Finally! After a long summer my toe-tapping, tutu wearing, twirling toddler (okay, she’s more preschooler than toddler) will once again get to shimmy and shake with the best of them. ABC’s hit show “Dancing with the Stars” kicks off its seventh season next month and now we know, which celebs will be waltzing their way to that hideous mirror ball trophy.
Take a look:
Toni Braxton–The 41-year-old Grammy Award-winner has been paired with season one “DWTS” champ Alec Mazo.
Lance Bass– The 29-year-old former ‘N SYNC singer will be two-stepping with Lacey Schwimmer a new addition to DWTS. (You might remember her from her stint on 2007’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”)
Brooke Burke—-The hot mama to four young children formally hosted E!’s party show “Wild On” from 1999 to 2002. She will be strutting her stuff with Derek Hough. (I wonder what Derek’s ball and chain, former “DWTS” partner, Shannon Elizabeth had to say about that pairing?)
Rocco DiSpirito–The 41-year-old celebrity chef will be dancing with Karina Smirnoff. (Why do I get the feeling that he’ll be one of the first to get the boot?)
Maurice Green—-The 34-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter will be hitting the dance floor with two-time “DWTS” champ Cheryl Burke. (My money is on them.)
Kim Kardashian—-The 27-year-old reality TV star, whose only claim to fame thus far is the size of her famous rear, will be dancing with reigning “DWTS” champ Mark Ballas. (From Kristi Yamaguchi to Kim Kardashian–oh what a difference one season can make!)
Cody Linley–The 18-year-old, who played Miley Cyrus’ beau on “Hannah Montana,” is the youngest contestant ever to appear on the show. He should make a nice fit dancing with two-time “DWTS” champ Julianne Hough.
Susan Lucci–The 61-year-old reigning queen of the soap world (she has played diva Erica Kane on ABC’s “All My Children” for 38 years) will be moving and shaking with Tony Dovolani, who always seems to be paired with the mature female contestants.
Cloris Leachman–The 82-year-old actress is the show’s oldest-ever competitor. She will be paired with pro dancer Corky Ballas, who happens to be the father of season six champ Mark Ballas.
Misty May-Treanor—-Fresh off her gold winning performance at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the beach volleyball player will be dancing with hottie Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who returns to the show after taking last season off.
Ted McGinley–The 50-year-old actor starred on “Married…With Children,” and will be paired with “DWTS’” third new pro dancer Inna Brayer, who is the U.S. Amateur 10 Dance Champion.
Jeffrey Ross—-The 39-year-old stand-up comedian will be paired with the always lovely, (but unlikely to make it to the finals this year) pro dancer Edyta Sliwinska.
Warren Sapp—-The former pro football star, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders will be dancing with Kym Johnson.
The seventh season of “Dancing with the Stars” premieres September 22.
Who do you think will be walking away as champs?