Will NeNe Leakes Bring Home a ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Glitter Ball Trophy?

Atlanta’s NeNe Leakes has survived catfights as part of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta” series, but can she muster the physical and emotional strength to win over judges in Season 18 of ABC’s ballroom reality competition “Dancing With The Stars?”

When the show debuts March 17 on ABC, it will include Leakes, 2014 Olympic gold medal skaters Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and comic and “The Price is Right” host Drew Carey.

Leakes, who's branched out into acting on shows like "Glee," is partnering with Tony Dovolani, says CNN. 

Other celebrity contestants include:

• Former professional hockey player Sean Avery
• Actress and former “Full House” star Candace Cameron Bure
• Heartthrob singer with Big Time Rush James Maslow
• Author and former child star of “The Wonder Years” Danica McKellar
• Endurance swimming legend Diana Nyad
• Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy
• Teen singer Cody Simpson
• “Star Wars” actor Billy Dee Williams

The-two hour premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” begins at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. In the Atlanta area that’s WSB Channel 2.

In a tweak to the show’s format, a twist called “The Switch Up” has been added. This lets viewers vote to change the pairings of celebrities and professional dancers, says ABC.

Viewers may cast their votes for their favorite teams via phone on Monday nights during and up to 60 minutes after the end of the “Dancing with the Stars” broadcast in each time zone. Online voting at www.ABC.com and on Facebook athttps://apps.facebook.com/votedwts/ is open for 24 hours, beginning from the start of each episode on the East Coast at 8 p.m., ET.

The show’s biography of Leakes says: “Leakes shot to stardom as a fan favorite on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Her popularity as a housewife led to her own Bravo television series “I Dream of Nene: The Wedding.” In 2012, she was cast as coach Roz Washington on “Glee” and later that year landed a starring role on NBC’s sitcom “The New Normal.” Leakes has also guest-starred in BET comedies, “The Game” and “Let’s Stay Together.”

“She is the author of “Never Make the Same Mistake Twice,” discussing her fractured childhood, abusive relationship and struggles with being a single mother. Currently, Leakes resides in Duluth, a suburb of Atlanta, along with her two children and husband, Gregg Leakes.”