'Dancing With the Stars' 2014: Season 18 Celebrity Cast Announced

March 4, 2014— -- intro: "Dancing With The Stars" returns for its 18th season and the new crop of celebrity competitors may be the fiercest yet.

Fresh off their gold-medal win at the Sochi Olympics, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the dynamic ice dancing duo, headline the all-star lineup, along with "The Wonder Years" star Danica McKellar, comedian turned game show host Drew Carey, swimming legend Diana Nyad, and acting great Billy Dee Williams.

Former "Full House" actress Candace Cameron Bure, "Real Housewives" reality star NeNe Leakes, Australian pop singer Cody Simpson, and "Big Time Rush" actor-singer James Maslow are among the other celebs with their eyes set on the prized mirrorball trophy.

In two "Dancing" firsts, double-amputee snowboarding champ Amy Purdy, who lost both of her legs as a teenager and pushed to become a world-champion adaptive snowboarder, will be the first Paralympian to compete. Sean Avery is the first former hockey player in "Dancing" history.

In another surprise, pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy, the bad boy of the ballroom and favorite, will return after sitting out last season to much fanfare to dance with Davis.

See all of the pro pairings!

Which celebrity is a secret New Kids on the Block fan? Get surprising fun facts about the new cast here.

The hit ABC show is shaking things up, from the replacement of host Brooke Burke-Charvet with sports host Erin Andrews, to the announcement of an unprecedented format in which viewers can vote to switch celebrities and their pro partners mid-season.

WATCH: 'DWTS' Cast Answers Your Questions

The entire celebrity cast was announced live today on "Good Morning America" from Glendale, Calif., ahead of the March 17 premiere. Tom Bergeron and new co-host sports host Erin Andrews unveiled the celebrities and their professional partners, including reigning season 17 pro champ Derek Hough and beloved veterans Cheryl Burke, Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, Tony Dovolani, Val Chmerkovskiy and more.

Which couple are you most excited to see hit the dance floor this season? Tell us what you think in the comments.

Click through to learn more about the new cast and CLICK HERE see their pro partners. Watch the two-hour season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," Monday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

quicklist: 1title: Meryl Davistext: Olympic ice dancer Meryl Davis brings her gold-medal winning skating skills to the dance floor. Davis, 27, has been skating with partner Charlie White, 26, since 1997. While they won't be paired together on the show, the breakout Sochi stars will be fierce competition.
"I think we're excited for a little healthy competition," Davis said today on "GMA," adding that the trash talk between the two is "brewing." media:22549127

quicklist:2title: Charlie Whitetext: The Sochi star and second-half of the American ice dancing duo will trade skates his skates for dancing shoes this season.
"The way you move is completely different," White explained. The skater said he's excited to try something new -- especially tackling the Tango. media: 22760715

quicklist: 3title: Candace Cameron Buretext: The actress, who broke out as a child star as D.J. Tanner on the hit '90s series "Full House," is also a New York Times best-selling author and mom of three.

"I'm a great wedding dancer. That's when I dance, so I have my little Carlton move. I'm going to bank on that," she joked on "GMA."

Don't be surprised to see Bure's "Full House" co-stars cheering her on in the ballroom. "I know they will," she said. "They're big supporters."

media: 22759914

quicklist:4title: Danica McKellartext: Best known as Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years," the actress turned-mathematician and best-selling author for her line of "Math Doesn't Suck" books, brings her brains and acting chops to the ballroom.

"I hope they'll be there for me," McKellar said of her fan base. "I've been a fan of 'Dancing With the Stars' since the very beginning. I'm just thrilled and I hope to do a good job."media: 22760230

quicklist:5title: Billy Dee Williamsurl: text: Dubbed the "black Clark Gable" for roles in "Lady Sings the Blues," opposite Diana Ross, and 1975's "Mahogany," the iconic actor has played numerous characters during his storied career, including scoundrel Lando Calrissian in the "Star Wars" trilogy.

"This is my last hoorah," said Williams.media: 22760597

quicklist:6title: Diana Nyadurl: text: The swimming legend, who became the first person to complete a historic 110-mile swim from Cuba to Key West in September 2013 on her fifth attempt, brings her determination and fearlessness to the competition.

"The absurd thing is that in my little circle of friends, I'm the dancer. Now that I'm here ... I'm so miserable at this, it's beyond words," she said today on "GMA."media: 22760122

quicklist:7title: NeNe Leakestext: The breakout "Real Housewives of Atlanta" reality queen-turned sitcom actress brings her bold personality to the ballroom.

"I'm going to go for it … I'm so excited. I love clothes so I can't wait to wear one of those things," she said, pointing to a dancer's costume. media: 22760280

quicklist:8title: Drew Careyurl: text: The stand-up comedian and actor, known for long-running shows, "The Drew Carey Show" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" went on to host "The Price Is Right," and brings his humor to the ballroom this season.

"Since I've lost the weight, ['Dancing' is] all I've wanted to do," Carey said.media: 22760347

quicklist:9title: Amy Purdyurl: text: Double-amputee snowboarding champ Amy Purdy lost both of her legs at 19 to meningitis, and went on to become a world champion in adaptive snowboarding and a motivational speaker. She is the first Paralympian to compete in the show's history.

"I can't wait to start dancing," Purdy said in a recorded video message since she's competing in the Paralympics for Team USA.

Purdy will be paired with five-time champ Derek Hough, who said he "can't wait to teach her how to dance."

"She's an incredibly amazing courageous woman and she's all about defying the odds. ... It's going to be amazing."media: 22760445

quicklist:10title: Sean Averyurl: text: Former NHL star Sean Avery is the first hockey player in "DWTS" history. Avery played left wing for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, and the New York Rangers, and was known as his team's "enforcer" and for his unpredictable on-ice antics.

media: 22759964

quicklist:11title: Cody Simpsonurl: text: The 17-year-old Australian pop singer, who has amassed more than 12 million combined Twitter and Facebook followers and nearly 200 million YouTube views while on tour, and will now take to the "Dancing" stage.

Simpson said his dance moves aren't bad, but "I'm trying to learn this whole Latin thing. I've got to learn how to move my hips."media: 22759814

quicklist:12title: James Maslowurl: text: The Nickelodeon star and "Big Time Rush" singer has headlined sold-out tours across the globe and may be a triple threat. "I can't say I've ever Fox-trotted on tour, but I'm trying now," he explained.media: 22760885

quicklist:13title: Who's Your Fav?text: Which couple are you most excited to see hit the dance floor this season? Tell us what you think in the comments and watch the two-hour season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," Monday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

CLICK HERE to see all of the pro pairings!

CLICK HERE for surprising fun facts about the new cast. media: 22766508

Which couple are you most excited to see hit the dance floor this season? Tell us what you think in the comments and watch the two-hour season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars," Monday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.