Flashback Attack to the Fan Favorite “Dancing with the Stars” Celebs from Over the Years

Can you believe that the dazzling dancing show Dancing with the Stars has been going on for 15 years now? The show first aired back in 2005, and has been one of the most popular talent shows out there! Why? Because of all of the fabulous celebrities that were brought on the show, of course. Whether they proved to have two left feet or magically blew all of us away by their dancing skills, the show has kept us on our toes for years. And they still keep doing so, with new contestants like Tiger King's Carole Baskin and Bachelorette Katlyn Bristowe who was extremely excited to be on the show.

Here’s a quick TBT to some of your fav DWTS stars who had a blast dancing their heart out no matter how good they were. Did your favorite celeb make the list?

Season 2: Lisa Rinna & Louis van Amstel

During one of the earliest seasons of the show in 2006, a lovely Lisa Rinna was asked to participate on the show. The Days of Our Lives actress and Soap Talk host was teamed up with professional dancer Louis van Amstel, and the two were dancing the night away right up until round seven of the competition. While the judged had given them high scores, unfortunately, they were voted off the show by the audience. But there’s no doubt that her time on Dancing with the Stars was incredibly memorable and meaningful.

Season 5: Mel B & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

In 2007, the show welcomed the one and only Scary Spice a.k.a. Mel B to the dance floor. The sensational British popstar is also known for being a judge for multiple shows like America’s Got Talent, The X Factor US, UK, and Australia, and Lip Sync Battle UK. The marvelous Mel B was teamed up with the majestic Maksim Chmerkovskiy, where they placed in second for the 5th season of the show. But that wasn’t the end of her time with DWTS. Did you know that 5 years later, in 2012, she was asked to co-host for Australia’s Dancing with the Stars? How exciting!

Season 3: Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff

One of the best parts about the show is that it isn't afraid to bring in celebrities from all generations! Saved by the Bell’s Mario Lopez, participated on the show for Dancing with the Star’s third season in 2006. Lopez always had aspirations of becoming a dancer, and was more than thrilled to dance the night away. But what made this season so interesting was the fact that he was partnered up with the regal yet sassy Karina Smirnoff—who just so happened to be his girlfriend at the time! The power couple came in a close second place.

Season 5: Jennie Garth & Derek Hough

We grew to love her in the original teen sitcom series of Beverly Hills 90210 and What I Like About You. And when BH90210 released their new reunion series in 2019, fans went wild! But long before that, the goofy and sweet Jennie Garth was a contestant on the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars. Her dance partner was the suave and delightful Derek Hough, and the brilliant blondes dominated the dancefloor together, reaching all the way to the semi-finals.

Season 7: Kim Kardashian & Mark Ballas

Keeping Up with the Kardashians had first aired in 2007, and one of the show’s stars, Kim Kardashian, was invited to be on Dancing with the Stars a year later. In 2008, one of America’s most popular personas of our time was invited on to compete for the show’s 7th season. Kim K was paired up with the defending champion, Mark Ballas, however, they were both unfortunately eliminated from the competition quite early, as the third pair to be kicked out.

Season 9: Kelly Osbourne & Louis van Amstel

The rebellious and punk Kelly Osbourne has come a long way since her teenage years when we first got to know her on the reality TV show The Osbournes and Shut Up in the early 2000s. In 2009, she was selected to be one of the special stars to make her way on the dance show alongside the dazzling dancer, Louis van Amstel. She sparkled, shined, and won the hearts of people all around with her skills on the ballroom dance floor as she placed in third that season!

Season 11: Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff

Come season 11 of Dancing with the Stars, Mike Sorrentino, better known as “The Situation”, had so much more to show on the dance floor than his six-pack abs, seen on the iconic reality TV show Jersey Show. Paired up with Dancing with the Stars’ multi-champ and professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, the two of them danced the nights away up until the fourth week of eliminations. Perhaps the sandy shores of Jersey fit him a bit better than the dance floor, but needless to say he was one of the more memorable contestants on the show.

