ABC unveiled the celebrities and their pro pairings Tuesday for this fall’s “Dancing With the Stars,” live on “Good Morning America.”
Below are the 13 selected stars and their official bios, all in the Disney-owned broadcaster’s words — so don’t blame TheWrap if you hate the wording (or the selections, we suppose).
Each celebrity’s pro partner is listed in parentheses beside their respective “star.”
Season 23 of “Dancing With the Stars” kicks off Monday, Sept. 12 at 8/7c on ABC.
Amber Rose (teamed with pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy)
Amber Rose is a proud mother, activist, entrepreneur, spokesperson, talk show host, model, actor and published author from Philadelphia, PA. MUVA, as she is affectionately known, has quickly become the unapologetic face of neo-feminism. Initially, accredited mostly to her striking appearance and keen fashion sense, the former Ford Model’s rise to massive popularity is now largely attributed to her controversial yet impactful voice on women’s issues. At the core of the Amber Rose brand is her non-profit, The Amber Rose Foundation, dedicated to women empowerment and equality.
Calvin Johnson Jr. (Lindsay Arnold)
Calvin Johnson Jr. was born in Newnan, Georgia. He is known to many as one of the NFL’s best Wide Receiver of all time. Most people in the football world know him as “Megatron.” He is also a philanthropist and a family oriented man. Johnson’s journey to where he is today is credited to his parents, Calvin Johnson Sr. and Dr. Arica R. Johnson. They instilled in Calvin at an early age that putting God first, maintaining good grades in school, being obedient, possessing good character and striving toward a purposeful mission in life are some of the necessary ingredients to life success.
Jake T. Austin (Jenna Johnson)
Whether appearing on TV/film or lending his voice to animated characters, 21-year-old Jake T. Austin is a multitalented actor who has showcased his talent across the board in the entertainment industry. From 2007 to 2012, Austin starred on Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning series “Wizards of Waverly Place.” The hit show returned to Disney Channel for a one-hour TV reunion special, “The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex.”
James Hinchcliffe (Sharna Burgess)
James Hinchcliffe is arguably one of the most popular drivers in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Currently in his sixth racing season and second for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, the affable Canadian has four Indy car wins, 10 podiums and one pole position to date. He was voted IndyCar’s Favorite Driver in 2012 by the fans and was 2011 Verizon IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year.
Jana Kramer (Gleb Savchenko)
Jana Kramer is an award-winning country artist. Her platinum debut single, “Why Ya Wanna,” soared to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2012, making her the most played new artist of that year, and her self-titled debut album hit No. 5. In 2013, the Academy of Country Music honored her with its Top New Female Artist Award, and Blake Shelton picked her to open on his “Ten Times Crazier” tour.
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (Allison Holker)
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, the 11-time Grammy Award winner, channeled the magic of his storied career with “Return of the Tender Lover,” his first solo album in seven years, which is a nod to his RIAA triple-platinum album “Tender Lover.” That 1989 definitive breakthrough spun off four R&B/pop crossover hits, including the R&B No. 1’s “It’s No Crime” and “Tender Lover” plus “Whip Appeal” and “My Kinda Girl.”
Laurie Hernandez (Valentin Chmerkovskiy)
Laurie Hernandez burst onto the Senior Elite gymnastics scene in 2016, just in time for the Rio Olympic Games where she won Silver in the individual balance beam and secured Gold in the team All-Around. Her goal had always been to make an Olympic Team, and her dream came true! She is known for her dazzling floor exercise routine, where she has been nicknamed the “human emoji” for her outgoing facial expressions and for her grace and artistry on the balance beam.
Marilu Henner (Derek Hough)
With the energy of a teenager, the wisdom of a sage, and the memory of a superhero, Marilu Henner has deservedly earned the nickname “Perpetual Motion.” Along with starring in over thirty films, six Broadway shows, and two hit classic sitcoms, “Taxi” and “Evening Shade,” this five-time Golden Globe Nominee is also a New York Times Best Selling author of ten books on health, parenting, memory, and lifestyle improvement. Her books have changed the lives of millions in her quest to make the world a healthier place.
Maureen McCormick (Artem Chigvintsev)
Maureen McCormick is widely known for her portrayal of eldest daughter, Marcia Brady, on the seminal ABC television sitcom “The Brady Bunch,” on which she starred from 1969 to 1974. She later reprised the role in many of the numerous spin-offs and films, including “The Brady Kids,” “The Brady Bunch Hour,” “The Brady Brides” as well as “A Very Brady Christmas.” But America’s favorite girl next door is way more than the three words she became famous for, encapsulated by “Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!”
Rick Perry (Emma Slater)
Rick Perry is a veteran of the United States Air Force, a former farmer and the former governor of Texas. He has devoted his adult life to creating prosperity and opportunity for families. As the 47th and longest-serving governor of the Lone Star State, he championed conservative principles that helped Texas become America’s economic engine. He married his childhood sweetheart, Anita, in 1982. They have two children and two beautiful granddaughters.
Ryan Lochte (Cheryl Burke)
Ryan Lochte has become a transcendent figure in the Olympic world. He is a four-time Olympia and a 12-time Olympic medalist. His seven individual Olympic medals are second all-time in Men’s Swimming, and he is the current world record holder in the 200 individual medley. Ryan has been named both American and World Swimmer of the Year twice in his career (2010 & 2011) and has a total of 70 medals in major international competition, including 45 first place finishes.
Terra Jole (Sasha Farber)
Terra Jolé is an American actress, producer, singer, and TV personality. Since 2014, she has gained recognition both nationally and internationally as the star and Executive Producer of Lifetime’s hit TV Shows, “Little Women: LA and Terra’s Little Family.” Terra also serves as Executive Producer on the popular spin-offs, “Little Women: ATL andLittle Women: NY” and she is currently a member of the Producers Guild of America.
Vanilla Ice (Witney Carson)
The iconic Robert Van Winkle – aka Vanilla Ice – exploded on the Rap/Pop music scene in 1990/91 selling 10 million albums in four months and hitting number one on the Billboard charts with the number one single, “Ice Ice Baby,” and number one album positions. His worldwide album sales are over 20 million and individual songs total over 160 million, and are still selling. His current TV show, “The Vanilla Ice Project,” on DIY won The Factual Award for the Best Home TV Show.