Mark Wills to Judge 2011 Miss America Pageant
Next year is already looking to have a beautiful start for Mark Wills. The singer has been tapped to be one of the judges for the 90th annual Miss America Pageant, to be televised live from Las Vegas in January.
The seven celebrity judges were announced Wednesday morning (December 8) on 'The View,' as the co-hosts announced their own Joy Behar will sit alongside Mark at the judges table, with 'Desperate Housewives' creator and executive producer Marc Cherry, fashion designer Taryn Rose, former Miss America (1990) Dr. Debbye Turner Bell, actress/producer/author Marilu Henner and ballroom dancer Tony Dovolani.
"I do a lot of work with Children's Miracle Network and have worked closely with them for the last couple of years," Mark tells The Boot. "Miss America is one of their spokespeople. They asked me if I'd be interested in judging the pageant, and I immediately said yes. I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to be a part of, and I am very grateful to have been asked to be one of the judges."
Mark will bring his family -- wife Kelly and their two daughters Mally (12) and Macey (7) -- to the pageant, which is scheduled for January 15. The show will broadcast live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on ABC, starting at 8:00 PM ET.
Mark is currently recovering from his recent emergency surgery after his large intestine ruptured. He will head back into the studio in the new year to finish up work on his next album.