Julianne Hough taking break from ‘Dancing’

New York — Julianne Hough says she’s not returning to “Dancing With the Stars” next season.

In an interview on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, the 20-year-old professional dancer said she needed time to concentrate on her country music career.

Hough, who’s nabbed two titles in four seasons on ABC’s popular dance competition, said Thursday: “I really, really want to focus on the music and, you know, kind of be taken seriously a little bit.”

The Utah native and her celebrity partner, Cody Linley, were eliminated from the show Tuesday night.

This year, she released a self-titled country album and a holiday album.

Madonna, Ritchie on divorce docket today

London — A judge will likely grant Madonna and Guy Ritchie an initial divorce decree today, according to the schedule for London’s High Court.

The court lists “Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S” as one of 17 cases for “matrimonial and civil partnership causes for pronouncement of decree.” That means a judge is to grant the couple a preliminary divorce decree, or decree nisi.

After six weeks and a day, the couple will probably be granted a decree absolute and the divorce will become final.

It is unusual for the couple to attend court in such cases.

British media reported Thursday that the celebrity pair had reached a settlement that would see the pop superstar keep the majority of her estimated $445 million fortune and share custody of two of her children with her film-director husband.

Ann Curry stops short of Kilimanjaro summit

New York — The “Today” show’s Ann Curry didn’t make it to the top of Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

Altitude sickness and forbidding weather forced the NBC morning show’s crew to stop about 3,000 feet short of the 19,000-foot summit. They were climbing to draw attention to environmental problems, and hoped to hit the top for today’s show.

Curry reported to her “Today” show colleagues Thursday that she was heading back down.

Said Curry: “Here’s the bottom line: I just did not want to live with any one of us having any kind of serious injury just to get us live from the top of this mountain. It just wasn’t worth it.”

She described it as an unanimous decision by the five-person crew.

Said anchor Matt Lauer: “We’re all proud of you and the team.”

Spears craves freedom amid career upswing

New York — Britney Spears is craving more freedom — and less of the “control” that’s stabilized her personal life and reinvigorated her career over the last several months.

In an upcoming behind-the-scenes documentary, the 26-year-old pop star says: “If I wasn’t under the restraints that I’m under right now, with all the lawyers and doctors and people analyzing me every day and all that kind of stuff … I’d feel so liberated, and feel like myself.”

The 90-minute film, “Britney: For the Record,” airs Nov. 30 on MTV and the LOGO network. She is shown backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards; recording her new album, “Circus”; dodging the paparazzi; and goofing off with her father, Jamie, who controls her personal and financial affairs.

While her career takes a positive turn, Spears says she’s sad and feels her life is “too in control.”

“There’s no excitement, there’s no passion, there’s no nothing. It’s just like ‘Groundhog Day’ every day, you know? So I’m really bored,” she says, getting teary.

Walters on flak from ‘some people’: ‘I resent it’

New York — Friction keeps obstructing “The View.”

While she never mentioned Rosie O’Donnell by name, it was clear who Barbara Walters was referring to when she opened Thursday’s show by complaining about “some people who have done this show” who criticize the daytime gabfest after leaving.

Walters said some former hosts feel the need “to dump on it, maybe for their own publicity.” She added: “that not only hurts me, but I resent it.”

Her comments came one day after O’Donnell told reporters while promoting her upcoming variety special that Walters wanted the hosts to make believe they were getting along. O’Donnell says she’s experienced something like “post-traumatic stress disorder” since leaving.

Taco Bell lawyers get tough with 50 Cent

New York — Rapper 50 Cent is facing a challenge to his street cred — from Taco Bell.

Lawyers for the fast-food chain are calling his federal lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, another attempt to “burnish his gangsta rapper persona by distorting beyond all recognition a bona fide, good faith offer.”

The squabble is over a fake letter sent out by Taco Bell Corp. asking 50 Cent to change his name for one day to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent to help publicize its value menu.

In return, the company offered to donate $10,000 to the charity of his choice.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has sued for trademark infringement.

Jackson’s attorney, Peter Raymond, says he wonders why Taco Bell would use his client’s name in an ad campaign.