ABOVE: Carole Baskin, Tyra Banks, Johnny Weir. Photos via Baskin, Dancing with the Stars and Weir’s social media channels.
ABC has announced the celebrity cast for the 29th season of “Dancing with the Stars” ahead of its Sept. 14 premiere.
“‘Dancing With the Stars’ heads back into the ballroom for its 2020 season with some cha-cha-changes and a brand new celebrity cast,” the network shared Sept. 2. The new season will be led by supermodel TV sensation Tyra Banks, replacing longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.
The cast was announced via “Good Morning America.” The competition will feature returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli and has required all professional dancers to quarantine ahead of the season as a COVID-19 safety precaution.
This year’s contestants include openly LGBTQ activist Johnny Weir, a two-time U.S. Olympian and three-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion. He’ll be joined by Tampa Bay’s Carole Baskin of Big Cat Rescue, who garnered international acclaim this year as one of the divisive subjects of Netflix’s “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.”
Each contestant reacted to the announcement via social media.
“I am so excited to be a part of the new season of ‘Dancing with the Stars,’” Weir shared. “I can’t wait to show you all what I bring to the ballroom – and I hope I can count on your votes. Honestly that’s more of a demand, but I promise to work and wiggle and shake my booty off for you.”
Watch:
https://twitter.com/JohnnyGWeir/status/1301146068906893312
Baskin detailed her reaction at length via Big Cat Rescue’s website.
Additional contestants include Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean, actor Jesse Metcalfe and television host Nev Schulman. The full list of celebrities and professional dancers can be seen below via ABC:
As announced this morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the celebrities and professional dancers heading to the ballroom this season (in alphabetical order) are as follows:
Celebrities:
head coach Monica Aldama (“CHEER”)
animal activist Carole Baskin (“Tiger King”)
Kaitlyn Bristowe (“The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette”)
Super Bowl Champion Vernon Davis
TV and film actress Anne Heche
Disney Channel actress Skai Jackson
actress Justina Machado (“One Day at a Time”)
Backstreet Boys singer AJ McLean
Emmy® Award-winning host of “The Real” and sideline correspondent on “Holey Moley,” Jeannie Mai
TV and film actor Jesse Metcalfe
GRAMMY®-winning rapper Nelly
TV host Nev Schulman (“Catfish”)
NBA superstar Charles Oakley (“The Last Dance”)
actress Chrishell Stause (“Selling Sunset”)
Olympic figure skater and on-air commentator Johnny Weir
Professional dancers:
Brandon Armstrong
Alan Bersten
Sharna Burgess
Cheryl Burke
Artem Chigvintsev
Val Chmerkovskiy
Sasha Farber
Jenna Johnson
Daniella Karagach
Keo Motsepe
Peta Murgatroyd
Pasha Pashkov
Gleb Savchenko
Emma Slater
Britt Stewart
“Viewers will have to tune in to the season premiere to find out with whom their favorite professional dancers are paired,” the network added.
Read more about the upcoming season’s cast and more, including how to watch, via “Good Morning America” below:
