Coachella 2018 Poolside Pics Drippin' In The Desert

These sizzlin' stars took time away from the tunes at Coachella to cool off by the pool ... dive into our gallery of celebrities who have shared plunge pics last year, to see who made a splash while in Indio!!!

As for the lineup ... Childish Gambino closed out night 1 of the Festival outside Palm Springs. Saturday night's headliner is is Tame Impala. And Suinday night is all about Ariana Grande ... TMZ broke the story, 'N Sync will be one of her surprise guests. They'll perform, we're told, but we don't know if it will be singing or dancing. The boy band was Ariana's jam growing up.

'NSYNC Performing With Ariana Grande At Coachella ... A Little Song, a Little Dance?

Ariana Grande is getting an assist from her favorite boy band ... because we've learned 'NSYNC will definitely be joining her onstage at Coachella!!!

Our Coachella sources tell us 'NSYNC is planning something with Ariana onstage Sunday night during her headlining set ... the only question ... will the '90s heartthrobs sing, dance or do both?!?

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Ariana's gotta be thrilled for the chance to finally share the spotlight with 'NSYNC ... she was raised on their music and recently posted an old vid of her in the crowd at an 'NSYNC concert, singing along in her mother's arms.

The surprise collab makes ya wonder ... will 'NSYNC help Ariana perform her hit song, "Break Up With Your Girlfriend?" The single from her new album samples an old 'NSYNC hit.

We've learned another important nugget, and it's gonna burst your bubble ... Justin Timberlake will NOT be involved.

Still, seeing AG on stage with Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez is totally epic!

Solange Bailed On Coachella Because Band Got Super Sick

Solange Knowles is missing out on the year's biggest music festival -- Coachella -- because her band members were dropping like flies from illness.

Sources close to production tell TMZ ... members of Solange's band started getting sick, and she couldn't find the right mix of replacements. We're told Solange tried out several different musicians, but it just didn't work ... mainly because Solange and co. couldn't figure out how to work in all the new pieces.

We're told Solange didn't feel like she could deliver a great show for Coachella ... and she ultimately decided to pull the plug. Our sources also say she told a bunch of people she didn't want a half-assed show.

Solange -- who released her new album, "When I Get Home" last month -- was scheduled to perform alongside Kid Cudi, Weezer, Tame Impala, J Balvin and Aphex Twin. We're told she's devastated she had to cancel.

As you know, her sister, Beyonce, also canceled as a Coachella headliner, but her reason was different ... she was pregnant with twins.

Coachella Stagehand Dies While Setting Up ... Weekend Before Festival

4:29 PM PT -- Goldenvoice issued a statement about the worker who died Saturday, saying ... "Today, Goldenvoice lost a colleague, a friend, a family member. Our friend fell while working on a festival stage. It is with heavy hearts and tremendous difficulty that we confirm his passing. He has been with our team for 20 years in the desert and was doing what he loved. He was a hard-working and loving person that cared deeply about his team. As our lead rigger, he was responsible for the countless incredible shows that have been put on at the festival. We will miss him dearly."

There's already a death on Coachella's doorstep one week before the festival officially gets underway ... TMZ has learned.

A worker died Saturday morning at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA while he was helping set up one of the many stages at the venue. Eyewitnesses on the ground tell us the guy was climbing the stage scaffolding to do some rigging ahead of opening day next Friday.

It's unclear exactly how or why, but we're told the man fell about 60 feet to the ground -- as he wasn't clipped in, meaning he had no safety harness attached to a cable to prevent him from plummeting.

An Indio Police spokesperson confirms that a call was placed around 9:30 AM PT Saturday to report an industrial accident on the Coachella Concert grounds for somebody who'd fallen near the staging area. Police and fire units responded, but we're told the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.

The IPD rep says the exact circumstances surrounding the man's death is under investigation.

Coachella appears to have carried on without very many fatalities up until 2014, when a female festival goer died of a drug overdose ... which is believed to be one of the first -- if not, the only -- deaths to occur in Coachella's two-decade history.

