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Before this cute kid in her fancy dress turned into a popular singer and performer, she was just putting her vocals on full display as a child and playing the piano while growing up in Houston, Texas alongside her famous bestie.

This talented gal has had motivation since day one, and she really popped off in the late 90s - early 2000s with her all-girl group. She's definitely dropped some bangers through the years and was iconically brought on stage to slay some Single Ladies during the Super Bowl halftime show.

She's a survivor!

The sheriff for the area where 13-year-old Madeline Soto disappeared and died is under fire for seemingly posting a photo from the crime scene, and now the department is apologizing.

This debacle is playing out down in Osceola County, Florida -- where Madeline's body was discovered Friday by officials there in a wooded area after she went missing from her home in neighboring Orange County last week.

On Saturday -- a day after Madeline was found deceased -- a photo of human remains was reportedly posted to the official Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. The photo, believed to be a confidential image from the crime scene and since deleted, is said to show a body matching Madeline's description lying dead on the ground.

Now, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office is telling local news outlets the photo was accidentally included in a post about a community event for seniors. They add ... "We deeply apologize for any confusion or disturbance this may have caused."

The Sheriff's office is neither confirming nor denying the photo depicted Madeline's body.

Somehow, this all gets worse for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office ... because the same morning the alleged Soto photo was posted on IG, another member of the sheriff's office shared a selfie with Stephan Sterns, the boyfriend of Madeline's mother ... and the prime suspect in her disappearance and death, who has since been taken into custody.

Nirva Rodriguez, the OCSD executive director, shared the image on her personal Facebook page ... showing Sterns being led out of a building in handcuffs. She reportedly captured her post ... "If God’s love has been poured out over your life, don’t allow evil to keep you away from what He has prepared for you." Unclear what her intent behind the post/message was.

In any case ... the selfie was reportedly snapped after Sterns was booked on charges of child pornography and sexually battering a child.

Law enforcement has not specifically tied those charges to Madeline's case just yet ... nor have they officially charged him in her disappearance or death. He has yet to enter a plea.

Rodriguez's FB post with Sterns has also been deleted, FWIW ... and it's worth noting she oversees multiple divisions with OCSD, including media, outreach and community services.

Amanda Seales ain't holding back when it comes to sharing her thoughts on President Biden's approach to the Israeli conflict in Gaza, and she firmly believes it could cost him the election.

We got the "Insecure" actress Monday at LAX, and she says the Biden administration needs to tune in to what the majority of Americans are demanding -- pushing for a permanent ceasefire and ensuring Palestinians aren't living under constant threat of violence and death anymore.

Amanda adds that she's lost confidence in Biden due to what she sees as a lack of action on his part -- and, at this point, she thinks a lot of people might only vote for him because they're settling for the "lesser evil."

Not exactly a proud position for the Prez to be in, according to AS.

Now, mind you, VP Kamala Harris did make a very direct call on Sunday for Israel and Hamas to reach an "immediate ceasefire," and for Israel to increase the flow of aid to Gaza.

Still, Amanda's not pulling any punches with the administration on this issue. She's labeling the whole situation demoralizing and inhumane, and calling for some real action and empathy from the top.

J Balvin says there's one flaw with the Cybertruck -- the engine's so dang quiet, it's hard to tell how fast you're going from behind the wheel ... but he's got a solution for Elon Musk.

We got the Colombian singer, who just released his newest single, "Triple S," featuring De La Ghetto and Jowell & Randy, at Record Plant Recording Studios in Los Angeles Monday ... and he rolled up in none other than one of these futuristic EVs. Of course, our photog asked him about the Tesla truck that crashed into the Beverly Hills Hotel over the weekend.

Check it out ... Balvin -- who was out with "Million Dollar Wheels" star and owner of Wires Only where Balvin bought the car, RD Whittington -- shared his thoughts on the incident with us -- pointing out there's no way of knowing how fast the Cybertruck is going based on sound alone ... 'cause it's apparently pretty silent when in use.

Remember, Elon himself says the Cybertruck is faster than a Porsche 911 ... and he thinks the driver in the BHH crash "wasn't expecting so much acceleration."

