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Taylor Swift has officially returned the favor to Beyoncé ... showing face at Queen Bey's "Renaissance" movie premiere in London.

The pop star was all glamor, with a glittering strapless gown, wavy hair and red lipstick ... hitting the carpet before Beyoncé arrived.

Of course, when she showed up, Queen Bey had fans in a frenzy ... wearing a sparkling black dress -- she also had 11-year-old daughter Blue Ivy by her side.

Tay and B made the most of their night out in the British capital ... posing for professional red carpet snaps, Taylor also took selfies with die-hard fans.

The "Karma" singer was clearly thrilled to be at the event, proving that even though her relationship with BF Travis Kelce was gaining momentum ... she was willing to ditch him in Kansas City to champion her pal on her big night.

It was only a few weeks ago when Beyoncé showed up to Taylor's "Eras" tour movie premiere in Los Angeles ... so there was a big suspicion Taylor would do the same.

Lynne Spears appears to be doing her shopping on a budget ... buying from Dollar General after claims she's been selling Britney's belongings to stay afloat financially.

Lynne was spotted wheeling a shopping cart filled with items out of the discount store in Britney's hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana earlier this week.

There's a lot being made about Lynne's finances these days, though she's strongly denied claims she's been hawking Britney's clothes, hats and shoes in a Kentwood consignment shop.

It's interesting to see Lynne doing some shopping at Dollar General, but it's worth noting she's also got a designer purse in the store's bright yellow shopping cart ... and eventually unloads her goods into a white Mercedes.

Earlier this month, the Daily Mail published an article with a family source claiming Lynne has spent the last 5 years selling Britney's clothes and accessories from tour performances, her personal wardrobe and appearances on TV and award shows.

Lynne vehemently denied the report on social media ... posting a picture with some of Britney's clothes and the caption, "I would never sell my daughter's things. Get your facts straight @dailymail."

As we reported ... in her new memoir, Britney accuses Lynne of trashing her collection of antique dolls and personal journals, with Lynne denying the allegations.

Beyoncé is responding to haters who think she's intentionally lightening her skin ... by keeping the spotlight on her blonde ambition for a night out with Jay-Z, Tom Cruise and Henry Cavill.

Bey's platinum locks were front and center as she and Jay left London's Oswald's Private Club -- but, her complexion was certainly darker than it was in the shots of her at last weekend's "Renaissance" movie premiere.

The famous foursome's power dinner came the night before the London premiere of "Renaissance," so we're guessing Tom and Henry are showing their support ... but ya gotta wonder who paid? The Carters ARE the billionaire couple.

Beyonce was definitely feeling her fit ... because she posted a fresh set of images, and the Beyhive rallied behind them, suggesting she shared the images, particularly the ones zoomed in on her face, as a direct response to all the online comments about her skin tone.

One fan commented on the new pics with ... "One thing about it my girl she never responds to the haters directly but it's ALWAYS going to be a way she clears without saying a WORD! #BrownSkinGirl."

B was criticized for her movie premiere appearance ... with many taking offense to her lightened locks and skin tone, and some even accusing her of bleaching her skin.

The backlash was so consuming that B's mother Tina Knowles, jumped to her defense ... denouncing the accusations as stupid, ignorant, self-hating, and racist.

Shane MacGowan, founder and frontman for The Pogues, is dead ... according to his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke.

Victoria announced Shane's death early Thursday morning. Although she hasn't mentioned a cause of death, Shane had reportedly been recently diagnosed with encephalitis and discharged from a Dublin hospital.

Shane formed The Pogues in 1982, amid London's punk scene, with fellow members Peter "Spider" Stacy, Jem Finer and James Fearnley. The original band name was Pogue Mahone, a Celtic phrase that translates to "kiss my arse" -- as the name portends, they played Celtic folk music, but with a punk attitude.

The band first gained popularity opening for The Clash in 1984, and eventually worked with Elvis Costello ... who produced some of their early records. The Pogues' biggest mainstream success came with their hit, "Fairytale of New York" in 1987.

The Christmas-themed track has become a holiday staple -- especially in the UK -- so, there's something poetic about Shane passing at this time of year.

He was actually kicked out of the band in 1991, following a legendarily chaotic live performance at a festival in Japan -- and, after recording one more album, The Pogues broke up.

Shane eventually got the band back together for a successful reunion tour in 2001.

Victoria said of Shane, "I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him.”

Shane was 65.

