Season twenty-eight of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 19, 2019, on the ABC network.
On November 25, The Bachelorette star Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten were crowned the champions, while actor and comedian Kel Mitchell and Witney Carson finished in second place, singer Ally Brooke and Sasha Farber finished in third place, and singer Lauren Alaina and Gleb Savchenko finished in fourth.
This marked the last season for co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.
Contents
Cast
Couples
This season featured twelve celebrity contestants. For the first time, the couples were not announced in advance, but were revealed during the season premiere. On August 19, 2019, Peta Murgatroyd announced that she would be returning as a professional. On August 21, the cast was revealed on Good Morning America. Artem Chigvintsev and Sharna Burgess did not return for this season. Two new dancers, Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov, were added to the pro line-up. However, there was no dance troupe this season.
On September 16, it was announced that Christie Brinkley had to withdraw from the competition due to an injury sustained during rehearsal. Her daughter, Sailor Brinkley-Cook, took her place.
Hosts and judges
Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews returned as hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli, returned as judges.
Scoring chart
The highest score each week is indicated in bold green with a dagger (†), while the lowest score each week is indicated in italicized red with a double-dagger (‡).
Color key:
Notes
Weekly scores
Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1: First Dances
The couples danced the cha-cha-cha, foxtrot, salsa, or tango. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
For the first time in the show's history, the official partnerships were revealed to the public during the live broadcast.
Week 2: First Elimination
The couples performed one unlearned dance, and are listed in the order they performed.
Two new format changes were introduced for the remainder of the season: live voting during the broadcast (only available to viewers in the Central and Eastern time zones), and a judges' save for one of the bottom two couples.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Mary & Brandon
Bruno: Ray & Cheryl
Len: Ray & Cheryl
Week 3: Movie Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance to famous film songs, and are listed in the order they performed.
At the beginning of the show, it was announced that Ray Lewis had withdrawn from the competition due to an injury sustained in rehearsals. His dance partner, Cheryl Burke, performed their routine during the live show with season 24 winner Rashad Jennings as a stand-in. There was no additional elimination.
Week 4: Top 10
Individual judges' scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Leah Remini, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Season 17 semifinalist Leah Remini served as a guest judge for this week.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Karamo & Jenna
Bruno: Karamo & Jenna
Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Karamo & Jenna
Week 5: Disney Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance to songs from Disney films. No elimination took place this week. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Week 6
The couples performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Ally & Sasha
Bruno: Ally & Sasha
Len: Did not vote
Week 7: Halloween Night
The couples performed one unlearned dance and a team dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Karamo & Jenna
Bruno: Kate & Pasha
Len: Kate & Pasha
Week 8: Dance-Off Week
The couples performed one unlearned dance and participated in paired dance-offs for extra points. Due to being on top of the previous week's leader board and holding the highest average of the season this far, James & Emma earned immunity from competing in the dance-off and automatically received two bonus points, though they were explicitly not immune from elimination. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Lindsay Arnold was absent for two weeks while mourning the death of her mother-in-law. Sean Spicer performed instead with Jenna Johnson.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Ally & Sasha
Bruno: Ally & Sasha
Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ally & Sasha
Week 9: Boy Band & Girl Group Night
Individual judges' scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Joey Fatone, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed two unlearned dances to songs from famous girl groups (the first round) and boy bands (the second round). Couples are listed in the order they performed.
NSYNC member Joey Fatone, who competed on both season 4 and season 15, served as a guest judge for the week.
For the second consecutive week, Sean Spicer performed with Jenna Johnson.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Lauren & Gleb
Bruno: Lauren & Gleb
Len: Did not vote
Week 10: Semifinals
During the first round, the couples performed a redemption dance to a new song that was coached by one of the three judges. In the second round, they performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Judges' votes to save
Carrie Ann: Ally & Sasha
Bruno: Ally & Sasha
Len: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Ally & Sasha
Week 11: Finale
The couples performed their favorite dance of the season and their freestyle routine. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Dance chart
The couples performed the following each week:
Week 1: One unlearned dance
Week 2: One unlearned dance
Week 3: One unlearned dance
Week 4: One unlearned dance
Week 5: One unlearned dance
Week 6: One unlearned dance
Week 7: One unlearned dance & team dance
Week 8: One unlearned dance & dance-off
Week 9: Two unlearned dances
Week 10 (Semifinals): Redemption dance & one unlearned dance
Week 11 (Finale): Favorite dance & freestyle