To the Mirrorball Trophy! All the Previous ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Winners From Every Season

Kelly Monaco and Alec Mazo

The General Hospital actress was the first-ever winner of DWTS and set the bar for every celeb to come after her.

After winning, Kelly starred in a burlesque act called “Peepshow,” while appearing on General Hospital. She returned to the DWTS stage for season 15’s all-star season, landing in third place.

Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke

Yes, that’s Nick Lachey‘s brother — and yes, he did win season 2.

After taking home the Mirrorball, the 98 Degrees bandmate hosted the Miss USA pageant in 2006. He returned for the all-stars season but didn’t fare as well. He was the third contestant to be sent home. He’s since done a few reunion tours with his old band and moved back to his hometown of Cincinnati to raise his children with his wife, childhood and high school sweetheart and choreographer for 98 Degrees, Lea. Together, they run a performing arts day camp.

Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke

The former Dallas Cowboys player was one of the early winners on the competition show during season 3.

One year after winning, Emmitt became a studio analyst at ESPN. He also competed in season 15 All-Stars, earning fourth place.

Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough

The speed skater added the mirrorball trophy to his long list of accolades during season 4.

After winning his first overall World Championship title in 2008, a year after he won DWTS, he hosted Minute to Win It on the Game Show Network. He also served as a commentator for the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough

The racecar driver and blonde beauty were an adorable pair during season 5.

After winning, the driver won his third Indianapolis 500.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas

The Olympian’s grace and agility won her season 6.

After winning, Kristi received the 2008 Sonja Henie Award from the Professional Skaters Association and later became an NBC Olympic correspondent. In 2011, her children’s book, Dream Big, Little Pig!, was published. In 2017, she returned to DWTS to dance in a trio with Lindsey Stirling and her pro Mark Ballas.

Brooke Burke-Charvet and Derek Hough

Brooke is known for being a workout junkie. All her hard work paid off with a season 7 victory.

Brooke became cohost on the show for seasons 10 through 17, became a published author in 2011 and beat cancer in 2012.

Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas

The Olympic gold medalist strutted her stuff during season 8 and did not disappoint fans.

After DWTS, the gymnast won a gold medal in the team competition and a silver medal for the uneven bars at the 2011 Pan American Games. She earned second place in season 15’s All-Stars.

Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson

Donny’s sister, Marie Osmond, also previously competed on DWTS. However, her brother really hit his stride during season 9.

Donny would return to perform as a guest or judge while his Las Vegas show ran for 11 years. In 2019, he came in second place on the first season of The Masked Singer.

Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough

The Pussycat Dolls leading lady had incredible chemistry on the dance floor with her partner and ended up with a much-deserved win during season 10.

The former Pussycat Dolls member has been a judge on The Masked Singer since its debut and played Penny in 2017’s Dirty Dancing remake.

Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough

The Dirty Dancing actress got a slew of perfect scores during season 11 and surprised no one when she won the whole thing.

Nobody puts Baby in the corner: after her win, she starred in Amazon’s Red Oaks and went on to appear on Grey’s Anatomy and The Conners.

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver cha cha’d his way to a victory during season 12.

Hines appeared in a few movies and television shows after DWTS and served as a studio analyst for CNN.

J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff

Season 13 was the dance pro’s first win, but it also sent a very powerful message to war veterans everywhere.

J.R. starred in SAF3 and appeared in the season 6 finale of Army Wives. He went on to become a radio host on his own show, the J.R. Martinez Show, on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles.

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd

The football player showed he has moves on and off the field during season 14.

Donald officially announced his retirement from the NFL after he won season 14. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2017.

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani

The Bachelor Nation alum — who was dumped after the dating show finale by Jason Mesnick — walked away with an even better prize after season 15 of DWTS.

Melissa briefly had a reality show with her husband Tye Stickland, Melissa & Tye, on CMT in 2012. Then, she hosted CMT’s Redneck Island. Melissa and Tye now have a podcast called “Logically Irrational.”

Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough

The American Idol alum squeaked out a victory ahead of Zendaya and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, during season 16.

After DWTS, Kellie continued her music career, releasing an album, starred in her own reality show, Love Kellie Pickler, and had a daytime TV talk show, Pickler & Ben with Ben Aaron from 2017 to 2019. She has appeared in two Hallmark Christmas movies Wedding at Graceland and The Mistletoe Secret.

Amber Riley and Derek Hough

In November 2013, the Glee actress won season 17 and it was a very sweet victory.

Amber moved on from the reality TV competition to appear in the West End’s production of Dreamgirls in 2016, released an album, Songs from the Stage and emceed The Little Mermaid Live! in 2019.

Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy

It didn’t come as a huge surprise that the Olympic figure skater was an amazing dancer — she now has the season 18 mirrorball trophy to prove it.

