Tom DeLay thought his opportunity to perform the Texas two-step with partner Cheryl Burke had passed when he was forced to withdraw from Dancing with the Stars due to stress fractures in both his feet, however he's apparently healed enough to return to the dance floor during Tuesday night's live finale.
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"I'm so excited to dance," the former Republican House Majority Leader told AOL's Politics Daily website in a Monday report.
"I'm much more comfortable now that I'm not competing."
While all of Dancing with the Stars' ninth-season couples will perform short routines during the finale, Politics Daily reported that producers have asked DeLay and Burke to perform a full Texas two-step routine to George Straight's "I Can't See Texas From Here."
"More people recognize me from Dancing With the Stars than politics," he told Politics Daily. "They say, 'I saw you dance. You did so good!'"
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DeLay had already been diagnosed with a pre-stress fracture in his right foot prior to the show's September premiere and subsequently revealed he had decided to ignore the advice of his doctor and producers and continue in the competition despite a newly-diagnosed dual stress fracture.
"I danced until the bones broke," he told Politics Daily.
After withdrawing from the competition DeLay returned to his Texas home -- where he stayed off his feet, helped his fractures heal with a bone stimulator, and did additional training by using a bike and other non-weight-bearing equipment, according to Politics Daily.
In addition, DeLay will be wearing something he personally feels comfortable in -- jeans, a T-shirt and cowboy boots -- however he told Politics Daily that producers added "a little Hollywood with just one string of sequins on the chest and back of the shirt."
Dancing with the Stars' ninth-season finale will air live on Tuesday night at 9PM ET/PT on ABC.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio