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Ryan Seacrest
On Fox 1. You can stream your favorite news, sports and entertainment live all in one app. It's raw and unfiltered.
Jenna Johnson
This is the best thing ever.
Ryan Seacrest
Watch breaking news as it breaks. Breaking Tonight, we're following two major stories.
Danielle Fishel
Bam.
Ryan Seacrest
And catch History in the making.
Danielle Fishel
Gimme Meet Freddy.
Ryan Seacrest
Debates, Drama.
Danielle Fishel
Touchdown.
Ryan Seacrest
It's all here, baby. Fox 1 We live for live streaming.
Jenna Johnson
Now.
Danielle Fishel
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Ryan Seacrest
Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway Cough and cold season is coming, so make sure you're prepared and stock up on your family's favorite personal wellness products now. Through October 7th. Shop in store and online for savings on products like Mucinex Kickstart Combo, Zyrtec Allergy Relief Tablets or Liquid Gels, Halls Cough Drops and Mucinex Fast day and night so you and your family are armed and ready for the season ahead. Offerings October 7th. Restrictions apply. Offers may vary. Visit albertsons or safeway.com for more details. I'm Scott Hansen, host of NFL Red Zone. Lowe's knows Sundays hit different when you earn them. We've got you covered with outdoor power equipment from Cobalt and everything you need to weatherproof your deck with Trex Decking. Plus with lawn care from Scotts and of course, Pit Boss grills and accessories, you can get a home field advantage all season long. So get to Lowe's, get it done and earn your Sunday Lowe's official partner of the NFL.
Danielle Fishel
Welcome to Danielle with the Stars. I am Danielle Fishel, a TV director, a podcaster forever Topanga and a mom of two. Currently, though, I am becoming a ballroom dancer one painful step at a time. You can see me on the new season of Dancing with the Stars airing every Tuesday on ABC and Disney. And throughout the entire process, I am recording this podcast chronicling the journey, giving you the inside story of just one celebrity's quest for the mirrorball trophy. And this week I am lucky to be chatting with one of the many professionals who helped revolutionize the art form, helping an old fashioned style of dance somehow become one of pop culture's most relevant TV shows. She's not only a two time mirrorball champion, winning first with Adam Rippon in 2018 for season 26 and then again just last year With Joey Grazia Day. She's also an Emmy nominee alongside her husband, fellow Dancing with the Stars pro Val Shchermakovsky, in the field of outstanding choreography for variety or reality programming. In short, she is the real deal. If during this interview, I can have even a small amount of her talent rub off on me, I will be better for it. My guest this week on Danielle with the Stars is Jenna Johnson.
Jenna Johnson
Wow. That intro. I'm not deserving. That was incredible.
Danielle Fishel
Did I say your. Did I say that right?
Jenna Johnson
How do you say it? Chmerkovsky. That's what gets people. Chmerkovsky.
Danielle Fishel
Chmerkovsky.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah. It's a true.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Wow.
Jenna Johnson
I went from Johnson to a Chmerkovsky real quick.
Danielle Fishel
You know, that must have been a hard adjustment.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah, it was. But so worth it.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, good. I like to hear that. So I want everyone to know that we are talking just a few days before the season 34 premiere.
Jenna Johnson
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
And even if I tried, I would. I would never be able to explain the amount of excitement that is bouncing around my entire body. This will mark your ninth season on Dancing with the Stars. Are you jaded at this point or do you still feel the excitement of the unknown?
Jenna Johnson
Oh, man, I still get butterflies every single time. Especially before the premiere. Because you have to realize that technically it's only like three and a half months out of the year and we wait then nine months to be back on air. And I think it's all of the pro's dream project or job.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
So there is nothing like that first show especially. And you're with somebody new. Like.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
You're seeing how they react live the first time. It's all a new experience. So I definitely have that excitement still. It never, never gets old.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, that's good to hear.
Jenna Johnson
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
You started as a member of the troupe.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
How did you find yourself on the show's radar as a dancer to begin with?
Jenna Johnson
So I was on a show called so youo Think youk Can Dance.
Danielle Fishel
Uh huh.
Jenna Johnson
And we actually filmed at CBS across the hall. Oh. And so I think I was just scouted out from there. Like the producers had seen my journey. Yeah, yeah. I represented ballroom on that show and it was a really smooth transition. I am so grateful and so lucky because I know that that doesn't happen a lot of the time, but that's initially how I was found. And then, yeah, I joined the troupe. I was on the troupe for I think, like seven seasons, but at the time we were doing two seasons a year. Oh, right. Second, it was like three and a Half years I was on the troupe, and then I got myself a partner, and here we are.
Danielle Fishel
That is so incredible. When you're on the troupe, is it difficult watching and seeing the pros competing? Are you critiquing everything, wishing you could jump in?
