A rapper popular in the 1990s, two actresses from beloved sitcoms, two Olympians…these Dancing With the Stars contestants make sense. And then there's Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas and one-time presidential candidate.
Yes, a man who was one of the many vying for the Republican nomination is lacing up his dance shoes and going after the Mirrorball Trophy. As the saying goes, if you can't be president, why not try to win Dancing With the Stars? That's not a saying? Maybe it will be.
Sure, reality TV worked in Donald Trump's favor to make him a household name with countless seasons of The Apprentice and Celebrity Apprentice on NBC under his belt, so is Perry hoping for the same? He took to Twitter to explain why he's partnering with Emma Slater and hitting the dance floor for Dancing With the Stars season 23.
"I'm dedicated to helping #veterans however possible, and I'm going to use @dancingabc as a stage to do that. #DWTS," he tweeted along with a photo of himself and Slater in their DWTS garb.
I?m dedicated to helping #veterans however possible, and I?m going to use @dancingabc as a stage to do that. #DWTS pic.twitter.com/oQpfJrrYcC
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) August 30, 2016
The full Dancing With the Stars season 23 cast was announced on Good Morning America with Ryan Lochte and Laurie Hernandez, fresh off the Rio Olympics, and their professional partners Cheryl Burke and Val Chmerkovskiy, there to help announce the cast. Lochte, who made headlines in Rio for both winning medals and a robbery report, said he's joining the show to move on from the negative press.
"The past two weeks have been the lowest point of my life. It's been really hard. But the fans, my family, my friends, they've all been really positive, keeping me going. And that's what I wanna do. And this is perfect with the show because I want to put that behind me," he said. "I'm never one to dwell on the past. I just want to move forward and I want the whole world to move forward. Everyone's got to be sick and tired of hearing about this. I know I am."
Later in the show he admitted he has no dance experience and he's "starting from scratch."
"I'm definitely really excited. This is completely new for me. I think it's time for me to hang up my Speedo and put on my dancing shoes," he said.
See the full cast list below.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy & Amber Rose
Valentin Chmerkovskiy & Laurie Hernandez
Artem Chigvintsev & Maureen McCormick
Sasha Farber & Terra Jole
Derek Hough & Marilu Henner
Witney Carson & Vanilla Ice
Lindsay Arnold & Calvin Johnson
Jenna Johnson & Jake T. Austin
Allison Holker & Babyface
Sharna Burgess & James Hinchcliffe
Emma Slater & Rick Perry
Cheryl Burke & Ryan Lochte
Gleb Savchenko & Jana Kramer
Dancing With the Stars season 23 premieres Monday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. on ABC.