ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” premiering on Monday, Sept. 21, has just released its celebrity-dancer pairings for the ninth season.

Tom DeLay, who shocked nation by signing on for “DWTS,” will be hoofing it with Cheryl Burke, a two-time champion.

Debi Mazar, of “Entourage,” has veteran Maksim Chmerkovskiy as her partner.

Kelly Osbourne is with Louis van Amstel (fifth season) while Donny Osmond is paired with Kym Johnson (seventh season.

Teen idol Aaron Carter will be twirling it with Karina Smirnoff, who’s back for her seventh season.

Grammy winner Macy Gray is dancing with Jonathan Roberts, now in his seventh season as well.

The television actress Melissa Joan Hart will be swept up in the arms of two-time champ Mark Ballas.

Comedian Ashley Hamilton will stepping out with Edyta Sliwinska, the only professional to have competed in all nine seasons.

Model Kathy Ireland is with Tony Dovolani, now in his eight outing.

The model Joanna Krupa makes rhythm with Season 7 champion Derek Hough.

Singer Mya is with Dmitry Chaplin in his second season on the show.

Natalie Coughlin, Olympic champion swimmer, teams with dancing champion Alec Mazo from Season 1.

Michael Irvin, NFL hall of famer, is with the only pro newcomer, Anna Demidova, who won the tryout.

Ultimate fighter Chuck Liddell is making his moves with four-season pro Anna Trebunskaya.

Last, professional snowboarder, Louie Vito joins Chelsea Hightower in her second season.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation on the Web as to who would be hitting the floor on “DWTS.”

Read more:

Donny Osmond
Singer

Mya
R&B singer and actress

Michael Irvin
Former NFL wide-receiver

Melissa Joan Hart
Actress (’Sabrina the Teenage Witch’)

Kelly Osbourne
Singer

Debi Mazar
Actress (’Entourage’)

Chuck Liddell
Light heavyweight champion

Natalie Coughlin
Olympic gold medalist in swimming

Joanna Krupa
Swimsuit model

Aaron Carter
Singer

Tom DeLay
Former House majority leader

Kathy Ireland
Model

Ashley Hamilton
Actor, son of former ‘Dancing’ contestant George Hamilton; previously married to Shannen Doherty and Angie Everhart.
Mark Dacascos
Actor, host of ‘Iron Chef America’

Louie Vito
Pro snowboarder

Macy Gray
Grammy-winning singer

Shock, relief and tears filled the backstage area of Dancing with the Stars tonight as Denise Richards‘ samba sent her packing.

“For a minute, I thought we had a shot at staying,” Denise told E! News backstage after tonight’s elimination show. “I’m really glad I got to do the dance over again and get better scores and a better reaction. It was better to go out on that note than last night.”

Better scores indeed. Denise and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy earned five more points in her dance-off against bottom two-er Holly Madison. “I never imagined anybody could improve in a day by five points unless you flat out fell on the floor,” says Maksim.

Find out what Chuck Wicks whispered in Julianne Hough’s ear, what made Steve-O say ‘for crying out loud,’ and what Jewel still does for hubby Ty Murray…

Chuck Wicks on preparing for the worst: “Once they had the first four names and we weren’t in there, I whispered in [Julianne Hough’s] ear, ‘We may want to start practicing the dance a little bit.’”

Holly Madison on the dance-off: “It was really scary. I thought for sure that we were gone out of the competition. I was really freaking out, so hopefully I won’t be so scared next time.”

Ty Murray on Jewel: Ty tells us that his wife and ex-competitor Jewel might be gone from the competition, but she’s showing her support…with foot rubs!

Steve-O on perspective: “This taught me not to take myself too seriously. For crying out loud, this is a dance-off. If your biggest problem is that you screwed up a dance routine or that you’re not on a dance show, I think everything is pretty good.”

Steve Wozniak on being safe: “That was the most incredible surprise. I was setting myself up to be so happy doing my dance again. When that came, my world turned in an instant…I was crying. I still have tears a little.”

Gilles Marini on Woz: “It’s not shocking. Remember one thing: many, many people vote. Maybe [Woz] has 70% of the overall vote, so who knows? If people don’t vote, we are gone. Even if we have three 9’s, they still need to vote.”

Lil’ Kim on Denise: “I’ve met a totally different person than what we read or see [in the media]. Sometimes that press bothers her because she talked to me [about it]. She’s really a sweet girl.”

Not so long ago, reality TV was the last place any self-respecting celebrity would wish to end up.

Now, though, the famous — and almost-famous — are lining round the block to get on the most popular shows, like “Dancing With the Stars” or “Celebrity Apprentice.” And it isn’t for the money.

