Spotlight REVIEW Surprises greet new season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises Sep 16, 2026 Sep 16, 2026 Updated Sep 17, 2026 × 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 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… Bob Uecker's former wife finds comfort in radio booth during Brewers' World Series run Lake Geneva City Council adopts ordinance for appointed city attorney Geneva Inn welcomes new general manager Work has begun on electrical substation, penthouse in downtown Lake Geneva Brewers legend Robin Yount reacts to World Series title Badger High School football players selected for All Conference honors Tommy Thompson asks Regents to delay hiring a new UW system president Local church to conduct annual Christmas Rummage Sale Why the Packers’ run game remains stuck despite Josh Jacobs’ return Our endorsement for Wisconsin governor VISIT Lake Geneva presents Impact Awards during annual event High school football second-round playoff scores Two doctors join Mercyhealth system in Walworth County Badger High School theater students to present 'Radium Girls' Is artist Noah Kahan playing a concert at Camp Randall? What we know 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 Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack 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 Life-entertainment ‘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 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 5 contestants make moves to the top on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ “Traitors” star Maura Higgins was at the top of Wednesday’s “Dancing with the Stars” leaderboard, but she’s not the one others fear. 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.
Life-entertainment ‘Next Pro’ names a winner, but others could dance with the stars, too BRUCE R. MILLER Lee Enterprises
5 contestants make moves to the top on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ “Traitors” star Maura Higgins was at the top of Wednesday’s “Dancing with the Stars” leaderboard, but she’s not the one others fear.
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.
