Julianne Hough and Bruno Tonioli Share Their Thoughts on the Enduring Success of ‘Dancing With The Stars’
Dancing with the Stars, a cornerstone of reality television, faced skepticism in its early days, as co-host Julianne Hough and judge Bruno Tonioli recently discussed.
In an interview with People during the 2026 Disney Upfront, Hough and Tonioli reflected on the doubts that surrounded the show’s potential for success.
“I mean, this show got turned down so many times at the beginning, because people were like, ‘A ballroom dancing show? Like, what? Is that really a thing?’” Hough recalled.
Tonioli, who has been a judge since the show’s inception alongside Carrie Ann Inaba and the late Len Goodman, reminisced about the challenges faced in the early days, which followed the debut of the British original, Strictly Come Dancing. “It was May 2005, and at the time … Andrea Wong was running ABC, and Bob Iger was working there as well. Everyone was saying, ‘This is never gonna work. They’re crazy,’” he noted.
Wong ultimately gave the go-ahead, leading to the show’s unexpected rise in popularity. “Next year, we were up there with American Idol — I could not believe it,” Tonioli recalled.
Both Hough and Tonioli attribute the show’s enduring appeal to its “beating heart.”
“To see that it’s been around — not only just survived 20 years, but is now thriving more than it ever has — it just goes to show that when you stay in authenticity and integrity of what this show is, which is craftsmanship, just rooting for people to grow and succeed, and go on the journey of transformation, and keep that family experience — that’s timeless,” Hough concluded.
Looking ahead, the series has been renewed for a 35th season, and a new spinoff titled Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro is in development, featuring Season 34 champion Robert Irwin as host. This offshoot aims to discover the next pro dancer from among 12 aspiring competitors who will live together and participate in a rigorous audition process for a coveted spot in the upcoming season.
Regarding the spinoff, Hough expressed her excitement about giving the new generation of dancers a chance to “be seen and visible” for their craft at “the highest level.”
“To see the level of talent, to see the dedication and the execution, and then to let them get their flowers and be a part of the biggest dance show in the world,” she said.
