Dancing With the Stars announces Season 9 pairs

ABC announced its much-anticipated couples pairings for the upcoming ninth season of "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday, according to Access Hollywood.

The pairs are as follows:

Pop star Aaron Carter will dance with with Karina Smirnoff, who returns for her seventh season.

Olympic champion swimmer Natalie Coughlin teams with Season 1 champion Alec Mazo, who is back for his fifth season.

From "Iron Chef," Mark Dacascos is matched with Lacey Schwimmer, who returns for her third season on the show.

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will have a winning partner, as he goes toe-to-toe with two-time champion Cheryl Burke, who returns for her eighth season.

Grammy-winning singer Macy Gray will be partnered with Jonathan Roberts, who returns for his seventh season.

Actor and comedian Ashley Hamilton teams with Edyta Sliwinska, who is the only dancer to compete on all nine seasons of "Dancing With the Stars."

Actress Melissa Joan Hart teams up with reigning two-time "Dancing With the Stars" champ Mark Ballas, who will compete in "Dancing" for his fifth season.

Model Kathy Ireland will dance with Tony Dovolani, who returns for his eighth season.

NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin teams with Season 8's professional dancer competition winner Anna Demidova, who makes her debut.

Model Joanna Krupa teams with Season 7 champ Derek Hough, who returns for his fifth season.

Ultimate Fighting champion Chuck Liddell teams with Anna Trebunskaya, who returns for her fourth season.

The new season of "Dancing With the Stars" will kick off with a three-night premiere on ABC, starting on September 21.