Dancing with the Stars

Britney Spears wasn't blindsided by her little sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, joining "Dancing With the Stars" -- in fact, she was fully aware and approved ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us, Britney got a heads up about JL appearing on the competition show before the news came out -- and we're told Britney actually took it well.

No word on who exactly delivered the update to BS, but our sources say she was fully supportive of Jamie Lynn ... and, apparently, even excited for her sibling.

Now, again, we don't know who looped Britney in -- but whoever did clearly did so with their famous rift in mind, as they've had a rocky history. At times, Britney embraced her sister ... but, she's also trashed her. A lot stems from JLS's book last year.

The status of their relationship has felt a little iffy at times -- especially as Brit has continued airing grievances about her family at large on social media -- but after hearing this ... it would appear the Spears sisters are on somewhat good terms right now.

Jamie Lynn is getting seriously accommodated ahead of her time on 'DWTS,' which kicks off Oct. 10. She's been allowed to rehearse near her home in Tennessee, on account of the fact she's a hands-on mom of 2.

"Dancing with the Stars" is pulling out all the stops for Jamie Lynn Spears ... giving the actress and mom some special treatment in order to get her on the show's upcoming season.

Sources close to production tell TMZ ... the team has gone above and beyond for Jamie Lynn to make rehearsing a breeze -- she's currently practicing at a studio near her home in Tennessee to accommodate the fact she's the mother of 2.

As you know, Britney Spears' kid sis has 5-year-old Ivey and 15-year-old Maddie, and we're told she's a very hands-on mom -- so the local practices are a huge help for her.

For reference, almost all the other contestants appear to be practicing at a studio in Los Angeles -- so, the fact they're making an exception for Jamie Lynn seems to be a sign of how badly 'DWTS' wanted her.

We're told her dance partner, Alan Bersten, has been at the Tennessee studio, flying back and forth for practices.

'Real Housewives' star Teresa Giudice got the same deal last season when she was able to train in New Jersey to stay close to her daughters and new husband, Luis Ruelas.

We were told Teresa had to fly to L.A. a day or 2 before each performance ... so we're assuming Jamie Lynn will be on a similar travel schedule.

Do you think Jamie Lynn Spears is a better dancer than her sister Britney? Vote below.

"Dancing with the Stars" está haciendo todo lo que está a su alcance por Jamie Lynn Spears, ya que la actriz y madre ha recibido un tratamiento especial para conseguir que ella esté en la próxima temporada del programa.

Fuentes cercanas a la producción dicen a TMZ, que el equipo ha hecho de todo para que Jamie Lynn pueda hacer sus ensayos, de hecho, actualmente está practicando en un estudio cerca de su casa en Tennessee para balancear el baile con su rol de madre de 2.

Como saben, la hermana pequeña de Britney Spears tiene a Ivey, de 5 años, y a Maddie, de 15, y nos han dicho que le gusta dedicarle tiempo especial a sus hijos, por lo que los entrenamientos cerca de casa son una gran ayuda para ella.

Como referencia, casi todos los demás concursantes parecen estar practicando en un estudio en Los Ángeles. El hecho de que estén haciendo una excepción para Jamie Lynn parece ser una señal de lo mucho que 'Dancing with The Stars' la quería.

Nos han dicho también que su pareja de baile, Alan Bersten, ha estado en el estudio de Tennessee con ella, preparándose a toda prisa para las prácticas.

La estrella de 'Real Housewives', Teresa Giudice, consiguió el mismo trato la temporada pasada cuando la dejaron practicar en Nueva Jersey para estar cerca de sus hijas y su nuevo marido, Luis Ruelas.

"Dancing With The Stars" siempre está dispuesto a aprovechar los rumores más grandes de Hollywood y casi tuvo un ménage à trois para las edades.

Como sabemos, Mauricio Umansky se pondrá los zapatos de baile en la próxima temporada. Las nuevas noticias son que los productores también se pusieron en contacto con su esposa, Kyle Richards, y su buena amiga Morgan Wade.

Bueno, las damas le dieron al programa un 1 sobre 10 para esa propuesta, pero ¿no habría sido increíble? Suponemos que los 3 habrían tenido bailarines profesionales como compañeros pero tal vez habrían intentado algo nuevo si el trío estuviera totalmente a bordo.

Nos han dicho que los 3 fueron abordados al mismo tiempo, pero Kyle y Morgan pasaron. Ambas mujeres están ahora en París rodando el documental de Morgan.

La cosa es que no habría tensión si hubiera sucedido. Sabemos que Mauricio y Kyle todavía se llevan muy bien, e incluso Mauricio y Morgan se ven cercanos.

Kyle y Mauricio siguen viviendo bajo el mismo techo, aunque su estado sigue siendo "separados".

"Dancing With The Stars" is always down to tap into the biggest rumors in H-Wood, and almost had a ménage à trois for the ages.

As you know, Mauricio Umansky will be puttin' his dancing shoes on for the upcoming season. What you DIDN'T know ... we've learned producers also reached out to his estranged wife, Kyle Richards, and her good friend, Morgan Wade.