Meryl continued to skate until her retirement in 2017. She works alongside Figure Skating in Harlem and Figure Skating in Detroit, which offers girls of color education, access and tools to help them learn figure skating. 

Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson

Do the Carlton! The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor and blonde beauty climbed to the top of season 19.

Alfonso replaced Tom Bergeron to host America’s Funniest Home Videos in 2015. In 2019, “The 90s with Alfonso Ribeiro” radio show was launched. The TV personality joined DWTS for season 31 as a cohost alongside Tyra Banks. 

Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy

The eldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore has some serious dance chops and brought home the win during season 20.

Rumer has since appeared in film and television shows such as Empire, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 9-1-1. She also competed on the first season of The Masked Singer.

Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough

The daughter of the late Steve Irwin showed her strong work ethic and amazing talent during season 21.

After her win, Bindi released her album, Bindi and The Jungle Girls Bindi’s Island Dance Party, in 2016. She works with her husband, professional wakeboarder Chandler Powell, at Australia Zoo. She welcomed their first child in March 2021.

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd

The actor was the first-ever fully deaf contestant in the history of the competition show but proved that nothing would hold him back. The duo beat out Ginger Zee and her partner, Val, as well Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas for the season 22 win.

Nyle has since exercised his acting chops in Hulu’s Difficult People and ABC’s Station 19. He also started a nonprofit, The Nyle DiMarco Foundation, which provides resources for deaf children and their families.

Laurie Hernandez and Val Chmerkovskiy

From a gold medal to the mirrorball trophy! The Olympic gymnast slayed during season 23 and was able to show off another side of her incredible athletic skill.

In 2018, Laurie cohosted American Ninja Warrior Junior and published a children’s book She’s Got This and a New York Times Bestseller I Got This: To Gold and Beyond. She joined Simone Biles’ Gold Over America Tour in the fall of 2021.

Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater

The football player took home a well-deserved win during season 24. Host Erin Andrews revealed that he spent a whopping 362 hours rehearsing — which was a record for any other contestant.

Not long after winning, Rashad announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2018, he published his first book, The If in Life: How to Get Off Life’s Sidelines and Become Your Best Self. The Children’s Literacy Advocate also has a series of children’s books, The Coin Slot Chronicles.

Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold

The Disney Channel star and blonde beauty shockingly performed two perfect 10 routines — a samba and a mashup of salsa and paso doble — that cinched them the victory during season 25 finale.

In 2019, Jordan’s acting career really took off after appearing in Fox’s Rent: Live and Netflix’s To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. In 2020, he appeared in Netflix’s Work It.

Adam Rippon and Jenna Johnson

Season 26 was especially fierce because all the contestants were athletes. However, the Olympic figure skater reigned supreme.

After winning, Adam announced he would be retiring from competitive figure skating in 2018. In 2019, he released his memoir, Beautiful on the Outside. 

Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess

The radio DJ and redhead won season 27, despite receiving backlash from fans about the voting process. Sharna even clapped back at a commenter on Instagram in November 2018 who said the competition show was merely a “popularity contest.” The dance pro responded, “Honey it’s always been a popularity AND a dance contest. Seasons vary but it’s not always the best that wins. If a dance competition is what you check out awesome shows like World of Dance that have no public vote.”

However, the response led the show to change up their voting criteria to combine audience votes with the judges’ opinions for season 28.

Bobby continued to host The Bobby Bones Show and became a full-time mentor on American Idol since his DWTS win. 

Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten

The Bachelorette star and her partner had amazing chemistry all season long and clinched a victory during season 28.

In May 2021, Hannah launched her clothing collaboration with the L.A.-based line Show Me Your Mumu.

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem Chigvintsev

The former Bachelorette won season 29 with Artem after weeks of incredible performances. The Russian stud’s fiancé Nikki Bella congratulated them both via Instagram.

“Wow what an amazing season!! And way to conquer a dream!!” the Total Bellas star wrote. “Both of you! Love you girly! And Artem love you so much! Beyond proud of you! I know what this truly means to you! And my heart couldn’t be happier for you!!

Since her win in November 2020, Kaitlyn  become engaged to Jason Tartick in May 2021.

Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach

The pair used their extreme height difference to their advantage, which allowed them to perform amazing tricks throughout season 30. Their freestyle dance to Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” made the judges lose control and a received a perfect 80 out of 80 score. Iman is currently an NBA free agent. 

Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas

The internet personality took home the trophy at only 18 years old after an impressive season 31. Charli spent nearly every episode at the top of the leaderboard and got perfect scores for six weeks in a row ahead of her win!

Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy

The Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness star took home the Len Goodman mirrorball trophy for season 32. The young actress beat out four other celebrity contestants in an unprecedented finale that saw five couples instead of ​four perform their best dance as well as a freestyle. The week prior, Xochitl and Val scored a perfect 60 out of 60 for their two dances, becoming the first duo to do so all season.