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  • Jill Dillard, Jessa Duggar Seewald Promote Sexual Abuse Awareness in TLC Special Alongside Mom Michelle Duggar

    Jill Dillard (nee Duggar) and sister Jessa Duggar Seewald are admitted sexual molestation victims of their brother Josh Duggar. In a TLC special that aired Sunday, the Duggar sisters, along with their mom Michelle Duggar, vowed to raise awareness for sexual abuse and its victims.

    The hour-long special, called Breaking the Silence, made no mention of Josh Duggar, and it was filmed before his Ashley Madison cheating scandal made news. Jill Dillard and Jessa Duggar Seewald didn’t address their specific situation, but acknowledged the need for more awareness.

    “I feel like this should be a discussion that people are having, even regularly,” Jessa said. “I think that it shouldn’t be a taboo subject and that we should be bringing awareness to child sexual abuse and talking about it.”

    “It was amazing to understand that there are so many people that deal with the exact same thing in their own families, so just being educated is very good,” Jill Dillard added.

    Michelle Duggar was impressed by both of her daughters.

    “I was so glad that my girls and I were able to do this together,” she said. “And that we could just be a support and encouragement to each other to be able to gain more information about this important topic.”

    Jill Duggar Dillard and Jessa Duggar Seewald weren’t the only sexual abuse victims on the TLC special. Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives fame and Cheryl Burke of Dancing With the Stars fame–as well as other advocates–were featured, too.

    “Dance was my escape from reality,” Cheryl Burke said. “I was able to start building my confidence and know that I don’t need anybody to be happy. I just needed just me. I needed to know that I could do this on my own. I’m proof that you can actually move on from this.”

    If even one person was helped by listening to Jill Dillard, Jessa Duggar Seewald, or the others involved in Breaking the Silence, then TLC has done a great service in raising awareness for this most necessary cause.

    Do you think Jessa Seewald and Jill Duggar appeared on this show for the right reasons, however? Might they have agreed to do so in an effort to save their family’s reality show, 19 Kids and Counting? TLC hadn’t yet cancelled the show when the Duggars agreed to appear.

  • Cheryl Burke Is Out, Former Miss Wisconsin Is In To Co-Host Miss USA

    Cheryl Burke has officially been replaced as co-host of the Miss USA pageant by former Miss Wisconsin Alex Wehrley.

    Cheryl Burke announced that she was leaving the pageant shortly after Donald Trump’s now infamous comments on illegal immigrants.

    As a co-host, Cheryl Burke was only one of most of the people who were hosting, judging, or performing at the Miss USA pageant who dropped out.

    In a statement posted to her social media accounts, Cheryl Burke outlined her reasons for leaving the pageant.

    Cheryl Burke’s statement said, in part, “In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host.”

    #MissUSA announcement. Read the whole thing on my #Facebook page, Facebook.com/officialCherylBurke

    A photo posted by Cheryl Burke (@cherylburke) on

    In case you’ve been under a rock, Donald Trump’s statement that sent the Miss USA world crashing down and sent Cheryl Burke packing was, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_q61B-DyPk

    He added, “They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re getting.”

    Well, the show must, and will, go one without Cheryl Burke. Fans of the Miss USA pageant will be very pleased.

    What do you think of Cheryl Burke’s replacement, former Miss Wisconsin Alex Wehrley? Will you be watching the pageant?

  • Cheryl Burke Gets Replaced For Miss USA Hosting Duties

    Cheryl Burke has now officially been replaced in hosting the Miss USA pageant after stepping down due to incendiary statements made by Donald Trump.

    Burke, a Dancing With The Stars champion, was set to host the pageant with MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts but released a statement after Trump’s comments made headlines, saying she would not be able to proceed.

    “In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant,” Burke wrote on Facebook.

    Replacing Burke and Roberts will be former Miss Wisconsin Alex Wehrley and television host Todd Newton, according to Reelz TV, which will be airing the pageant after NBC dropped it in the wake of Trump’s announcement that he’s running for president.

    Trump, who is co-owner of the pageant, made several comments during his announcement about immigrants from Mexico that immediately garnered backlash, saying that they bring drugs and a criminal element to the United States when they are allowed to cross the border.

    “They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said.

    Cheryl Burke and Thomas Roberts aren’t the only people once affiliated with the event who are refusing to participate; Jennie Mai, who was set to cover the backstage area during the show, also released a statement saying she didn’t want to be part of it, and rapper Flo Rida and Emmit Smith–who was going to be a judge–have also backed down.

  • Cheryl Burke Drops Out Of Co-Hosting Miss USA Pageant After Trump’s Remarks On Illegal Immigrants

    Cheryl Burke is stepping down from her co-hosting duties for the Miss USA pageant and she was the last to ditch.