Jenna Johnson
You know, it's so interesting. And I'm actually. I feel like I'm in this full circle moment right now because my niece actually is joining the troupe for the first time.
Danielle Fishel
Yes. Hey.
Jenna Johnson
They bets. And it's been so fun to, like, so see her get introduced to this troupe experience. And I think at the time, I was like, when I joined the show, I was so desperate to be a pro. I wanted that shot. But looking back at the time I joined the show, we had Derek still as a pro, Mark was a pro. Karina, PETA. Wow. Cheryl, Kim, Johnson. Like, they were still competing. Max. So it was like the OG Crew. So I. And they would all, like, either ask me to help prep a routine with them or. Or I would be in their dances. And so I saw how they orchestrated their rehearsal.
Danielle Fishel
Ah.
Jenna Johnson
And I feel like it was the best research that I could have ever done. I got to learn from the pros themselves how to do this and who was successful with it, who wasn't necessarily.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
So I'm so grateful for my time on Troop. I think it really helped me become the teacher that I am, the partner that I am. And so I'm. I'm excited for my niece to have this experience, and I'm just like, absorb everything, learn from everyone.
Danielle Fishel
I got to meet the troupe yesterday. They were at the roof. Oh, my gosh. They're just the cutest, sweetest. As a matter of fact, Pasha pulled the troupe in to watch us dance because, as you mentioned, the pros have no idea what people are gonna do when they get out in front of a crowd. You're just doing your dance, you know, for two people, you and the dancer, the entire week. So he brought troupe in and told them to be vocal.
Jenna Johnson
You had a little audience.
Danielle Fishel
I had a little aud. And let me tell you, baby, I came alive.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah, it was great.
Danielle Fishel
I was so excited. I was great.
Jenna Johnson
It was great. Cause usually it does the reverse and people panic.
Danielle Fishel
No, I love it.
Jenna Johnson
And everything goes out the window. So that's great.
Danielle Fishel
It was really great. So she helped me yesterday. I also. I think they were very excited because I met them, and then immediately I had just. That morning, I didn't even know I was gonna meet Troop yesterday. And that morning, I thought, I wanna do Troop on The Stoop. Have you seen that on TikTok? No. Coop on a Stoop? No, it's a dad who has a son named Cooper, and every morning he takes his son out and he talks about whether the stoop, the little is dry or if it's wet. Sometimes he has snacks and then he, like, records him sitting down on the stoop. So, anyway, we're gonna do Troop on a Stoop.
Jenna Johnson
I love that.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you.
Jenna Johnson
I'm here for the series. I'm tuning in.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, well, I also want to talk to you about the fact that you have another family member joining the show. Your niece, Haley Bills. She's already a fan favorite. Is this just an absolute dream come true for you?
Jenna Johnson
Oh, an absolute dream come true. I. Yeah, it's very surreal because I think, too, for so long, I didn't have any family out here or in the business, and I felt so lost and confused on how to navigate. And thankfully, like, the Chmerkovsky family adopted me and took me under their wing and gave me a bunch of tools to learn how to navigate. And I know that this has been Haley's dream for so long, and. And this was a really hard year for her, deciding what to do with her life. She was in college last year. She made the. And she had another college that really wanted her to join their dance team, and she made the decision without knowing if she was going to be on the show, to go for her. Yeah, move to LA and go for her dream. And if it didn't happen, that's fine. She's going to try, like, the auditioning, the whole LA dance experience. But this was ultimately her. Her goal. And so it was really special. And I actually cannot wait to release the video. But when I got picked up as a pro, because we get picked up every year, right? We're. We're waiting and crossing our fingers. And so Deena Katz called me and I'm like, oh, so grateful. Thank you. So excited to be back. And she was like, and by the way, do you have Haley's number? And I was like, immediately start sobbing. Val's, like, taking a video of me. I'm sobbing.
Danielle Fishel
I'm like, oh, my gosh.
Jenna Johnson
And so, like, do you want to be on the call? And so she let me call Haley and she was like, don't say anything. Just be like, hey, I'm gonna transfer you to Dina. And so me, Val, Haley and Dina were on this call, and Haley was, like, sobbing and so unexpected because again, she, like, they didn't have her number. She hadn't heard anything from the show, so it was just, like, such a beautiful moment, and I cannot wait to see her shine. I think that she is. She's the next star. I really do. Like, she's coming for my job, and I'm like, let's get it, girl. Let's get it. But I can't wait to be there for her and help guide her through this crazy industry and all that it has to offer. But it's gonna be really special to share the stage. We have rehearsal coming up together, and I'm like, I'm gonna be in rehearsal with my niece and my husband and my best friends. What is life so great?
Danielle Fishel
It's one of the things I love most about directing is that I get to work with a lot of kids directing Disney Channel shows, and it feels very much like giving back to a young version of myself. And for you, it's you getting. Being there for Haley is going to feel like the kind of care that you would have needed as well.
