Although his professional dance partner is Polish dancer Aneta Piotrowska, who appeared on "Dancing With the Stars" Poland, Hough was partnered with actress Jennie Garth, bringing the nervous actress to finish in fourth place during season five of the U.S. version of "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ). For season six, he was again partnered with a beauty with confidence issues, "American Pie" (1999) actress, Shannon Elizabeth. Not long into the season, rumors began to fly that Hough and Elizabeth were growing closer, particularly after Hough was rushed to the hospital twice in one week – first, for a neck pull and then for food poisoning. And when Elizabeth was crucified by the judges for her slow Mambo moves, Hough defended her honor, while at the same time, ranting at the judges for not noticing other couple's faults. It was, indeed, a side fans had never seen of the normally even-tempered dancer.