Holidaze

Charlie Brown isn't about to let Dolly Parton's theme park get away with using his famous Christmas tune -- at least not on the watch of the song's cowriter.

Lee Mendelson's production company is suing Dollywood for using the song "Christmas Time Is Here" in a play the amusement park puts on each year. Lee cowrote the song -- famously featured in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" -- and his production studio owns the copyright.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Mendelson's company says it recently became aware Dollywood weaves the track into its stage play, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," which LM's team claims has been happening, without permission, since '07.

The use of the song is no secret ... you can find clips of the performance online, in which the cast sings the track. The iconic piano melody shows up as background music too.

Tyga's idea of a cozy date? Don't ask Kylie Jenner, ask the mystery brunette he was hanging with Thursday night as they most likely got the crap scared outta them.

The "Rack City" rapper hit up Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights -- arriving Thursday night with bodyguards and his lady friend. They got there around 9 PM and stayed through midnight. Tyga and the woman were pretty tight throughout the night.

Hey, ya gotta grab someone when the ghouls and monsters pop up outta nowhere.

We're told Tyga and his date went through ALL the mazes -- pretty impressive in a 3-hour span. Despite the scary setting, he kept her laughing plenty too.

By the look of things ... Tyga's paying no attention to reports he and Kylie were rekindling an old flame on the heels of her split with Travis Scott. She immediately tried to squash that rumor. He doubled down on that by posting a blue cap, insinuating media outlets were lying about Kylie and him.

The model turning Mister Rogers into a Halloween hottie with a new costume says the icon's hometown is pissed she sexed up his trademark look, but she insists Fred really was sexy ... in his own way.

Dessie Mitcheson -- who posed in the Nicest Neighbor Costume for online retailer Yandy -- tells us she's been hearing an earful from folks in Pittsburgh, which is near where both she and Fred were raised.

No passes for the hometown girl, though ... she says some folks have made it clear she's not welcome back after all the outrage from people there. Dessie admits she knew there'd be some type of reaction from the costume, but says she was NOT expecting this amount of backlash right off the bat.

Then comes an interesting question from our photog ... is Mister Rogers actually a sex symbol? Or is the guy just too family-friendly to raise the issue? Dessie's addressing it head-on and says everyone's who's pissed is forgetting the sexiest thing about Fred.

That being said, the costume comes with hand puppets and whatnot -- so yeah -- it gets kinda weird.

Billie Eilish says it's news to her that people plan to impersonate her for Halloween, but now that she knows ... here's a tip on the best costume from the woman herself.

We ran into the pop sensation Monday at LAX and asked her what look SHE would recommend to all the wannabe BEs out there. She acknowledged there are many, MANY options for her fans to replicate.

Aside from her hit music ... Billie's become a bit of a fashion icon over the past year. She's debuted a TON of unique outfits in each of her music videos. Even in this clip, she's got her own steez going strong.

One thing is clear ... Billie's having just as tough a time as her fans probably are in choosing a favorite outfit of hers. Her bottom line seems to be ... power to the people!

She did let us in on her personal Halloween plans, and she knows for sure what she will NOT be dressing up as come Oct. 31.

For those itching to make a splash with their own Billie Eilish costumes this year, you might not need to look further than her video for "all the good girls go to hell." Remember, she got (fake) tarred and feathered for that shoot ... and it's a perfectly hellish look for the occasion.

Just sayin' ...

2 Chainz rang in his 42nd birthday on an ominous night -- which was immediately canceled out with better vibes after what Diddy gave him as a gift ... sparkly new booze!!!

The Atlanta-based MC was hosting a birthday bash Saturday night at The Gallery at Ravine in his hometown, which was decked out in the "Friday the 13th" theme ... honoring both the movie and the fact that it actually was FT13 in real life. To make things even creepier, a full moon was out too.

