Hot off her 4th place stint on Dancing With the Stars, Hope Solo hasn’t forgotten how to use her legs for the game of soccer, proving Wednesday that she’s still the consensus No. 1 goalkeeper in the world at BC Place.

Reflecting on her tenure on Stars, Solo said:

“Now you have your everyday citizen knowing who I am,” Solo said. “For the game to grow, it needs to get more mainstream media, and I know ‘Dancing With the Stars’ did just that.”

Dancing With the Stars isn’t the only celebrity attention the soccer starlet has gotten recently – she recently posed nude in ESPN Magazine, an opportunity netted from the U.S. women’s soccer team’s second-place finish at the World Cup in Germany last summer. The sport is still up-and-coming, and Solo is moving to center stage, becoming something of a face for the product.

But will her celebrity status distract from the game?

“I don’t think anybody’s ever questioned my focus,” she said. “Very competitive, very driven.”

But then, there’s the possibility that her stint on Stars got her slightly out of the mind – and body – for soccer.

“Let’s just be honest,” she said. “I stayed in shape, but there’s many things you can do in the offseason to stay in shape. My endurance was good — I wasn’t goalkeeper-fit. I lost some of my muscle strength. It’s just different. I lost some of the intense footwork, so I did have to gain it all back.”

Though her career is hitting stride once more, there is some concern over a shoulder injury that culminated in surgery in 2010.

“My shoulder will always be an issue,” the 30-year-old goalkeeper said. “But I’m getting through it. I look back at the World Cup and I ask myself ‘How in the world did you find a way to play?’ And it’s a testament to the doctors and to obviously my mentality to get back on the field. But I look back and I wonder how it did it because it’s probably 10 times better now than it was just a few months ago.”

With Stars behind her, Solo is looking forward, determined to find herself competing in the 2012 Olympics this summer.

Hope Solo is Back from ‘Dancing’ with Eyes Set on 2012 Olympics is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Dancing with the Stars” winner J.R. Martinez is expecting a daughter next spring with girlfriend, Diana Jones.

A veteran of the Iraq War, Martinez sustained severe burns over 40% of his body during his tour in 2003. He is best known for participating in the 13th season of “Dancing with the Stars” just this year and ultimately winning the competition.

The Iraq War veteran is also known for his role on the soap opera “All My Children” where he has played Iraq War veteran Brot Monroe since 2008. It was on the set of the soap where he met Jones who was working as an executive assistant.

News of the couple’s status as expecting parents was released yesterday by People Magazine.
“We found out just last week it’s a girl and we are over the moon,” says Martinez. “Diana has a little baby bump now and it’s the cutest thing ever. With the holidays coming up, this is the biggest and best gift we could get.”

Couldn’t argue with him there.

What do you think of J.R. Martinez’s inspiring story and of the couple’s holiday news?

J.R. Martinez, Father-to-Be With Girlfriend Diana Jones is a post from: The Inquisitr

Is Karina Smirnoff too good for Brad Penny now that she’s won “Dancing With the Stars?” Is the baseball player intimidated by a Mirror Ball winner? Whatever the case, it looks like Smirnoff and Penny are calling off their engagement.

The couple, who met each other through former “DWTS” contestant Chuck Liddell in October 2009, are reportedly calling off their engagement. A source told E! Online:

“They’re just two different people.”

If the rumors are true, this will be the second wedding in two years that Smirnoff has called off. Smirnoff was previously engaged to Maksim Chmerkovskiy from “Dancing With the Stars.”

Here’s a video of Karina Smirnoff and JR Martinez on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Yahoo! reports that many people speculated that Smirnoff’s engagement with Penny was in trouble when she decided to postpone the wedding earlier this year. Smirnoff, at the time, said that she wanted to concentrate on dancing and that Penny’s MLB schedule made it extremely difficult to plan their wedding.

Smirnoff said:

“It’s just this season is going so well for me and (‘DWTS’ partner) J.R. Martinez and I want to be able to concentrate 100% here… And at the same time, concentrate on planning the wedding. So together, it’s just impossible.”

The New York Daily News reports that Smirnoff has been seen as recently as Saturday wearing her engagement ring. But according to a source, Smirnoff only wears the ring in public.

Neither Smirnoff or Penny have commented on the recent rumors.

Do you think Karina Smirnoff is afraid of the altar?

Karina Smirnoff and Brad Penny Call Off Engagement, Says Source is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hope Solo’s exit from Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday wasn’t conducted as gracefully as it could have been, according to Us Weekly.

The magazine has dubbed Solo a “sore loser” after the 30-year-old soccer star refused press interviews and broke down in tears while processing her exit from the show. While Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian and J.R. Martinez all celebrated reaching the series finale, an eyewitness told Us that Solo was in no mood to chat.

In the one interview she did conduct, Solo told Dancing With the Stars host Tom Bergeron:

“This competition is one of the toughest competitions I’ve ever been a part of. It was an amazing opportunity. We have the most amazing fan base and instead of the winning the mirrorball trophy, I’m going to try to win a gold medal this summer at the Olympics.”

Solo also found time to thank her pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who has had his own stroppy moments this series:

“Maks put so much into [our Monday night] Argentine tango and it’s something to be proud of. He basically broke his body picking me up and teaching me how to do this dance, and I pulled muscles doing it. It wasn’t easy. To come out with [scores of] 8′s, I was like, there’s no other couple here who can do what we just did!”

The big final airs next Monday and Tuesday night on ABC. Who are you backing, readers?

Hope Solo Wears Cranky Pants is a post from: The Inquisitr

Grace said:

“God is going to get him. He’s going to be miserable. He can run but he can’t hide. He and Casey Anthony can have a tea party when he gets out in four years.”

Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty yesterday of the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson. Murray was immediately placed in prison where he will await sentencing.

According to CBS, Murray faces a sentence of up to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Murray is filing an appeal in an effort to reduce his sentence to house arrest. But even if Murray gets the full sentence, Nancy Grace won’t be satisfied.

Grace said:

“I don’t think that’s fair. In fact, I think that he should have gotten murder one with propofol as a deadly weapon, and should have spent life behind bars.”

Grace received a type of sentencing yesterday from “Dancing With the Stars” judge Len Goodman. Goodman said:

“For me, you’ve had kind of a Cinderella story here,” he told Ms. Grace. “But it’s midnight and it’s time to go home.”

Do you agree with Nancy Grace? Should Dr. Conrad Murray be given a harsher sentence? Do you think God will avenge Michael Jackson’s death?

Nancy Grace Says Dr. Conrad Murray Will Feel the Wrath of God is a post from: The Inquisitr

Whenever Carrie Ann Inaba wears red on “Dancing With the Stars” something crazy happens. Inaba, and her fellow judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, are currently in an online yelling match with dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Some would say that the argument started after the judges gave a harsh critique of Maks’ Monday night dance, but Inaba knows that it was more wardrobe related.

Carrie Ann Inaba told Access Hollywood:

“Okay, I’m going to tell you guys something funny. What happens is whenever I wear red something very strange happens. I’m serious, if you actually go back and look through shows for some reason when I wear red it makes people upset or myself I get upset or…it’s strange.”

The main conflict on “Dancing With the Stars” is between Maks and Goodman. Goodman tried to backup his judging opinion of Maks’ dance with Hope Solo by saying that he had 50 years in the business, to which Maks replied “maybe it’s time for you to get out.” Maks also irked judges by claiming that DWTS “was my show,” a comment that he later said was misunderstood.

According to CBS, the judges are also receiving criticism for dismissing Chaz Bono.

Inaba said on Twitter:

“FYI: Everyone has different abilities on DWTS. Every journey is unique to each contestant and everyone’s ten looks slightly different. Another FYI: I forgive you because you don’t know better- scores are locked in before we speak. So we have scored before any words spoken.”

So the most important debate of the year continues… Who is the real jerk in this situation? Maksim Chmerkovskiy? Len Goodman? Carrie Ann Inaba?

Carrie Ann Inaba Defends DWTS Judges on Twitter, Blames Herself for Wearing Red is a post from: The Inquisitr

Maksim Chmerkovskiy will not be insulted. Last night on “Dancing With the Stars” the judges were less than impressed with Chmerkovskiy’s performance with Hope Solo. After Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli gave their scathing critiques of Maks dance, the professional dancer had a few words of his own for the judges.

Goodman said: “This is your worst dance of the season in my opinion… I’ve been in this business 50 years.”

To which Maks replied:

“Maybe it’s time to get out.”

Here’s a video of the whole exchange.

