It was only six months ago when Kirstie Alley shot down rumors she would be appearing on "Dancing with the Stars," telling everyone she didn't think she had the nerves for it. So what made the star change her mind?

"She wasn't ready last season. Mentally and physically she just couldn't get her head around doing the show," a friend of the actress tells PopEater. "Kirstie just turned 60, so I think she decided to take on her fear before it was too late."

Kirstie has integrated dance into her fitness routine for some time and even told Oprah.com that in between sets with exercise equipment, "I dance really hard. And then I dance at the end for about 20 minutes. I do this anywhere from four to six times a week. And then I pretend like I'm Muhammad Ali at a disco."

Well, now Kirstie won't have to pretend to be a dancing queen any longer

"Kirstie is in this to win this," an insider tells me. "Don't think for one second that she entered the competition to be voted out in the first few weeks. She's determined to make it to the end even if it means getting her friends John Travolta or Tom Cruise to show her some moves. And I guarantee no one in the history of the competition will have better friends in the audience cheering her on. Oprah, anyone?"

Best of luck, Kirstie!