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Derek Hough & Mark Ballas Leaving Dancing With the Stars?

Find out why the two fancy-footwork superstars may be skipping next season

By Marc Malkin May 06, 2009 10:35 PMTags
Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Dancing with the StarsABC/KELSEY MCNEAL

Julianne Hough may not be the only pro skipping out on Dancing With the Stars next season.

Her brother, Derek, just told me that there's a chance he and Mark Ballas could be following in her footsteps.

"Mark and I might not be back, either," Derek says. "We have other things going on."

Like what exactly? Read on...

Derek and Mark's band, Ballas Hough Band, released their debut album, BHB, in March. "There’s a bunch of stuff on the table right now," Derek said, "and we're going on tour this summer."

Julianne announced late last month that she's skipping season nine in order to concentrate on her country music career, which hit a high note at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards when she won best new artist.

"We've got to see what happens," says Derek. "But it would be crazy, all three of us…leaving at the same time."

Dancing and singing aren't the only things Derek has going on these days. On Saturday morning, he'll be driving the pace car to kick off L.A.'s Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk For Women cancer benefit.

The disease hits close to the Hough home: Derek's stepmother is a breast cancer survivor, who's been in remission for about a year and a half.

"Luckily she got through it," Derek says. "She's doing great. She's doing wonderful and it's just a blessing."

Hosted by Christina Applegate and Miley Cyrus and her mom, Tish, the 16th annual Run/Walk is expected to attract more than 60,000 people. Michael Bolton headlines the celebration concert at the finish line.

"It's quite easy to say, 'Oh, I'm too busy. I can't do it,'" Derek says. "But for things like this, you've got to find time. You've got to make things happen. You've got to be there for people."

This isn't all the Derek I have for you. Make sure to come back tomorrow for even more.

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