And Maks isn’t going to apologize for being disresectful. Chmerkovskiy told US Magazine:

“I had a long conversation with my dad and I don’t regret anything. I think I’m misunderstood in this situation. Everyone is waiting for me to bow my head and plead for forgiveness. I have nothing to apologize for…. One thing I’m not going to embrace is pointing fingers and disrespectful remarks… Why are judges allowed to compare us to animals and point their fingers and we can’t say our opinion?”

Chaz Bono and Lacey Schwimmer both came out to support Maks, but fellow dancer Derek Hough said that Chmerkovskiy should know better.

Hough said:

“As a seasoned professional, [he] should know not to do that. There’s a certain amount of self control you should have. Last week, I knew going in it wasn’t going to be our best dance. I don’t get upset about it, I expect it and then I take it with grace and move on.”

Do you think Maksim Chmerkovskiy was disrespectful on “Dancing With the Stars?” Should he apologize to the judges?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Won’t Apologize for Insulting Judges [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

After Ricki Lake revealed she was postponing wedding dress shopping to maximise her weight loss on the show, Grace told People she’d lost an impressive 16 pounds on the show to date.

Grace, who’s not usually such a shrinking violet, initially came over all coy when asked about her dwindling physique, jokingly pointing out her partner Tristan McManus was the one who had really benefited from the show:

“I’ve noticed Tristan has lost a lot of weight. He really needed to. He was carrying way too many pounds around.”

A little more probing encouraged Grace to reveal her 16 pound loss, something that seems to have cheered her up:

“This has been a great side effect to dancing, so I’m happy. But I just think women should love their bodies like they are.”

Along with the hours of practice she puts in with McManus (who she calls “my lucky charm”), Grace says meals from LA-based diet specialists Freshology have contributed to her “feeling good.”

Not that her husband seems to care a great deal, with Grace admitting, “I don’t think he’s even noticed.”

Week 7 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ kicks off tonight on ABC, with seven couples remaining: David Arquette and Kym Johnson, Chaz Bono and Lacey Scwhimmer, Nancy Grace and Tristan McManus, Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke, Ricki Lake and Derek Hough, J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff, and Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Who’s tuning in, and who are you guys backing?

Nancy Grace Reveals ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Weight Loss Success is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dancing with the Stars’ Karina Smirnoff and her dance partner, J.R. Martinez, have been on fire lately, and to keep that fire burning Smirnoff has apparently decided to put off her wedding plans with Detroit Tigers pitcher Brad Penny.

“There’s absolutely no time,” Smirnoff, 33, said of her temporarily stalled wedding plans. “I want to enjoy this and I want to enjoy the wedding and doing it together is just really hard,”

She continued: “I got an amazing partner and we spend so much time at the studio because we have a great shot at [winning],” she said of her dance partner. “And we truly enjoy putting together these great routines,”

Smirnoff hasn’t been the only half of the couple with a full schedule recently, however. Penny’s baseball season with the Detroit Tigers just came to an end this past Saturday. “Brad just finished his season with baseball, so there is no time,” Karina explained to Access Hollywood.

“I’m on such a high this season, that I wouldn’t want to take anything away from the wedding, or from this experience,” she said. “There’s time for both.”

Once Smirnoff’s run on Dancing with the Stars is over, however, the two plan on picking up right where they left off, and continuing onwards with their wedding plans.

“Once [Dancing] is over, we’re going to concentrate on the rest of the life,” she said.

via Access Hollywood

Dancing with the Stars’ Karina Smirnoff puts wedding with Brad Penny on hold is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kelly Clarkson took to the Dancing With The Stars stage this week to perform her new hit song Mr. Know It All from her upcoming Stronger album. After her first performance Clarkson took to the stage one more time to sing her 2006 single Walk Away.

Speaking about her time on the show Clarkson tweeted:

“Good Lord all these dancers are so talented and hot! Don’t be shocked if I start bringing dancers out on tour haha …. yummy.”

Here’s Kelly Clarkson performing Mr. Know It All:

And here’s her DWTS performance of Walk Away:

Drop us a message and let us know what you thought about both of the Kelly Clarkson performances.

Kelly Clarkson Performs Two Songs On Dancing With The Stars [Videos] is a post from: The Inquisitr

For a while, Chynna Phillips and her partner, Tony Dovolani, were among the top in the Dancing with the Stars leaderboards. After a fairly poor performance on the dancing competition earlier this week, however, the duo were booted off.

