As Dancing with the Stars' seventh-season debut draws closer, the identities of celebrities rumored to be participating are being revealed faster than Maksim Chmerkovskiy's hips.
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In addition to previously reported participants Lance Bass and Kim Kardashian, soul singer Toni Braxton, Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge star Ty Murray, Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Dan Marino and former The Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson "will all be competing," an insider told In Touch Weekly in a Tuesday report.
"The cast is eclectic and diverse: We've got young, old, gay, straight, dance professionals and people who've never danced before," the insider told In Touch.
"Some of the cast are already starting to work out and train, even though they won't meet their dance partners for a few more weeks. It's shaping up to be the most fun season yet!"
Not surprisingly, an ABC representative would not confirm any of the aforementioned participants.
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"We are not at liberty to confirm any casting rumors or details prior to the official cast reveal taking place on Good Morning America, August 25," the rep told In Touch.
Bass has reportedly been "locked and loaded" to appear as a seventh-season celebrity participant since last month, and whether or not the openly gay former 'N Sync member will have a male or female professional partner has been a hot topic of conversation.
Dancing with the Stars fifth-season celebrity champ Helio Castroneves was overheard backstage at the recently held ESPY Awards telling people that Kardashian would be competing, and the Keeping up with the Kardashians starlet subsequently stated she'd be "honored" if asked but has declined to confirm or deny her participation.
In addition to starring in CMT's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge, Murray also appeared as one of the contestants on last summer's Fast Cars and Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race, which aired on ABC. He is also currently dating Nashville Star judge and mentor Jewel.
Henderson has made appearances on VH1's The Surreal Life and also its My Fair Brady spin-off, which stars her former The Brady Bunch son Christopher Knight. Should Henderson appear on Dancing with the Stars, the 74-year-old would be the show's oldest participant ever.
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Braxton and Marino have no previous reality ties, however Marino would be only the latest NFL star to appear on the show -- all of whom have faired well.
Retired wide receiver Jerry Rice finished second with Anna Trebunskaya during the show's second season; retired running back Emmitt Smith took home the third-season mirror ball trophy with Cheryl Burke; and active defensive end Jason Taylor finished second with Edyta Sliwinska during the show's sixth season this spring.
Dancing with the Stars seventh season will premiere with a special two-hour performance episode on Monday, September 22 at 8PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio