Before the Disco Ball Lowers and the Sequins Start Shimmying: A Preview of Dancing With the Stars Season 8 - Page 4

Ty Murray and Chelsie Hightower: If you knew who Chuck Wicks was apart from Julianne, you might have known who Ty Murray is outside of Jewel. I just learned that he just happens to be in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the youngest ever Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) All-Around Cowboy. Although he's now retired from bull riding professionally, he's still president of the Professional Bull Riders and has appeared or starred in two other reality shows. Pro newbie Hightower is another transfer from So You Think You Can Dance, like Lacey Schwimmer. We'll see if this cowboy can do any gyrating when he's not straddling a bull. 

Jewel and Dmitry Chaplin: As a soulful singer, I would think Jewel would be able to channel music through her body pretty well, and perhaps the competition with her hubby will spur (hehe) her on to the finals. She's paired with another series newbie, who also happens to be a transfer from So You Think You Can Dance. I don't understand how Chaplin and Hightower both get voted off this show as contestants, but are good enough to be pros on DWTS. Am I watching the wrong show? 

No readers, I'm not, because this show is the one with the live band and novice dancers, whose transformations entrance me every time. See you next week — same time, same place, to report on the two-hour season premiere. 

Dancing With the Stars returns for its eighth season on Monday, March 9, 8pm Eastern/7pm Central on ABC.

Article Author: Kimberly Mauck

Kimberly Mauck writes travel and restaurant features for Oklahoma Today, teaches composition to college freshmen, blogs about her family, and often sheds blood, sweat, and tears working on her first novel, a young adult fantasy.

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