'DWTS': Brooke Burke-Charvet exits

Brooke Burke-Charvet, a former winner and host of Dancing With the Stars, has left the ballroom. Late Friday night, Tom Bergeron’s co-host posted this lightly worded tweet: “weird day….Shocking pre-season elimination #DWTS…ME. @Tom_Bergeron didn’t even read my name. I won’t be returning to the show this season.”

“I’ve seen my fair share of shocking eliminations in the ballroom but this one takes the cake,” added Burke-Charvet, 42, in a statement to E! Online. “I’ve always been one to embrace change and looking forward to pursuing opportunities I previously wasn’t able to entertain because of contractual obligations to the show.”

Burke-Charvet won the seventh season of the dancing-competition series alongside partner Derek Hough. She took over hosting duties from Samantha Harris in 2010.

The 18th season of DWTS premieres on March 17, and not just without Burke-Charvet. The show has also decided to replace bandleader Harold Wheeler and his 28 musicians.