Dancing with the Stars hasn't premiered its eighth season yet but fans have already started to size up the chances of the 13 celebrities participating this season.  At the moment, there are a couple of celebrities leading the poll and one of them is Nancy O'Dell.  While many are rooting for the 42-year-old Access Hollywood hostess, she still has plenty of doubts.

“Do these people know that I have no dance training at all?” O'Dell said to TV Guide when told that she was leading their poll to win Dancing with the Stars.

Unlike most celebrity contestants who worry about falling or forgetting dance routines when going live, O'Dell's worst fear is knowing whether she can dance or not.

“It sounds so simple, but it's the truth! It's still so early that I still don't know.  I think I won't even have an idea until I videotape it and look at it.  I feel like I'm doing the moves and I feel like they look somewhat decent,” she said.

O'Dell first went into training last Tuesday to work on the waltz and has since been enjoying rehearsals.  And so far, her professional dancing partner, Tony Dovolani, is quite satisfied at her progress.

“He said he was really pleased,” O'Dell said of Tony Dovolani's reaction.  “And I keep asking him, ‘Are you just saying that to build my confidence?' And he said, ‘I wouldn't do that.' To you, it feels so foreign and new and awkward. Some of the stuff that he's had me do, I was surprised I could do them.  They were spins and stuff, dragging your feet on the ground, they were fun.”

Meanwhile, O'Dell reveals that her biggest threat in the competition is Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, whom Dancing with the Stars co-host Samantha Harris picked as the contestant with the most potential to win.

“Her athletic ability — God help her — and the experience of doing something physical in front of so many people under so much pressure has got to help.  She's able to hold her leg up for as long as she possibly needs to,” O'Dell explained.



-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide
(Image courtesy of ABC)