Season twenty-one of the American television competition series Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 14, 2015.
On November 24, conservationist Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough were crowned the champions, while Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter and Sharna Burgess finished in second place, and soldier (and hero of the 2015 Thalys train attack) Alek Skarlatos and Lindsay Arnold finished in third.
Cast
Couples This season featured thirteen celebrity contestants. On August 19, 2015, nine professional dancers were revealed during Good Morning America. Returning pros included Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, and Louis van Amstel. Additionally, Lindsay Arnold also returned after spending four seasons as part of the troupe. While Peta Murgatroyd was originally announced as a professional, she was sidelined for the season by an ankle injury; Allison Holker replaced her spot in the cast. Bindi Irwin was the first celebrity revealed on August 24 on Good Morning America; other celebrities were revealed at different dates through different media. The full cast of celebrities and professional dancers was revealed on September 2, 2015.
Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status Funk & R&B singer Eliminated 1st Jockey Eliminated 2nd Reality television personality Withdrew Film actor Eliminated 3rd Celebrity chef & businesswoman Eliminated 4th Vine & social media personality Eliminated 5th Singer-songwriter Eliminated 6th Film & television actress Eliminated 7th R&B singer & reality television personality Withdrew Big Time Rush singer & actor Eliminated 8th Legion of Honor recipient & soldier Third place Backstreet Boys singer Runners-up Wildlife conservationist & actress Winners
Hosts and judges Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews returned as hosts, while judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, and Bruno Tonioli all returned this season. After twenty seasons, Len Goodman did not return this season as a judge; in a video message during the finale, Goodman announced that he would return for season 22. Season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro filled in for Tom Bergeron on October 5, 2015, while Bergeron attended to his ailing father. Leah Remini also filled in as co-host on October 19 and October 26 while Erin Andrews covered the 2015 World Series. There were three guest judges during the course of the season. Season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro was a guest judge for week 3. Former pro dancer and season 18 champion Maksim Chmerkovskiy joined the judging panel for week 5. The following week, Olivia Newton-John appeared as a guest judge as well.
Dance troupe The dance troupe consisted of returning members Jenna Johnson, Brittany Cherry, Sasha Farber, and Alan Bersten, and new troupe member Hayley Erbert.
Episodes
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Dancing with the Stars (season 21) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 23 456 5+6 7 8 9 10 11 Bindi & Derek 1st 23 32 37 30+28= 28 30+30= 27+3+30= 30+30= +30= Nick & Sharna 2nd 21 24 27 35 39 74 24+30=54 30+3= 28+27=55 24+30= 30+30= +30= Alek & Lindsay 3rd 22 23 22 33 24 29 30 59 25+28= 25 24+24= 30+27=57 27+30= +27= Carlos & Witney 4th 23 24 21 31 25 39 38 28+28=56 27+2=29 27+24=51 28+3+29= 30+30= Tamar & Val 5th 23 24 33 27 29 69 24+30=54 28 22+27=49 Alexa & Mark 6th 22 24 22 21 30 70 27+28=55 25+2=27 30+30= Andy & Allison 7th 21 21 23 29 23 36 76 26+30=56 22+2= Hayes & Emma 8th 21 22 23 30 27 30 32 62 26+30=56 Paula & Louis 9th 15 19 18 18 Gary & Anna 10th 15 18 25 Kim & Tony 11th 19 18 Victor & Karina 12th 15 1720 Chaka & Keo 13th 13 Notes
