TMZ.com

D4vd's rise to fame -- and infamy -- has been pretty meteoric, as the performer went from internet notoriety to real-life success.

However, the singer's career has been clouded by the recent discovery of a dead body in his car, and subsequent revelations about his alleged connections to the deceased individual.

Here's a look at how the performer made a name for himself before he became involved in the case.

D4vd -- legal name David Anthony Burke -- was born in Queens, New York City, and he later moved with his family to the Houston, Texas area, where he was raised.

The singer mainly listened to gospel music growing up, and he was homeschooled in his younger years, according to DIY.

The performer began his musical career after his Fortnite gaming montages were demonetized on YouTube for copyright violations.

D4vd's mother encouraged him to start making his own music for the clips, and he later began recording songs in his sister's closet using apps on his phone.

D4vd began sharing tracks on SoundCloud, and he released breakout single, "Romantic Homicide," in 2022, after clips from the track gained popularity on TikTok.

He later signed with Darkroom/Interscope, and he released his debut EP, titled "Petals To Thorns," in May 2023, and he started his first tour the same month.

D4vd quickly rose to fame in the music industry, as he went on to release several other singles, make guest appearances on other artists' tracks, and embark on multiple tours, both as a headliner and a supporting act.

The performer eventually released his debut album, "Withered," in April 2025, though it was preceded by the release of multiple singles.

D4vd was enmeshed in controversy in September 2025, when a chopped-up, decomposed body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla that was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills ... the Tesla was registered under his name. The car was impounded and taken to a Hollywood tow yard, where a smell emanating from the vehicle prompted the discovery of the body.

Although the singer began cooperating with authorities after they started looking into how the body ended up in the car, he was removed from an ad campaign for Hollister.

The investigation into how the body ended up in the car didn't stop D4vd from performing, however, as he kept touring and played a show in Minneapolis just a day after the body was found in the car.

The case turned even more mysterious when the body was identified on September 16, though not publicly, pending notification of next of kin ... the next day it was revealed it was a 15-year-old girl named Celeste Rivas who was reported missing in 2024.

Connections between D4vd and Celeste began popping up after she was identified, and her mother told TMZ her daughter, who'd been missing ever since April 2024, had a boyfriend named David. We also revealed Celeste and the singer had matching tattoos.

We later learned the singer was seen in the area where Celeste had lived prior to her disappearance, and a photo began circulating online showing him posing next to a girl with a resemblance to the deceased individual. He also professed his love for someone named Celeste in a leaked demo track from December 2023.

D4vd ended up pausing his world tour after the girl's body was identified. LAPD officers subsequently began speaking with residents of the area where the Tesla was abandoned to find further information in the case.

The case involving a chopped-up teen girl found in a Tesla belonging to singer D4vd is intensifying ... Los Angeles police searched a home in the affluent neighborhood where the car was abandoned.

According to ABC7 ... a swarm of officers spent several hours at a Hollywood Hills home Wednesday night and seized a computer, among other items, from the residence. For the moment, it is unclear whether the evidence is connected to D4vd's Tesla.

Neighborhood sources tell TMZ ... yellow tape went up around 3 PM yesterday at both ends of the street. There were tons of unmarked cars and about 10-12 law enforcement officers at the home until midnight, going through the garage and home.

Neighborhood sources also tell TMZ ... a black Tesla with Texas license plates was often seen parked in front of the home.

As TMZ reported, the decomposed and dismembered body of the girl found in the front trunk of a Tesla owned by D4vd has been identified as Celeste Rivas. The Tesla was abandoned in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, and was impounded two weeks ago ... an odor emanating from the vehicle in a Hollywood tow yard prompted the discovery of the body in the car on Sept. 8.

TMZ got a tip last week that Celeste was the victim, and we contacted her mother. The mother said Celeste had a boyfriend named David and she was suspicious because police had said the victim had a "Shhh..." tattoo on her right index finger. The mother said her daughter had that same tattoo. We then contacted LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division and gave them the mom's name and phone number.

Lana Del Rey is looking forward to Coachella now that the lineup is out ... and she thinks Justin Bieber's going to hit a home run.

We got the "Summertime Sadness" singer out in Beverly Hills on Tuesday and our photog asked her about the famous music festival, which just released the list of artists set to perform this April ... when Coachella returns to Indio, CA.

Lana headlined Coachella in 2024 and she tells us it's one of her favorite festivals ... along with Stagecoach, which is held at the same festival grounds.

Jennifer Lopez proved she's the ultimate Hollywood power player as she turned heads strutting into the same Los Angeles office building that houses ex-husband Ben Affleck's production digs.

The superstar was decked out in full glam and looked amazing as she headed in for a round of meetings Monday. In true L.A. fashion, J Lo's morning grind came with star-studded serendipity ... we're told before J Lo stepped onto the elevator, she crossed paths with none other than legendary director Ridley Scott and his wife, producer Giannina Facio.

The two Hollywood titans exchanged hellos before each continued on to their separate offices ... Lopez to her own business dealings, and Scott and Facio to their production hub.

It's tiiiiime!!!

Mariah Carey is heading to Sin City this holiday season -- opting for a residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM for her "Christmastime in Las Vegas" show rather than taking her holiday tour on the road as she has in the past.

The Queen of Christmas announced the exciting news Tuesday, revealing she'll be stationed in LV from Nov. 28 through Dec. 13 to help spread some holiday cheer. She has a total of 10 shows planned.

