. >>> alexa penavegaing is competing against carlos penavega. >> i'm cleansing you prosecutor and garyage has his shoes ready. >> getting my pants sturdy so they canscopy like seaweed. >> hayes greer is taking on jockey victor espinoza. kim zoll zi yak, bindi irwin tamar braxton. >> i'm used to crocodiles. >> all getting ready to hit the ballroom and compete for that mirror ball trophy. >> bindi irwin is one of the youngest stars this season at 1737 hayes greer is just 15. you can watch the first round of competition when "dancing with the stars" premieres september 14th on abc. phillip and reena? >> thank you so much. it's a good mix of people. i'm curious about bindi irwin. >> i'm going to make it a point to watch this season and i already have the guy i'm rooting pore. gary busy, if it can't be me, it's going to be gary busy. >> it could be us. don't rule us out yet. i've been practicing more than two weeks for that. >> go practice some more. >>> this morning on "world news now," the search for the alleged cop killer continues. >> but the massive manhunt may have changed course. bre

. >> reporter: tamar braxton tied for third with carlos penavega and alexa is one point behind her husband tied with alek skarlatos who recently helped stop a terror attack on a european train. >> literally a month ago i was just touring europe with my friends. this whole thing turned my life on its head. i just hope i can connect with them because i'm not like a celebrity, i guess. >> reporter: next on the leaderboard with triple 7s. hayes grier and andy grammer and then with triple 5s. three-way tie for ninth. paula deen. >> it's a totally different world and the fact i didn't stumble and fall on the dance floor, i'm a winner. >> i think spiritual and i put my heart and dancing legs. >> reporter: chaka khan had 13 points and 13th place with 12, kim kim. they dance on both monday and tuesday nights and on both nights one couple will go home. in los angeles, george pennacchio, abc news. >>> who do you have for it? >> you know, i really like bindi and also slek.

. >> reporter: and a dancing first, husband and wife alexa and carlos penavega are competing against each other. >> we were just talking about how this show has consumed our life. >> completely. >> 13 stars but only one will take home the mirror ball trophy. now, no one is on the chopping block this week but tonight someone is going to be missing from the dancing cast and it's a big name, judge len goodman is out this season. he says he couldn't work it into his busy schedule. in the fall he flies back and forth while he also judges a dancing competition in the u.k. and on top of that, he has a brand-new grandson so priorities for him, which is spend time with family while he judges that show and he says he couldn't commit this year. but they are going to try to bring him on every once in a while in the season, oneoffs here and there with a guest appearance so we look forward to that. we will see how they do tonight. i have my favorites. i think it's bindi. >> chaka khan. >> yeah. >> brandi, thank you. have fun. you can watch the two-hour season premiere tonight at 8:00 right here on

ballroom and "nashville" act alexa penavega, can she take on the judges or even her husband, carlos penavegae this morning and we can't stop watching. >> tom bergeron right now here brought most of the cast of "dancing with the stars" with him. we want to meet them. >> let's welcome chaka, carlos, alexa, victor, bindi and our pro, come on in here, val, val and louis. thank you so much, tony, keo and lindsey, come on over, grab a seat. >> there's my man. >> all right. let's start with bindi. you were just on our show, so great to see you and on the show, george, i don't know if you remember, bindi said the judges scared her, tom, more than crocodiles. >> it's true. >> really? >> it's true. you know, i think i'd rather take on a 15-foot crocodile because, you know, you guys are so amazing and you're truly -- you know exactly what you're talking about. i want to do a good job so i want to do the best job i possibly can and i am not used to any of this. i'm used to crock dies? we believe you. >> so crocodiles are way less scary. you though how they work. the judges -- >> i believe she believes i

hayes grier and your millions of fans will watch you with emma. [ applause ] >> alexa penavega, we hope carlosom, you have some more. >> oh, do i ever. andy grammer, you're teamed up with allison holker and, honey, she's good. kim zolciak, time to get real with that fashion god, tony dovolani. [ applause ] and gary busey, you get to rave on with anna trebunskaya. [ cheers and applause ] >> mr. american pharoah, you can earn your next crown with karina. paula deen, where are you? flirting with someone else. paula, you will be cooking with louis. and alek, maybe your next dance hero can be lindsay. [ applause ] where are you? dancing for the mirror ball with the one and only derek hough, bindi. [ applause ] >> okay, bindi, you get derek hough and i know you met a baby alligator together. will we see wildlife in the routines. >> you never know what i'll bring on the dance floor. so i think he has to be very brave. he's an incredible person. i'm excited to work with him and i hear that he likes animals so i think we'll be off to a gait start. >> you're in very good hands. i want to talk to val. re

. >> reporter: alexa and carlos penavega are the first couple to take on the challenge at the same time> we have pow wows where he'll come in and see our routine. we'll check out his. >> reporter: back street boy nick carter says how it keeps his body and mind in shape. you've been open with your fans. >> i'm doing this show to show our fans who i am and you can be proud of me on this journey on "dancing with the stars." >> reporter: paula deen lost 40 pounds before agreeing to dance. >> i just want to do the best i can for everyone that i love. >> my mom passed away six year ago. doing something like this show, where i'm thinking about her every single day has been really sweet for me. >> reporter: dance lessons turning into life lessons. >> she's got a great heart. >> aw. only because i cried. >> reporter: already? kim, bring it in. >> okay, i need it. >> reporter: triple crown winner victor espinoza is learning to give up the reins to the dance teacher. she's the jockey. >> she treats me like the horse. >> reporter: are we going to see a different gary busey on the dance floor? >> ev

. >> reporter: alexa penavega is competing against her husband carlos and actor gary busey seen here in "entourage" has his dancing shoes ready. >> getting them sturdy to sweep around. >> reporter: hayes grier is also taking on triple crown winning jockey victor espinoza, kim zolciak, tamar braxton and bindi irwin. >> i'm not used to any of this. i'm used to crocodiles. all getting ready to hit the ballroom and compete for that mirror ball trophy. bindi irwin is one of the youngest stars this season at 17 and hayes grier is just 15. you can watch the first round of competition when "dancing with the stars" premieres september 14th on abc. phillip and reena. >> thank you so much, brandi. looks like a good mix of people but we saw president obama dancing earlier in alaska. wondering if 2017 could be his year for "dancing with the stars." >> well, he's going to have some

. >> reporter: not far behind alexa penavega climbing the leaderboard with her ferocious salsa. >> you set this house on fire. >> reporter: with hubby carlos hot on her heels and singer/songwriter tamar braxton tied for second place. >> come on, baby. >> reporter: it wasn't all smooth swaying for some duos. >> were off so many times. >> reporter: the curtain came down for one couple. >> chaka and keo. >> reporter: the legendary grammy award winning songstress chaka khan sent home. the first of two couples to be eliminated this week. >> you seem a little bit relieved. >> to be honest, i am. the thing is, i have stage fright. >> you have stage fright. >> yes. i still have stage fright. i feel like i've done him a disservice, you know, this is such an amazing dancer, wonderful human being. >> she's a legend, you know, everything happens for a reason. >> reporter: she shows us she's still every woman. >> i'm so happy to have met everybody and made great friends here. >> reporter: for "good morning america," matt gutman, abc news, los angeles. >> hey, she put herself out there and she was fantastic. >> yeah, you got to push yourself and that ga