Weekly scores Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1: Premiere Night Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic Victor & Karina 15 (5, 5, 5) Salsa "G.D.F.R." — Flo Rida, feat. Sage the Gemini & Lookas Tamar & Val 23 (8, 7, 8) Quickstep "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx Chaka & Keo 13 (5, 4, 4) Cha-cha-cha "I Feel for You" — Chaka Khan Hayes & Emma 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Cheerleader" — OMI Andy & Allison 21 (7, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Marvin Gaye" — Charlie Puth, feat. Meghan Trainor Paula & Louis 15 (5, 5, 5) Quickstep "Hey, Good Lookin'" — Carol Welsman Carlos & Witney 23 (8, 8, 7) Jive "I Got You (I Feel Good)" — James Brown Alexa & Mark 22 (7, 7, 8) Jive "Whistle (While You Work It)" — Katy Tiz Kim & Tony 12 (4, 4, 4) Salsa "Hey Mama" — David Guetta, feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack Bindi & Derek 24 (8, 8, 8) Jive "Crocodile Rock" — Elton John Gary & Anna 15 (5, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Dancing in the Street" — David Bowie & Mick Jagger Alek & Lindsay 22 (8, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Ten Feet Tall" — Afrojack, feat. Wrabel Nick & Sharna 24 (8, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "I Don't Like It, I Love It" — Flo Rida, feat. Robin Thicke & Verdine White
Week 2: Hometown Glory Week The couples had to prepare two new dances to be performed on two consecutive nights. On Monday, the couples performed routines that celebrated the hometowns of the celebrities, with one couple being eliminated at the end of the show. On Tuesday, the remaining couples performed routines that celebrated the hometowns of the pro partners, with another couple being eliminated. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
Night 1 CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Nick & Sharna 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" — The Andrews Sisters Safe Paula & Louis 19 (7, 6, 6) Rumba "Midnight Train to Georgia" — Gladys Knight & the Pips Safe Hayes & Emma 22 (8, 7, 7) Foxtrot "This Is How We Roll" — Florida Georgia Line, feat. Luke Bryan Safe Chaka & Keo 15 (5, 5, 5) Foxtrot "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)" — Frank Sinatra Eliminated Andy & Allison 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "Only the Good Die Young" — Billy Joel Safe Kim & Tony 19 (7, 6, 6) Quickstep "Queen Bee" — Rochelle Diamante Safe Alek & Lindsay 23 (8, 7, 8) Jazz "Don't Stop Believin'" — Journey Safe Alexa & Mark 24 (8, 8, 8) Salsa "Robi-Rob's Boriqua Anthem" — C+C Music Factory feat. El General Safe Victor & Karina 17 (6, 5, 6) Jive "La Bamba" — Ritchie Valens Safe Tamar & Val 24 (8, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "We Are Family" — Sister Sledge Safe Gary & Anna 18 (6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "Wouldn't It Be Nice" — The Beach Boys Safe Carlos & Witney 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Home" — Blake Shelton Safe Bindi & Derek 25 (9, 8, 8) Tango "You Shook Me All Night Long" — AC/DC Safe Night 2 CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Hayes & Emma 23 (8, 7, 8) Quickstep "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" — Jet Safe Carlos & Witney 21 (7, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Hound Dog" — Big Mama Thornton Safe Gary & Anna 15 (5, 5, 5) Paso doble "1812 Overture" — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Safe Andy & Allison 23 (8, 8, 7) Contemporary "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" — Belinda Carlisle Safe Alexa & Mark 22 (7, 7, 8) Rumba "Somewhere in Time" — John Barry Safe Paula & Louis 18 (6, 6, 6) Tango "Get Ready" — The Temptations Safe Bindi & Derek 23 (7, 8, 8) Waltz "Only a Man" — Jonny Lang Safe Kim & Tony 18 (6, 6, 6) Foxtrot "Come Home" — OneRepublic, feat. Sara Bareilles Safe Alek & Lindsay 22 (7, 7, 8) Quickstep "American Girl" — Elle King Safe Victor & Karina 20 (7, 6, 7) Rumba "Girl on Fire" — Alicia Keys Eliminated Nick & Sharna 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Coming Home, Pt. II" — Skylar Grey Safe Tamar & Val 25 (8, 8, 9) Charleston "Living in New York City" — Robin Thicke Safe
