Rick Perry To Join Cast Of ‘Dancing With The Stars’

FILE - In this March 7, 2014 file photo Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md. Perry has spent a record 14 years in office, but with eigh... FILE - In this March 7, 2014 file photo Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md. Perry has spent a record 14 years in office, but with eight months left he is now the focus of a grand jury investigation over a veto last summer. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Former Texas Governor and two-time Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry will soon throw on his dancing shoes to join the cast of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.”

Starting Sept. 12, Perry will join a cast that includes model Amber Rose, rapper Vanilla Ice and swimmer Ryan Lochte, who recently generated international controversy by fabricating a story about being robbed by armed police during the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, according to a Monday report from Entertainment Weekly.

Perry confirmed the announcement in a Tuesday tweet showing him with new partner Emma Slater, a professional dancer for DWTS. He said that he will use the show as a “stage” to help veterans.

Perry served three terms as governor of the Lone Star state and served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2008 and 2011. He had a strong start in the 2012 presidential race before coming in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses and ultimately dropping out early in the race. The deeply conservative, evangelical Republican ran again in 2016 but ended up becoming the first candidate in a crowded field of 17 to suspend his campaign. Perry left the race after polling poorly following the first debate in September 2015.

He initially endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) before rallying to Donald Trump’s side after Cruz suspended his own campaign. In recent months, he’s served as a surrogate for the Republican nominee he once called a “cancer on conservatism“, campaigning with him in Texas and defending his attacks on a Gold Star family on cable news.

Early polls have shown that Perry could unseat Cruz in a 2018 primary race, though it’s unclear if his turn on reality TV reflects a shift in the Republican politician’s career ambitions.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. This would seem to be about where Perry belongs. He certainly doesn’t belong in national politics. “Dancing with the Stars” seems to be where has-been politicos go to write their epitaphs.

  2. Avatar for jhand jhand says:

    Please tell us this is an April Fools joke that you all forgot to use five months ago. OTH, this gives me a good reason not to watch Dancing with the Stars for another five years.

  3. Calling Chris Christie…
    I would watch, if Christie competed.

  4. Avatar for rxbusa rxbusa says:

    It just feels so right.

  5. Perry will join a cast that includes model Amber Rose, rapper Vanilla Ice and swimmer Ryan Lochte

    He’ll fit right in then.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

53 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for valgalky23 Avatar for rxbusa Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for jloomis3 Avatar for clemmers Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for fourlegsgood Avatar for sandyh Avatar for blueberrytomatosoup Avatar for frankly_my_dear Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for danny Avatar for maxaroo Avatar for johnnywisc Avatar for tao Avatar for riverstreet Avatar for beattycat Avatar for clauscph Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for irishbark Avatar for oceanica

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: