“Dancing with the
Stars” Returns with a 2-night Premiere Live on
Monday, September 14
8:00-10:01 p.m., ET and Tuesday September 15 9:00-11:01 p.m., ET
The celebrity cast of “Dancing with the Stars” is lacing up their
ballroom shoes and getting ready for their first dance on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television
Network. This 21st season’s lineup of celebrity dancers includes
three platinum-certified music super stars, an Academy Award® nominee, a Triple
Crown winner, an American Hero, and our first ever married couple, to name a
few.
As announced this morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the celebrities
with their professional partners heading to the ballroom this season (in
alphabetical order) are:
- Alek Skarlatos partnered with Lindsay Arnold
- Alexa PenaVega partnered with Mark Ballas
- Andy Grammer partnered with Allison
Holker
- Bindi Irwin partnered with Derek Hough
- Carlos PenaVega partnered with Witney Carson
- Chaka Khan partnered with Keo Motsepe
- Gary Busey partnered with Anna Trebunskaya
- Hayes Grier partnered with Emma Slater
- Kim Zolciak Biermann partnered
with Tony Dovolani
- Nick Carter partnered with Sharna Burgess
- Paula Deen partnered with Louis van Amstel
- Tamar Braxton partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy
- Victor Espinoza partnered with Karina Smirnoff
ALEK SKARLATOS – Alek
is an Army National Guard Specialist from Sacramento, CA. Alek and his two
childhood friends, Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler, made headlines around the
world on August 2015 when they heroically overpowered a man that opened fire on
a train from Amsterdam to Paris. This true American hero was recently
awarded France’s highest honor by President François Hollande. Alek is
partnered with Lindsay Arnold.
Follow Lindsay @lindsayarnold
ALEXA PENAVEGA – Alexa is known worldwide for her role as
Carmen Cortez in four blockbuster “Spy
Kids” films, as well as “Machette
Kills” and “From Prada to Nada.”
PenaVega made her Broadway debut in 2007 when she played Penny Pingleton in the
Tony Award winning Broadway version of “Hairspray.”
Fans of the ABC hit drama “Nashville”
also know her for her turn as Kiley Brenner. Alexa is married to actor/singer
Carlos PenaVega, who will also compete in Season 21 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Alexa is partnered with Mark Ballas.
Follow Alexa @alexavega
Follow
Mark @MarkBallas
ANDY GRAMMER – Los
Angeles-born, New York-raised pop star Andy Grammer has gone from hustling
street performer on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to platinum-selling
recording artist. With his 2011 self-titled debut album, Andy became the first
male pop star in a decade, since John Mayer in 2002, to reach the Top 10 at
Adult Pop Radio on his first two singles, “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me,”
certified platinum and gold respectively. Andy's second album, 2014’s
critically acclaimed “Magazines or Novels,” continues his disarming success
with his huge hit “Honey, I’m Good.” Over
the course of the last year, Andy’s double platinum-selling song became
ubiquitous, topping sales, hitting #1 on adult pop radio for the first time and
top 10 across 3 radio formats, garnering over 70 million views on YouTube and
60 million streams on Spotify, broadcasting on national TV everywhere and
most recently became a country collaboration with Eli Young Band.
The euphoria of
the year’s successes sparked an undeniable new emotion for the artist, so on a
short stop in Los Angeles recently, Andy swiftly penned a new gem “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah).” The
song was just released on iTunes. “Life has so many ups and downs and this
is about that pure bliss you feel when things are finally going your way,”
explains Grammer. “The lyrics ‘good to be alive right about now’ convey
something that I think anyone who’s felt like they had a breakthrough can relate
to.” Andy is partnered with Allison Holker.
Follow Andy @andygrammer
Follow
Allison @AllisonHolker
BINDI IRWIN – The 17 year-old Australian has
continued the legacy of her parents, Crocodile
Hunter Steve Irwin and Terri Irwin,
starring in a series of wildlife shows, including “Bindi: The Jungle Girl,” “Bindi's
Bootcamp,” and “Steve Irwin's Wildlife Warriors.” As an actress, Bindi starred
in the films “Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove” and “Return
to Nim's Island.” In 2014, Bindi was awarded the prestigious
Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year, an honor
that she dedicated to her late father, Steve Irwin. Bindi is partnered with
Derek Hough.
Follow Bindi @BindiIrwin
Follow
Derek @derekhough
CARLOS PENAVEGA – Actor/singer Carlos
PenaVega shot to fame and cult status after starring on the highly successful
Nickelodeon musical comedy “Big Time
Rush” as Carlos Garcia, which also took to the road and toured with the
ensemble cast around the globe. Having studied musical theater at the Boston
Conservatory, Carlos recently released his first solo single in Spanish, “Electrico,” which charted in the Top
10 on the Latin iTunes songs charts. Carlos is married to actress Alex
PenaVega, who will also compete in Season 21 of “Dancing with the Stars.” Carlos is partnered with Witney Carson.
