Although ABC has been leaking the latest “Dancing With the Stars” cast member names over the last week to build anticipation for the 21st season, the network made things official Wednesday on “Good Morning America.”
Here’s the complete cast list for this season, which kicks off Sept. 14:
• Alek Skarlatos, National Army Guard Specialist (partnered with Lindsay Arnold). How you know him: He’s one of the three Americans who recently made headlines for heroics on a train from Amsterdam to Paris, when he and his two friends successfully overpowered a man who opened fire.
• Alexa PenaVega, actress (partnered with Mark Ballas). How you know her: She was a child star in the “Sky Kids” movies, and now plays Kiley on ABC’s “Nashville.”
• Andy Grammer, singer (partnered with Allison Holker). How you know him: The pop singer was recently on stage with Taylor Swift playing “Honey, I’m Good.” Before that, he had the equally catchy “Keep Your Head Up.”
• Bindi Irwin, animal conservationist (partnered with Derek Hough). How you know her: The 17-year-old Australian is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin, and has carried on his legacy as a conservationist.
• Carlos PenaVega, singer/actor (partnered with Witney Carson). How you know him: If you have kids, and they watch Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush.” Oh, and he’s married to Alexa PenaVega, which makes them the first married couple to compete together.
• Chaka Khan, singer (partnered with Keo Motsepe). How you know her: “I’m Every Woman,” obviously. And as a music legend.
• Gary Busey, actor (partnered with Anna Trebunskaya). How you know him: As the strangest actor of our time? Also from many reality show appearances.
• Hayes Grier, Vine star (partnered with Emma Slater). How you know him: If you have a Vine account, or know what Vine is. Just know the teens love him.
• Kim Zolciak Biermann, reality star (partnered with Tony Dovolani). How you know her: Not only was she a member of “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” she’s the mind behind one of the greatest gems of our times, the song “Tardy for the Party.”
• Nick Carter, singer (partnered with Sharna Burgess). How you know him: The dreamiest member of the Backstreet Boys, obviously.
• Paula Deen, TV chef (partnered with Louis van Amstel). How you know her: As the TV chef who experienced an extraordinary downfall after that racism scandal.
• Tamar Braxton, singer/reality star (partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy). How you know her: Formerly a backup singer for sister Toni Braxton, she’s now a singer in her own right and star of two WE TV reality shows.
• Victor Espinoza, jockey (partnered with Karina Smirnoff). How you know him: He finally won the Triple Crown this year with American Pharaoh.
