American Idol season 6 winner, Jordin Sparks, will be competing on Dancing with the Stars season 31 this fall, according to spoilers. Her partner will be Brandon Armstrong.
It won’t be the singer’s first time competing on a dance show. She appeared on the only season of The Masked Singer spinoff, The Masked Dancer, in 2021. She left the show in the Top 5, just shy of the semi-final episode. Paula Abdul, who judged Idol in 2007, when the then 17 year old competed, sat on the panel.
Wearing an “exotic bird” costume, Jordin was the only contestant in the Top 5 without any dance experience. She should be able to hold her own on the dance floor! Her last television appearance was a duet with season 2 winner Ruben Studdard on the Great Idol Reunion special on ABC, that celebrated 20 years of Idol.
And most recently, Jordin had a reunion with Chris Brown in Las Vegas, where they sang their hit 2008 song “No Air.” Chis and Jordin performed it together for the first time in 15 years. Currently, Jordin is working on her next album. She recorded over 100 songs, including collaborations with T-Pain, Young Dro and Shawn Stockman from Boyz II Men. Perhaps she’s timing the release of new music with her appearance on DWTS.
Jordin won’t be the first American Idol alum to appear on the veteran dance competition. Season 10 runner-up, Lauren Alaina competed in 2019 with pro-partner, Gleb Savchenko. Season 5 alum Kellie Pickler won season 16 in 2013 with partner, Derek Hough, who now sits on the judges panel.
MORE cast spoilers below!
Wayne Brady partnered with Witney Carson
Additionally, somebody who looked like Wayne Brady was spotted outside the rehearsal studio. And now the spoiler is confirmed. Wayne’s partner is Witney Carson.
Wayne won The Masked Singer season 2 as the Fox. He also hosted Game of Talents for FOX and guest judged So You Think You Can Dance twice. He also had his own talk show at one point, hosted a slew of other TV shows, and starred on Broadway.
Wayne can dance and will likely go far in the competition.
Daniel Durant partnered with Britt Stewart
Daniel starred in this year’s Oscar-winning movie, CODA. He also performed in the the Deaf West Theatre production of Spring Awakening on Broadway. He could be a dark horse, considering his acting and Broadway background.
Already spoiled: Joseph Baena, the kid actor Arnold Schwarzenegger had with the housekeeper while married to Maria Shriver will be paired up with Daniella Karagach.
Additionally, Tik Tok star Charli Amelio will dance with Val Chmerkovskiy. Disney cast her mother, Heidi, as well. Her partner is still unknown.
Returning pros
Returning pros include: Britt Stewart, Cheryl Burke, Peta Murgatroyd, Sharna Burgess, Emma Slater, Koko Iwasaki, Daniella Karagach, Witney Carson. Val Chmerkovskiy, Alan Bersten, Artem Chigvintsev, Gleb Savchenko, Louis Van Amstel, Brandon Armstrong, Pasha Pashkov.
A four member troupe will perform in opening dance numbers and more
So You Think You Can Dance winner Alexis Warr joins the troupe, along with Ezra Sosa, Kateryna Klishyna and DWTS vet, Sasha Farber (Surprised Sasha isn’t competing? He just split from his wife, competing pro, Emma Slater. Both competing on the dance floor could be sorta awkward…).
Dancing with the Stars 2022 returns Monday September 19 on Disney+ only
Disney renewed Dancing with the Stars for two seasons with the caveat that both 31 and 32 will be streaming only on Disney+. It will continue to air live, and allow viewers to vote for the winner. Additionally, the show will air with no commercial interruptions, which could mean longer running times for each episode.
Tyra Banks will return to Dancing with the Stars as host and an executive producer of the show. However, she will be sharing hosting duties with former DWTS winner and America’s Funniest Home Videos host, Alfonso Ribeiro. Conrad Green, who executive produced DWTS in its early years will replace departing EP Andrew Llinares.
Judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will resume their seats on the judges panel.
