Kellie Pickler had two judges praising her perfect performance last night on Dancing With The Stars and another scoffing at her overly dramatic dance moves. Len Goodman threw a bit of a tantrum last night as he argued with judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

After Pickler, her partner Derek Hough, and a third dancer Tristan McManus made their way through a dramatic interpretation of the Paso Doble, judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli stood up and applauded.

Bruno shouted: “That was masterpiece theater. It had high art and high drama … I wanted to be part of it. It was so engrossing. So entertaining. Absolutely amazing.”

Inaba said that the dance “took her breath away.”

Len Goodman, however, was less than impressed and gave Pickler a measly 7.

Goodman said that the light show and the music was more spectacular than anything on the dance floor.

Goodman said: “I was expecting more than flashing lights and crashing music … It was a hodgepodge of moves just out there to titillate the taste buds.”

The score outraged Inaba and Tonioli and the three judges started arguing on stage. The audience started booing and Goodman told someone off camera to put something up their a**.

It was a pretty dramatic tantrum. Of course, it may have all been for show.

Hough said after the performance that there was a certain element of manufactured drama to the show and that he wasn’t surprised to see an argument over the dance.

Here’s a video of Pickler and Hough talking about Goodman’s criticism.

Here’s a video of Pickler’s dance last night.

Pickler only managed to get a 55 out of 60 last night but the dancer was immune from elimination due to her performance last week.

Are you surprised that Len Goodman wasn’t impressed with Pickler’s dance moves?

Len Goodman Throws Tantrum On ‘DWTS’ Over Kellie Pickler Dance [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

This week’s DWTS elimination saw D.L. Hughley pack up his dancing shoes and head home.

The 50-year-old comedian was the latest victim of Len Goodman’s Side-by-Side Challenge in Tuesday’s edition of Dancing with the Stars. D.L. and partner Cheryl Burke were the fourth couple to be eliminated this season after they found themselves in the bottom two with boxer Victor Ortiz and newcomer Lindsay Arnold.

D.L. and fellow funnyman Andy Dick scored a mere 18 points apiece in the show’s fifth week. His performance came in for some flak from head judge Len, who said his dance with Cheryl and pro couple Sasha Farber and Chelsie Hightower “lacked that attack that you want to see in a tango. It was like a decaf coffee. It didn’t have any buzz to it.”

The other judges didn’t hold back either. Carrie Ann Inaba informed D.L. his side-by-side performance showed up his lack of technique, while Bruno Tonioli dubbed him a “romper stomper.”

“You need to work on your hip action,” concluded Len.

The comedian paid tribute to his dancing partner at the end of the show, quipping that Cheryl would be the only thing he’ll miss about the DWTS experience.

Tuesday’s show was overshadowed by events in Boston. Host Tom Bergeron, whose wife and daughter were both in Boston when the bomb blasts went off, said:

“It was the hardest show I have ever done. I worked in Boston for years, I know how valuable that marathon is, that last mile was dedicated to the families of Newtown. I’m feeling a mixture of grief, relief that my family’s fine.”

And Aly Raisman suggested her appearance on DWTS had prevented her from attending the Boston Marathon. “I would’ve been the grand marshal at the Boston Marathon today,” said the Olympic gymnast. “It’s scary to think about.”

Following his DTWS elimination, D.L. Hughley said he’d be backing comedian Andy Dick or NFL star Jacoby Jones. Why?

“Andy is just my sentimental favorite, but I just can’t say ‘I’m Team Dick.’ I just can’t do that. I got to go for Jacoby. I think a pigeon-toed, tall dude from New Orleans – come on. What greater story would there be than that?”

Speaking of Jacoby Jones, the wide receiver wowed judges and fans on Tuesday’s show with a stunning split jump over Karina Smirnoff‘s head, securing him the encore dance.

You can watch D.L.’s Foxtrot performance from Week 4 below. Will you miss the comedian on the show?

DWTS Elimination, Week 5: D.L. Hughley Heads Home is a post from: The Inquisitr

Aly Raisman danced her way into first place during last night’s Dancing With the Stars.

The 18-year-old Olympian’s performance, a contemporary routine set to David Guetta’s “Titanium,” received glowing reviews from the judges. Raisman and her dance partner, Mark Ballas, earned the highest marks of the evening with an impressive 27 points — the highest score awarded so far this season.

Aly Raisman, the most decorated American gymnast to compete in the 2012 summer Olympics, even managed to work some gymnastic moves into her routine. The athletic elements went hand in hand with the show’s theme for the evening, “The Best Year of Your Life.”

Raisman’s song choice was also inspired by her time at the Olympics. It’s the same tune she listened to while training and before each day’s competition.

In keeping with Aly Raisman’s assertion that 2012 was her best year, Olympic teammates Gabby Douglas and Kyla Ross were on hand to watch her DWTS performance and lend their support.

“I’m excited that this is the show they’ll be at because it’s all about the Olympics,” Raisman explained a few days before the show.

Earlier this week, Aly Raisman confessed how much she wanted to earn praise from the DWTS judges with her modern dance performance, particularly Carrie Ann Inaba.

“I want to impress Carrie Ann,” she explained. “She said I held back the first week and that I went out of character last week, so I don’t want her to think that again this week.” Raisman certainly achieved her goal, garnering positive reviews across the board from the judging panel.

“I’m very proud of you,” Inaba gushed following the performance. “Perfection of movement is all you know, but contemporary dance is about perfection of emotion. This dance had perfect movement and perfect emotional connection. It was profound.”

Backstage at #DWTS with Aly Raisman (@aly_raisman) Karina Smirnoff (@karina_smirnoff) twitter.com/DancingABC/sta…

— Official DWTS (@DancingABC) April 9, 2013

Her fellow Dancing With the Stars judges echoed the sentiment. Len Goodman heaped praise upon the athlete, calling her contemporary routine “worthy of an Olympic champion.”

Bruno Tonioli lauded the gymnast for turning in an emotionally intense and dramatic performance. “Forget about titanium, you are going for gold,” he remarked in reference to lyrics from the song Aly Raisman chose for her DWTS routine.

“I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose … You shoot me down, but I won’t fall,” the song appropriately states. “I am titanium.”

[Top image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Aly Raisman Dances Into First Place On ‘DWTS’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Carrie Ann Inaba burst into tears during a performance on Dancing with the Stars.

The dancing competition judge couldn’t keep it together while Andy Dick performed the Viennese Waltz. As the actor finished the dance, Inaba suddenly began crying.

Andy Dick dedicated the dance to his 15-year-old daughter Meg. The teenager was sitting in the audience as her dad performed the Viennese Waltz on stage. At one point during the performance, Dick was required to go it alone.

Carrie Ann Inaba fought back the tears as she delivered Andy Dick her assessment of his routine. She gave the troubled actor a hug before stating her opinion.

“It was so beautiful, like the simplest poem. What you said with those few moments was so beautiful,” the judge explained.

Andy Dick explained that he dedicated the dance to his 15-year-old daughter. He also attributed his success on the show to staying clean and sober.

“This has been the best year, because of sobriety. My daughter Meg is the apple of my eye. We have a super special relationship. She’s like a mini version of me,” the actor explained. “My troubles become their troubles. I’ve put them through hell.”

Even Andy Dick had a hard time fighting back the tears as he explained this special momment to Carrie Ann Inaba and the other judges.

He added, “She used to dance for me. At 47 I’m going to dance for her.”

The actor was originally approached to appear on Dancing with the Stars during the first season. He told Entertainment Tonight that he wasn’t in a good place “spiritually” to do the show. Dick said he was grateful that they gave him another shot.

He said of his experience on DWTS:

“I have grown more as a person in the last two weeks than I have in the last 10 years. The old me would have quit within the first few hours. But I got through those tough days and now I feel like I can almost do anything. I feel like even if I’m the first one voted off, I’m already a changed man and have gotten everything out of this experience that I needed.”

What do you think about Carrie Ann Inaba bursting into tears during Andy Dick’s routine on Dancing with the Stars?

[Images via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Carrie Ann Inaba Bursts Into Tears On ‘DWTS’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump had quite a scare on the set of Dancing with the Stars this week. The 52-year-old fainted during a rehearsal, and it is unclear whether she will be returning to the competition.

Vanderpump’s health scare is the second blow to the dancing competition in two weeks. World champion figure skater Dorothy Hamill was forced to leave the show due to a number of problems she suffered during rehearsals, and now Vanderpump may be out as well.

The cause of Vanderpump’s fainting episode hasn’t been released, but the reality star may have very well been exhausted from a whirlwind week that involved traveling to New York from California, dealing with promotions for both of her Bravo series, and trying to rehearse with professional partner Glev Savchenko.

This isn’t the first time Lisa Vanderpump has had problems on Dancing with the Stars. Last month, Vanderpump revealed that her stint on the dancing competition was rough on her physically.

“I’m covered in [bruises],” the restaurateur and author said. “I mean, it’s so much harder than I thought it would be! I have to be honest. It should come with a health warning.”

Vanderpump also came to the defense of competitors D.L. Hughley and Andy Dick after they received some harsh criticism from the DWTS judges.

“People don’t realize how physically challenging [this show] is. It looks like fun, but then you go from zero to [premiere night] in ten days. That’s hard! Out of all of us, I feel very connected to Andy. He talked about himself honestly and I support him,” she said.

Vanderpump added, “D.L.’s a normal guy who decided to take this on. I stand in defense of everyone who’s bloody brave enough to get up here and do it!”

Do you think Lisa Vanderpump will return to Dancing with the Stars?

[Photo credit: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

Lisa Vanderpump Faints During ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Rehearsal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lisa Vanderpump said her body is covered in bruises from her stint on Dancing with the Stars.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star said her time on the televised dance competition has essentially put her body through the wringer. Although she might look like she’s doing fine on the outside, the Vanderpump said she’s “falling apart” on the inside.

“Oh my God — I’m covered in [bruises]. I mean, it’s so much harder than I thought it would be! I have to be honest. It should come with a health warning,” she explained.

Lisa Vanderpump said she’s nervous about her second go-around on Dancing with the Stars. The reality television star and her partner Gleb Savchenko will have to tackle the jive on the next episode.

“We don’t have the routine down. It’s a bit of a rush. I think everybody is struggling. I think I can speak for everybody, because I’ve been talking to the other cast [members],” Vanderpump explained to Access Hollywood.

“It’s kind of intimidating, but you know what? If you land on your a**, or you screw up, that’s the journey isn’t it?” she explained. Bruises are apparently just part of the experience.

Although Vanderpump and Savchenko made it through to the next round of Dancing with the Stars, the duo failed to dazzle the judges with their version of the foxtrot. The pair scored a total of 18 points during the first round.

Vanderpump came to the defense of fellow dancers D.L. Hughley and Andy Dick after last week’s episode. Both competitors received harsh comments from the DWTS judges.

“People don’t realize how physically challenging [this show] is. It looks like fun, but then you go from zero to [premiere night] in ten days. That’s hard! Out of all of us, I feel very connected to Andy. He talked about himself honestly and I support him,” Lisa Vanderpump said.

She added, “D.L.’s a normal guy who decided to take this on. I stand in defense of everyone who’s bloody brave enough to get up here and do it!”

Chances are Lisa Vanderpump will add even more bruises to her collection should she make it through to the next round of Dancing with the Stars.

[Top Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com - Bottom Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Lisa Vanderpump Says She’s Covered In Bruises From ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bachelor Sean Lowe is going to be on DWTS, giving the ABC reality show star a chance to get a wedding ring and a mirror ball trophy all in the same year.

The network announced Tuesday that Lowe was joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars. Fresh off his engagement to Catherine Guidici, Lowe will find a new partner in Peta Murgatroyd, who has won the dancing reality show with partner Donald Driver.

The 29-year-old Bachelor is joining other dancers like country singer Kellie Pickler and boxer Victor Ortiz.

Fans of Lowe just watched him propose to Guidici after narrowing down his field of suitors to two. He chose Guidici over Lindsay Yenter, proposing to her on a trip to Thailand.

“I think the world of you and I miss you every time we have to say goodbye. I don’t want to say goodbye anymore,” he told her. “Catherine, I want to spend the rest of my life telling you, ‘I love you,’ and making you feel like the most special, beautiful woman in the world.”

As he got down on one knee, Guidici beamed with excitement.

“Is this for real?” she asked. “I’m so happy… I am so grateful to have met somebody like you. I’ve never been so comfortable about myself and with somebody.”

The rest of the cast of DWTS was announced on Good Morning America back in February, though Sean Lowe was not on the official cast listing. This led to speculation of whether there was a last-minute change, but it turned out that ABC was timing its announcement with the finale of The Bachelor.

Bachelor Lowe will have stiff competition on DWTS. The show features Olympians Aly Raisman and Dorothy Hamill, and athletes in rhythmic sports like gymnastics and figure skating tend to excel on the show.

Are you pulling for Bachelor Sean Lowe on DWTS?

Bachelor Sean Lowe On DWTS After Proposing To Catherine Guidici is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wynonna Judd revealed she is nervous about her upcoming turn on Dancing with the Stars.

The country music icon said that she is experiencing “performance anxiety” over her appearance on ABC’s hit celebrity dance competition. Although Judd has been performing country music for years, this hasn’t prepared her for DWTS.

“My fans have been saying to me, ‘You’re an incredible talent and I know you’re going to do great. Just enjoy it and relax,’” Wynonna Judd explained. “Relax? Really? In front of millions of people … OK.”

To help guide her into the Dancing with the Stars experience, Wynonna Judd has reached out to former contestant Kirstie Alley.

“When I talked to Kirstie, she said, ‘You know what? It’ll be the most fun you’ll ever have, and it’ll be the hardest you’ll ever work. She said it absolutely put a fire under her butt and a pep in her step,” the singer explained.

Wynonna Judd said she also expects her mother Naomi and her sister Ashley to be in the Dancing with the Stars audience at some point during the competition.

Joining Judd for this season of Dancing with the Stars is 56-year-old Olympic skater Dorothy Hamill. Although Hamill is the oldest member of the DWTS cast this season, her age doesn’t appear to be slowing her down whatsoever.

“I’m used to being on skates and pushing and gliding this way. I don’t do well in shoes. I have spent most of my life in ice skates. I’m sure for [pro partner Tristan McManus] it must be kind of frustrating because he says, ‘Just step forward,’ and I go, ‘Whoosh,’” she said.

In addition to Judd and Hamill, this season of DWTS will feature Zendaya Coleman, Andy Dick, D.L. Hughley, Jacoby Jones, Victor Ortiz, Kellie Pickler, Ingo Rademacher, Aly Raisman, and Lisa Vanderpump.

You can catch the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars on March 18. Are you looking forward to seeing Wynonna Judd on ABC’s dance competition?

[Image by Wikimedia Commons]

Wynonna Judd Nervous About ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dorothy Hamill has an edge going into the new season of Dancing With the Stars. Or so history would say.

Though the 56-year-old Olympic skating champion may be nervous about her chances on the show, but if past seasons are a guide she should be considered a favorite to win the show in its 15th season.

Dorothy Hamill fits the profile of past winners. She is an athlete, and each year has shown that whether NFL stars or Olympians, those with a background in sports tend to go far on the show. More specifically, she competed in an event that requires a high level of technical skill — something that worked out well for Olympians Apolo Anton Ohno and Kristi Yamaguchi.

Dorothy Hamill was just 19 years old when she won the gold medal at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. She later went on to win the World Championship of figure skating, which she said is her best accomplishment.

Skaters and football players have been the best performers on DWTS, setting up for an interesting season, the Baltimore Sun noted. This season Baltimore-native Dorothy Hamill will be pitted against Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl hero Jacoby Jones.

