Las Vegas Weekly

August 27, 2008 · 6 AM

After health problems, Toni Braxton is ‘Dancing With the Stars’

By Robin Leach

Toni Braxton.

Photo: ABC-TV

For six months, Grammy Award-winning singer Toni Braxton has been away from the spotlight getting stronger after a heart-related health problem that KO’d her from the Flamingo headliner slot. She was even rushed to a hospital by ambulance after one emergency right from the Strip showroom after a performance. Now she’s signed on for the seventh season of ABC’s top-rated Dancing with the Stars show.

Rehearsals already have begun for the Vegas-based songbird and she’s been partnered with Season One champion Alec Mazo, who is returning for his fourth season. Luxe Life has the first photos from their workouts and dance practices -- along with other Vegas scene regulars Kim Kardashian and Lance Bass.

Kim, who cut her foot on a shattered glass coffee table earlier this week (Click here for our breaking story on Monday) has been partnered with defending champ Mark Ballas, who is returning for his third season. Lance, who sold more than 50 million records as a member of the 'N Sync pop group is teamed with 2007 World Swing Dance champion Lacey Schwimmer, who makes her DWTS series debut.

Toni, Kim and Lance will be joined by Brooke Burke, Rocco DiSpirito, Maurice Greene, Cloris Leachman, Cody Linley, Susan Lucci, Misty May-Treanor, Ted McGinley, Jeffrey Ross and Warren Sapp when the series kicks off Monday, Sept. 22, for three consecutive premiere nights. The Jonas Brothers and Jesse McCartney will perform on that Wednesday, Sept. 24, show when two couples will be eliminated instantly for the first time.

Toni, who has six Grammy Awards under her belt, has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and her No. 1 U.S. hit "Un-break My Heart" is still the second biggest single by a female artist in history. She’s well-known to Vegas audiences from her 18-month run at the Flamingo for wearing dare-devil short sequined dresses for her on-stage dance numbers -- but this return to the spotlight is her first showbiz return after the six-month health crisis. Toni has remained silent about the irregular heartbeat and heart muscle problems she experienced but the doctors warned her she was in serious jeopardy if she didn’t get adequate rest after the collapse.

Lance, who recently released his memoir "Out of Sync," trained successfully back in 2002 as a cosmonaut at Russia’s Star City and was certified both by NASA and the Russian Space Program for a mission aboard a Soyuz capsule. Reality TV star Kim has been filming many segments of her hit E! Entertainment reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians here in Vegas and only a week ago spent four days filming around Caesars Palace. She has made numerous Strip nightclub-hosting appearances and only days ago guest starred as a Pussycat Doll at the Pure lounge in Caesars.

Luxe Life will chronicle the fancy footwork and dance adventures of the trio as they go forward or are eliminated with overnight photo coverage after each show is broadcast.

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