Season 4: Joey Fatone & Kym Johnson

It’s always exciting when a popstar makes their way onto DWTS, and there’s no doubt that fans were stoked to know that ‘90s boy band NYSYNC’s Joey Fatone was selected as a contestant in one of the earlier seasons of the show in 2007. The final rounds of season four proved to be an exciting one as Joey Fatone and his dazzling pro dance partner, Kym Johnson. Unfortunately, it might sound crazy, but it ain't no lie, that he had to say “Bye bye bye” to the show at the very end of the season. But the boy band icon made it all the way to the finals, placing in second!

Season 23: Laurie Hernandez & Valentin Chmerkovskiy

It’s such an exciting challenge when you have an athletic celebrity joins to compete on a dance show—especially a talented gymnast like the glorious Olympic gold medalist, Laurie Hernandez. In 2016, Hernandez proved to the world that she had just as much skills on the mat as she did on the dance floor as she won the Mirror Ball and placed in first on the 23rd season of the show! She danced alongside the lovely Valentin "Val" Chmerkovskiy (Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s brother).

Season 10: Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson

For the 10th anniversary of the show, Shark Tank’s savvy, saucy, yet sweet business man Robert Herjavec was brought on to compete on the dance floor. It’s safe to say that the floor is intimidating in its own way, but Herjavec kept his cool all the way until 6th place. If anything, though, it’s safe to say that he walked away as a winner, as he was partnered up with the sensational dancer, Kym Johnson, with whom he tied the knot a year later. How sweet!

Season 5: Marie Osmond & Jonathan Roberts

From being part of the brother-sister dynamic duo band The Osmonds, to becoming one of our time’s most memorable talk show hosts on Donne & Marie, there’s no doubt that Marie Osmond is full of all sorts of wonders and talents. And in 2007, she got the opportunity to prove her ballroom dance skills on the fifth season of Dancing with the Stars. The marvelous Marie dazzled away with her professional dance partner, Jonathan Roberts. She might’ve fainted during one of her performances, but it’s safe to say that her performances are memorable to fans ‘til today!

Season 4: Billy Ray Cyrus & Karina Smirnoff

For one of the earlier seasons of the show, in 2007, country singer Bill Ray Cyrus (Miley Cyrus’s father) was selected to show off his performing skills away from the microphone and right on the dance floor. Cyrus was partnered up with the incredible Karina Smirnoff, and they quickly became one of the favored couples by fans all around! Unfortunately, it was time to break his heart, his achey-breaky heart, and once they made it to the semi-finals they were voted off the show and placed in fifth for the season.

Season 7: Lance Bass & Lacey Schwimmer

Three seasons and one year later, Dancing with the Stars decided to spice things up a bit and invite another iconic boy band member. That’s right, Lance Bass from the ‘90s boy band NYSYNC was brought on as a contestant for season seven. The lovely Lacey Schwimmer was partnered up with Bass, and the two of them leaped their way to the finals round. But alas, the two had to say “Bye bye bye” to the show at the end of the season. Swinging dancing Schwimmer and boy band Bass placed at an honorable third.

Season 8: Shawn Johnson & Mark Ballas

The incredibly talented and sensational Shawn Johnson has earned herself 10 gold medals and 6 silver medals throughout her career as an Olympics as a dazzling gymnast. Soon after her impressive competition at the 2008 Olympics, Johnson was selected to join the ballroom dance floor fun for the 8th season of Dancing with the Stars. Her pro dance partner was season six’s champ Mark Ballas, and they ended up winning the Mirror Ball by a slim 1%. How exciting! What can we say? Whether you’re on the balance beams or on the dance floor, every little point counts.

Season 10: Nicole Scherzinger & Derek Hough

While it might’ve been heart-breaking for The Pussycat Doll fans when the saucy pop girl band took a hiatus after their 2009 Doll Domination tour, the following year was quite a thrilling one for their frontwoman. That’s right, in 2010, The Pussycat Doll’s Nicole Scherzinger was selected to take her already hot-to-drop dancing skills from the music stage to the dance floor, in order to compete in the 10th season of the show. Not only was this an exciting season for Scherzinger since it was the 10th anniversary for Dancing with the Stars, but the saucy singer zinged her way to the top and won the mirror ball with her elegant and remarkable partner, Derek Hough. Jai Ho!

Season 13: Kristin Cavallari & Mark Ballas

She might’ve been born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, but she rose to fame on the west side of the states in Laguna Beach. In 2011, bad girl Kristin Cavallari from the reality TV show, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, was invited to compete on the show. The saucy Cavallari was partnered with multi-champ Mark Ballas, however, the two had to unfortunately sway away from the dance floor as they were the third couple to be eliminated on season 13.

Season 10: Erin Andrews & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Another admired celebrity brought on to compete on season 10 was TV personality and sports newscaster, Erin Andrews. The illustrious ESPN and Fox Sports superstar was partnered up with the remarkable Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and the two put on quite a show for the world to enjoy! The two of them placed in third, but that wouldn’t be the last that the show saw of Andrews. Erin Andrews was honorably asked to co-host the 18th season of the show in 2014. Erin's contract with the show ended in 2020 and according to the sportscaster, the exit was a surprise to her. Producer of the show explained that replacing hosts was "what the show needed."

Season 13: Hope Solo && Maksim Chmerkovskiy

In 2011, right after the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the glorious goalkeeper, Hope Solo was brought on to compete on Dancing with the Stars. As one of America’s favorite female goalies of our time, fans were excited to see if her moves on the field would be just as good as her footwork on the dancefloor. Solo and her partner, the marvelous Maksim Chmerkovskiy, danced the night away all the way to the semi-final rounds! The dancing duo placed in 4th for the 13th season of the show.

Season 22: Kim Fields & Sasha Farber

We grew to know and love her as Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey from the popular family sitcom The Facts of Life, and have enjoyed her in her roles as a grown-up in works like What to Expect When You’re Expecting. And in the Spring of 2016, Dancing with the Stars welcomed the wonderful Kim Fields to the dance floor to dance alongside the sensational Sasha Farber. The two were eliminated after the fifth week, and placed in 8th for the 22nd season.

Season 10: Pamela Anderson & Damian Whitewood

In 2010, for the special 10th anniversary of the show, Baywatch sensation and former Playboy model Pamela Anderson was invited to compete. The talented and stunning Canadian superstar model-actress was paired up with the spicy and energetic Australian pro-dancer, Damian Whitewood. Anderson was eliminated in the 6th round of the competition, and was brought back two years later for the 15th season, to compete in the all-star edition. Unfortunately, she was eliminated the very first week. A year later, in 2013, she was invited to participate in UK’s Dancing on Ice. How interesting!

Season 16: Zendaya & Valentin Chmerkovskiy

One of the most fun things about Dancing with the Stars is the fact that there are stars that are brought on from all different generations and all ages. Back in 2013, the multi-talented superstar, Zendaya, was invited to join the show. But what made her presence on the show so special wasn’t the fact that she already had dance experience, but the fact that she was the youngest contestants of all time to participate on the show! At the sweet age of 16, the zealous Zendaya was paired up with the vivacious Valentin Chmerkovskiy, and the power duo impressively placed in second!

Season 17: Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi & Sasha Farber

The situation wasn’t the only superstar to find their way from the sandy beaches of Jersey Shore to the Dancing with the Stars dancefloor. One of MTV’s most popular reality TV stars, Nicole Polizzi a.k.a. Snooki, was selected to join the competition in 2013. Surprisingly enough, the notorious Snooki and her sensational dance partner, Sasha Farber, were eliminated in the seventh round. Unfortunately, even though they had performed well and the judges gave them high scores and good feedback, it didn’t seem to be enough for the audience to keep them on.

