Susan Lucci (Erica Kane) is the latest daytime star to join the cast of ABC's hit reality television series, Dancing With the Stars. While Erica Kane has stared down a bear and spent time in jail without so much as needing a touchup to her manicure, Lucci will have her work cut out for her. The seventh season for the celebrity dance contest will feature the biggest and most diverse cast to date.
"I am thrilled to be on Dancing With the Stars this season. I have always been a big fan of the show," Lucci said. "This is going to be an amazing life experience for me. I've already begun to work with my dance partner, Tony, and could not be more thrilled to be working with him. This is a very exciting time and I look forward to the journey."
Lucci will be paired with professional dancer Tony Dovolani. Though with the series for six seasons, Dovolani has yet to win the top prize on Dancing With the Stars. In season two, Dovolani and partner Stacy Keibler, made it to the finals where they placed third. The following year, Dovolani's partner, country singer Sara Evans, withdrew from the contest for personal reasons. Teamed with Leeza Gibbons in season four, Dovolani was ousted third and finished in ninth place. Actress Jane Seymour fared a little better with Dovolani and the pair finished sixth. Last season it was back to form for Dovolani, as he and his partner, former Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur, finished in fourth place.
The list of other celebrities competing are Grammy-winning singer Toni Braxton, former NSYNC member Lance Bass, television host Brooke Burke, two-time gold medalist track star Maurice Green, Super Bowl champ Warren Sapp, comediam Jeffrey Ross, celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, Emmy and Oscar winner Cloris Leachman, actor Ted McGinley, Olympic beach volleyball gold medal winner Misty May-Treanor, reality star Kim Kardashian, and Hannah Montana star Cody Linley -- the youngest-ever Dancing contestant.
Returning to the show are hosts Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris, as well as judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba.
Previous daytime stars have fared very well on Dancing With the Stars. Kelly Monaco (Sam McCall, General Hospital) was crowned the winner of the show's first season. In season five, Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery, All My Children) finished fifth with his partner, Edyta Sliwinska. Former stars Lisa Rinna (ex-Billie Reed, Days of our Lives) and Mario Lopez (ex-Christian Ramirez) have also competed on the program. Rinna placed fourth in the second season and Lopez came in second to winner Emmitt Smith in the season number three.
Dancing With the Stars returns on Monday, September 22nd at 8:00p.m., the first night of a special three-night premiere. In the first week of competition, two couples will be told to take off their dancing shoes and head home.