Jenna Johnson
It's wild. Cause she is the exact age that I was when I joined the show, so it does feel very surreal.
Danielle Fishel
So excited. Okay, so you make it. You make the transition from Troop to Pro for season 23 in 2016 with partner actor Jake T. Austin. Yes. You mentioned that Troop was, like, the best schooling you could ever have. But what happens? You. You get a partner, and now is there, like, a pamphlet? What do they know? Is there a book? How do you what to do?
Jenna Johnson
Good question. No, I was so fresh newbie. I didn't have much experience. And I think I. I was so stressed.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And I could tell that, like, we were the young ones of the crew. You know, he was like a Disney kid. We were so, so young. So I don't think I was equipped with all the knowledge that I needed to be the best partner. And I think something, too, that I've learned with all my years on the show, it is not about me at all. And it's hard. When you are a professional dancer and you take your craft very seriously. This is not a moment for you to show off. This is a moment for your star to shine. And so I think even, like, choreographically, I was highlighting myself and limiting how he looked. I see if that makes sense.
Danielle Fishel
Especially, no offense to the male pros, of course, because they're often doing spectacular things themselves. But, like, as a female dancer, it's so often about you showing off.
Jenna Johnson
Yes. They're supposed to highlight us. Yes, exactly.
Danielle Fishel
That's the technical job of the male, is to Be the frame. Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
So I think I. I had. That was a great first season for me, but then I had to learn. Okay. I need to maybe not hold back, but I need to be more strategic with my choreography. I need to highlight my partner, make sure that they look the. And I will compliment.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, well, so, I mean, being just thrown into. It's kind of the best education you could get.
Jenna Johnson
Oh, yeah.
Danielle Fishel
You placed 13th that year. You were the first couple eliminated. Were you super hard on yourself, and what did you do the next year to make sure you didn't repeat that same mistake?
Jenna Johnson
Yeah, it was. It was hard. It was a learning experience, but there was. I'm all about timing, and there's always a meaning to everything. So I was eliminated first. I was super down because I felt like I had kind of, like, defeated my role that I had just been promoted to. But that season, there was an incredible celebrity on the show named James Hinchcliffe.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And his partner Sharna actually got injured. She got really, really injured. And so for a couple weeks, I think it was like, two weeks I was rehearsing with him, and I actually got to perform with him. And we did this piece, this, like, suicide squad dance, this foxtrot. And it just, like, blew up. I felt like I had more understanding. I also had, like, Sharna's guidance in the room and how to handle myself, but it, like, blew up the stance. And I felt like it gave me the confidence that I needed to be like, okay, I've got this right. I just need a bit more understanding. But, like, I've got this. So that was an incredible experience for me to have that same season.
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Jenna Johnson
And then, yeah, the next season, I was given this just, like, diamonds of Adam Rippon. And I felt like I had the confidence and, like, okay, the challenge. I accepted the challenge. I was ready.
Danielle Fishel
It's so great how quickly you were able. Truly, just within weeks, you were like, I've already learned a lesson from. And I'm gonna put it into play just weeks later. Thankfully, you didn't have to wait the entire season, you know? Wow. Okay, so, yes, you get. For athlete season, you get Adam Rippon. Yes. When did you realize, oh, hey, I think we have a chance of winning this thing.
Jenna Johnson
You know, it's funny. Well, I knew that he was talented. Like, obviously, he was this gorgeous skater, so he had artistry. But I think I knew that we had a shot when I understood our chemistry was so, so connected very early on in the rehearsal space. Yeah, we just got along so well. We had Great banter. We loved each other.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
We really loved spending time together, and that is as big part of the process as much as the stance. The dancing is right. Like, totally. You have to trust your person.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
You have to feel safe and vulnerable in their arms. And. And so I think that, like, I started to be like, oh, I think we have great chemistry. I think this can translate on the dance floor. He obviously is an Olympian. He was so hardworking, and I was so motivated to. To make this happen for him.
Danielle Fishel
Well, you did. You did make it happen to him. Your hard work paid off because you won the whole thing. Having gone from first to be eliminated.
Jenna Johnson
I know.
Danielle Fishel
To winning the Mirror Ball, it's one.
Jenna Johnson
Of my favorite stories.
Danielle Fishel
It's so incredible.
Jenna Johnson
I actually told that to Ezra last year. You know, he was promoted to pro from Troop, and he was eliminated first last year, and I was just like, Ezra. I was eliminated first, and then I won the next season. So you just never know.
Danielle Fishel
Exactly. Exactly. Whatever happens, that first year is not any sort of telling of what's to come in the future. What are some of the collective attributes you think you and Adam had as a team that made you into champs?
Jenna Johnson
I think trust, okay, was huge. I think being able to, like, tune everything out on the dance floor and just be so present with one another was our superpower, and you will feel that. Like, I'm very excited for you to have your first camera blocking, because a lot of the times I'm just going to prep you.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
The first run is just an absolute mess.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. It is. And it's fine.
Jenna Johnson
You get three goes. Usually the first one is a disaster. There's things happening. There's cameras, the lights. You're just like, new space. And then Pasha's gonna grab your hands.
Danielle Fishel
And like, yeah, calm me down with me.
Jenna Johnson
Just. Just focus on me. Nothing else. No other distractions. And then you'll, like, find your footing. And so Adam and I had that, like, great connection where we just found each other and tuned everything out. So I think that was great. I think that our chemistry, we really just. We had so much fun. We laughed. I think a majority of our rehearsals, like, we got work done, but it was so much fun.
Danielle Fishel
Good.
Jenna Johnson
And I think that was also the first time that I was like, oh, I can enjoy this while we work hard. And I think not losing that joy also sparks creativity, inspiration, you know, moments, magic. But also, he is a huge reason why we won. He is such a hard worker. He was determined to become a ballroom dancer. I think people love that journey of, like, I'm entering this so I can learn how to be a ballroom dancer. Like, no ego involved. He was down to take criticism, critiques from the judges, and then he was just hysterical live. Like, his banter with the host was so funny. So funny.
Danielle Fishel
That goes such a long way with forming a connection with the audience, too.
Jenna Johnson
Personality.
Danielle Fishel
I wanted to talk about season 29 with Catfish's Neve Schulman. You place second so close down to the finale. Would you rather just come in eighth? Like, is there any? I feel like I would have a heart attack.
Jenna Johnson
I'm telling you, second is torture.
Danielle Fishel
Second is the worst.
Jenna Johnson
It's torture. I mean, it's such an accomplishment. But you're, like, sitting there, the mirror balls in between two couples, and you're just, like, so close, and then they don't even, like, announce your name.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
You're just the winners, you know, and you're just, like, so happy for the other couple, but just dying inside.
Danielle Fishel
I'm so happy for you.
Jenna Johnson
It's, like, crumbling.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. Okay, well, then you have another second place for a legendary season with Jojo Siwa. Yes. You were the first same sex coupling in the show's history. Yeah. What adjustments do you have to make when prepping for that?
Jenna Johnson
So many. Yeah. Because again, this was the first time that the show was doing it, and so I didn't have any reference point. And they were so awesome about being like, you really can just figure this out, right?
Danielle Fishel
Whatever you. You make the blueprint.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah, kind of. And I wanted to respect the rules of ballroom and the technique and the framework and everything. But I think they also were pushing me to get creative with it. I think something that was really important for me going into it is I, as a dancer, as a performer, I am very feminine when I dance. And I wanted to make sure that I didn't lose my identity, but still make this partnership work. And it was really interesting because even Jojo, she was like, no, I want to look like a girl, too. Like, I want to be feminine and sexy, but, like, I'll do the guy part. Right. Which was so interesting. So it was fun to like, make this new version of ballroom.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
And to really have that, like, female empowerment on the floor, I thought was so, so much fun.
Danielle Fishel
That's so great. So. Oh, gosh, it seems so confusing. So she was playing the male dancer ballroom part, which you had to teach her how to do, but she also wanted to do it with a feminine edge.
Jenna Johnson
She wanted all of her styling, like the female part. So the Fingers, the arms, like, the hips, everything. She still wanted to represent that, but she was definitely down to do the male steps.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. And you have to teach all of it, because you have to, like. Yeah, she. I mean, she was.
Jenna Johnson
I mean, she's incredible.
Danielle Fishel
Of course.
Jenna Johnson
She was just. And she was so open to the process. She loved every. I think she cried for, like, the last week every day, because she was so sad it was ending. No. You're, like, devastated. But it was such a magical experience. And I think, too, I felt so connected to her. Just like two women in the room, you know, you understand each other's emotions. Yes. You're like. You're saying you're both on your period together. You're just like. Yeah. So it was. It was a really magic season, and I felt like she became my little sister, which was so fun.
Danielle Fishel
At what point in the show were you told that you were going to have Jojo as your partner? Like, were you? Because it feels like almost the way it was for this season. I did not know who my partner was until literally the day I met him.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
But it feels like for you to meet Jojo, that feels like they should have given you a little bit of lead time.
Jenna Johnson
They. They did tell me that I would be dancing with a girl.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. But you didn't know who?
Jenna Johnson
Yeah. They kind of gave me a heads up that it would be this person.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
But they honestly kind of posed it as, like, would you be willing to dance with a girl?
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
And I was like, yes.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
So I don't know if she knew that we were gonna be partners, but I think they wanted to, like, respect this new thing and give me the opportunity to say no.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
And I am forever grateful that I said yes.
Danielle Fishel
So great. Good for you. And so with Nev and Jojo, they both had dance experience. Yes. And I talked a little to Pasha about this as well, but where do you fall on the celebrities who come into Dancing with the Stars should or should not have prior dance experience?
Jenna Johnson
So it's interesting, because Nev didn't have dance experience. He was just a mega fan of dance.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
So his father, they would go to, like, ballets, and I think he had, like, dabbled in it, but he had never really been trained in it. He just loved the art form of dance. Got it. And so I don't think anybody expected him to become the dancer that he did. And it was just such a beautiful story. And then Jojo, obviously, she was a dancer, not a ballroom dancer. Again, she's learning a male part so there. There were challenges. I think every partner has. Is going to have their challenges.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
If they have experience or not. Like you saw, I. I've had. Even with JoJo, when you're like, yes, they have dance experience, but is that going to be relatable?
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
Are people gonna fall in love with the journey or is it going to be like, well, she already has experience.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
But, you know, so it's also like connecting on, finding that. That growth and your partner's chemistry. So it's hard. I think there are a lot of people that have dance experience on our season. Currently, right now.
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Jenna Johnson
But every. It's all about the journey. I think as long as there is an arc, you can still make it entertaining and exciting.
Danielle Fishel
Absolutely.
Jenna Johnson
But I do think. I do think it is so beautiful to see somebody with no dance experience evolve into a dancer.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah. Yeah. I bet. I bet that even if it's not your partner, just watching someone come in with, like, zero and then seeing where they are by the end, it was.
Jenna Johnson
My partner last season, Joey.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
No dance experience. Wow. And to, like, I just got chills thinking about it. But, like, watching his evolution and watching him fall in love with my favorite art form was so incredible to see.
Danielle Fishel
He is.
Jenna Johnson
Can we talk about him for a second, please?
Danielle Fishel
What a gem.
Jenna Johnson
I know of a man. I know.
Danielle Fishel
So I have now had the opportunity. It just so happened that he was in New York. He was there for the US Open.
Jenna Johnson
Yes, he was.
Danielle Fishel
The same time we were for Good Morning America. We ran into each other in the Delta Sky Lounge. So I got to meet him there for the first time. And I thought, what a lovely man this guy is. And then we saw each other at the Hulu end of summer soiree, and I got to hang out with him and his fiance, Kelsey.
Jenna Johnson
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Lovely people. Just incredible. And I was like, what do you have to teach me? What can I learn from you, sir? And he's like. He's like, I don't know. I'm just naturally this wonderful.
Jenna Johnson
No, he is such a special, special human. Something that I think makes Joey magic is he just really has no ego.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, none. No.
Jenna Johnson
And he's just like. He kind of stands like this. He's like. Doesn't want to be in the way or, like, front and center. But then this performer, like, unleashed. When we were on the dance floor and everyone was like, wait, what? And it was just. It was. It was so great. And he. I don't know if we ever missed a day of rehearsal. We were there all of our time frame. He was giving me all of his effort, and I think for a little bit, he had this, like, imposter syndrome. And he spoke about that because there's, like, all of these celebrities, and he just got off the Bachelor and he's like, what am I doing on Dancing with the Stars? But I think everybody loved how relatable he was.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
Of this, like, awesome guy going through life. Yeah. And then winning Dancing with the Stars.
Danielle Fishel
I know. I'm so. Gosh, I love him so much.
Jenna Johnson
He's great.
Danielle Fishel
He seems great.
Jenna Johnson
He and Kelsey are so great.
Danielle Fishel
Yes. If you had to suggest one dance or one routine to someone as your favorite from the show, what would you choose?
Jenna Johnson
I would maybe say tango.
Danielle Fishel
You like tango?
Jenna Johnson
Tango. I think it's really encompassing of, like, ballroom.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
You know, because it is in that frame. There's drama to it still. So there's still that performance element. There's footwork, there's partnering, and I just. I love tango. I love dancing tango. So that would be the one that if it was like, a newcomer or beginner, I'd be like, let's start with this.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Are you surprised by the fandom? The show still has 34 seasons in. I mean, it's arguably a bigger fandom now than ever before, thanks to social media.
Jenna Johnson
Yes. So I joined, I think, right after, like, the show was its biggest and its highest. And, you know, my brother in law, Max Schmarkovsky, was on the show at the time. He was like, the guy. And he would just be telling me these crazy stories. Like 30 million viewers tuning in.
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Jenna Johnson
That's unheard of. And so I think it was for a while. We were kind of, like, living in the past of it and just getting by. There was still interest, but last season there was a drastic shift.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And you can feel it. It is palpable. Even going on the Dancing with the Stars tour this last year. After the season, the audiences, the screams, the, like, lining up the buses, it was just. I think it's also a different age group that's now interested in the show.
Danielle Fishel
Younger.
