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J.R. Martinez, who won “Dancing with the Stars” on November 22, received congratulations from none other than Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

In a letter written by Panetta to Martinez, the Defense Secretary offered his “most sincere congratulations,” and added, “Over the course of this competition, your spirit captivated the nation and your victory sends a powerful message about the strength and resilience of our wounded warriors.”

In 2003, Martinez was an Army infantryman in Iraq when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb, resulting in him nearly dying and sustaining burns to more than 40 percent of his body, including his hands and face.

Panetta wrote to Martinez, “In the eight years since your injury, you have done extraordinary work assisting other wounded warriors and raising public awareness of the challenges our service members and their families face when they return home, and I would like to commend you for your tireless efforts in this arena.”

“Thank you for your continuing service, for your sacrifice,” concluded Panetta.

But that’s not all.

On Friday, the Defense Secretary personally called the Iraq War vet turned soap opera star.

During the conversation, Martinez expressed pride in his service to the country, and credited his military experience as a factor for helping him win “Dancing with the Stars.”

Panetta ended their 10-minute call by inviting Martinez to the Pentagon for a upcoming face-to-face meeting.

What do you think about the Defense Secretary both writing and calling Martinez?

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Rob Kardashian, who was on the verge of being booted off “Dancing with the Stars” a few times, nailed a perfect score in the finals on Monday.

Kardashian and his partner Cheryl Burke wowed the audience and judges with their freestyle dance.

It was the reality star’s first flawless performance during the entire dance competition.

VIDEO BELOW

Bruno Tonioli said, “Brilliant execution. Brilliant performance… You peaked at the right time.”

Carrie Ann Inaba noted that to earn a 10, “You have to blow us away… Consider me blown away.”

And Len Goodman added, “You should be proud.”

Kardashian himself admitted, “Never did I ever think I’d get a perfect score.”

Going into the last round, Kardashian is the competition’s leader.

Tomorrow he’ll find out if he’s beaten J.R. Martinez and Ricki Lake for the mirrored ball trophy.

Check out the video below, and share your thoughts.

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Hope Solo was eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars” in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.

Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, and J.R. Martinez will compete for the Mirror Ball trophy in the finals next week.

Do you think the right person went home?

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Nancy Grace was eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday, after landing in the bottom two with Rob Kardashian.

The legal commentator and TV host, who had a major wardrobe malfunction back in September, had been on the verge of elimination on more than a few occasions.

On Monday, Grace performed a less than impressive tango (See VIDEO below).

Do you think the right person went home?

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Cher blasted Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman, the male judges on “Dancing with the Stars,” shortly after her son Chaz Bono was eliminated from the competition on Tuesday.

After first tweeting, “Congratulations Chaz I’m SO PROUD OF U ! This was YOUR Quest… & u Followed your Star,” the singer tore into the two guys.

She was particularly upset about Tonioli having compared Bono to a penguin before he was booted from the show.

“I didn’t know who u we’re b4 which I guess is a blessing!” wrote Cher, before directing her wrath at Toniolo, “but why insult him b4 he Goes! Maybe Rudeness & Flapping Arms take the place of TALENT!”

Goodman, who had been in an heated exchange with Maksim Chmerkovskiy the night before, didn’t escape from Cher unscathed.

She tweeted, “As for the Older Gentleman… every Show Needs A Grumpy Old Man!”

Cher did, however, thank Carrie Ann Inaba for her “Gentility,” and said she was “beautiful inside & out!”

The performer then recapped in a tweet, “The Chick is beautiful & Polite! The Men suck.”

Cher later noted, “I’m Good! Needed 2 Vent! It Would Have Been Blast if Chaz Stayed, but He NEVER Danced b4,so it was a Great Dream 4 a Great Guy!”

What do you think of Cher’s diatribe?

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Chaz Bono was eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars” tonight.

Check out the video of Bono’s Monday night performance with partner Lacey Schwimmer below, and let us know if you think the right person went home.

Bono said he wanted to be on the program to show America “a different kind of man.”

Do you think the right person went home?

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Chynna Phillips was kicked off “Dancing with the Stars” tonight, after landing in the bottom three with Nancy Grace and Rob Kardashian.

Check out the video of Chynna’s Monday night performance below, and let us know if you think the right person went home.

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J.R. Martinez, the Iraqi war vet turned soap star, drew tears and a standing ovation for his moving routine on Monday.

