'DWTS' champ Martinez invited to Pentagon

WASHINGTON?? Defense Secretary Leon Panetta invited soldier-turned-actor J.R. Martinez, winner of this season's "Dancing with the Stars" competition, to meet him at the Pentagon, a spokesman said Friday.

During a 10-minute telephone call Friday, Panetta told the dance champion he demonstrated the strength and resilience of wounded veterans, Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby said.

Story: J.R. Martinez wins 'Dancing's' ballroom battle

Martinez credited his military training for his performance on the ABC show, Kirby said. Martinez and professional partner Karina Smirnoff bested fellow finalists Rob Kardashian and Ricki Lake in the finale broadcast Tuesday.

1. More Entertainment stories
   1. Three judges are left standing on 'X Factor'

      Paula Abdul became the first judge to zero out on ?X Factor? when Lakoda Rayne got the fewest number of votes on Wednesday.

   2. Bachmann: Fallon song choice was sexist
   3. J.Lo didn't drive that Fiat 'round the block
   4. 'Breaking Bad' boss doesn't know how it'll end
   5. 'Arthur Christmas' a jolly new holiday tradition

Martinez, 28, was severely burned over more than 40 percent of his body when the Humvee he was driving for the U.S. Army in Iraq struck a land mine in 2003. After dozens of operations during a nearly three-year recovery, Martinez became a motivational speaker and in 2008 won a role on the now-retired ABC soap opera "All My Children."

Story: Source: 'Dancing' crew is 'livid' with pro Maks Chmerkovskiy

Details of Panetta's meeting with Martinez are being worked out.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45461297/ns/today-entertainment/

fanboys ucla usc ucla usc sean taylor usc football denver broncos cybermonday