29 February 2012

‘Dancing With the Stars’ cast announced: Jaleel White, Maria Menounos, Gavin Degraw among hopefuls


Rick Rowell/ABC

The new batch of contestants on 'Dancing With the Stars' is unveiled Tuesday: (From l.) Melissa Gilbert, Sherri Shepherd, Martina Navratilova, Maria Menounos, Gladys Knight, Jaleel White, Donald Driver, Roshon Fegan, Gavin Degraw and Jack Wagner.


The new “Dancing With the Stars” cast includes a music legend, the usual mix of ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s TV icons and the requisite Super Bowl champion.

A new batch of twelve contestants on ABC’s hit dance competition show were revealed Tuesday morning on “Good Morning America.”

PHOTOS: MEET THE NEW CELEBRITY CAST

What the Season 14 cast lacks in star power, it makes up for in potentially interesting personalities:

* “Melrose Place” and “ General Hospital” star Jack Wagner, 52, who’s best known nowadays as Heather Locklear’s ex-fiance. He’ll be partnered with pro Anna Trebunskaya.

* Melissa Gilbert, 47, is best known as Laura Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie,” a staple in American living rooms from 1974 to 1983. Gilbert’s pro partner is Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Gilbert said she had been nervous keeping her casting a secret until Tuesday's reveal.

"Now that the veil of mystery is listed, I'm not carrying around a secret, I don't feel like I'm in the Witness Protection Program anymore," she told "Good Morning America."

* Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, 37, who’s looking to add a mirror ball trophy to his Super Bowl ring.

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Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; Charles Sykes/AP

"Extra" host Maria Menounos (l.) is following in the footsteps of her on-screen partner Mario Lopez, who also competed on 'Dancing With the Stars'. Jaleel White (r.) is out to prove there's more to life than playing Steve Urkel.

* Telenovela star William Levy, known as “The Brad Pitt of Mexico” and a former J.Lo video boytoy. He is paired up with Cheryl Burke.

* Sherri Shepherd, 44, is an actress-turned-co-host on “The View.” Her partner is Maksim’s younger brother, Val Chmerkovskiy.

* Katherine Jenkins, an opera star who returns to “Dancing With the Stars” twelve seasons after performing there on stage. Jenkins is matched with pro Mark Ballas.

* Pop singer Gavin Degraw, 35, the voice behind the hits, “I Don’t Want to Be” and “In Love With a Girl.” He gets to fall in love with the teachings of Karina Smirnoff.

* Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, 55, winner of 18 Grand Slam titles. Her new doubles partner is Tony Dovolani.

* Disney Channel “Shake It Up” star Roshon Fegan is the youngest contestant at 20. He gets to learn from Chelsie Hightower, who returns to the show after a season off.

* “Extra” host Maria Menounos, 33, who has shown she looks good in a Giants-themed bathing suit, is paired with the almost-as-pretty Derek Hough.

* Jaleel White, 36, is better known to a certain generation as Steve Urkel from “Family Matters.” His partner is Kym Johnson.

* Motown staple and eight-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight, 67. She landed Nancy Grace’s former partner, Tristan MacManus.

Why did one of R&B's eldest stateswomen agree to join the show?

"The Pips never let me dance," she said.

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