Now, Phillips is saying that Dancing with the Stars isn’t so much of a dancing competition as it is a popularity contest. She told the Huffington Post:

“It really does come down to the votes. And that’s kind of sad because it’s supposed to be a dance competition, but it’s actually a popularity contest, which makes me kind of sad.”

She continued, saying: “”You know, you have to have a little bit of faith that there are people out there who are truly voting for their favorite dance, not their favorite person, because it is a dance competition and people are working really hard. It would be very sad if that was undermined, and it looks to me like that keeps getting undermined.”

Phillips’ dance partner, Dovolani, agreed, saying “I’ve been on the show for 12 seasons, and Chynna has been a breath of fresh air for me. As much pull we have as teachers, in the end, it’s all about the celebrity.”

Source: Huffington Post

Chynna Phillips: ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is a ‘popularity contest’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Elisabetta Canalis exited Dancing with the Stars on Monday, though it’s obviously not what she was expecting.

On a Tuesday night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Canalis confessed, “I thought I was safe, because it was seven and seven and seven.” That was a reference to the 21 out of 30 awarded to her and professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy by the judges for their quickstep. It was the third highest score awarded that evening.

She didn’t account for the public however, whose scores are combined with those of the judges to decide who is eliminated.

Canalis even admitted she didn’t vote for herself, though that wasn’t due to reckless confidence, said the model:

“You want to know the truth? I was in a restaurant and my phone didn’t have battery, so I couldn’t call. So my friends were calling, but it was not enough. Don’t kill me, okay? It’s my fault because I didn’t vote the 12 times I had to.”

The Italian model and former girlfriend of George Clooney also assured Kimmel she got on well with Chmerkovskiy, despite the perception their relationship was frosty. For his part, Chmerkovskiy blames some selective DWTS editing:

“We kept it real. We kept it real from the beginning. I think it’s part of the process – the argument, the laughter – there was a lot of laughter that they didn’t show, but anybody who’s smiling on camera and says everything’s peachy is just lying.”

In other DWTS news, Canalis said she had anticipated the wardrobe malfunction of fellow contestant Nancy Grace. “I thought that was going to happen,” she told Kimmel. “I knew that she had to do [a dip].”

See also: All of our ‘Dancing with Stars’ news!

Elisabetta Canalis: I Thought I Was Safe On ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

First George Clooney breaks up with her and now Dancing with the Stars fans have also given Elisabetta Canalis the boot, eliminating her from the dancing competition on Tuesday after judges ranked her and partner Val Chmerkovskiy in third-place on Monday.

The Val/Elisabetta partnership earned 21 out of 30 points for their quickstep routine, a six point improvement over their debut dance.

Speaking about her elimination and time on the show Canalis said:

“For me, it was a gift every day staying here. It was a great adventure,” while she added, “I want to thank everybody because they made me come here. Thanks to the public and to everybody who voted for us. Now I am really nervous, but thank you anyway. It was a great experience.”

During her Monday night dance routine head judge Len Goodman said the routine was “not great but it was better than last week,” while judge Carrie Ann Inaba said “You nailed it.”

Judge scores are combined with viewer scores to determine weekly placement, fan votes must have been very low in order for the third place finishers to go the way of last weeks loser eliminated basketball star Ron Artest.

Still competing in the competition is transgender contestant Chaz Bono along with Rob Kardashian, Kristin Cavallari, Ricki Lake, Carson Kressley and Nancy Grace along with J.R. Martinez, David Arquette, Chynna Phillips and Hope Solo.

Do you think  Elisabetta Canalis deserved to be booted on Tuesday nights show given her high judge ranks?

Elisabetta Canalis Eliminated From Dancing With The Stars is a post from: The Inquisitr

What you are about to see, you cannot un-see. Nancy Grace accidentally exposed her breast last night on “Dancing With the Stars.”

After Nancy Grace’s wardrobe malfunction, the CNN reporter kept on dancing, apparently not noticing that her nipple was exposed for millions to see. Grace only covered up when host Tom Bergeron pointed out that her breast was falling out of her dress.

Bergeron said:

“Let me help you out there a little bit. It’s alright. On the European version of that would be perfectly fine.”