The full cast of Dancing With the Stars was named on Tuesday, one that includes singer Kellie Pickler and gymnast Aly Raisman. Also included are boxer Victor Ortiz and two comedians in D.L. Hughley and Andy Dick.

Despite her frontrunner status, Dorothy Hamill appears to be nervous going into Dancing With the Stars. She took to Twitter for the first time in months to talk about the challenge ahead.

This year I decided to take on a new challenge, learning to Ballroom Dance!What have I gotten myself into??

— Dorothy Hamill (@DorothyHamill) February 26, 2013

Are you rooting for Dorothy Hamill on Dancing With the Stars?

Dorothy Hamill: Olympic Champion Seen As Frontrunner On ‘DWTS’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

The cast of Dancing With The Stars was revealed today and there was one name noticeably absent from the list: Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Rumors have been circling around Chmerkovskiy’s departure from DWTS and the reason for his exist hasn’t really been made clear. The dancing pro released a statement about his departure from the show today but still didn’t clarify the reason behind his exit.

Chmerkovskiy said:

“I just want to set the record straight to all of my amazing fans that I will unfortunately not be returning for this season of “Dancing With the Stars.” I’ve been a pro dancer on the show for about seven years now and am eager to explore other opportunities that have been made possible because of the show. I’m going to take this time to dive into producing and acting, while fulfilling my sponsorship obligations. A big thank you to all of my fans for your never-ending support. I also want to thank the entire cast and production of “Dancing With the Stars.”

According to the Seattle PI,  Chmerkovskiy’s contract with Dancing With The Stars doesn’t end until 2015. There’s a chance that Maksim makes a return next season but the dancing pro will be perusing other opportunities this year.

Chmerkovskiy told Access Hollywood:

“I’m still part of the show. I’m still under contract. I’m not on this season. A lot of things were considered and they were gracious to let me pursue other things. There are a lot of projects that I’m interested in. When the time comes for the next season, we’ll talk about it then. I’m pursing some things that I’ve always been interested in.”

Maksim Chmerkovskiy has been on Dancing With The Stars since the second season. He’s never won the mirror ball trophy but he has taken a few podium finishes.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Releases Statement On ‘DWTS’ Departure is a post from: The Inquisitr

We already knew some of the names and faces that are slated to appear on the 16th iteration of Dancing with the Stars. Kellie Pickler, Jacoby Jones and Winona Judd had been leaked prior to the official announcement.

On Good Morning America, the entire cast was officially unveiled and there was at least one surprise in the lineup. The Dallas News points out that one name that was leaked, The Bachelor’s Sean Lowe was not on the official cast listing.

Whether the Sean Lowe situation was someone not in the know wanting to be in the know, or a last minute change is unclear. Dancing With the Stars will still have plenty of “star power” with a mix of soap stars, reality TV personalities and quite a few athletes.

People Magazine points out that there are two different Olympians in Aly Raisman and Dorothy Hamill on the cast this year. There are also two different country singers in Pickler and Wynonna Judd.

The pairings continue with two contact sport contestants in Jones and professional boxer Victor Ortiz and two comedians in D.L. Hughley and Andy Dick.

The stars lineup is rounded out by soap opera star Ingo Rademacher, Disney Channel star Zendaya Coleman, and reality television star Lisa Vanderpump.

There have been some changes as far as who will be helping the DWTS cast learn their dance routines. Pros such as Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower or Louis Van Amstel are all gone.

In their place will be new faces and names like Gleb Savchenko, Lindsay Arnold and Sharna Burgess.’

Dancing With the Stars Season 16 will debut on March 18.

Who do you think will be winning this season’s DWTS dance off? Can the natural athletic ability of Jacoby Jones or Aly Raisman take the cake? Can Andy Dick’s ability to think on his feet win out?

‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 16 Cast Revealed is a post from: The Inquisitr

ABC’s Dancing With the Stars has reportedly cast it’s very first American Idol alumnus: Country bumpkin Kellie Pickler.

TMZ reports that Dancing With the Stars and American Idol look like they’re about to come together for the first time. Though DWTS hasn’t yet revealed their cast picks for the upcoming Season 16, the snarky celebrity gossip site’s insiders have reportedly revealed the identities of four new contestants.

Sources close to the show say that Kellie Pickler (from American Idol‘s Season 5) will be joining the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.

In addition to Pickler, sources also say that veteran country star Wynonna Judd will be joining the cast, as well as Bachelor star Sean Lowe. Rounding out the leaked four cast members is 2012 Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Aly Raisman.

A rep for the show also said: “We do not comment on casting rumors, but tune in to ‘GMA’ on Tuesday when we reveal the cast live!”

Pickler first hinted at her interest in DWTS back in 2008.

“I told Julianne [Hough] I thought it would be fun,” she told OK! Magazine. “It would be a challenge for me to learn the technique.”

Of the new DWTS cast members, TMZ is laying $20 down on Raisman because three former Olympians have won the show in the past. However, Kellie Pickler is a former gymnast, so maybe she’ll give Raisman a run for her money.

Do you think Kellie Pickler would be a good addition to Dancing With the Stars?

‘Dancing With The Stars’ Casts ‘American Idol’ Alum Kellie Pickler is a post from: The Inquisitr

Is Jacoby Jones going to be on DWTS?

There’s no officials offer year, but the Super Bowl XLVII hero said he would love the opportunity to follow NFL stars like Emmett Smith, Hines Ward, and Jerry Rice in doing Dancing With The Stars.

After catching a long touchdown and running a kick back for a record 108 yards in the Super Bowl, Jones became a breakout star in the last week. He’s don interviews and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

It was on the Jimmy Kimmel Live that Jacoby Jones shared his desire to be on DWTS.

Here’s a partial transcript, via Yahoo! Sports:

Kimmel: Would you consider being on Dancing With The Stars? As a representative of the ABC television network, I would like to offer you the chance to compete on Dancing With The Stars. What do you think about that?

Jones: Let me ask you this: Do polar bears poo on ice?

Kimmel: I’m relatively sure that they do, although I’ve not witnessed it …

Jones: I hope they don’t do it in water, that would be nasty!

Kimmel: So you would do that (go on DWTS)?”

Jones: Oh yes sir … I’ll get it done. I’ll get it done, baby.

Whether he lands on DWTS or not, Jacoby Jones’ performance has already become the stuff of legend in Baltimore. Not only did his big-game heroics help lead to the team to the title, it also earned $600,000 worth of free furniture for people in Baltimore, Larry Brown Sports noted.

A furniture store in Baltimore had promised that all purchases in the days leading up to the game would be free if Jones returned a kick for a touchdown. When he did, the store was able to give out $600,000 in merchandise, all for the cost of a $15,000 insurance policy.

Would you be excited to see Jacoby Jones on DWTS?

Jacoby Jones On DWTS? Super Bowl Hero Wants To Give It A Shot is a post from: The Inquisitr

Brooke Burke-Charvet revealed in a video on her blog last month that she is suffering from thyroid cancer. Now, the Dancing With the Stars co-host is getting ready to undergo surgery as soon as next week, and she’s keeping a positive outlook going forward.

“I’m getting ready this week for my surgery and am planning on a speedy recovery,” Brooke wrote to her fans on her Facebook page on Monday.

A big part of Brooke’s positive outlook going into her surgery undoubtedly comes from her fans, who have been showering the 41-year-old mother of four with well-wishes and words of encouragement on Facebook and Twitter.

“I am touched and appreciative to all of you for sharing your positive wishes for my surgery, and for sharing many of your personal thyroid experiences,” Brooke said in the post on Facebook. “I really do read your comments and they all mean a lot to me. I’m getting ready this week for my surgery and am planning on a speedy recovery.”

Burke made the announcement that she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last month in a video blog posted on the Modern Mom website. Burke promised that she’ll be sharing the experience — how she and her family dealt with the news — in a post on the Modern Mom website soon.

“I’ll be posting some new blogs on ModernMom.com about how I’ve been dealing with it all and how my family has been handling it too,” Burke said. What a crazy time, but I am surrounded with love and support and that really makes a world of difference.”