Well, the ladies gave DWTS a 1 out of 10 for that proposal, but wouldn't it have been awesome? We're guessing all 3 would have had professional dancers as partners, but maybe they would have tried something new if the troika was fully on board.

We're told the 3 of them were all approached at the same time, but Kyle and Morgan passed. Both women are now in Paris, shooting Morgan's documentary.

Thing is ... there'd be no tension had it happened. We know Mauricio and Kyle are still getting along great, and even Mauricio and Morgan seem kosher.

Kyle and Mauricio are still living under the same roof, although their status is still "separated."

Mauricio Umansky says he's got no beef with Morgan Wade, and despite persistent rumors the country star is dating his estranged wife Kyle Richards ... he tells us he loves Morgan.

We got Mauricio leaving his "Dancing With the Stars" rehearsal Thursday in L.A., and our photog asked if he's got a good relationship with Morgan.

Mauricio says he's a big fan of Morgan, and he's inviting her to one of his 'DWTS' tapings. Hell, we might've given the show's producers a great idea, too, when we asked him and his pro partner Emma Slater about possibly dancing to one of Morgan's songs.

Spoiler: They're open to it!

His reaction to the Morgan topic is super interesting -- remember, he and Kyle recently separated after 27 years of marriage, and there's been endless speculation Kyle and Morgan are an item.

For their part, Kyle and Morgan have had fun with the buzz. They filmed a music video, and this week they've been touring Paris, the City of Love, together.

By all accounts, Mauricio and Kyle have kept things very amicable since the separation ... they've been co-parenting their 4 kids and even took a family trip together to Positano.

MU seems genuinely happy and jovial in our clip -- and, if it's all an act, someone should hand him an Oscar ... because he doesn't seem threatened by Morgan at all.

Before this cutie pie with space buns turned into a dancer and YouTuber, she was just decking herself out in Minnie Mouse attire, going to dance practice and growing up with her older bro, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Most notably recognized for her side pony and hair bows, this famous 20-year-old first showcased her dance moves on "Dance Moms," and years later it would come as no surprise she placed in the top 2 on "Dancing With The Stars." She's also released a couple of songs ... one being "Boomerang."

Need one more clue? North West on her YouTube channel!

Before these two cute brunette sisters posing for a photo op turned into social media and reality stars, they were just decking themselves out in matching striped dresses and growing up in Norwalk, Connecticut.

While one sister's claim to fame came from her dancin' TikToks -- which later led to a Mirror Ball Trophy win on "Dancing With The Stars" -- the other sister is more known for her singing skills. And, these girls have kept busy with their perfume and shoe line.

Need one more clue? In 2021, their family reality show premiered on Hulu!

Ariana Madix is riding the 'Scandoval' wave into another big branding move, but this one's gonna require lots of stretching -- she's officially busting some ballroom moves for "Dancing with the Stars."

Ariana and Derek Hough, one of the judges on the long-running competition series, made the big announcement Friday on "Good Morning America" ... saying the 'DWTS' crew will be "going mad" for Madix on season 32.

DH said she'll be saying "goodbye to the drama and hello to the dance floor" -- before they both broke into a fun little shimmy together in Ariana's new sandwich shop, Something About Her.

Ariana and Derek were spotted hanging out together Wednesday, and it looks like that's when they recorded today's 'DWTS' announcement ... since they're wearing identical outfits.

ICYMI, Derek -- who's taking over for the late Len Goodman -- teased Ariana taking the stage earlier this week, telling folks to guess who is joining the new batch of contestants ... making the mystery message while inside Ariana and Katie Maloney's shop.

Derek Hough says Ariana Madix makes perfect sense for the next season of "Dancing With the Stars" ... he feels it's the right move for her now that she's captured America's attention.

We got Derek at LAX and the 'DWTS' alum told us Ariana follows the formula for the dancing competition show ... the perfect candidate.

That formula, as Derek explains, loosely goes like this, at least for reality stars ... they get their big break and become household names, then go on 'DWTS' to raise their profile.

Ariana's a textbook example ... she's been dominating headlines since March when she found out her longtime boyfriend Tom Sandoval was cheating on her with their "Vanderpump Rules" costar Raquel Leviss.

Derek says he's been consumed with planning his upcoming wedding rather than paying attention to the Scandoval ... but he knows a good story when he hears one, and he quickly endorses the Ariana move.

Len Goodman, the popular longtime judge on "Dancing With The Stars," has died, his manager confirmed.

Goodman passed away Saturday in a hospice center in Kent, England after a battle with bone cancer, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

His manager, Jackie Gill, announced his death Monday morning, saying in a statement that Goodman was "a much loved husband, father and grandfather who will be sorely missed by family, friends and all who knew him."

A once professional ballroom dancer, Goodman served as a 'DWTS' judge from 2005 to 2022 and was known for his wry humor. He acted as head judge in the 2005 season. From 2004 to 2016, he was the top judge on the British adaption of the show called "Strictly Come Dancing."

Friends and family took to social media to remember Goodman.

