'Dancing' pro Hough steps into new career

"Dancing With the Stars" pro Julianne Hough has a confession to make.

"Secretly, I am glad to be off the show," she says with a giggle. "Don't tell anybody."

Hough's only half kidding.

After establishing herself as a back-to-back winner on "Dancing" the past two seasons, Hough got an early exit this time with partner Adam Carolla. A third win may not have been what she needed anyway.

"Now I get to focus on my music," says the perky 19-year-old.

Hough (pronounced "Huff") is trying to translate her popularity on "Dancing" into a country- music career. Her self-titled debut CD arrives May 20. This summer she'll be an opening act for Brad Paisley.

If she was still "Dancing" this season, it would cut into her schedule to promote the CD.

But don't get her wrong. Hough says she enjoys hoofing it with the most unlikely celebrities as partners.

As a testimony to her popularity on the show, Hough is returning to dance for the 100th episode on ABC Tuesday.

The ballroom dancer has a knack for turning folks like Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno and race-car driver Helio Castroneves into champion twinkle toes. And what about Carolla, the wisecracking radio personality who never seemed to take the show seriously?

"I loved the challenge. I love everything I got to do with him," she says. "He made it fun. I had more fun with him than I have had with anyone from any other season."

As poised as Hough can be on the floor, her effervescent personality has caused headlines. Rumor columnists have noted her flirtations with past "Dancing" partners. She has denied that anything inappropriate happened.