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After 2 Failed Presidential Runs, Rick Perry Joins 'Dancing With the Stars'

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's is taking the Texas two-step to Dancing with the Stars, according to ET Online.

By Hannah Wise

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's is taking the Texas two-step to Dancing with the Stars, according to ET Online.

Perry will join the Season 23 cast, along with fellow Texan Vanilla Ice, retired football player Calvin Johnson, Indy race car driver James Hinchcliffe and Olympians Laurie Hernandez and Ryan Lochte.

ABC revealed the contestants Tuesday on Good Morning America.

Perry appeared on Fox News' Fox & Friends Tuesday to stump for Trump, but was asked if he was in New York City for the Dancing with the Stars announcement.

"I'm in New York not for any big announcement, I'm in New York because my daughter is getting married and she's getting her gown finalized today," Perry said.

"I will say if this rumor does turn out to be true," he added. "It would be a great thing to know how to dance at your daughter's wedding."

Perry, the longest serving governor in Texas history and a former presidential candidate, confirmed on Twitter that he will use the show to draw attention to the needs of veterans.

Perry is not the first Texas politician to put on his dancing boots.

In 2009, former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was paired with Cheryl Burke on season nine of the reality-TV dance show.

In his debut, DeLay danced the cha-cha to The Trogg's 1966 hit "Wild Thing."

Sen. John Cornyn told The Dallas Morning News at the time that he'd seen DeLay's performance and that DeLay had more moxie than grace.

"It was a remarkable performance. He has a lot of self confidence but I think he needs to keep his day job," Cornyn said.

DeLay, who never scored very high with the judges, left the show after just a few weeks because of stress fractures in his feet. He did however return for the season finale to dance, what else, the two-step.

(c)2016 The Dallas Morning New

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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