    Cheryl Burke followed in the footsteps of others involved, like Thomas Roberts and co-hosts of the Univision telecast, Roselyn Sanchez and Cristian de la Fuente.

    On Monday, NBC, which co-owns the pageant with Trump, said it would cancel its Miss USA coverage and part ways with Trump in retaliation for remarks he made in his campaign kick-off speech.

    Shortly before that, Univision canceled its Spanish simulcast in protest of the same remarks.

    During Donald Trumps campaign speech, he stated, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

    It's a wrap! Thank you @bootsybellows for showing me, the cast and the crew a great time. #exhausted #icandothat

    A photo posted by Cheryl Burke (@cherylburke) on

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_q61B-DyPk

    These remarks set off the above-mentioned firestorm, but Donald Trump is not one to back down.

    In a response to all of those protesting his statements in one way or another, like Cheryl Burke, Trump said, “People are pouring across our borders unabated. Public reports routinely state great amounts of crime are being committed by illegal immigrants. This must be stopped, and it must be stopped now.”

    Loved catching up with my bestie, @kymjohnson1! #familyforever #newbeginnings

    A photo posted by Cheryl Burke (@cherylburke) on

    He continued, “If NBC is so weak and so foolish to not understand the serious illegal-immigration problem in the United States, coupled with the horrendous and unfair trade deals we are making with Mexico, then their contract-violating closure of Miss Universe/Miss USA will be determined in court.”

    #MakeAmericaGreatAgain

    A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on

    He then took one last jab at the network, saying, “[NBC] will stand lying Brian Williams but won’t stand behind people that tell it like it is, as unpleasant as that may be.”

    What do you think about Cheryl Burke backing out of the Miss USA pageant?

  • Cheryl Burke, Thomas Roberts Step Down as ‘Miss USA Pageant’ Co-Hosts After Donald Trump Statements

    Cheryl Burke and Thomas Roberts have stepped down as co-hosts of the Miss USA Pageant after the recent derogatory statements made by the pageant’s corporate co-owner, Donald Trump.

    The former Dancing With the Stars pro took to social media to announce that the pageant would go on, but without her. Thomas Roberts later withdrew from the pageant as well.

    “In light of recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host,” Cheryl Burke wrote in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday.

    “Effective today I have withdrawn from my duties with Miss USA,” she continued. “Although I will not be there in person, I wish all of the contestants much luck as I know how hard they’ve all been working over the last year to try and realize their dreams.”

    MISS USAIn light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr….

    Posted by Cheryl Burke on Tuesday, June 30, 2015

    Cheryl Burke stepping down as co-host is just the latest in a string of blows the dealt to the Miss USA Pageant. Univision dropped their broadcast of the pageant. Roselyn Sanchez and Cristian de la Fuente stepped down as co-hosts of the Spanish simulcast. NBCUniversal joined in on Monday when they announced they were ending their relationship with Donald Trump.

    “To that end, the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants, which are part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump, will no longer air on NBC,” the network said in a statement to Us Weekly, noting that “respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones” of its values. “In addition, as Mr. Trump has already indicated, he will not be participating in The Apprentice on NBC. Celebrity Apprentice is licensed from Mark Burnett’s United Artists Media Group and that relationship will continue.”

    Donald Trump ignited all of this backlash with statements he made about people crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

    “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” he said at the time. “And some, I assume, are good people.”

    Cheryl Burke, Thomas Roberts, and others in their positions are no doubt saving their own reputations by separating themselves from anything related to Donald Trump.

    Are you pleased to see people and companies including NBCUniversal, Univision, and Cheryl Burke cutting their ties from Donald Trump in light of the insensitive comments he made?

    Might this spell the end of the Miss USA Pageant or will someone else pick up the pieces and salvage the show?

  • Nicole Scherzinger, Cheryl Burke Try Out for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on ‘I Can Do That’ Finale

    Nicole Scherzinger, Cheryl Burke Try Out for Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on ‘I Can Do That’ Finale

    Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Burke get a run for their money during the season finale of I Can Do That on Tuesday night, June 30th. The former Pussycat Dolls singer and the former Dancing With the Stars pro will audition for a spot with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

    I Can Do That pairs celebrities Ciara, Joe Jonas, Alan Ritchson, and Jeff Dye–as well as Cheryl Burke and Nicole Scherzinger–with professionals in a variety of physical fields. The object is to determine if they can, in fact, ‘do that,’ regardless of what ‘that’ may be.

    Tuesday night at 10:00 p.m. ET on NBC, fans can find out whether or not Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Burke have what it takes to perform with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

    Given the fact that Scherzinger toured with the Pussycat Dolls and sang and danced on stage, surely she stands a chance–right? And Cheryl Burke is a professional dancer. She’s got it in the bag–don’t you imagine?

