Chaos, Comebacks and a Historic First Dance: Dancing With the Stars Season 34 Premiere Delivers Big Surprises

Dancing With the Stars season 34 kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with glitz, drama, and more than a few unexpected twists. The premiere introduced a brand-new cast of celebrities — including Hilaria Baldwin, Danielle Fishel, Alix Earle, Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles, Baron Davis, Dylan Efron, Corey Feldman, Scott Hoying, Robert Irwin, Lauren Jauregui, Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt — as they took their first steps into the ballroom spotlight.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as hosts, while judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli held court at the panel. Carrie Ann Inaba, however, missed the evening due to illness, announcing on Instagram that she was “under the weather” but cheering on contestants from home.

From the very first routine, the energy was electric. Gymnast Jordan Chiles opened the competition with a high-powered performance to Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” setting the bar for the night. But it was clear the leaderboard would be tight, as stars from all corners of entertainment brought their own flair to the floor.

Among the evening’s most talked-about moments was Whitney Leavitt’s Tango, which sparked a scoring mix-up. Bruno initially gave the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star a 7, but a mis-entry briefly boosted her total. The error was quickly corrected — yet the brief chaos had fans buzzing online.

The emotional highlight came from Robert Irwin, who closed out the show with partner Witney Carson, dancing to “Born to Be Wild.” Carrying the weight of his late father Steve Irwin’s legacy while carving out his own, Robert stunned the judges. Derek Hough was so impressed that he declared it “the best first dance I’ve ever seen on the show.” Irwin tied for the top score of the night, emerging as an instant frontrunner.

Hilaria Baldwin also made a triumphant return to dance after breaking her hip years ago, performing a sharp and precise Cha Cha with Gleb Savchenko. Her husband Alec Baldwin appeared in her rehearsal package to cheer her on, and Hilaria told the audience it was a “dream come true” to be back.

There were heartfelt debuts too — Boy Meets World alum Danielle Fishel, who recently survived cancer, embraced her “year of yes” with a determined Tango, while Fifth Harmony’s Lauren Jauregui wowed with a sophisticated, frame-perfect routine that had the judges taking notice.

Elsewhere, Andy Richter leaned on humor in a cheeky Cha Cha, Corey Feldman reflected on his decades in Hollywood before tackling a Tango, and Dylan Efron — younger brother of Zac — surprised the panel with unexpected fluidity in his Cha Cha to “Milkshake.”

The night proved that talent came in many forms: NBA star Baron Davis brought charisma and MC Hammer energy to the ballroom, Scott Hoying of Pentatonix went Gaga with a theatrical routine, and Elaine Hendrix reclaimed her first love of dance with a powerful performance decades after an accident derailed her training.

In the end, there were no eliminations, though the stakes will rise quickly with a double elimination scheduled for week two. And if the premiere is any indication, fans can expect a season packed with dazzling comebacks, emotional journeys, and perhaps even more headline-making mishaps.

With Robert Irwin setting a historic benchmark, Whitney Leavitt surviving the season’s first scoring snafu, and a cast hungry to prove themselves, Dancing With the Stars season 34 is off to a glittering — and chaotic — start.