The ballroom floor is getting a major athletic upgrade as Dancing With the Stars introduces its first-ever Super Bowl Night. Eleven celebrity couples will compete in a football-themed edition of the ABC competition on Tuesday, October 13. The night features iconic halftime show routines, guest judge Joe Buck, and special appearances by returning NFL stars, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith.
The two-hour episode will air live from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC and stream live on Disney+. This special themed night follows the October 6 elimination of reality television personality Ciara Miller and her professional dance partner, Brandon Armstrong, during a previous round of Season 35.
Emmitt Smith Leads Returning NFL Legends
Emmitt Smith returns to the ballroom as a legendary former champion. In 2006, the Dallas Cowboys icon won the third season of Dancing With the Stars alongside professional partner Cheryl Burke. He made history as the first-ever NFL player to win the competition. Smith later returned for the show’s All-Star edition in 2012, finishing in fourth place.
According to announcements from the show’s official companion podcast, Smith will not be the only football great stepping back onto the dance floor. He will be joined by fellow NFL alums and former contestants:
- Donald Driver: Green Bay Packers star and Season 14 champion.
- DeMarcus Ware: Former linebacker who competed on Season 27 in 2018.
- Danny Amendola: Former wide receiver who placed fifth on Season 33.
Super Bowl Night Songs and Dance Lineup
The competitive couples will tackle routines inspired by legendary Super Bowl halftime show performances. The opening number will feature hits like “NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny, “Rude Boy” by Rihanna, and “HUMBLE” by Kendrick Lamar.
The remaining 11 couples have been assigned the following dance styles and songs for the October 13 broadcast:
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: Samba to “Mi Gente” by J Balvin and Willy William
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: Samba to “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: Salsa to “Hot in Herre” by Nelly
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson: Salsa to “Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: Samba to “Yeah!” by Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater: Salsa to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: Paso Doble to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: Jazz to “Jenny From the Block” by Jennifer Lopez ft. Jadakiss and Styles P
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: Tango to “Only Girl (In the World)” by Rihanna
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: Salsa to “Squabble Up” by Kendrick Lamar
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess: Jazz to “The Time (Dirty Bit)” by Black Eyed Peas
Special Guest Judge and Broadcast Details
Adding to the sports-centric theme, Monday Night Football broadcaster Joe Buck will sit on the judges’ panel as a guest judge. He joins regular experts Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
Speculation has also grown on social media regarding whether the performer for Super Bowl LXI will be revealed live during the episode. Disney+ is set to livestream the upcoming Super Bowl, which airs on ABC and ESPN on Sunday, February 14, 2027.
Fans can watch Dancing With the Stars live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. New episodes are available to stream the following day on Hulu and Disney+.
