Jewel defends 'Dancing' comments

Jewel has insisted that she isn't a "catty" person following her comments on the Dancing With The Stars rulebook.

The singer-songwriter, who is married to contestant Ty Murray, recently criticised producers for judging injured competitor Melissa Rycroft on her training footage because she was unable to perform.

Host Tom Bergeron had told viewers that a "painful rib injury" made it impossible for Rycroft to dance on the most recent live show.

The practice of using training footage to judge injured stars was first introduced when Steve-O hurt his back earlier in the season.

Defending her remarks, Jewel insisted: "I like Melissa and think she's gifted and a real Texas sweetheart - and I adore Steve-O. My comment had nothing to do with either of them. [It] was on a sports website about a rule I have never seen in any type of competition before. Name another sport where if you can't compete, they use your score from practice.

"I am not a mean-spirited person, and I think all my fans know that. This isn't a catty girl vs. girl thing they are trying to make it into."

Meanwhile, Murray added: "It really got blown out of proportion. She doesn't have anything against Melissa, Steve-O, or anything. She feels horrible that it's got taken the way it's got taken."

Chuck Wicks became the latest star to be eliminated from the competition earlier this week.