By: Jacob Elyachar
Dancing with the Stars revealed their pairings for their All-Stars season that will begin airing on September 24 on ABC.
Some of the All-Stars have been reunited with their original partners while others have been paired up with new partners. So who is dancing with whom? Read on to find out….
Kelly Monaco and Val Chmerkovskiy: The original winner has been paired up with Maks’ younger brother. This could mean that either the couple could go all the way to the finals this time or they might leave the competition halfway because of Val’s history of leaving the competition in the very beginning of the season.
Drew Lachey and Anna Trebunskaya: Drew competed against the fiery redhead way back in season two but now both of them are now new partners in this season. While Anna has gotten Jerry Rice and Evan Lysacek into the finales, her partners have been eliminated early on in the competition in the past two seasons. Could the couple be able to rally their fanbases together to make it deep into the season?
Could the NFL Legend score another Mirror Ball trophy during the All-Star season of “Dancing with the Stars?” Viewers will have to tune in to find out. (Photo by ABC/BBC Worldwide)
Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke: Unlike his predecessors, the retired NFL player will be reunited with his partner: Cheryl Burke for one more chance for ballroom glory. However, will they have a target on their backs because they won their season?
Apolo Ohno and Karina Smirnoff: The Olympic gold medalist will be without his original partner rising starlet Julianne Hough for this go-around of Dancing with the Stars. But he will be dancing with another champion: Season 13 champion Karina Smirnoff, who was paired with Billy Ray Cyrus on Apolo’s season.
Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson: Fan-favorite and former *NSYNC member Joey Fatone will be reuniting with his original partner: two-time champion Kym Johnson. Will their chemistry and their ability to provide incredible show-stopping routines be enough to break out from the pack again?
Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower: Like a majority of the former Dancing champions, Helio will be paired with a new pro. It would be very interesting to see how Helio interacts with the former So You Think You Can Dance alum and how far they go in the competition.
Shawn Johnson and Derek Hough: While Shawn Johnson has retired from the Olympic world; she will be the former champions in the race for the show’s coveted Mirror Ball trophy. While several of the other champions may have a rough patch trying to find chemistry with their new partners, Shawn may have an easier time adapting because of her pairing with three-time champ Derek Hough.
Gilles Marini and Peta Murgatroyd: The Frenchman stole a lot of hearts when he danced with Cheryl Burke in season eight. However, while Burke has been paired with Emmitt Smith, the former Brothers and Sisters star will be paired with last season’s champion: Peta Murgatroyd. If they can sizzle together, Peta might win her second straight championship title while Gilles can win his first Mirror Ball.
Can Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani return to ballroom excellence during the “Dancing with the Stars” All-Star season? (Photo by ABC/BBC Worldwide)
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani: Hopefully Tony’s recent string of bad partners can end when he is reunited with his season eight celebrity: Melissa Rycroft. Their chemistry and ability to entertain the audience can definitely make them a couple to be reckoned with in this season.
Pamela Anderson and Tristan MacManus: This couple is definitely the most unlikely pairing of this season. The former Baywatch bombshell placed sixth with Damian Whitewood in the show’s tenth season but in order to stay around longer, she will need to step up her game and Tristan is the perfect professional to help her out.
Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas: One of the fans’ most loathed stars is back for a second go-around. While she made it to the finale of season 11 with her professional partner: Mark Ballas, many of the show’s passionate fans are already counting down the days for the premiere to see her be the first person off this season.
Kirstie Alley and Maks Chmerkovskiy will be back on the dance floor this fall. (Photo property of ABC and BBC Worldwide)
Kirstie Alley and Maks Chmerkovskiy: The Emmy-winning actress made waves and lost weight while performing on the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars. While she and her partner Maks lost the Mirror Ball trophy to Hines Ward and Kym Johnson, there will be no doubt that they will bring their A-game all the way to the finals.
Fans also have the chance to still vote Sabrina Bryan, Kyle Massey or Carson Kressley into the All-Star cast. To vote, just head the show’s website: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/index/
