DWTS’ contestant confident about return

SOURCE

By Amber Dowling

Drew Lachey prepares to out twinkle-toe the 'All-Stars'

Drew Lachey always knew he would return to Dancing With the Stars given another shot. So when he was asked to be a part of the upcoming All-Star cast, he had zero hesitations.

“I’ve said all along that if there was another show I would be doing it, just because I had such a good time doing it,” Lachey told TV Guide Canada in a recent interview. “I hosted the show … I feel like I’ve done everything except hair and makeup. So for me it’s like coming home.”

When Lachey first competed on the ABC reality series back in 2006, he and professional partner Cheryl Burke outshone the likes of Tia Carrere, George Hamilton, Lisa Rinna, Jerry Rice and Stacy Keibler to be crowned the second-season champions.

This time around, Lachey admits he’s a little older, but may be even more prepared to take on the cha-cha and the quickstep with professional partner Anna Trebunskaya.

“[I’m going to] drink a lot,” Lachey joked, when asked about his preparations. “The big thing I’ve been doing is stretching. The older you get the more you need to. Every time I work out I stretch … I’m in better shape now than when I did the show the first time.”

Given the stiff competition, the former 98 Degrees crooner knows it’s a good thing. When the show’s 15th season kicks off Monday night, he’ll be facing a handful of fellow former champs, larger than life personalities, and even polarizing figures.

Among those returning to compete are Olympians Apolo Anton Ohno and Shawn Johnson, reality stars Bristol Palin and Melissa Rycroft, actors Gilles Marini, Kristie Alley, Kelly Monaco, Pamela Anderson and Sabrina Bryan, fellow singer Joey Fatone, NFLer Emmitt Smith and Indy racer Hélio Castroneves.

When asked who the one person Lachey was surprised not to see back was, the celeb dancer didn't hesitate.

“Kristi Yamaguchi,” he revealed. “She was beautiful when she did it, she made it look effortless and graceful. There are a lot of talented people who did really well, but for some reason they weren’t back, or the chemistry of the cast, or scheduling or whatever. Fourteen seasons, and the Top 3 of each one … that’s a lot of people who aren’t back.”