DWTS Season 8 Bios...
Lil' Kim
LIL' KIM AND DEREK HOUGH -- Born Kimberly Denise Jones, Lil' Kim is a Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum rapper, singer, actress and fashion icon. She is one of three female rappers to have a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with 2001's "Lady Marmalade," featuring Christina Aguilera, Pink and M?a. As an actress she appeared on television shows such as "Moesha" and "The Game," and on her own reality series, "Countdown to Lockdown," which had the highest-rated premiere in BET's history. On film she has appeared in "Zoolander," "She's All That," "Juwanna Man" and "You Got Served." She's currently working on her fifth studio album, expected to be released in 2009. Lil' Kim teams with reigning champ Derek Hough, who returns for his fourth season.
Steve-O
LACEY SCHWIMMER AND STEVE-O -- Determined to build a career in television and film, Steve-O, a.k.a. Stephen Glover, sent his self-produced videos to anyone he thought might watch them, including Jeff Tremaine . Steve-O wrote himself a "mile of work" to do for Tremaine and "Jackass." When MTV rejected his more dangerous ideas, he produced his own "too hot for TV" video series and stage show with the "Don't Try This at Home Tour." Steve-O also starred in his own show for MTV, "Wildboyz." 2006 U.S. Youth Latin champ and 2007 World Swing Dance champ Lacey Schwimmer returns for her second season to team with Steve-O.
Lawrence Taylor (LT)
EDYTA SLIWINSKA AND LAWRENCE TAYLOR -- Widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in the history of the National Football League, Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor rewrote the record book and built a legendary following during one of the most storied careers in the history of American sport. He spent his entire career with the New York Giants, leading them to two Super Bowl titles. He was the first player in history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in ten consecutive seasons. He was also a unanimous selection to the NFL's 75th Anniversary team, which honored the top players in the history of the game, was the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1981, Most Valuable Player in 1986, and was the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Lawrence was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1999. "LT" has written two bestselling books , has appeared in feature films and is an avid golfer and philanthropist. He teams with Edyta Sliwinska, who is the only pro to compete in all eight seasons of "Dancing with the Stars."
Shawn Johnson
SHAWN JOHNSON AND MARK BALLAS -- The youngest ever competitor on "Dancing with the Stars," 17 year-old Olympian Shawn Johnson was the gold medalist in balance beam at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she also earned three silver medals in the team, floor exercise and individual all-around categories. The current two-time National Champion and high-school junior, Shawn appeared on a limited edition Cheerios box in early 2009, led the pledge of allegiance at last year's Democratic National Convention in Denver, was a headliner of last fall's Tour of Gymnastics Superstars, and was named Choice Female Athlete at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards. Her debut biography, "Shawn Johnson -- Olympic Champion: Stories Behind the Smile," was released in December. She teams up with former "Dancing with the Stars" champ Mark Ballas, who returns for his fourth season.
Chuck Wicks
JULIANNE HOUGH AND CHUCK WICKS -- A gifted songwriter and vocalist, Chuck Wicks made a compelling impression with his Top 5 smash, "Stealing Cinderella," the fastest-rising single by a debut country act in 2007. By the time his first album, "Starting Now" , was released in January 2008, he had begun a year-long, 750,000 fan-packed tour opening for superstar Brad Paisley. Chuck co-penned 10 of the 11 songs on his debut CD, including his second hit, "All I Ever Wanted," and the new single, "Man of the House," a touching story-song about a boy taking on beyond-his-years responsibilities while his father is on military assignment. For more information, please go to: www.chuckwicks.com or www.myspace.com/chuckwicks. Chuck teams with girlfriend and two-time champ Julianne Hough, who returns for her fifth season.
Gilles Marini
CHERYL BURKE AND GILLES MARINI -- Gilles Marini exploded onto the scene as Dante, the Casanova living in the beach house next door to Kim Cattrall's Samantha in the "Sex and the City" movie, a role which has earned him international recognition. Born and raised in France, Gilles joined the French army and was stationed in Paris, where he served as a fireman for the famous Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris. After fulfilling his military duties, he decided to come to the United States to learn English while working as a model. Gilles, who has appeared in series such as "Ugly Betty," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Criminal Minds," will next be seen as Vanessa Redgrave's husband on FX's "Nip/Tuck." He currently resides in California with his wife, Carole, son Georges and daughter Juliana. He teams up with two-time champion Cheryl Burke. Cheryl returns for her seventh season.
