The new couples line-up for the upcoming Season 16 of ABC's hit dancing competition, "Dancing With The Stars," was announced on "Good Morning America" Tuesday (Feb. 26). And if nothing else, the producers certainly chose an attractive group of "stars" to grace the dance floor.
Among the eleven new cast member "stars" are four athletes, two country singers, two comedians, two actors and a reality show celebrity. And, truthfully, the two comedians can be double-billed as actors and Kelly Pickler, one of the country singers that will be trying to win the Mirror Ball Trophy, actually started her career off as a reality show celebrity via "American Idol."
Speaking of Kellie Pickler, she'll be teamed with three-time dance champion Derek Hough. And if Pickler's physical prowess isn't a match for her ditzy (but lovable) personality, she could become and early fan favorite and get Hough his fourth win by season's end.
But the other country singer in the competition, Wynona Judd, is partnered with last season's winner, Tony Dovolani (who won the All-Stars edition with actress Melissa Rycroft), so he'll undoubtedly want a repeat. Judd, by the way, was asked to be on the show six times before and turned the producers down. So what made Season 16 different? She says she's trying to lose weight.
(Other than NBC's "The Biggest Loser," the regimen that the dancers undergo at "Dancing With The Stars" just might be the next most rigorous physical workout on reality television. But "DWTS" is probably a lot more fun.)
If things pan out, there very well could be a country singer showdown for the season finale.
For fans of the show, some familiar faces won't be dancing this time around. Four of the professional dancers from the show's yesteryears will not return for Season 16: Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower, Louis van Amstel, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Dancing With The Stars Season 16 Cast
Wynona Judd (country singer) and Tony Dovolani
D.L. Hughley (comedian and actor) and Cheryl Burke.
Jacoby Jones (NFL's Baltimore Ravens wide receiver) and Karina Smirnoff.
Lisa Vanderpump (Bravo's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reality celebrity) and newcomer Gleb Shavchenko
Andy Dick (Comedian and Actor) and newcomer Sharna Burgess
Victor Ortiz (Boxer) and newcomer Lindsay Arnold.
Zendaya Coleman (Disney Channel's "Shake It Up" actress) and Val Chmerkovskiy.
Aly Raisman (Olympic gold medalist, gymnast) and Mark Ballas.
Ingo Rademacher (ABC's "General Hospital" actor) and Kym Johnson.
Kellie Pickler ("American Idol" finalist and country singer) and Derek Hough.
Dorothy Hamill (Olympic gold medalist, skater) and Tristan MacManus.
******
Season 16 of "Dancing With The Stars" will kick off on Monday, March 18 at 8 p.m. (EST) on ABC Television.
Comments