The actor, who was badly burned and disfigured after he rolled over a land mine in Iraq, danced the rumba with partner Karina Smirnoff to Tim McGraw‘s “If You’re Reading This,” a song about spouses who lost loved ones in war.

But before Martinez began, he said his performance was a “tribute to the men and women who didn’t make it home.”

By the time he and his Smirnoff had finished, the audience was on its feet and there was barely a dry eye in the crowd.

Check out the video below of Martinez’s emotional story and dance routine.

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Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler are no longer engaged, but the Chicago Bears quarterback sure scored some points with his ex on Monday night.

Cutler was at “Dancing with the Stars” (SEE below), cheering and clapping for Cavallari, who scored an impressive 24 points for her and partner Mark Ballas’ samba to Beyonce‘s “Crazy in Love.”

(YouTube)

Cavallari and Cutler called off their engagement this summer, but a source tells Gossip Cop they’ve begun spending time together again, and are “happy” and “working on things.”

Check out the video below of Cavallari’s performance and Cutler cheering her on!

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Life & Style reports that there was only one audience member at “Dancing with the Stars” whom David Arquette “really wanted to impress: estranged wife Courteney Cox.”

According to the tab, Arquette has been “longing to reunite” with Cox, and is using his appearances on the dance competition show to “woo back Courteney.”

“He does everything he can to please her,” a so-called Arquette “friend” tells Life & Style, explaining, “That’s part of the reason he took ‘Dancing with the Stars’ — he’s hoping that if he does really well, he’ll impress her and she’ll take him back!”

Really?

Not exactly.

Arquette is actually dating someone else, “Entertainment Tonight” reporter Christina McLarty.

In fact, Arquette told Howard Stern on his Sirius show that he and Cox are now just in ”the friend zone,” and that he and McLarty “try to see each other as much as possible.”

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Elisabetta Canalis was kicked off “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday night, after having landed in the bottom three with Chaz Bono and David Arquette.

Check out the video of Canalis and Val Chmerkovskiy‘s quickstep on Monday night, and tell us if you agree with their elimination.

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Big sister Khloe Kardashian came to her brother Rob‘s defense last night when “Dancing with the Stars” judge Bruno Tonioli criticized the young Kardashian for not feeling the music while performing his first dance, a Viennese waltz, with partner Cheryl Burke.

Tonioli told Rob Kardashian, “You have to feel the music. I didn’t feel any musicality at all.”

Moments later, Khloe, sitting in the audience with sisters Kourtney and Kim, yelled out loud at Toniolo, “Clean your ears! I felt the music.”

The Kardashian sisters later took to Twitter to show Rob even more support.

Kourtney wrote, “Wow! So impressed with @RobKardashian dancing skills. He looked so handsome and worked that dance floor,” while Kim tweeted, “Omg did u guys see Rob???? I almost cried!!! He looked soo good!!!”

Khloe, who also used Twitter to praise her brother, acknowledged her outburst and said, “I can’t believe I yelled at Bruno to clean his ears! LOL.”

Check out video of Rob’s performance, and let us know if Khloe or Tonioli was in the right.

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David Arquette was cheered on during his “Dancing with the Stars” debut by estranged wife Courteney Cox and their seven-year-old daughter Coco, who was clearly excited to watch her dad perform on the show.

After Arquette and his partner Kym Johnson‘s Viennese Waltz, which garnered praise from the judges and a standing ovation from the crowd, the Scream star gushed about his daughter.

“It’s just so beautiful to see her and she’s the light of my life, and I’m just happy she’s here and I love her so much,” Arquette said of Coco, who beamed at Cox during her dad’s shout-out.

Check out video of Arquette’s dance and Coco’s adorable reaction below!

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Chaz Bono made his debut on “Dancing with the Stars” tonight in the evening’s final performance.

The first transgendered contestant in the show’s history (along with partner Lacey Schwimmer) won raves from the crowd and the judges, who praised his attitude and footwork.

How do you think he did?

Check out the video below!

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Nancy Grace made her debut on “Dancing with the Stars” tonight, and the HLN host proved to be a little bit better than many people expected.

She and partner Tristan MacManus‘ cha-cha routine began with Grace in a familiar place – behind a “desk” – but then she got out from behind it, and got down.

As judge Carrie Ann Inaba observed, Grace has “spunk” and “sass,” but still needs to work on remembering her choreography.

