All posts tagged: DWTS

DWTS Bosses on Ciara, Maura Season 35 Casting, Next Pro Spinoff, Emmys

DWTS Bosses on Ciara, Maura Season 35 Casting, Next Pro Spinoff, Emmys

Published by Daniella Wilson

Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars was a moment in itself, but as Emmy season picks up and the show finds itself vying for awards recognition, the road to season 35 is already being laid out.  “We’re deep into it,” executive producer and casting head Deena Katz tells The Hollywood Reporter of her plans for the forthcoming installment at an Emmys FYC event on Sunday in Hollywood. “We’re already deep into casting, we’re talking themes — we’re talking everything.” Sunday’s event, held at the Dolby Theatre, allowed attendees to learn more about the creative processes that mold Dancing With the Stars. The season 34 finale earned the show’s highest ratings in a decade, and they’re ready to continue that momentum with further acknowledgment from the Television Academy. The reality show historically earns craft nominations, though it’s been 10 years since Dancing With the Stars earned a coveted nod in the reality competition program category. Shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Traitors (which Katz co-exec produces and casts for) have dominated the unscripted landscape …

Mark Ballas on his controversial final freestyle with Whitney Leavitt: ‘It had nothing to do with DWTS’

Mark Ballas on his controversial final freestyle with Whitney Leavitt: ‘It had nothing to do with DWTS’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Mark Ballas has returned to Broadway after a celebrated season on Dancing With the Stars — even if it didn’t turn out as many had hoped. Ballas, 39, the son of head Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, is a three-time Mirrorball Trophy winner; his most recent victory came with partner Charli D’Amelio in 2022, ending a 13-year draught that saw him take multiple breaks from the competition series. After his last win, he announced his retirement from the show, citing the toll it took on his body. But he returned for season 34 in 2025 with a vengeance, partnering with The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt to deliver some of the most talked-about routines of the season. Ballas is now starring on Broadway in Chicago, playing Billy Flynn opposite Leavitt as Roxie Hart in a creative partnership …

Mark Ballas addresses fan theory that Traitors co-star Kristen Kish will be his next DWTS partner

Mark Ballas addresses fan theory that Traitors co-star Kristen Kish will be his next DWTS partner

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Mark Ballas has heard the rumors and is ready to give some answers. Fans of the Dancing With the Stars pro have been calling for his return to the ballroom for another season, but this time opposite his Traitors season four castmate, Top Chef host Kristen Kish. As with many reality shows in 2026, crossover from one franchise to another is to be expected. Fans have pleaded their cases for who from their favorite series they want to see land in the DWTS ballroom or The Traitors mansion next, even making TikTok petitions to gain momentum. When Ballas, 39, sat down with The Independent to chat about his return to Broadway in Chicago, and reflect on The Traitors, he confirmed that he had seen the fan theories about himself and Kish — but quickly dashed any hopes of a future pairing. …

Mormon Wives Season 5 Details, Casting Ciara Miller on DWTS: ABC Boss

Mormon Wives Season 5 Details, Casting Ciara Miller on DWTS: ABC Boss

Published by Daniella Wilson

The long-awaited update on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives season five arrived just in time, one day before Hulu would host its second Get Real House 2026 spotlighting the streamer and ABC’s unscripted slate. The slew of new show announcements on Wednesday out of the presentation expands Hulu’s reality TV offerings and includes spinoffs for Disney’s most buzzy franchises, Dancing With the Stars and Mormon Wives, the latter which is now in “active preproduction,” says Rob Mills, evp of unscripted & alternative entertainment at Walt Disney Television. With Mormon Wives set to resume production after a monthlong filming pause and internal investigation into star Taylor Frankie Paul over domestic violence allegations, The Hollywood Reporter spoke with the head of unscripted below about ABC and Hulu’s new offerings, discussing the pressure around replicating last season’s Dancing With the Stars success (“It scares the hell out of me!”), what viewers can expect when Mormon Wives returns (with or without Paul), if we’ll ever see Paul’s scrapped season of The Bachelorette and why The Bachelor franchise “is …

Whitney Leavitt on SLOMW Potential Exit, Broadway, DWTS, Acting

Whitney Leavitt on SLOMW Potential Exit, Broadway, DWTS, Acting

Published by Daniella Wilson

Whitney Leavitt comes from the reality television world, but she’s making sure that won’t be what she’s remembered for.  Since The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives hit Hulu in September 2024, the show’s cast has been catapulted into swift stardom. Most of those opportunities have orbited the reality TV space, with Leavitt herself competing on ABC’s buzziest Dancing With the Stars installment last year.  And then, following quite the impressive run on the competitive dance series, Leavitt landed the leading role in Chicago on Broadway. Later this year, she’ll also make her feature film debut in a holiday rom-com for Ninth House Productions that she’s also executive producing. All the while, she’s been starring in Mormon Wives and filming for future unreleased seasons. But Leavitt tells The Hollywood Reporter she’s ready to take on new challenges that may lead her away from the Hulu series.  “I wouldn’t be where I am without [The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,]” Leavitt says, continuing, “But it feels like it’s time to challenge myself in other ways and fulfill …

Robert Irwin shares fun-filled reunion with DWTS partner Witney Carson following mirrorball win

Robert Irwin shares fun-filled reunion with DWTS partner Witney Carson following mirrorball win

Published by Daniella Wilson

Robert Irwin reunited with his Dancing With the Stars partner, Witney Carson, two months after the pair nabbed the mirrorball trophy on the show’s 34th season. The pro dancer brought her young family to Australia to visit Robert at Australia Zoo, as well as some furry friends.  Witney posted a video on social media announcing her arrival at the zoo, with her sons, Leo and Jet, and her husband, Carson McCallister, joining in on the fun. The foursome donned zoo staff shirts and jeans as they walked out to AC/DC’s hit song “Back in Black”, and were joined by Robert as he emerged from the bushes.  © InstagramRobert and Witney reunited in Australia “We are BACK. Team IrWINit reunited @australiazoo,” she wrote in the caption. Robert’s mom, Terri Irwin, took to the comment section to share the love, writing: “Wildlife Warriors!” while a fan added: “Hope those kids know how legendary this is.”  Another fan chimed in: “Uncle Robert has got two nephews now,” while a fourth said: “The best dance partnership ever!” Witney documented …

Robert Irwin reveals surprising next step following triumphant DWTS win

Robert Irwin reveals surprising next step following triumphant DWTS win

Published by Daniella Wilson

Robert Irwin, who captured the America’s heart with his winning run on season 34 of Dancing With the Stars, has finally put his feet back on the ground after flying high for so long. The TV personality took to Instagram on Thursday to share how he celebrated his return to Australia Zoo, which included a reunion with some furry friends. Robert shared a video of himself holding his mirrorball trophy up to various animals for inspection, including a koala, a bird and a snake, all of whom were intrigued by the prize. The video ended with Robert and his older sister, Bindi Irwin, comparing their mirrorball trophies as Bindi’s four-year-old daughter, Grace, watched on. © InstagramRobert brought his mirrorball trophy home to the zoo Bindi won the competition ten years prior with her partner, Derek Hough, making Robert’s win all the more meaningful. “This is Uncle Robert’s mirrorball, and this is Mommy’s mirrorball,” the 27-year-old said to Grace, while Robert laughed in the background. “The mirrorball has made it home – had to show my …

DWTS’ Derek Hough announces birth of daughter two years after wife Hayley Erbert’s health scare

DWTS’ Derek Hough announces birth of daughter two years after wife Hayley Erbert’s health scare

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert have welcomed a baby girl. The Dancing with the Stars alums announced that their daughter, Everley Capri Hough, was born December 29. “Every step of our lives has led us to you. Our hearts have been cracked wide open and our world is forever changed,” the couple wrote in an Instagram post shared Monday. The photos shared a look at their baby, showing the couple cupping their daughter’s tiny feet with their hands. Excited messages congratulating the family have flooded the comments section of the post, including from Hough’s sister, Julianne Hough, who wrote, “Welcome to the world sweet angel Everley.” Everley’s arrival comes two years after Erbert, a professional dancer who joined DWTS in 2015, underwent emergency brain …

Which DWTS pro dancer has won the most seasons? A full breakdown of the result numbers

Which DWTS pro dancer has won the most seasons? A full breakdown of the result numbers

Published by Daniella Wilson

Dancing With The Stars turned 20 in 2025, and as the fall season comes to an end on November 25, it’s time to take a look back at the past 33 Mirrorball Trophy winners before a 34th is crowned. The celebrity winners have included season one winner Kelly Monaco – who, controversially, was forced into a dance-off after surging from behind to beat the consistently strong John Murphy – and most recently Joey Graziadei. But which professionals have also scooped the trophy, now known as the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy after the late judge? There have been 19 professional winners, and in the least surprising news you may read today, the pro dancer with the most wins is, of course, Derek Hough. Len Goodman tribute on Dancing With The Stars Derek made his first appearance on Dancing With The Stars in season four (week 6) as a guest instructor with his sister, Julianne Hough, and Apolo Anton Ohno. He joined the series full-time in season five and won for the first time in season seven with Brooke Burke. …