On Feb. 28, “Good Morning America” unveiled the names of the lasted celebrities to join the annals of “Dancing with the Stars.” Season 14 features more noted names than last season, including two well-known former child stars, talk show hosts, actors, singers and record-breaking athletes. Each generation has a face that they either grew up loving or have come to know through their parents.
The new cast and their professional partners joined Robin Roberts on GMA with the news. The GMA segment opened like a red carpet event, with Robin Roberts and hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke standing behind a podium, similar to the way the award nominations are revealed. New cast members William Levy and Katherine Jenkins were unable to be there.
Melissa Gilbert and Sherri Shepherd voiced their nervousness about becoming “Dancing with the Stars” cast members. Shepherd said she has wanted to be part of the show for a while and enjoys dancing in her mirror. I don’t know about her dance skills, but her personality may go a long way in her success on the show.
Music great Gladys Knight, called the “Empress of Soul,” is known more for her golden pipes that her skills on the dance floor. She said, when fronting Gladys Knight & the Pips, the guys did all the dancing and wouldn’t let her dance. At 67, age could be a factor in how far she gets in this competition, but you never know what can happen on this show.
One thing viewers can look forward to this season of “Dancing with the Stars” is the omission of reality television stars. Though model and actor William Levy appeared on reality shows, he has a following for his acting. No Real Housewives and no Kardashians this season. The cast spans generations; grandmothers, mother and children have someone to root for. The two-hour season premiere airs on Monday, March 19 on ABC.
Complete list of Stars, Backgrounds and Partners:
Melissa Gilbert (actress)
Melissa Gilbert spent her formative years alongside Michael Landon on the 70’s dramatic series “Little House on the Prairie.” Her role a Laura Ingalls earned an Emmy nomination. Television viewers saw her grow up right before their eyes. When the show ended in the early 80’s, she became the queen of television movies. She served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild, and she continued working as a writer, producer, director, and voice actor. She also appeared on stage. She’s paired with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. I expect fireworks.
Jack Wagner (soap star/singer)
In the 1980s and 1990s, Jack Wagner appeared on both daytime and nighttime soap operas, including “General Hospital” and “Melrose Place.” The versatile actor also worked on stage performances of “West Side Story” and “Jekyll and Hyde.” In the mid 80s, he became a one-hit wonder for his single “All I Need.” The song reached number two on the pop charts and number one on the adult contemporary charts. Aside from entertainment, he participates in golf charity tournaments. He’ll dance with Anna Trebunskaya. He may be a surprise on the dance floor.
Donald Driver (football player)
Super Bowl champion and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver did not start his life in the lap of luxury. As a child, he was homeless and had to live in a U-Haul truck for a while. He has other athletic honors, including holding the Packers all-time receiving record for yard and receptions. The challenges he faced in his early life prompted him, along with his wife, to create the Donald Driver Foundation. He also writes children’s stories. In the history of “Dancing,” football players often do well. He’s paired with Petra Murgatroyd.
William Levy (actor/model)
William Levy is likely least known among American fans of the show. Born in Cuba, Levy went to Miami at 15 years old and learned to speak English. He began acting, taking a supporting role on the Telemundo series “Los Teens.” He also appeared on reality shows and a music video. He became an international model and continued taking acting classes to hone his skills. He appeared on telenovelas and other Spanish-language series. He’s dancing with champion Cheryl Burke.
Sherri Shepherd (actress/talk show host)
Sherri Shepherd will have to do double duty, pairing her appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” with her day job as co-host of “The View.” Shepherd gained recognition for her supporting roles on television comedies like “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “30 Rock.” She also worked in films such as “Precious,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Beauty Shop,” and “One for the Money.” Though mostly known for comedies, she has worked on dramatic works. She’s dancing with Maksim’s brother, Val Chmerkovskiy.
Katherine Jenkins (opera singer)
Katherine Jenkins is referred to as the “Sexy Soprano” for the mellifluous sounds she produces from her mouth. The Welsh mezzo-soprano has been able to bring her operatic sounds into the mainstream, covering hit songs like “I Will Always Love You” and Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life.” She sang at Westminster Cathedral and the Sydney Opera House. She even sang on “Dancing with the Stars.” Her professional partner is Mark Ballas.
Gavin DeGraw (singer/songwriter)
Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw is probably best known for his song “I Don’t Want to Be,” featured on the drama series “One Tree Hill.” His 2003 album entitled “Chariot” went platinum in the United States. Though he’s released three albums, I think his best-known song will continue to live on television and movie soundtracks. His professional partner is reigning champ Karina Smirnoff.
Martina Navratilova (tennis player)
Czech-American Hall of Fame tennis player Martina Navratilova has a tennis record unparallel by most modern players. She has a record 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She maintained a consistent winning record that spanned the 1970s to the 1990s; she even made tournament appearances in the 2000s past the age of 40, well beyond most tennis players’ careers. She could be a formidable competitor on the dance floor with partner Tony Dovolani based on her athleticism.
Roshon Fegan (actor/singer/dancer)
As with almost all seasons of “Dancing with the Stars,” the show has a cast member representing the Disney Channel. Roshon Fegan holds that distinction this season. Fegan currently appeared on the Disney series “Shake It Up!” He also appeared in Camp Rock” and “Camp Rock 2.” In general, Disney kids do well on “Dancing,” often making it to the semifinals or finals. He’s paired with Chelsie Hightower, a professional accustomed to working with younger stars on the show.
Maria Menounos (television host)
“Extra” host Maria Menounos will join her co-host Mario Lopez as “Dancing with the Stars” alum. She is the only journalist to have conducted an interview with the entire Obama family, an interesting accomplishment considering she’s primarily an entertainment reporter. As of this date, mainstream reporters have not reached this goal. She was also the youngest host of “Entertainment Tonight” and worked for “Today” and “Nightly News.” Her professional partner is “Dancing with the Stars” champ Derek Hough.
Jaleel White (actor)
Former child star Jaleel White gained international recognition in the early 1990s for his role as the lovable nerd Steve Urkel on the sitcom “Family Matters.” After his run on “Family Matters,” White attended UCLA’s School of Film and Television and continued acting on television and movies. He guessed starred on USA’s hit show “Psych” and the Academy Award-winning film “Dreamgirls.” He’s paired with professional and “Dancing with the Stars” champ Kym Johnson.
Gladys Knight (singer)
Eight-time Grammy winner Gladys Knight began singing at the age of four years old and began singing with the Pips as a teenager. She’s had hits in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s with the group and as a solo artist. Her contribution of “Midnight Train to Georgia” is one of her greatest hits. She’s headlined her own show in Las Vegas. We will see if she and professional partner Tristan MacManus can make an impact on the dance floor. Hopefully Tristan will have an easier time with the music diva than he had last season with Nancy Grace.