MYA and MACY GRAY Amongst Celebs on New 'Dancing With The Stars'

Sixteen celebrities will compete on next season's "Dancing With the Stars," including music artists Mya, Macy Gray and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin.



The rest of the crop includes singers Aaron Carter, Donnie Osmond and Kelly Osbourne; actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar and Ashley Hamilton; models Kathy Ireland and Joanna Krupa; "Iron Chef America" star Mark Dacascos; Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, ultimate fighting star Chuck Liddell, Olympic snowboarder Louie Vito and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.



Season nine, which begins Monday, Sept. 21, has the biggest cast in show history.



“When we increase the cast, we find it makes the competition more interesting,” DWTS executive producer Conrad Green tells People.com. “It was about trying to make it as big as possible and try to get that sense of fun and excitement and real character come through on the show.”



The contestants were announced on Monday's "Good Morning America" by "Dancing" host Tom Bergeron.



He also unveiled a new competitive twist.



"In the middle of our season, over three weeks, we're going to have double eliminations," said Bergeron. "We'll lose about half of our cast within that period. It will be a ballroom bloodbath."



Samantha Harris returns as co-host, with the panel of judges including ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer-choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba.



The ninth season of the hit ABC show premieres Sept. 21.