Surprise! Derek Hough to return to 'Dancing With the Stars,' full cast named
The Mirror Ball is up for grabs again, and we finally know who has a shot to win it.
PHOTOS: See the "Dancing With the Stars" season 20 cast with their partners in action.
The stars for season 20 of "Dancing With the Stars" were announced Feb. 24 and so was the surprise return of Derek Hough, who had been previously thought to not be returning.
Hough explained why he changed his mind and decided to juggle his responsibilities between the show and his Rockettes show in New York. The commitments will require him to fly back and forth between New York and Los Angeles every week.
"I honestly had a little heartbreak not being able to be a part of the 10th anniversary, the 20th season, such a huge milestone for Dancing with the Stars. It's my family, and I wanted to be a part of it. And if I thought there was a glimmer of a chance to do it, I want to do it. So I'm so glad we made it happen, and we're going to make it the best season ever."
The new cast, joining the show for season 20, includes a 14-year-old actress, an NFL player and singers young and old.
Here's the full list of cast members, followed by their professional partners:
Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough
Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev
Riker Lynch and Allison Holker
Charlotte McKinney and Keo Motsepe
Michael Sam and Peta Murgatroyd
Willow Shields and Mark Ballas
Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy
Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess
Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani
Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson
Redfoo and Emma Slater
Whitney Carson and Chris Soules
The celebrity members of the show were announced Tuesday on "Good Morning America." The pros had previously been announced.
Hough's return wasn't the only surprise. Pro Witney Carson came out to say that her celebrity partner couldn't make it to Wednesday morning's show. "Dancing" host Tom Bergeron gave a hint to strongly imply that it would be someone from the "The Bachelor."
"Her partner couldn't rose, I mean, rise so early to be here," Bergeron said.
Soules confirmed this after his season of "The Bachelor" had ended, saying he and his new bride-to-be would be delaying starting their life in Iowa so Soules can compete on the show.
The stars were ready to fully commit to the season.
Sam released a statement on Twitter to say that "Football remains my unquestioned #1 priority" and that the show would be during the off-season.
"I'm all in," said Herjavec, an investor best known for being a shark on ABC's "Shark Tank." "I'm a little worried because of Kym's reaction when she found out it was me; she was crying.
Shields, who plays Jennifer Lawrence's younger sister in the "Hunger Games" film franchise, is the youngest contestant to ever join the competition.
The mirror ball will be gold this season in honor of the show's 10th year. Season 19 winner Alfonso Ribeiro came out to give his advice to the newcomers.
"Simply, it is a marathon, not a sprint. It's not about winning week 1, its about winning the final week," he said. "Pace yourself."
"Dancing With the Stars" season 20 premieres March 16 at 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. CT on ABC.