Jenna Johnson
Not just moms and grandmas, which we. We love. And they're still here.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, yeah. There's nothing wrong with moms and grandmas. We want you around.
Jenna Johnson
We want them. They're just OG crowd, but granddaughters and daughters, and it's like a full family experience, and it's really. It's insane.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
Like, we are celebrating 34 seasons. What show can say that?
Danielle Fishel
I know. Unbelievable. 34 seasons. 20 years.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
The 20th anniversary this year. So you mentioned Max. As your brother in law, you are married to Val himself, a three time champion. You guys met on the show.
Jenna Johnson
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
In an attempt to avoid asking you the same questions you've probably always asked about working with your husband, I want to ask, if you two weren't dancers, what other job would you two work well together at?
Jenna Johnson
I think we would find different paths.
Danielle Fishel
I love the honesty.
Jenna Johnson
No, it's obviously incredible to share a craft with the person you love most, but there are their challenges, you know?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
But I would say Val would for sure be in comedy.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
He loves. He's a performer, so I think he would always be in the performance field of some sort. But he is so funny and he cracks me up. He is so funny and he like dabbled in comedy this past year on our time off, and he was actually really funny.
Danielle Fishel
Like, he do stand up.
Jenna Johnson
Yes. And I'm telling you, you could not pay me $1 million to go in front of a crowd.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
And try out and do jokes like, no, thank you. Bye. I would die dead.
Danielle Fishel
He not only did it, but he was good.
Jenna Johnson
He was good and he did like, I think eight shows.
Danielle Fishel
Wow.
Jenna Johnson
So I. I love that about him. He has, like, no fear and he's just like, yeah, I'm gonna try something that terrifies me. So I think he would do that. And I would love to just like go giggle and watch his shows. For me, I mean, I love performance, but I also love anatomy. So.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah. I'm like obsessed with murder investigations. It's really. I'm probably a psychopath. Okay. But I think I would be a forensic anthropologist. Like putting together the murder scene with the bones and the whole, you know.
Danielle Fishel
You know, I was obsessed with Forensic Files. I had seen, I think every single episode of Forensic Files. And there was a period of time in my 20s before I. Before I decided I was going to go to school for psychology and become a therapist. Before I had made that decision, which never panned out because I ended up becoming a director. But I did pursue that. But before I did, I thought about being a blood splatter expert.
Jenna Johnson
That's amazing.
Danielle Fishel
We could start a business.
Jenna Johnson
I will be there.
Danielle Fishel
Listen. When you're ready to retire.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
And I am. Who knows what I'll be doing? I'll be like a thousand years old. But whatever that is, start a business.
Jenna Johnson
Yeah.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. I love this. You have a beautiful two and a half year old son. Rome, what is scheduling like for your household? Considering how busy a season Dancing with the Stars Is my husband has had to. So just with one of us being on Dancing with the Stars, my husband has had to pick up so much slack. And he's done it happily, he's done it willingly. The kids are doing great. But like he's had. And then our. And then when he can't do something, our nanny has had to pick up the slack. Yeah. How do you guys do it with both of you having the schedule?
Jenna Johnson
It is a lot when we are in season.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
Also too, you know, like last minute things get added. A fitting, an interview, a master this, a creative call, a zoom, all of these things. So it is hard. And Val and I have very different schedules. Like we're. We have yet to rehearse at the same time.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, my gosh.
Jenna Johnson
Luckily, I have the most angelic in laws and they recently moved from New York to just be with the babies and help out. And so this season we also like went rogue and we don't have a nanny currently.
Danielle Fishel
Wow.
Jenna Johnson
But my son is in school, so he goes to school. And then my in laws are just like, they're here for us for the next three months and they're like, anything you need, like, please. And they love it. Like they are just a dream. So. But it is a lot. And like even last season, you know, when I was going to the finale and I'm stressed every night and this and Val got eliminated, I think week seven, he was picking up a lot of the slack and he was being mommy and daddy for us and like putting Rome to bed. And I remember it broke my heart so bad, but I had missed putting Rome to bed a couple of times and Rome only wanted Val to put him to bed. And I was like, oh, no, I see what's happening here. Yes. But he is an incredible co parent and I would not be able to do this world without him. And so, yeah, it's a. It's a lot of communication, it's a lot of effort, but so, so worth it.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And when he gets to like come on set and see what we're doing and he understands that we dance and I think he loves watching us dance. It's. It's really fun and so rewarding and fulfilling.
Danielle Fishel
Does he show any promising dancer attributes? Is he athletic?
Jenna Johnson
Is he. He is. He loves music.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
So I'm not sure if it's dance.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
But like, his feet are giving stiff. You know, I'm not sure about the turnout, but he has incredible musicality already. Like, can find a b. A rhythm, you know, so I'd love something in the music space. I would.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, that'd be so wonderful. Does anything feel different about this season for you?
