Why Did Sharna Burgess Leave 'Dancing With the Stars'?
Sharna Burgess stepped away from Dancing With the Stars after Season 30 in 2021, then took maternity leave and was not asked back for later seasons amid what she called a rocky stretch under new leadership. The pro dancer is returning for Season 35, announced on Good Morning America on August 24.
Key Takeaways
- Sharna Burgess last competed as a DWTS pro in Season 30 in 2021 and is returning for Season 35.
- She was cut from Season 28 after winning with Bobby Bones, then returned for Seasons 29 and 30.
- She sat out Season 31 after her son Zane was born and was not asked back for Season 32.
- Her Season 35 return was revealed on Good Morning America on August 24, 2026.
Why did Sharna Burgess leave Dancing With the Stars?
According to Yahoo Entertainment, Burgess' five-year hiatus followed a turbulent run. After her Season 27 Mirrorball win with Bobby Bones, she and Artem Chigvintsev were unexpectedly cut from Season 28 when a new creative director arrived.
She told Entertainment Tonight she was not given a clear reason beyond, "We couldn't partner you up with anybody this season." She also rejected claims that pay kept her off the cast, saying she was "on par with people" and not the most expensive pro.
Burgess returned for Season 29 with Jesse Metcalfe and Season 30 with then-boyfriend (now-fiancé) Brian Austin Green. She later said Season 29 was rocky and that she could not be alone in the room with her partner after the first weeks. On Season 30, she objected to the show spotlighting their romance over Green's dance journey and said they were quickly eliminated after she raised the concern.
What happened after she stepped away for motherhood?
Burgess took Season 31 off after giving birth to her son in 2022. With Zane only eight weeks old when rehearsals began, she said she needed to "sit in motherhood." She expected to return the next year, but she was not asked back for Season 32—a shock she linked to rocky years after a new executive producer joined the show.
Fans following celebrity breaking news will note she still made a brief cameo during the show's 500th episode in 2024, even while she was out of the regular pro rotation.
Is Sharna Burgess returning to DWTS in 2026?
Yes. Just Jared reports she confirmed her Season 35 return on the August 24 Good Morning America broadcast. She first joined as a pro in Season 16 in 2013 and has danced 14 seasons overall. This will be her first full competition since 2021.
She told Us Weekly she had informal talks about Season 34 but "wasn't ready" while her son was not yet in school and she pursued other work. Season 35 is set for a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu. The full cast and pairings are due on GMA on September 2.