The ABC reality show premiered on June 1, 2005 and has continued its reality TV success ever since, pairing stars with professional partners so they can learn how to dance and compete live in the ballroom. Through the years, more than 400 stars have appeared, and fans have been thrilled by past champions like ice skaters Kristi Yamaguchi and Meryl Davis, conservationist Bindi Irwin (the sister of current contestant Robert Irwin), actor/singer Jordan Fisher, and former The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro, now DWTS’ co-host.
Amid this week’s nostalgic episode marking DWTS’ 20 years with songs, dances, tributes, and special guests, here’s Parade’s opinionated guide to the best dancers in the show’s history – and whether they won or lost.
The best Dancing with the Stars contestants of all time
Drew Lachey
The former 98 Degrees singer delivered a memorable “Save a Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” freestyle with partner Cheryl Burke during season 2, when the show was in its infancy. Although later celebrity dancers were more accomplished, Lachey definitely helped put DWTS on the map. He and Burke earned a score of 30 out of 30 from judges. Lachey later returned for the All-Stars season 15 in 2012, but didn’t win.
Cheryl Burke & Drew Lachey during Dancing with the Stars - The Tour at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, United StatesKristi Yamaguchi
The Olympic gold medal-winning ice skater couldn’t be beat on season 6 of the show in 2008 with partner Mark Ballas. Yamaguchi had a huge advantage due to her years of learning dance moves on ice and scored consistently high throughout the season.
Shawn Johnson
Athletes have often excelled on DWTS. Did Olympic gold medalist gymnast Johnson, then just 17, have an unfair advantage due to her years of training? Fans and judges didn’t care. They also embraced her adorable personality as she won Season 8 in 2009 with partner Ballas. Johnson returned for the All-Star Season 15 and finished second with partner Derek Hough.
Shawn JohnsonRelated: ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Week 9 Spoilers: Every Song and Dance from the 20th Birthday Party Night
Nicole Scherzinger
Dirty Dancing star Grey had the time of her life winning season 11 with partner Hough despite rupturing a disk in her lower back. Grey burst into tears and hugged Hough for ages after the results were announced.
J.R. Martinez
Related: Elaine Hendrix Reveals How She’s Returning to ‘DWTS’ After Debilitating Injury (Exclusive)
(L-R) Tom Bergeron, Meryl Davis and Maks Chmerkovskiy on 'Dancing with the Stars'Alfonso Ribeiro
Former The French Prince of Bel-Air star is now a DWTS co-host, but back in 2014, during season 19, he was an iconic winner with Witney Carson. Ribeiro didn’t hide his childhood tap dance training, and judges also praised his showmanship, especially in his “Carlton dance,” a jazz tribute to his French Prince character Carlton Banks.
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughter was the mirror ball queen in 2015 for season 20 with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. Fans enjoyed her low-key personality and strong work ethic. Judge Len Goodman called Rumer’s final performance “flawless.”
Bindi Irwin
The late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin’s daughter was a DWTS standout winner, bringing so much heart to the ballroom in season 21 in 2015 with partner Hough. She received eight perfect scores and soon, will her brother Robert also take the trophy?
Bindi Irwin and Derek HoughJordan Fisher
The season 25 winner had a clear edge all season with pro partner Lindsay Arnold. They received nine perfect scores, a record for the series, and hoisted the trophy in 2017. Fisher was thrilled that all his “energy and blood and sweat and tears” over the weeks of competition had paid off.
While both beautiful Bachelorettes, Bristowe and Hannah Brown, won their seasons of DWTS, Bristowe earned a higher average judges’ score. Plus, Bristowe actually worked as a professional dancer before reality TV — and it showed as she won Season 29 in 2020 with partner Artem Chigvintsev.
Zendaya
The future Dune star competed on DWTS when she was just 16 in 2013. She finished in second place with partner Val Chmerkovskiy in Season 16. In retrospect, Zendaya’s dancing seemed better to many than the winner, former American Idol singer Kellie Pickler. Years later, the actress said she is “still harboring a little animosity” about losing DWTS, and many fans don’t blame her!
Val Chmerkovskiy and Zendaya on 'Dancing with the Stars'Simone Biles
The "GOAT" Olympian was a DWTS celebrity in 2017 during Season 24, but she and partner Sasha Farber only made fourth place. The judges were shocked she was sent packing as they had just given her perfect scores for a rumba and jive. A fellow athlete, football player Rashad Jennings, won instead.
Milo Manheim
Does the best dancer win every season? No! The Zombies star and son of Camryn Manheim went far on Season 27 with partner Carson in 2018. However, it was DJ Bobby Bones who took the mirror ball that season in the most controversial win in DWTS history, with Manheim finishing second. Bones, even when guided by partner Sharna Burgess, clearly couldn’t move across the dance floor as well as his young rival Milo.
(L-R) Alfonso Ribiero, Mark Ballas and Charli D'Amelio on 'Dancing with the Stars'Courtesy of Disney
Charli D’Amelio
Related: These 12 Celebrities Were the Worst Dancers on ‘Dancing with the Stars’
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