Dancing With the Stars 2013: Chelsie Hightower Returning As Professional Dancer On ABC Celebrity Competition?

ABC wrapped up Season 16 of its celebrity competition "Dancing With The Stars" in late May with Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough as its champions.

Devoted fans of the show have already started looking ahead to Season 17, and one such viewer posed a question to Matt Webb Mitovich over at TVLine's "Matt's Inside Line" column:

"If anyone can find the answer to this question, I'm sure it is you, Matt: Is there any chance that we will see Chelsie Hightower return as a pro on Dancing With the Stars? -Lindsey

I perhaps have not watched an episode of DWTS since Kelly Monaco's Season 1, but I'm game to take this one on. I am told that since Chelsie is still under contract with the ABC series (and last season popped up in some of the "pro dances"), there is at least the possibility she will be part of the Season 17 cast - though we won't know for sure until late August."

Hightower is a 23-year-old professional dancer who partnered with celebrities on Seasons 8-12 and 14-15 of "Dancing With The Stars." She also made her television debut on Season 4 of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and reached Week 8 of the competition.

"Dancing With The Stars" premiered in June 2005. Past celevrity winners include Emmitt Smith, Apolo Anton Ohno, Hines Ward, Donald Driver, Jennifer Grey, Shawn Johnson, Kristi Yamaguchi and Nicole Scherzinger.

Season 17 will premiere in the fall as the show has aired twice per year since 2006.