“Dancing With the Stars” might be adding a brand-new pro this year, but it’s also welcoming back a longtime veteran.
Professional dancer Sharna Burgess, who has competed on 14 seasons of the ABC series, will be back as a pro for the upcoming Season 35, as revealed on Monday’s “Good Morning America” broadcast. This will be Burgess’ first competitive season since Season 30 in 2021.
Burgess’ celebrity partner has yet to be revealed. Previously confirmed Season 35 contestants include Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez (who will be paired with defending champion Witney Carson), “The Traitors” alum Maura Higgins, and “Summer House” star Ciara Miller.
The full cast of celebrities and their pro partners will be unveiled Wednesday, September 2, on “Good Morning America” — a roster that, in addition to Burgess and Carson, will include the yet-to-be-revealed winner of the “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro” competition series, currently airing Mondays at 8/7c on ABC. The final four consists of Allen Genkin, Selena Hamilton, AJ Pritchard, and Adele Zaikman, with the winner set to be chosen on the August 31 finale.
Sharna Burgess’ Dancing With the Stars history
Sharna Burgess first appeared as a “Dancing With the Stars” pro on Season 16 — where she was paired with controversial actor Andy Dick — and subsequently became an annual staple of the cast. But her Mirrorball victory in Season 27, alongside country radio DJ Bobby Bones, was criticized by many viewers (including us, at the time!), and Burgess was conspicuously left off the Season 28 roster.
She then returned for Season 29 (with actor Jesse Metcalfe) and Season 30 (with real-life fiancé Brian Austin Green), but has not been back in the pro capacity since her 13th-place finish with Green.
Earlier this summer, Burgess hinted to “Us” that she could return for Season 35, revealing that she’d previously discussed a return for last year’s Season 34 with the show’s producers, but it didn’t come to fruition.
“It was by no means a ‘please come back,'” Burgess said. “It wasn’t a hard offer on the table, but there was definitely a temperature check. … If they were to ask me this year, I would absolutely say yes.”
“Dancing With the Stars” returns with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, on ABC and Disney+; both episodes will air at 8 p.m.
“DWTS” fans, are you excited to have Burgess back in the lineup? Tell us below!
This story originally appeared on TVLine
