Pamela Sitt,
Mar 08, 2009
Melissa Rycroft may have turned down The Bachelorette after being dumped by Jason Mesnick on The Bachelor, but she said yes to the next suitor who came calling: Dancing With the Stars.
Meet the new cast of Dancing with the Stars
People.com reports that Rycroft, 26, will replace Access Hollywood host Nancy O'Dell on season eight of Dancing, which premieres Monday. O'Dell dropped out of the competition last week due to injuries. Rycroft will be paired with O'Dell's former partner, professional dancer Tony Dovolani.
Emails Between Jason and Melissa Leaked!
It's a shrewd casting move by ABC, which will capitalize on the rabid fan interest in this season's unprecedented Bachelor love triangle. More than 17 million viewers tuned into to see Bachelor Mesnick dump Rycroft for runner-up Molly Malaney, with whom he appeared on this week's cover of People magazine. Dancing is likely to see a ratings boost to an already sizable audience as Bachelor fans tune in to cheer -- and vote! -- for Rycroft, who has a dancing background as a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys.
Melissa Rycroft wows on Dancing With the Stars
Rycroft has reportedly been rehearsing over the weekend and is expected to perform on Monday's premiere.
Meantime, former The Girls Next Door star Holly Madison is rumored to be replacing DWTS' other open slot, vacated by an injured Jewel.
