Maureen McCormick Joins Ryan Lochte, Amber Rose For Upcoming Season Of ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Maureen McCormick is the latest celebrity to sign up for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. McCormick, who gained fame playing the iconic role of squeaky clean “Marcia Brady” on The Brady Bunch, will provide a stark contrast to controversial Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and model Amber Rose, whom were confirmed to be DWTS Season 23 contestants earlier this week.

According to Entertainment Tonight, the 60-year-old Maureen will have her work cut out for her as McCormick is currently the oldest confirmed cast member for this Dancing with the Stars season. Other celebrities joining McCormick, Lochte, and Rose include General Hospital’s Emma Samms, Wizards of Waverly Place star Jake T. Austin, and Little Women standout Terra Jole. Maureen may have some stiff competition in the goody two shoes category if Dancing with the Stars is able to seal the deal with 7th Heaven alumni Beverly Mitchell.

Maureen is coming on DWTS with three powerhouse dance professionals scheduled to return. ABC recently announced the return of Derek and Julianne Hough along with pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Julianne will be serving as a judge, so at least McCormick doesn’t have to worry that she will be facing Hough as a dance opponent. Dancing with the Stars hinted that Maureen will be paired up with Artem Chigvintsev, and McCormick opened up her own Instagram on the same day, undoubtedly attempting to use social media to interact with fans and gain votes for the competition.

Maureen McCormick gained celebrity status as a child actress playing the wholesome oldest Brady daughter on The Brady Bunch for five seasons. Like many child stars, Maureen struggled to break free of the image of her television character and get cast in more diverse roles as McCormick attempted to transition to an adult actress.

McCormick co-starred with Scott Baio and Patrick Swayze in Skatetown, U.S.A with the hope that the disco dance film would catapult her into a movie career. The film was a flop, both critically and financially. Maureen had several guest spots on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island, but it was “Marcia Brady” that would continue to be her bread and butter as she returned for multiple Brady reunions, including A Very Brady Christmas and short-lived Brady Brides. Could the Dancing with the Stars appearance lead to another Brady Bunch reunion? McCormick told People in June she wouldn’t be opposed to revisiting the role that has been both a blessing and a curse.

Despite whatever frustrations surrounded her acting career, however, McCormick didn’t let it keep her down. Instead, Maureen used her celebrity status to help her transition into other careers. After having a successful musical recording career with her Brady siblings, Maureen tried her hand at becoming a country singer in 1995. McCormick’s album, When You Get Lonely, was a commercial failure as the record company failed to release any singles and the album never reached the Billboard charts. It did, however, receive positive critical acclaim.

While some opponents may underestimate Maureen McCormick due to her age, she may actually prove to be a solid contestant. In 2007, McCormick participated in VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club, a weight loss competition between celebrities. Not only did Maureen survive, she thrived, setting a record for the percentage of weight lost and winning the show.

In 2008, undoubtedly piggybacking on her Celebrity Fit Club success, Maureen bravely released her autobiography, Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice. McCormick’s candor about her personal struggles including drug use and abortion shocked those who had come to associate Maureen as the embodiment of pure “Marcia,” but the book experienced a fair amount of success, starting at No. 4 on the New York Times Best Seller’s List.

Maureen will be the second Brady to make a Dancing with the Stars appearance. TV mom Florence Henderson made it to the fifth week of eliminations before being sent home. Perhaps Dancing with the Stars will give McCormick the opportunity to reenact her infamous “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” skit and show old Flo up. One thing is for certain, Maureen will more than likely shock the audience with her tenacity because McCormick has proven time and again she has the ability to bounce back from adversity.

[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]