Spotlight REVIEW Surprises greet new season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises Sep 16, 2026 1 hr ago 0 × USA Today - Vertical Two celebrities will leave "Dancing with the Stars" before the season's first full week is complete. Here's why. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save “Dancing with the Stars” is back and had plenty of surprises during the first of its two-night premiere.kAm$6A9@C2 ?@H 92D 2 “8=2>” C@@> WAC@5F4E A=246>6?EX[ pqr 92D A=6?EJ @7 E:6\:?D W42DE >6>36CD 2C6 @? E96 7:CDE 6A:D@56 @7 “#]y] s64<6C”X[ 2?5 D4@C6D 2C6?’E 8@:?8 E@ 36 :?7=2E65]k^AmkAm%96 E9:C5 D9:7E H2D 2 D9@4<6C — A2CE:4F=2C=J H96? b’D EFC?65 FA :? E96 D4@C6D — 2?5 2 D:8? E92E >2J36 E96 ;F586D H6C6 8:G:?8 E@@ >2?J `_’D =2DE D62D@?]k^AmkAmq642FD6 E96C6 2C6 E@@ >2?J 4@?E6DE2?ED W`ePX[ D@>6@?6 925 E@ =62G6 E96 7:CDE ?:89E] p?J 8F6DD6D H9@ H6?Enk^Am kAmy:>>J z:>>6=’D D:56<:4< vF:==6C>@n !2C2=J>A:2? tKC2 uC649n $2G2??29 q2?2?2 y24<D@? ~=D@?nk^Am People are also reading… Smyth man accused of forging military document Saltville readies for 55th Labor Day celebration No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Proposed zoning regs for data centers head to Smyth supervisors David Hoffmann: Local news can bring communities together Brandyn Hillman leads No. 25 Virginia football in blowout win over FCS Norfolk State Virginia Tech's James Franklin values recruiting in Maryland Virginia Tech football rolls to win over Old Dominion Chilhowie to consider joining Virginia Main Street program Virginia Tech football fans enthused about new coach, new season Potential Hokie Johnson joins Indiana lawsuit in eligibility quest Sacred ground: In his search, Barnette teaches others to care for cemeteries, grave markers 'Damn good' Virginia Tech hands VMI its most lopsided loss ever Kennedy Center board votes to close for renovations Virginia Tech's Franklin: Hokies focus on toppling crown kAm}@A6[ :E H2D r@??@C {62G:EE[ 9FD32?5 E@ =2DE D62D@?’D (9:E?6J {62G:EE] w6 5:5 2 D=@AAJ D2=D2 H:E9 ?6H4@>6C p56=6 +2:<>2? H9:=6 9:D H:76 >F8865 :? E96 324<8C@F?5]k^Am Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman are shown during the premiere of “Dancing with the Stars,” Sept. 15. Eric McCandless, Disney kAmp56=6 H@? E96 “}6IE !C@” 4@>A6E:E:@? :? E96 DF>>6C[ 56?J:?8 p]y] !C:E492C5 E96 492?46 E@ A6C7@C> @? E96 3:8 DE286] WtC:< {:?56C[ H9@ H2D 2=D@ @? “}6IE !C@[” =2?565 2 8:8 :? E96 EC@FA6]X }@H[ D96’== D9@H FA :? 8C@FA ?F>36CD[ ;FDE =:<6 tC:<]k^Am Movies & TV ‘Next Pro’ names a winner, but others could dance with the stars, too BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises kAm%96 3:8 DFCAC:D6[ E9@F89[ H2D uC649] tIA=2:?:?8 9:D 92?5:42A[ 96 D2:5 2 =68 4@F=5 7=J @77 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 2 52?46] w6 2?5 s2?:6==2 z2C28249 AF==65 @77 2 DA64E24F=2C E2?8@ 2?5 8@E 2 D4@C6 @7 a_] w6 H:== 62D:=J 36 2 72? 72G@C:E6]k^Am kAm%96 E@A D4@C6C[ w2CCJ $9F> yC] WH:E9 2 a`X[ 92D 52?46 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 4@F=5 D66 E92E 2D 2 3FC56? 2D E96 H66<D C@== @?] %96C6 2C6 @E96CD H:E9 6IA6C:6?46[ 3FE 96’D D=:4< 6?@F89 E@ =2DE]k^AmkAmp=D@ :? 7@C 2 H9:=6i ~=D@?[ H9@ :D FD65 E@ 6?E6CE2:?:?8 2?5 H@C<:?8 2 4C@H5j %2J=@C w2?D@? W@7 E96 8C@FA w2?D@?X[ H9@ 5:5 2 BF:4<DE6A E92E :?G@<65 E96 ?2>6 @7 7@C>6C ;F586 {6? v@@5>2?j 2?5 %J=6C r2>6C@?[ 2 7@C>6C “q2496=@C6EE6” 4@?E6DE2?E H9@ 8@E 2 `f]k^Am kAmpE E96 3@EE@>i vF:==6C>@ #@5C:8F6K[ H9@ 925 E96 ?:89E’D H@CDE D4@C6 — 2 `_] w6’== DE2J 3642FD6 E9:D A=2JD H6== @? E96 z:>>6= D9@H]k^AmkAm%9C66 7:CDE\?:89E E2<62H2JDi 9@DED yF=:2??6 w@F89 2?5 p=7@?D@ #:36:C@ 5@?’E D66> 2D 49F>>J 2D E96J 5:5 :? E96 A2DEj E96C6’D 2?@E96C D9@H E@ 4@?D:56C — 2? “27E6C A2CEJ” H:E9 #@36CE xCH:?j DJ?6C8J :D C2>A2?E]k^Am kAm~?46 E9:D 86ED 5@H? E@ 2 >2?28623=6 ?F>36C @7 4@?E6DE2?ED[ E9:?8D D9@F=5 36 8@@5] %96C6 2C6?’E @=56C “DE2CD” E@ 4@>A=2:? 23@FE E96 DEC6DD[ 2?5 E96C6 2C6 24EF2==J 52?46CD H9@ 4@F=5 AFD9 E9:D 7@CH2C5]k^Am kAm(2E49 uC649 2?5 $9F>] %96J’C6 E96 36DE D@ 72C]k^Am 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Why are two celebrities being eliminated during the DWTS premiere? Two celebrities will leave "Dancing with the Stars" before the season's first full week is complete. Here's why.
Movies & TV ‘Next Pro’ names a winner, but others could dance with the stars, too BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises
Why are two celebrities being eliminated during the DWTS premiere? Two celebrities will leave "Dancing with the Stars" before the season's first full week is complete. Here's why.