Maddie Ziegler confirms Dance Moms exit
Maddie Ziegler, pictured at the Nickelodeon's 2016 Kids' Choice Awards on March 12 in Inglewood, California, confirmed she's leaving "Dance Moms." Getty Images

After months of speculation, 13-year-old dancer Maddie Ziegler confirmed she won’t appear on Season 7 of Lifetime’s “Dance Moms.” Maddie officially made the announcement at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards, telling reporters she was “moving on to cool things.”

“It’ll be a good thing,” she told several media outlets, including Hollywood Life, Saturday, about her departure. Maddie, and her 11-year-old sister Mackenzie Ziegler, have been regulars on the dance reality series since its premiere in 2011. It’s rumored that Mackenzie is also leaving the show, which follows dancers at coach Abby Lee Miller’s Pittsburgh company.

When asked what she would miss about the show, Maddie said it will be be hard not seeing the other girls every day and “having so much fun when you’re not dancing.”

As previously reported, Maddie, Mackenzie and their mother Melissa Gisoni filmed their final episode for “Dance Moms” Season 6 in February. While Lifetime has not commented on the trios' exit, a video leaked of them saying their goodbyes to everyone at the New York Dance Experience in Riverside, California.

In the video, Melissa was first to speak, admitting that she’s been “struggling” to get through her daughters’ last competition. “This is the first competition that they did on ‘Dance Moms’ … and their last,” she said, giving a shout-out to Abby and her co-choreographer, Gianna Martello.

Maddie then took the microphone, saying, “I just want to thank Abby, Gia and all of my other dance moms and all the girls.” Maddie’s little sister wrapped up the emotional moment, telling everyone that it was “really hard to leave.”

Abby commented on Maddie’s exit at the Kids’ Choice telling Entertainment Tonight that she was “very proud” of her student and was not worried about the future of her show.

“Dance Moms” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Lifetime.