RIP

MTV reality star Johnny Bananas was riding with John Elway and Jeff Sperbeck during the fatal golf cart accident, with sources telling TMZ Sports ... "The Challenge" competitor tried to keep the agent alive after he fell off the vehicle.

We spoke to someone familiar with the incident ... who tells us, Bananas -- real name Johnny Devenanzio -- and Sperbeck were standing on the back of the cart as Elway drove and his wife sat in the front seat.

We're told Sperbeck lost his balance and fell backward off the cart -- hitting his head on the asphalt around 7 PM.

Jill Sobule was staying with close friends when a fire broke out at their home ... and they believed she was with them while making their escape from the blaze.

The singer/songwriter died Thursday in an early morning house fire while staying with the married couple in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Craig Grossman, Jill’s agent, tells TMZ … the unidentified couple quickly scrambled when they realized the home was on fire -- and they thought Jill was with them while they were running out.

Dolly Parton got choked up while talking about her husband's death for the first time on TV ... saying it's been a real tough adjustment -- 'cause she loved her late husband for decades.

The legendary singer-songwriter talked about her husband of nearly 60 years during an interview with "TODAY' on Friday ... telling the hosts she's loved Carl Dean since she was just 18 years old.

Dolly admits changing her patterns and habits after his death has been a huge adjustment ... adding she's really thrown herself into her work since he passed earlier this year.

Jill Sobule's death is receiving heightened scrutiny by investigators ... because they're trying to determine when she died -- and if drugs, alcohol or carbon monoxide played any part.

A rep for the Ramsey County Medical Examiner in Minnesota tells TMZ ... investigators are digging into the cause and manner of Jill's death -- and, a major detail investigators are trying to determine is whether she was still alive when a house fire broke out, where she was later found dead.

Remember, Woodbury Public Safety received a call about an active housefire around 5:30 AM Thursday ... with first responders arriving to find the house fully engulfed in flames.

Actress and comedian Ruth Buzzi, best known for starring in the NBC variety sketch comedy show "Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In," has died.

Ruth's official Facebook page shared the news of her death early Friday morning, announcing she died peacefully in her sleep at home in Texas on Thursday while in hospice care.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012 and was disabled from a stroke in 2022, which her husband, Kent Perkins, confirmed at the time.

Jill Sobule, famous for her 1995 song "I Kissed a Girl," is dead, TMZ has confirmed.

The singer/songwriter died Thursday in a house fire while staying with a friend in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, her agent, Craig Grossman, told TMZ. Her manager, John Porter, also confirmed her death.

“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture," he said in the statement. "I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client & a friend today. I hope her music, memory, & legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”

John "LJ" Scott Jr.'s death is sparking outrage ... with new video of his arrest appearing to show police dragging him across the ground in a police station.

If you don't know ... Scott died on April 22, about a week after he was taken into custody by Decatur Police in Alabama on April 15 -- with cops saying he suffered a medical emergency and passed away in the hospital.

Police reportedly arrived at an apartment complex on April 15, where they say they found Scott "sweating heavily and exhibiting erratic behavior."

Virginia Giuffre's father isn't buying the official narrative about his daughter's death ... claiming there's no way she killed herself -- and, instead, he says someone got to her.

Sky Roberts spoke with Piers Morgan Thursday ... and, he says it's been an emotional time for the family -- with lots of tears and disbelief at Virginia's death.

He then added, "And then for them to say that she committed suicide, there's no way that she did. Somebody got to her.”

Jeff Sperbeck, John Elway's longtime agent and friend, has died at 62 years old, officials announced on Wednesday.

Sperbeck's time of death was listed as 1:10 AM.

As we previously reported, Jeff was on life support following Saturday's accident ... where he suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off a golf cart that Elway was driving.

We're told Elway, Sperbeck, their wives, and John's son were on their way back from a post-Stagecoach party around 7 PM on April 26 ... when Jeff fell off the back of the cart, hitting his head on the ground, and suffering a traumatic brain injury.

The controversial Western film "Rust" finally hits U.S. theaters Friday -- but instead of celebrating, director Joel Souza says he wishes he’d never made it at all.

Joel -- who was accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin in a tragic 2021 on-set incident that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by the same bullet -- said he initially rejected the thought of returning to "Rust" after his hospitalization. But the idea grew on him, especially knowing Halyna’s family wanted the film finished.

Souza reflected on the morning of the tragedy to The Guardian, calling it a domino effect of bad decisions, one after the other -- so he wishes he never went back to "Rust" post-shooting -- in fact, he wishes he hadn’t even written it!

Vanessa Bryant honored her daughter, Gigi, on what would be her 19th birthday ... saying she misses her "more than I could ever express."

Kobe's widow posted the emotional tribute to Instagram on Thursday ... showing Gigi sporting her Mamba Sports Academy uniform.

"Happy birthday Gigi!" she wrote in the caption. "Mommy loves and misses you more than I could ever express. I love you Gianna."

Jeff Sperbeck, John Elway's longtime agent and friend, is being remembered by his family after his death ... they say he was a wonderful man.

Jeff's wife, Cori, and the Sperbeck family tell TMZ ... "We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved Jeff Sperbeck. He was a wonderful father, husband, brother, son and friend to many and will be profoundly missed by all."

The family adds ... "We are grieving this unimaginable loss as a family alongside our dearest friends the Elways and the many other clients Jeff called friends. We are grateful for the overwhelming  outpouring of support that we have received and ask for privacy for our family at this difficult time."

John Elway's breaking his silence over the death of his longtime agent and best friend ... saying he's absolutely crushed over the tragedy.

“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck. There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me," the 2x Super Bowl winner wrote.

Elway continued ... "My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him. Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.”

The mother of "Okay Baby" viral star Preston Ordone is speaking out after her child tragically died in a car wreck ... and she's thanking fans for their support.

Katelynn Ordone posted a video message on social media Wedensday, saying she had been discharged from a Louisiana hospital ... though her husband Jaelan is still hospitalized.

She suffered multiple broken bones and a severe concussion in an April 24 car crash that killed her 2-year-old son ... and it looks like she's wearing some type of medical brace around her chest, shoulders and neck.

Rodeo legend Roy Cooper tragically died in a house fire on Tuesday.

Officials said the blaze began at Cooper's Decatur, Texas home sometime around 7 PM. According to reports, the residence was engulfed in flames by the time first responders arrived.

Cooper was the lone person injured during the incident.

Virginia Giuffre’s family found a raw, handwritten note she penned before taking her own life -- and now they’re sharing it with the world.

In a Facebook post, Virginia’s sister-in-law Amanda Roberts said the family wanted to release a quote from a journal Virginia had written, which was found at her Aussie farmhouse ... where she died by suicide Friday. The quote is a powerful message of solidarity with fellow survivors of sexual abuse.

The message reads, "Mothers, Fathers, Sisters + Brothers need to show the battle lines are drawn, and we stand together to fight for the future of victims  - Is protesting the answer - I don't know but we've got to start somewhere."