Denise Truscello/WireImage.comIt's official.
Confirming the rumors, Girl Next Door Holly Madison sashayed over to Dancing With the Stars tonight to replace Jewel, who dropped out last week after training left her with fractured bones in both legs.
With Jewel sitting in a stageside (next to the also-injured Nancy O'Dell, who has been replaced by The Bachelor's Melissa Rycroft), Madison made her debut dancing a cha-cha in an orange mini dress. "I'm so scared," Madison said in a pre-taped introduction that showed her rehearsing with partner Dmitry Chaplin.
She had good reason to be. While most of the other contestants had about three to four weeks to work on their fancy footwork, Ms. Madison had just six days.
Hugh Hefner told me exclusively on Thursday that he arranged for his ex-girlfriend to join the show's eighth season.
Judge Len Goodman said Madison's performance "wasn't bad" considering the short time she's had to practice. "I'm sure you're going to come out [next week] and be fabulous," Goodman predicted of her and Chaplin's upcoming quick step.
As for their score, the two walked with away with an 18 out of a possible 30.