Yes, you read that right!!! Despite contrary reports, Julianne *will* be in the upcoming Dancing with the Stars -- likely, she changed her mind because her partner is actually her real-life boyfriend. But even more awesome, Chelsie Hightower -- THE Chelsie whom I adored on last season of So You Think You Can Dance -- has joined the cast as a professional dancer. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy. Part of my problem with DwTS the last few years has been because of my Julianne bias, I really haven't been able to open myself up to other pairings, but with Chelsie, I now have two pros I adore. Yay, yay, yay!!!
ETA: HOLY SHIT!! I didn't even realize that the other new dancer is Dimitry (also from SYTCD) and he's ultra-hot-stuff!!! Damn!! Now, they just need to get Natalie, Mark and Neil on there and I'll watch DWTS for the pros period!
Anyhoo, the full cast/pairing list
• Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska
• Actor Gilles Marini and two-time DWTS champ Cheryl Burke
• Rapper Lil’ Kim and season seven champ Derek Hough
• Actress Denise Richards and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
• Pop star Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts
• Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and season six champ Mark Ballas
• Reality star Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer
• Rodeo star Ty Murray and first-time Dancing pro Chelsie Hightower
• Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff
• Country singer Chuck Wicks and two-time champ Julianne Hough
• Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell and Tony Dovolani
• Actor David Alan Grier and Kym Johnson
• Singer Jewel and first-time Dancing pro Dmitry Chaplin
Actually, with this line-up, I see the potential in EIGHT! couples ...
• Rapper Lil’ Kim and season seven champ Derek Hough
• Actress Denise Richards and Maksim Chmerkovskiy
• Pop star Belinda Carlisle and Jonathan Roberts
• Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and season six champ Mark Ballas
• Reality star Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer
• Rodeo star Ty Murray and first-time Dancing pro Chelsie Hightower
• Country singer Chuck Wicks and two-time champ Julianne Hough
• Singer Jewel and first-time Dancing pro Dmitry Chaplin
But, right now, for me, really it's all about Julianne and Chelsie!!!