Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry Joins 'Dancing with the Stars' – and Twitter Has Lots of Feelings

Rick Perry is following up his 2016 presidential campaign with a bid for the Mirrorball Trophy

Photo: Rick Perry/Twitter

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry won’t be the “Lone Star” on the Dancing with the Stars stage this season, but he certainly will be one of the most interesting.

After a failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Perry, 66, is taking his talents to the reality dancing competition, it was announced Tuesday.

Perry, who is partnered with dancer Emma Slater, isn’t the first politician to compete on DWTS (former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay participated in Season 9) but he is the most high profile.

After ending his 14-year run as governor in January 2015, Perry announced his plans to vie for the Republican presidential ticket – his second go at the gig.

Perry’s 2012 campaign was memorably plagued by gaffes – including an embarrassing debate moment where he forgot one of the three federal agencies he would eliminate as president.

Making the matter worse, Perry simply remarked of drawing a blank, “Oops.”

Perry’s 2016 campaign was backed by “American Sniper” Chris Kyle‘s widow, Taya Kyle, and focused on reviving the “American dream.”

After funding issues, however, Perry dropped out in early September.

Now, his turn on DWTS will be dedicated to veterans, Perry, a veteran himself, wrote on Twitter.

Twitter users addressed the reality TV and politics crossover, with many poking fun of Perry.

Wrote one Twitter user, “I’ve seen it all. Rick Perry is on the next dancing w/ the stars…”

Some were more than supportive of Perry, though, with one fan writing, “I have faith in you Gov!”

Dancing with the Stars will return Sept. 12 on ABC.