It’s official! Dancing with the Stars has another new recruit lined up to compete for Tyra Banks’ first season as host and executive producer. Until now, only The Bachelorette’s Kaitlyn Bristowe had gotten confirmed to compete, but audiences can add Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean to the list of stars set to dance for the mirror ball trophy. That only makes us more curious about who will get announced next.
As announced on Good Morning America, AJ McLean is the latest Backstreet Boys member to compete on Dancing with the Stars. Nick Carter previously competed for Season 21, coming in second with his pro partner, Sharna Burgess. Speaking of which, the newly-blonde Burgess will be back to compete for Tyra Banks’ first season, so it's of course possible that she could also end up as McLean's dancing parter.
Who will could be competing with McLean? We won't find out until the official announcement is revealed on Wednesday, September 2, but that doesn't mean there aren't rumors and speculations flying around.
Tiger King’s Carole Baskin is one of the more WTF names rumored to be in the running for Dancing with the Stars' new season, per Entertainment Tonight. Baskin shot to notoriety as the nemesis of Joe Exotic in the Netflix phenomenon that swept millions of viewers up into the antics of its human and animal subjects. Viewers are still staying tuned as the real-life drama surrounding Baskin continues beyond the docuseries, but could DWTS be her next career move?
Carole Baskin is not the only streaming-friendly name getting bandied about for Dancing with the Stars, though. Chrishell Stause, who has starred in Netflix’s real estate hit Selling Sunset and the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, is also among those on the rumored shortlist. Along with her recent work on-screen, Stause is also going through a high-profile divorce from This Is Us’ Justin Hartley.
Speaking of well-known celebrities' high-profile exes, Ellen DeGeneres’ ex-girlfriend Anne Heche is also among those rumored for Dancing with the Stars’ roster. Heche potentially joining the show comes as DeGeneres and her talk show have been dominating the headlines in not-so-positive ways.
Rounding out the possible contenders is Jerry Harris, one of the standout stars of Netflix’s cheerleading docuseries, Cheer. Harris recently got surprised by one of his favorite celebs, Gabrielle Union, who of course starred in the cheerleading comedy Bring It On. Considering her own experiences with reality TV, Union might very well warn Harris away from a DWTS stint.
Dancing with the Stars fans will soon learn fact from rumor when the full lineup gets announced next week on Good Morning America. So far, the show is circling a lot of nostalgic and presently-buzzed-about contenders. But while there were reports that headling-making physician Dr. Anthony Fauci might be joining, it would appear as if he wasn't ever officially offered the gig.
The upcoming season will be the first for the show’s new spearheader, Tyra Banks, who is taking over as solo host after the dismissal of the original host, Tom Bergeron, and his long-time co-host, Erin Andrews. Banks got announced as the duo’s successor not too long after news of their dismissals made headlines. Former Dancing with the Stars pro Derek Hough commented on that decision, calling it “understandable,” though many others have decried the transition. Hough and fans of the ballroom reality competition will get to see Banks in action alongside Season 29’s cast soon.
Stay tuned to learn who officially makes the full cast lineup when it gets announced next week. For now, Dancing with the Stars Season 29 will premiere on Monday, September 14, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. While you wait to see who else joins life under the shimmering glow of the mirror ball, check out the other shows set to tango their way onto this fall’s schedule.
