See the "Dancing with the Stars" Judges Over the Years, from Icon Len Goodman to Modern Favorite Derek Hough Caroline BlairSeptember 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM 0 Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Dancing with the Stars judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.
- - See the "Dancing with the Stars" Judges Over the Years, from Icon Len Goodman to Modern Favorite Derek Hough
Caroline BlairSeptember 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM
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Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty
Dancing with the Stars judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. -
Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli served as the first panel of Dancing with the Stars judges when the show premiered in 2005
Derek Hough took over for Goodman before his retirement in 2022
Julianne Hough also served as a judge before becoming a co-host in 2023
Another batch of celebrities is competing on Dancing with the Stars!
While the celebrity contestants have changed year-to-year, the judges have primarily stayed the same. When the dancing competition series premiered in 2005, the judges table consisted of Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.
The three dance professionals remained the main three judges for years, but brother-sister duo Derek Hough and Julianne Hough would occasionally fill in for Goodman when he had other commitments or when the pandemic prevented him from traveling. In 2022, Goodman announced that he was retiring from the show, and he died from cancer on April 22, 2023.
Shortly after the beloved judge died, Dancing with the Stars honored his legacy by naming the coveted final prize, the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. In 2020, Derek became a judge and has been sitting alongside Inaba and Tonioli ever since.
Meanwhile, Julianne also had a few stints as a judge before she transitioned to a co-hosting position. The actress and former winner Alfonso Ribeiro have been co-hosting together since season 32 in 2023.
In addition to the standard co-hosts and judges, the hit series also frequently features celebrity guest judges.
Here's everything to know about all the Dancing with the Stars judges over the years.
01 of 06
Len Goodman
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Len Goodman on Dancing with the Stars.
Goodman was one of the three original judges when Dancing with the Stars premiered in June 2005. Goodman, who was a former professional ballroom dancer, was known for focusing on the technical aspects of the dances but delivered his critiques in a kind manner.
Before working on Dancing with the Stars, Goodman appeared as a head judge on the U.K. version of the show, Strictly Come Dancing. He served on the judge's panel for many years before he took a hiatus for series 15 in 2016.
Goodman worked on Dancing with the Stars for 29 seasons, in total, returning as a judge for seasons 30 and 31, before announcing his retirement.
"Doing a live show you have to be at the top of your game and quick to react. And as one gets older, then things start to get more challenging," he told PEOPLE at the time. "I haven't fallen asleep or started dribbling yet on the show, so I thought it's best to go before I start to do so!"
On April 22, 2023, Goodman died from bone cancer while in hospice care in Kent, England. He was 78. Several former contestants and professional dancers mourned Goodman's death and celebrated his legacy.
Dancing with the Stars honored the original judge by renaming the Mirrorball trophy the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
"We wanted to make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people the importance he's had to Dancing with the Stars and how much he meant to all of us," executive producer Conrad Green told USA Today in September 2023. "Len loves this show and will always be there, looking down on us."
02 of 06
Carrie Ann Inaba
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Carrie Ann Inaba.
Inaba has been sitting at the judges' table ever since the show premiered in 2005. Since she comes from a performing background, Inaba frequently credits dancers more on their performance value and emotional connection, rather than strict technicalities.
Before starring on Dancing with the Stars, Inaba was a pop singer and a dancing actor in films like Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Monster Mash: The Movie and Showgirls.
While appearing on Dancing with the Stars, Inaba has also appeared on other shows, including The View, The Talk and the ABC talent competition show with fellow judge Tonioli, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann.
In addition to television appearances, she's also choreographed for several series, worked behind the scenes on movies and produced Broadway shows.
03 of 06
Bruno Tonioli
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Bruno Tonioli.
Like Inaba, Tonioli has been on the show since 2005. Over the years, he has secured himself as an energetic and passionate judge who uses both his knowledge of choreography and emotional presence to score the competitors.
