Music

11:15 AM PT -- Suffolk County D.A. Raymond A. Tierney just released a statement ... saying they appreciate Justin Timberlake's willingness to accept responsibility for his actions -- and to use his platform to increase public awareness of drunk driving.

He adds Timberlake didn't receive any special treatment because of his celebrity status ... adding justice should always be applied fairly.

10:10 AM PT -- The first photos of Justin Timberlake from inside the courthouse are out ... capturing the singer-songwriter as he and his lawyer Ed Burke Jr. handled the plea in his case this morning.

While he looked somber in some photos, he cracked a huge grin in others ... looking pretty relieved to put the whole ordeal behind him.

9:50 AM PT -- Justin is addressing the media outside the Sag Harbor courthouse for the court-ordered apology ... telling the assembled press, reiterating much of what he said in the courtroom. He says he tries to hold himself to a high standard -- something he didn't do in this case.

JT adds he could've made a different, more responsible decision, but he did not. He tells people not to get behind the wheel of a car, even if they only have one drink.

Timberlake thanks everyone -- from the residents of Sag Harbor to those in the courtroom to police on the streets -- for working through this process with him. He says he's going to do his part to end drunk driving, and he hopes everyone else can do the same.

9:44 AM PT -- Justin Timberlake has officially left the courthouse ... walking out quietly in front of numerous onlookers after pleading guilty.

9:07 AM PT -- The judge has officially accepted Justin Timberlake's plea deal ... and he will do 25 hours community service within one year, and pay a fine up to $500 and issue a court-ordered apology. The judge thanked Justin for all that he said and for speaking from the heart. His license in NY State will have a 90-day suspension.

9:04 AM PT -- The judge asks Justin Timberlake how the court can be certain this won't happen again ... and, he responds he can say with "the utmost honesty I won't be back here again" -- joking he doesn't mean Sag Harbor, 'cause he loves the city.

9:00 AM PT -- JT's saying he's had time to reflect on his actions and didn't live up to his own personal standards. He says he understands his platform, one he spent a life building.

Timberlake adds he's grateful for the opportunity to learn, and he should've made a better decision for himself. He says he was raised on a certain set of values ... and, this isn't it.

8:57 AM PT -- Justin has just confessed to consuming alcohol before his arrest and driving impaired. Remember, back in July, his lawyer insisted Justin was not intoxicated when cops pulled him over.

8:53 AM PT -- Justin Timberlake's court appearance is underway ... and, as part of the guilty plea, he's agreed to do 25-40 hours of community service, and he will make a public service announcement, presumably about driving while impaired.

Remember, back in the day, Justin and the rest of *NSYNC made a PSA about drunk driving ... so, familiar territory for the the star.

Justin Timberlake just arrived at the Sag Harbor courthouse to enter his plea in his driving while ability impaired case, and the pop star ain't smiling in the clip.

The singer-songwriter arrived in a navy blue sweater and brown-gray slacks, rose-colored sunglasses covering his eyes ... and, a serious expression on his face as he marched up the stairs toward his hearing.

There's a lot of shouting and yelling from photogs in the clip ... and, someone asks if he has a message for his fans -- though he chooses not to respond.

Lana Del Rey got caught in a big storm down in Louisiana ... waiting out Hurricane Francine with her rumored new flame, Jeremy Dufrene ... and seeking shelter at his home.

The "Summertime Sadness" singer was spotted at Jeremy's place this week ... at the same time Francine came roaring through the state ... and they seemed pretty comfortable with each other, hanging out on his porch.

Lana and Jeremy -- a Louisiana-based alligator tour guide -- are looking more and more like a couple ... even though they haven't gone Instagram official yet. They've also been spotted recently at Leeds Festival in the UK and a celeb wedding in NYC.

Taylor Swift's support of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election has cost her the support of at least one fan ... who's calling out T-Swift's faith.

A video's going viral online featuring a woman who says she has 3 tickets to a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto, taking place in November ... a gift for her daughter's 13th birthday.

But she says she's pissed about Taylor's endorsement of Kamala Harris ... saying Taylor posted it so soon after the debate, she thinks Swift didn't actually keep an open mind going into Tuesday night's Harris v Trump showdown.

Eminem -- we mean, Slim Shady -- is going out with a bang and still kicking Diddy while he's down on his new deluxe album "The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de grâce): Expanded Mourner's Edition."

On the updated version of "Fuel," Eminem recruits Shady Records rappers Westside Boogie and Grip -- and dedicates part of his verse to digging up the skeletons of rap's most infamous unsolved homicides!!!

With a frenetic flow, Em flames Diddy on the song with the lyrics, "'Fuel' remix, "So who'll be picked next, whose name gonna be next up? / Notorious B.I.G.'s death was the domino effect of Tupac's murder / Like facial tissue, whose clock should I clean next? Puff's? / 'Til he's in police handcuffs, guilty, will he step up? / Like gee, never turned himself in, who knows all the murders there'll have been?!?"

Hip Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow says he's booming with life thanks to adjustments in his health regime -- perfect timing because he has a busy holiday season ahead!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with KB at LAX on Thursday, and he tells us by switching up his diet, drinking lots of water, and adding more hours of quality sleep, he's been able to hit the gym again ... not bad for a 65-year-old legend!!!

The NYC native successfully underwent heart-transplant surgery a few years ago, and advises his fellow rap elders -- and fans alike -- to start prioritizing their health and nutrition.

