Although huge in her native UK, Katherine Jenkins was an unknown when U.S. audiences saw her wow the crowd with with an elegant waltz on Monday's season-14 premiere of Dancing with the Stars. Here’s the scoop on Mark Ballas' pretty partner, who tied with Jaleel White for the evening's highest score of 26 out of 30 possible points.

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She's a Welsh singer. The 31-year-old was born in Neath, Wales and is a classical opera star with several successful crossover albums. Her first, Premiere, made her the fastest-selling mezzo-soprano to date.

She's newly single. After dating TV presenter Gethin Jones for four years, they got engaged in February 2011. However, the duo announced their split on Twitter less than a year later.

  

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She has already performed on DWTS. Jenkins sang during "Classical Week" (when Kirstie Alley lost her shoe) in April 2011, belting out arias along with a 46-piece orchestra.

She has some dance experience. The singer joined ballerina Darcey Bussell on stage in the 2008 musicial Viva La Diva.

 
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She's motivated by fear. On her decision to be on the show she explained, "I like to conquer my phobia. I was afraid of heights. I got a pilot's license. My biggest fear was to drown, so I got a SCUBA diving license. I get embarrassed dancing by myself, so I figured why not do it in front of millions of people."

Katherine Jenkins, Jack Wagner and Melissa Gilbert are to take part in the next series of Dancing with the Stars.

The Welsh opera singer, the Melrose Place actor and the former Little House on the Prairie star are among the stars in the line-up for the 14th season of the hit show.

They will be joined by the likes of tennis legend Martina Navratilova, The View co-host Sherri Shepherd, and Jaleel White, who is best known as Steve Urkel from Family Matters.

TV host Maria Menounos, Motown great Gladys Knight, Disney star Roshon Fegan, NFL champion Donald Driver, singer Gavin DeGraw and Telenovela actor William Levy complete the line-up.

The contestants have already met their professional partners and last season's winner Karina Smirnoff - who won with war hero J.R. Martinez - has been paired with Gavin, while three-times winner Derek Hough is partnered with Maria.

Fan favourite Maksim Chmerkovskiy will teach Melissa her moves and his brother, Val Chmerkovskiy, will make his Dancing with the Stars debut with Sherri.

Two-time champ Mark Ballas will dance with Katherine and Cheryl Burker - who took Rob Kardashian all the way to the final on the last series - has got William. 

The new season of Dancing with the Stars will start on March 19.

Kristin Cavallari was surprisingly eliminated from Dancing With the Stars this week. She's taking it pretty well, but that doesn't mean she's not surprised and upset.

The 24-year-old scored high marks and praise from the judges, tallying 24 out of 30 points Monday. But despite finishing tied for third (out of 10), she's out the door.

"I'm really sad," Kristin Cavallari admitted. "But, I'd rather go out on top and have people be shocked than be like, 'Thank god she's leaving, it's about time.'"

"It was the best experience I've ever had. I could not be happier."

As for why she was voted off? "It is what it is," she laughed. "That's the thing with Dancing with the Stars, you never know. It's clearly not a dance competition!"

Sentimental favorite Chaz Bono, whose mom Cher vowed to cheer him on in person next week if her son made it, survived despite a second straight week in last.

Despite her own elimination, Cavallari is definitely on Team Chaz:

"Chaz is so cute! I think he's great and he tries so hard, and I loved watching him dance every week. It's inspiring, and it's sweet, and I hope he does really well!"

The week was also a net positive for Kristin. Jay Cutler, who cheered her on during Monday's show, has reportedly reconciled with the former star of The Hills.

All of the “Dancing with the Stars” 2011 Season 13 cast rumors are driving me crazy!

Have you heard the latest rumor? Yes,TMZ.com is reporting Nancy Grace“has signed on to 

"Dancing with the Stars.” What! Really? I'm “outraged!” Was Judge Judy not available?

CNN's Nancy Grace is ratings gold, and I hope it's true.

In my Sunday Top 5 column, I suggested fans of “DWTS” tune in to “Bachelor Pad 2” (8 p.m. Tonight, ABC) to find out if some of the most recent rumors are true.

Others who might be on this season:Snooki from “Jersey Shore,” Chaz Bono, David Arquette, Rob Kardashian, Hope Solo, Sheri Shepherd, Christina Milian, Kristin Cavallari, Kim Richards and Ron Artest.

My buddy and “DWTS” blogger Steven Duchon sent me an e-mail yesterday, dishing on rumors that David Arquette was seen walking into the rehearsal studio last Thursday to meet up with his dancing partner Kym Johnson.

“This would seem like a good career choice for Arquette who faced a lot of media scrutiny this past year over his marriage issues with Courtney Cox Arquette. It also gives ABC the opportunity to plant Cox Arquette in the audience to help promote her sitcom “Cougar Town” which coincidentally will air midseason after “Dancing” wraps up,” Duchon said.

Also, TMZ is confirming that Chaz Bono is joining the cast and has been rehearsing with his partner Karina Smirnoff.

Speaking of the professional dancers, it looks like pro dancer Chelsie Hightower will not be coming back. And Louie van Amstel and Dmitry Chaplin also will be MIA from the dancing cast

“However, we will be getting three new pros, one of them being 'DWTS' pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s younger brother Val,” Duchon said.