Taylor Swift may've kept a low profile at fiancé Travis Kelce's game Sunday, but she still had a good time ... as seen in a new post from the outing.

Kane Brown shared a snap from the weekend on Instagram Monday night, where he confirmed he and his wife, Katelyn, celebrated Patrick Mahomes' birthday alongside Brittany Mahomes, Swift, and Kelce.

Check it out ... the Kansas City Chiefs QB's birthday turned into a date night after their game Sunday, with the 3 couples happily posing before grabbing a bite together at Kelce’s restaurant, 1587 Prime.

The 2026 Coachella lineup is here ... and it's full of star power!

Check it out ... Sabrina Carpenter will open the uber popular California music festival on Friday, April 10 ... with Justin Bieber taking the main stage on Saturday, followed by Karol G on Sunday.

And, they'll do it all again the following weekend!

Teddy Swims, Katseye, FKA Twigs, Addison Rae, Sexyy Redd, Major Lazer, PinkPantheress and CMAT are also notable acts set to take the stage.

Reba McEntire is shedding light on how her step-grandchildren are doing in the aftermath of their father Brandon Blackstock's death ... revealing they're still in the thick of grief.

The country legend shared the somber update with "Entertainment Tonight" at the 2025 Emmys on Sunday, where she noted the entire family misses Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband "every minute."

However, Reba shared one small silver lining amid the tragedy, explaining the loss of Brandon has brought his children closer together.

This weekend would have marked Amy Winehouse's 42nd birthday, and do you think we'd let the occasion pass without looking back at some of her most iconic moments? No, no, no!

The late singer really had a knack for turning mundane public appearances into events, like when she took a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard while filming a music video and turned the street into her personal runway!

Bobby Hart, one half of the powerhouse songwriting duo Boyce and Hart who helped catapult the Monkees to pop culture domination in the ‘60s, has died.

Hart passed away at his Los Angeles home, his friend and co-author Glenn Ballantyne confirmed Sunday, adding the music legend had been in declining health since breaking his hip last year.

Alongside songwriting partner Tommy Boyce, Hart crafted some of the Monkees’ most enduring hits, including their theme song with the instantly recognizable line, "Here we come, walkin' down the street" as well as the chart-topping "Last Train to Clarksville" and the rock staple "(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone."

Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock nearly turned the Born and Raised Festival into a fight night this weekend ... squaring up in a heated clash that played out right in front of fans.

The drama went down Saturday in Oklahoma just before Adcock was due to perform. In footage Adcock shared on Instagram, the country stars are seen shouting at each other from opposite sides of a wire fence.

"Hey, do you want to fight like a man? Come open the gate," Bryan can be heard yelling, before shoving the fence toward Adcock. Another clip, posted on Facebook, shows Bryan actually trying to climb over the barbed wire to get to Adcock but he was quickly restrained by security. Adcock, meanwhile, was escorted away by a bodyguard.

Vince Neil is opening up about a terrifying health battle ... revealing he suffered a stroke in his sleep on Christmas that left him unable to walk.

The Mötley Crüe frontman detailed the scary ordeal in a new interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, saying, "My whole left side went out ... I had to learn to walk again, and that was tough." Doctors even told Neil he might never perform again, but he refused to accept that fate. "I go, ‘No, no, I’m gonna do it. Watch and see.'"

Back in March, the band postponed their Vegas residency, citing a "medical procedure." Neil now confirms the break was to focus on his recovery. He spent months in physical therapy at his Nashville home with former girlfriend Rain Hannah Andreani.

Morgan Wallen paid tribute to the grieving widow of Charlie Kirk just days after the conservative activist was killed in Utah.

The country superstar stopped his Edmonton show on Friday mid-set during his tour, taking a moment to address Erika Kirk, Charlie's wife. "I'm not gonna say a whole bunch on this, but this song right here has been hitting me harder in the last couple days," Wallen told the audience.

He continued ... "And I just wanted to let Erika Kirk know that me and my family are sending prayers her way."

Chris Martin's encouraging people to love others they might not even get along with ... including Charlie Kirk's family after his tragic death this week.

The singer-songwriter took the stage at London's Wembley Stadium Friday night ... and, he had all the fans raise their hands up and send love to someone in the world.

Martin says it can be anyone in the world in the clip ... friends, family or strangers experiencing tragedies -- like the Kirks.

Lizzo says "Truth Hurts" ... but, in this case it certainly shouldn't for her -- 'cause the truth is she looked fantastic at a New York Fashion Week event Friday night!

cThe singer-songwriter hit up the Christian Siriano fashion show in the Big Apple ... flaunting her recent weight loss in a brown corset top and tight black skirt -- and, kicking up her leg with a huge grin on her face.

Her hair is a dark red here ... parted on either side of her face and cascading down to her waist while she smizes for the cameras.

Sharon Osbourne is speaking out in an unexpected way following the death of her husband, Ozzy Osbourne ... penning a note to fans while showcasing her recent trip to the local falconry!

Check out Sharon's touching post -- she tells fans she's "having trouble finding the words to express how grateful" she is for their support over the last several weeks, adding ... "Your comments, posts, and tributes have brought me more comfort than you know. None of it has gone unnoticed, in fact, it’s carried me through many nights."

She then shifts focus to the stunning video of her and Kelly Osbourne mingling with several owls at the Cornwall Falconry in England.