The Bachelor creator and executive producer Mike Fleiss has confirmed Nick Viall's Dancing with the Stars participation.
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"A major announcement regarding #TheBachelor is coming tonite. TGI-#bachelormonday !!!" Fleiss tweeted to fans on Monday. "The official historic announcement regarding #thebachelor is coming shortly..."
Later that day, Fleiss officially revealed on Twitter, "I am happy to announce that @viallnicholas28 will be doing some dancing in the near future!!! #TheBachelor."
"Doing some dancing" can only mean Viall is going to compete on Season 24 of Dancing with the Stars, especially since reports about his participation have been circulating for days now.
"If you're wondering why this announcement was historic," Fleiss later continued, "just wait til you see #TheBachelor dance!!! #thelittlekicks."
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Viall, a 36-year-old former software salesman from Wisconsin, recently hinted he'd be up for an experience in the Dancing with the Stars ballroom when he told Entertainment Tonight, "I think it would be fun, you know? Who wouldn't want to do it?"
Viall explained, "I think anyone would feel lucky to even be considered... I think I would be open to any great opportunity. I never thought I'd go back on [Bachelor in Paradise] or The Bachelorette or The Bachelor, but I think I have learned in life that it is best to sit back and let things come your way, and take each situation on its own."
Viall will be following in the footsteps of former The Bachelor stars Sean Lowe, Jake Pavelka and Chris Soules as well as former The Bachelorette star Trista Sutter.
Melissa Rycroft, who competed on Jason Mesnick's season of the franchise, also stole the spotlight on two previous Dancing with the Stars editions. Rycroft even won the mirrorball trophy with pro partner Tony Dovolani back in Season 15, the show's All-Stars season, in 2012.
As previously revealed, comedian and actor Chris Kattan, pro bull rider-turned-model Bonner Bolton, reality TV veteran Charo, NFL player Rashad Jennings, Glee star Heather Morris, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Girardi, Fifth Harmony member Normani Kordei, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, pro wrestler Mr. T, and iconic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan have also reportedly joined the next cast of Dancing with the Stars.
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Although the official cast lineup won't be revealed until Wednesday, March 1 on Good Morning America, fan-favorite pro dancers Maksim Chmerkovskiy and his fiancee Peta Murgatroyd recently confirmed their return to the show after welcoming their first child together, son Shai Aleksander, in early January.
According to a People source, pro Sharna Burgess will also be back, as well as Witney Carson and Val Chmerkovskiy.
Jenna Johnson, who served as a pro partner for the first time on Season 23, reportedly will not be competing on the next edition of Dancing with the Stars, nor will six-time mirrorball trophy champion Derek Hough, who signed on to judge Jennifer Lopez's upcoming reality show World of Dance.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski