Sharna Burgess is officially back in the Dancing With the Stars ballroom.
After several seasons away from the ABC competition series, Burgess returned for Season 35, partnering with The Bachelorette alum Tyler Cameron. ABC announced the new cast in September 2026, with the season premiering September 15 and continuing with a two-night premiere.
Burgess’ return marks her first season as a competing professional since 2021, when she danced with her then-partner Brian Austin Green. Her long absence has naturally raised a question among longtime DWTS viewers: Why did Sharna Burgess leave Dancing With the Stars?
The answer is more complicated than a single departure. Burgess experienced multiple breaks from the series, including a season when she was unexpectedly left off the professional roster and another period when she chose to step away after becoming a mother.
Here’s a look at Burgess’ Dancing With the Stars history, why she was away and what she has said about returning to the ballroom.
Quick Guide
- Sharna Burgess’ first DWTS appearance: Season 13 in 2011
- Became a professional dancer: Season 16 in 2013
- First Mirrorball win: Season 27 with Bobby Bones in 2018
- Last competition season before her return: Season 30 in 2021
- Why she initially stepped away: To focus on motherhood after the birth of her son, Zane
- Season 35 partner: Tyler Cameron
- Season 35 premiere: September 15, 2026
- Current status: Back in the competition as a professional dancer
When Did Sharna Burgess Join Dancing With the Stars?
Burgess first appeared on Dancing With the Stars in Season 13 in 2011, when she was part of the show’s professional troupe.
She moved into the main professional lineup in Season 16, which aired in 2013. Her first celebrity partner as a regular professional was comedian Andy Dick, with whom she finished seventh.
Burgess became a familiar face in the ballroom over the following seasons. She partnered with several recognizable celebrities, including Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter and Olympic ice dancer Charlie White.
Her biggest career milestone came in Season 27, when she and radio personality Bobby Bones won the Mirrorball Trophy in 2018.
Why Was Sharna Burgess Missing From Season 28?
Burgess’ first major break from Dancing With the Stars came in 2019, when she was not brought back for Season 28.
The timing surprised her because she had just won the previous season with Bobby Bones.
Burgess later told Entertainment Tonight that she had received no indication that she would not return. She explained that professional dancers generally do not know whether they will be returning until they receive their pickup letter.
The absence lasted only one season. Burgess returned for Season 29, partnering with actor Jesse Metcalfe and finishing in 12th place.
Why Did Sharna Burgess Leave DWTS After Season 30?
Burgess returned again for Season 30 in 2021, when she was paired with Brian Austin Green.
The season was notable because Burgess and Green were already a couple in real life. They were eliminated during the competition, finishing 13th.
After that season, Burgess stepped away from the show as she and Green focused on starting a family.
The couple welcomed their son, Zane, in 2022.
Burgess later explained that she had been expected to return around the time of Season 31 but decided that being present with her newborn son was more important at that point.
In comments reported by Entertainment Tonight, Burgess said Zane was only eight weeks old when Season 31 was approaching and that she needed to spend that time with her baby.
Why Didn’t Sharna Burgess Return for Season 32?
Burgess expected that her break would be temporary.
However, when Season 32 came around, she said she was surprised that she did not receive an invitation to return.
In 2023, Burgess discussed the situation on the Oldish podcast. She described the news as difficult because she had expected to come back after taking time away for motherhood. Her comments were later reported by TV Insider.
Burgess also discussed some of the frustrations she had experienced during her final seasons before her extended absence.
She said she had a difficult experience with her Season 29 partnership and was unhappy with the emphasis placed on her relationship with Green during Season 30. According to Burgess, she felt the focus had shifted away from the competition and toward their personal relationship.
Those comments help explain why her absence lasted longer than she originally anticipated.
What Happened With Bobby Bones’ DWTS Win?
Another important part of Burgess’ DWTS history is her Season 27 victory with Bobby Bones.
The win generated considerable discussion because Bones had received lower judges’ scores than some of the other finalists, while the show’s voting system allowed viewers to have a major influence on the final result.
Years later, the controversy resurfaced.
In 2025, former Dancing With the Stars host Tom Bergeron described Bones’ victory as one of the most surprising results from his time on the show. Bones subsequently returned his Mirrorball Trophy to ABC after saying Bergeron’s remarks hurt him. Bergeron later apologized and clarified that he regretted how his comments had been phrased.
The controversy remains part of Burgess’ history with the series, but the official result is unchanged: Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess won Season 27.
What Has Sharna Burgess Said About Returning to DWTS?
After years away, Burgess has made it clear that returning to the ballroom is meaningful to her.
Her Season 35 partner is Tyler Cameron, best known to television audiences from The Bachelorette. ABC officially announced Cameron and Burgess as a Season 35 pairing.
Burgess has described the return as coming home and has expressed excitement about working with Cameron.
Cameron has also praised Burgess as a partner and embraced her demanding training approach. The pairing got its first chance to compete during the Season 35 premiere on September 15.
Cameron and Burgess performed a tango to Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way.” Their routine earned a combined score of 17 out of 30 from the judges, according to coverage of the premiere.
How Many Times Has Sharna Burgess Won Dancing With the Stars?
Sharna Burgess has won one Mirrorball Trophy during her Dancing With the Stars career.
She won Season 27 in 2018 with Bobby Bones.
The victory remains one of the more debated results in the show’s history because viewer voting played a significant role in determining the winner. Bergeron’s later comments and subsequent apology to Bones brought renewed attention to that season in 2025 and 2026.
Despite the controversy surrounding the result, Burgess remains an official DWTS champion.
Sharna Burgess Is Back in the Ballroom
Sharna Burgess’ Dancing With the Stars journey has included major highs, unexpected absences and a significant personal transition into motherhood.
She first joined the show’s troupe in 2011, became a regular professional in 2013, won the Mirrorball Trophy with Bobby Bones in 2018 and last competed before her extended break in 2021.
Now, in 2026, Burgess is back.
Her Season 35 partnership with Tyler Cameron gives longtime viewers another opportunity to see one of the show’s veteran professionals return to the ballroom. ABC’s current schedule has Dancing With the Stars airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET after the two-night Season 35 premiere, with episodes also available through Disney+ and next-day streaming on Hulu.
For Burgess, the return represents more than another season of competition. It brings her back to the show that has been a major part of her professional career for more than a decade.