Britney Spears is back to her bizarre Instagram ways ... she filmed herself making wild-eyed faces and showing off her bare breasts.

In a video posted to her IG page Tuesday night, Brit is lying in bed with her face in the camera, puckering her lips like a fish and clenching her teeth. She twice says in a child-like voice, "Good morning."

But that's not all ... at the end of the short clip, she gives everyone a glimpse of her exposed breasts. As far we can tell, Brit's only wearing a black necklace between the sheets.

As you know, Brit has a history of posting unusual -- and sometimes disturbing -- IG videos, such as the ones where she was playing with knives, prompting sheriff deputies to conduct a welfare check at her L.A. home in September.

The deputies spoke with Brit's security guard, who assured them everything was OK, but she didn't want to speak to them.

After the cops left, Brit posted an IG message, pleading with her concerned fans to stop calling the police because the knives were fake and rented from a prop store.

Meanwhile, the pop star has made huge headlines with the recent release of her controversial memoir, "The Woman In Me." Among the stunning revelations in the book, Brit claims she got pregnant by her ex Justin Timberlake, who didn't want the baby, so after discussions they agreed to get an abortion.

There's a new Harvard course covering all things Taylor Swift -- and yes, that means her relationships, including her Mr. Right Now, Travis Kelce ... so says the professor who's teaching the class.

One of Harvard's English professors, Stephanie Burt, joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" to discuss the class she'll be heading up next semester called 'Taylor Swift and Her World' -- which she made very clear will put an emphasis on the literary merit behind T-Swift's art.

It's obvious from the video, but Prof. Burt is a self-professed Swiftie, but says that's not the reason she's teaching this course. As she explains to us, Taylor's work/fandom are very much worthy of study.

In fact, because her personal life is so tied into her songwriting, that means who she dates will get some attention in this class. However, Prof. Burt notes they probably won't spend so much time on Trav ... mostly because she hasn't written a song about him just yet.

If history's any indication ... she might have to break up with him first for that to happen. 😅

Anyway, Harvard ain't the only higher-ed institution that's doing this for TayTay, for what it's worth ... the University of Florida is also introducing a Taylor-centric course of their own very soon -- and Arizona State already has one too. Indeed, academia hearts Taylor!

And, if it wasn't obvious already ... there's a ton of interest in this new Harvard course. As Professor Burt tells us, there are already hundreds of people who've signed up for the Spring.

Taylor Swift hosted some special guests at her Sunday concert in Brazil … the family of the woman who recently died attending her Rio de Janeiro show.

Video posted to X showed five relatives of Ana Clara Benevides Machado enjoying Taylor’s performance from inside a VIP tent at Allianz Parque stadium in São Paulo last evening.

The kin were all sporting t-shirts emblazoned with Ana’s face, including her dad, Weiny.

A source told People magazine Taylor invited the family to her Sunday show and took a group photo with them. The picture was later posted to X.

As we reported, Ana was attending Taylor's concert at Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium in Rio on November 17, when she began feeling sick during a heat wave. The 23-year-old fan was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

8:23 PM PT -- TMZ has confirmed Jean passed away Wednesday, and we've confirmed the authenticity of the press release circulating on social media ... which we're told comes from her family. Her publicist also tells us Jean died from natural causes.

Her family released a statement, which notes her long storied career which started at JetStream Records and eventually jumped to Stax Records ... and all the tunes she produced in between, ending with her starting her own label (Comstar).

The statement ends ... "Jean Knight's legacy is not just a musical one; it is a testament to the enduring love between an artist, her hometown, and the fans who adored her. As we bid farewell to this iconic soulstress, New Orleans and her global fan base join together in gratitude for the indelible mark she left on the world." The family requests privacy at this time.

Jean Knight -- most famous for her hit 'Mr. Big Stuff' -- has died ... this according to reports.

An unattributed press release purporting to be the soul singer and New Orleans native's obituary is making the rounds online -- and if it's to be believed ... it says JK passed away last Wednesday, although the circumstances surrounding her death are unclear for now.

Knight's 1971 song is easily her biggest claim to fame, but it's a huge contribution to music and pop culture. 'Mr. Big Stuff' not only performed incredibly well on the charts when it came out -- including five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart, and peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- but it ended up being featured in numerous films and TV shows.

