Poor Emily Maynard! On Oct. 24, she tweeted, “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings when our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.”  The tweet, a passage from Corinthians 2:9, is clearly about her late fiancé, Ricky Hendrick, as today marks the eighth anniversary of his death.

Emily was engaged to Ricky for six months before he was tragically killed in a plane accident in 2004, and he is the father of her 7-year-old daughter Ricki. Her sweet message about Ricky says that he is “happy,” which seems all the more poignant, because of her recent break up with Jef Holm. Is she suggesting Ricky is happy that Jef is no longer in Emily and Ricki’s lives?

This does not appear to be the case, as Jef was seen visiting the South Park mall in Charlotte, N. C. on Oct. 22 with Emily, and one of Jef’s recent tweets suggests he is hoping for a reconciliation.

What do YOU think HollywoodLifers? Would you like to see Emily and Jef get back together?

– Eleanore Hutch

More Emily Maynard News:

1. Jef Holm Calls Emily Maynard ‘Incredible’ In New Tweet
2. Jef Holm To Expose Emily Maynard’s Secrets In Explosive Tell-All Interview?
3. Jef Holm Accuses Emily Maynard Of Dumping Him

Jesse Csincsak sits down with former ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelorette’ contestants to talk about the drama surrounding the possibility of Emily Maynard becoming the next ‘Bachelorette.’ Find out what they have to say!

On Jesse Csincsak and RTVZone.com‘s The Bachelorette Beatdown, past contestants from our favorite reality series each had something to say about Emily Maynard‘s most recent drama — the decision to become the next Bachelorette now that she’s done with Bachelor Brad Womack. And everyone agrees: Emily’s circumstances make it impossible for her to dedicate herself to the star role!

Jesse opened up the chat with a recap of what happened on the latest episode. He describes Emily as “the most emotional girl on Planet Earth.” He reminds everyone of how she sat crying and not saying a word for 15 minutes during her special where she discussed her breakup with Brad with host Chris Harrison.

In David Good‘s opinion, Emily is too-fame hungry to be an actual star and he thinks she lies about her feelings. “I’m fed up with people defending her at this point,” says David. “It’s like her saying she doesn’t like being around racetracks because it reminds her of Ricky [Hendrick]. Complete BS as far as I’m concerned.”

Chris Lambton agrees with David that Emily loves the spotlight. “If you don’t like being on camera, why would you fly your a** to LA, ditch your kid some place and then go on TV?” explained Chris, as he shrugged his shoulders in satisfaction. It’s kind of true, right?

Ashley Spivey, on the other hand, thinks Emily is too shy to enjoy the attention. “She told us multiple times in the house that she did not want to be Bachelorette,” shared Ashley. “That has a lot to do with the fact that I don’t think she particularly loves being on camera.”

The boys point out Emily flew all the way to LA to do the interview. But Ashley quickly fired back: “People have been saying a lot of mean things to her. She probably wanted to respond.”

Marissa May agreed with Ashley. “Like she said in the interview, she didn’t want to feel like she was lying to everybody when it didn’t turn out like the fairytale that everybody thought it was,” she revealed.”She’s concerned with how everyone else is going to see her and see this situation.”

Moving the topic forward, Trista Sutter — who has been The Bachelorette herself — thinks motherhood would hold Emily back from really committing to the show. ”I can’t imagine her being The Bachelorette, just for that plain reason alone, as a mom,” noted Trista. “Even if there was a big dollar sign with it, I don’t know that she would agree to it.”

And Tenley Molzahn agrees that having a child would make it difficult. She’s direct, offering a piece of advice to Emily: “Don’t do it. That’s all I have to say.”

To catch the rest of this debate, check out the video above. The former contestants also have a lot to say about Bachelorette Ashley Hebert’s seventh episode!

- Jessica Krampe

Get More On The Bachelorette!

1. ‘Bachelor’ Brad Destroyed Over Losing Emily: HE WANTS HER BACK!
2. ‘Bachelorette’ Host Chris Harrison: Emily Maynard Isn’t ‘The Bachelorette’ Yet!
3. ‘Bachelorette’ Rumored Winner J.P. Rosenbaum Works Out Every Day! Is He Getting Fit For Ashley?

Emily broke up with Brad a week and a half ago, a source tells HollywoodLife.com — that explains her recent trip to Austin.

Emily Maynard and Bachelor Brad Womack have broken up for good! “It happened about a week and a half ago,” a source very close to Emily tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively.

The reason behind the breakup? Emily still has feelings for her ex-boyfriend, automotive executive David Smith, explains the source. “She’s got something with David,” says the source. “And David totally digs Emily.”

But even though Emily has ended things with Brad, she and David are taking it slow.

“David wants everything to be right,” the insider tells us. “He wants to give her time and see how everything plays out.”

