Say it ain’t so! Former “Dancing with the Stars” pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy dished some news regarding the future of the hit ABC series that might not sit well with fans -- specifically Derek Hough fans.

During an interview with Glamour magazine, the 35-year-old heartthrob, who won Season 18 of the competition, divulged that not only has he moved from the dancing series (Chmerkovskiy ended his “DWTS” career in 2014) but so have many of his fellow competitors, including Hough, 30.

While confirming whether or not he would return to the series following his Season 18 exit, the ballroom bad boy dished that audiences should anticipate a couple of the professional dancers to follow his lead and leave the show.

“You have to walk away when the time is right, and the time was right,” Chmerkovskiy said, revealing he would “definitely not” return to the long-running series as a competitor. “Nothing was out of ordinary. I think the change of guard is necessary. Like a plant that in order to improve growth, you have to pull branches. It’s the same thing. Every now and again, everything needs to be refreshed. Me, Cheryl [Burke], Karina [Smirnoff], the few of us leaving, I think this might be one of the last times we see Derek.”

Hough is no stranger to toying with the emotions of “DWTS” fans. The brother of judge Julianne Hough, who joined the competitive series as a professional dancer in Season 5, decided to leave the show during the twelfth installment to partake in the movie “Make Your Move 3D.” Although the fan favorite made his glorious return in Season 13, he nearly broke the hearts of fans when he stated (on two separate occasions) that he wouldn’t be participating in Season 15 or Season 20, which he ultimately did. (Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.)

In 2012, Hough told USA Today that Season 15 would be his “last hurrah.” However, the ballroom babe surprised fans once again when he paired up with “American Idol” contestant Kellie Pickler for Season 16. The duo went on to win the Mirror Ball Trophy. Then in 2015, Hough revealed that due to his hectic schedule (the dancer was starring on Broadway’s “Spring Spectacular") he wouldn’t be able to compete in the anticipate 10-year anniversary season. But Hough managed to find just enough time -- and a partner willing enough to work with his time constraints -- to compete. Hough and his partner Nastia Liukin earned fourth place in Season 20.

But Chmerkovskiy’s comments have us wondering: Could this really be the end of the line for Hough on “DWTS”?

"I don't know," Hough said to Glamour magazine, revealing that he’s well aware of his fickle response. "In the past it was like, 'Are you coming back, Derek? Are you not coming back? Oh, just shut up, Derek! Make a decision!'"

And it looks like he has! Contractually, Hough revealed that for legal reasons he’ll have to partake in Season 21 of “DWTS.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be participating as a professional dancer.

“I have some ideas that I want to do on the show, but not necessarily as a pro,” he teased.

Do you think Derek Hough will compete on Season 21 of “Dancing with the Stars” when the ABC show returns in the fall? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts.

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