Who Won Dancing with the Stars in 2021
The winner of Dancing with the Stars in 2021 was professional dancer and choreographer Cheryl Burke, who partnered with actor and former NFL player Chad Johnson. The finale aired on November 22, 2021, after a season that featured celebrity contestants, professional dancers, and weekly live performances judged by a panel. The show, which is produced by Disney and aired on ABC, has consistently used a combination of judges' scores and audience votes to determine the champion. More details about the season structure and scoring are available on the official Dancing with the Stars website Dancing with the Stars Official Site.
Chad Johnson and Cheryl Burke received the highest combined total of judges' scores and audience votes, securing the mirrorball trophy. Johnson, known for his career in the NFL and television personality work, trained intensively with Burke throughout the season. The season featured a mix of ballroom and Latin dance styles, including the cha-cha, jive, foxtrot, and contemporary, with routines often themed around specific challenges or tributes. The results reflected both technical execution and audience engagement across multiple weeks of competition.
Runner-Up and Final Standings
The runner-up of the 2021 season was another high-scoring couple, with the final standings determined by a weighted combination of judges' scores and public votes cast through the official app and website. The competition narrowed down to a final group of couples who performed additional routines, including a freestyle and a redemption dance, during the finale. The results were announced live, with the host explaining the tie-breaking process and the criteria used by the judges. For broader context on how the show's format compares to other reality competitions, see this overview from a media analysis source Forbes Coverage of the Finale.
The final episode also included recap segments, behind-the-scenes interviews, and performances by guest artists, which contributed to the overall viewer engagement metrics reported by the network. The season's ratings and digital interaction data were closely watched by industry analysts, as the show remains one of ABC's flagship reality franchises. The standings for the top couples were published by the network and later referenced by entertainment news outlets covering the results in detail.
Season Format, Judges, and Key Dates
The 2021 season followed the standard Dancing with the Stars format, which includes a launch night, weekly themed challenges, and a results show where the couple with the lowest combined score is typically eliminated. The judges panel included professionals with backgrounds in dance, choreography, and entertainment, and their scores were combined with audience votes to determine weekly outcomes. The season premiered in September 2021 and concluded with a two-hour finale, reflecting the typical broadcast schedule for the franchise. Information about the judges and their scoring history can be found on the show's official page ABC's Dancing with the Stars Page.
Throughout the season, the production team implemented health and safety protocols consistent with industry guidelines at the time, including testing and modified rehearsal schedules. The show's production company, which is part of a larger media conglomerate, continued to evolve the format with new challenges and digital integration. Audience voting played a critical role in the final outcome, with millions of votes cast across the season via the official platform. The network has since released recaps and highlights that summarize the season's key moments and results for viewers who want to revisit the competition.