Brooke Burke Surgery: DWTS Host Preparing To Undergo Thyroid Cancer Operation is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dancing With The Stars contestant Melissa Rycroft has pulled off a first place finish during her second attempt on the show. Rycroft first appeared on The Bachelor where she was unable to land the guy of her dreams. Following her dating experience, Rycroft appeared on DWTS where she finished in third place.

This time around Rycroft and dance partner Tony Dovolani teamed up to be named champions for ABC’s Dancing With the Stars: All Stars.

Rycroft nad Dovolani beat out actress Kelly Monaco and Olympian Shawn Johnson.

Before heading into her final night of Dancing With The Stars competition, Rycroft said:

“I want to feel like a champion.”

Rycroft’s win capped off a two-hour season finale that included dance routines from all three finalists and all of the returning DWTS cast members including Pamela Anderson, Sabrina Bryan, Kirstie Alley, and Gilles Marini; singers Joey Fatone and Drew Lachey; race car driver Helio Castroneves; reality TV star Bristol Palin; Olympic skater Apolo Anton Ohno; and football star Emmitt Smith.

The win wasn’t a big surprise. Rycroft and Dovolani entered the final night with a pair of perfect scores earned from their routines. Routine scores are combined with views scores and judges’ scores to determine the finale winners.

What might be most impressive about the most recent cycle of DWTS was that Rycroft was able to rise above big-time names to claim the Dancing With The Stars top prize.

Melissa Rycroft most recently appeared on Melissa & Tye about her marriage to Tye Strickland.

With this season of Dancing With The Stars now behind us, we will surely start to hear rumors about the upcoming season in the next few weeks. After all, DWTS is the show that never seems to go away, even for a short period of time.

Dancing With The Stars Crowns A New Champion: Melissa Rycroft Wins On Second Try is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to People Magazine, 29-year-old Rycroft, who has once again teamed up with partner Tony Dovolani for ABC’s all-stars edition of the hit show, was doing camera blocking for Monday’s taping when she fell and injured her head and neck.

“Melissa was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where she is currently being examined,” Rycroft’s rep told People in a statement. “She was accompanied to the hospital by her husband, Tye Strickland, and her dance partner, Tony Dovolani. Everyone is taking all necessary precautions at this time.”

While injuries on the DWTS set are not uncommon, Rycroft’s partner Dovolani was initially concerned that the former reality star’s trip to the hospital could be more serious.

“Really concerned about @MelissaRycroft,” he tweeted late Sunday night. “We don’t know if we are dancing tomorrow !!!!! Please keep us in your prayers.”

Prior to her injury, Rycroft was one of eight remaining contestants who had been expected to perform two dance routines — one individual dance and one group number — on Monday.

E!Online reports that Rycroft was released from the hospital Sunday night and took to Twitter Monday to update her fans on her status.

Thank you so much for sending your prayers..still seeing and talking to docs this AM, will give more details soon, but thanks for your love!

— Melissa Rycroft (@MelissaRycroft) October 22, 2012

Dancing with the Stars airs at a special time this week because of the final US presidential debate.

Two one-hour shows will air on Monday (October 22) and Tuesday (October 23) at 3 pm EST on ABC.

Melissa Rycroft Hospitalized: Former Bachelor Star Suffers Head Injury During DWTS is a post from: The Inquisitr

Karina Smirnoff fell during her routine with Apolo Ohno earlier this week but the former champion was able to escape elimination. Instead, Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas were sent home from Dancing With The Stars. 

According to the Huffington Post, Palin didn’t have the worst score this week. The daughter of Sarah Palin finished below Smirnoff and Ohno but above Kirstie Alley and Maks Chmerkovskiy. Still, the audience decided that it was Palin’s turn to go home.

After leaving the stage, Palin said:

“Well, we did it, we made it to week four, and I’m happy with that, and I had an awesome time, and an awesome partner, and these are just great people, and I wish everyone the best.”

After her elimination, Bristol and Ballas headed over to Jimmy Kimmel’s couch. Kimmel has told his fair of Sarah Palin jokes and last night he gave Bristol a half-hearted apology.

Kimmel said:

“I made, I don’t know, one or two jokes about your mother over the years. I’m sorry. No, I’m not sorry you’re right. But I will allow you to make all the jokes you want about my mother.”

Here’s a video of Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas and Jimmy Kimmel last night.

Kimmel also asked the reality star if she would consider being the next contestant on The Bachelorette. Palin said no.

Are you surprised that Bristol Palin got sent home last night?

Bristol Palin Voted Off ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

It could be the end for Karina Smirnoff and Apolo Ohno. The Dancing With The Stars  professional took a fall during last night’s show and could be eliminated tonight.

Smirnoff, who won season 13 with partner J.R. Martinez, wasn’t on her game last night. The judges were impressed with Ohno’s moves, even his running man, but Smirnoff’s fall could cost them the Mirror Ball Trophy.

After her fall, Smirnoff hopped back up and the two completed their dance. But once the music stopped Smirnoff broke down in tears.

Smirnoff said:

“I’m sorry, I feel like I messed up the whole routine … We worked so hard this week.”

Len Goodman tried to console Smirnoff saying that he was focused on Ohno during the routine.

Goodman said: “Karina, to be honest, I wasn’t even looking at you. So I don’t care!”

Smirnoff would receive a little more comfort when she received her final score from the judges. Despite the fall, Karina Smirnoff and Apolo Ohno were given a 34.5 out of 40. It wasn’t the best score of the night but it also wasn’t the worst. According to Hollywood Life, Smirnoff and Ohno finished in 7th place ahead of Bristol Palin and Kirstie Alley.

Do you think Smirnoff and Ohno will be eliminated?

Here’s the video of her fall last night on Dancing With The Stars. 

Karina Smirnoff Falls On ‘Dancing With The Stars’ [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Drew Lachey was booted off Dancing With The Stars this week, shocking fans of the reality dance-off who fully expected contestant Bristol Palin to get the boot back to Wasilla.

Drew Lachey admits that the shock of being eliminated “sucks” and that he was as surprised as all of you Dancing With The Stars fans to see his number come up instead of that of Palin’s on the most recent DWTS elimination round.

Lachey, along with fellow returning champ Helio Castroneves, departed from the competition as numbers of dancing queens on the show decreased. Of his shocking booteration, Lachey says he feels that he and Castroneves were shunted far too early on in the competition and that he thinks that his opinion is a common one:

“I feel disappointed that it came to an end. There are fantastic dancers on the show. Everyone knows it and everyone sees it every week. But, do I think we’re going home too early? Absolutely. I don’t think there’s anybody in this ballroom who would disagree with that.”

Drew Lachey also noted that both he and Joey Fatone were knocked out early, which he thinks is uncool considering their pedigree. He explains:

“It’s kind of ironic that the two Broadway performers, me and Joey, are gone already. It’s a little odd to me.”

But Drew has one big fan pulling for him, bro Nick Lachey. Of Drew’s performance, Mr. Vanessa Minnillo says:

“This is something he’s incredible at, and the chance to do it again as part of an all-star season has been awesome for him. He’s my best friend and my brother, and no matter what it is, I’ll be there for him.”

Do you think Drew Lachey should have made it through on Dancing With The Stars?

Drew Lachey Feels His ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Surprise Elimination Was ‘Odd’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Joey Fatone and his partner Kym Johnson were eliminated last night from Dancing With The Stars. 

Fatone, a former member of the boy band ‘NSync, said that he had a great time on the show.

Fatone said:

“I’ll miss everybody out here, because everybody was great and I had a great time. You know what? For me, I’m actually going to a wedding tomorrow, so I don’t give a damn! I’m going to have a good time! I’m going to be honest, everybody had a good time here. I know that me and Kym, I didn’t let you down. We had a great time. People said I was fun and that’s all that matters. I don’t care, God bless you guys for your votes. I appreciate it; I respect it. But as long as I had fun, I don’t care what your votes say, but I appreciate it. Thank you very much.”