Denise Richards
MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY AND DENISE RICHARDS -- Known for her roles in films such as "Wild Things" and "Starship Troopers," Denise Richards got her start as a fashion model before making her way into television and movies. She was cast as Bond girl and geo-physicist Christmas Jones in the 1999 James Bond film, "The World Is Not Enough," as well as appearing in films such as "Drop Dead Gorgeous," "Undercover Brother" and "Scary Movie 3." In addition to her film work, Denise has made regular appearances in the comedies "Spin City," "Two and a Half Men," "Friends" and "Seinfeld." She is currently working on the second season of her own reality television show, "Denise Richards: It's Complicated," airing on E! Entertainment Television. She teams with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who returns for his sixth season.
Steve Wozniak
KARINA SMIRNOFF AND STEVE WOZNIAK -- A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for the past three decades, Steve Wozniak, a.k.a. "The Woz," helped shape the computer industry with his design of Apple's first line of products, the Apple I and II, and influenced the popular Macintosh. After leaving Apple Computer Inc. in 1985, he was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. In 2000 Steve was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment. He is also a published author with the release in 2006 of his New York Times best-selling autobiography, "iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon." He teams with Karina Smirnoff, who returns for her sixth season.
Belinda Carlisle
JONATHAN ROBERTS AND BELINDA CARLISLE -- Belinda Carlisle is not only known as the lead singer of the Go-Go's, the most successful all-female band of all time, but also as one of the late '80s' most glamorous adult pop soloists. The Go-Go's' 1981 multi-platinum hit debut, "Beauty and the Beat," spawned mega hits "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat" and made the Go-Go's the first all-female band to achieve a No. 1 album. The following years saw continued success for the girls with hits "Vacation," "Head Over Heels" and "Turn to You." Belinda led off her solo career with the gold debut "Belinda," and followed with huge mainstream hits "Mad About You," "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "I Get Weak." Since then she has released five more albums, including 2007's French pop collection, "Voilˆ," and continues to tour internationally, both with her Go-Go's sisters and as a solo artist. She teams with Jonathan Roberts, who returns for his sixth season.
David Alan Grier
KYM JOHNSON AND DAVID ALAN GRIER -- David Alan Grier is recognized for his work in television and film - in TV he's known from roles in "In Living Color," "Life with Bonnie" with Bonnie Hunt, "DAG" and, most recently, "Chocolate News" for Comedy Central. In the feature world he has played memorable characters in numerous films, including "Baadassss!," "The Woodsman," opposite Kevin Bacon and Mos Def, "15 Minutes," "Boomerang," "Bewitched," "Jumanji" and Robert Altman's "Streamers." A multi-talented and Yale School of Drama trained actor, David began his professional career on Broadway as Jackie Robinson in "The First," for which he earned a Tony nomination. He then joined the cast of "Dreamgirls," and went on to star opposite Denzel Washington in "A Soldier's Play"; both actors continued their roles in the film version, "A Soldier's Story." Davis is paired with Kym Johnson, who returns for her sixth season.
Ty Murray
CHELSIE HIGHTOWER AND TY MURRAY -- Ty Murray has been labeled the most accomplished rodeo athlete in the century-long history of the sport. With a record-setting seven All-Around World Championship titles and two bull riding World titles under his belt, he has truly earned his nickname as "King of the Cowboys." Now retired from competition, Ty spends his time with his singer-songwriter wife, Jewel, on their 2,100-acre private ranch in Stephenville, Texas. He may have retired from the arena, but Ty hasn't slowed down as a cowboy. In 2004 he helped shepherd National Day of the Horse through the U.S. Senate, encouraging Americans "to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history and character of the United States." He runs his working cattle ranch and trains horses throughout the year. Additionally, he remains active with the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. , an organization he and 19 other elite bull riders founded in 1992. Ty serves as a board advisor, promotes a top level bull riding event in his hometown, and provides TV commentary for PBR events on NBC and VERSUS. He joins 10 Dance Youth National champion Chelsie Hightower, who makes her series debut.
