vegas the day before Taylor's beau Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.

There are 3 prizes for Swifties who can pull off Taylor's iconic look -- first place gets a Cat's Meow Party Package valued at $1,500 ... it's 4 hours of karaoke and a premium open bar for up to 20 people.

Second place gets $500 toward a bar tab and third place wins free admission for life to the Cat's Meow ... a famous karaoke joint on Fremont Street.

Jade, a damn good Taylor look-alike, will also host a meet-and-greet with fans.

The event is going down Saturday night from 9 PM to 1 AM ... which should be around the time Taylor is potentially touching down in Vegas after wrapping up her concert in Japan, hopping on her jet and zooming east to catch Travis and the Chiefs play.

Taylor and Jade have crossed paths in the past ... Jade was in her music video for 'You Need To Calm Down' and attended the 2019 VMA's with Tay. It doesn't sound like Taylor's gonna be on hand for this event ... so we're gonna have to settle for a bunch of look-alikes.

Start making those friendship bracelets!!!