Dancing With the Stars champ J.R. Martinez has captivated the country with his story of strength and courage.

While serving in Iraq in 2003, the Army soldier suffered severe burns when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. Following his recovery, he traveled around the country speaking about his experience to veterans’ groups, schools, and other organizations. He even took his talents to the small screen in 2008 with a starring role on All My Children.

Now, the 28-year-old star is turning the attention on other local heroes, joining some of Hollywood’s hottest stars as a presenter at the American Giving Awards (AGAs) airing on NBC Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. ET.

The AGAs are the first-ever televised celebrity tribute to community heroes, offering five charities an opportunity to share in $2 million in grants from Chase bank so that they may continue their work helping others.

Parade.com talked to Martinez about joining the star-studded lineup, which includes performers like will.i.am. of the Black Eyed Peas, country music stars Rodney Atkins and LeAnn Rimes, and singers Taio Cruz and Jackie Evancho, as well as presenters Miley Cyrus, Terrence Howard, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and more. He also dished on life post-Dancing With the Stars.

On the American Giving Awards.
“Anybody that knows me, knows that I’m all about helping and giving back, so for me to be asked to participate in this event is an honor. I love helping out good people who are doing good things.”

On what inspires him.
“Inspiration is everywhere. But when it comes down to one thing, I would have to say that the thing that inspires me is my mother. My mother has persevered through a lot and she raised me and my sister, and she’s an amazing person. She’s definitely my inspiration.”

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No one has the mirrorball in the bag.

“Dancing With the Stars” finalists Rob Kardashian, Ricki Lake and J.R. Martinez are all within reach of the ABC show’s glittery mirrorball trophy, which will be awarded during Tuesday’s season finale.

Kardashian comes into the episode in first place. Lake and Martinez are tied for second.

They will perform their favorite dance of the season for another set of judges’ scores before the third-place finalist is eliminated. The remaining two stars will compete in one final routine for the season 13 title.

Viewer votes count for half of each contestant’s overall score, but the last chance to cast votes was Monday.

Tuesday’s two-hour season finale is also set to feature music by Lady Antebellum and appearances by former contestants.

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Two routines stand between the three “Dancing With the Stars” finalists and the show’s disco-ball trophy.

Reality star Rob Kardashian, TV personality Ricki Lake and actor and Army veteran J.R. Martinez will each perform two numbers on Monday’s final dance-off. A new champion will be named Tuesday.

Lake and professional partner Derek Hough have been front-runners throughout the season, consistently earning high marks from the judges. Martinez and partner Karina Smirnoff have also ranked high with the judges, occasionally topping the leaderboard. Kardashian has steadily improved under the instruction of partner Cheryl Burke, and the pair finished in second place during the show’s semifinal competition.

Judges’ scores combined with viewer votes determine which contestant is dismissed each week. The star with the highest combined total will win the “Dancing” crown.

Ricki Lake delivered the top tango on “Dancing With the Stars” to finish in first place during the show’s semifinals.

Rob Kardashian was in second place Monday, followed by actor and Army veteran J.R. Martinez and soccer star Hope Solo, who landed at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard.

One of the celebrity dancers will be eliminated from the ABC ballroom competition Tuesday. The rest will compete for the show’s mirrorball trophy next week.

“I’m not confident at all,” Martinez’s professional partner, Karina Smirnoff, said after the show. “We’re praying. We’re going to maybe vote for ourselves later.”

Judges’ scores combined with viewer votes determine which celebrity dancer is dismissed each week.

Each semifinalist performed two routines Monday in addition to competing in a “cha-cha relay,” where all four couples danced to the same song.

Lake and partner Derek Hough finished second in the relay, adding eight points to the nearly perfect marks they earned for their samba and Argentine tango. They collected 67 points out of 70, good for first place.

Kardashian has his eyes on the mirrorball after finishing first in the relay and second overall with 65 points.

“It’s my time to peak and just bring everything I’ve got,” he said.

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J.R. Martinez didn’t need any more love from the “Dancing with the Stars” judges.

The U.S. Army veteran and his professional partner Karina Smirnoff earned a pair of perfect scores — 30 out of a possible 30 for a total of 60 — on the ABC ballroom competition Monday.

Tied in second place behind Martinez with a combined score of 52 were Hope Solo and partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Ricki Lake and partner Derek Hough. Rob Kardashian and partner Cheryl Burke stepped into third place with a total score of 51, while Nancy Grace and partner Tristan MacManus tangoed into last place behind the pack with a combined score of 44.

The fairytale will end for one of the six remaining celebrities Tuesday after judges’ scores are combined with viewer votes.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ricki Lake again claimed the top spot on “Dancing With the Stars,” her fifth first-place finish so far this season.

Nancy Grace landed in last place on Monday’s Halloween-themed episode.

Another celebrity will be dismissed during Tuesday’s installment of the hit ABC show.

Each of the six contestants performed two dances Monday: One with their professional partners, and a team dance with two other couples. The team-dance score was applied to each couple in the group.

Despite a rib injury, Lake wowed with both routines. She performed two paso dobles: One with partner Derek Hough and another with her team that included soccer champ Hope Solo and reality star Rob Kardashian. Read the full story

Chaz Bono has gotten his walking papers on “Dancing with the Stars.”

Tuesday’s edition of the hit ABC show marked the last dance for Bono. Despite his cheerful, spirited style, he had struggled from the beginning and came in last in the judges’ assessment the night before.

The transgender activist said he came on the program “to show America a different kind of man.”

Soccer star Hope Solo, who also was in jeopardy, avoided dismissal and will stay in contention. Six celebrities remain in the contest.

Judges’ scores combined with viewer votes determine who is kicked off the show each week.

Carson Kressley may not have to worry about what to wear next week on “Dancing with the Stars.”

The fashion guru earned the lowest score from the ABC dancing competition’s judges Monday: 19 out of 30. Bruno Tonioli called the jive routine from Kressley and partner Anna Trebunskaya a “crowning achievement in madness.”

Meanwhile, actor J.R. Martinez shook it to the top of the leaderboard during the evening of 1980s-inspired performances with a score of 28 for a samba with partner Karina Smirnoff. Following behind Martinez in a tie for second place were actor David Arquette and reality TV personality Rob Kardashian with scores of 25.

The other remaining contestants are soccer star Hope Solo, activist Chaz Bono and TV personalities Ricki Lake and Nancy Grace.