Jewel To Keep ‘Dancing’ After ‘Minor Setback’

An injury won’t stop Jewel from “Dancing.”

Though she took to her blog and “The Billy Bush Show” to discuss her break from rehearsals after a tendinitis diagnosis on Wednesday, the “Dancing With the Stars” contestant said on Thursday that the show – which premieres its eighth season on March 9 on ABC — will go on.

“Yes, it is true I have had a minor setback in my training for ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ but I am dedicated to getting better and showing the judges and America that I can cha cha with the best of them,” she said in a statement to Access Hollywood. “Don’t count me out, as I am in this for the long run.”

On Wednesday, she told Access’ Billy Bush that her long rehearsals had been painful – but worth it.

“It’s also a blast,” she said, adding that she and her husband, fellow contestant Ty Murray, had learned some valuable skills. “We get these world-class teachers and we’re learning something we never would’ve done. In fact, at our wedding, we didn’t even dance – we just did that high school slow dance.”