Grace buried her head into her partner’s chest, but didn’t seem to be bothered too much by the incident.

Here’s the video of Nancy Grace’s wardrobe malfunction on “Dancing With the Stars.”

The Huffington Post notes that the incident was edited out of the west coast version of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Despite the wardrobe malfunction, or maybe because of it, Nancy Grace scored pretty well on last night’s show. The judges said that Grace’s routine was “refreshing” even though “it was a bit top heavy at times.”

CBS reports that J.R. Martinez, Kristin Cavallari, Ricki Lake were the top three contestants at the end of last night’s show, while David Arquette, Carson Kressley, Chaz Bono were at the bottom. Nancy Grace, who was toward the bottom prior to the show, took a big step up with 21 points last night.

What do you think of Nancy Grace on “Dancing with the Stars? Was her performance buoyed by her wardrobe malfunction?

Avert Your Eyes! Nancy Grace Has Wardrobe Malfunction On ‘Dancing With the Stars’ [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ricki Lake is set to get hitched in the not-too-distant future, but she won’t be going near a wedding dress until her run on Dancing With The Stars ends.

Speaking to People magazine at Variety’s “Women in Power” luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Lake said she wanted to get in the best possible shape for her big day, and DWTS would play a part in that:

“I’m going to wait until I can go as far as I can go in this competition [to get my body in the best shape], then start trying on dresses.”

Since they started training for the show, Lake and other DWTS contestants have dropped inches and pounds galore. Last week, the talk show host gushed about her weight loss to OnTheRedCarpet.com:

“I’ve lost 8 and a half inches in two weeks. I mean seriously, three inches in my waist, three inches in my hips … you know I do have some weight to lose but I’m not that big.”

While Lake has dieted before, she says the DWTS regime is different, noting that muscles “I didn’t know I had are defined. It’s dramatic. Everyone is seeing it, and they are telling me, but I see it and I’m a tough critic.”

Fellow stars have reported similar losses, with Nancy Grace saying she’s dropped ten pounds and Chaz Bono shedding five pounds in his first week of training.

The 42-year-old announced her engagement to boyfriend Christian Evans in August – the pair have dated since summer 2010. She divorced from her first husband, Rob Sussman, in 2005. Lake will make her return to daytime talk TV in the fall of 2012.

Ricki Lake Plans Wedding Dress Shopping After ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ron Artest, AKA Metta World Peace, was the first to be voted off the newest season of “Dancing With the Stars.” The former L.A. Lakers player didn’t impress judges with his cha-cha last night, so Artest and his professional partner Peta Mergatroyd were forced to say goodbye.

Artest said:

“I had a great, great time… It was awesome. I’m off the show, but now I like dancing!”

Here’s the video of Metta and Peta doing the cha-cha on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Ron Artest’s dance number only received 14 points out of 30. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said that Artest’s dance moves were “sexy” but they were also terrible for “all the technical reasons.”

Metta World Peace’s elimination means that celebrities like Nancy Grace, Chaz Bono, and Rob Kardashian will live to dance another day.

Elisabetta Canalis and partner Val Chmerkovskiy will also continue dancing despite an awful routine last night. Canalis and Chmerkovskiy used a bed as a prop during their cha-cha, which didn’t go over well with the judges. Val said after the performance that he wanted to get all his crazy ideas out in the first round, so hopefully he’ll be able to settle down for the rest of the season.

Val said:

“It was just wishful thinking that I tried to portray on the show. I try to get everything out of the way in the first episode.”

Did you think that Ron Artest was the worst dancer last night? Should Metta World Peace still be “Dancing With the Stars?”

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Eliminates Metta World Peace [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dancing with the Stars kicked off on Monday night and with that premiere was the highly anticipated dancing routine of transgender contestant Chaz Bono.

The son of Sonny and Cher danced with DWTS pro Lacey Schwimmer and he has been on 24 hour protection leading up to the show amid fears that he was being targeted by “crazies” who didn’t want Chaz to appear on primetime television.

One source says the extra security came when ABC officials became worried about his safety both on and off the studios lot. The tipster told TMZ:

“There have not been any specific threats against Chaz, but the honchos know there’s an element of hatred out there and they feel it’s necessary to block Chaz from harm.”

Born “Chastity Bono” the DWTS contestant went under the knife for gender reassignment surgery last year while his mom stood by his side as he made the lifestyle change.