Reality TV World reports that Fatone and Johnson were paired up together in 2007 during the show’s fourth season. Fatone and Johnson finished second during their first outing.

Bristol Palin and her partner Mark Ballas had the lowest score last night with just 18 points. Palin, however, will live to dance again as the judges decided to send Fatone packing.

Here’s a video of Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson’s Quickstep video.

Former Disney star Sabrina Bryan, who earned her place on the All-Star cast via fan votes, finished at the top of the leader board last night with the help of her partner Louis Van Amstel.

Joey Fatone Booted From ‘DWTS’ [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hope Solo claims that Dancing with the Stars is fixed. The Olympic soccer star maintains that it is the show’s producers and not the audience who determine which dancers get eliminated on any given week. The all-star athlete had a stint on the eleventh season of the popular series.

The 31-year-old Olympian allegedly had a less than pleasant relationship with her professional partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The pair eventually finished in fourth place on DWTS. Even though they did not win, rumors that the Ukrainian hottie and the soccer player had partnered up did spark ratings.

In her new book, Solo: A Memoir of Hope, she details an alleged incident where Maksim found out about some type of top secret memo which said they had been scheduled to be eliminated.

Solo: A Memoir of Hope excerpt:

“Maks later told me that he had argued with the judges because he had been told we were going to be eliminated, that there was some secret memo going around that said who would be ousted each week. He explained that he wanted to cause some drama on the live portion of the show so that they wouldn’t be able to resist keeping us around, hoping for more fireworks. It seems to have worked, we weren’t eliminated that week.”

A Radar Online source claims Dancing with the Stars producers are beyond livid with the former celebrity dance contestant. The powers-that-be on the hit show allegedly feel that Hope made up the secret memo drama simply to sell more books. The source also maintains that ABC is checking into their legal options to combat the Olympian’s accusations. Chmerkovskiy and actress Kirstie Alley are currently performing together on DWTS.

Hope Solo Claims ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Is Rigged is a post from: The Inquisitr

Maksim Chmerkovskiy is hanging up his dancing shoes. The veteran dancer announced today that he would be leaving Dancing With The Stars next year when his contract is up.

Chmerkovskiy, who will be dancing with Kristie Alley during the DWTS All-Stars season, said:

“What else do I have to do there after 15 seasons? It makes total sense. The audience can’t expect for me to want to stick around, and the producers can’t expect for me to want to stick around.”

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Chmerkovskiy has been on the show since its second season. He’s never won the mirrorball but he was at the center of some of the show’s most talked about moments.

Dancing With the Stars fans were in disbelief after Chmerkovskiy made his announcement but the dancing star made it clear on Twitter that he was indeed leaving the show.

Chmerkovskiy linked to a story in the New York post and wrote:

“With nothing but love, gratitude and respect to all that played a part in that amazing aspect of my life.”

Chmerkovskiy didn’t give any details about his post-DWTS’s life but did say that he had secured a lead role in a “major Hollywood movie.”

Are you a fan of Maksim Chmerkovskiy? Are you sad that he’s leaving the show?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Is Leaving ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Thanks to intiMINT, women can now search for new underwear, well, in their underwear. The online service is designed to offer not just convenience and privacy but an opportunity to find intimate garments that match the particular style and fit desires of the customer.

Female shoppers no longer have to sneak a sexy red pair of panties into their fist to hide them from the prying eyes of their children while spending a day at the mall. The intiMINT service allows a lady to buy an intimate piece of clothing for an upcoming special event during her 15 minute coffee break.

Dancing with the Stars co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet is the creative director of the service. Not only is Burke-Charvet graceful on the show, she is also the Co-CEO of ModernMom.com and president of BabooshBaby.com, according to the Huffington Post. As a busy mom of four children, she understands the time crunch many of her female peers routinely face.

The DWTS co-host had this to say about the online service:

“intiMINT is about beauty and possibilities. It’s the closest thing to our body and the first decision we make in the morning. I see it as the opportunity to inspire the story of our day. I really want all women to feel comfortable, powerful, and beautiful.”

The website is free to join. The internet service helps women find a pair of panties which appeals to their fashion sense via a fun questionnaire and by browsing celebrity photos before clicking on their favorite styles. Once each month, members receive an email link to their virtual underwear drawer, revealing a new choice which matches their selected preferences.  There is no obligation to buy the pre-selected undergarment. Users can opt for a different piece of intimate clothing or skip that month altogether, according to the company’s website.

intiMINT: Online Panty Service Under The Creative Direction Of A ‘DWTS’ Co-Host [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

DWTS: All Stars is bringing back all of the fan favorites and best celebrities from the 14 previous seasons of Dancing With The Stars, and now ABC has also announced just who they will be have as dance partners.

The contenders to become the ultimate champion are a mix of past and new pairings, Entertainment Weekly reported. Fans who wanted to see their favorite dancers back with the original partner will like some of the DWTS: All-Stars pairings, the report noted.

Here are the DWTS: All-Stars return pairings:

• Emmitt Smith with Cheryl Burke (season 3)
• Joey Fatone with Kym Johnson (season 4)
• Melissa Rycroft with Tony Dovolani (season 8)
• Bristol Palin with Mark Ballas (season 11)
• Kirstie Alley with Maksim Chmerkovskiy (season 12)

The new celebrity/partner parings for DWTS: All-Stars include:

• Kelly Monaco (season 1) with Valentin Chmerkovskiy
• Drew Lachey (season 2) with Anna Trebunskaya
• Apolo Anton Ohno (season 4) with Karina Smirnoff
• Helio Castroneves (season 5) with Chelsie Hightower
• Gilles Marini (season 8) with Peta Murgatroyd
• Shawn Johnson (season 8) with Derek Hough
• Pamela Anderson (season 10) with Tristan MacManus

The final dancing card has yet to be filled out, with fan voting at ABC.com to fill the Wild Card slot of DWTS: All-Stars. The final slot is between Sabrina Bryan, Kyle Massey, or Carson Kressley and is up to fan voting an ABC.com which runs through August 24.

The competition for the last slot of DWTS: All-Stars has grown fierce with Carson Kressley even making a campaign video to encourage fans to vote for him, Entertainment Tonight reported.

It will be difficult to pick a favorite among the group of DWTS: All-Stars contestants. The group includes a number of former champions including Kelly Monaco, Apollo Anton Ohno, and Emmit Smith.

‘DWTS: All-Stars’ Pairings Announced is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dancing With The Stars performer Derek Hough allegedly got into an argument with a fan trying to take his photo while dancing at Jam, a gay bar in Salt Lake City. Gay rumors have followed Derek Hough for years, according to Radar Online, but the professional dancer has always maintained that he is heterosexual.

Derek Hough,27, allegedly “freaked out” when a fan dancing near him at the gay bar tried to capture a photo with the Dancing With The Stars celebrity, according to details of the alleged encounter republished by Radar Online. Hough is reportedly dating Katherine Jenkins, an opera singer who was not with him at the Salt Lake City gay bar.

“I’m a big fan or Derek’s and I always thought or hoped he was gay,” Ken Lee, a regular at Jam told the media after the alleged photo taking incident. “Seeing him shimmying with his buddies at the gay club wearing skintight, shiny silver pants just made me mind scream!”

The DWTS cast member was apparently having a good time dancing at the gay bar until approached for a photo. According to Ken Lee’s accounting of the incident, Derek Hough became “fidgety” and told him not to take his photo there, at the gay bar.

“Well, he couldn’t have been more rude or a bigger diva. I was like, OK, he’s clearly not comfortable about having his picture taken in a gay bar. If you’re not gay, then what’s the problem? Derek’s behavior is very suspect. Derek very well may not be gay but he sure dressed pretty and threw an impressive hissy fit when I asked for a photo,” Ken Lee concluded about the alleged Derek Hough gay bar hoopla.

Derek Hough has answered questions about his sexual preference publicly before and once told a journalist that he has been called gay frequently because he is a dancer. The Dancing With The Stars celebrity has not commented about his visit to the Salt Lake City gay bar or the verbal altercation with a fan about taking his photo on the Jam dance floor.