Follow Carlos @TheCarlosPena
Follow Witney @WitneyCarson
CHAKA KHAN – Chaka
is an international music icon who has influenced multiple generations
of artists and continues to do so as a singer, songwriter, producer, visual
artist, author, actor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, activist and mother. A
ten-time Grammy® Award winner who has the rare ability to sing in eight music
genres, Chaka has released 22 albums and racked up ten #1 Billboard magazine
charted songs. She is currently at work on a series of mixed media visual works
with a planned gallery exhibition in 2016, as well as a new CD, set for release
later in 2015. Chaka is partnered with Keo Motsepe.
Follow Chaka @ChakaKhan
Follow Keo @keodancer
GARY BUSEY – Gary celebrates his 45th anniversary in
show business during 2015. Gary rose to fame in Hollywood when he became
an Academy Award® nominee for ‘Best Actor’ for his performance in the title
role of Buddy Holly in “The Buddy Holly Story.” His other feature film credits
include memorable roles in “The Firm,” “Under Siege,” “Point Break,” “Big
Wednesday,” “Straight Time,” and “Lethal Weapon.”
Gary became
a household name and ratings sensation with TV audiences, too, in “Celebrity Wife Swap,” “Celebrity Apprentice,”
and “All Star Celebrity Apprentice.” His other memorable TV roles
of note are his multiple appearances on HBO’s “Entourage” as well as a recurring role on the hit
syndicated sit-com, “Mr. Box
Office.” He also had a special guest-star role on “Two and a Half Men” when he played
himself. Additionally, Gary became the first American to win “Celebrity Big Brother U.K.” in
2014.
Gary
can also be seen in his comical TV commercials for Amazon as well as “Entourage: The Movie” and in his
starring role in the upcoming critically acclaimed feature film, “CANDiLAND.” Gary is partnered with Anna Trebunskaya.
Follow Gary @THEGaryBusey
Follow Anna @atrebunskaya
HAYES GRIER – At just 15 years old, Hayes Grier
is a rising star in the social media world, with more than 3.5 million
followers on Vine and more than 2 million Twitter follows. The North Carolina
teen shot to fame with his personal videos and is currently on a live tour
across the United States. Hayes is partnered with Emma Slater.
Follow Hayes @HayesGrier
Follow
Emma @EmmaSlaterDance
KIM ZOLCIAK
BIERMANN – Known for her blonde
wigs, catchy pop songs and her vivacious personality, Kim Zolciak is also the
mother of Brielle, Ariana, KJ, Kash Kade, Kaia and Kane. Her socialite status
amongst Atlanta’s elite snagged her the reality spot on Bravo’s hit show, “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” After
meeting NFL Falcons player Kroy Biermann in 2010 at a charity event, Kim fell
in love and the two began a whirlwind romance. The Zolciak-Biermann family
lives in their dream home in the Alpharetta, GA.
Kim’s ambitions are as big as her blonde hair. As
chronicled on the first season of Housewives, Kim began pursuing
her music career in 2009. Her debut single, “Tardy for the Party,” reached the number three spot on iTunes.
The hit was produced alongside fellow housewife, Grammy Award winning artist
Kandi Burruss. In 2012, Kim released her second single “Google Me.”
In April 2012, Kim’s spin off “Don’t be Tardy for the Wedding,” debuted
on Bravo. The series revolved around Kim’s extravagant wedding and was a huge
hit for Bravo, currently on air for its 4Th season. Kim is
partnered with Tony Dovolani.
Follow Kim @Kimzolciak
Follow
Tony @TonyDovolani
NICK CARTER –- The singer,
songwriter and actor sparked his career at the tender age of 12 as the youngest
member of the iconic boy band Backstreet
Boys. Since
taking the world by storm in 1995, the band has sold over 130 million records
worldwide and has earned five Grammy®
nominations, countless awards, and an honorary star on the iconic Hollywood
Walk of Fame. As a standout member of the Backstreet Boys, Carter was
named one of People Magazine's “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.” In
2002, Nick released his debut solo album “Now
or Never” and released his second solo
album, “I’m Taking Off,”
in 2012. In 2014, Nick and longtime girlfriend Lauren Kitt made their TV
debut as a couple in the VH1 reality series, “I Heart Nick Carter.” Nick is partnered with Sharna
Burgess.
Follow Nick @nickcarter
Follow
Sharna @SharnaBurgess
PAULA DEEN – Paula was living the American
dream—married to her high school sweetheart, raising two adorable boys when
tragedy struck. Her parents died, her marriage failed and she began a prolonged
battle with agoraphobia. With her boys in their teens and her family near
homelessness, Paula took her last $200, reached deep inside her soul and started
“The Bag Lady,” a home-based catering company that marked the start of Deen’s
professional cooking. With sons Jamie and Bobby delivering
“lunch-and-love-in-a-bag,” beginning in June 1989, Paula turned around her life
by sharing what she knew best, traditional Southern cooking.