Just a handful of series that used 'MBS' ... 'Family Guy,' 'black-ish,' 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' 'Everwood' and 'The Deuce' -- just to name a few. On the movie front, it got played in Will Ferrell's 'Semi-Pro.' Beyond that ... the track got remixed/sampled a ton over the years.

Some of that notable acts who flipped this gem ... Heavy D & The Boyz, Eazy-E, TLC, Queen Latifah, Everclear, Girl Talk, Beastie Boys and John Legend. 'Mr. Big Stuff' had also been covered a handful of times ... famously by Precious Metal, Lyn Collins and many others.

Jean had recorded lots of other songs throughout her career ... but none ever reached the success of 'Big Stuff.' Some of her other notable singles ... "My Toot Toot," "You Think You're Hot Stuff," "Carry On," "Helping Man," "Do Me," "Jesse Joe (You Got to Go)" ... and more.

She was 80.

RIP

Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy, has been a fixture at just about all of her "Renaissance" tour concerts this year -- and she's upped her onstage game ... all thanks to the haters.

In the wake of her concert film's premiere this weekend, the NYT reviewed the film and quoted Queen Bey as saying ... BI's involvement with the tour was meant to just be a temporary, one-off deal ... but became a regular thing after her kid pushed back.

They add, "Though she finally relented, Beyoncé was dismayed when Blue Ivy read comments on social media that criticized her lackluster moves. But it thrilled her mother that instead of quitting, she decided to put in the work and train even harder for future stops."

This news has caused quite a stir on social media ... half of Twitter is outraged that so many people were brutally criticizing the 11-year-old early on in the tour, but others are using this as proof that Blue Ivy's resilient/talented -- 'cause she's a way better dancer now.

Footage from her May outings in Europe has been making the rounds online ... and yes, you can see a major difference in how she performed then compared to recent shows.

The debate now is whether the harsh assessments of her skills at the time were warranted or not -- some think BI 100% deserved the flak she got, arguing that if she steps into the spotlight (next to her mom, no less) it's fair game. Others think the girl deserved a break.

Taylor Swift was back to herself during a Friday concert in Brazil after mourning the death of a fan just one week ago.

TS hit the stage to perform in front of a packed crowd in São Paulo last evening -- and she appeared to be in great spirits, wearing a glittering silver and blue bodysuit with matching knee-high boots.

The pop superstar was beaming as she pranced around the stage strumming her guitar -- and even stopped at one point to flex her arm muscles.

Taylor treated the audience to two surprise tunes -- "Now That We Don't Talk" from "1989 (Taylor's Version)" and "Innocent" from "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)." This marked Taylor's first of three nights of sold-out performances at Allianz Parque stadium in São Paulo.

The positive vibes stood in stark contrast to the dark atmosphere that hung over her Rio de Janeiro concert the previous Friday when one of her fans died.

Just before Taylor went on stage, Ana Clara Benevides Machado fell ill amid the city's oppressive heat and was rushed to a hospital, where she passed away. Brazilian authorities are looking into the cause of her death while investigating the organizers of the concert to determine if they committed any wrongdoing.

Jack Harlow was responsible for Thanksgiving dinners going cold across the nation ... with the only thing drier than the turkey being his NFL halftime performance during the Lions-Packers game Thursday.

The rapper's six-minute-long set was blasted as "low-budget" after he failed to elicit any enthusiasm while performing tunes such as "First Class," "Tyler Herro" and "WHATS POPPIN" ... and many even took offense to his amateurish igloo-design backdrop.

"They said Jack Harlow's halftime performance set looked like it was from Frozen and I'm CRYING!!!" one viewer mocked ... while another joked the budget for his show was $49.99.

Others already nursing wounds over Detroit trailing 23-6 at the break went as far as to dub it "the worst performance ever" ... urging the 25-year-old to rethink accepting a similar halftime show offer in the future.

The ridicule didn't end there ... with country icon Dolly Parton heralded as a better performer at age 77 -- and others claiming Jack's show was the sole reason their Thanksgiving was ruined.

Compassion and support are on John Oates' mind ... after being sensationally slapped with a restraining order from his former jam buddy Daryl Hall last week.

Breaking his silence following the legal turmoil ... the 75-year-old dropped a T'Giving IG selfie Thursday ... encouraging all to go above and beyond to help those suffering worldwide -- because nothing says "I'm taking the high road" like a cryptic call for empathy ... right?!

He wrote in the caption: "During this time of communal reflection and connection with loved ones, let's not forget those experiencing challenges globally."