    Not so fast, it seems.

    Cheryl Burke said during a clip promoting Tuesday night’s show that this new skill meant she “has to learn a whole different style of dancing.”

    Nicole Scherzinger said, “I feel like I’ve auditioned and failed.”

    In addition to Cheryl Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, and the I Can Do That regulars, the finale will also feature Snoop Dogg. He will be paired alongside Joe Jonas and Jeff Dye.

    Will you be tuning in to watch the I Can Do That finale?

    Do you think Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Burke have what it takes to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?

  • Cheryl Burke Wants Caitlyn Jenner To Judge Miss USA Pageant

    Cheryl Burke is hoping to have Caitlyn Jenner on the judging panel for this year’s Miss USA pageant.

    Caitlyn Jenner has turned the world on its ear since completing her transition from male to female last month, and Cheryl Burke thinks Caitlyn’s courage would be useful on the judging panel.

    Cheryl Burke said, “I think Caitlyn Jenner would be an amazing judge. I think she’s so empowering. A lot of people look up to her.”

    Caitlyn Jenner was invited to judge, but no word yet on whether she will do it or not.

    Cheryl Burke has a personal connection with Caitlyn’s struggle.

    She said, “Because I have been bullied and attacked about my body, body image has always been an issue for me.”

    She added, “You don’t have to be a size zero to be beautiful. You have to embrace your body, whether it’s curvy or whatever you may be. You have to embrace who you are. Beauty comes from the inside not out.”

    Goofin around with the one and only @thomasaroberts and the gorgeous @realniasanchez! #missusa #cohost

    A photo posted by Cheryl Burke (@cherylburke) on

    Cheryl Burke also mentioned the possibility that Caitlyn Jenner could be a future contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

    Cheryl Burke said, “I think Caitlyn would be amazing on DWTS. The whole family has basically done it. I danced with Rob. Kim did it a few seasons ago. Caitlyn and Tony Dovolani would look great together, or actually Caitlyn and Val [Chmerkovskiy].”

    Great day yesterday for Father's Day. We had so much fun off-roading. So much love and support! Love my family!

    A photo posted by Caitlyn Jenner (@caitlynjenner) on

    Speaking of Caitlyn Jenner, her new show, I Am Cait, premieres August 2nd.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKZCcVKVHws

    In one clip, Caitlyn Jenner asked, “Why did I decide to do a series?”

    She answered, saying, “I am telling my story…This is about getting to be who you really are. It’s going to be quite a journey, we’re going to do some good.

    Will you be watching I Am Cait? Do you agree with Cheryl Burke that Caitlyn Jenner should be a judge for the Miss USA pageant?

  • Cheryl Burke, Joe Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger, Ciara: ‘I Can Do That!’

    Cheryl Burke joins Joe Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger, and Ciara, starring in the upcoming NBC comedy variety series I Can Do That! The network announced on Tuesday that it has ordered six one-hour-long episodes of the series that will pit six celebrities against one another, as they perform skills that they never realized they had. Jeff Dye and Alan Ritchson round out the cast of six. Marlon Wayans will serve as host for the show.

    Cheryl Burke announced back in December that she was officially leaving Dancing With the Stars.

    “I never thought I’d be able to walk away,” she told People magazine. “But after a decade of something, it’s time for me to move on and try something different, to be challenged, to feel inspired.”

    “Dancing with the Stars will always be a part of my life,” Cheryl Burke added. “Dancing is what I’ve done since I was a little girl. But it was very clear the show only wanted me back as a dancer. They weren’t interested in using me for other things and letting me grow.”

    In addition to Joe Jonas, Nicole Scherzinger, Cheryl Burke, and the rest of the cast of I Can Do That!, NBC’s president of alternative programming is excited about the upcoming show, too.

    “We’re excited to watch our all-star cast rise to the challenges ahead in such a fresh, new way,” Paul Telegdy said. “Our viewers are going to fall in love with how these natural born entertainers push themselves outside of their comfort zones to put on a spectacular show every week.”

    Hopefully fans who are disappointed that Cheryl Burke left Dancing With the Stars will tune in to see her on this new NBC show.

  • Karina Smirnoff Not Returning to ‘Dancing With the Stars’

    Karina Smirnoff won’t be returning to the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars. The show recently announced those dance pros who would be returning for season 20 of the popular show, but Karina Smirnoff was noticeably absent from that list.

    Smirnoff has danced and coached on Dancing With the Stars since its third season. She was the mirror ball trophy winner for season 12. So why isn’t she coming back?

    As with dance pro Cheryl Burke, it was Karina Smirnoff’s decision not to return this season. She shared that decision with her fans via Instagram.

