Former Atlantan Ryan Seacrest and actress Julianne Hough have broken up, according to People magazine.

They began dating in the summer of 2010.

The story, citing anonymous sources, says the pair struggled with work/life balance.

***

Kellie Pickler debuts tonight on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," the first "Idol" alum to participate in the show.

According to USA Today, the producers have wanted her for years given her ebullient personality.

"Right now, I have this window where I'm just in the studio recording," Pickler tells USA Today. "I've got a few dates, and that's going to be the tricky part -- bouncing from the recording studio to the dance studio, then making it to the concerts on the weekends." She will be dancing with popular DWTS regular Derek Hough.

***

"American Idol" last Thursday hit new season low of 11.93 million viewers and a series low of a 3.1 18-49 rating (Yes, that's a SERIES low going back to the first episode in 2002, when it debuted in the summer).  That's less than half the 18-49 rating of the comparable episode two years ago (20.5 million, 6.8 18-49 rating) and way down from last year (19.6 million, 5.7 18-49 rating).

The show is tanking and tanking fast. The lack of truly compelling personalities in the top 10 isn't helping matters. At this stage, I'm not sure what "Idol" can do to boost the numbers. Probably not much.

And NBC is already doing heavy promotion of "The Voice" with Shakira and Usher taking over for Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green.