Red Carpet Report: Derek, Maks, Julianne returning to ‘DWTS’; DJ Pauly D + Aubrey O’Day; Suzanne Somers; Celine Dion
Las Vegas is front and center again as Season 23 of ABC’s DANCING WITH THE STARS premieres Sept. 12. It’s not just the reunion of Las Vegas dancing professionals and brother-and-sister Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, but also the return after a four-year hiatus for LE REVE — THE DREAM at Wynn Las Vegas choreographer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Derek will be dancing, while Julianne returns as a judge.
Las Vegas regular and Olympic champion swimmer Ryan Lochte is set to be among the cast when they’re revealed Tuesday morning on ABC’s GOOD MORNING AMERICA. There also are solid rumors that Las Vegas singer-songwriter and producer Kenneth “ Babyface” Edmonds, a big supporter of our annual Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” galas, will be competing for the mirror-ball trophy.
Others contestants are likely to include my friend British actress Emma Samms (DYNASTY, GENERAL HOSPITAL), actress Maureen McCormick (THE BRADY BRUNCH), model and Kanye West’s ex Amber Rose, actor Jake Austin (WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE) and actress Terra Jole (LITTLE WOMEN).
Dance pro Kym Johnson, who celebrated her bachelorette party here last month, won’t be on the floor this season as she’s now married to her Season 20 partner SHARK TANK mogul Robert Herjavec. Derek had not planned to dance in the new season, but the opening of his Broadway show SINGING IN THE RAIN playing Gene Kelly has been delayed.
REUNITED!
The tabloids have called the romance between Aubrey O’Day and Las Vegas-based DJ Pauly D, which I first reported, as a tempestuous “up-and-down” and on-and-off affair. Now, though, I can report that they are back together in each other’s arms and lip locked after she was locked up in the British TV series CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER HOUSE.
This month, the duo were said to have split, but over the weekend when she ended her run inside the house, Pauly was right there in England to kiss the former PEEPSHOW at Planet Hollywood and Danity Kane star. Aubrey finished fifth and exited with her hand on her heart as she ran toward Pauly.
LONG-LASTING
Actress Suzanne Somers, who is one of the first celebrities to commit to attending our 2016 Best of Las Vegas celebration Nov. 5, has finally agreed after 20 years to write about the secret of her 50-year marriage to TV host and business exec Alan Hamel.
“It’s a figure eight. No beginning and no end,” Suzanne told me. “A great love story wrapped around a business, and we haven’t spent one night apart in over 35 years. It’s a juicy odyssey. It’s a roller coaster loaded with lots of sex.”
AN INTENSE BOND
Forget the romance rumors that will certainly fill the tabloids about Celine Dion and her guitarist, Kaven Girouard, but the couple do describe their bond as “intense” and have confirmed their “close relationship.”
Our Caesars Palace headliner Celine coped with three emotional years of heartbreak as her beloved husband and longtime manager Rene Angelil suffered a long fight with throat cancer. New Idea magazine reports that Kaven is the man who’s helping Celine’s heart heal after she posted a photograph of the two of them on Instagram.
SWEET SPOT
I’m thrilled for ABSINTHE at CAESARS PALACE’s sexy burlesque Green Fairy dancer and singer Melody Sweets, who has landed a one-night-only show of her own at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 11.
Melody promises dazzling eye-candy decadence, kinky cabaret, glamorous burlesque and vaudeville-styled variety with Lon Bronson’s All-Star Band. Despite the classy atmosphere of The Smith Center, Melody assures that it will be intimate and uninhibited.
BIRTHDAY BOY
I’m celebrating a major milestone today and promise that I’m still going strong. I just want to say a very sincere and grateful thank you to all of you who sent birthday greetings (please check out this fabulous YouTube video). I am extremely touched by your kind words and warm thoughts.
Special thanks to my readers and Las Vegas entertainers Celine, Shania Twain, Criss Angel, Donny Osmond and Penn & Teller and my showbiz friends from around the world Ashanti with executive chef Barry Dakake, Joan Collins, Jenn Romas and her SEXXY THE SHOW cast, Joan Severance, Alan Thicke and good friends former Mayor Oscar Goodman and chef Charlie Palmer, plus a shout-out to the video’s producer Anissa Christal and editor Omar Gomez.