    “Many of you have been asking if I will be back for season 20 of DWTS and I wanted all of my incredible family to hear it directly from me. After a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve decided to focus my energies on some other exciting endeavors including adding author to my resume. I have absolutely loved dancing for all of you for all these years and feel blessed to have been given a platform to put my passion for dance, choreography and creativity on display. DWTS has been a huge part of my life for the last 10 years and i will always have a special place in my heart for it. I am thrilled that now you will be seeing more of me in new arenas in the days and weeks to come. My first book We’re Just Not That Into You – Dating Disasters From the Trenches was released today and I look forward to hearing from you as you read it! I love all of you so very much and couldn’t feel more grateful for your support in all that I do! #werejustnotthatintoyou,” Karina Smirnoff captioned her post.

    So who is coming back to Dancing With the Stars?

    Witney Carson is coming back, alongside fan favorite (and two-time champion) Mark Ballas. Seasoned pros and fellow mirrorball winners Tony Dovolani, Peta Murgatroyd, and Kym Johnson are back on the dance floor, too. Newer dance pros Val Chmerkovskiy, Sharna Burgess, Allison Holker, Emma Slater and Artem Chigvintsev are also joining the group for season 20.

    Post by Dancing with the Stars.

    Are you disappointed to learn that Karina Smirnoff isn’t returning to Dancing With the Stars for season 20?

    The cast for season 20 of DWTS will be announced on Good Morning America on February 24th.

  • Cheryl Burke Ditches DWTS For New TV Show

    It has been confirmed that Cheryl Burke will not be joining Dancing with the Stars next season. The news came right after it was revealed that DWTS judge Len Goodman will also be leaving the show after the next season. According to reports, Burke will be leaving the ABC dance competition for a new show at NBC. The still-untitled show is still in its early stages, but sources claim that it will be a competition reality show where Burke will perform. Prior to the announcement of her departure, rumors have circulated that Burke was interested in becoming a judge for the show that she has been part of for 10 years.

    Burke issued a statement explaining the reasons behind her departure from Dancing with the Stars. She said in the statement, “I never thought I’d be able to walk away. But after a decade of something, it’s time for me to move on and try something different, to be challenged, to feel inspired. Dancing with the Stars will always be a part of my life.” She continued, “Dancing is what I’ve done since I was a little girl. But it was very clear the show only wanted me back as a dancer. They weren’t interested in using me for other things and letting me grow.”

    Cheryl also talked about how her contract with Dancing with the Stars restricted her from doing anything else. She said the same thing to TV Guide in an interview back in October. “Contractually, my contract is over and there’s other opportunities that have been out there for me. It’s so hard for me to talk about this, because I owe my life to Dancing with the Stars. They’ve changed my life completely. They’re my family and it’s always hard to say goodbye,” Burke said in the interview.

  • Cheryl Burke Leaves ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ for NBC Show

    Cheryl Burke is leaving ABC’s Dancing With the Stars for a new, as yet unnamed, show on NBC. Rumor has it the new show will also be a reality competition series, and Cheryl will no doubt use her talent as a dancer–and maybe even more. Us Weekly confirms that both Cheryl Burke’s departure from DWTS and signing with the new show are done deals.

    “Cheryl is leaving the ABC series for a new variety show on NBC,” a source tells them. “The new NBC show is in its very early stages, but likely will be a competition reality series and Burke will perform.”

    Burke hinted back in the fall that she would soon be leaving Dancing With the Stars. She danced her first season on the show back in 2006 and her most recent contestant partner was Antonio Sabato, Jr.

    “I never thought I’d be able to walk away,” she said during an interview with People. “But after a decade of something, it’s time for me to move on and try something different, to be challenged, to feel inspired. Dancing with the Stars will always be a part of my life. Dancing is what I’ve done since I was a little girl. But it was very clear the show only wanted me back as a dancer. They weren’t interested in using me for other things and letting me grow.”

    “As of now, this is probably going to be my last season. I started when I was 20. I’m 30. I feel like I just want to try new things and just see what’s out there,” she said during an interview back in September.

    “Contractually, my contract is over and there’s other opportunities that have been out there for me,” she said during an interview with TV Guide a couple of months ago. “It’s so hard for me to talk about this, because I owe my life to Dancing with the Stars. They’ve changed my life completely. They’re my family and it’s always hard to say goodbye…to a bunch of people that really believed in me from the start, and continued to believe in me for the last 10 years.”

    Cheryl Burke’s departure from Dancing With the Stars will no doubt leave an obvious void. Fans will be glad they can find her over on NBC, however. It will certainly be interesting to learn what kind of show producers have in mind. Do you suppose it will be in direct competition with Dancing With the Stars?