DJ Khaled came  out, as did Jermaine Dupri, Jeezy, Remy Ma, T.I. and Tiny ... and, of course, the Bad Boy honcho himself. Most everyone seemed to stop and pose with 2C.

When Diddy got up to the cameras, he busted out a gold bottle of his best s*** -- White Grape Ciroc, which is apparently the first of its kind to the hit the market. 2 Chainz was honored as the first recipient ... and he seemed fairly stunned by the gesture.

Just hours before President Trump's "Salute to America" event was scheduled to kick off ... the rain started coming down HARD.

As we reported ... Trump said the show is expected to feature "large scale flyovers of the most modern and advanced aircraft anywhere in the world." POTUS also said it's possible Air Force One could make a "low and loud sprint over the crowd."

But, not long before the festivities got underway, rain crashed the shindig ... sending the crowd to look for cover. Even a small group of protesters hid under a nearby stage.

Tanks were on display near the Lincoln Memorial and are not gonna parade along Pennsylvania Avenue. The Navy's elite airshow squadron, Blue Angels, will do a flyover and will also be joined by other aircraft.

Trump -- who tweeted "people are coming from far and wide" -- will address the country from the Lincoln Memorial steps before a incredible 35-minute firework display slated for around 6 PM PT ... assuming the weather cooperates. The weather service says storms are expected this evening.

As we first reported .... the military-themed bash is costing taxpayers tons of dough. The portable toilet rentals alone cost a small fortune ... with the federal government shelling out 2 separate payments of $31,764.24 and $9,534. Golf cart expenses also racked up a $19,282 bill.

Teyana Taylor's setting off her own kinda fireworks down in South Beach ... just ask Iman Shumpert.

The singer showed off her incredible bikini bod Thursday in Miami. She was there with her NBA hubby and her daughter. BTW .... that outfit she's wearing also pleased another man besides Shumpert ... singer J Balvin. And, that's because the top she's wearing comes from Balvin's Guess x J Balvin Vibras collection.

Check out the pics ... pretty sure your eyes are easily gonna be diverted elsewhere. Can't blame ya. Teyana's known for getting everyone riled up. Like ... who can forget her sexiest lap dance EVER?

The Fourth of July got off to a terrifying start for folks in Southern California after a preliminary magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook for what seemed like an eternity.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake was centered in the Mojave Desert but people all over SoCal -- from Beverly Hills and Marina del Rey to Universal Studios, downtown L.A. and beyond -- felt the rolling tremor. Some folks in Vegas said on social media they felt it too.

At the epicenter in Ridgecrest, CA ... items toppled off shelves and mirrors came crashing down. The National Weather Service said no tsunami warnings are expected in California, Oregon or Washington. There are no reports of any structural damage to buildings or roads ... at least not yet.

The TMZ offices were certainly not spared, because the studio lights above our desks were swaying like there was no tomorrow.

So far, no reports of injury ... at least not yet. We're guessing some of the folks who work at 7-Eleven are picking up cans from the aisles. 

Donald Trump's grand plan for a show of force in D.C. on the 4th may be costing taxpayers a fortune, and not just because the tanks are expensive, but because of his grandiose and possibly unrealistic vision of a record-breaking crowd.

TMZ's got the receipts, and although no one will give us a straight answer as to why certain costs have swelled from prior years, it appears the cost jump is related to Trump's hopes for a massive crowd. 

For instance, according to federal procurement docs ... 2 separate payments of $31,764.24 and  $9,534 were made to a Maryland company for portable toilet rentals. This is roughly 4 times as much as what was spent last year for the Independence Day celebration's sanitation services.

Why so expensive? No one from The White House is talking, but it seems there will be more toilets to accommodate the estimated crowd. If the estimate turns out to be unrealistic, there will be a lot of empty toilets ... except for the taxpayer money that will be flushed down the hole.

We've also uncovered purchase orders of $19,282 to rent golf carts. There weren't any golf carts last year. 

