ABC ANNOUNCES THE CELEBRITY AND PROFESSIONAL PAIRINGS FOR THE NINTH SEASON OF “DANCING WITH THE STARS”

ABC announces the professional dancer pairings for the all new cast of “Dancing with the Stars.” In alphabetical order, the 16 stars — with their professional partners — making their ballroom dancing debut are:

AARON CARTER, pop star, teams with KARINA SMIRNOFF, who returns for her seventh season.

NATALIE COUGHLIN, Olympic champion swimmer, teams with Season 1 champion ALEC MAZO, who returns for his fifth season.

MARK DACASCOS, “Iron Chef” star, joins LACEY SCHWIMMER, who returns for her third season.

TOM DELAY, former House Majority Leader, teams up with two-time champion CHERYL BURKE, who returns for her eighth season.

MACY GRAY, Grammy Award winner, teams with JONATHAN ROBERTS, who returns for his seventh season.

ASHLEY HAMILTON, actor and comedian, teams with EDYTA SLIWINSKA, who is the only pro to compete in all nine seasons of “Dancing with the Stars.”

MELISSA JOAN HART, actress, teams up with reigning two-time “Dancing with the Stars” champ MARK BALLAS, who returns for his fifth season.

KATHY IRELAND, entrepreneur and model, teams with TONY DOVOLANI, who returns for his eighth season.

MICHAEL IRVIN, NFL Hall of Famer, teams with Season 8’s Professional Dancer Competition winner ANNA DEMIDOVA, who makes her debut.

JOANNA KRUPA, model, teams with Season 7 champ DEREK HOUGH, who returns for his fifth season.

CHUCK LIDDELL, Ultimate Fighting Champion, teams with ANNA TREBUNSKAYA, who returns for her fourth season.

DEBI MAZAR, actress, teams with MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, who returns for his seventh season.

MYA, award winning singer, teams with DMITRY CHAPLIN, who returns for his second season.

KELLY OSBOURNE, reality star, teams up with LOUIS VAN AMSTEL, who returns for his fifth season.

DONNY OSMOND, showbiz legend, is paired with KYM JOHNSON, who returns for her seventh season.

LOUIE VITO, professional snowboarder, joins CHELSIE HIGHTOWER, who returns for her second season.

With the biggest season yet, “Dancing with the Stars” Season 9 kicks off on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) when eight teams strut their stuff, while the other eight teams will show off their moves on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET). On a special night and time, two couples will learn their fate and be sent home, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET).