A Look at All the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Winners Over the Years
Mirrorball Trophy > Olympic Gold Medal.
At this point, Dancing With the Stars has been on for a frightening amount of time—meaning a truly shocking number of celebrities have wrapped themselves in stretchy glitter onesies and pirouetted their way around that hallowed ballroom while regretting all their life choices, deep in contemplation about firing their agent. In fact, 34 stars have already taken home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy—ranging from people only your mom could pick out of an early ’90s lineup to some pretty famous faces, including several former Olympians and Bachelor/Bachelorette stars.
In honor of our new DWTS season 34 winner, let’s take a look back at allllllllll the Dancing With the Stars winners throughout history.
Kelly Monaco & Alec Mazo
Season: 1
Runners-up: John O’Hurley & Charlotte Jørgensen
About Kelly: She’s a model and actress best known for playing Sam McCall on General Hospital. For more info, ask my grandma, who’s been watching that soap for years.
Drew Lachey & Cheryl Burke
Season: 2
Runners-up: Jerry Rice & Anna Trebunskaya
About Drew: This dude is Nick Lachey’s younger brother who was also in 98 Degrees. You just fully forgot he existed, it’s fine.
Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke
Season: 3
Runners-up: Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff
About Emmitt: He’s a running back who played for the Dallas Cowboys! But obviously, this DWTS win is also important.
Apolo Ohno & Julianne Hough
Season: 4
Runners Up: Joey Fatone & Kym Johnson
About Apolo: He’s a not-at-all casual eight-time Olympic track speed skating medalist. I mean...his talent.
Hélio Castroneves & Julianne Hough
Season: 5
Runners-up: Mel B & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
About Hélio: He’s a Brazilian race car driver who won the Indy 500 three full times, no bigs.
Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas
Season: 6
Runners-up: Jason Taylor & Edyta Śliwińska
About Kristi: She’s just casually one of the most famous Olympic figure skaters ever. I’m sure this Mirror Ball Trophy will look great next to all her medals!
Brooke Burke & Derek Hough
Season: 7
Runners-up: Warren Sapp & Kym Johnson
About Brooke: Ironically, you probably know Brooke best from cohosting DWTS Seasons 10 to 17, but she’s also an actress!
Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas
Season: 8
Runners-up: Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke
About Shawn: Just another casual Olympian! Shawn is a 2008 Olympic balance beam gold medalist and also the 2007 all-around World Champion.
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson
Season: 9
Runners-up: Mýa & Dmitry Chaplin
About Donny: Meet the man who recorded “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan, otherwise known as the most famous member of sibling group The Osmonds.
Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough
Season: 10
Runners-up: Evan Lysacek & Anna Trebunskaya
About Nicole: I mean...she is only THE lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls. Need I say more?
Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough
Season: 11
Runners-up: Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer
About Jennifer: To me, she’ll always be the sister from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, aka my personal hero.
Hines Ward & Kym Johnson
Season: 12
Runners-up: Kirstie Alley & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
About Hines: A football coach, former wide receiver, and Super Bowl MVP, Hines has also had cameos in The Dark Knight Rises and The Walking Dead.
J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff
Season: 13
Runners-up: Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke
About J.R.: An actor, veteran, and motivational speaker, J.R. has appeared on All My Children and really knows how to pull off a pair of suspenders.
Donald Driver & Peta Murgatroyd
Season: 14
Runners-up: Katherine Jenkins & Mark Ballas
About Donald: He played for the Green Bay Packers and helped them win the Super Bowl XLV! Again, almost as impressive as the Mirror Ball Trophy. Almost.
Melissa Rycroft & Tony Dovolani
Season: 15
Runners-up: Shawn Johnson & Derek Hough
About Melissa: Um, she won The Bachelor only to have Jason Mesnick break up with her for Molly Maleney in what might actually have been the most dramatic season ever.
Kellie Pickler & Derek Hough
Season: 16
Runners-up: Zendaya & Valentin Chmerkovskiy
About Kellie: If she looks familiar, that is because Kellie was a star on American Idol and has since had a pretty successful country career!
Amber Riley & Derek Hough
Season: 17
Runners-up: Corbin Bleu & Karina Smirnoff
About Amber: Not only was she in Glee, duh, she’s a Grammy-nominated singer and starred in the Dreamgirls musical.
Meryl Davis & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Season: 18
Runners-up: Amy Purdy & Derek Hough
About Meryl: You guessed it, she’s yet another Olympic ice dancer who happens to be just as talented off her skates.
Alfonso Ribeiro & Witney Carson
Season: 19
Runners-up: Sadie Robertson & Mark Ballas
About Alfonso: Not only does he host Dancing With the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos, he played Carlton on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!
Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy
Season: 20
Runners-up: Riker Lynch & Allison Holker
About Rumer: She’s well-known for being Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughter, but I stan Rumer for her movies—nay, films—The House Bunny and Sorority Row.
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