The drama on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” – you wouldn’t believe it. Professional dancer Julianne Hough is currently the center of attention, as she undergoes an appendectomy on Tuesday only to return heroically within days. Or so she hopes.

Julianne Hough, 20, was hospitalized last week after she suffered mild stomach pains and considered it wise to consult a doctor. She went to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. It was well she made such a decision, because she was diagnosed with endometriosis and told she needed an appendix removal.

Hough, a two-time champion on “Dancing with the Stars,” was on the show Monday, performing a samba with celebrity partner Cody Linley, of “Hannah Montana” fame. She told everyone she would have the surgery Tuesday and that she hoped to return by next week, making host Tom Bergeron joke that only she would take surgery so lightly, passionate as she is about dancing.

While Hough is hospitalized, Linley will continue to dance with professional partner Edyta Sliwinska, that is, unless he is eliminated Tuesday. Sliwinska was previously partnered with comedian Jeffrey Ross, the first celebrity eliminated this season.

Hough’s condition is not particularly dangerous; it is quite common among women and consists in the development of tissue from the uterus lining on the surfaces of other organs in the pelvis or abdomen. Endometriosis can be quite painful and may cause infertility if not treated.

The 20-year-old pro dancer has helped two celebrity participants take the ‘Dancing” crown in previous seasons: Olympic gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno and race car driver Helio Castroneves. Hough is also a recording country music artist.

There have been previous health problems for this season’s cast, including a ruptured Achilles tendon for Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor and a broken left foot for “All My Children” star Susan Lucci.

Update: Julianne Hough is thoroughly optimistic though and posted a message on her website Monday reassuring fans that she would be OK soon and hopefully performing soon on the popular dancing competition.