Sam Asghari is officially moving on from Britney Spears with a new blonde ... at least that's what it looks like in this video TMZ obtained of them chilling in a park.

Check it out ... Sam and the mystery blonde were at a West Hollywood dog park Wednesday evening with his Dobermann, Porsha -- the dog he originally gifted to Britney after their engagement, but was granted custody of in their divorce settlement.

At one point during their walk, the two were seen getting playful -- Sam smacked the woman's booty, and threw his arm around her back to give her a brief rub.

John Legend is sticking up for his hometown, Springfield, Ohio ... urging locals to welcome Haitian immigrants after Donald Trump's wild claim that they were eating local pets -- but it seems his calls for unity have largely fallen on deaf ears.

In an IG vid, the singer -- a die-hard Democrat -- insisted no one in Springfield was eating cats or dogs. He also pointed out the city has seen an influx of jobs under President Joe Biden’s administration, after years of people leaving town to find work elsewhere.

He noted the Haitians who arrived did so legally to fill local jobs, and while he acknowledged the town's 25% population increase has brought growing pains -- like adapting to new language, culture, and dietary preferences -- he urged the community to be more understanding.

Jack Antonoff has heard the criticism about his earplug use at the 2024 MTV VMAs, and has offered up a response to his haters.

The music producer offered up a sarcastic apology online Thursday evening after he was put on blast for protecting his ears during Katy Perry's performance at the awards show this week.

While some fans accused Jack of being "disrespectful" to Katy by popping in some noise-canceling plugs, the Grammy winner made it clear the situation was blown out of proportion ... and roasted those who took his earplug use so seriously.

Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction is not her only major fashion faux pas -- she's revealing she once split her pants in front of Queen Elizabeth!

The icon spilled the royal tea to British Vogue ... relaying how when she was performing "Rhythm Nation" for Queen Elizabeth back in the '90s -- her pants ripped right down the back crack when she squatted doing a dance move.

Janet confessed she couldn't quite believe her pants had split, but the rush of air in the rear was a pretty clear sign something had gone seriously awry.

Lil Wayne is speaking out after not being selected to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show ... and he's not mincing words -- the snub has left him devastated.

Wayne took to IG on Friday morning ... where he spoke directly to his fans in an earnest video, thanking them for their support over the past several days and explaining how disappointed he is not to be chosen to take the stage in New Orleans.

LW says he's been building the strength to address the situation "without breaking." He makes his feelings clear ... when he wasn't selected, it hurt -- a whole lot.

Lady Gaga is blasting some former NYU classmates for creating a nasty Facebook group about her years ago, claiming she would never make it as an entertainer.

The celebrated singer/actress hopped on TikTok to address the now-deleted page from when she attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts starting in 2003.

Back then, a few of her fellow students had created a private FB group under the title, "Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous," accompanied by a throwback photo of the superstar. Stefani Germanotta is Gaga's real name.

Diddy's fighting back against the massive $100 million default judgment leveled against him this week ... claiming he never received a copy of the lawsuit -- and, even if he had, the statute of limitations ran out years ago.

The controversial music mogul filed the emergency motion to set aside the massive judgment Thursday ... saying the plaintiff, Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, never served him with a lawsuit -- and, he didn't know he had to handle the matter until news outlets started reporting on the judgment.

Worth noting ... Diddy's lawyers aren't just trying to get the case thrown out for failing to serve him properly -- they're denying all wrongdoing wholeheartedly. They say the "facially implausible allegations are completely fabricated."

Britney Spears is still paying child support despite her son turning 18, Jon Bon Jovi is being hailed a hero, and Shannon Sharpe is feeling embarrassed ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles explain why Britney is still shelling out $20,000 in child support for a few more months despite Jayden James reaching his 18th birthday.

Kendrick Lamar's viral new song validated Dee-1's unyielding message that hip hop culture has sunk into Hades -- and the New Orleans-bred rapper is etching it as a career-changing moment!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Dee on Thursday, just hours after Kendrick shouted him out on the song being dubbed, "Watch The Party Die."

Kendrick seemingly mutes himself with the somewhat cryptic bars, "I want to be empathetic, my heart like Dee-1 but I would ___" ... and Dee thinks the Compton lyricist was metaphorically saying he would blacken his soul to combat the evils of the world, and decided that silence would be the best punchline to end the rhyme.

Dave Grohl’s cheating scandal and secret love child might’ve rocked everyone else, but his ex-girlfriend is still solidly in his corner to support him.

Jennifer Finch -- Dave's ex from the '90s -- is stepping up to defend the Foo Fighters frontman through all the drama, calling him a top-tier dad and friend -- telling us she got a front-row seat to his family dynamic while touring with them recently.

Jennifer -- who was part of the punk rock band L7 -- assures us Dave's doing everything he can for his family, giving it his all in spite of the messy situation.

Happy Birthday, Jayden James!!! It's time to celebrate, both your adulthood and the fact child support from Britney Spears will not end on this special day.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the original child support order in the Britney/Kevin Federline divorce provided that child support payments would cease on the 18th birthday of Jayden, the youngest son, OR when he graduates high school, WHICHEVER IS LATER. We've learned Jayden will graduate from high school in Hawaii in November -- it's an early graduation -- so the child support payments will continue until then. That means Britney will make payments in October and November, and then it all stops.

We're told the original child support order was $20,000 a month. But, in 2018, it went up to $40k a month, partly because Kevin pretty much had the kids all the time, and there were additional expenses as the kids got older.