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These Unforgettable ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Moments Made for Some of the Best TV of 2025

The most recent season of the ABC dance competition may be over, but these moments still bring us plenty of joy.

Allie Hayes

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson / Disney/Eric McCandless

Listen, we’re not ashamed to admit that one of the highlights of our 2025 was watching all of the drama unfold on the ballroom floor during Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars.

The mega-popular ABC competition series celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and it did so with its signature heart and humor. There’s no doubt that everyone from the star-studded cast to the fabulous hosts and judges did everything to ensure the landmark season would be filled with plenty of unforgettable fun and feel-good moments. So many moments, in fact, that some were easily the best moments on TV all year.

So as we leave 2025 behind, we’re highlighting just a handful of our favorite moments from the latest season in no particular order before we look ahead to Season 35:

When Danielle Fisher reunited with William Daniels

Truth be told, “Dedication Week” in itself could’ve easily been a standout moment all its own; however, if we had to select only one moment from the emotional episode, it would have to be the mini Boy Meets World reunion that occurred when Fisher brought 98-year-old Daniels—or, as he’s known to millennials everywhere: Mr. Feeny—out onto the dance floor for part of her Jive routine.

When Lauren Jauregui was honest about her feelings

Jauregui provided one of the most viral moments of the entire season after she was eliminated during Week 3. Once the results were announced at the end of the episode, hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough approached Jauregui and her dance partner, Brandon Armstrong, for their exit interviews, as is tradition on the program. They began by asking the former how she was feeling, and the artist responded with two simple, honest, candid words: “I’m pissed.” The response immediately resonated with fans online, going viral almost immediately.

When Elaine Hendrix made her triumphant return after an injury

Hendrix was a joy to watch all season, as her presence told a story of resilience and hard work. The actress was a former dancer herself, but left the art after an injury. For the first few weeks of the season, the 54-year-old showed plenty of skill and promise, winning over the judges and the audience at home with her passion, which was why it was heartbreaking when she sustained another injury during “Halloween Week,” leaving her and her dance partner, Alan Bersten, unable to perform live. Still, despite being unable to dance, fans rallied around the duo, and their votes saved them, allowing her to return the following week triumphantly.

When Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa finally got their first (long overdue) perfect score

Chiles placed third overall in the competition, and her dance skills improved tremendously week after week. She and her dance partner, Sosa, also had one of the most fun relationships to watch blossom, as it was clear they were becoming friends through the process. Their routines were consistently incredible, which made it all the more sweet when they finally earned that coveted perfect score during the semifinals for their amazing Argentine Tango. If you haven’t seen the routine, do yourself a favor and watch it, like, right now!

When Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy killed their freestyle dance

And speaking of routines that should be watched immediately, Earle’s freestyle in the finale episode was the definition of a showstopper. The performance had the big, bombastic feel of a pop star on tour, and the choreography by her dance partner, Chmerkovskiy, was a highlight of not only the final episode but the entire season. The routine earned the duo a perfect score, cementing them as the only duo in the finale to have a perfect 90/90 that night. Earle ended up placing second overall...which only leaves us with one more standout moment to list!

And of course: when Robert Irwin and Witney Carson took home the win

From the very first episode of the season, Irwin’s star power was undeniable. The sweet, charismatic conservationist was a fast learner when it came to dancing, and all of his and Carson’s routines were stellar, with the two consistently leaving it all on the dance floor—literally. Whether he was praising his mother, Terri Irwin, dancing with his sister (and fellow DWTS winner) Bindi Irwin or openly speaking about his father, the late Steve Irwin, Irwin was a joy to watch, and the well-deserved win truly felt like an Irwin family affair.

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Allie Hayes
ALLIE HAYES

Allie Hayes is an experienced pop culture staff writer and editor specializing in movies, TV and celebrity news. Before joining the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit team as a Breaking/Trending News Editor, she worked at several outlets including BuzzFeed, The Daily Dot, and Newsweek. When she’s not writing for work (or writing for fun), you’ll find her curled up on the couch reading yet another romance novel, obsessively watching pro wrestling with her friends, or taking blurry photos of her two adorable cats.

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