Dancing With The Stars Cast Member Derek Hough Allegedly Argues With Fan While Dancing At A Gay Bar is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s time to start dancing. Joe Fatone, Bristol Palin, Pamela Anderson and nine other semi-celebrities will be heading back to ABC for Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars.

Here’s the all-star lineup for the 15th edition of DWTS:

Bristol Palin / Pamela Anderson / Kelly Monaco / Melissa Rycroft / Shawn Johnson / Kirstie Alley /Joey Fatone / Helio Castroneves / Drew Lachey / Emmitt Smith / Apolo Ohno / Gilles Marini.

The show will also include a 13th contestant that will be voted on by fans. Dancing With The Stars fans will have to choose between Sabrina Bryan, Carson Kressley and Kyle Massey. The winner will be announced on “Good Morning America” on Aug. 27.

Host Tom Bergeron wrote on Twitter:

“Looking forward to Friday’s DWTS All-Star Cast announcement. We’ll be announcing all but one, then YOU have to get to work!”

The Washington Post reports that DWTS has been on a bit of a decline lately. Two years ago, the show averaged about 22 million viewers. That number has dropped in subsequent seasons. Last season, when Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd won the Mirror Ball Trophy, was watched by 17.8 million viewers.

Do you think the All-star cast will boost the ratings? Who do you think will win Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars?

DWTS All-Star Cast: Joey Fatone, Bristol Palin And Pamela Anderson Return To ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mario Lopez won’t be returning to Dancing With the Stars for the all-star edition of the popular TV dance-me-do program.

Lopez himself has apparently confirmed his non-interest, even though previous hints from the Extra presenter and Saved by the Bell actor have suggested otherwise.

According to sources close to the 38-year-old (Slater’s 38!), Lopez simply isn’t interested in doing the show, even saying he’s never watched it – even when he was a contestant.

Perhaps his absence is not all that surprising, however. As well as his presenting duties for Extra, Lopez is also busy pushing his line of fitness books, DVDs and equipment.

One Extra celebrity who could yet sign up for the all-star Dancing with the Stars is Lopez’s colleague Maria Menounos.

Mario Lopez Won’t Be Dancing With The Stars For Show’s ‘All-Star’ Edition is a post from: The Inquisitr

Margaret Cho may be heading back to “Dancing With the Stars.” The comedian said that she was disappointed when she got voted off the show in 2010 and would like to return for next season’s All-Star edition.

Cho said:

“I loved it. I would love to go back and do the all-stars. I had a really insane time last time I was on. I loved it, but I didn’t really get to go really far. I’d love to get back on so I can win the whole thing.”

Cho would have to clear some space in her schedule. The comedian is currently starring in Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva,” has a recurring role on 30 Rock as Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un, and is starting her own cooking show. But if “Dancing With The Stars” comes calling she’ll make sure to make room on her schedule.

If not for dancing fame, then for the nice paycheck that comes along with appearing on the show.

Cho told the women on “The View” that the DWTS contestants make a pretty paycheck and that you should never feel bad for someone who gets eliminated early.

Cho said:

“That’s like saying somebody broke into my house and left me $200,000…don’t feel sorry for anybody who gets voted off. That’s what they make.”

Cho isn’t the only personality who wants back on the hit dancing show. Olympian Misty May-Treanor also said that she wants another shot at the Mirror Ball Trophy.

Would you like to see Margaret Cho back on “Dancing With The Stars?”

Margaret Cho Wants To Return To ‘DWTS’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Misty May-Treanor is currently focused on bringing home a gold medal from the London Olympic Games, but after that, the star volleyball player is hoping to get another chance on “Dancing With the Stars.”

May-Treanor was on the show in 2008 but was forced to quit after she tore her Achilles tendon in rehearsals. Now, she’s lobbying for another chance to win the Mirror Ball trophy.

May-Treanor asked her Facebook followers to vote for her, saying:

“I would love to finish what I wasn’t able to when I was on the show the last time.”

There’s a good chance that May-Treanor will be back on the show. According to the Associated Press, the next season of DWTS will be comprised of all-star contestants from past years.

May-Treanor will also be riding some Olympic fame around the time the next season of “Dancing With the Stars” begins.

But before May-Treanor teams up with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, or Derek Hough, the Olympian will be teaming up with Kerri Walsh at the 2012 Olympic Games. Walsh and May-Treanor won gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Do you want to see Misty May-Treanor back on DWTS?

Misty May-Treanor Wants Another Shot At DWTS is a post from: The Inquisitr

After a satisfying final three, Donald Driver, star receiver for the Green Bay Packers, along with his partner Peta Murgatroyd were crowned Dancing With the Stars champions in Tuesday night’s results show.

Driver and his partner managed to beat Katherine Jenkins, who came in second, and William Levy, who came in third, to take home the coveted mirror ball trophy

Driver and Murgatroyd may have proven to be a hit with the voting public, but the football star admitted that the dancing duo was nervous about their chances going into the results show.

“We had an amazing freestyle,” Driver said of their performance (via Today). “I’ve been watching the show for a long time, and now I know what (past winners) J.R. Martinez and Hines Ward felt. Right now, I’m on cloud nine.”

Now that the competition is over, Driver tells People that he won’t be doing anything else of that nature in the immediate future. Instead, Driver intends to focus on spending time with his wife and kids.

“[My wife] says she wants to go take a trip. So we’re going to take a Disney cruise as a family,” Driver said. “We’re going to spend as much time together [as we can],” he says. “That’s what you have to do, because my family has been behind me the whole time.”

Do you think that Donald Driver was the right choice?

Donald Driver Crowned Dancing With the Stars Champion is a post from: The Inquisitr

And then there were three. Maria Menounos was voted of “Dancing With The Stars” last night leaving just Donald Driver, William Levy, and Katherine Jenkins in the running for the Mirror Ball Trophy.

Menounos earned perfect scores from the judges on Monday but it wasn’t enough to save her from elimination. ABC reports that Menounos earned all 10s during her first dance, the Argentine tango, and after her second dance the judges were ready to declare her the winner. But America disagreed and voted Menounos, and her dancing partner Derek Hough, off the show.

Menounos said:

“I learned so many things. I learned how strong I was, to persevere… I want to thank everyone here. I want to thank Derek and my family and everyone who voted for us.”

Going into last night’s show many people were worried about Katherine Jenkins who injured her back earlier in the week doing the samba. But Jenkins said that the injury healed over night and she was ready for some more dancing.

Do you think Maria Menounos should have stayed on the show? Who do you think will win the Mirror Ball Trophy?

Here’s the video of her elimination from “Dancing With The Stars.”

Maria Menounos Voted Off ‘Dancing With The Stars’ [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson has raised a few eyebrows as her new slender frame has become the newest talk of the tabloids.

Losing 25 lbs as a result of her attempt at an Olympic comeback, Johnson says it wasn’t always easy seeing the media talk about her weight.

“At my heaviest all the tabloids said some pretty hurtful things,” said Johnson.

The 2012 London Olympic hopeful says people were used to her 6% body fat while she was competing, and that they weren’t as understanding of her junk food days.

“That whole process kind of broke me down and taught me something,” Johnson said Monday at the Olympic Media Summit.

“People put too much emphasis on looks.”

Being a professional gymnast, Johnson finds herself in the middle of a sport where body image, weight and overall health are scrutinized in the worst way.

In particular, gymnasts find themselves fighting battles against anorexia and bulimia on a daily basis, so Johnson’s feelings resonate in a special way.

“We’re taught at such a young age that you can always be better and that you’re never perfect and that you’re never good enough,” she said. “You find your worth in someone else and what they say just from having looked at you. It’s hard. I was at the Olympic Games winning medals and I still doubted my image. I doubted what I looked like. That’s sad. Girls should be taught different than that. I think everyone should be taught different than that.”

Do you feel that Shawn Johnson is a good role model to young teen girls with her message about body image?

Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson Shakes The Critics; Sheds The Weight is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dancing With the Stars latest champion, J.R. Martinez, recently became a father as his girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones gave birth Wednesday night to Lauryn Annabelle.

Baby “Belle” was born weighing seven pounds and thirteen ounces, measuring 21 inches long, People.com reported.  In regards to the origins of the newborn’s name, 28-year-old Martinez told PEOPLE:

“She’s already got a nickname — Belle. Her first name, Lauryn, is after Diana’s younger sister who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. And her middle name, Anabelle, is after my sister who passed away when she was six.”

JR Martinez, who was the first contestant on this season’s DWTS to rack up a perfect score of 30, found his baby daughter absolutely adorable as he was quoted having said:

“She has a couple of cute little freckles on her cheeks, a full head of hair and the cutest little lips. It’s just amazing to see her, finally. She’s beautiful.”

Jose Rene Martinez was severely burned by an IED explosion in Iraq back in 2003 while serving his country.  Upon his return home from duty, J.R. launched a career as a motivational speaker.  He met his current girlfriend while working as an executive producer’s assistant on the set of All My Children in 2008.  The two were not romantically involved until 2010.

Lauryn Anabelle Martinez was born Wednesday evening, May 2, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.

The L.A. Times reported that back in December, the couple announced they had a child on the way and JR tweeted at the time:

“Not everything in life unfolds #traditionally just count your #blessings along the way and keep your #integrity.”

J.R. Martinez Baby: DWTS Champion Became A Father is a post from: The Inquisitr

Gladys Knight has danced her last show on this year’s Dancing With the Stars – and in a slightly cruel twist, it was Motown week that saw the demise of the soul star.

Knight’s exit was close, however. After her final dance duel against the other bottom finisher, Roshon Fegel, the three judges produced a split 2-1 decision on who should go home.

While Knight had made a poor start in this fourteenth series of the celeb talent show, recent weeks had shown more promise – this week was the first time she appeared in the bottom two, for a rumba to ‘My Girl’ on Monday’s show that earned her a meagre 21 from the judges.

Fegen wasn’t much better (23), but was voted off by judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba voted to keep Knight in.

The 67-year-old singer took her defeat with good grace and plenty of talent show clichés, saying she was “amazed” at her “journey”:

“I learned so many things, and found so many friends and family. More than likely they’re going to have us in the dance duel. What-ever!”

As an added bonus, Knight revealed she’s felt a benefit familiar to a lot of previous DWTS contenders – extreme weight loss. The Grammy-winning singer revealed she has lost 60 pounds thanks to the show.

At the other end of the board, opera singer Katherine Jenkins continues to dazzle, scoring a 29 with her samba.

Seven stars remain in the contest, including Jenkins, pro football player Donald Driver and Telemundo star William Levy.

Gladys Knight Eliminated From ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

“I’m gathering myself,” judge Carrie Ann Inaba said following Levy’s Tango. “That was ridiculously amazing. You are so convincing, all I could think of was, ‘The Latin dancing James Bond is in the house!’”

Len Goodman chimed in:

“I saw mood. I saw passion. I saw sensuality and color. Well done.”

Finally Bruno Tonioli added, “Pulsating passion. Throbbing intensity. Slick sexy coolish.”

It wasn’t until after the dance that an even more impressive fact was discussed – Levy was moving and grooving with an injured right ankle.

DWTS co-host Brooke Burke brought up Levy’s injury — which William tweeted about the day before — and asked what the doctor said after giving the star an MRI earlier in the day.

“He said my ligament was ripped up… ‘You need to rest.’ But, I said to him that tonight was no resting,” William told Brooke, brushing aside talk of his condition.

William’s triumphant ballroom feat earned he and his partner Cheryl Burke a score of 29 out of 30.

A run-down of the remaining DWTS contestant’s scores for Latin night can be seen below:

Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff: 19

Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 21

Gladys Knight and Tristan McManus: 22

Jaleel White and Kym Johnson: 24

Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower: 26

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd: 27

Maria Menounos and Derek Hough: 27

Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas: 29

The Dancing With The Stars results show, where one celebrity will be booted off, airs tonight at 9pm on ABC.

Watch William Levy perform the Argentine Tango on last night’s episode of Dancing With the Stars below:

Readers let us know: Who is your favorite performer on this season of DWTS? Were you impressed that William Levy fought through his severe ankle injury and delivered an amazing Tango performance?

via Access Hollywood

William Levy Overcomes Ankle Injury, Dazzles on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

On Tuesday’s hour-long Dancing With The Stars episode, which featured a live performance by rock band KISS, Sherri Shepherd was eliminated after promising to return with a “new dance, new attitude.”  After learning of her elimination from the show, she said:

“I just want to say thank you for letting me live a dream I’ve always had.”

Melissa Gilbert, who suffered a concussion while performing Monday night, is scheduled to return next week to continue competing on the show.

Other performers returning next week will include Extra co-host Maria Menounos, Gavin DeGraw, opera singer Katherine Jenkins, Gladys Knight, telenovela’s William Levy, Family Matters star Jaleel “Steve Urkel” White, and Roshon Fegan.

Jack Wagner and tennis sensation Martina Navratilova have already been eliminated from DWTS.

Gilbert’s partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy questioned whether his injured partner, Gilbert, should even return to the dance floor as he told reporters after the show that:

“She’s in pain. She’s got a big headache. I was a bit confused about the injury yesterday because she said that she hit the floor and I was like I was looking at you the entire time, and I was trying to carry her, you know, through some of the moments, and being kind of careful and gentle with her. She hit my knee. I honestly didn’t feel it. I thought I slipped on her dress. I think the doctor said that she had a minor concussion. I know that’s very not pleasant. I wish she could take a couple of days off. And honestly, at this point, with Sherri Shepherd getting eliminated I’m not really sure if it’s worth killing yourself and, you know, trying to put on a show when it is what it is. Look, you know, I think the only aspect is on our side is our fans, and I’m beyond grateful. I mean, coming back from being in the bottom, and then again being in the bottom, and then again being in the bottom in a competition like this, we owe it all to the fans. So this is my kinda dilemma. What do you do? Do you take it easy and go well listen, it is what it is, or do you try to put on a show? But then, you know, it sucks that she got injured on my, so to speak, on my watch, and this is something that I don’t want to see happen.”

What do you think of Sherri Shepherd’s dearly departure and Gilbert’s scheduled return to 2012′s Dancing With The Stars?

Sherri Shepherd Eliminated From Dancing With The Stars 2012 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jaleel White reportedly flipped out on his dancing partner, Kym Johnson, after Monday night’s performance on “Dancing With The Stars,” but the former child star says that the reports were “completely exaggerated.”

White was apparently upset with his rehearsal and yelled at Johnson after she complained about having pain in her foot. But White said that there was no drama between him and Kym. White told People Magazine:

“We go to work every day, and there is an alley full of tabloid reporters… It’s not fair to us and that’s life, and I hope people can see through it. There’s no drama in my life.”

Johnson admitted that it was a stressful week but she didn’t say that she was upset with her partner. Johnson said:

“This has been a stressful week for us, and people have stressful weeks. [Today] was horrible. I thought we got through it really well, and our dance tonight will show everyone that we really have a great connection. This is really the first week we only had four days to learn [the rumba].”

After Monday’s performance Jaleel White allegedly yelled at Johnson after she complained about pain in her foot. According to a source, the incident was bad enough that Donald Driver almost had to step into intervene and diffuse the situation.

Host Mark Ballas said:

“These things happen. This show is a competitive show. Things get heated. … This got severely twisted. We’ve been in the same room all night, and everything’s fine.”

The drama between White and Johnson does seem a little overblown but the “Family Matters” star does admits that the show is more frustrating than he expected. White said:

“They literally do not let you rehearse without a camera. You’re watching everything, and it’s tough… I’m a sitcom generation kid. I’m not used to all this tabloid stuff.”

Here’s a video of Jaleel White and Kym Johnson dancing the rumba.

