ABC has announced the 16 newest stars set to appear on Dancing With The Stars’ ninth season which premieres Sept 21. Sixteen celebrities — including Donny Osmond, Melissa Joan Hart and Aaron Carter — have signed on.
DWTS executive producer Conrad Green tells PEOPLE about the cast increase, “It was about trying to make it as big as possible and try to get that sense of fun and excitement and real character come through on the show.”
The new lineup also includes former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin, reality star Kelly Osbourne and supermodel-turned-billionaire businesswoman Kathy Ireland. Lesser-known celebrities, such as snowboarder Louie Vito, Iron Chef’s Mark Dacascos and model Joanna Krupa join the cast as well. The most surprising contestant by far is former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
Below are the 16 stars:
- Chuck Liddell: The Ultimate Fighting Championship member .
- Louie Vito: A professional snowboarder who has participated in the Winter X Games.
- Natalie Coughlin: The swimmer earned six gold medals at the 2008 Olympics.
- Michael Irvin: A former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver who was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
- Mya: A Grammy-winning R&B singer and former star of Broadway’s Chicago.
- Kelly Osbourne: The London-born daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.
- Macy Gray: She won one Grammy and was nominated for four more.
- Debi Mazar: Stars on Entourage and has also appeared in four Madonna videos.
- Ashley Hamilton: The son of George Hamilton and Alana Stewart (and stepson of Rod Stewart).04.
- Kathy Ireland: The former model (who appeared in Sports Illustrated for 13 consecutive years) .
- Joanna Krupa: Maxim named her the sexiest swimsuit model in the world.
- Aaron Carter: A pop singer (and little brother to the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter) .
- Donny Osmond: The one-time teen idol used to perform with his brothers as a kid in the Osmond Brothers.
- Melissa Joan Hart: A mother of two boys, she is most known for starring in Sabrina the Teenage Witch from 1996 to 2003.
- Tom DeLay: A former Republican House Majority Leader who resigned after being indicted on campaign finance violations.
- Mark Dacascos: The chairman of Kitchen Stadium on Iron Chef America since 20.
