Dancing With the Stars...and a Bunch of Other Dudes

Denise Richards, Steve-O, Belinda Carlisle, Shawn Johnson and Jewel among the 13 celebs on the card for Dancing With the Stars

By Natalie Finn Feb 09, 2009 4:12 AMTags
Denise Richards, Steve-O, Jewel, Gilles Marini, Shawn Johnson, David Alan GrierSteve Granitz/Getty Images, Charley Gallay/Getty Images, Jean-Paul Aussenard/Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images, Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for WSF, Ethan Miller/Getty Images

We know one of the couples to expect on Dancing With the Stars this season—although not a pair who will be dancing together.

Pop songstress Jewel and her rodeo cowboy hubby Ty Murray have both signed up for the eighth season of Dancing With the Stars, marking the first time a non-professional husband and wife duo will be competing at the same time.

Along with Jewel, musicianship of a certain caliber will be provided by raunchy rapper Lil Kim, country singer Chuck Wicks, who got his start on the short-lived competition series Nashville, and former Go-Gos frontwoman Belinda Carlisle, who at 50 will be this season's oldest female contestant.

Hoping to lure away some of CBS' Grammys audience, ABC revealed the upcoming lineup periodically throughout the night Sunday, during episodes of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. The synergy then kicks into full gear tomorrow, with one of the chosen baker's dozen appearing on Good Morning America Monday, while another will make a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live.

And for his next stunt...Jackass alum Steve-O is preparing for a trot or two (or more, depending on whether he's serious or is prepared to be this season's Adam Carolla) across the floor. Then again, this year's funnyman could also be former In Living Color comedian David Alan Grier.

Also fresh from the reality-TV pool is former Wild Things siren Denise Richards, 37,who might have to split the hot mom vote with Access Hollywood anchor Nancy O'Dell, who at 42 is the fit-and-fab mother of a 19-month-old daughter. Both ladies will have birthdays before the show premieres, as well.

Holding down the fort for the athletes are pintsize Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, fresh off her gold medal-winning performance in Beijing, and NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, whose turn it is to prove that big, burly men really can dance. The 50-year-old retired linebacker won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, with whom he spent his entire pro career—but you can be sure it's a far cry from the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the gaudy disco ball.

Meanwhile, Johnson will be the youngest contestant in DWTS history.

On hand for eye-candy—and in need of a Wikipedia page, although probably not for long—is French actor Gilles Marini, the hunk who flashed his junk at next-door neighbor Samantha in the Sex and the City movie.

At 58, Apple Computer cofounder Steve Wozniack will be this season's oldest competitor, not to mention one of its least recognizable.

So, um…yeah.

The complete lineup for the eighth season of Dancing With the Stars, premiering March 9 on ABC, is as follows:

• Belinda Carlisle, 58, singer
• Stephen "Steve-O" Glover, 34, reality-TV star|
• David Alan Grier, 53, comedian
• Shawn Johnson, 17, Olympic gymnast
• Jewel Kilcher, 34, singer, TV personality
• Lil Kim, 33, rapper
• Gilles Marini, 33, actor
• Ty Murray, 39, former rodeo cowboy
• Nancy O'Dell, 42, entertainment anchor  (43 when the show starts)
• Denise Richards, 37, actress
• Lawrence Taylor, 50, retired NFL player
• Chuck Wicks, 29, singer
• Steve Wozniack, 58, technology billionaire

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