Julianne Hough
Gossip

This has been a lackluster season of Dancing with the Stars.

That has a lot to do with the abundance of Z-list celebrities, as few viewers got excited over Louie Vito or Mark Dacascos. But it also has a lot to do with another factor:

The absence of Julianne Hough.

The bombshell is on temporary leave from the show, as she pursues her country music dreams. We wish her the best of luck in this endeavor, but we also wish she'd reconsider and entertain us each week on DWTS. Also, it would be nice if she posed nude at some point.

Julianne did at least make news this week by dyeing her classic blonde locks a light shade of brown. Check out the new look below and weigh in with your opinion on it...

Which hair color do you prefer on Julianne Hough?

Our latest fashion face-off featuring stars at the premiere of Michael Jackson's This Is It documentary last night holds an interesting connection to the King of Pop.

Or at least his last director. Kenny Ortega directed This Is It, and is also known for heading the High School Musical franchise, which starred Ashley Tisdale (right).

He's also heading up the remake of Footloose, starring Julianne Hough (left) and Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford. Anyway, which cutie looked better last night?

Julianne, the two-time Dancing with the Stars champion, went with more of a (chic) rocker look, while Ashley honored the late King of Pop with a vintage T.

Who will win this battle of the blondes? Vote below!

Who looked better at the premiere of This Is It?

Our favorite Dancing with the Stars professional/aspiring country music singer/outright hottie celebrates her birthday today.

Indeed, Julianne Hough turns 21 years old, meaning this chaste beauty can finally swallow something a bit harder than water.

The girlfriend of Chuck Wicks and brother of Derek Hough is taking the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars off in order to focus on her singing career. As long as she continues to look like this, we're pretty sure Julianne is in good shape.

In honor of the talented birthday gal, click on the following photos of Julianne Hough...

Meanwhile, one of the only people on the planet that can rival Hough for pure and utter sexiness is Gisele Bundchen. She turns 29 today. Drool away, boys...

Dancing With the Stars pro Julianne Hough may need to dust off her dancing shoes for a different occasion - she's been offered the lead female role in Footloose!

If she accepts the part opposite Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford, it will be the first major film role for the dancer - who's also an up-and-coming country singer.

The only thing that could stand in the way? Her being too busy.

"Julianne Hough has been offered the part in Footloose, and it is contingent on scheduling," a Paramount Studio rep confirmed on Friday afternoon.

These two would make an attractive Footloose pair!

Chace Crawford signed on a month ago to star after the original male lead, Zac Efron, stepped down in an attempt to pursue different, non-musical roles.

Others rumored to be in consideration for the female lead, before it was offered to Julianne, were Hayden Panettiere, Amanda Bynes and Miley Cyrus.

Congrats to Julianne on scoring this exciting role!

Julianne Hough is taking her beauty - and, likely, millions of male viewers - away from Dancing with the Stars next season.

“I’m not doing next season,” Hough told Access Hollywood, following her and Chuck Wicks' elimination this week. “I’m gonna take one off."

Click on the pics above to relive Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks getting their dance on this season.

The decision is not based on any complaints about the show (Hough even said she and her real-life boyfriend "went further than anticipated"), but rather on a burgeoning country music career.

The aspiring singer has booked tour dates throughout the summer. She'll next perform in Hidalgo, Texas on May 9.

In related news, the entire staff of The Hollywood Gossip has just booked hotel rooms in Hidalgo, Texas for May 9.

Julianne Hough is one of the World's Most Beautiful People. This is not surprising news.

The bad news for Chuck Wicks: he was sent home on Dancing with the Stars last night.

The good news for Chuck Wicks: he gets to spend that time at home with former partner and current gorgeous girlfriend Julianne Hough.

Sorry if we aren't shedding any tears for you, C-Wick.

Following his ousting, Wicks seemed a tad bitter over the fact that he was eliminated instead of Melissa Rycroft, whose fractured rib forced her to sit out of Monday night's performance show.

"This has been fantastic. I've had a great time," Wicks said. "In the last three weeks we've gotten standing ovations from the crowd, and that's really what matters. It shows you how many fans Melissa has - for her to be five points down and still in this competition is incredible. So hats off to you, Melissa."

Chill, Chuck. You have seen your girlfriend, right?

Relive Chuck Wicks' time on Dancing with the Stars by clicking on the photos above.

The Rumba is all about being romantic. And we need to get that back.

So said Julianne Hough on last night's Dancing with the Stars, in a video that aired immediately before she and boyfriend Chuck Wicks got their romance back... and a whole lot more!

The couple performed a Rumba that was filled with so much heat, environmentalists are criticizing the routine for its effects on Global Warming!

Judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli fanned themselves following the performance, as the latter exclaimed: “I’d like some of that, please!”

Stuffy judge Len Goodman said the Rumba was "more suitable for the bedroom than the ballroom," which simply got us thinking about Hough in the bedroom. As we enjoy that fantasy, watch the dance for yourself:

Wicks and Hough only earned 23 points for their sexy effort. Here's a rundown of the scores from last night:

• Lil' Kim and Derek Hough: 28
• Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani: 27
• Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke: 26
• Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas: 26
• Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough: 23
• Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska: 22
• Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower: 18
• Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer: 16

Who was your favorite? Who deserves to go home this week?

One is actually a country singer, who won the award for Best New Artist at last night's Academy of Country Music Awards.

The other is a gorgeous actress that apparently had a few free hours last night and chose to attend the ceremony.

Now, Julianne Hough finds herself pitted against Jennifer Love Hewitt in one of the better looking Fashion Face-Offs you'll ever see. Study the photos below and chime in with your opinion...

Who looked better at the Country Music Awards?

Julianne Hough is a great, gorgeous sport.

The former Dancing with the Stars professional and aspiring singer is all smiles in the photos below, despite celebrity gossip photographers interfering with her and boyfriend Chuck Wicks' vacation.

The pair was spotted at the airport, boarding a flight for the holidays, as Hough playfully stuck her tongue out at those around her... the same tongue that has spent time in Wicks' mouth on more than one occasion.

God, we hate that guy...

For more close-up shots of Julianne Hough and that mother Chucker of a boyfriend, click on the pics below...

[Photo Credit: Splash News]

Chuck Wicks might soon become the first man to ever see Julianne Hough nude.

The famous virgin, and absolutely gorgeous Dancing with the Stars competitor, recently said she and the country music crooner are considering marriage.

"We definitely want to go there," Hough told People Magazine of the prospect of wedding her boyfriend of five months. "The minute we met it was perfect. The first date we had we both had that feeling like we were going to fall in love with each other."

Chuck Wicks might soon become Mr. Julianne Hough, and earn the jealousy of men around the world in the process.

The aspiring singer - Hough says "maybe I'll come back next season [to Dancing with the Stars], maybe I won't," due to her burgeoning career behind the microphone - said she took Wicks home with her for Thanksgiving.

And how did it go?

"He's definitely part of the family. Everybody loves him to death," Hough said. "He's as big of a dork as we are."