Jussie Smollett and Jessie James Decker both have what it takes to make the Billboard charts, but do they have the fortitude to pass some of the most difficult tasks that some members of the military face during training? Fans will get a chance to find out, as the musicians are joining season four of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
“It was at this moment I said… ‘I should’ve just done The Masked Singer,’” Smollett joked in his Instagram post sharing the news of his casting.
The network announced the latest batch of celebrity contestants for the competition show on Wednesday (Aug. 6). In addition to the former Empire star, whose conviction for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack on himself was overturned in 2024, and the country singer, who finished in 10th place on season 31 of Dancing With the Stars, a host of reality TV stars as well as athletes and other personalities will put their abilities to the test, this time in Morocco and led by a team of ex-special forces members.
Among the 18 contestants are Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia, whose split from country star Zach Bryan in 2024 made headlines; Vanderpump Rules and The Valley‘s Brittany Cartwright; Sister Wives star Kody Brown; Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East; present and former NFL players Randall Cobb, Eric Decker (who is married to Jessie James Decker), Andrew East (married to Shawn Johnson East) and Johnny Manziel; soccer star Christie Pearce Rampone; model Chanel Iman and more.
Smollett and Jessie James Decker aren’t the first musicians to attempt Special Forces. Spice Girl Mel B, country singer Beverley Mitchell and Jamie Lynn Spears all competed in season one. Season two saw JoJo Siwa and Vanderpump Rules star and Most Extras cover band frontman Tom Sandoval attempt the course. The third season did not feature any musicians. None of the musician contestants passed the Special Forces training course.
Season four is set to kick off on Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. on Fox. It will also stream the next day on Hulu.
See Jessie James Decker’s recruit photo below: