George Clinton Hospitalized -- My Leg Is Funk'd Up

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Legendary funkmaster George Clinton -- leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic -- is being hospitalized for a staph infection in his leg ... TMZ has learned.

Clinton's rep tells us ... 69-year-old George went to see his doctor for a routine check-up when the decision was made to keep him in the facility so Clinton could receive proper treatment for a staph infection in one of his legs.

The rep adds, "He will be just fine. Thank you for all your prayers and concern."

'Willy Wonka' Star That Movie Gave Me 13 Cavities!!!

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The actress who played gum-chewing Violet Beauregarde in the original "Willy Wonka" movie says she went through so much sugary stuff on the set ... she got 13 CAVITIES because of the flick.

54-year-old former child actress Denise Nickerson claims she blazed through "cartons and cartons and cartons" of Bazooka gum while shooting the 1971 classic ... and ended up with a mouthful of rotting teeth.

The lesson here -- always chew sugarless, kids!

Lauren Alaina May Drop Out of 'American Idol' Finale

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Lauren Alaina may not get her shot to be the next "American Idol" because she has lost her voice ...spies on the set tell TMZ ... and it could be the break of a lifetime for Haley Reinhart.

We're told during the rehearsal this afternoon, Lauren -- who has been losing her voice -- was supposed to sing three songs. She got through the first, struggled through the second and was unable to perform the third.

Our spies say a doctor on the set has ordered Lauren not to sing or speak, but there is a "real possibility" she will not be able to perform on tonight's show.

We're told if Lauren is unable to perform, producers will reinstate the third place finisher -- Haley Reinhart who will then compete against Scotty McCreery for the title.

Producers are trying to find Haley right now.

Dr. Phil Springs Into Action During 911 Emergency

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Dr. Phil McGraw found himself in the middle of a serious medical emergency this week -- when a guy hanging out at his Bev Hills mansion collapsed on the tennis court and Phil dashed to his aid.

It all went down Thursday morning -- when Phil's wife was playing tennis with a family friend. We're told the man suddenly became disoriented -- collapsed -- and started to go "in and out of consciousness."

We're told Phil's wife Robin screamed for the doc to call 911 -- which he did -- and while on the phone with the dispatcher, Phil raced over to the court to tend to his friend.

Sources close to the McGraws tells us Phil checked the man's pulse and calmly relayed all sorts of important information to paramedics as they raced to Phil's pad.

The man was transported to a nearby hospital -- and was released a short time time later. We're told he's "doing fine."

It pays to have a (TV) doctor in the house.

Zsa Zsa Gabor Falls Into a Coma

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Zsa Zsa Gabor has slipped into a coma after being rushed to an L.A. hospital yesterday for emergency stomach surgery ... this according to her husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt.

The Prince tells us the 94-year-old star has been unresponsive since 2AM this morning.

Zsa Zsa was rushed to the hospital yesterday where doctors performed emergency surgery to repair a "major infection in her stomach" caused by a feeding tube.

Story developing ...

Gene Simmons' Daughter WRECKED in L.A.

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Gene Simmons' 18-year-old daughter was in a NASTY four-car pile-up Thursday afternoon -- and TMZ has learned she was taken to the hospital in an ambulance to get checked out.

Sources close to the family tell us -- Sophie Simmons was sitting in infamous L.A. traffic when the car behind her failed to stop and plowed into her ... causing her to smash into the car in front of her.

The accident caused a chain reaction that ended in a four-car wreck ... with Sophie right in the middle.

We're told Sophie was wearing her seat belt -- but the car's airbag didn't deploy -- and Sophie hit her head on the steering wheel.

She was taken to the hospital just to get checked out -- where she Tweeted a fun picture of her hospital bracelet and assured her fans that she was ok.

But her Dodge Charger wasn't as lucky ... we're told it's completely totaled.

Hollywood Club Attack Suspect -- ARRESTED

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The man suspected of brutally coldcocking a Hollywood clubgoer Wednesday morning has been arrested ... TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement sources, the unidentified suspect -- said to be in his 30s -- was arrested this morning in his L.A. home on suspicion of felony assault ... and is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

Shocker ... law enforcement tells us, alcohol played a key role in the incident outside the Roxbury nightclub -- when the attacker delivered a devastating punch to the head of a man who had just walked out of the club.

As for the victim -- we're told he suffered a fractured skull, but is expected to make a full recovery.

'Dancing with the Stars' Pro Rushed to Hospital

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"Dancing with the Stars" pro Kym Johnson was rushed to the hospital moments ago -- after sustaining an injury during rehearsals for the show ... TMZ has learned.

Johnson -- who's paired up with Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward -- took a nasty spill while rehearsing with the NFLer for an upcoming show.

According to her rep, Johnson was taken to an L.A. area hospital for "precautionary measures to assure she is OK."

Story developing...