Holly Madison
HOLLY MADISON AND DMITRY CHAPLIN -- (born December 23, 1979) is an American model and television personality, best known for appearing as Hugh Hefner's number one girlfriend with Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson on the reality TV series The Girls Next Door. Although Madison has modeled for Playboy, as well as having been part of a Playmate search, she has never technically been a Playmate.
She teams with 2006 U.S. National finalist Dmitry Chaplin, who makes his "Dancing with the Stars" debut.
Melissa Rycroft
MELISSA RYCROFT AND TONY DOVOLANI -- Melissa Rycroft is 25 years old and grew up in Dallas, Texas. She is a Libra, so her birthday is in the fall. She performed as a cheerleader with the Dallas Cowboys (she even appeared on the CMT television show), but she also worked as a land and marketing coordinator. She teams with Tony Dovolani, who returns for his seventh season.
N E W S
'Dancing With the Stars' producer on injured dancers: 'They throw themselves into it'
Mar 5, 2009, 07:55 PM | by Lynette Rice
The producers of Dancing With the Stars are considering whether to rethink their rehearsal policies in light of injuries incurred by Jewel and Nancy O'Dell while preparing for the eighth season, which begins March 9. Both women had spent the last few weeks learning to do the waltz, when Jewel suffered tibia fractures in both legs and O'Dell did some serious damage to her knee -- enough to require surgery. ABC will not confirm reports that Holly Madison, star of E!'s The Girls Next Door, will be Jewel's replacement, though it seems unlikely that DWTS will have enough time to find a replacement for O'Dell.
"Obviously, going forward, we're going to have to look at our policies," DWTS executive producer Conrad Green tells EW. "Unfortunately, injuries can come anytime. This is an intensely physical show. It's easy to forget that at home.... It's also a great cautionary tale and lesson to all future celebrities. What's important is that people don't overdo it." Green says he begins every season with a harsh warning that it's not as easy as it looks to sashay across the dance floor. "That's why we give them a month to train," he says. "We want them to gently work their way into it. This is a marathon, not a sprint. But people get the bug. They get competitive."
Ironically, Green says, its the younger, more athletic celebrities who seem more prone to injury. (Last season's Misty May-Treanor, an Olympic volleyball player, tore her Achilles tendon and had to quit. For her part, O'Dell is a tennis player.) Out of the 90 celebrities who have participated in DWTS, Green says, only Jewel, O'Dell, and May-Treanor were hurt seriously enough to force a premature end to their DWTS stints. Green added that O'Dell and Jewel have already asked about coming back. "We usually have to tell people to slow down and pace themselves," says Green. "George Hamilton had a bad knee and Cloris Leachman had high blood pressure and God knows what else. They knew their limitations so they played safely."
Last week, Jewel told EW that she was struggling through rehearsals because, "I’m dyslexic, so patterns are hard for me." She also talked about how she was using muscles she didn't know she had. Jewel's husband, professional bull rider Ty Murray, is also participating in the show. "I feel so awkward because I'm with someone who’s been dancing their entire life," said Jewel. "I just have to ignore myself in the mirror, because it's like watching a 5-year-old learn something new."
O'Dell also talked to EW and said she forgot about some of her old injuries -- which include tennis knee and a bulging disc -- until she began twisting and turning during rehearsals. She had already lost five pounds after a few weeks of training. "I have no dancing background," admitted O'Dell, who was planning on filing constant reports about her performance to Access Hollywood. "If this were a tennis tournament, I could predict my chances. But the most dancing I ever did was during a pom pom routine when I was a JV cheerleader."
Green says O'Dell and Jewel will still appear in Monday's premiere.
U P D A T E
Jilted by Jason Mesnick on the season finale of The Bachelor, Melissa Rycroft will rebound nicely on Dancing With the Stars, PEOPLE has learned.
Rycroft, 25, is to fill the slot vacated by Access Hollywood host Nancy ODell, who had to withdraw from the competition on March 5 due to a knee injury. According to a source close to the production, the Dallas beauty, who has had only days to rehearse, is expected to perform live on Dancings Monday premiere.
Girl Next Door Holly Madison is believed to be taking over for singer Jewel, who also withdrew due to injury. Both Jewel and ODell have expressed their desire to return to the ballroom in the future.
A spokesperson for ABC declined to comment. Monica Rizzo