Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Kellie Pickler placed sixth back on Season 5 of American Idol.

Then she embarked on what has been one of the most successful careers for an Idol non-winner.

So I guess the message is this: Don’t count her out when the dancing begins tonight.

Kellie and partner Derek Hough will take the stage on Dancing With the Stars’ season premiere tonight (8 p.m. ABC).

She’s one of 12 stars vying for the Season 16 crown. Others include Dorothy Hamill, Wynonna Judd, Aly Raisman of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team, stand-up comedian D.L Hughley, boxer Victor Ortiz and Baltimore Raven Jacoby Jones.

Now, a betting man would probably put his money on Dorothy or Aly since grace under pressure is what made them famous, but Kellie’s apparently been hard at work on her dance moves.

Of course, she hasn’t lost her sense of humor.

Asked what type of dance worries her in a show Q&A, Kellie’s response is: “If it’s not a line-dance then I’m worried!”

Asked why she decided to compete on the show, she says it’s her grandfather’s favorite.

“When he found out that I was asked to be a contestant he told me that if I didn’t do it then I wasn’t his favorite grandchild anymore,” Kellie writes. “The funny thing is, I am his only grandchild.”

Week one will apparently focus on the cha-cha.

Tweeted Kellie over the weekend: “Nerves are kicking in.”