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http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/entertainment/gossip/38192

This season of “Dancing with the Stars” is shaping up to be a good one. There are several black contestants in the mix, and after 13 seasons, the show has its formula of flashy dancing and hot dance floor competition down pat.

With all of the music and performance shows out there, “DWTS” keeps rolling on, giving the world of ballroom dancing more exposure and making dancers out of folks we’d never expect; Master P, Wendy Williams are just two unlikely examples.

The two-hour Season 14 premiere airs tonight on ABC at 8 p.m. EST.

Here’s a look at the African-American performers this season and who we think has a chance to take the mirrored ball.

GLADYS KNIGHT

We know Knight, the beloved R&B superstar responsible for classics like “Midnight Train to Georgia,” can sing any diva off the stage, but can she dance? We’ll have to see. The 67-year-old Grammy winner – who is also a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, with The Pips – has been an entertainer since she was seven years old. When she was with The Pips, though, she let them handle the heavy choreography, but we have the feeling folks should watch out for Knight. As long as she[s been in entertainment and with the career she’s had, it shouldn’t be hard for the Las Vegas resident to move the crowd. Who else can boast a six-decade-long career with the kind of success and respect that Knight has? And you can’t discount her rabid fans, who will surely rally around the singer and pull in hundreds of thousands of fan votes.

SHERRI SHEPHERD

We know Shepherd does stand-up comedy; we know she does TV hosting and acting, so it doesn’t seem like there are many entertainment doors she can’t burst through. But, can she dance? The last time we saw Shepherd, 44, trying to bust a move was before her wedding last year. Will her partipcipation in “Dancing With the Stars” reveal that she has a hidden talent? We’re sure that if nothing else, she’ll be talking about her experience all the time on “The View,” but that’s to be expected. Whether the large viewership she brings to “DWTS,” will help her, given her spot on the daytime chatfest, we don’t know yet. But Shepherd’s extremely likable, so she may just charm her way into sticking around for some time.

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http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/entertainment/gossip/38192