DANCING WITH THE STARS' KATHY IRELAND IS SENT HOME

Model Kathy Ireland may not have been the best dancer on Dancing With the Stars, but it is doubtful that any voter-eliminated star has ever left with greater dignity and grace. If DWTS fans were not impressed with her quickstep, they certainly must have been impressed with her personal style.

Ireland smiled continuously throughout the announcement that she had garnered the lowest score -- as well and while Tom Bergeron explained that everyone had enjoyed having her on the show. When Ireland was asked whether, since she was leaving on the second week of eliminations, was asked whether she felt any regrets at giving DWTS a whirl, Ireland sweetly explained that she had truly enjoyed meeting everyone and learning to dance. She was sweet, genuine and totally believable.

Before Ireland was announced as heading home, Bergeron announced that along with Ireland and her partner, the other lowest ranking couple was politician Tom DeLay and his partner Cheryl Burke.

Points handed out by the judges this week were:

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff: 27; Mya and Dmitry Chaplin: 27; Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson: 25; Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo: 21; Mark Decascos and Lacey Schwimmer: 21; and Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: 21.

Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova: 20; Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough: 20; Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Balas: 19; Chuck Liddell and Anna Trebunskaya: 19; Kelly Osbourne and Louis van Amstel: 19; Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower: 19; Tom DeLay and Cheryl Burke: 18; and Kathy Ireland and Tony Dovolani: 18.

Actor Aaron Carter and his partner, Karina Smirnoff, performed a lively quickstep to the "Muppet Show" theme -- and completely impressed the show's judges and audience with their quite perfect performance. The judges rewarded the pair with three "9" scores. And the couple appeared to have the lead entirely to themselves -- until singer Mya and partner Dmitry Chaplin also impressed with a totally professional appearing jive. Their score equalled that of Carter and Smirnoff.

In third place was Donny Osmond, the second oldest competitor, who also performed a jive so lively that he could easily have been mistaken for a teenager. Osmond and partner Kym Johnson finished just one point behind the leaders.