Dancing With the Stars may be making a lot of changes for season 29, but apparently none of those changes involve making the cast list less chaotic.
Sources tell E! News exclusively that Carole Baskin, Chrishell Stause and Anne Heche are all in talks to compete for the Mirrorball trophy this season, and are close to being confirmed. Sources also say that Dr. Anthony Fauci, coronavirus expert, was asked, but declined to participate, which is really a shame. Just imagine Carole Baskin and Dr. Fauci standing on that stage together, awaiting the results of America's vote.
The only confirmed celebs this season are Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean and former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, who was asked to join the show by Chris Harrison after her episode of The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons—Ever! aired. On Aug. 27, McLean made a virtual appearance on Good Morning America to announce his participation in the ABC series. When GMA's T.J. Holmes asked if he has an "advantage" due to his boy band past, McLean said this style of dancing is a bit "different" than his previous performances. "I've been dancing since I was about 6 years old," the 42-year-old admitted. "But this is gonna be a little bit different. There was definitely no foxtrot in the past 27 years, I can assure you that."
While on GMA, McLean also received a video message from his bandmate and former DWTS runner-up Nick Carter, who encouraged him to "go get that Mirrorball!"
The full cast will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 2 on Good Morning America. Until then, ABC won't be confirming or commenting on any cast reports.
Get the full scoop on the potential season 29 cast below!
Season 29 is the start of a "new creative direction" for Dancing With the Stars. Tyra Banks has signed on as the new host and a new executive producer, while Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews will no longer be a part of the show. Banks has promised that the season will be "so next level" while "still keeping the stuff that we know America loves."
The coronavirus pandemic means there will be other changes this season as well, many of which have yet to be announced. There will likely be no in-studio audience, and all pros will have to quarantine separately from each other, even if they're married to each other.
The list of pros includes three married couples this season: Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy; Sasha Farber and Emma Slater; and Pasha Pashkov and first-time pro Danielle Karagach.
Britt Stewart is also joining as a first-time pro, and the first Black female pro the show has ever had. The other pros are Artem Chigvintsev, Brandon Armstrong, Sharna Burgess, Cheryl Burke, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Gleb Savchenko, and reigning champ Alan Bersten.
The full cast will be announced on GMA on Sept. 2, and the season will premiere on Monday, Sept. 14. at 8 p.m. on ABC.
This article was originally published on Mon, Aug 24, 2020, 3:00 p.m.