TwitterDancing With the Stars hasn't even officially kicked off its new season yet and they've already pulled off the best twist ever!
Fans of the ABC reality hit were devastated to learn fan-favorite professional dancer Derek Hough would be sitting season 20 out due to his debut as the male lead in the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
But Derek managed to pull off the best surprise ever on Tuesday morning when season 20's celebrity contestants were unveiled on Good Morning America: he's returning after all!
Appearing via satellite from New York, Derek revealed that it was a last-minute decision to return to DWTS. "This all happened two days ago," Hough said, crediting Harvey Weinstein, Madison Square Garden and producers for "moving mountains and making it possible...It worked out perfectly."
So which of the new celeb contestants will be dancing with Derek? Nastia Liukin, the Olympic gymnast, who has won five medals in her career. The pair will practice in New York, where Liukin attends school at NYU, and fly out to Los Angeles for the live shows each Monday.
"I had a little heartbreak not being able to be part of the 10th season, so glad we made it happen," Derek said.
In January, executive producer Rob Wade revealed to us that the decision to not participate in season 20 was "tough" on Derek.
"It was tough for him. We had a real heart to heart. It wasn't an easy decision and it was difficult because I feel like, if not a father, a bit of an uncle to these guys and he was struggling with it so much," Wade said. "I was like, 'Look, you don't have to close a door. You can leave a door open and go off, come back in the fall. I don't want you to leave more than that and I'll let you go off and do this. We'll allow that.' He was very grateful."
DWTS premieres Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. on ABC.