Difference being ... a Porsche 911 engine will roar to life at high speeds, and Balvin seems to think the Cybertruck needs an audible indicator like that to help out folks behind the wheel.

J Balvin says it would be nice to have a feature where there's some noise or sound once the Cybertruck reaches a certain speed to alert the driver they're going fast -- and he's got a unique way of putting it too in terms of relaying that message.

Other than that, Balvin sounds pretty pleased with his new set of wheels, which he says is literally his new favorite toy. Get this ... JB even gave our photog a quick tour inside the car ... and we gotta say, the back seat view is pretty sweet!

Check out the video ... Balvin's Cybertruck has a massive sunroof, and there's lots of cool tech inside. It's just like any other Tesla you've seen ... only slicker with more features.

Indeed, it looks pretty roomy from what we can see ... and he says the seats are super comfortable -- with a bumpin' sound system too. Cybertrucks are slowly becoming more common on the streets, at least in L.A., but it sounds like there's still a few kinks for Elon and co. to work out.

Usher made a pit stop on his Bali vacation, visiting one of the island's most famous residents ... Russell Simmons.

The singer carved some time out from his own getaway with his wife, Jennifer Goicoechea, to meet up with the hip hop mogul for some yoga, meditation and inner peace ... and it sounds like Usher's visit is lifting Russell's spirits.

The Def Jam co-founder shared video Sunday of him leading a yoga class, with Usher occupying one of the mats on the first row ... and it looks like they got in a great stretch, working up a sweat.

Russell had nothing but good things to say about Usher's presence, saying his old pal exuded an amazing "generosity of spirit" and overall great energy.

Russell also posted a bunch of smiling photos with Usher during their time together, who appears to have been in the area on a getaway of his own ... this following their recent Las Vegas wedding.

In his social media posts, Russell explains how Usher came at the perfect time, saying ... "When i was at the lowest point in my life i woke up and this man was sitting by my bed .. i had known usher since he was a kid but we really bonded because of our mutual love for self discovery and our belief in Yogic science as a direct route to realizing Gods conciousness in ourselves."

Russell adds ... "People remember to remember this ..a friend walks in when others walk out ... i will never forget the generosity of spirit i witnessed in this man God bless you baby bro @usher 🙏🏽 love you !!!!"

As you know, Russell's lived in Bali since 2017 and he's been slammed with multiple sexual misconduct lawsuits and allegations, which he says have caused him great suffering.

Joe Jonas isn't the only one heating things up abroad -- his ex, Sophie Turner, once again flaunted some PDA with her new boyfriend ...  as seen in some steamy new pics.

The "Game of Thrones" alum cuddled up to her British aristocrat boo, Peregrine Pearson, while wandering the streets of Paris amid Fashion Week. It's clear that Sophie and Peregrine are still going very strong ... since they couldn't stop smiling during their romantic outing.

The couple wasn't shy about putting their love on display either -- as they were photographed walking arm-in-arm ... and even shared a smooch or two on the street, something they've made a habit of since going public in October.

This latest display of affection notably comes amid Joe's blossoming relationship of his own, which is also full-steam ahead. ICYMI ... the JoBro singer proved he, too, has 100% moved on from Sophie by rebounding with beauty queen-turned-actress Stormi Bree.

SB even joined JJ down in Australia amid the JoBros' international tour. Stormi was recently with Joe for a yacht outing at the Sydney Harbor -- and participated in some swimming, paddleboarding and day drinking with her boyfriend.

It's clear they're official, just like ST and PP are -- and they're obviously enjoying spending time together ... having previously linked in Los Cabos and Aspen the last several weeks.

Remember -- Joe and Sophie currently have a custody agreement in place for their kids, Willa and Delphine, amid their pending divorce ... so it's unclear if they're in Paris with mom or down under with dad.

In any case, it appears that everyone involved is having a nice March.

Jamie Lynn Spears may have realized she'd be pissing off her sister, Britney Spears, by showing off her Christina Aguilera residency drop-in ... so, she made sure not to in a recap.

