Sharna Burgess Returns to Dancing with the Stars Five Years After Departure

Sharna Burgess is returning to the iconic ballroom floor of Dancing with the Stars.

Along with fresh faces like Maura Higgins and Ciara Miller joining the cast of Season 35, the hit reality competition will see the return of a few favorite pros as well.

On the Monday, August 24 segment of Good Morning America, it was announced Sharna Burgess had rejoined the show. The former Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy winner will compete alongside old castmates, like Witney Carson, and new hires including Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa.

The dancer last appeared on the show in 2021 for the Season 30, where she danced with fiancé Brian Austin Green. The ballroom dancer starred on the reality show for 14 years before taking what she thought was a minor break to cater to her then-newborn son, Zach.

While Sharna first shared on Instagram that there was no animosity in her departure and “it was all love,” her feelings changed over time, especially after Julianne Hough‘s 2024 interview on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen.

While joining Mickey Guyton on Bravo’s late night talk show, Andy Cohen asked Julianne if there was someone who won the Mirrorball that she didn’t agree with.

After trying to avoid the answer, Mickey responded for her, “Bobby Bones,” leading Julianne to admit, “He was not the best dancer.”

Sharna responded to the comment on the Between Us Moms podcast saying, “It just sucks.”

She said it especially hurt since that was her only Mirrorball Trophy win.

The dancer went on to mention her dynamic with the rest of the cast changed as well after she opened up about her feelings about former contestant Adrian Peterson, who was charged with child abuse at the time.

Regardless of the events that had transpired, Burgess admitted she would have loved to return to the show and leave on a good note.

“If they did ask me, I think I would love to have one more season there with everyone as a way to button it up,” the dancer said.