Brian Kennedy is best known for his long and varied music career, which included backing vocals for Van Morrison and tours with legends like Bob Dylan.
THE FINAL DANCING with the Stars contestant has been revealed ahead of the next season of the show, which will begin in January.
Singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy will join 11 other well-known faces as they battle it out for the glitter ball trophy.
The 60 year old is best known for his long and varied music career, which included backing vocals for Van Morrison and tours with legends like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
Kennedy’s 1996 solo album A Better Man went quadruple platinum, with chart hits in both Ireland and the UK.
In 2006, Kennedy represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest with Every Song is a Cry for Love. He finished in the top ten. That same year, his moving rendition of You Raise Me Up at George Best’s funeral became a top five hit in the UK.
Kennedy is preparing to release his nineteenth album next year.
He said he was excited to join the Dancing with the Stars cast, and looking forward to “getting fit” and learning “how to dance properly”.
“What a way to start what will be my 60th year on the planet,” he said.
Dancing with the Stars is hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox.
The show will air every Sunday evening on RTÉ One from 4 January.
Here’s the full list of celebrity contestants:
- Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh
- Paudie Moloney from The Traitors Ireland
- Reigning Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins
- Comedian and actor Michael Fry
- Fair City actress Stephanie Kelly
- Television presenter Eric Roberts
- Olympic medal winning rower and doctor Philip Doyle
- Musician Tolü Makay
- Podcaster Amber Wilson
- Nationwide presenter Anne Cassin
- Apprentice UK finalist Jordan Dargan
- Singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy
Each celebrity will team up with a professional dancer to perform a live routine every week.
Each pairing will have a different dancing genre to master, from the Charleston to Salsa, and they’ll have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing live on RTÉ.
The couples will be scored by an expert panel of judges: Oti Mabuse, Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne.
Those who survive the eliminations will be awarded the glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.
