Kellie Pickler (Photo: Jason Kempin)Looks as if this season of Dancing With The Stars is going to be considerably countrified! It has been confirmed that that Kellie Picker and Wynonna Judd are officially part of the cast.
The new season's lineup was announced Tuesday morning on Good Morning America. Pickler will be paired with Derek Hough; Wynonna will partner with Tony Dovolani. Pickler's selection was extra remarkable as she’ll be the first American Idol alum to join the cast of this reality program. (Pickler was, of course, a contender in Season 5 of AI.)
In addition to the country gals, comedians Andy Dick and D. L. Hughley, boxer Victor Ortiz, Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump, actress Zendaya Coleman, actor Ingo Rademacher, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, ice skating legend Dorothy Hamill, and Baltimore Ravens' wide receiver Jacoby Jones have signed on for the new season.
DWTS has had a bit of country representation over its past 8 years on the air. The first country star to appear was Sara Evans in Season 3; however, she famously withdrew a month into competition due to her messy divorce from Craig Schelske. Billy Ray Cyrus was a popular competitor in Season 4, and Chuck Wicks represented in Season 8.
Pop/country songstress Jewel was also set to compete in season 8—against her own husband, rodeo star Ty Murray—but she was forced to withdraw before the show even started after suffering stress fractures in both lower lower legs.
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