Jenna Johnson
I think every season feels different.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
I think it's. It's exciting. It's challenging to be like, okay, I have to forget everything that I've experienced with past partners and just focus on how does my partner learn?
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
How does he absorb information? What are cues that I need to give him? How is he gonna react live? And again, we haven't. We haven't premiered yet.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
So these are still things that, like, all of us pros are having to learn. But I just love the magnitude that is happening with the show right now. So that excites me. I think seeing the response and just seeing it get bigger and bigger, that's very exciting, I think. Also, I've never been invested in my social media as much during the season as we all are currently. You know, it feels like a TikTok fest off, like, who's doing the most tiktoks together. But you see the traction.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
There are so many eyes on the cast and the season and the excitement. So I think that that's exciting for me too, to be like, yeah, let me have fun with this. Show a different side of me too.
Danielle Fishel
Yes.
Jenna Johnson
Maybe show some of my process, how I work, you know, how Corey and I work. So.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, I love that. So you are paired with Corey Feldman. You guys have had a little bit of a false start because he had some missed rehearsals because of prior engagements. How do you adjust with getting less time than you would ideally want in a situation like this?
Jenna Johnson
Yeah. And it's so funny. Cause everyone was like, he's missing. You haven't heard from him. We were in communication the whole time. It was just, you know, he had prior engagement engagements that he had to do. And so we both knew going into this that, like, we were going to miss some time, and we had some catching up to do before the premiere. But I. I love that. First of all, he's aware of that. And he comes in now to each of our rehearsals with this, like, not wanting to prove people wrong.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
But he is excited to work hard.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
And I love that. That is one of the best qualities you can ask in a new partner. Like, they need to want to be there.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And he does. And he's excited, and he's fully like, I have no ballroom experience. I have no partnering experience. It's always been, like, on my own, and I get to do whatever I want. It's a free for all When I perform. So I love that he's like, treat me like the biggest beginner.
Danielle Fishel
Right, Right. Talk to me like I'm five.
Jenna Johnson
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And tell me everything.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah, exactly.
Jenna Johnson
So, yeah, it's been. It's been so. Also just so lovely to get to know him.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
He is hysterical. Like, really funny.
Danielle Fishel
Good. You're gonna have to use some of that humor.
Jenna Johnson
Oh, I'm ready for it.
Danielle Fishel
Oh, yeah, you're already thinking. You recently posted a video talking to people. Cause people were wondering, like, why aren't you posting TikToks together? There were all kinds of rumors, and so you posted a video talking about the fact that you knew this was gonna happen. It was no big deal. But you were eating a pinkberry. And not to get too serious here, but what is your go to flavor and your go to toppings?
Jenna Johnson
Easy.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
Hazelnut. Okay. And pomegranate.
Danielle Fishel
So pomegranate, pinkberry, and then the hazelnut topping.
Jenna Johnson
Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Okay.
Jenna Johnson
Then if you doordash it, you get three scoops of the milk chocolate crunch. Oh, don't judge. I'm also. It was like, I was also on my cycle. So the real you get three scoops. Specifically, you get the popping boba. And then this was a new one that I just tried, Pomegranate juice.
Danielle Fishel
Oh.
Jenna Johnson
And they poured a little pomegranate juice on it and, like, seeped in. It was exquisite.
Danielle Fishel
Well, I'm glad to hear that, because the whole video, you didn't take a single bite. And I. I was like, please eat the pinkberry.
Jenna Johnson
You know, it's so funny.
Danielle Fishel
Please eat the pinkberry. Because it looked so good.
Jenna Johnson
The amount of DMS that said, take a bite. Take a.
Danielle Fishel
We all eat it. We were all rooting for you.
Jenna Johnson
And then. And then somebody else is getting real, real. She was like, don't post these fake videos, because we know you don't eat this. Like, it's okay to be real. I was like, girl, I devoured it.
Danielle Fishel
I just didn't want to talk and eat on camera.
Jenna Johnson
I hate that. I'm not like, yeah, like an ASMR video. I'm not gonna do that. You won't get that for free. Exactly.
Danielle Fishel
Save that for the Patreon or something, you know?
Jenna Johnson
But the amount of people that were like, take the bite.
Danielle Fishel
Honestly, it was just because I was like, man, I wish I had a pink berry. Do it just. Then I'll taste it. Because I could tell it was. I could tell it was pomegranate, which is my go to as well.
Jenna Johnson
You know what's? Funny. Brandon Armstrong danced me, and he was like, I know. Milk chocolate chocolate crunch if I've ever seen one. I was like, we've got the same order, Brandon.
Danielle Fishel
Okay, now to me. Yes. If you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be?
Jenna Johnson
Oh, just one.
Danielle Fishel
Just one. Okay. Give me five. Give me as many of them as you want.
