ABC has already revealed the identities of the 13 celebrity participants on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars but has yet to reveal each celebrity's professional partner.  So far, we already know that actress and reality TV star Denise Richards will be paired off with Maksim Chmerkovskiy.  Most recently, Nancy O'Dell, co-host of Access Hollywood and one of the contestants of season 8, has learned that she'll be paired with professional ballroom dancer Tony Dovolani, something she predicted before the unveiling.

“I have narrowed it down to three, just based on height. I think it's going to be either Tony, Jonathan or Dmitry, who is a new dancer,” O'Dell said.  “I feel in my bones it's going to be Tony.  I don't know why.  I just do.”

And Tony Dovolani it was.  The 35-yearold dancer, who has traveled the world and won many championships, was partnered with Stacy Keibler in the second season of Dancing with the Stars, where they made it to the finals and ended up in third place.  Subsequently, he was paired with country music star Sara Evans, who withdrew from the competition midway through the third season because of her divorce proceedings.  During the fourth season, he competed with talk show host Leeza Gibbons and came in 9th place.  He returned with partner Jane Seymour for the fifth season and finished in 6th place.  His second most successful performance yet was during the sixth season in which he finished 4th place with partner Marissa Jaret Winokur.  Last season, he was paired with All My Children star Susan Lucci and came in 6th place.

Just like O'Dell, Dovolani was pleased to learn that Nancy was his new Dancing with the Stars partner

“I'm so glad you're doing this and I'm really happy I got you,” Tony told Nancy on Tuesday when the pair finally met.

According to a network spokesperson, the remaining professional pairings will be announced today after the rest of the celebrity cast has had a chance to meet their new partners.



-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Access Hollywood
(Image courtesy of Access Hollywood)