We've reached out to Goldenvoice -- which puts on Coachella each year -- for comment ... so far, no word back.

Originally Published -- 1:12 PM PT

Kanye West Sunday Service at Coachella ... During Easter Sunrise!!!

Kanye West is changing his tune on Coachella -- now saying he'll be performing his Sunday Service at the festival ... and he'll be doing it Easter morning at the crack of dawn.

Ye made the announcement Sunday on a flight he and Kim were on, getting on the intercom to tell the passengers that he'd booked another show at Coachella. Kanye says he's gonna do his weekly Sunday service there on Easter Sunday -- so, weekend 2 -- and, apparently, it'll be an early morning gig ... sunrise, he says.

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The news definitely comes as a surprise considering Kanye pulled on negotiations with Coachella event organizers earlier this year after he felt they were limiting his creativity ... by not giving him the stage he wanted.

As we first told you ... Ye refused to perform on a traditional 60x40 flat stage that all performers normally use when they headline, and Goldenvoice -- the company that runs Coachella -- wouldn't budge either. In the end, they went their separate ways.

Not so anymore though. It's unclear if Coachella's gonna open their gates early for Kanye to perform on stage -- Coachella usually kicks off around 11 AM each day -- or if he'll be grounded outside somewhere with his choir like he has been for the past few months.

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Either way ... Ye's definitely got a lot of practice under his belt. He's been running a Sunday Service since January. And, it's been a hit with everyone who's attended.

Ariana Grande Mum On Allegedly Ripping Off Nokia for '7 Rings'

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11:40 AM PT -- Ariana's single, "7 Rings," has apparently broken a streaming numbers record -- the most streamed song on Spotify within the first 24 hours, according to her manager Scooter Braun.

She still hasn't directly responded to the accusations of ripping off Princess Nokia and other black artists for her new track, but it seems like people are digging the song regardless.

Ariana Grande smiled but had nothing to say about claims she ripped off another artist in the creation of her latest song, "7 Rings."

We got Ariana Friday night in L.A. leaving Rockwell Table and Stage, and had nothing to say about Princess Nokia's claim the lyrics to "7 Rings" are way too similar to her song, "Mine," from her mixtape "1992."

Ariana's lyrics -- “My wrists, stop watchin’, my neck is flossin’ / Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin’ / You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it / I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it."

Nokia's lyrics -- “Rock my many styles then go natural for the summer / Hair blowing in the Hummer / Flip the weave, I am stunner / It’s mine, I bought it / It’s mine, I bought it.”

Ariana perks up a little when we congratulate her on Coachella, waving as she drives away in the night.

Originally Published -- 7:36 AM PST

Gucci Mane, Lil Pump & Smokepurpp We're Gucci Gang Hip-Hop's New Super Group

Gucci Mane, Lil Pump and Smokepurpp are performing together for the first time at Coachella under the stage name Gucci Gang ... and we're told the trio will use the gig as a springboard to become rap's next big thing.

Sources close to the rappers tell TMZ ... Gucci Gang is in talks for future performances beyond Coachella. We're told they'll soon be working with some of the hottest upcoming artists, producing tons of new tracks.

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Lil Pump was just seen in the studio with superproducer Scott Storch and surging artist Blueface ... and we're told they're working on a future collab for Gucci Gang.

When Coachella announced its lineup featuring Gucci Gang, everyone thought it was a typo for Gucci Mane or Lil Pump, but it turns out this new group has been in the works for years.

Pump and Smokepurpp have been buds for close to 7 years, and Gucci Mane has been a major influence on Pump's career. Pump and Gucci collaborated in 2017 and '18 ... and we're told the trio first started calling themselves Gucci Gang as a joke, but it's since morphed into a full-fledged group.

It sounds like Gucci Gang is aiming to unseat Migos -- as one source put it, they've got the talent to take over as hip-hop's next supergroup.