  • Cheryl Burke Leaves ‘Dancing With the Stars’ for New NBC Variety Show

    Cheryl Burke is leaving Dancing With the Stars to star on a new NBC variety show.

    “I never thought I’d be able to walk away,” Burke told People. “But after a decade of something, it’s time for me to move on and try something different, to be challenged, to feel inspired. Dancing with the Stars will always be a part of my life. Dancing is what I’ve done since I was a little girl. But it was very clear the show only wanted me back as a dancer. They weren’t interested in using me for other things and letting me grow.”

    It looks like the dancer is heading to NBC to star in a developing variety show.

    “Cheryl is leaving the ABC series for a new variety show on NBC,” a source told Us Weekly. “The new NBC show is in its very early stages, but likely will be a competition reality series and Burke will perform.”

    The news that she is leaving DWTS does not come as a surprise. In September, the 30-year-old dancing pro hinted that she would be leaving the reality dance competition.

    “As of now, this is probably going to be my last season. I started when I was 20. I’m 30. I feel like I just want to try new things and just see what’s out there,” she said on Good Morning America on Sept. 15.

    “Contractually, my contract is over and there’s other opportunities that have been out there for me,” she added to TV Guide in October. “It’s so hard for me to talk about this, because I owe my life to Dancing with the Stars. They’ve changed my life completely. They’re my family and it’s always hard to say goodbye…to a bunch of people that really believed in me from the start, and continued to believe in me for the last 10 years.”

    Burke joined DWTS in 2006 and was teamed up this last season with former soap star Antonio Sabato Jr. She told People she is ready to start this new chapter in her life.

    “Instead of teaching people how to dance, I need to be taught something,” Burke said. “I need to feed my brain with other knowledge. This was a perfect opportunity. My contract was very restrictive on Dancing with the Stars so I couldn’t do anything else. I’ve been waiting to add to my résumé now for years.”

  • Cheryl Burke Will No Longer Be Dancing With The Stars

    For the past 18 seasons, Cheryl Burke has been one of two consistent professional partners on Dancing with the Stars. With the latest season just wrapping up, Burke is finally moving on to another series.

    People reports that Burke is leaving ABC’s Dancing with the Stars for a new series on NBC in 2015. We don’t know what the series is, but you can at least imagine it will be some kind of competitor to Dancing with the Stars. The current television climate is all about copying what the competition does but making it better. With Burke’s experience on Dancing with the Stars, NBC may be able to craft something that may be able to steal a little thunder from ABC’s series.

    On second thought, she might not be as interested in solely dancing as previously thought. Speaking with the magazine, she sounded a little bitter towards ABC. She claimed the network only wanted her as a dancer, and she obviously wants to start doing more.

    “Dancing with the Stars will always be a part of my life,” Burke said. “Dancing is what I’ve done since I was a little girl. But it was very clear the show only wanted me back as a dancer. They weren’t interested in using me for other things and letting me grow.”

    For NBC, Burke will be performing, but it’s likely she’ll be involved in more than just the performance section of the show. Based upon what she wants, it’s likely she’ll be a producer or maybe even a judge. Another theory is that Burke could be a coach of sorts that helps curate new talent.

    Despite all this, Burke doesn’t regret her experience with the show itself:

    “It’s not so much about winning the trophy,” Burke said. It’s about changing someone’s life, like helping them to lose weight, to gain more confidence, or helping them to believe in themselves. Every person I have danced with had a great experience, and that’s something they will remember forever. I’m so honored to be a part of that.”

    In the meantime, she’s just enjoying life:

  • Cheryl Burke Reveals Her “Crazy Love”

    Cheryl Burke is most well-known for her time on Dancing With The Stars, but she had a long career before she hit the floor on that show, and during her travels she met a man who would be both her dance partner and her love…for a time.

    The choreographer opened up about the relationship recently on an episode of My Crazy Love, saying that when she met Rico, things started out pretty hot. But sadly, as is the case with many love affairs, theirs grew old, and it began to take a toll on their performances.

    “I was getting all the attention all of a sudden and I think that hurt his ego,” Burke says.

    She goes on to say that their dancing career began to slow down and their problems at home began to sneak onto the dancefloor. Neither of them was happy, but she didn’t quite know how to end the relationship.

    You’ll have to catch the full episode on Oxygen to find out how things ended, but evidently they didn’t turn out so well for them, as Burke moved on to find her star status on DWTS. However, it was announced recently that she won’t be returning to the show for another season, which hit fans hard.

    “Cheryl has been on the show for close to 10 years. She has done a great service to the show and I think she feels that it’s time for her to move on,” said executive producer Rob Wade.