Similar to Goodman, Tonioli also judged on the British version of the show, Strictly Come Dancing, from 2004 to 2022. He also served as a judge on DanceX, Britain's Got Talent and the competition show, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann.
Outside of Dancing with the Stars, Tonioli is a talented dancer and choreographer who has worked with Elton John, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones and Freddie Mercury, among others.
04 of 06
Derek Hough
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Derek Hough.
Even though Derek has only been a judge on Dancing with the Stars since 2020, he has a long history with the competition show. He began appearing on the show in season 4 in 2007 as a guest instructor when his sister, Julianne, was competing as a professional dancer.
He secured his own position as a professional dancer on season 5 in 2008 when he was paired with Jennie Garth. He continued dancing with the show until season 23 in 2016 (except for seasons 12 and 22).
During his time on the show, Derek won the most Mirrorball Trophies of any dancer: his first with Brooke Burke on season 7 in 2008, his second with Nicole Scherzinger on season 10 in 2010, his third with Jennifer Grey on season 11 in 2010, his fourth with Kellie Pickler on season 16 in 2013, his fifth with Amber Riley on season 17 in 2013 and his sixth with Bindi Irwin on season 21 in 2015.
Derek took a four-year hiatus from the show after season 23 in 2016 before it was revealed that he would be replacing Goodman as a judge beginning with season 29. Since 2020, he has sat alongside Inaba and Tonioli at the judges' table and became the head judge after Goodman's retirement in 2022.
The six-time champion has become known for his constructive critiques, while also focusing on motivating both the celebrities and professional dancers.
Beyond his time on Dancing with the Stars, Derek worked on the television show Nashville and has also appeared in Broadway productions and West End shows.
05 of 06
Julianne Hough
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Julianne Hough.
Before Derek became a professional dancer and judge on Dancing with the Stars, his younger sister, Julianne, held the positions. She joined the cast for season 4 in 2007 and became the youngest professional dancer to win the Mirrorball Trophy with her partner, Apolo Ohno. She went on to win the following season with Hélio Castroneves.
Julianne left the show after season 8 in 2009 but returned five years later as a judge. She was the fourth judge from season 19 in 2014 until season 24 in 2017 (excluding season 22). Her judging style focused on her past experience as a dancer and often included constructive feedback with a positive twist.
Although Julianne made appearances as a dancer and judge over the years, she returned in a more permanent role when it was announced that she'd be the new co-host alongside Ribeiro for season 32 in 2023.
Beyond her time on Dancing with the Stars, Julianne is an actress and singer. She had leading roles in the films Burlesque (2010), Footloose (2011), Rock of Ages (2012) and Safe Haven (2013). In addition to her acting career, Julianne has found success with music and released the hit songs "Will You Dance With Me," "That Song in My Head," "More Than Words" and "Is That So Wrong," among others.
06 of 06
Recurring Guest Judges
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Mark Ballas ; Idina Menzel ; Mandy Moore.
While Dancing with the Stars has had a consistent judges panel over the years, the show also switches things up by featuring various celebrities, dancers and choreographers as guest judges.
Several stars have appeared as guest judges over the years — including Zendaya, Cher, Mel B and Shania Twain. However, some of the stars have appeared more than once.
Mandy Moore, who is an award-winning choreographer, has worked behind-the-scenes on the show as a choreographer and served as a guest judge in 2023. She also worked as a judge on the spinoff show, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors.
Mark Ballas has been a professional dancer with Dancing with the Stars on and off since 2007. However, in 2024, he took on the judges' table for the first time when he gave valuable insight during the "Dedication Night" episode.
In addition to Ballas, other past and present professional dancers have also served as guest judges — including Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke, Kym Johnson Herjavec, Allison Holker, Artem Chigvintsev, Jenna Johnson, Karina Smirnoff and Lindsay Arnold.
Other celebrities who have served as a guest judge or appeared on the show on more than one occasion include Idina Menzel, Leah Remini and Joey Fatone.
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