Dancing with the Stars Season 16 Cast Revealed

The reality show once again expands the definition of "star"

  • Share
  • Read Later
Erika Goldring / Getty Images

An Olympian, a Dick, and an American Idol alumna are all slated to take a turn on the dance floor on Dancing with the Stars. The reality show’s 16th season kicks off on March 18th and, as always, the show is rapidly expanding the definition of a “star,” including several Google-worthy contestants along with a whole slough of athletes ready to take their shot at the Mirrorball Trophy.

Winning a Super Bowl wasn’t enough for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who is joining the cast along with boxer Victor Ortiz. Country singer Wynonna Judd (pictured) will appeal to music fans of all ages, while easy-on-the-eyes General Hospital star Ingo Rademacher will fill the Gilles Marini eye-candy role.

Two comedians are taking the dance floor: D.L. Hughley and actor/comedian/screw-up Andy Dick will be providing the season’s comic relief. Sixteen-year-old Disney actress Zendaya Coleman (Shake It Up) will be this season’s youngest competitor. Ice skating legend and former Olympian Dorothy Hamill will be joined by fellow Olympian Aly Raisman who won gold at the 2012 Olympics as part of gymnastics “Fierce Five.”

(MORE: Dancing with the Stars Results Watch: Who Is the New Winner?)

In the great reality-show crossover of 2013, both American Idol alum Kellie Pickler and Real Housewives of Beverley Hills star Lisa Vanderpump will compete on the show. This leaves one to ponder the inevitability of a future where the only thing on television are reality shows starring the stars of other reality shows.

During the incursion into Good Morning America‘s airtime, ABC also announced that several of the longtime Dancing with the Stars pros are sitting this season out. That includes fan favorites Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower, Louis van Amstel and, perhaps most surprisingly, Maksim Chmerkovskiy (meaning that fans looking to satisfy their Chmerkovskiy fix will have to settle for his brother Valentin).

Joining the professional dance crew are three new pros — Lindsay Arnold, Gleb Savchenko and Sharna Burgess. The newbies join returning dancers Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas, Tristan MacManus, Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff and reigning champ Tony Dovolani, who won the coveted Mirrorball Trophy with the help of former reality star Melissa Rycroft during the show’s All-Star season.

As always, we’ll be watching so you don’t have to.

MORE: The Bachelor Watch: Three’s A Crowd in a Fantasy Suite

MORE: Dancing with the Stars Watch: All-Stars Edition Kicks Off