Hey, it’s only the first week.

Check out the video below!

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Chaz Bono will reportedly have special security to protect him against possible harm on “Dancing with the Stars.”

There haven’t been any specific threats made against Bono, who was born a woman but is now a transgendered man, but ABC is taking the added precaution because of the controversy sparked by his casting on the show.

He’ll have protection when he’s filming the show as well as when he’s off the set, according to TMZ.

A spokeswoman for the show tells Gossip Cop, “We never comment on security.”

Last season, the network provided security for Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas after they received death threats upon making it into the show’s final round.

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Excitement is brewing for the “Dancing with the Stars” season premiere on Monday night, with cast members taking to Twitter to generate buzz for their team.

Kristin Cavallari, tweeted, “Morning!! Today is the big day…getting ready to head over to DWTS.”

Chaz Bono said, “Getting pretty excited. Thanks to everyone 4 all the support and please vote for @LaceySchwimmer and I.”

“Don’t forget to vote! Our # for the whole season is 1-800-868-3402. #TeamCherBert PLEASE VOTE!!!” wrote Rob Kardashian.

The show debuts at 8 p.m. EST.

Who are you rooting for?

Sound off below!

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Are Kristin Cavallari and Mark Ballas more than just dance partners?

That’s the rumor Star magazine is trying to start a few days before the pair debut on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Cavallari, whose engagement to NFL quarterback Jay Cutler was broken off in July, and Ballas share an “obvious attraction” that recently had “tongues wagging” at Marix Tex Mex Cafe in West Hollywood, according to the tabloid.

“She was sitting on his lap, and he nuzzled her neck,” reports a so-called “eyewitness.” “They were having dinner with Derek Hough but didn’t pay him any attention because they were too wrapped up in each other.”

A “pal” explains to Star that after her Cutler breakup, “Kristin dusted herself off and went after practically the first hot guy who crossed her path – and that was Mark!”

Actually, it’s the magazine that’s eager to link Cavallari with the most convenient name, which just happens to be the “Dancing with the Stars” pro.

But there’s nothing going on between the pair when the cameras stop rolling.

A rep for Cavallari tells Gossip Cop the Ballas romance rumor is “so not true.”

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Ricki Lake is the first celebrity of Season 13 “Dancing with the Stars” to injure herself.

The former talk show host tweeted on Thursday, “Look, my first injury. #DWTS,” along with a photo of her bruised and cut leg.

During practice with her partner Derek Hough, Lake accidentally hit her left foot into her right shin, causing the unsightly injury.

She later tweeted, “I’m fine!!”

Season 13 kicks of on September 19.

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Chaz Bono may be the most scrutinized contestant this season on “Dancing with the Stars,” which begins airing September 19.

The transgendered male, who was born to Cher and Sonny Bono, has been the subject of much controversy, and was recently defended by his famous mom.

Today, an official photo of Bono and his dance partner Lacey Schwimmer was released. The picture features Schwimmer with her right hand over Bono’s chest while his right hand rests on top of her behind.

What do you think of Bono and Schwimmer’s official portrait?

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(GettyImages)

Cher has come to the defense of her son Chaz Bono, who’s been attacked on message boards for competing with Lacey Schwimmer on this season’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Bono, who was born a girl but is now a transgendered man, has been the subject of a tremendous amount of Internet chatter — much of which has been negative — and now his famous mom is taking a stand.

Cher tweeted, “Chaz is Being Viciously Attacked on Blogs & Message boards about being on DWTS! This is Still America right? It took guts 2 do it.”

She added, “I support him no matter what he chooses 2do! God! will there always be haters! It took COURAGE 2 do dwts ! TG Chaz has an Unlimited supply.”

In subsequent messages, the singer even predicted her son would do well, though he’s not really a dancer. “bet VAST MAJORITY of People will LOVE CHAZ on DWTS ! …Chaz isn’t exactly the ‘Gotta Dance Gotta Dance’ kinda Guy,” she wrote.

An appreciative Chaz replied to his mother on Twitter, “Thanks for all your support mom. The haters are just motivating me to work harder and stay on DWTS as long as I possibly can.”

What do you think about Cher coming to Chaz’s defense?

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The “Dancing with the Stars” celebrity-pro pairings were announced this morning on “Good Morning America.” Check ‘em out below!

