(L-R) Sherri Shepherd, Jack Wagner, Jaleel White, Melissa Gilbert
*Singer Gladys Knight, ”The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd, “Family Matters” actor Jaleel White and Green Bay Packers star Donald Driver will be among the 12 celebrity contestants on the next season of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
The new cast, announced Tuesday on “Good Morning America,” also includes tennis player Martina Navratilova, opera singer Katherine Jenkins, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, “Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert, Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan, “The Bold and the Beautiful” actor Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy and “Extra” co-host Maria Menounos.
Gladys Knight (Pro Partner: Tristan McManus, who returns as a professional partner for his second season)
Jaleel White (Pro Partner: Kym Johnson, a two-time champ who returns for her eleventh season)
The new season will premiere March 19. Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet joined “GMA” co-anchor Robin Roberts at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles for the live announcement.
The stars also met their professional partners, who they will begin training with right away. Defending pro-champion Karina Smirnoff, who won her first mirror ball trophy last season with celeb J.R. Martinez, is partnered up this time with singer Gavin DeGraw. Pro Cheryl Burke, who sambaed with Rob Kardashian into the finals during season 13, will team up with William Levy this round, and three-time champ Derek Hough will dance with Maria Menounos.
Donald Driver (Pro Partner: Peta Murgatroyd, who is returning for her second season on the show)
Sherri Shepherd (Pro Partner: Val Chmerkovskiy, who is returning for his second season)
I saw the announcement this morning on Good Morning America. I loved the way Gladys came out and owned the stage when they announced her. She is definitely no stranger to being center stage! This should be interesting.
It’s enough black people on here that I may just watch this season…