Jenna Johnson
I'm sure Pasha, he is so great at his job, and I'm sure he's given you all the tools, all the advice. Okay. My biggest advice. Not every week is going to be your best dance.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
And I think what you do after a rough dance is going to be your biggest superpower.
Danielle Fishel
Oof.
Jenna Johnson
That's good, because it's going to be easy, you know, after you've gotten harsh critiques, low scores, while other people are just soaring. If you have maybe a rough week and you sit in that and wallow in that, and that's when you're going to get in your head, and that's when your spirit's going to decline, your dancing's going to decline, and it's okay to, like, feel that, but I think use it as a challenge.
Danielle Fishel
Right.
Jenna Johnson
Instead of defeat.
Danielle Fishel
Yeah.
Jenna Johnson
Because that's usually when you have your breakout moments, and it's always kind of like mid season, and that's where things shift.
Danielle Fishel
Such good advice. Especially because I am a perfectionist. And so my biggest weakness is that I'm my own worst critic and I'm hard on myself. So if it's actually valid that it wasn't my strongest dance and I'm getting critiqued and I'm hard on myself, I can immediately ruin any future chances I have unless I get my head back in the game. Yes.
Jenna Johnson
Because then you'll just be stuck here.
Danielle Fishel
Exactly.
Jenna Johnson
And that's. That's when you can see people, like, lose their drive, lose their heart, lose their, you know, that spirit. So you are such. I think you are. When I saw that you were casted, I was like, you are that perfect candidate for the show. Like, you are Dancing with the stars. And I am so excited to watch your journey. Like, I can already tell it's going to. It's going to be exciting, exquisite.
Danielle Fishel
Thank you so much, Jenna. I am so grateful you came and spent this time with me this morning.
Jenna Johnson
Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Danielle Fishel
I absolutely adore you. I don't get to spend nearly as. Nearly as much time with you as I would like, so we'll just need to change that.
Jenna Johnson
Yes. Yes.
Danielle Fishel
Okay. Thank you so much for being here with me.
Jenna Johnson
Thank you for having me.
Danielle Fishel
Bye. Danielle with the Stars Produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman Executive Executive in charge of production Danielle Romo producer, editor and engineer Tara Sudbaksh Theme song by Justin Segel. Follow us on Instagram at daniellewithstars and vote for me.
Ryan Seacrest
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Jenna Johnson
Every day has a to do list, but adding Enjoy Belvita to yours can.
Danielle Fishel
Help you knock out the rest of it.
Jenna Johnson
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Host: Danielle Fishel
Guest: Jenna Johnson (DWTS Pro)
Date: September 12, 2025
Podcast Feed: Danielle with the Stars (Pod Meets World minisode)
In this engaging interview, actress and director Danielle Fishel (best known as Topanga from "Boy Meets World") sits down with Jenna Johnson, one of the most accomplished professional dancers from "Dancing with the Stars" (DWTS). As Danielle embarks on her own DWTS journey, she seeks insight from Jenna, a two-time Mirrorball champion, Emmy-nominated choreographer, and member of the iconic Chmerkovskiy dancing family. The episode centers on Jenna’s path from troupe member to pro, her family’s Dancing with the Stars legacy, lessons learned from partnership dynamics, and the evolving cultural impact of the show.
First Season as Pro: Jenna recounts the challenges of debuting as a pro in Season 23 with Jake T. Austin, her insecurities, and realizing the importance of highlighting her celebrity partner, not herself (12:04–13:14).
Learning from Setbacks: After a first-round elimination, Jenna’s confidence is restored when she subs as a pro for injured Sharna Burgess, marking a pivotal growth moment (13:45–14:51).
Victory with Adam Rippon: Jenna discusses her Season 26 win with Olympian Adam Rippon, attributing their success to mutual trust, chemistry, and the ability to have fun while working hard (15:30–18:54).
Coming Close with Other Celebs: Describes the emotional challenge of coming in second with Neve Schulman (Catfish, Season 29) and JoJo Siwa (the show’s first same-sex couple, Season 30) (19:12–19:54).
On Celebrity Dance Experience: Jenna clarifies misconceptions about her partners’ backgrounds, emphasizing that every journey offers unique challenges and growth arcs, regardless of prior experience (23:22–24:38).
Highlight: Joey Grazia Day’s Transformation: Praises past partner Joey, a non-dancer and recent Bachelor alum, for his dedication, humility, and winning journey (25:00–26:09).
The conversation is warm, candid, and supportive, blending professional insight with personal anecdotes. Both host and guest infuse humor, vulnerability, and genuine enthusiasm about dance, family, and mentoring.
This episode is a must-listen for DWTS fans, aspiring dancers, and anyone inspired by stories of perseverance, mentorship, and the power of teamwork. Jenna Johnson’s journey—marked by both humility and confidence—offers both practical advice and heartfelt encouragement for Danielle Fishel and every dancer stepping onto the ballroom floor.