As for the main attraction -- the fireworks -- the USA's forking over $320,549.26 to Garden State Fireworks. That figure swelled from last year's cost -- $270k. 

These amounts are relative peanuts in the world of government, but it's a sign this ain't gonna be a cheap celebration. 

The Prez has promised to showcase "the strongest and most advanced Military anywhere in the World" with "Incredible Flyovers" and has poo-pooed the cost ... suggesting fuel is the only expense.

However, this doesn't take into account the cost to operate the planes and military weapons used throughout the event, and it's been reported the National Park Service is diverting $2.5 MILLION in funds to pay for the July 4 extravaganza.

Celebrity prisoners spending their July 4th holiday behind bars will chow down on an Independence Day spread like the rest of us ... filling their bellies with fatty foods.

TMZ's obtained prison menus from across the nation, and locked-up celebs Kodak Black, Suge Knight, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Michael Cohen are being treated to some pretty standard All-American fare ... mostly burgers and hot dogs.

Here'a a breakdown of their Fourth food options:

The Situation and Michael Cohen at New York's FCI Otisville:

-- Hamburgers, french fries, baked potatoes, sliced onions, pickles and fruit

Sitch is 6 months into his 8-month sentence for tax evasion, so this could be his last holiday meal behind bars. Not so for Cohen. President Trump's former personal attorney is just 2 months into his 3-year sentence for tax fraud and campaign finance violations.

Suge Knight at San Diego's Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility:

-- Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, crinkle-cut fries, cucumber onion salad, watermelon and chocolate milk

Suge is serving a 28-year sentence after striking a plea deal last year in his murder case. Remember, he's been on the inside since 2015 ... so he knows the game by now. No fireworks.

Kodak Black at FDC Miami:

-- BBQ roast beef, sliced beef sausage, hamburger buns, baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, sliced onions, sliced pickles and cheesecake

Swizz Beatz is raining on President Trump's inaugural July 4 military parade ... calling the grand display nothing more than a spoiled child showing off shiny new toys. 

We got Swizz at LAX and with Independence Day right around the corner ... had to ask about Trump's burning desire to put America's military capabilities on full display in the streets of Washington D.C.

Fair to say, Swizz ain't a fan ... so you gotta see his reaction. The hip-hop mega producer thinks Trump was inspired by his BFF, Kim Jong-un ... who's known for overseeing similar military parades. 

Tanks have been rolling into D.C. this week ahead of Fourth of July's "Salute to America" ... and there will be aerial demonstrations from the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and, of course, fireworks. 

Swizz says while the military parade is out of the norm for American history, he thinks it's pretty much par for the course ... and fits in with the current reality TV atmosphere in The White House. 

Ray J's Father's Day gift is definitely a little late, but also definitely worth the wait -- a modern black stallion he can now add to his impressive car collection.

We're told Ray J's wife, Princess Love, hit up the crew over at Pazi Performance Auto Body Shop & Customization in Burbank and had them customize this drop-dead-gorgeous Ford Mustang.

The initial plan was to give it to Ray J on Father's Day but this kinda precision design takes time -- which is why Ray J had it delivered to him just days ago. Goes without saying, but we're told Ray J had that "giddy up" look on his face when he got his first glimpse at the $125k ride.

The whip has a bad ass matte black finish and it's fitted with airlift sports suspension, custom rims from BC Forged and low-pro tires. The rims alone are at least a grand apiece!

Check out the pics ... the windows might be tinted but everyone will know it's Ray J riding in style thanks to his company's logo on the doors. If he wants to stay incognito without sacrificing style ... he can always fall back on his Maybach or Navigator.

Kimora Lee Simmons isn't keeping her son with Djimon Hounsou away from him, and definitely didn't ruin his Father's Day either -- it's all his own doing ... at least that's what people close to her are claiming.

Sources closely tied to Kimora say Djimon's recent griping that he wasn't able to see his son, Kenzo, for the holiday -- and suggesting it was Kimora's fault -- is completely backward ... 'cause he had every opportunity to make plans, but simply didn't.

