Derek Hough Will Return to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ This Season, but Only for One Special Celebrity Partner

Kelly Monaco (Season 1 – June 2005)

Since twirling around the dance floor with partner Alec Mazo — who left the show after Season 5 — Kelly has hosted the Miss USA Pageant and starred on the E! reality series Dirty Soap. In 2012, she returned to DWTS for a chance to win a second Mirror Ball Trophy in Season 15 but finished in third.

Drew Lachey (Season 2 – January 2006)

The former 98 Degrees member — who danced with pro partner Cheryl Burke — most recently starred in the 2013 movie Guess Who's Coming To Christmas.

Emmitt Smith (Season 3 – September 2006)

After dancing with Cheryl Burke, the former pro football player joined ESPN as a studio sports analyst and later returned to DWTS for the show's "All-Star" cast in Season 15.

Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4 – March 2007)

The speedskating Olympian first danced with partner Julianne Hough in Season 4 and later partnered with Karina Smirnoff while appearing on the reality competition's "All-Star" Season 15. Since then, he has guest starred on popular TV shows including Hawaii Five-0, The Biggest Loser, and Minute to Win It.

Hélio Castroneves (Season 5 – September 2007)

Hélio — who took home the Mirror Ball Trophy with partner Julianne Hough — has continued his successful auto racing career and even finished in first place in the Indianapolis 500 in 2009.

Kristi Yamaguchi (Season 6 – March 2008)

After dancing with Mark Ballas, the figure skating gold medalist hosted the ABC special Pandora Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice and authored a children's book!

Brooke Burke-Charvet (Season 7 – September 2008)

The mom-of-four co-hosted Dancing With the Stars from 2010 to 2013, authored a book, and has voiced several video game characters since performing with pro partner Derek Hough.

Shawn Johnson (Season 8 – March 2009)

After she won the show's eighth season with Mark Ballas, Shawn returned to the reality competition for the "All-Star" Season 15 where she finished in second place. She has since authored a book and served as a spokeswoman for several popular brands.

Donny Osmond (Season 9 – September 2009)

Since he danced with Kym Johnson, Donny has served as a guest judge on the British reality program, Strictly Come Dancing and released an album titled The Soundtrack Of My Life in 2014.

Nicole Scherzinger (Season 10 – March 2010)

The former Pussycat Dolls girl-group member has released two solo albums and starred in a 2014 West End revival of the musical Cats since dancing with Derek Hough on DWTS.

Jennifer Grey (Season 11 – September 2010)

After performing with partner Derek Hough, the Dirty Dancing actress starred in movies The Wind Rises, In Your Eyes, and Red Oaks.

Hines Ward (Season 12 – March 2011)

The retired pro football player — who danced with Kym Johnson on the show — now works as an NBC studio sports analyst.

J.R. Martinez (Season 13 – September 2011)

J.R. — a former US Army soldier who appeared on the ABC soap opera All My Children before competing with Karina Smirnoff on DWTS — now stars on the TV series SAF3.

Donald Driver (Season 14 – March 2012)

Donald — a retired pro football player for the Green Bay Packers — took home the Mirror Ball Trophy with partner Peta Murgatroyd.

Melissa Rycroft (Season 15 – September 2012)

Before winning DWTS with Tony Dovolani on the show's "All-Star" Season 15, Melissa was known for appearing on Season 13 of The Bachelor, for starring on the reality series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, and finishing in third place on Dancing With the Stars' eighth season.

Kellie Pickler (Season 16 – March 2013)

Just before she danced with Derek Hough, the American Idol alumna released her fourth album titled The Woman I Am in 2013.

Amber Riley (Season 17 – September 2013)

The Glee star released a single titled "Color Blind" in 2014 after her win on DWTS with partner Derek Hough.

Meryl Davis (Season 18 – March 2014)

Meryl competed against her Olympic ice dancing parter, Charlie White, with pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy on DWTS' Season 18.

Alfonso Ribeiro (Season 19 – September 2014)

The former Fresh Prince of Bel Air star took home the Mirror Ball Trophy with pro partner Witney Carson. Since then, the actor and his wife, Angela Unkrich, welcomed their second son, Anders Reyn, in April 2015.

Rumer Willis (Season 20 – March 2015)

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's eldest daughter won the Mirror Ball Trophy with pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy on the reality competition's 20th season! Since her big win, Rumer most recently starred as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway.

Bindi Irwin (Season 21 – November 2015)

The late Steve Irwin's daughter won the Mirror Ball Trophy with partner Derek Hough on the reality competition's 21st season! Today she spends time with her family and boyfriend, Chandler Powell.

Nyle DiMarco (Season 22 – May 2016)

Nyle won the Mirror Ball Trophy with partner Peta Murgatroyd on the reality competition's 22nd season!

Laurie Hernandez (Season 23 – November 2016)

Laurie won the Mirror Ball Trophy with partner Val Chmerkovskiy on Season 23 of DWTS!

Rashad Jennings (Season 24 – May 2017)

The former football player won the Mirror Ball Trophy with partner Emma Slater last season.

Jordan Fisher (Season 25 – November 2017)

The Grease Live! star and his pro partner, Lindsay Arnold, were named the Season 25 Mirror Ball champions — and we couldn't be happier for them on this big win!

The End!