David Arquette and Kym Johnson

Ricki Lake and Derek Hough

Carson Kressley and Anna Trebunskaya

Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Chaz Bono and  Lacey Schwimmer

Nancy Grace and Tristan MacManus

Ron Artest and Peta Murgatroyd

Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke

Elisabetta Canalis and Val Chmerkovskiy

Kristin Cavallari and Mark Ballas

J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff

Chynna Phillips and Tony Dovolani

What do you think of the pairings?

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(GettyImages)

The announcement that Chaz Bono has joined “Dancing with the Stars” has sparked an online debate.

Bono, who was born a girl to Cher and Sonny Bono, is now a transgendered male, and right after being officially tapped for the competition show, ABC’s message board lit up with commenters strongly voicing their reactions — both positive and negative — to his participation, as well as being paired with a woman.

In just the past hour, one commenter wrote, “I have watched and really enjoyed Dancing with the Stars. But I am absolutely disgusted with your decision to place Chasity (Chaz) Bono as a celeberty dancer. I will not watch and I know my friends and their friends will not watch!!”

Another visitor offers support: “Let’s give him a chance and not judge.”

Where do you stand on the Chaz debate?

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The new cast of “Dancing with the Stars” is due to be announced on “Bachelor Pad” tonight, but the Twitter account DWTSGossip has just leaked what it claims is the full cast list.

The reported contestants include:

Nancy Grace

Kristin Cavallari

Ricki Lake

Chynna Phillips

Hope Solo

Elisabetta Canalis

David Arquette

Rob Kardashian

Ryan O’Neal

J.R. Martinez

Chaz Bono

Ron Artest

Gossip Cop has previously reported on Bono and Phillips’ participation.

What do you think about this possible new cast?

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(GettyImages)

Chaz Bono is set to join the next cast of “Dancing with the Stars,” reports TMZ.

The site correctly notes that since Chaz is a man, he’ll be partnered with a female professional dancer.

Gossip Cop hears that Chynna Phillips will also be on the show this season.

A rep for the show has yet to get back to us for a comment.

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Rob Kardashian has reportedly joined season 13 of “Dancing with the Stars.”

The youngest Kardashian is said to have signed on to the show, with the agreement that his dance schedule won’t conflict with his sister Kim‘s August wedding.

Kim was on the show in 2008, but was kicked off after just three weeks.

Hopefully, this Kardashian will have a longer run.

Are you looking forward to seeing Kardashian on the show?

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There’s trouble in Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough‘s relationship, claims Star, and it’s because she’s been “cozying up to hunky Diego Boneta,” her co-star in Rock of Ages, which is shooting in Miami.

An alleged “source” tells the tabloid, “Ryan blew a gasket when he saw pictures of Julianne and Diego splashing by the beach and at a pool in Miami.”

And from Hough’s side, says Star‘s “source,” while Seacrest “showers her with flowers sent to her trailer, she wants a guy who actually spends time with her. Ryan is always so busy and makes excuses about why he can’t come visit her.”

Throughout this all, writes Star, “The former Dancing with the Star beauty has found a fun and very attractive companion in Diego.”

So, is “Three’s A Crowd,” as the magazine notes in its headline about Seacrest, Hough and Boneta?

No.

A source close to Seacrest tells Gossip Cop claims that “Ryan blew a gasket” when seeing photos of his girlfriend with a co-star are pure fiction.

These rumors weren’t true two months ago, and they’re still untrue.

There are NO jealousy issues.

We’re told the couple is perfectly fine.

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The judges said last night that “Dancing with the Stars” was still anyone’s game – and this time, we actually believe them.

While Hines Ward and Kym Johnson are tied for first place with Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas, it cannot be denied that Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are still the fan favorites.

So tell us, who do you think is going to take home the Mirror Ball trophy tonight?

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Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas wowed the the crowd with their funky freestyle on “Dancing with the Stars” tonight.

Carrie Ann Inaba was rendered speechless by the routine – her feedback was simply to get up out of her seat and start breaking it down.

The pair is currently tied for first place with Hines Ward and Kym Johnson, while Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy are lagging behind.

Who do you think is going to take home the Mirror Ball tomorrow night?

Video of Kane and Ballas’ epic performance is below!

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Ralph Macchio was eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars” tonight, leaving Kirstie Alley, Hines Ward and Chelsea Kane as the show’s final three contenders.

Below, check out video of Macchio and his pro partner Karina Smirnoff performing a salsa on Monday.

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