TV personality Piers Morgan tweeted a photo of himself with Goodman and a caption that read, "Always had a laugh with Len, and swapped a few strong opinions. A quintessential Londoner and a top bloke."

BBC Director-General Tim Davie tweeted that Goodman "appealed to all ages and felt like a member of everyone's family."

Goodman was 78.

Ariana Madix is using her new-found super fame to expand her brand ... apparently joining "Dancing with the Stars" in Sept., according to a new report.

"ABC is in late stage conversations with [Madix] to be a contestant to join 'DWTS' this fall" ... a show insider told Page 6.

It's a bit complicated, since "Vanderpump Rules" is on Bravo -- owned by NBC -- and 'DWTS' is on ABC, but these things get worked out all the time.

It's an interesting move .... 'DWTS' won't air until September, and the highly-anticipated reunion 'VPR' show will air months before. But ABC clearly thinks the Scandavol has legs.

Ariana has reached the status of a heroine, at least among her fellow cast. This is a huge opportunity for her ... going from bartender to, as she hopes, actress. 'DWTS' could be a gateway to her goal as she's also set to appear in a Lifetime movie.

Tyra Banks is hanging up her ballroom outfits, and slipping into serious business attire ... she's calling it quits at "Dancing with the Stars" to pursue her passion as an entrepreneur.

We got the supermodel Thursday on her way out of Whole Foods in Santa Monica when she dropped the bombshell about ending her time at 'DWTS' -- the show she's hosted since 2020.

TB recently launched her SMiZE & Dream ice cream internationally, but now she's focused on bringing it to the U.S. soon -- she says her heart and her soul are in business, and had some proof in her shopping cart.

She showed us the goods she just bought to do some taste testing for future ice cream flavors. Like the woman said, she's dead serious about research and development!

Of course, Tyra's been a fixture on TV for years, from "America's Next Top Model" to "The Tyra Banks Show" and more. She says she'll work on TV in the future, but it'll be more on the side of producing, not hosting.

Before this serious chick with a perfect smize turned into a television personality and a "Dancing With The Stars" champ, she was just posing in her white tee, dancing her little heart out, and growing up in Leduc, Canada.

As a fan fave on "The Bachelor" ... this blue-eyed babe eventually took charge as "The Bachelorette" back in 2015. Today, she enjoys spending time with her two goldens, making TikToks (mainly sticking to the dance trends) and she lets her bubbly personality shine through wherever she goes!

Need one more clue? She loves a good glass of wine!

Fans accusing TLC's Chilli of coming between Matthew Lawrence and his ex -- 'DWTS' star Cheryl Burke -- are barking up the wrong tree ... even though Cheryl seems to be throwing shade about the new relationship.

A source familiar with the situation tells TMZ ... Matthew's divorce was filed before he started talking to Chilli in any romantic way -- they knew each other, but simply weren't pursuing one another.

Chilli and Matthew did reconnect in March, a month after Cheryl filed for divorce, at a '90s convention ... but sources say they waited a while before jumping into anything serious due to Matthew being fresh out of his marriage.

Chilli was even dating other people up until they made things official over the holidays -- and we're told Matthew and Cheryl weren't living together when the romance began.

In fact, Cheryl herself says she and Matthew were officially single as of September.

As we reported, Chilli and the "Boy Meets World" star spent the holidays -- Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year -- together in Atlanta with her family.

Cheryl took to Instagram soon after our story, posting a short and seemingly sour message -- "That was fast ..."

Cheryl Burke is hanging up her boogie shoes on "Dancing With the Stars" -- and while she'd love a seat at the judge's table ... it doesn't sound like that's gonna happen, at least for now.

The longtime pro dancer and 'DWTS' staple -- who's been a recurring contestant for 26 seasons, and won twice -- announced Sunday she wouldn't be competing on the reality competition show anymore, saying it was time to retire and move on to new horizons.

In a lengthy IG post, Cheryl explained Monday night's finale episode would be her last dance performance on 'Dancing,' and added a heartfelt thank you to the production as a whole.

She writes, "This show has been my 2nd family since I was 21 years old. The cast, crew & fans have seen me through my highest highs & some of my lowest lows, & I honestly don’t know who I would be today without them. I also know that it is time for me to begin the next phase of my career, although dance will always be a part of me."

CB adds, "I am excited about the idea of evolving, about being challenged in new ways, having the ability to expand my commitment to mental health advocacy, focusing on my new found love for podcasting, & I’m ready to face the uncertainty (though it’s scary as sh**) of what the future holds - I do have a few things up my sleeves though, so don’t worry."

The official 'DWTS' Twitter page wished her well amid the news, calling her an icon. That's nice, but Cheryl was brutally honest about why she's exiting in follow-up interviews.

Cheryl told Variety that she actually wanted the empty judge's chair being vacated by mainstay Len Goodman -- who announced last week he was retiring as well. She says she's been vocal about this for years now, and has apparently expressed it to upper management ... but to no avail, it seems. Instead, it looks like ABC and co. are letting her walk away.