After losing one of its co-hosts, Dancing with the Stars has already found a replacement. Last week, Tyra Banks announced that she was exiting from her role as co-host on the series. She had first joined the show in 2020 when then-hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews were let go amid heavy criticism from longtime fans. After a stint hosting the show solo, Alfonso Ribeiro stepped in as co-host in 2022 when the series moved over to Disney+. It wasn’t immediately clear who’d be filling in when Banks said she was exiting the show to focus on her other endeavors.
Variety now reports that Julianne Hough has signed on to replace Banks, and will be co-hosting the program with Ribeiro moving forward. This is someone who has appeared on the show many times in previous years, both as a contestant and as a judge. She in fact won on two seasons, taking the win in season 4 alongside Apolo Anton Ohno before coming back the following season to win again with Helio Castroneves. From 2014 to 2017, she’d serve as a regular judge, and after departing from that role, she’d later return as a guest judge in 2021. Hosting, however, will be new to her.
Len Goodman announced after last season that he’d be exiting as judge as well. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough are set to return as judges.
Dancing with the Stars Gets a Host Shake-Up
“It is such an honor to be rejoining Dancing with the Stars as co-host,” Hough said in a statement addressing her new job on the show. “The show holds such a special place in my heart from the many years and different roles I have had the privilege of being a part of. The incredible team that brings the ballroom to life every night has been my family for the past 17 years. I am so excited to reunite with Alfonso, Carrie Ann, Bruno, Derek, the unbelievably talented pros, and the amazing cast on the dance floor.”
She continued, “The energy is magnetic every time you step foot in to the ballroom and I can’t wait to feel it again — and of course to share it all with the absolute best and most loyal fans — for another exciting season.”
The last season of the show, season 31, was the first to be streamed on Disney+. The move from TV to streaming seems to be part of an effort from Disney to expand the show’s audience. Some of the celebrities who took part in the season include Let’s Make a Deal host Wayne Brady, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena, Jersey Shore personality Vinny Guadagnino, and 90210 actor Terry Donovan. Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas ultimately got the win.
