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Sharna Burgess returns for Dancing with the Stars Season 35

8/24/2026

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Summary

Sharna Burgess Returns

Sharna Burgess returns to compete on Dancing with the Stars season 35, her first competition since season 30 in 2021.
She announced the comeback on Good Morning America on Aug. 24, 2026.
Season 35 launches with a two-night premiere on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.
Witney Carson, two-time Mirrorball Champion, will be paired with Guillermo Rodriguez for the season.

Summary

Michele Discusses Return

She said producers only gave a “temperature check” for a 2025 return, not a firm offer.
She clarified her salary matched other professionals, not dramatically higher.
She described her last five years on DWTS as rocky because of executive changes.
She blamed a difficult partner on Season 29 for early elimination and tension.
She noted her four-year-old son Zane influences her timing for re-joining the competition.

History

Historical Context

When ABC launched Dancing with the Stars in September 2005, it tapped a trend begun in the 1950s when the World Dance Council’s 59-member body standardized ballroom dances, turning the art into a competitive sport. The show’s mass appeal echoed broader reality-dance programs that have expanded public participation, a shift that continues as veteran dancers return to boost ratings.

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Sharna Burgess Returns

Sharna Burgess returns to compete on Dancing with the Stars season 35, her first competition since season 30 in 2021.
She announced the comeback on Good Morning America on Aug. 24, 2026.
Season 35 launches with a two-night premiere on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.
Witney Carson, two-time Mirrorball Champion, will be paired with Guillermo Rodriguez for the season.

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