  • Cheryl Burke’s Last Season on DWTS May Lead to Judge’s Seat

    Professional dancer Cheryl Burke has appeared on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars for 18 of the 19 seasons. This week the 30-year-old announced that this will most likely be her “last dance.”

    “As of now, this is probably going to be my last season,” she told Good Morning America. “I started when I was 20. I’m 30. I feel like I just want to try new things and just see what’s out there.”

    Burke first appeared on DWTS in 2006. Her first championship came in the second season when she was paired with 98 Degrees member Drew Lachey. She also won the following season with retired football star Emmitt Smith. Since then Burke has not had the honor of holding that famous mirror ball trophy. But many say that this season may be another chance for her. She is currently paired with soap opera star Antonio Sabato Jr..

    Over the years Burke has been criticized about her “thicker figure.” (In what world is that considered overweight?) But the dancer has learned how to deal with the criticism and tabloid talk.

    “I’ve had some time to think about it all and I’ve found strength in just letting it go. I can’t let myself get hurt by it. I also can’t shut down and not post anything online. There are all different types of people out there who are going to say all kinds of things, online and in real life. The important thing is to know which ones to listen to.”

    But this may not be the last we see of the five foot four inch dancer as she could follow in the footsteps of Julianne Hough, former DWTS professional dancer turned judge this season.

    “This is my family. I’ve been a part of the show for the last decade,” she said. “I started when I was 20. I’m 30 now. If they would ask me to be a judge, I’d love to.”

    Earlier this week, professional dancer Keo Motsepe and track star Lolo Jones were eliminated. The top score went to Witney Carson and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro.

    DWTS will return on Monday night at 8 p.m. on ABC.

  • Cheryl Burke Hanging Up Her DWTS Dancing Shoes?

    Dancing With the Stars dance pro Cheryl Burke dropped a bombshell Monday on Good Morning America when she announced that this will be her last season on the popular ABC dancing competition.

    Say it isn’t so!

    “As of now, this is probably going to be my last season,” the two-time champion said on the day of the first live performance with her season 19 star partner, Antonio Sebato Jr.

    For a decade, the dancing star has been a fixture on the hit ABC series for 18 out of the show’s 19 seasons.

    “I started when was 20. I’m 30. I want to try new things and just see what’s out there,” she explained.

    The two-time mirror ball winner has appeared in the finals seven times and the semi-finals 10 times.

    The complete Dancing With The Stars celebrity roster for tonight’s premiere looks like this:

    Olympian Lolo Jones; partnered with Keo Motsepe
    Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong; partnered with Peta Murgatroyd
    Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson; partnered with Mark Ballas
    Actor Antonio Sabato Jr.; partnered with Cheryl Burke
    YouTube star Bethany Mota; partnered with Derek hugh
    Actor Jonathan Bennett; partnered with Allison Holker
    MMA Champion Randy Couture; partnered with Karina Smirnoff
    Pretty Little Liars star Janel Parrish; partnered with Val Chmerkoskiy
    Fresh prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribiero; partnered with Witney Carson
    Designer Betsey Johnson; partnered with Tony Dovolani
    Race car driver Michael Waltrip; partnered with Emma Slater
    Actress Lea Thompson; partnered with Artem Chigvintsev

    One of these teams will be eliminated tonight. Who do you think will have to turn in their dancing shoes?

    Dancing With the Stars airs 8 p.m. every Monday on ABC.

  • ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 19 Premiere

    ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 19 Premiere

    Dancing With the Stars premieres its 19th season on Monday evening, and the cast members are reportedly ready–and very excited–about their first forays across the dance floor.

    Thirteen ‘stars’ will compete for that coveted mirrorball trophy throughout season 19. This season’s contestants include Jonathan Bennett, Tommy Chong, Randy Couture, Betsey Johnson, Lolo Jones, Bethany Mota, Janel Parrish, Alfonso Ribeiro, Sadie Robertson, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Tavis Smiley, Lea Thompson, and Michael Waltrip. Of course each of these contestants is paired with a dance professional. This season’s pros include Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Allison Holker, Derek Hough, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, and Karina Smirnoff.

    Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba return to the Dancing With the Stars judges’ desk. They are also joined this season by two-time mirrorball trophy winner and film star Julianne Hough–whose brother Derek is one of the pro dancers.

    USA Today reports that some of these ‘stars‘ are amateurs at best, and that it really is quite a stretch to call them stars. Since the show is called Dancing With the Stars, however, the producers had to do what they could to come up with contestants who could somewhat fit that criteria.

    Duck Dynasty star Korie Robertson is already soliciting votes for daughter Sadie Robertson.

    Will you be tuning in to the season 19 premiere of Dancing With the Stars on Monday evening, September 15th, at 8PM? Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC.

    Which of the ‘stars’ might you be rooting for during season 19?