Brit's famous younger sibling shared a series of sweet memories from her Sin City getaway over the weekend -- where she was enjoying a bachelorette party with a solid group of ladies. Lots of highlights in her IG post ... but interestingly, none capturing Xtina onstage.

Take a look at some of Jamie Lynn's standout snaps from the getaway -- she made sure to point out they hit up a 'Magic Mike Live' show .. and just hitting the town in general.

Yet, Brit's kid sis noticeably didn't post a single pic/vid from Christina's performance at the Voltaire at the Venetian in Vegas. In fact ... Jamie Lynn said her friend -- who is set to get married soon -- and the male stripper show were the only things worth leaving her kids for.

Of course ... there are a lot of complicated dynamics at play here -- which could have a role in Jamie Lynn's social media choices. BS and CA may go all the way back to the Mickey Mouse Club -- but fans have pitted the pop princesses against each other for decades.

It's not just fans though ... Britney and Christina have had rumored beef as well, for realsies. Whether any of that animosity has carried over into the 2020s is anyone's guess -- but it would appear Jamie Lynn was mindful of their history in going through her Vegas vacay.

On its face, you could argue JLS was just trying to keep the peace and not ruffle feathers.

Jenelle Evans has filed to separate from her husband David Eason ... TMZ has confirmed.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us the former 'Teen Mom' star recently submitted court docs in North Carolina signaling her intent to formally separate -- although, it doesn't like divorce is on the table just yet ... but, from the sounds of it, that's the next natural step here.

The court filing, as reported by The Sun, makes several allegations against David in terms of reasoning for wanting to split -- including reported claims of erratic behavior, substance abuse and refusal to work ... among other problems Jenelle cites, including other disturbing things.

The Sun notes Jenelle points out DE taking out their pet dog in 2019 ... and more recently, she says he's currently facing criminal charges for allegedly abusing her teenage son, Jace.

We broke the story ... Jenelle and David were suspected of child neglect after her 14-year-old son Jace ran away multiple times last summer. After the third time he'd done so, Jace apparently told cops David assaulted him.

Our sources told us Jace had visible markings on his arms and neck when he was picked up, leading local police to investigate and eventually arrest David. Eason's currently facing two charges -- misdemeanor child abuse and felony assault by strangulation.

Just last week ... Jenelle was detailing a recent attempted break-in at her home there in NC -- but David's name was noticeably absent from her description of the horrifying incident.

Now, we know why ... The Sun reports that Jenelle is citing their separation date as Feb. 16 -- and this document was apparently filed sometime toward the end of last month, Feb. 23.

Jenelle reportedly goes on to make more allegations against David -- including the claim that he hasn't checked in on her since they officially separated ... and that he's living on their boat. She cites the fact they have kids together ... and that he's allegedly gone off the radar.

While these aren't divorce docs, per se, Jenelle is apparently already asking for primary physical custody of their daughter, as well as child support. David and Jenelle share 7-year-old Ensley. She also reportedly signals she wants control of the family home, and a majority of their marital assets for herself. In other words, it's shaping up to a messy uncoupling.

Jonathan Majors is gaga for Meagan Good ... and not even his recent legal woes can put a dent in their relationship -- just check out the first words out of his mouth about her.

The couple was out and about Sunday at the 7th annual AAFCA Special Achievement Awards luncheon here in L.A. ... and the ex-Marvel star's practically glowing while sharing an update on their relationship when he was asked by Extra how they're doing.

Listen to JM's gushy response here -- he says, "We're in love... We're doing good, thanks for asking." Meagan chimes in too, saying, "We're doing great. God's good."

Jonathan has clearly got himself a keeper in Meagan ... remember, she stood by his side during his assault trial brought on by ex-GF, Grace Jabbari -- and she continues to stick by him even now post-conviction.

As we reported -- the jury ended up finding him guilty of one count of reckless assault in the third degree and one count of harassment. He was acquitted on 2 other charges.

