Dancing with the Stars
News (Page 5)

On behalf of every man in America, we hope the answer to our headline-imposed question is: YES!!!

Earlier this week, Erin Andrews, a reporter for ESPN, said she wants to compete on Dancing with the Stars.

"I want to do it, because I think I'd be good at it," Andrews told The Sporting News. "I love the show, and I've grown up around dancing... I think I'd be in the top, unless I fall. I'm a big faller. If you fall, that's a hard fall, which I'm sure would make the Internet very happy."

Fellow ESPN personality Kenny Mayne put on Dancing shoes a couple seasons ago, but...

"I love Kenny Mayne very much, he's a friend of mine," Andrews said. "But I need to help ESPN's name on Dancing With the Stars. He did nothing for us on that show."

This past season, Dancing with the Stars took on a contestant that had been scorned by another reality show. And it worked out pretty well for Melissa Rycroft.

Might Danny Gokey be the next to follow this path?

The third-place finisher on American Idol says his immediate goal is to raise awareness and money for Sophia's Heart Foundation, a charity in memory of his wife, who died last summer after surgery for a congenital heart defect.

But the singer told The Chicago Tribune that he'd become a contestant on the ABC competition if it helped that cause gain exposure.

"I don't know if that will fall into line with the vision of where I am going right now," he said. "I think it's very important not to be sidetracked with anything else but to accomplish this one thing and maybe try a few things later."

What do you think? Do you wanna see Danny Gokey on Dancing with the Stars?

Shawn Johnson won Dancing With the Stars last night.

The Olympic gymnast and professional dance partner Mark Ballas overcame fellow finalists Gilles Marini and Melissa Rycroft on the season eight finale.

In an interview with Us Weekly, the young athlete still can't believe her good fortune.

"I've learned I can be more than just a gymnast! I've really grown as a person. This has really changed my life. This whole thing has been the time of my life - just an amazing experience."

Less than one percent separated her from fellow finalist Gilles Marini, but any margin of victory would have been acceptable for Shawn Johnson.

The medal-winning Olympian captured this season's Dancing with the Stars title last night.

“This means the world to me,” an elated Johnson said after taking possession of the show’s mirror-ball trophy. “We worked so hard just to make it to the finals. This is the best.”

Earlier in the evening, all three finalists performed a final routine for the judges, and all three received perfect scores for their efforts. Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani were then voted off, leaving that tandem in the third place.

"This has been, without a doubt the best season ever," said judge Len Goodman. "We've got the three best dancers here in the final."

As for Johnson's victory, Marini was nothing but a great sport., saying:

"I'm so happy for Shawn and Mark. They worked so hard."

Click on the photos above to relive Shawn Johnson's Dancing with the Stars journey!

You don't need to abandon Dancing with the Stars forever, guys.

In a new interview with People, Julianne Hough says she will eventually return to the show that made her famous.

“I am appreciative to be taking this coming season of Dancing with the Stars off to focus on my other career paths like touring in support of my album and recording my next one. I look forward to returning to DWTS in early 2010," Hough said, clearing up an earlier statement in which she announced her leave of absence from the competition.

Executive producer Conrad Green said he gave Hough his blessing to “take a breather. It’s a really intensive show so we welcome our dancers the opportunity to take a break.”

Just not too long of one, please, Julianne!

Dancing With the Stars didn't merely come down to its three finalists this week.

It came down to its most evenly-matched final trio in show history.

With that in mind, last night's performances didn't disappointment. Based on the judges' scores, the crystal trophy looks to be in the hands of viewers. Which was your favorite routine?

Relive each one now via this Dancing with the Stars recap!

On the heels of this week's Dancing With the Stars finale, a trio of past winners have offered advice to the trio of remaining contestants.

What will it take for each to come out on top? That's what People asked three recent champions...

Kristi Yamaguchi, on Gilles Marini: “Gilles’s biggest weakness is getting too excited while dancing and forgetting to pay attention to the technical details of the dances. In order for him to win, Gilles will have to pull out a crowd-pleasing freestyle with the WOW factor.”

Apolo Anton Ohno, on Shawn Johnson: "[She] has the technical side of the dances down. Now she’s got to really turn on her personality. She’s got to be animated and bubbly and showcase her goofy side this last week.”

Helio Castroneves, on Melissa Rycroft: “She has habits, she was a ballerina for so long,” Castroneves observes. “She’s very graceful and we know she can dance. She already has the finesse, now she needs to perform to the audience even more.”

Click on each photo above to enlarge images of these Dancing with the Stars finalists.

We're just a few days away from the finale of Dancing with the Stars.

While fans debate the merits of each remaining tandem - Mark Ballas/Shawn Johnson; Cheryl Burke/Gilles Marini; and Tony Dovolani/Melissa Rycroft - TV Guide Magazine is taking viewers behind the scenes of the hit show.

In its latest issue, the publication highlights all three remaining couples.

Asked about her parents energy, Burke said:

“When the music comes on in rehearsal, he brings it up 50 percent. But then in the live show, the audience feeds him even more energy and I change the way I dance. His adrenaline is off the charts.”

For Melissa and Tony, the issue wasn't adrenaline, but trust.

“We didn’t talk about The Bachelor until after that first rehearsal,” Rycroft said. “But the trust was established very early on—and with dances like the Lindy Hop. Do you know how many times I fell, and he would have me by a pinky toe? I was nowhere near touching the ground.”

Click on the photos below for more backstage images of these stars:

It happened a week later than many Dancing with the Stars viewers were hoping, but Ty Murray was sent home this week.

And the rodeo standout seemed quite happy with that result.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am,” Murray, alongside partner Chelsie Hightower, told People after the show. “I don’t have to learn any more dances.”

That being said, the husband of Jewel is certainly glad he took a break from riding horses to grooving to the Samba for a few weeks.

“The whole reason I did this show is because it was nice for cowboys to be represented in something so pop culture, and this show did in spades,” Murray said. “For me to be able to do this is a fantastic opportunity. You don’t realize how big something like this is until you’re on a show that 25 million people watch.”

Relive Ty Murray's time on Dancing with the Stars above. Click on each photo to enlarge.

The final four tandems on Dancing with the Stars brought their A games this week.

Well, except for Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower.

But a trio of perfect scores highlighted the evening, as next week's finale shoud be one of the most exciting in the show's history.

Enjoy a detailed summary of each performance with our Dancing With the Stars recap.