TV dance contest Dancing With the Stars veered into live drama for a short time Monday night when competitor Marie Osmond passed out shortly after completing a samba set.

The 48-year-old singer and her partner, dancer Jonathan Roberts, were the evening's first pair to perform and were awaiting comments from the judges when she suddenly lost consciousness.

Marie Osmond and her dance partner Jonathan Roberts, seen here on the Oct. 15 episode, returned to hear the judges' comments later on in Monday's live broadcast.
(Carol Kaelson/ABC/Associated Press)

Producers of the ABC program quickly cut to commercial and, when the show returned, host Tom Bergeron reported that Osmond had fainted but was fine.

Osmond later explained that "once in a while, that happens to me when I get winded. I stop breathing."

She was well enough to continue with another segment of the program.

According to an ABC publicist, Osmond was also expected to have a medical exam as a precaution.

The popular program — which has begun featuring live music performances by singers as varied as Dolly Parton, Avril Lavigne and Jennifer Lopez — pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers for a televised dance-off, with one pair voted off each week.

Other competitors this year include Spice Girl Melanie Brown, billionaire Mark Cuban and actress Jennie Garth.

Often, in the past few seasons, celebrity participants have commented on how demanding the dance training is.

Last season, burly actor Vincent Pastore — best known for his turn on The Sopranos — withdrew from competition after just a week of training, saying he found it too physically trying.

With files from the Associated Press