Kellie Pickler had no idea her former Dancing With the Stars partner Derek Hough is suffering from a severe back injury until E!'s own Kristina Guerrero broke the news to her at the CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
"He's hurt?" the shocked Season 16 champ asked. "What? What happened? I'm calling him after!" Addressing Hough directly, Pickler asked, "Why have you not told me this? What's wrong?"
Hough reportedly sustained a back injury during Season 15, and it has been getting progressively worse ever since. Though he performed an individual routine with celebrity partner Amber Riley on the Nov. 4 episode of the ABC hit, the pair were given immunity and excused from eliminations.
Pickler, who looked gorgeous in a Georges Chakra gown, said she's planning to watch Hough compete on Monday, Nov. 11. "He's my boy, so I'm going to be there for them," she explained. "Oh, I hope he feels better! He's a trooper. He's a fighter! He'll be good."
The next day, the country cutie will drop her fourth album, The Woman I Am. "My husband [Kyle Jacobs] and I co-wrote some of the songs on the record, which was really neat to be able to collaborate together," Pickler told E! News. "I just cant wait for everyone to hear it!"