“David’s very patient,” continues the source. “He knows that Emily totally digs him, but wants to let her get herself together.”

Emily and David dated before she appeared The Bachelor. We’re told they were a good couple and got along well — though Emily seemed “reserved” around David.

David had been friends with her fiance Ricky Hendrick, who died in a plane crash in 2004.

And, in an odd twits, David lives in Ricky’s father’s old house according to the source . It is no doubt a bit awkward for Emily to visit David at his home given the history. But now Emily has left her new fiance, Brad, in the dust, and is hoping to get back together with David.

“We are not commenting on Brad and Emily’s personal lives,” an ABC spokesperson tells HollywoodLife.com.

BFFs — do you think this was a smart move on Emily’s part? Tell us what you think!

- Lindsey DiMattina

More Bachelor Stories:

1. Brad’s Desperate To Win Emily Back!
2. Brad & Emily Happy Over Drinks In Austin!
3. Brad & Emily’s Cozy Lunch In Austin!

Emily keeps calling it quits with Brad — is it because she’s been seeing another guy behind his back?

Is Emily Maynard leading Bachelor Brad Womack to even more heartache? When Emily returned home to Charlotte, N.C. in January after Bachelor filming ended, she reportedly was dating her ex-boyfriend, automotive exec David Smith, according to In Touch magazine.

“Without telling Dave exactly what happened, she gave him the impression that she didn’t win,” Dave’s buddy Sam Yaravitz says. “He’s not the kind of guy who would date a woman who’s engaged to another man. And I’m prety sure Brad doesn’t know about him, either.”

Emily first met Dave years ago through her fiance Ricky Hendrick, who was killed in a 2004 plane crash. But they started seriously dating prior to Emily going on The Bachelor. “They were dating exclusively and were intimate right up until the day she left to shoot the show in the fall,” Sam claims.

“She didn’t tell him about The Bachelor until a couple of days before she left,” says Sam. “Obviously, he wasn’t happy.”

But when Emily got back, “she started calling him, wanting to get together,” he says. In late January, Emily invited Dave to her birthday party. “You could see them together, talking close.”

Then on Feb. 6, Emily showed up to Dave’s Super Bowl party. “During the second quarter, they disappeared into David’s bedroom,” Sam says. “She apologized about having gone on the show, and asked David to take her back.”

But then Emily reunited with Brad on After The Final Rose on March 14. “A few days before taping ATFR, she called David and told im that it was over between her and Brad, so David was shocked at the way it turned out,” says Sam.

David still stayed with Emily after what happened on national television until Easter weekend, when Emily didn’t answer any of his calls. That’s when David decided he was done. Throughout all of this, Emily led Brad to believe that she was going to move to Austin to build a life together.

BFFs — do you think Brad should be trying to win Emily back, even after this new report?

More Bachelor Stories:

1. Brad & Emily Happy Over Drinks In Austin!
2. Brad & Emily’s Cozy Lunch In Austin!
3. Why Emily & Brad Broke Up!

A talented fan — Samantha Paige — wrote a beautiful song dedicated to Emily about the process of falling in love again! Very sweet!

Emily Maynard has finally found love again with ABC Bachelor star Brad Womack. This is the first time that Emily’s heart has been able to open up to someone else in years — because in 2004, the love of her life Ricky Hendrick died in a plane crash leaving Emily pregnant with their now 5-year-old daughter Ricki.

Now Emily looks like she’s on track to becoming the very happy Mrs. Brad Womack. But even though she’s found love again, it doesn’t mean she will ever forget Ricky — her first love will always have a special place in her heart.

So when a fan  — Samantha Paige — wrote a song called “Emily,” Emily couldn’t help but share it with the world.

Emily retweeted the link to the song and then wrote: “@samanthapaige1 I cant even begin to say how much this meant to me. I’m beyond flattered not to mention u have a beautiful voice. Thank you!”

“Measure a man by a ghost of a love that walks in those shoes silently haunting you,” Sam sings. “No other man could fill them up. You still hold the soul they belong to.”

“You want to find love again,” she continues. “Let go Emily. Grace is your virtue. Beauty surrounds you. Let go, you will see. You’re not going to fall through — loves going to catch you.”

Click here to listen to Sam’s beautiful song, “Emily!”

- Lindsey DiMattina

Emily & Ricki Send Balloons Up To Ricky To Remember His B-Day!

Emily Takes Ricki To Game — Brad MIA!

Brad And Emily House Hunting!

Even though Ricky Hendrick is no longer with them, Emily and their daughter Ricki remember him with love each year!

Emily Maynard may be happily engaged to Bachelor Brad Womack, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten her first love — Ricky Hendrick, the former NASCAR driver who was the father of her 5-year-old daughter Josephine “Ricki” Hendrick.

