UW-Madison grad Jenn Tran will be on 'Dancing With the Stars' following gut-wrenching 'Bachelorette' conclusion
After seeing Jenn Tran totally and completely devastated Tuesday night on "The Bachelorette" season finale, we desperately needed some good news for our Wisconsin Badger.
And, luckily it came just mere hours later. Tran has joined Season 33 of "Dancing With the Stars," which will be the first series to simulcast across both ABC and Disney+, according to the network. It'll premiere later this month.
"Good Morning America" announced the show's cast and their pro partners Wednesday morning. Tran flew overnight to be there.
And, Tran won't be the only Bachelor Nation alum in the reality ballroom dance competition. Former "Bachelor" Joey Graziadei, who also has ties to Wisconsin, will, too. Tran made it to the top six during Graziadei's season before becoming "The Bachelorette," the show's first Asian American lead.
They'll be joined by Olympians and athletes, actors and actresses, another reality TV star, a model and a convicted con artist.
Here's what to know, including who Tran's pro partner will be, who the other contestants are and when the season will air:
Who will 'The Bachelorette' Jenn Tran's pro partner be on 'Dancing with the Stars?'
Tran's pro partner will be Sasha Farber.
Who is Jenn Tran?
Tran, 26, was born in New Jersey after her parents and brother immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, Tran shared with "Bachelor Nation."
She's been working toward becoming a physician assistant, but is taking a "little break" from PA school, which is in Miami. In the words of her favorite artist Taylor Swift, Tran has "a lot going on at the moment."
Tran transferred in the middle of her sophomore year of college to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied molecular biology.
"Madison just seemed like the best college town — and it definitely was," she told the Journal Sentinel.
She enjoyed going to Badger games and playing club lacrosse. Her hangouts included the Memorial Union Terrace, Eno Vino Wine Bar and Bistro (where she used to work) and The Coopers Tavern.
Tran was in the class of 2020, so her spring commencement was virtual. She returned to Madison in September 2021 for an in-person graduation celebration.
A "Bachelor" casting producer came across Tran's PA school TikToks, she said, and she was offered an interview. Tran would end up making it to the top six on Joey Graziadei's season of "The Bachelor."
After her time on "The Bachelor," she was just going to go right back to a physical assistant program. So, when she got a call about "The Bachelorette," she said, it really took her by surprise. While she was initially "on the fence," she ended up deciding to give it a whirl.
"I am a hopeless romantic and I really believe in true love and finding your partner," she told the Journal Sentinel. "I hadn't ever really been in love before. And, I know how fast connections can build the first time around, so I was like, this is a really good environment for that to happen. And, I wanted to follow my dreams and fall in love."
Being the show's first Asian American lead, Tran hoped to inspire young Asian American girls who are "dealing with the same things" she did as a kid — "having a bit of an identity crisis and not knowing where they fit in" — as well as anyone who has ever felt like they didn't fit in somewhere.
"I never would've dreamed of becoming the role model I once needed when I was a kid," she said. "It's really quite full-circle and surreal."
Tran made "Bachelorette" history yet again by being the one to propose to Devin Strader on this season's finale. Then, he got down on one knee and proposed to her right back.
But before airing that taped proposal from months prior on Tuesday, Tran joined host Jesse Palmer live on stage in front of a studio audience to share the shocking and devastating events that had followed.
Tran — who was fighting to talk through tears — revealed Strader ended their engagement in a 15-minute phone call sometime in August as the season was airing. This came after he was pulling away, she said, and treating her secondary to everything else in his life.
Fans were left floored by not only that, but also how Tran had to watch the proposal on live TV, sitting next to her ex-fiancé while live footage of her crying in the corner of the screen was shown for a period.
What Jenn Tran had to say about being on 'Dancing with the Stars'
"I've actually always wanted to learn how to dance," Tran told "GMA." "So this is kind of like a dream come true, honestly."
Her experience: One ballroom dance class during college.
Tran also shared the exciting news on Instagram, along with photos of her with her dance partner and fellow contestants.
"When one door closes…the next door suddenly has dancing shoes behind them 💃🏻💃🏻 so incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity to do something I’ve always dreamed of doing!!!" she said.
Who else will be competing on 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 33 and who are their pro partners?
◾ Graziadel and pro dancer Jenna Johnson
◾ Convicted con artist Anna Delvey with new pro dancer Ezra Sosa
◾ Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooks Nader with pro dancer Gleb Savchenko
◾ "Z-O-M-B-I-E" actress Chandler Kinney with pro dancer Brandon Armstrong
◾ Former NFL player Danny Amendola and pro dancer Witney Carson
◾ Former NBA star Dwight Howard and pro dancer Daniella Karagach
◾ Actor Eric Roberts with pro dancer Britt Stewart
◾ Olympics rugby star Ilona Maher with pro dancer Alan Bersten
◾ "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Phaedra Parks with pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy
◾ Actor Reginald VelJohnson with pro dancer Emma Slater
◾ Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik with pro dancer Rylee Arnold
◾ Actress Tori Spelling with pro dancer Pasha Pashkov
Who will be the 'Dancing with the Stars' judges for Season 33?
Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Who will be the 'Dancing with the Stars' hosts for Season 33?
Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough.
How to watch 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 33
The show will be simulcast across both ABC and Disney+ for its upcoming season, and will be available the next day on Hulu, according to ABC.
Season 33 premieres at 7 p.m. CT Sept. 17.