Coachella 2019 Gucci Mane's Typo Not A Mistake After All

12:17 PM PT -- So, maybe it wasn't such a flub after all ... a rep for Coachella just got back to us and says "Gucci Gang" is, in fact, correct ... and now the photo of Gucci Mane has been replaced with one to include Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. Looks like something new for festival goers.

Gucci Mane, meet Gucci Gang -- the name he'll apparently be performing under at Coachella this year ... according to Coachella promoters, anyway.

There's a major typo on Coachella's website right now, which calls the Atlanta rapper "Gang" instead of "Mane." The error, which was published in the lineup announcement Wednesday night and hasn't been fixed yet, threw a lot of music fans for a loop -- namely, having them wonder ... who the hell is Gucci Gang???

At first, people thought it might be a new rap group featuring Lil Pump -- ya know, 'cause of his song "Gucci Gang" -- but when GM's image was attached to the name in a more detailed breakdown of the lineup, it became clear someone just screwed up.

Unless, of course, there's something like an undeclared name change going on ... but we seriously doubt it.

We reached out to Coachella and Gucci ... neither's gotten back to us yet.

Originally Published -- 7:15 AM PST

Ariana Grande Coachella Headliner ... Meant to Empower Women

Ariana Grande is a hard left turn for Coachella, but it's a turn that was made consciously and involves women, empowerment and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Sources connected with production tell TMZ, choosing Ariana to headline the festival was a little tricky. There have only been 3 other women who headlined -- Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Bjork -- and Beyonce's appearance last year made it all the more daunting to choose a female artist who would not stand in Bey's shadow.

We're told the pick was designed to showcase female empowerment, noting Ariana has been through hell recently but always managed to pick herself up and move forward. Our sources say everyone involved in the decision believes Ariana can measure up to Beyonce ... and they believe it will resonate especially with women. As one source put it, "Ariana is inspirational, and millions of people, particularly women, will connect with her."

They also note Ariana has an international audience, and the media and social media pickup the announcement has generated proves the point.

Ariana Grande Headlining Coachella With Tame Impala & Childish Gambino

Ariana Grande will headline this year's Coachella music festival along with Tame Impala and Childish Gambino.

Coachella released its lineup Wednesday night and revealed Ariana will be the final performer of the event ... which goes for two weekends outside Palm Springs, California. Other acts include Kid Cudi, Zedd, Khalid, Pusha T, Solange and Weezer.

Grande is coming off a massive end to 2018, with her single, "Thank U, Next," and plenty of headlines including her broken engagement with Pete Davidson and death of her ex, Mac Miller.

TMZ broke the story ... Kanye was in negotiations as one of the festival's headliners but ultimately decided against it because he wasn't allowed to design his own stage.

Coachella sees more than 100,000 people attend per weekend each year.

Kanye West Coachella 2019 Negotiations Collapse ... Over Stage Design

Kanye West will NOT be performing at Coachella in April, because negotiations fell apart ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources tell us, the sticking point was the stage. Kanye made it clear he wouldn't perform on a traditional 60x40 foot stage because it was "artistically limiting." Goldenvoice, which produces the festival, would not allow the stage to be altered or removed for Ye's performance. In the end, we're told Kanye passed.

As one source put it, "These 40x60 stages are so archaic. It's the same type of stage on which Shakespeare's works were performed hundreds of years ago."

A Kanye source says after the Saint Pablo tour, Ye wants to give groundbreaking performances. As you know, the Saint Pablo stage moved over the crowd, and Kanye loved it.

For its part, Goldenvoice was not going to disrupt the festival and compromise the other acts to accommodate Kanye.

Rumors are floating that Childish Gambino, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna could be headliners, but that's not confirmed.

Mel B Spice Girls at Coachella??? ... 'I Would Love That!!!'

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Mel B's still months away from officially getting the band back together on tour, but she's already hopeful the Spice Girls can add a couple more stops ... including in the USA.