Etta James -- Hospitalized with Low White Blood Cells

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R&B legend Etta James was rushed to the hospital last night with an extremely low white blood cell count ... TMZ has learned -- where doctors treated her for a potentially life-threatening infection.

Etta's manager Lupe De Leon tells TMZ, the singer's doctor was checking her white blood cell levels and discovered they were extremely low.

According to several reports, doctors at a Southern California hospital treated the 73-year-old singer for sepsis ... a potentially fatal blood infection -- but we're told doctors have since stabilized the situation ... and believe she'll be just fine.

According to her manager, Etta -- who was recently diagnosed with leukemia and dementia -- "will be home soon. She is a very strong woman and will probably live to be 100 years old."

Evangelist Billy Graham Hospitalized with Pneumonia

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Christian evangelist Billy Graham was hospitalized with pneumonia in North Carolina this morning -- after the famous preacher had trouble breathing.

92-year-old Graham was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville for pulmonary treatment -- and according to a statement from his rep, the evangelist "is already feeling much better."

His rep continues, “We anticipate his pneumonia to clear with treatment and hope he will be able to soon return home.”

Diddy BURNING UP -- Cancels Phoenix Concert

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Diddy has a FEVER ... and the only prescription ... is more cowbell ... and also a lot of bed rest -- and that's why he's canceled his concert in Phoenix tonight ... TMZ has learned.

Diddy's rep tells us ... "Sean has a high fever and is under doctor's orders to stay in bed."

Moments ago, Diddy went on Twitter to break the bad news to his fans ... saying, "i guess i pushed it too far because i literally cant get outta bed."

He continued, "im sorry phoenix-i regretfully have to cancel the show. im so sorry."

Justin Bieber -- VOMITING in the Philippines

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Justin Bieber was so sick last night at his show in the Philippines, TMZ has learned, the singer repeatedly took breaks during his set to run backstage ... and barf his brains out.

Sources close to Bieber tell TMZ, JB came down with some kind of chest infection last week -- and when he hit the stage last night in Manila ... the wooziness was way too much to handle.

Gotta give the kid props -- in fact, just before his concert last night, he tweeted, "Sick as a dog ... But the show must go on."

Ex-WWE Star Investigated for DUI After Bloody Crash

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Former WWE superstar Shane Helms -- aka "The Hurricane" -- is at the center of a drunk driving investigation after a BRUTAL motorcycle crash on Thursday that left him and his girlfriend broken and battered.

According to the police report obtained by TMZ ... a witness told cops Helms was driving home from a restaurant in Smithfield, North Carolina around 9:15 PM -- with his GF on the bike -- when he blew through a stop sign, lost control and "drove straight through the metal chain link fence."

Cops say one of the witnesses told officers he was hanging out with Helms at a local restaurant minutes before the crash and said he "was sure" Helms had been drinking there.

Helms and his GF were transported to a local hospital where they were treated for multiple broken bones and other injuries.

Law enforcement sources tell us officers took a blood sample from Helms at the hospital to check his blood alcohol level at the time of the crash ... but it could take several months to get the results back.

So far, we're told an investigation is underway ... but no charges have been filed against Helms.

Whitney's Rep: Drugs and Booze ARE The Problem

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A rep for Whitney Houston says the singer is receiving treatment in an out-patient rehab program for drugs and alcohol as part of a "long-standing " recovery process.

TMZ broke the story ... Houston voluntarily enrolled in the program around 10 days ago.

Houston has admitted her problems with substance abuse in the past ... but TMZ has learned the demons have resurfaced.

A music industry source who was with Whitney two weeks ago tells us, "She was plastered and she was a mess."

Whitney Houston In Out-Patient Rehab Program

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Whitney Houston has checked herself in to an out-patient rehabilitation program ... TMZ has learned.

A source directly connected with Whitney tells us ... Houston enrolled in the program around 10 days ago. The program allows Houston to go out in public ... as long as she has a monitor.

Just last weekend, Houston was enjoying herself at a Prince concert in L.A. ... with her daughter right by her side.

Our source is not saying why Houston is seeking treatment ... but we're told, "She's cleansing herself to get ready for a new movie."

David Beckham in Car Accident on LA Freeway

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David Beckham was involved in a car accident on one of the busiest freeways in all of Los Angeles ... and the driver of the other car had to be taken to a local hospital ... TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement sources, Beckham was driving a black Cadillac on the 405 Freeway near Torrance, CA yesterday morning ... when he rear-ended a gold Mitsubishi that was broken down in the carpool lane.

We're told the driver of the Mistubishi, who was inside the car and wearing his seatbelt at the time, had to be taken to the hospital -- but Beckham did not require medical attention.

Law enforcement sources tell us Beckham was not arrested or cited on the scene.

A call to Beckham's rep was not returned.

UPDATE: Sources close to Beckham tell us his son Brooklyn was in the car at the time of the accident, but that he and David were both not injured.