Las Vegas Weekly

March 18, 2009 · 9:23 AM

Photo Gallery: DWTS results show; Julianne Hough receives 2 ACM noms

By Robin Leach

Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts perform their last dance on Dancing With the Stars.

Photo: ABC TV

The surprise elimination of singer Belinda Carlisle in last night’s first results show of Season 8 of Dancing With the Stars shocked the man she competed against in the bottom two. Apple founder Steve Wozniak thought he was certain to be axed, but instead he gets the opportunity to reboot at least one more time next Monday.

Going into the show last night, the former Go-Go’s frontwoman, 50, seemed safe in the middle of the pack, while the Silicon Valley computer king who was in last place of the 13 teams thought it was all over. He even danced his challenging foxtrot on an injured foot. But both Belinda and Steve grabbed 17 points out of 30 from the three judges, and it all hinged on the combined and unpredictable viewer votes over the past two weeks.

The Las Vegas-connected stars we’re tracking -- Julianne Hough with country singer boyfriend Chuck Wicks, Playboy cover girl Holly Madison (one of two last-minute replacements) with Dmitry Chaplin, Denise Richards with Wynn show choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Jackass star Steve-O with Lacey Schwimmer -- were all declared safe to return next week.

Click HERE for our report from last night as the results show was in progress.

Our hometown heroine Julianne has won ABC’s Dancing With the Stars twice now, first with Apolo Anton Ohno in Season 4, then in Season 5 with Helio Castroneves. Now the Las Vegas Academy of Music student is really going for the gold! She’s just been nominated in two categories -- as Top New Artist and Top New Female Vocalist -- by the Academy of Country Music. You can vote for her online at www.cbs.com/specials/acma/vote/.

Julianne will compete against Grammy nominee Jake Owen and the Zac Brown Band here in Vegas on the CBS telecast April 5 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Country queen Reba McEntire will once again be the hostess of the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Click below for a video of the awards nominees, including Julianne.

Julianne’s record success is nothing short of phenomenal. The 20-year-old released her self-titled debut album last year, and it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Albums charts.

In other categories, our friend Toby Keith, who has his own country bar at Harrah’s on the Strip, wrestles Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Keith Urban for Top Male Vocalist.

After the awards ceremony, Julianne goes out on tour as the opening act for George Strait. It starts in Charlotte, N.C., on May 15 and ends July 25 in Chicago. The nearest concert date is Salt Lake City on July 17, three days before Julianne celebrates her 21st birthday!

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