Jaleel White: Kym Johnson Drama Is Completely Exaggerated is a post from: The Inquisitr

Though she may not be the best known celeb this season, the Welsh classical singer wowed the judges as she and Ballas performed the foxtrot and scored 26 out of a possible 30 points.

So just how good was she?

DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba called Jenkins’ performance the “best first dance on the first episode ever,” while the often-harsh Len Goodman called it “cracking,” and Bruno Tonioli warned, “You’re setting the bar so high that really you have a lot to live up to.”

After the show Katherine tweeted her excitment: “OMG 2 9′s & an 8! Joint top of the leader board! Just called my mum in Wales at 3am to break the news #TellMeImNotDreaming”.

Katherine wasn’t the only hopeful to show promise however as Jaleel White, best known for his role in the 90s as Steve Urkel on Family Matters, also scored 26.

The standard was high across the board for the opening show of the 14th series, with Len saying the show was: ”Without doubt the best first show of any season.”

None of the dancers scored below 20 points, with Cuban-American star William Levy and partner Cheryl Burke taking a respectable 24 for their Cha-cha-cha. Former child star Roshon Fegan, singer Gladys Knight, comedienne Sherri Shepherd and soap actor Jack Wagner all tying in fourth place with 23, while NFL wide reciever Donald Driver, 37, and Maria Menounos, 33, just eked past last place with scores of 21.

Since it is only Week One, the stars get a pass on an elimination episode. The first elimination will come on Tuesday, March 27, based on combined scores of last night’s and next Monday’s dances, plus — of course — audience’s votes.

Watch Katherine Jenkins do the foxtrot during her amazing DWTS debut below and let us know: Which was your favorite performance of the night?

via Hollywood.com

Katherine Jenkins Dazzles in ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Debut [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Donald Driver may be best known for catching passes at Lambeau Field but last night he showed the world that he could do the cha-cha. Driver made his “Dancing With the Stars” debut last night with partner Peta Murgatroyd.

Driver didn’t earn a great score but he did seem to be a fan favorite. When the judges announced that he scored a 21 out of 30 the audience booed. Host Tom Bergeron quipped:

“Just 31 minutes into the season. I think that’s a record for starting an ugly mob.”

After the show, Driver wrote on Twitter:

“Oh my God! It was a amazing night! #DWTS was on fire. I want to thank everyone for tonight. Love u packer nation and @PetaMurgatroyd.”

Driver thanked his DWTS partner again by saying:

“@PetaMurgatroyd thank u for u leadership, motivation, determination today. Truly something special. Thanks.”

Driver isn’t the first NFL player to show his grace on “Dancing With the Stars.” According to ESPN, 10 former footballers, including Jerry Rice, Hines Ward, Michael Irvin and Chad Ochocinco, have all danced on the ABC show.

Here’s a video of Donald Driver’s “DWTS” debut.

Did you watch Donald Driver on “Dancing With the Stars” last night?

Donald Driver Makes ‘DWTS’ Debut [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Karina Smirnoff is getting back in the dating game. The “Dancing With the Stars” star, who called off her engagement to Tigers’ pitcher Brad Penny in December, has been seen out on several dates with Owen Wilson.

A source close to Smirnoff told Life & Style Magazine:

“They’ve been out a few times. They’re totally into each other.”

Owen Wilson is also coming out of a long term relationship. Wilson, 43, split up with Jade Duell last year just five months after they had a son together. Wilson and Smirnoff may both be looking for love, but it doesn’t look like they’ve found it with each other.

E! News reports that the “DWTS” star and the “Wedding Crashers” actor aren’t really dating. The source said:

“There is nothing there. They ran into each other once randomly. They are friends but not dating at all.”

A friend of Wilson’s told WENN:

“This is false. She (Smirnoff) was introduced to Owen at a party. I don’t think that qualifies as dating.”

Smirnoff is currently getting ready for another season of “Dancing With The Stars” where she will be partnered up with Gavin Degraw, so she may not have too much time for dating right now.

Do you think Owen Wilson and Karina Smirnoff are dating?

Karina Smirnoff Dating Owen Wilson? Nope, Just Friends is a post from: The Inquisitr

After a lot of hype, rumor and outright sensationalism, the final cast of Dancing With The Stars Season 14 has been announced.

The list is as follows:

Here’s the full list of Season 14′s celebrity contestants:

Jack Wagner, star of “Melrose Place” (pro partner: Anna Trebunskaya)
Melissa Gilbert, star of “Little House on the Prairie” (pro partner: Maksim Chmerkovskiy)
Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers all-time leading receiver (pro partner: Peta Murgatroyd)
William Levy, telenovela star (pro partner: Cheryl Burke)
Sherri Shepherd, co-host of “The View” (pro partner: Valentin Chmerkovskiy)
Katherine Jenkins, opera star (pro partner: Mark Ballas)
Gavin DeGraw, singer (pro partner: Karina Smirnoff)
Martina Navratilova, tennis star (pro partner: Tony Dovolani)
Roshon Fegan, Disney star (pro partner: Chelsie Hightower)
Maria Menounos, TV host (pro partner: Derek Hough)
Jaleel White, URKEL! Star of “Family Matters” (pro partner: Kym Johnson)
Gladys Knight, music legend (pro partner: (pro partner: Tristan MacManus)

Full “Dancing With The Stars” Cast Revealed [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The smoothest man to ever grace a television set is joining the cast of “Dancing With the Stars.” The one and only Urkel, AKA Jaleel White, will be getting his groove on during the 14th season of the ABC hit show along with Jack Wagner of “Melrose Place,” Melissa Gilbert from “Little House on the Prairie,” Sherri Shepherd of “The View,” and Motown legend Gladys Knight.

Jaleel White will also be going up against Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, opera singer Katherin Jenkings, TV host Maria Menounos, Disney star Roshon Fegan, NFL player Donald Driver, Gavin DeGraw from the band Bush, and Telenovela actor William Levy.

The celebrity cast will be joined by a team of professional dancers, including last year’s winner Karina Smirnoff.

J.R Martinez, Cheryl Burkey, Derek Hough, Anna Trebunskaya, Tristan McManus, Mark Ballas, and Maskim Chmerkosviskiy will also be returning to the show this year.

Chmerkosviskiy’s brother Val will join the “Dancing With the Stars” cast.

White isn’t a sure thing to win this year’s dance competition, but I’m pretty sure he’s the only contestant this year that already has his own dance.

This is how you do the Urkel.

Here are the teams for this year’s competition.

• Smirnoff and DeGraw
• Burke and Levy
• Hough and Menounos
• Chmerkovskiy and Gilbert
• Val Chmerkovskiy and Shepherd
• McManus and Knight
• Ballas and Jenkins
• Trebunskaya and Wagner
• Murgatroyd and Driver
• Dovolani and Navratilova
• Hightower and Fega
• Kym Johnson and White

Do you have a favorite pair? Who do you think will win “Dancing With the Stars” this year.

Urkel Joins ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Cast is a post from: The Inquisitr

Gavin Degraw is set to appear as one of the newest cast members on Dancing With The Stars and while that type of commitment is usually reserved for retired sports stars, b-list actors and actresses and the children of celebrities with nothing else to do, he’s actually going to be pulling double duty.

That’s because Degraw plans to continue his U.S. tour which is already underway while at the same time appearing on the hit dance competition.

Multiple sources have now confirmed the Not Over You singer for a spot on the show with the full cast lineup set to be announced on Tuesday morning.

While the show premieres on March 19th DeGraw will continue his tour through the middle of April.

In order to stay on track and given his best it’s believed that Gavin’s dancing pro will join him on tour and Gavin will head back to the stage on dance nights since there are no conflicting live shoot dates.

Also believed to be competing on the upcoming season of the show are Jack Wagner, Sherri Shepherd, and Melissa Gilbert.

Do you think Gavin Degraw can manage to pull off a full U.S. tour schedule while also practicing with his dance partner and then competing on Dancing With The Stars live shows? I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

Gavin DeGraw Pulling Double Duty With DWTS And US Tour 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

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

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

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

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

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