Bold claim: a well-known singer is vowing to seize life fully after a brutal health saga, and this bold comeback on Dancing With The Stars could redefine resilience on screen. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a late-career return to a high-pressure reality show truly symbolize healing, or does it risk turning personal struggle into entertainment?
Brian Kennedy, a 59-year-old singer from Belfast, is set to perform on RTÉ’s Dancing With The Stars. After enduring cancer treatment, chemotherapy, a quadruple bypass, and a Covid infection, he’s back to touring and taking on new creative challenges. An insider told The Irish Sun that since receiving medical clearance, Kennedy has been gigging every weekend and feels ready to reclaim time he felt he lost during illness. Earlier this year, he made his acting debut as Oscar Wilde in Phil Lynott’s Moonlight, and he plans to expand his artistic footprint in the coming year, including competing on DWTS.
In 2026, Kennedy will mark the 30th anniversary of his 1996 album A Better Man, which achieved quadruple platinum status in Ireland. He will promote the milestone with a series of concerts across the country. Additionally, he’s releasing his 19th album next March, aligning with the season’s finale when the glitterball trophy is awarded on DWTS.
An insider emphasized that Kennedy’s health battles have shaped his perspective: participating in DWTS could demonstrate to others that recovery from cancer or heart issues is possible and that life can be rebuilt after serious illness. There’s even speculation he might excel at both singing and dancing on the show.
Kennedy isn’t new to reality television. He has previously judged on RTÉ’s The Voice of Ireland’s first season, produced by Screentime ShinAwil—the same company behind DWTS. His close friend and former housemate, comedian Katherine Lynch, competed on DWTS in 2017. Lynch once remarked, “If there’s a heaven, it’s Dancing With The Stars,” after reaching week nine of the show.
Born on Falls Road in Belfast, Kennedy began by backing vocals for Van Morrison before launching his own career. He scored hits like Put The Message In A Box and toured with icons such as Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, while also authoring books. The past decade, however, brought serious health challenges: rectal cancer in 2016, a heart attack in 2021 that required admission to St James’s Hospital in Dublin, and a quadruple bypass after crippling chest pains. He later contracted Covid.
Speaking about his experiences, Kennedy recalled asking a surgeon if death was imminent during a painful moment. Surviving with medical help, he says, reinforced optimism: despite feeling unlucky at times, survival proves life continues and can be improved through perseverance. He reflects that his upbringing on the Falls Road contributed to his resilience, noting he has witnessed violence and hardship and that surviving such ordeals makes one tougher.
Kennedy has also engaged veteran Irish music industry figure Freddie Middleton to oversee his upcoming releases. Dance rehearsals for the ninth season of DWTS are expected to begin soon, with RTÉ set to reveal the 12 celebrity contestants. DWTS producer Larry Bass is overseeing a show refresh, including bringing two-time Strictly champion Oti Mabuse to replace lead judge Loraine Barry.
The show has faced ongoing debate about the caliber of its celebrity lineup. Producer Larry Bass has defended the approach, saying the mix of familiar names and relative newcomers helps build broad appeal, and that most participants become household names by the end of the season. With new judge Oti Mabuse joining Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian, and Karen Byrne, the cast will also feature co-host Jennifer Zamparelli alongside 2FM’s Laura Fox, who will fill in for Doireann Garrihy after the presenter welcomed her first child last October.
Would Kennedy’s return to the stage and camera after such a serious health journey inspire others, or would it spark debate about balancing personal health battles with entertainment value on a popular reality show? Share your thoughts in the comments.
