'DWTS' Relatives Who Joined the Show as Pros and Contestants

Rylee Arnold isn’t the first family member — let alone sibling — of a Dancing With the Stars pro or contestant to enter the ballroom. Julianne Hough was the first dancer to face off against her brother, Derek Hough, on the ABC competition series. After Julianne got her start on the series in season 4 in 2007, she was joined by Derek the following season. Much like Derek and Julianne, Maksim Chmerkovskiy — who made his DWTS debut in season 2 — was later joined by his younger brother, Val Chmerkovskiy, as a pro in season 13. While siblings seemed like the most likely family match-up for the performers, DWTS flipped the switch when they brought in Mark Ballas' father, Corky Ballas, to compete against his son in season 7. In addition to siblings, many of the pros have been joined in the ballroom by their significant others. Some dancers even found The One while competing on the show in the first place. Several contestants, meanwhile, have also had family members join DWTS after their own seasons. Keep scrolling to see which DWTS pros have family members in the cast:

Johnson joined DWTS as a member of the troupe during 2014’s season 18 and was promoted to a pro two years later. Jenna later won the mirrorball trophy in season 26 with Adam Rippon and season 33 with Joey Graziadei.

Johnson’s niece Bills was announced as a troupe member for season 34. She previously served as “junior pro” on Dancing With the Stars Junior.

Bindi took home the season 21 mirrorball trophy with Derek in 2015 at just 17 years old. A decade later, her younger brother, Robert, was announced to be joining the cast of the show’s 34th season. 

The social media mother-daughter duo both competed on season 31 in 2022. While Heidi came in seventh place with partner Artem Chigvintsev, Charli helped Mark take home his third mirrorball trophy.

Only two Kardashian-Jenner siblings have hit the DWTS ballroom over the years. Kim and Mark were the third couple to be sent home during season 7 in 2008. Rob, however, found more success on the series, placing second with partner Cheryl Burke during season 13 in 2011.

Like the D’Amelios, the spouses faced off against each other during the show’s milestone 25th season in 2017. Vanessa and her partner, Maksim, went home just one week after Nick and Peta were eliminated in week six. 

Ezra joined DWTS as one of season 30’s troupe dancers in 2021 and notably filled in as Charity Lawson’s partner during season 32 when Artem Chigvintsev tested positive for COVID.  

Ezra was upgraded to pro status for season 33 in 2024, competing alongside partner Anna Delvey. His sister, Stephani, joined during the same season as one of four new troupe members.

The Hough siblings were the first relatives to compete against one another on DWTS in season 5. Throughout their time as pros, Julianne took home two mirrorballs, while Derek — who had a longer tenure on the competition — won six seasons. In 2020, Derek became a judge for the competition. In 2023, Julianne was announced as the replacement host for Tyra Banks for season 32.

While Maksim joined the show in 2006, Val didn’t make his debut as a pro until five years later. However, the Chmerkovskiy brothers did perform and work together on the series before Val was an official cast member. Maksim has taken home one win throughout his 15 seasons, while Val has won twice. 

Lindsay joined the series in 2013 for season 16 and even mentored Rylee when she competed as a "junior pro" on the 2018 spinoff series Dancing With the Stars: Juniors.  

In September 2023, it was announced that Rylee would be joining the DWTS cast after her sister took a break from the series to focus on her family. (Lindsay welcomed her second child, daughter June, in May 2023 with husband Sam Cusick.)

“[Lindsay] gave me a lot of advice, but I feel like the best advice I got from her was just to be myself and to just show who I am and just to make it an enjoyable experience and enjoy every part I can,” Rylee exclusively told Us Weekly after it was announced that she would be partnered with Too Hot to Handle alum Harry Jowsey for her debut season.

The father-son duo competed against one another in seasons 7 and 11. Before stepping foot on the DWTS stage, Corky trained Mark plus several of the show’s iconic performers including Julianne, Derek, Karina Smirnoff, Tony Dovolani, Edyta Sliwinska and others. 

While on the show, Maksim began dating Murgatroyd in 2012 and ultimately got engaged in December 2015. The couple welcomed son Shai in January 2017 and tied the knot seven months later. They welcomed their second son, Rio, in June 2023.

Like his brother, Val also found love on DWTS with fellow pro Johnson. The twosome wed in April 2019 and welcomed their first child son, Rome, in January 2023. 

Before Karagach and Pashkov even joined the DWTS family, the duo worked together as competitive dance partners and married in 2014. Pashkov made his debut as a pro on season 29 in 2020 while Karagach joined the following season.