Stars on a multi-character scripted drama can make upwards of $50,000 an episode – sometimes way upward. On reality shows, celebrities get what is referred to as Most Favored Nation status — which means nobody gets more than anybody else. The celebs on “Dancing With the Stars,” for example, get $200,000 for the entire season, [See celebrity reality TV payments on The Wrap] whether they’re booted or not, a bonus of $100,00 if they’re number one, a smaller bonus if they’re number two, an even smaller bonus if they’re number 3, a top TV agent told The Wrap.

So Marie Osmond made what Emmitt Smith made, what Cloris Leachman made, what Belinda Carlisle made this season — and she was the first celeb booted off.

Of course, every reality show is different. A celebrity with a show built around his or her life is likely to get producer credit and maybe something on the back end. Participants on an existing show generally get a flat fee without residuals.

“Between scripted shows and reality shows,” said a leading TV agent, “in the success scenario there’s just no comparison — and that’s the way it should be. On scripted shows, they have to have talent.”

But, in Hollywood, there’s always more than money. Especially former celebrities are sniffing out any opportunity to put themselves on the map — or sell themselves in a different guise to a whole new generation of fans.

“It’s all about the endorsements and other appearances. There’s a lot of heat coming off that show,” the TV agent said.

Lauren Conrad has gone from nobody to television mega-celebrity by committing her young adult life to video on the MTV series “Laguna Beach” and its follow-up “The Hills.” No longer simply an aspiring fashion designer, she has launched her own clothing line on the back of her cable network visibility.

Her fellow cast members Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge and Whitney Port have similarly diversified into music, film acting, fashion design, earning themselves millions of dollars in the process.

“Emmitt Smith always says that people outside of football didn’t really know his face before he was on the show,” said Deena Katz, senior talent producer on “DWTS.” “Marie Osmond and her dolls… they’re more of a multi-million-dollar property now. It put these guys back in the spotlight.”

Jerry Springer used “Dancing With the Stars” to help him escape the pigeonhole of his notorious daytime circus and turned it into a hosting slot on “America’s Got Talent.” It also put him in a position to be fielding, for the first time in his career, movie offers. Joey Fatone used the show as a springboard to become the host of “The Singing Bee.”

And the list goes on: “DWTS’” Julianne Hough got a boost to her fledgling country music career; Mario Lopez was tabbed to host “Extra.”

The thing that has changed from the “Battle of the Network Stars” days is, in a word, volume. “There’s more of it out there,” said one television agent who has set up reality shows for his clients. “With more out there come more opportunities for people who wouldn’t otherwise have had an in on television. Now they are given their shot, their 15 minutes. And some people are parlaying those 15 minutes into 30 minutes or hours or full careers.”

Though, for some, like Gary Busey, the options for reinvention seem limited to a stint on “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” — a hit show that is unlikely to do very much for its participants other than reinforce stereotypical views.

The television agent said he will spend several hours in development meetings trying to identify career goals and branding options for his clients before coming up with a reality show pitch. His greatest successes have come when he has been able to resuscitate a career — he did not want to name names, but he has done so several times by now.

“Some shows have been proven to be safe and have developed reputations as career rejuvenators,” a television insider said. “‘Dancing With the Stars’ is a show people can do. ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ is safe to do. Of course, it’s up to you to conduct yourself in a way consistent with your celebrity brand.”

Indeed, there’s no question a cleverly crafted reality show stint can do wonders — especially if the celeb is willing to open up the idiosyncracies of his or her personal or professional lives to public scrutiny.

“At a time when the business is contracting and opportunities for a lot of celebrities are disappearing,” the insider said, “there is greater pressure to take advantage of those kinds of shows.”

The Dancing With the Stars curse claims three more. On March 11, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was photographed leaving an L.A. dance studio wearing a cast on his left leg. An ABC spokesperson confirmed the injury and said, “He has decided to continue because he loves the show so much. He has seen a doctor and is taking precautions and resting his foot whenever he can.” Also soldiering on is Steve-O, despite on an on-going back injury. In a statement released yesterday, the Jackass star said, “A physical therapist has told me that nerves are being pinched in my back and it is in spasms because of inflammation related to torn muscles…. I’m still rehearsing every day, but walking through my salsa routine, rather than practicing the physical stunts and tricks that are incorporated into it. It is going to be a risky routine that I hope to pull off.” Finally, Gilles Marini is not letting a separated shoulder keep him from the quick-step. In an interview with TV’s The Insider set to air on Monday, Marini said, “[Last] Monday morning I heard a little crack and had a sharp pain in my shoulder. I didn’t want to say anything. I had an X-ray and found out I have a separated shoulder. I got a cortisone shot and it’s much better.”