  • ‘Dancing With the Stars:’ Who Are These Stars?

    Dancing With the Stars hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews announced the new season’s cast a few days ago, leaving some fans to ask, “Where are the stars?” Of course it was pretty likely from the inception of the show that they would eventually run out of real stars–but Tommy Chong? He and Cheech Marin made up the duo famously known as ‘Cheech and Chong.’ The two smoked enough pot back in the 1970s to leave them with a life long case of the munchies.

    In addition to Tommy Chong, who will be paired with dance pro Peta Murgatroyd, is a lineup of cast members who might become stars by appearing on Dancing With the Stars, but really aren’t stars as of yet. A few were stars, but haven’t had that claim to fame for a very long time.

    Sadie Robertson is Phil Robertson’s granddaughter and she sometimes appears on Duck Dynasty, so that makes her a ‘sort-of’ star–maybe even a ‘star in training.’ Sadie will compete on Dancing With the Stars with Mark Ballas.

    Michael Waltrip is a star if you’re a pro racing fan. He will temporarily trade in his race car for dancing shoes and is paired with DWTS pro Emma Slater.

    Lolo Jones is an Olympic star, unless you count her efforts on the bobsled during the 2014 Winter Olympics. She will dance with Keo Motsepe, and can at least outrun everyone on the show if she feels she’s too embarrassed to continue on with the competition.

    Jonathan Bennett joins Dancing With the Stars following (no one said ‘following soon thereafter’) his appearance in the 2004 film Mean Girls. He won’t be dancing with Lindsay Lohan, but rather with dance pro Allison Holker.

    If you loved Back to the Future, you’ll remember Lea Thompson, who played Marty McFly’s (Michael J. Fox) love interest Lorraine Baines. She has come back to the present to dance with Artem Chigvintsev.

    Antonio Sabato, Jr. earned his stardom on General Hospital and Melrose Place, meaning when the drama gets ridiculous on Dancing With the Stars, he just might be involved. Cheryl Burke–his dance partner-in-crime–will likely hold him accountable for his actions, however.

    Randy Couture is a champion mixed martial artist who is trying to become a star as part of The Expendables franchise. In the meantime he is dancing with Karina Smirnoff on Dancing With the Stars.

    Janel Parrish plays the role of Mona Vanderwaal on Pretty Little Liars. Hopefully she leaves Mona’s cunning personality on that set as she comes to the DWTS set to compete alongside the very handsome Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

    Designer Betsey Johnson is a star in the fashion world. Might she be there to help out with the costumes she and partner Tony Dovolani will wear during this season’s competition?

    Bethany Mota comes to your TV straight from YouTube. She is a beauty expert with more than seven million followers. How does that even happen? She is dancing with just one Dancing With the Stars pro, however–Derek Hough–whose sister Julianne Hough will be sitting at the judge’s table this season.

    Alfonso Ribeiro comes from 1996–the last year The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air aired. He played the role of Carlton Banks opposite Will Smith. Will couldn’t be his dance partner on Dancing With the Stars (oh–he wasn’t asked?) so Alfonso is dancing with pro Witney Carson instead.

    Rounding out this season’s contestants is Tavis Smiley. The talk show host (most of us don’t know where he did that talking) will dance with Sharna Burgess.

    Will you be tuning in to watch this season of Dancing With the Stars? It premieres on September 15th on ABC. How many of this season’s ‘stars’ do you recognize?

  • DWTS Season 19 Cast Leaked: ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Sadie Robertson Reportedly Among the New Cast

    The Dancing With the Stars Season 19 cast was recently leaked, and it looks like it will be a great season.

    Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson, 17, will reportedly have her chance to fulfill her dream to compete with other stars for the Mirror Ball Trophy when the new season premieres Sept. 15 on ABC.

    Korie Robertson, the mother of the teen and wife of Willie Robertson, told Us Weekly that her daughter has always wanted to be on the dance reality TV show.

    “I think that our kids are really natural in front of the camera and they have fun with it,” said Korie. “Sadie I think wants to maybe be in a talk show and she wants to be on ‘Dancing with the Stars!’”

    Joining Robertson is Janel Parrish, who plays Mona on Pretty Little Liars, confirmed by Us Weekly.

    Others competing on the new season of DWTS are Olympian Lolo Jones and Antonio Sabato Jr., a former Calvin Klein model and former General Hospital actor.

    Former pro-dancer Julianne Hough — and brother of pro-dancer Derek Hough — will also be returning to the reality show for Season 19 as a fourth judge, joining returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli.

    “I’m so excited to be back with my Dancing with the Stars family again on a regular basis,” said Hough in a press release.