Week 3: TV Night Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed one unlearned dance to famous television theme songs. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
After suffering a mini-stroke, Kim Zolciak-Biermann was unable to attend the dress rehearsal and live show, and had to withdraw from the competition. Her partner, Tony Dovolani, performed their samba routine during the live show with Jenna Johnson. There was no additional elimination.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicTV show 31 (7, 8, 8, 8) Jazz "Thank You for Being a Friend" — Cynthia Fee The Golden Girls Paula & Louis 20 (5, 5, 5, 5) Samba "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" — The Eligibles Gilligan's Island Tamar & Val 33 (8, 9, 8, 8) Tango "A Beautiful Mine" — RJD2 Mad Men Alexa & Mark 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) Jazz "Breaking Bad Theme" — Dave Porter Breaking Bad Andy & Allison 29 (7, 7, 8, 7) Quickstep "Bandstand Boogie" — Larry Elgart American Bandstand Gary & Anna 25 (6, 7, 6, 6) Tango "The Addams Family Theme" — Vic Mizzy The Addams Family Alek & Lindsay 33 (8, 8, 9, 8) Tango "Bad Things" — Jace Everett True Blood Bindi & Derek 32 (8, 8, 8, 8) Quickstep "Movin' on Up" — Ja'net Dubois The Jeffersons Nick & Sharna Viennese waltz "Did I Make the Most of Loving You?" — Mary-Jess Leaverland Downton Abbey Hayes & Emma 30 (7, 8, 7, 8) Jive "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme" — Chuck Lorre & Dennis C. Brown Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Week 4: Most Memorable Year Night The couples performed one unlearned dance to celebrate the most memorable year of their lives. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
For the first time in the history of the program, Tom Bergeron did not appear as a host; he was absent to be with his ailing father. Alfonso Ribeiro filled in as co-host.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Alexa & Mark 21 (7, 7, 7) Foxtrot "Mama Said" — The Shirelles Safe Gary & Anna 16 (5, 6, 5) Jazz "That'll Be the Day" — Buddy Holly Eliminated Tamar & Val 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "King" — Tamar Braxton Safe Hayes & Emma 27 (9, 9, 9) Contemporary "Stitches" — Shawn Mendes Safe Alek & Lindsay 24 (8, 8, 8) Paso doble "Wake Me Up" — Avicii Safe Nick & Sharna 27 (9, 9, 9) Jazz "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" — Backstreet Boys Safe Carlos & Witney 25 (9, 8, 8) Waltz "Amazing Grace" — Ray Chew Safe Paula & Louis 18 (6, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Respect" — Aretha Franklin Safe Andy & Allison 23 (7, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)" — Andy Grammer Safe Bindi & Derek 28 (9, 9, 10) Contemporary "Every Breath You Take" — Aaron Krause, feat. Liza Anne Safe
Week 5: Switch-Up Night Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed one unlearned dance with a different partner selected by the general public. Couples are listed in the order they performed. Due to the nature of the week, no elimination took place at the end of the night.
CoupleScoresDanceMusic Tamar & Louis 29 (7, 7, 8, 7) Samba "End of Time" — Beyoncé Hayes & Allison 30 (8, 8, 7, 7) Viennese waltz "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" — Meghan Trainor, feat. John Legend Paula & Mark 26 (7, 7, 6, 6) Jive "Shake" — Otis Redding Alek & Emma 29 (8, 7, 7, 7) Rumba "Let It Go" — James Bay Bindi & Val 37 (9, 9, 10, 9) Cha-cha-cha "Hold My Hand" — Jess Glynne Carlos & Lindsay 39 (10, 10, 9, 10) Quickstep "Bossa Nova Baby" — Elvis Presley Alexa & Derek 40 (10, 10, 10, 10) Tango "Pompeii" — Bastille Andy & Sharna 36 (9, 9, 9, 9) Argentine tango "Can't Feel My Face" — The Weeknd Nick & Witney 35 (9, 9, 8, 9) Paso doble "Don't Look Down" — Martin Garrix, feat. Usher
Week 6: Famous Dances Night Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Julianne Hough, Olivia Newton-John, Bruno Tonioli.
The couples performed one unlearned dance that paid tribute to iconic dance performances from films and music videos. Leah Remini filled in for Erin Andrews.