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ABC/Craig SjodinThe 22nd season of Dancing with the Stars premieres tonight on ABC, and this year’s obligatory musician in the lineup is Wanya [wahn-YAY] Morris of multi-platinum, chart-topping group Boyz II Men. Wanya is so convinced that he’s going to win that he says he’ll perform a special serenade for his fellow contestants as they get voted off the show, just to rub it in.
“[‘End of the Road’], that’s what I’m gonna sing every single time,” Wanya tells ABC Radio, referring to Boyz II Men’s 1992 #1 hit. “You know I am! You better believe it!”
All joking aside, though, Wanya is grateful that he and the group are still around and well-known enough for him to participate on Dancing with the Stars — they’ll mark their 25th anniversary this year, in fact. They’re especially top of mind since they performed in Fox’s top-rated Grease! Live a few months ago. So what’s the secret to their longevity? Wanya says it’s all about keeping it real.
“If you stay true to who you are and represent yourself and what your values are, and you don’t let anything take you away from your goal and who you are, you can never be lost,” he tells ABC Radio.
“People will always remember and they’ll always give you a chance because they remember how much of a chance that your entertainment value gave them throughout the course of their lives. I get it all the time,” he adds. “So I think that this is gonna be something that people are gonna feel good about.”
On the two-hour season premiere, each couple will dance either the cha cha, foxtrot, jive, tango or quickstep. Wanya and his partner Lindsay Arnold will cha cha to “Motownphilly,” one of Boyz II Men’s first big hits. No one will be eliminated this week.
The singer is competing against Facts of Life and Real Housewives star Kim Fields, Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers baller Antonio Brown, actress Mischa Barton, actor Nyle DiMarco, Donald Trump‘s ex-wife Maria Maples, football star Doug Flutie, journalist Geraldo Rivera, television personality Ginger Zee, Full House star Jodie Sweetin and mixed martial artist Paige VanZant.
The judges’ panel this season will be comprised of Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and the returning Len Goodman. Reigning champion Derek Hough and Dancing with the Stars pro-turned-judge Julianne Hough are both sitting out the season. The fun starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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