DWTS Judge Names Dream Season 34 Contestant

Derek Hough is eyeing a popular celebrity for the “Dancing with the Stars” season 34 cast.

During a March 2024 chat with Parade magazine, the six-time mirrorball champion-turned-DWTS-judge said he would love to see a “Twilight” star take a turn in the ballroom. “Taylor Lautner would be good,” Hough told the outlet when asked who he’d like to see compete on the show. “He would be great. He would be fantastic. Competitive, athletic.”

Fans have seen Lautner’s athleticism in some of his films. According to Netflix’s Tudum, he began doing extreme martial arts at age six.

Lautner, 33, has talked about “Dancing with the Stars” in the past. He has featured DWTS pros on “The Squeeze,” the podcast he co-hosts with his wife Tay, who is a superfan of the ABC celebrity ballroom competition.

Jenna Johnson Previously Pitched to Get Taylor Lautner on DWTS

Hough isn’t the only one who wants to see Lautner on DWTS. In 2023, pro dancer Jenna Johnson was asked about her “dream partner” during a fan Q&A on Instagram. Not only did she name the “Twilight” star, but she tossed out his wife Tay’s name for good measure.

“How amazing would it be if @TAYLAUTNER & @TAYLORLAUTNER were on DWTS?! I would literally cry of happiness,” Johnson replied. The two-time mirrorball winner also posted a photo of Lautner from her visit to “The Squeeze” podcast.

If both Lautners were invited to compete on “Dancing With the Stars,” it wouldn’t be the first husband and wife pitted against one another on the show. Not only does Johnson regularly compete against her husband Val Chmerkovskiy on DWTS, but celebrity couples such as Alexa and Carlos Pena Vega and Nick and Vanessa Lachey went head-to-head for the mirrorball trophy during past seasons.

Derek Hough Previously Named 2 Other Dream Contestants

This isn’t the first time Hough has been asked to name celebrities on his “Dancing With the Stars” wish list. He also appears to have a thing for movie stars.

In a 2024 interview with E! News, Hough was asked who he would like to see compete on DWTS, and he named two movie actors. “Ana de Armas,” he said of the Cuban movie star. “I think she’s great. I think she’d be great,” he added of the “Ghosted” star.

Hough added, “I would like to see a return of Chris Hemsworth. A return. Because he was on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ in Australia. Go watch that. He was doing a samba in an orange shirt and it’s fantastic,” he added of the Marvel Cinematic Universe star who landed in fifth place with pro partner Abbey Ross in 2006.

Derek isn’t the only Hough who’d like to see Hemsworth return to the dance floor. In August 2024, DWTS co-host Julianne Hough told “Good Morning America” that Hemsworth could tempt her to return as a pro.

Hough, who won two mirrorball trophies in early seasons of DWTS, told the outlet that the “Thor” actor was her ultimate dream contestant—and partner. “I know I’m hosting but, yo, if he comes back, I might dance!” she cracked of the actor joining the U.S. version of the dance-off.