Ricky passed away in 2004 — and it’s super-important for Emily to carry on his memory for little Ricki, who never met him. So Emily and her daughter have started an annual ritual.

“Its our tradition to make a cake and let a balloon go in the backyard,” Emily tweeted on April 2 — Ricky’s b-day.

Ricky was killed on Oct. 24, 2004 in a plane crash. A week after he passed away, Emily — who was engaged to Ricky — found out that she was pregnant with Ricki.

Even though Emily has found love again with Brad, she still makes sure that Ricky’s memory lives on for their daughter.

- Lindsey DiMattina

Brad and Emily are planning their next romantic vacation!

Brad and Emily are house hunting!

Is it a good idea for Emily to move to Austin for Brad?

Uh-oh, Brad! Emily set up a date with her ex Brett before going to LA to film ‘Final Rose’ — and her old flame says he ‘would do anything in the world for her!’ Should Brad be concerned about his fiancee?

Emily Maynard has told Bachelor Brad Womack that she’s not ready to get married. Could it be because she’s dating another man behind Brad’s back? According to In Touch, Emily has been seeing her ex-boyfriend — Brett J. Barniske-Bertolami, who owns a car dealership in Charlotte, N.C — since she got back home from filming The Bachelor and getting engaged to Brad!

A source tells InTouch Emily dated Brett prior to going on The Bachelor — and that she set up a dinner with him  prior to leaving for LA to film After The Final Rose. Emily canceled at last minute because she was sick. But the source says that Emily definitely wants to see Brett again soon.

What makes the situation so curious is that after Emily left to film AFTR, Brett was spotted at a local Charlotte bar talking non-stop about Emily and showing photos of her — making it sound like they were in a relationship: “Some of the pictures were a couple of years old. It seems like Brett knows her pretty well.”

But Brett doesn’t seem to be too happy that Emily is engaged. “I won’t got out with an engaged person,” Brett tells In Touch.

If Emily isn’t in fact engaged to Brad, then maybe Brett would reconsider. He sure does have plenty of good things to say about the 25-year-old mom.

“Emily is a real sweetheart and I adore her,” says Brett. “I have nothing bad to say about her. I would do anything in the world for her.”

Wow! Emily has an interesting dating past. She was engaged to NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick. And after Ricky died in a plan crash in 2004, Emily was also rumored to be in relationships with another driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and country singer Jake Owen.

If the report about Brett turn out to be true, could this be the real reason Emily is stalling moving to Austin and getting married to Brad!

- Lindsey DiMattina

‘Bachelor’ Brad’s $50,000 Ring For Emily — Just Like The One She Wore With Ricky Hendrick!

‘Bachelor’ Brad Womack Engaged? Emily Won’t Move To Austin & Not Wearing Ring!

‘Bachelor’ Brad Womack Engaged To Emily Maynard — Says Goodbye To Chantal O’Brien!

Emily’s engagement to NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick ended so tragically with his death. Is the new dazzler Brad picked for her going to be too much of a reminder?

Celebrity jeweler Neil Lane says he saved the best sparkler for last when he showed a series of dazzling rings to Bachelor Brad Womack. But sincve their engagement, it hasn’t always been on Emily Maynard‘s finger! Why not?

With so much turmoil and tension around Brad, 38, and Emily, 25, we’ve wondering if this spectacular $50,000 ring is just another reason she may be reluctant to take the next step!

Emily didn’t wear the ring until late in the big post-finale Bachelor broadcast — it was still being fitted, we were told. But with no wedding date in sight, Emily’s reluctance to  move to Austin with her 5-year-old daughter Ricki and her continuing fears over Brad’s hot temper, who knows how long it will be before Emily feels comfortable flashing this rock?

The ring Brad picked for her looks eerily similar to the dazzler Emily wore for her engagement to star NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick, 24, who tragically died before they could marry. Emily was pregnant with Ricki when Ricky was killed in a 2004 plane crash.

Robert DiMattina, owner of Diamond Images USA Inc. in Miami tells us that the rings are strikingly similar. Both would likely sell in the same price range –as long as the quality of the diamonds matches up. Both feature rectangular-cut stones, of different types: The Bachelor ring is cushion-cut while Ricky’s ring was radiant-cut.

The new ring was personally crafted by Lane: a three-carat platinum and diamond creation outfitted with a central cushion-cut diamond surrounded by 263 round, brilliant-cut diamonds!

“Brad said he’d dreamed of the perfect ring but he didn’t know exactly what it was until he saw this one,” Lane tells People magazine. “I saved it for the last one and when Brad saw it, he knew it was the ring of his dreams.”

But will Emily decide to live out her dreams with Brad — and this incredible ring?

Click here to read how Brad and Emily Admit They’ve Broken Up!

Click here to read why Emily Will Never Marry Brad!

Click to see which of Kelsey Grammer’s Girls has the better ring!