Jonathan told us he was leaning on his faith in the aftermath of his conviction ... helping him stay strong in the run-up to his April sentencing. His legal team has filed to have the conviction tossed ... arguing the whole case was botched and unfair to him from day 1.

Of course, he'd been relying on Meagan all throughout the trial -- last month, the pair got away from NYC for a bit, hitting the road together for a cross-country road trip which included a pit stop in Dallas to see Majors' mother, Terri.

Russell Wilson's ride in Denver has come to an end ... the Broncos just announced they're cutting their quarterback.

In a statement posted to the team's X page, head coach Sean Payton and general manger George Paton said following a talk with the 35-year-old on Monday morning, they decided they were moving on.

"We thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career," the two said.

The release will become official once the new NFL year starts on March 13.

As shocking as it is to see a nine-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champ hit free agency ... the decision was not surprising at all. Remember, Payton had benched Wilson back in December, following two years of mediocre play.

Plus, Wilson's contract wasn't team friendly, to say the least.

For his part, Wilson took the news in stride, saying in a lengthy statement on his own X page that he was grateful for his time in Colorado.

"Over these last two years," he wrote in a message to Broncos fans, "you have welcomed my family and me with open arms and have embraced us as members of the community. This city will always hold a special place in my heart. Our family grew here, we made countless memories and friendships, and formed relationships that will last a lifetime."

It's unclear where Wilson will go next. Some pundits have suspected he could end up being a backup in 2024 -- while others think he could start in places like Pittsburgh, New England or Atlanta.

"Tough times don't last, but tough people do," Wilson added in his statement Monday.

Drake doesn't have trust issues when it comes to his pilots landing his jumbo jet in a thick fog ... because he joined them in the cockpit, filming them stick the tricky landing.

The rapper shared a wild first-person POV clip Monday of his two pilots bringing Air Drake in for a textbook landing in low visibility ... and the video is pretty incredible.

Drake's behind the pilots in the cockpit as they descend for landing, with a thick fog blanketing all the windows ... in other words, they were flying blind!!!

There's a robotic voice counting down the altitude, starting at 500 feet, and there's literally nothing visible outside the window until Air Drake is about 50 feet off the ground, when a runway suddenly cuts through the fog like a knife.

Drake's in the video saying "cheers" as his Boeing 767 private jet touches down ... then he hypes up his two pilots once they're on the runway.

Champagne Papi captioned the post ... "There's a couple landings I love on Air Drake but tbh the low visibility is the most exciting it makes your heart drop a bit…lucky I got the best putting this s*** wheels down."

Congratulations are in order for Dak Prescott -- the Dallas Cowboys' star quarterback and his girlfriend just welcomed their first child together ... their daughter, baby MJ!!

The three-time Pro Bowler announced the exciting news with reporters on Monday ... saying mama and the baby are both happy and healthy.

Prescott revealed baby MJ was born on Thursday ... which, of course, means her birthday falls on leap day!!

#4 has already taken on some important responsibilities in fatherhood ... confirming he's taken on diaper duty, but admitted he's hoping to hand off those duties from time to time.

Dak also got real about fatherhood ... saying seeing the baby every morning helped him understand the fact that he wants to do whatever he can to make sure she is taken care of.

Dak and Sarah Jane revealed back in November they were expecting their first child together ... and he explained at the time he was especially excited to have a girl.

More fallout from the failed Willy Wonka Experience -- only this time, it's somewhat positive ... 'cause they're gonna make a movie out of this, or at least one character and one genre.

As it turns out, a Scotland-based production company is planning to make a horror film in connection to the viral disaster -- but they're honing in on a memorable cameo in the whole thing that kinda took the internet by storm. Of course ... we're referring to The Unknown.

Per Bloody Disgusting ... Kaledonia Pictures has announced a new project on the horizon that they're hoping to film and release this year, and yes it's named after the big bad.

The company says, "The film ... follows a renowned illustrator and his wife who are haunted by the tragic death of their son, Charlie. Desperate to escape their grief, the couple leave the world behind for the remote Scottish Highlands -- where an unknowable evil awaits them."