We got Scary Spice at LAX Friday, and our superfan cameraman peppered her with questions about the upcoming reunion tour ... set to kick off in Dublin, Ireland in May 2019.

Mel tells us the song she's most excited to perform on stage with the Girls -- sans Posh, but she says it's all good -- and you better believe she still knows all the dance moves to "Stop."

As of now, the 2019 tour only includes a handful of venues in Ireland and Great Britain -- ending with 3 shows at Wembley Stadium -- but Mel tells us what she really, really wants is to join the famed Glastonbury Festival at the end of June.

They're reportedly "in talks" to make it happen.

Spice Girls fans in the States hoping they'll add a U.S. concert might not be so lucky, but Mel's not ruling it out ... at the big fest in the California desert especially.

Kourtney Kardashian's Ex Younes Bendjima Sued ... After Alleged Beatdown on Coachella Security Guard

Kourtney Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Younes Bendjima is being sued after he allegedly attacked a security guard at Coachella who refused to let him enter the restroom with Kourtney.

Mario Herrera says he was working the music festival back in April and stationed at the single-gender male restrooms. According to the docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Herrera says Kourtney attempted to enter the restroom and Herrera told her that was not permitted.

Herrera claims that sent Younes into a rage, causing him to pick Herrera up, slam him against a wall and shout expletives.

The lawsuit claims Herrera's injuries were so bad, he had to be treated at a hospital. He's suing for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. Herrera's lawyer, Jack K. Kechichian, tells TMZ ... "Being a celebrity does not excuse bad conduct. You can't go around hurting people who are just doing their job and that’s all Mr. Herrera was doing, his job."

You'll remember back in March, Younes was caught on surveillance video outside Delilah in West Hollywood attacking a staff member as Drake and Odell Beckham Jr. looked on. A lawsuit has not yet been filed in that case.

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As for this lawsuit ... Herrera is asking for no less than $5 million.

Mike Posner Avicii's Death is a Wake-up Call ... Remember Him for His Music

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Mike Posner's still coping with the loss of Avicii, and says the world-famous DJ's death has been a harsh reminder for him -- nothing lasts forever.

We got the singer at LAX Thursday and asked him how he feels about his hit track, "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" -- known for its mention of Avicii in the second line -- now that he's gone. He tells us it definitely has a much deeper meaning now ... and will always make him think of Tim.

Mike also says he wants his friend remembered for his music above all else, because that's the highest honor for musicians ... and what he hopes for himself. He shares some fond memories of working with Avicii, too ... even on the never-released stuff.

Posner paid tribute to Avicii during last weekend's Coachella performance with a touching, acoustic version of "I Took A Pill In Ibiza."

Beyonce Destiny's Child Reunion Not Over Still Hangin' With Kelly & Michelle

The Destiny's Child reunion is still going strong post-Coachella because all three ladies stepped out together Tuesday night in L.A. for a fashion event.

Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams attended the Dundas traveling pop-up store opening in West Hollywood. Beyonce wore the designer threads for her 2017 Grammy performance.

It's not unusual for Kelly and Beyonce to hang together offstage, but Michelle rarely tags along. She's there, but hard to spot ... in the back.

The trio are fresh off a highly successful Coachella reunion, but certainly looks like the show's not over yet.

Cardi B Did Jay Ask to Touch Your Belly?

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While it's unclear if Jay-Z asked to touch Cardi B's baby bump at Coachella this past weekend, it's also likely she doesn't mind -- 'cause she didn't seem to object then ... or now.

We got Cardi and her fiance, Offset, Monday leaving Mastro's in Bev Hills, where our photog asked when her baby was due -- but, more importantly, whether she signed off on Jay reaching down to quickly cup her belly in the front row of Beyonce's concert Saturday.

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Cardi stays mum on that detail. But what is clear here is that she's fully baring her pregnant body in public now, and looking fantastic while doing it.

Our guy also tried asking Offset about Kanye West allegedly telling HOT 97 radio host Ebro that he loves Donald Trump. He had an interesting response ... more flossing than talking.