LGBT civil rights group GetEQUAL in the meantime has been busy forming #ProBono viewing parties in support of “Bono as a positive role model for those who struggle with sexual orientation or gender identity.”

In a statement released on Monday GetEQUAL director Robin McGehee said:

“Tonight, as millions of American households watch the season premiere of ‘Dancing With The Stars,’ it is our hope that many viewers engage in real conversations about transgender Americans because of Chaz’s appearance,” while adding, “These parties are a fun way to engage folks, but there is serious work ahead of us in order to advocate for change in the hearts and minds of people throughout the country.”

Did you cheer for Chaz Bono during tonight’s season 13 premiere of Dancing with the Stars

Chaz Bono Makes Dancing With The Stars Debut, Extra Security Required is a post from: The Inquisitr

The thirteenth season of Dancing With The Stars premieres tonight with a fresh cast of victims participants including actor David Arquette, model Elisabetta Canalis, talk show host Ricki Lake (who has already injured herself), TV host Nancy Grace, soccer star Hope Solo, and reality show thing Robert Kardashian.

Less famous names enduring DWTS’s ritual humiliation include Wilson Phillips, singer Chynna Phillips, Italian TV personality Elisabetta Canalis (perhaps best known for her relationship with George Clooney), and a chap called Carson Kressley, who Wikipedia informs me is a “fashion expert.” So there you go.

The name on everybody’s lips, however, is smiley Chaz Bono (above), the one-time daughter of Cher, who underwent sex change surgery and is now her son. Only last week, Bono was keen to point out his involvement won’t mean your kids will be corrupted for ever. It’s pretty damn ridiculous that he had to even point this out, but there you go. Said Chaz:

“People who don’t have gender dysphoria aren’t going to catch it by watching me dance on television. I’m going to be dancing. I’m not up there talking about anything other than dancing.”

Er, apparently this is an issue for some people in a developed nation in 2011?

Anyway, tonight’s opening episode airs at 8pm on ABC, and will see the various celebrity hangers-on and desperadoes attempting the pasa doble, salsa, and other dance disciplines. Tom Bergeron is back to host.

So, who’s watching? And more importantly, which pair are you backing?

Dancing With The Stars Season 13 Kicks Off Tonight is a post from: The Inquisitr

Another pair bite the dust. Earlier today I reported that Diaz and Rodriguez have called it quits on their two year headline producing relationship and now it turns out Pia Toscano and Mark Ballas have also decided to call things off.

Pia, a former American Idol contestant and Mark Ballas, one of the star dancers on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars are rumored to have called it a quits after dating for just over one year.

According to  E! News ”Pia, 22, and 25-year-old Mark have quietly split.” 

A source close to the couple went on to tell PEOPLE:

“They both decided with everything going on that they couldn’t give each other what would be fair,” and “They mutually decided this.”

A person in the know at Mark’s camp says he’s recovering from the split the best way he knows how, by throwing all his training energy behind former Laguna Beach star Kristin Cavallari who is competing with Ballas on this seasons Dancing with the Stars. 

Pia’s people are not commenting on the split and only released the following publicity inducing response:

“She’s hard at work on her new album and can’t wait for her fans to hear it…”

So there you have it, Mark heads back to into his dance studio, Pia heads back into her recording study and all is right with the world.

Speaking of Mark Ballas, do you think his pairing with former reality TV star Kristen Cavallari can earn them the top spot during this seasons DWTS?

Pia Toscano and Mark Ballas Call It Quits is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former talk show host and current Dancing with the Stars contestant Ricki Lake managed to suffer an injury this week before competition even began.

Lake bruised her foot during practice and later Tweeted about how the situation was blown out of proportion:

“Not sure how my bruise turned into a medic showing up? I’m fine!!”

Speaking to TMZ an insider revealed that Ricki Lake is actually one of the better dancers for this seasons celebrity dancing competition and apparently her injury isn’t all that bad, she’s still one of the early favorites.

Speaking to TMZ she said:

“I injured myself yesterday by hitting my heel into my shin … I’m fine.”

So there you have it, if Ricki Lake gets knocked out early she can’t blame it on her injury.

Do you have a favorite dancer for this season of Dancing With the Stars (DWTS)? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

Ricki Lake Injured During Dancing With The Stars Practice is a post from: The Inquisitr