'Dancing With the Stars' Season 17: Pro Val Chmerkovskiy Wants Oprah and Beyonce To Join As Casting Rumors Swirl [EXCLUSIVE]
Val Chmerkovskiy is ready to hit the dance floor once again for Dancing With the Stars Season 17. He told EnStars that he'll be returning for ABC's hit dancing show and already has a list of dream dance partners in mind.
Admitting that he's "reaching for the stars," Val revealed he'd love to dance alongside Beyonce.
"Clearly, Beyonce has great work ethic and that's what I'm looking for in a partner," he told EnStars at P&G's Everyday Effect event in NYC.
Another dream partner: Oprah. "She'd be great and work extra hard to win," he said.
Although he isn't banking on the Single Ladies singer or OWN host to actually do DWTS, he hopes to salsa his way to victory and win the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.
"I just want a partner who is willing to work and has a strong work ethic," he said. "You can be a supermodel, an actress, an athlete... but to be a good partner, you have to be willing to put in the work."
Previously, Val danced as a professional partner during Season 15 with Season 1 winner, Kelly Monaco. They finished in third place on the season finale. For Season 16, the dance pro was partnered with Disney Channel's Shake It Up star, Zendaya. The pair came in second place, behind pro Derek Hough and American Idol's Kellie Pickler.
Casting rumors for DWTS Season 17 have been swirling for months, but nothing has been confirmed. A source told Us Weekly, Paula Deen was approached but declined to join the hit ABC show.
Talk show personality Geraldo Rivera got the rumor mill churning on Aug. 5 when he addressed rumors that he'd been asked to compete. Rivera, who recently made headlines for tweeting a photo of himself wearing nothing but a towel, confirmed that he'd been asked to take part in DWTS season 17. However, he also declined the invitation.
"Honored to be asked to do DWTS. It's a great show, enduring & energetic. Sorry Deena but can't for lots of reasons including a bad foot Thx," he wrote on Twitter.
Season 17 of Dancing With the Stars returns Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. The new cast will be announced Sept. 4 on Good Morning America.
