It is that specific sound. You know the one—the sparkly, orchestral swell that hits right before a C-list celebrity and a world-class athlete grip each other’s sweaty palms, waiting to see if they’re going home with a tacky gold trophy or just a sore lower back.
Dancing with the stars us winners have become a weirdly specific type of American royalty. We’ve seen everyone from NFL legends to TikTok teens hoist that Mirrorball. But honestly? The "best" dancer doesn't always win. Sometimes it’s about the narrative. Sometimes it’s just about who has the most aggressive fan base on Facebook.
Look at Robert Irwin.
The most recent champion of Season 34 (late 2025) basically walked into the ballroom with the win already in his pocket. Partnered with Witney Carson—who finally grabbed her second win after a decade-long drought—Robert brought that infectious Irwin energy that clearly still resonates with viewers. He beat out Alix Earle and Jordan Chiles in a finale that felt more like a popularity contest than a technical dance-off.
But that's the show. It always has been.
The All-Time Champions: A History of Mirrors and Sweat
Since 2005, the show has crowned over thirty winners. It started with Kelly Monaco in a season that was so short and low-budget it feels like a fever dream now.
People actually rioted—well, "Internet rioted"—when Kelly beat John O'Hurley. It was so controversial that ABC staged a "rematch" special. That set the tone for the next two decades: talent is great, but the story is what sells the votes.
The Athletes Who Dominated
Athletes are basically a cheat code on this show. They have the discipline, the muscle memory, and usually a massive built-in audience.
- Emmitt Smith (Season 3): The first NFL star to prove that big guys can actually move. He and Cheryl Burke were unstoppable.
- Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4): Speed skaters have a weird advantage because of their core strength. Apolo was the first to get a perfect 30.
- Shawn Johnson (Season 8): Gymnasts are hit or miss because they can be "stiff," but Shawn was pure magic with Mark Ballas.
- Iman Shumpert (Season 30): This was the biggest shocker for many. A 6'5" NBA player doing contemporary lifts that looked like Cirque du Soleil? Unforgettable.
The "Ringer" Controversy
Every few seasons, we get a "ringer." That’s the celebrity who clearly has professional dance training but pretends they’re just "trying their best."
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Nicole Scherzinger (Season 10) and Jordan Fisher (Season 25) are the gold standards here. Jordan Fisher didn't just win; he dismantled the competition. His average score was so high it practically broke the leaderboard. Then you have Charli D’Amelio in Season 31. She’s a competitive dancer by trade. Watching her compete against a real estate agent from New Jersey felt a little bit like bringing a bazooka to a knife fight.
Why Some Winners Still Make Fans Angry
If you want to start a fight in a DWTS Facebook group, just mention Bobby Bones.
Season 27 was a disaster for technical purists. Bobby was, to put it kindly, not a great dancer. He was often at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard. But his "radio army" showed up. When he won over Juan Pablo Di Pace (who was arguably the best male dancer in show history) and Milo Manheim, the backlash was so severe the show literally changed its voting rules the following year.
Dancing with the stars us winners aren't always the ones who hit the best lines. They’re the ones we want to grab a beer with.
The Bachelor Nation Stranglehold
For a while there, the Mirrorball might as well have been rebranded as the "Bachelor Trophy."
- Hannah Brown (Season 28)
- Kaitlyn Bristowe (Season 29)
- Joey Graziadei (Season 33)
Joey’s win in 2024 was a return to form for the franchise. He wasn't a ringer. He was just a likable guy who worked his tail off. His freestyle to "Canned Heat" was a massive hit because it leaned into his personality rather than just trying to execute a perfect rumba.
The Pro Dancers: The Real MVPs
We talk about the celebrities, but the pros are the ones choreographing these miracles in three days.
Derek Hough is the undisputed GOAT with six wins. He’s a judge now, but his run with winners like Bindi Irwin and Jennifer Grey (the oldest winner at age 50!) remains the blueprint for how to win.
Then you have the Chmerkovskiy brothers. Val has been a staple for years, recently winning with Xochitl Gomez in Season 32. Xochitl was a breath of fresh air—young, genuinely excited, and technically brilliant. She was the first to win the "Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy," renamed after the legendary head judge passed away.
Every Winner at a Glance
If you’re trying to settle a bet, here is the chronological list of who actually took home the gold:
The Early Years (1-10): Kelly Monaco, Drew Lachey, Emmitt Smith, Apolo Anton Ohno, Hélio Castroneves, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brooke Burke, Shawn Johnson, Donny Osmond, Nicole Scherzinger.
The Golden Era (11-20): Jennifer Grey, Hines Ward, J.R. Martinez, Donald Driver, Melissa Rycroft (All-Stars), Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley, Meryl Davis, Alfonso Ribeiro, Rumer Willis.
The Modern Era (21-34): Bindi Irwin, Nyle DiMarco, Laurie Hernandez, Rashad Jennings, Jordan Fisher, Adam Rippon, Bobby Bones, Hannah Brown, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Iman Shumpert, Charli D'Amelio, Xochitl Gomez, Joey Graziadei, and Robert Irwin.
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How to Predict the Next Winner
If you're looking at a new cast and trying to guess who will join the ranks of dancing with the stars us winners, look for three things.
First, check the "closeness" of the partnership. If they don't look like they actually like each other in the rehearsal packages, they’re doomed. Second, look for the "journey." The judges love a celebrity who starts off like a baby giraffe and ends up like a gazelle.
Third? Check their Instagram followers. In 2026, the popular vote is more powerful than ever.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Freestyle: The finale is almost always decided by the freestyle dance. It’s the only time the pros can break the rules. If a couple goes viral on TikTok with their freestyle, they've won.
- The "Middle" Matters: Most winners hit their stride in Week 5 or 6. If a celebrity is already perfect in Week 1, the audience often gets bored and stops voting for them by the semi-finals.
- The Sport Effect: If there is an Olympic gymnast or a recently retired NFL player, put your money on them making the top three.
The Mirrorball trophy is technically made of plexiglass and tiny mirrors. It’s not worth much in raw materials. But for the people who spend three months blistering their feet and crying in rehearsal halls, it’s everything.
To keep up with the current season's standings, check the official ABC live leaderboard during Tuesday night broadcasts, as real-time viewer voting now accounts for 50% of the total score. For historical deep dives, the DWTS fandom wiki maintains the most accurate database of week-by-week scores and elimination orders.