KP adds ... "We are excited to begin production and look forward to sharing more with you as soon as possible. We are actually only a few miles from the event, so it is quite surreal to see Glasgow all over social media, worldwide."

If you didn't catch all this ... The Unknown was one of the hilarious highlights from the Wonka experience -- portrayed as some obscure evil spirit that was randomly thrown into the mix.

We'll admit it was a pretty creepy character -- at least the kids thought so -- and the girl behind the mask came forward to confirm the job that day was as awful as the other actors have also said it was.

Chilli is officially a grandma at 53 'cause her son, Tron Austin, has just welcomed his first child with his wife, Jeong Ah Wang!

Tron -- whom the TLC singer shares with her ex, Dallas Austin -- made the big announcement Saturday ... sharing a sweet IG snap of his newborn daughter and his wife, right from the hospital in Seoul, South Korea.

He wrote ... "On this day March 2nd, 2024 at 1:59pm 6.173 LBS/2.8kg an angel from heaven was born our beautiful daughter LUA婁娥) we are officially parents!!"

Tron also shared that Jeong had to undergo an emergency C-section a few days earlier than her expected due date, sending their anxiety levels through the roof. But he gushed that despite the challenges ... his wife courageously powered through to bring their healthy and beautiful baby girl into the world.

Tron and Jeong shared their pregnancy news back in September, revealing they'd been on quite the fertility journey to get to this point ... and now, you can tell they're proud parents.

Jeong went through a laundry list of procedures -- two HSG procedures, a hysteroscopy, having both her tubes and scar tissue removed from hernia and appendicitis surgeries, one egg retrieval and a heartbreaking miscarriage. The hardships were clearly worth it in the end!

As of right now, Tron's mama Chilli hasn't said anything publicly about her granddaughter just yet, but she's probably soaking up every moment with her newest family member.

Ryan Garcia wants his family and fans to know he is alive and "okay" ... but his current situation is far from pleasant -- claiming he has been stripped of access to his phone, Instagram and finances.

TMZ Sports has obtained a video statement from King Ryan himself ... where he explains he has no idea what is happening, but he believes he's being exploited.

"Hey guys, it's Ryan," the 24-1 boxing superstar says in the clip. "I'm coming on here to explain what's going on. I'm not in possession of my phone, I can't get access to my Instagram. My cards are locked. I'm being really taking advantage [of]."

"I would personally want to just send out a video to the people that love me and my fans, family that's concerned that I'm okay. I'm not dead, I believe in Jesus, all those [rumors] are lies."

Ryan goes on to state an unidentified party is trying to put him in jail ... and when he's reached out to people for help, he's been met with radio silence.

"I don't know what's going on but just know I'm okay," he continued.

The video comes following genuine concern from fans who have grown worrisome over Garcia's recent odd social media activity -- including a video that claimed something bad had happened to Ryan.

Kyle Richards had the best seat in the house for a Morgan Wade performance Saturday in Arizona ... and she kept her eyes trained on the country singer, recording her every move.

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star was front and center at the Extra Innings Festival in Tempe ... parking herself in a front-row seat on the other side of the fence from the main crowd, with estranged husband Mauricio Umansky nowhere to be found.

TMZ obtained video of Morgan's gig ... and you see Kyle using her cell phone to zoom in and record Morgan playing and belting out her tunes. Kyle's clearly enjoying the performance ... nodding her head to the music and proudly showing off a wrist full of festival bands.

Seems Kyle is Morgan's biggest fan these days ... and the BFFs are just as close as ever. In terms of how close -- well, let's just say this outing isn't tampering down any rumors.

BTW, Morgan performed at the same 3-day festival along with Elle King, who was back onstage for the first time after her drunken debacle at the Grand Ole Opry during a Dolly Parton birthday celebration.

Elle and Kyle found each other backstage the day before Morgan's gig ... snapping a photo together as well.

As for where things stand between Kyle and Mauricio ... it's unclear. We just saw them together this past week to celebrate their daughter's birthday -- and they were side by side. With that said, it appears Kylie is only getting together with her hubby for family gatherings.