Overcoming
poverty, self-doubt and health challenges to achieve success and acclaim, Paula
has become one of the best-known personalities in the world of cooking. Yet the
most remarkable part of Paula Deen’s journey from her kitchen to fame is that
Paula has remained every bit as genuine, real and full of love as she was the
day the first meals left her kitchen.
She
moved her catering company to a small restaurant at a Best Western motel in
Savannah and finally opened her first restaurant, The Lady and Sons, with Bobby and Jamie five years later. The
restaurant was a hit and the popularity of Paula and her cooking led to her
first cookbook, 1998’s The Lady and
Sons Savannah Country Cookbook. This gave her fans the opportunity
to try Paula’s recipes at home, and led to her first television appearance on
QVC. Paula’s genuine warmth and folksy personality made her a natural for
television. In 1999, USA Today food critic Jerry Shriver named The Lady and
Sons “International Meal of the Year.”
In
2014, Paula launched her nationwide live tour, Paula Deen Live!, and her own digital lifestyle network, the Paula
Deen Network where each day, Paula provides viewers with cooking tips, new
recipes and step-by-step instruction on how to cook her signature Southern dishes
in an unscripted format.
In
2015, Paula launched her first free mobile game, “Paula Deen’s Recipe Quest,” premiered
her first show on EVINE Live, launched her podcast and radio show, and opened
her new restaurant, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen. On September 8,
2015, Paula will release her new cookbook, Paula Deen Cuts the Fat: 250 Favorite Recipes All
Lightened Up.
Ever
grateful for all she has been blessed with, Paula and her family continue to
give back to the community. Paula, a board member of the Bethesda Home for Boys,
also works tirelessly for America’s Second Harvest. In 2012, Paula launched The
Bag Lady Foundation, supporting issues of hunger that affect women and families
across the country. Paula is partnered with Louis van Amstel.
Follow Paula @Paula_Deen
Follow Louis @LouisVanAmstel
TAMAR BRAXTON – Tamar Braxton is a Grammy® nominated
singer, reality TV personality, and talk show host. A veteran performer who began singing backup
vocals for her older sister Toni at age 12, Tamar was also a founding member of
R&B group The Braxtons with Toni
and their siblings Traci, Towanda and Trina. She is married to music executive Vince Herbert, the couple welcomed
their first child, a baby boy, in June 2013.
Tamar executive
produces and stars in the WE TV reality hit “Braxton Family Values,” currently
in its 4th season. Originally created and spearheaded by Tamar and
sisters, the show soared as the cable network’s highest-rated television show. She
is also co-host and producer of FOX-TV’s “The Real,” now going into its 2nd
season. Tamar reveals, “’The Real’ is one of the best things to ever happen to
me. I get to chat with a group of women and its feels like happy hour in the
middle of the day.”
Tamar’s
third studio LP, “Calling All Lovers,”
is due September 11 on Epic/Streamline Records. Tamar is partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Follow Tamar @TamarBraxtonHer
Follow
Val @iamValC
VICTOR ESPINOZA – After coming close twice, Victor earned the
famous Triple Crown earlier
this year, winning the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and The Belmont
Stakes aboard speedy American
Pharoah. It was the first time in 37
years the feat had been accomplished. The first Hispanic jockey to ever win the
Triple Crown, Victor has won over 3000 races in his career and donates 10%
of his weekly winnings to The City of Hope for childhood cancer research.
Before becoming a jockey, Victor drove a city bus in Mexico and says, “It's a
lot easier riding horses than driving in that traffic in Mexico City.” Victor
is partnered with Karina Smirnoff.
Follow Victor @EspinozasVictor
Follow Karina @Karina_Smirnoff
Hosted
by Emmy® Award-winning host Tom Bergeron (“America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and
Erin Andrews (sports host & “Dancing with the
Stars” Season 10 finalist), “Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series in which
celebrities perform choreographed dance routines which are judged by a panel of
renowned ballroom experts including dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli, Carrie
Ann Inaba and ballroom dancer and Emmy®-nominated
choreographer Julianne Hough.
“Dancing
with the Stars” is produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Rob Wade, Ashley
Edens-Shaffer and Joe Sungkur are executive producers. Alex Rudzinski directs.
“Dancing with the Stars” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected
HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG, L
parental guideline.
BBC Worldwide Productions is a key business
under BBC Worldwide North America, the U.S. division of the main commercial arm
and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), BBC
Worldwide. Based in Los Angeles, BBC Worldwide Productions develops and
produces scripted and unscripted projects based on BBC formats/brands for cable
and broadcast networks, as well as digital platforms. The production company is
producer of Dancing with the Stars (ABC), Getting On (HBO), Top
Gear (HISTORY) and the upcoming limited series, Crime (HBO).
Critically-acclaimed programs, produced under Adjacent Productions – who
develop and produce original programming - include Da Vinci’s Demons
(Starz), Life Below Zero and Port Protection (both National
Geographic Channel), Ladies of London (Bravo), and Lost in
Transmission (HISTORY).
All photographs are credited to ABC.
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