Season 17: Bill Nye the Science Guy & Tyne Stecklien

In the ‘90s, one of the most popular scientists around America was the one and only Bill Nye the Science Guy. In more recent years, our favorite science teacher made his way back to the screen for his Netflix series, Bill Nye Saves the World. However, before getting back to the lab, Bill Nye found his way on the DWTS dancefloor. Paired up with the talented and stunning Tyne Stecklein, Nye sustained an injury early in the season, and the two were eliminated in week 3 of the 13th season.

Season 20: Rumer Willis & Valentin Chmerkovskiy

Actress Rumer Willis, daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, stole our hearts in a way nobody would’ve ever expected. Straight off the bat, the famous actress and her incredibly talented dance partner, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, received high scores for their performances. They worked their way all the way to the top and placed in first, walking away with the Mirror Ball trophy for the show’s special 20th season. Not just that, but the dynamic power duo received perfect 10s for six out of seven of their final dance routines!

Season 23: Amber Rose & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Throughout the years, the tabloids might’ve focused on the astonishing Amber Rose's romantic partners, like rapper Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, and Savage, but in 2016 she was about to be partnered up with someone in a whole new way. For the 23rd season of the show, the famous actress and model was invited to compete in the dance competition with none other than the spectacular Maksim Chmerkovskiy was her dance partner. While the two didn’t make it very far in the competition, it’s safe to say it was quite an entertaining experience!

Season 25: Nikki Bella & Artem Chigvintsev

As we’ve mentioned, it’s always a new and exciting challenge to bring on an athlete celebrity to compete on a dance show. In one of the more recent seasons, the show invited one of the favorite World Wrestling Entertainment women wrestling champs, the notorious Nikki Bella. In 2017, Bella took the dancefloor with the astonishing professional Latin dancer, Artem Chigvintsev, to whom she is now engaged. During the 6th round, Bella was eliminated in the only double elimination round of the season, alongside celebrity actress and TV host, Vanessa Lachey.

Season 25: Nick Lachey & Peta Murgatroyd

Speaking of Vanessa Lachey… she wasn’t the only Lachey on the show in 2017. That’s right! The Dancing with the Stars producers decided to spice things up during Season 25’s airing, and bring Vanessa Lachey’s husband, Nick Lachey. Best known for his singing career with the boy band 98 Degrees, and his reality TV show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Nick Lachey and his dance partner, Peta Murgatroyd were pumped to make it to the top. However, unfortunately, the two ended up getting eliminated right before Vanessa Lachey, and placed in 8th for the season.

Season 24: Simon Biles & Sasha Farber

Olympic champion, Simon Biles, was on fire in the mid-2010s, and the producers of DWTS wanted to catch some of that heat! In 2017, the multi-talented gold medalist gymnast was selected to compete and show off to the world that she had just as much skill on the mat as she did on the dance floor. Paired up with the fabulous Sasha Farber, America’s favorite smiley and bouncy gymnast found a place even deeper in our hearts, and trotted her way out of the competition placing 4th in the 24th season.

Season 22: Nyle Dimarco & Peta Murgatroyd

Season 22 made for an interesting one, because the winner was someone who showed us that we don’t always need the ability to hear in order to sway to the music in a way that makes us swoon. In 2016, the notoriously stunning winner of America's Next Top Model season 22, Nyle Dimarco competed alongside the awe-inspiring Peta Murgatroyd. The two literally danced their way to the top, and received the Mirror Ball trophy. Dimarco also made history as being the very first deaf contestant on the show to ever win.

Season 17: Amber Riley & Derek Hough

We know that the awe-inspiring Amber Riley from Glee can sing like a queen, but when she was invited onto DWTS, fans were curious if she could ballroom dance like one too! In 2013, the multi-talented and remarkable Riley blew both the judges and fans away time and time again. With every single dance that Riley and her dazzling dance partner, Derek Hough, performed, the better they got. The last few dances they danced earned them perfect scores, and eventually they won the Mirror Ball and placed in first for Season 17. How exciting!

Season 24: Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigvintsev

Gymnasts aren’t the only Olympic champions that Dancing with the Stars invited to join over the years. In fact, in 2017, the producers invited more than one Olympic superstar to compete in the intense and thrilling dance competition. During Season 24, the fantastic former Olympic figure skater, Nancy Kerrigan, enthusiastically decided it was time to take her skills from the ice rink to the dance floor, alongside pro dancer, Artem Chigvintsev. The two were quite a pair, however, the graceful Kerrigan and Chigvintsev were eliminated during the seventh week of the competition.

Season 26: Tonya Harding & Sasha Farber

Another popular Olympic figure skater was brought on just a couple of years after the remarkable Nancy Kerrigan—and it was her most famous rival, no less. One of America’s most notorious former Olympic gold medalist figure skaters, Tonya Harding, joined in to compete in 2018. Paired with the wonderful professional dancer, Sasha Farber, Harding glided on the dancefloor just as gracefully as on the ice, and ended up making it all the way to the finals! The two placed in third for Season 26’s competition.

Season 19: Alfonso Ribeiro & Witney Carson

Who could ever forget the wholesome and goofy cousin Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air? That’s right, in 2014 fans were beyond excited to see that Alfonso Ribeiro would be in the Season 19’s lineup for DWTS celebrity competitors. The comedy actor was paired with the glorious Witney Carson, and of course, at one point they even incorporated the famous “The Carlton” dance into one of their routines. Week after week, the two continued to give performances for the judges that they would never forget, and ended up receiving the Mirror Ball and placing in first for the season.

Season 25: Frankie Muniz & Witney Carson

‘90s kids loved and adored him for years as one of the biggest child-star actors of his time. From family sitcom Malcom in the Middle to the adventure comedy films Agent Cody Banks and Big Fact Liar, there’s no doubt that people were very excited when they heard the fabulous Frankie Muniz would be competing on DWTS in 2017. Pro dancer Witney Carson was partnered with Muniz, and while he’s also known to be a racecar driver, would he be able to keep up with the wondrous Witney? Excitingly enough, the two placed in third for Season 25’s competition.

Season 29: Katlyn Bristowe & Artem Chigvintsev

Kaitlyn Bristowe is a more recent celebrity, that earned her stardom with her role as a contestant on The Bachelor and then continued on as the star bachelorette on The Bachelorette. Fast-forward five years later, fans were thrilled to learn that she would be one of the celebrities to be a part of the 2020 line-up for the 29th season of the show! Paired up with the astonishing and admirable Artem Chigvintsev, fans sure are excited to see what the two can do on the dancefloor together.

Season 29: Nelly & Daniella Karagach

Can someone feel it getting hot in here? So hot, that it hurts. That’s right, another exciting upcoming contender in the new season of Dancing with the Stars is the one and only notorious rapper and hip-hop artist, Nelly. Paired up with the dazzling and daring Daniella Karagach, there’s no doubt that these two are going to be one hot and heavy pair to out-dance. The only dilemma we can think of, is which one of his hit songs will they surprise fans with and dance to? So far, he’s kicked off the competition with “Ride Wit Me” and literally took things to a whole ‘nother level with his dancing and flip skills!

Season 29: Carole Baskin & Pasha Pashkov

If there’s anything that we can say about the producers of Dancing with the Stars, it’s that they’re always finding new ways to keep us on our pointed toes. Another competitor on the new season of the show that was announced was none other than Tiger King’s Carole Baskin. While all of us were wondering if she and her partner, Pasha Pashkov would incorporate the notorious “Carole Baskin” Tik Tok dance trend that spread throughout the whole world while we were all stuck in lockdown, they chose to go with “Eye of the Tiger” for their first dance of the season. How fitting!

Season 29: Jesse Metcalfe & Sharna Burgess

We swooned over him when he made his appearance in Desperate Housewives and fell even more in love when he starred in John Tucker Must Die, but can his charm on the screen match up with his charm on the dance floor? The new season of DWTS includes the hunky and multi-talented Jesse Metcalfe as one of the celebrity competitors for the Mirror Ball this upcoming season. Metcalfe is paired up with Sharna Burgess, and so far, his charm and ability to make our hearts melt still stands strong.