Oates added ... "As we come together, consider reaching out to support those in need—whether through local charities or international humanitarian initiatives. May our collective efforts contribute to a more compassionate and supportive world."

As we previously reported ... the longtime friendship between the world's greatest rock and soul duo soured after Hall hit Nashville Chancery Court on Nov. 16, begging for a restraining order against Oates ... which was granted the following day and effective Nov 30.

The file is sealed, and no information is publicly available ... however, our sources say the fallout is over which one of their songs Oates is allowed to sing on his own.

Oates had a string of concerts scheduled earlier this month ... but his most recent two on Nov 9 and 10 were canceled and rescheduled for next year ... and it's not clear why.

It looks like Oates will be taking a backseat from the stage for a while now ... well, until the matter is resolved between the pair.

Things between Britney Spears and her ex Sam Asghari are no longer toxic after a turbulent few months ... with their divorce settlement almost finalized.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the duo is now cordial off the back of their divorce bombshell, with the fitness trainer still living it up in the L.A. high-rise. financed by Britney to the tune of $10k a month.

Our sources tell us Brit will soon be signing away a pretty sweet check to Sam to finalize their divorce -- low 6 figures, we're told.

Sam filed for divorce from Britney in August ... with chatter emerging that his lawyer, Neal Hersh, would contest his ex's rock-solid prenup -- although that never happened.

But, with their split playing out in the public eye, they did totally shut down all communication -- with sources linked to the estranged pair telling us they were leaving it up to their legal teams to handle everything.

As a result, there was growing concern for the star's well-being, because Sam was her main support system amid her estrangement from her family.

Police in Brazil have reportedly opened a probe into the organizers of last Friday’s oppressively hot Taylor Swift concert that left one fan dead and the pop star gasping for air.

A rep for Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police Department said they launched an investigation into Time4Fun, the company that arranged the event at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos on November 17, according to NBC News.

Investigators from the consumer delegations department are specifically looking into whether Time4Fun committed the “crime of endangering the life and health” of the show’s attendees, the spokesperson said. The rep added that company execs will also be called to testify.

As you know, Ana Clara Benevides Machado fell unconscious before Taylor hit the stage during the record-breaking heat that night.

Ana later passed away at a hospital, and prosecutors announced they would investigate her cause of death, which has not been disclosed.

As for Taylor, she was filmed seemingly struggling to breathe onstage during her performance. Fans took to social media and expressed their concern for her well-being.

They also demanded Time4Fun supply more water to fans at Taylor’s next 2 shows in Rio, although one was subsequently postponed due to the heat.

On Thursday, company execs issued a statement, apologizing to concertgoers and admitting they had made mistakes, saying they “did not economize in our efforts or resources to follow the best global practices in our industry to guarantee the comfort and safety of all.”

We've seen a lot of downright insanity on airplanes lately -- with fights, threats of urination and demonic possession -- so it's super refreshing to see Brenda Lee singing her hit holiday song and bringing some joy to the skies.

The 78-year-old singer was recently the star of her flight when she hopped on the cabin intercom to sing 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' -- her most famous song, and one of the most beloved Christmas-time tracks of all time, with December right around the corner.

The other passengers certainly enjoyed the performance ... and honestly, it was super cute.

Now, in stark contrast to that are other in-flight episodes that have been making news lately -- including one woman wailing and fighting to get back to her seat ... as well as another brouhaha where a woman threatened to take a leak right there in the aisle.

In both of those ugly moments ... you could say there was a major lack of holiday cheer.

Fortunately for the folks on this particular plane, they had Brenda there to help make the flight delightful and nightmare-free.

Britney Spears' bizarre social media post about her shirtless "uncle" isn't actually one of her actual relatives ... but the guy in the pic is super close to the singer, and we know who he is.

Here's the deal ... Britney posted a strange photo on Instagram Tuesday night of a shirtless man taking a mirror selfie, which she captioned ... "This is my uncle 😉 !!! What if his back is my face 🤔🤔 ???"

Britney fans were left wondering who the hell the "uncle" is -- his face is out of the frame -- and what the hell Britney was talking about.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the guy in Britney's post isn't her uncle, it's her longtime manager and best friend Cade Hudson.

We're told Britney posted an old photo of Cade from a few years ago, and there's no real meaning behind her post ... basically, she was just being silly and having fun with her followers.

For the record, here's Britney's real uncle, Willie Spears ... who bears no resemblance to Cade.