The final contestant for Dancing with the Stars has been announced as the show gears up for its new season in January. The lineup includes 12 well-known personalities, with Brian Kennedy joining as the last celebrity to compete for the glitter ball trophy. Kennedy, a veteran singer-songwriter with a storied career, has previously contributed backing vocals for Van Morrison and toured with icons such as Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. His 1996 solo album A Better Man achieved quadruple platinum status, delivering chart hits in Ireland and the UK. In 2006, he represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest with Every Song is a Cry for Love, finishing in the top ten. That same year, his heartfelt performance of You Raise Me Up at George Best’s funeral became a top five hit in the UK. Kennedy is slated to release his nineteenth album next year and expressed enthusiasm about joining Dancing with the Stars, noting his goals to get fit and learn proper dancing. "What a way to start what will be my 60th year on the planet," he said. The show is hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox and will air on RTÉ One every Sunday from 4 January. The full celebrity roster includes:
- Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh
- Paudie Moloney from The Traitors Ireland
- Reigning Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins
- Comedian and actor Michael Fry
- Fair City actress Stephanie Kelly
- Television presenter Eric Roberts
- Olympic medal-winning rower and doctor Philip Doyle
- Musician Tolü Makay
- Podcaster Amber Wilson
- Nationwide presenter Anne Cassin
- Apprentice UK finalist Jordan Dargan
- Singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy
Each participant will pair with a professional dancer to perform a live routine weekly, tackling varying dance genres from Charleston to Salsa. They’ll have seven days to perfect their routine before performing live on RTÉ. A panel of judges—Oti Mabuse, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian, and Karen Byrne—will score the couples as they vie for the glitter ball trophy at the season’s end. This coverage is brought to you with reader support that helps keep such stories free from paywalls.
