Derek Hough Will Replace Len Goodman as a Judge on 'DWTS' This Season, and It's All Too Much

Laura Hanrahan
·6 min read

From Woman's Day

The 28th season of Dancing With the Stars has come to a close, and fans are already looking forward to what season 29 might have in store for them next year. And after the dramatic whirlwind that was season 28 — between waiting long for a new season, being introduced to a few new shakeups (including a brand new judging rule and a few behind-the-scenes creative changes), and having some pretty controversial cast choices — we're on the edge of our seats wondering what other changes could happen between now and next season's premiere.

Although ABC is generally pretty tight-lipped about future seasons of the ballroom dancing competition show, here is everything we know so far about season 29 of Dancing With the Stars.

When will season 29 air?

After skipping a 2020 spring season, ABC confirmed that DWTS would return in fall 2020. And on August 18, the show revealed via Twitter that DWTS would return on September 14, 2020.

Who will the cast be?

Fans were given a gift in June when Dancing with the Stars revealed its first star: former Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe. Then, a week before the full cast list was revealed, the show shared that AJ McLean, former Backstreet Boy member, would be heading to the ballroom this fall.

Here is who will be on Dancing with the Stars, season 29:

  • Nelly, American rapper

  • Monica Aldama, Cheer coach

  • Carole Baskin, Tiger King star

  • Kaitlyn Bristowe, former Bachelorette star

  • Vernon Davis, former American football tight end

  • Anne Heche, actor

  • Skai Jackson, actor

  • Justina Machado, actor

  • Jeannie Mai, The Real host

  • AJ McLean, former Backstreet Boy member

  • Jesse Metcalfe, actor

  • Charles Oakley, former American basketball player

  • Nev Schulman, Catfish host

  • Chrishell Stause, Selling Sunset star

  • Johnny Weir, Olympic skater

And the list of pros, which was revealed on August 18 on Good Morning America, is just as impressive. This season's lineup of pros include three couples — Valentin Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson, Emma Slater and Sasha Farber, and Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach.

Competing against your significant other presents several challenges, but GMA revealed an additional obstacle, so to speak. As a precaution against COVID-19, all pros must live apart, even those who are married to a fellow pro.

"It's going to be bliss — I mean it's going to be terrible," Slater joked on GMA about the new mandate. "It's going to be so different because we can't actually interact and even prep with each other, which is something completely different, but we're doing everything we can to keep safe. There's going to be a lot of FaceTiming."

In addition to a record-breaking three pro couples, this season of DWTS will have it's first Black female pro in Britt Stewart.

The full list of DWTS season 29 pros include:

  • Brandon Armstrong

  • Alan Bersten

  • Sharna Burgess

  • Cheryl Burke

  • Artem Chigvintsev

  • Val Chmerkovskiy

  • Sasha Farber

  • Jenna Johnson

  • Daniella Karagach

  • Keo Motsepe

  • Peta Murgatroyd

  • Pasha Pashkov

  • Gleb Savchenko

  • Emma Slater

  • Britt Stewart

Will there be any new changes?

The biggest change to season 29 will be the hosts. On Monday, July 13, ACB and BBC studios announced that longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews would not be returning to the ballroom.

Bergeron, who has hosted the show since its U.S. inception in 2005, was the first to share the news on Twitter.

"Just informed @DancingABC will be continuing without me," the longtime host write on Twitter Monday evening. "It's been an incredible 15 year run and the most unexpected gift of my career. I'm grateful for that and for the lifelong friendships made."

Andrews, who began co-hosting the show in 2013, shared her thoughts in a Tweet Tuesday morning.

"Thank you ABC and the entire Dancing With the Stars family for six memorable season," she wrote. "Those years wouldn't have been as special without my loving host Tom Bergeron, the talented dancers, and witty judges. I will always cherish my days on that set, even if I wasn't the best at walking in heels."

So who will replace the dynamic duo? On Wednesday, July 15, it was announced that former model and host of American's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks, would be the new host of Dancing With the Stars.

"As we gear up for the show’s 29th season, we can’t wait to welcome Tyra Banks to our 'Dancing' stage," Karey Burke, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement to People. "Tyra is an award-winning multihyphenate whose fierce female prowess and influence across many industries have made an indelible mark. Her fresh take on America’s favorite dancing competition will surely bring more than a ‘Smize’ to fans everywhere."

The excitement is mutual, as People reported that Banks was just as excited about the new role.

"I’ve been a fan of 'DWTS' since its beginning ... The fun mixed with raw emotion, seeing celebrities push past their comfort zones, the sizzling dance performances ... it’s always transported me to my days of turning it up 10 notches on the catwalk," Banks said. "Tom has set a powerful stage, and I’m excited to continue the legacy and put on my executive producer and hosting hats."

Another change will be taking place behind the judges' bench. Former dance pro Derek Hough will be joining Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli as a new judge this season. Hough will be standing in for Len Goodman, who's been a judge since the beginning, as Goodman is in the U.K. and hasn't been able to return to the U.S. due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an Instagram post, Hough said, "This show has and will always be incredibly special to me," and that he hopes to be a "fair, fun, encouraging, honest, helpful, compassionate" judge.

Fans can likely except some other changes to the ballroom competition, though nothing has been released yet. Season 28 saw quite a few changes that were meant to address audience complaints after DJ Bobby Bones took home the Mirrorball trophy in season 27, despite repeatedly receiving the lowest scores. While the show has attempted to move the competition away from being a popularity contest by allowing the judges to choose which of the bottom two goes home, there are evidently still some kinks that still need to be worked out after low-scorer Sean Spicer was kept on week after week, and fan-favorite James Van Der Beek, who had topped the leader board each week, was sent home after receiving lower than normal scores just 36 hours after his wife's miscarriage.

The network has not yet announced any new changes for season 29, but we wouldn't be surprised if they try to shake things up again to prevent low-scoring dancers from taking a spot away from better performers.

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