News / Entertainment
Dancing with the Stars Announces Celebrity Lineup
“Dancing with the Stars” is heading into its fourth season and the newly announced lineup of celebrity contestants will feature some personalities that remain in today’s headlines while there are others whose names have faded into relative obscurity.
ABC will kick off its highly successful show in less than three weeks when the eleven celebrities will partner will a professional dancer and compete for the billing as top dancer.
‘Dancing’ will once again put a mixture of models, athletes and actors to the test in an environment they have yet to conquer.
Among the most interesting contestants on this season’s “Dancing with the Stars” is Heather Mills. The 39-year-old former model is going through a highly publicized divorce from Paul McCartney. ‘Dancing’ could help Mills recreate her public image as well. Mills, who lost her left leg below the knee in a 1993 accident with a police motorcycle, has expressed a desire to prove that disabilities don’t have to slow down a person’s life.
Paulina Porizkova and Shandi Finnessey will put their dancing shoes on as well.
Porizkova, a world-famous supermodel, has graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition as well as been named to People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People.
Finnessey, a 24-year-old beauty queen, was crowned 2004’s Miss USA.
The music world will be throwing out a pair of former arena fillers. Billy Ray Cyrus, who rose to fame with his hit song Achy-Breaky Heart some time last century and Joey Fatone, the former ‘N Sync member, will both try to find rhythm on ‘Dancing.’
Former television personality Leeza Gibbons will look to get back in front of the cameras once again. The long-time co-host of Entertainment Tonight and Extra, Gibbons currently hosts her own syndicated radio show.
Welcome back to television Ian Ziering. The former high school buddy of Brandon and Dylan on Beverly Hills 90210 will bring his 42-year-old legs onto stage.
Reality show veteran, and near senior citizen, Vincent Pastore, will kick up his heels on “Dancing with the Stars.” The 60-year-old actor from the Sopranos spent some time on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club last season.
“Dancing with the Stars” will feature a boxer, speed skater and an NBA legend in the fourth season.
Laila Ali, the 28-year-old daughter of Muhammad Ali, will step outside of the boxing ring to take on the challenges of actually dancing and not sparring.
Olympic gold-medalist Apolo Anton Ohno will take off his speed skates and try to stay close to his partner rather than look for separation.
Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA legend Clyde Drexler will also take part in season four. Drexler’s plans to follow in the footsteps of last season’s champ Emmitt Smith. Smith won an NFL Super Bowl title and grabbed the “Dancing with the Stars” trophy. Drexler won an NBA Title with the Houston Rockets and now looks to add a dancing trophy to his list of accomplishments.
“Dancing with the Stars” will begin on March 19 with a two-hour season premier.
