Hilaria Baldwin's Dance Comeback: A New Chapter on Dancing with the Stars

The highly anticipated cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 has been officially revealed, with a surprise announcement that has sent fans into a frenzy. In a live reveal on the morning of September 3, 2025, Good Morning America confirmed that author and yoga instructor Hilaria Baldwin will be hitting the ballroom floor. This major casting news signals a new, public chapter for Baldwin and her family, who will be relocating to Los Angeles for the duration of the competition.

Baldwin, 41, and her husband, actor Alec Baldwin, and their seven children, stars of their TLC reality series The Baldwins, will be heading to the West Coast together. “I’m bringing everybody,” Baldwin told USA TODAY, adding that they “just decided to do something crazy” as a family. While the reality TV cameras from their show will not be in tow, a battery of dance-cams will be ready to document her journey.

A Star-Studded Lineup for Season 34

The announcement revealed a diverse and vibrant cast of celebrities who are set to compete on the ballroom floor. Joining Baldwin will be Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, a gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Games and a silver medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Games. The cast also includes cult '80s film star Corey Feldman, comedian Andy Richter, and actress Elaine Hendrix, known for her role in The Parent Trap.

The show is also tapping into the world of new media, with several digital creators and influencers joining the cast. These include reality TV personality Dylan Efron (brother of actor Zac Efron), who co-produced Down to Earth with Zac Efron, and prominent social media influencer Alix Earle, known for her podcast and the "Alix Earle effect." Other online personalities in the cast include Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt, both from the reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. The show will also welcome wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, who will continue his family's legacy, and Scott Hoying of the a cappella group Pentatonix.

The reveal on Good Morning America came with an air of excitement, marking a special 20th-anniversary milestone for Dancing with the Stars. The show is scheduled to kick off its new season on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu and Disney+ the following day.

Hilaria Baldwin’s 'Mystical' Journey

While her public persona is largely associated with yoga and her large family, Hilaria Baldwin has a long and serious history with dance. She has been a ballroom dancer since childhood and even competed on New York University’s ballroom team. In recent months, she fueled speculation about a potential DWTS appearance by posting entertaining "Dance Mom" TikTok routines, often featuring her husband, Alec.

Baldwin insists that these videos, which were innocently posted for fun, were what manifested interest from ABC producers. The deal was only recently finalized, and Baldwin described her journey to the show as a "mystical" one. She told USA TODAY that she was "just having fun" with the dance videos.

For years, her husband had been urging her to join the show. However, Baldwin felt she might be too advanced for a show that is famous for featuring star dancers who are untrained or total beginners. “I didn’t know if I belonged in this space,” she said. She said that for a long time she had wondered if her extensive experience would be a problem, but found that it wasn't.

Hurdles on the Road to the Mirrorball

Despite her strong background in ballroom, Baldwin has some hurdles to overcome if she hopes to hoist the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with her new professional partner, Gleb Savchenko. Beyond a strong field of social media-powered dancers, she faces gaps in her Latin-heavy dance training. She also carries a past hip injury, having broken her hip 16 years ago, which caused her to stop dancing and close the door on that part of her life. Following the injury, she started focusing on yoga, met Alec, and began a family. She notes that her body is different now and will be a factor in her training.

Another significant challenge is the need to win over the DWTS voters. The Baldwins have been a public lightning rod, often in the headlines for their outspoken political views and social media controversies. While Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter case related to the 2021 Rust set shooting was dismissed last summer, the traumatic public scrutiny the couple has endured could be a factor in the public's perception.

However, Baldwin insists she will not be focused on proving her critics wrong. “Everybody these days has their critics, whether they’re in the spotlight or not,” she said. In her 40s, she’s learned a valuable lesson about focusing on the present rather than trying to prove something to others. Instead, she is approaching the DWTS experience as a fresh chapter for her entire family after many traumatic years. Reflecting on her journey, she said that you gather both positive and negative experiences along the way, and that she and her family are all looking forward.