Arts & Entertainment

'Housewives' Star NeNe Leakes to Compete in 'Dancing With The Stars'

Leakes, who first gained national fame as part of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" reality series, will compete in the next DWTS season, which debuts March 17 on ABC.

Season 18 of ABC’s ballroom reality competition “Dancing With The Stars” includes gold medal ice skaters and an Atlanta housewife, the network announced Tuesday.

When the show debuts March 17 on ABC, it will include NeNe Leakes, who first gained fame as part of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and 2014 Olympic gold medal skaters Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Leakes, who's branched out into acting on shows like "Glee," is partnering with Tony Dovolani, says CNN. 

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In a tweak to the show’s format, a twist called “The Switch Up” has been added. This lets viewers vote to change the pairings of celebrities and professional dancers, says ABC.

The show’s biography of Leakes says: “Leakes shot to stardom as a fan favorite on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Her popularity as a housewife led to her own Bravo television series “I Dream of Nene: The Wedding.” In 2012, she was cast as coach Roz Washington on “Glee” and later that year landed a starring role on NBC’s sitcom “The New Normal.” Leakes has also guest-starred in BET comedies, “The Game” and “Let’s Stay Together.”

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“She is the author of “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice,” discussing her fractured childhood, abusive relationship and struggles with being a single mother. Currently, Leakes resides in Duluth, a suburb of Atlanta, along with her two children and husband, Gregg Leakes.”


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