    The list of pro-dancers includes DWTS veterans Cheryl Burke and Mark Ballas. It has also been confirmed that Derek Hough will be returning to the show, as well as Val Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Emma Slater, Peta Murgatroyd, and Witney Carson.

    Reportedly joining the returning pros this season are new pro-dancers Artem Chiqvintsev, Keoikantse Motsepe, and Allison Holker.

    The Dancing With The Stars complete celebrity roster will officially be revealed on Good Morning America on Thursday. The leaked list, as reported by The Christian Post, looks like this:

    Olympian Lolo Jones; partnered with Keo Motsepe
    Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong; partnered with Peta Murgatroyd
    Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson; partnered with Mark Ballas
    Actor Antonio Sabato Jr.; partnered with Cheryl Burke
    YouTube star Bethany Mota; partnered with Derek hugh
    Actor Jonathan Bennett; partnered with Allison Holker
    MMA Champion Randy Couture; partnered with Karina Smirnoff
    Pretty Little Liars star Janel Parrish; partnered with Val Chmerkoskiy
    Fresh prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribiero; partnered with Witney Carson
    Designer Betsey Johnson; partnered with Tony Dovolani
    Race car driver Michael Waltrip; partnered with Emma Slater
    Actress Lea Thompson; partnered with Artem Chigvintsev

  • Julianne Hough Returns to Her Roots on ‘DWTS,’ This Time as a Permanent Judge

    Julianne Hough is returning to the long-running ABC reality competition series, Dancing With the Stars, where she got her start in Hollywood in 2005. This time, however, she will return as a judge.

    Hough will join returning judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli for the season premiere on Sept. 15.

    This isn’t the first time the two-time DWTS champion has judged. She returned in April to be a guest judge, but this time the position will be permanent.

    The professional dancers for the 19th season have been announced and include Mark Ballas, Witney Carson, Cheryl Burke, Artem Chigvintsev, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Allison Holker, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, Karina Smirnoff, and Julianne’s brother, Derek Hough.

    Hough has had her hand in a variety of different endeavors since leaving the show in 2009, including films like Christina Aguilera‘s Burlesque, Footloose, Rock of Ages and Safe Haven, with Channing Tatum.

    Also during her time away from DWTS, the singer debuted an album, which topped Billboard’s country music chart in 2008.

    Her latest endeavor was a North American dance tour with her brother called Move Live on Tour. The siblings are also developing a series for Starz, Blackpool, which follows the world of international competitive ballroom dancing.

    Fans of DWTS will have to wait until Sept. 4 to learn which celebrities will vie off this year for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy, when it is announced on Good Morning America.

    The 26-year-old Jackie-of-all-trades seems pretty pumped for the new gig, posting a snap on Instagram Thursday, along with the caption: “Warming up for Dancing With The Stars with @heineken_us! #USopen preparty”

  • Cheryl Burke Ok With Her Healthy Curves

    Cheryl Burke Ok With Her Healthy Curves

    Cheryl Burke has struggled with her weight for years while appearing on Dancing With the Stars. It seemed to her like she could never get it right for everyone who was criticizing her.

    “Five years ago, I got criticized by the press, like Howard Stern, about being too fat. But it’s another thing when your fans say to you, ‘Oh my god, you look like you’re dying,’ ” Cheryl Burke said.

    The criticism by Stern that she speaks of went like this,

    “Some of the dancers are fat,” said Stern of Cheryl Burke and another woman on the show. “There’s two dancers on there that are overweight…They must go home and eat a truckload of food…There’s one young girl, blonde-haired girl—she’s BIG. It’s Chaz’s dancing partner [Lacey Schwimmer]….I don’t understand how someone who does that much physical exercise could gain that much weight. And then, the Cheryl girl…She’s thick.”

    Post by Cheryl Burke.

    Of course, Howard Stern has a long, long history of taking it on himself to label regular-sized celebrities as “fat”. Cheryl Burke is in good company with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, and even Rihanna.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSx1bcCItj0

    Howard Stern insults people all day long, but it really hurt Cheryl Burke when criticism came from fans of the show.

    Post by Cheryl Burke.

    “When you change your lifestyle, your body changes. I’m completely healthy. My curves are never going to go away. Have I lost weight? Absolutely. But not in an unhealthy way. I want everyone to know that. I love my fans. But words are hurtful, especially coming from people you think always have your back.”

    Cheryl Burke looks great at a healthy, normal size. How does she do it? Nothing special, just eating right and getting plenty of exercise.

    “I’m taking care of my body. Eighty percent of it is what you eat and what you consume. It’s all about portion control. I’m not on a diet. I’m not on Atkins or anything. It’s just the fact that I’m eating right.”

    Congrats to Cheryl Burke for overcoming harsh criticism and finding the strength to accept herself as she is!

    Image via Instagram