You'll recall ... Djimon told a pap this week that he'd gotten screwed out of seeing -- let alone being able to talk to -- his son, and seemed to be pointing the finger at his baby mama.

We're told Sunday's missed opportunity to get together with the kid is just the latest in what we're told has become common in their relationship ... that Djimon allegedly doesn't go out of his way to make plans.

Our sources -- who are directly knowledgeable about this -- tell us Kimora has an open door policy when it comes to visitation. We're told she encourages the whole fam coming together as often as possible -- holidays, birthdays, etc. -- but Djimon hardly ever takes her up on it.

We've also been pointed to a lack of fresh Kenzo pics on Djimon's social media accounts, which seems to back up his Father's Day post. He put up a pic of him and Kenzo, but it appeared to be a throwback shot of the two of them together.

We're told the reason for that is simple ... Djimon doesn't hang out with him enough to post newer pics, which he has no one else to blame for but himself.

R. Kelly will spend next Father's Day behind bars, and Joycelyn Savage will spend it with her parents ... at least, that's what Joycelyn's dad hopes.

Tim Savage -- who says his daughter is one of the singer's sex slaves -- tells us he's counting down the days until the embattled singer goes to jail and his daughter comes back home.

Joycelyn's dad says Father's Day left him with an empty feeling, because he only got to spend time with 2 of his 3 daughters ... and he's blaming it all on R. Kelly, and wishing the worst for him.

As you know ... Joycelyn lives with R. Kelly, but her family believes she's been brainwashed. They've been fighting like hell to free her from his clutches -- so far, to no avail.

R. Kelly's staring down some hard time ... he's facing 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse and was recently hit with 11 felonies related to sexual assault.

The Savages were featured in Lifetime's "Surviving R. Kelly," and it won the MTV Award for Best Documentary Monday night, which Tim says is a step in the right direction.

Djimon Hounsou had himself a rough Father's Day because it sounds like he didn't even get a chance to see his son ... whom he shares with Kimora Lee Simmons.

The actor was visiting an L.A. County building Monday -- where it looked like he was handling some biz -- when a photog asked how his Father's Day went. Djimon didn't mince words ... he says it would've been nice to have seen his and Kimora's kid, Kenzo, let alone a convo.

The camera guy asks point blank how long it's been since he's seen the boy? Djimon holds up a five, but doesn't get specific about time frames. He then says he can't even recall.

Oddly enough, Djimon posted a photo of him and Kenzo together on Sunday ... but it's unclear if it's just an old photograph he threw up for the holiday.

As Djimon walks back to his car, someone on the street asks about fighting for custody -- but he quickly makes it clear that he's not engaging in a custody battle with his baby mama.

Kimora and Djimon dated for 5 years between 2007 and 2012 -- they had one child together, who was born in 2009.

WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry did a pretty cool thing on Sunday -- organizing an event in his hometown of Austin, Texas to give haircuts and shaves to people in need.

Henry says he didn't just want to hand out cash and call it a day -- his focus was put boots on the ground and do something for the people that would really make a difference in their lives.

So, after talking with local organizations, he decided to spearhead a shave and haircut event -- because a lot of homeless people had been telling him the way they look can be a tough hurdle to overcome when trying to find a job.

Mark connected with the people from the Austin Area Urban League and the Maestro's Classic beard care company to set up the event ... where they offered free shaves, haircuts, food and water to anyone who needed the help.

Henry says he learned A LOT while talking with the people who came through his event -- especially when it comes to the way homeless people are treated by the rest of society.

"People don't acknowledge them. They treat them like they're invisible. 9 times out of 10 people just look at them and don't talk to them. That's gotta be a horrible existence."

Mark says he was so moved by the experience, he's already planning more events in cities across the country.

"I got a lot of joy out of seeing people smile and feel good about how they looked, it meant a lot to them," Henry says.