Hilaria Baldwin got emotional on the “Dancing With the Stars” Season 34 premiere, tearing up after performing a lively Cha Cha with partner Gleb Savchenko to Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.” The yoga instructor and mom of seven said the moment felt surreal, marking her first return to ballroom dance in 16 years.
Hilaria Gets Emotional After Her First Performance
“I want to cry!” Hilaria admitted after the dance. “I never thought I’d be here again. Sixteen years ago, I broke my hip and couldn’t walk for a year. To come back from that and perform with Gleb is a dream come true.”
Her routine earned a score of 14 out of 20, placing her second after the first night.
Cheering from the audience were husband Alec Baldwin and two of their seven children, who proudly watched her hit the ballroom floor.
Setting the Record Straight on How She Landed the Show
Ahead of her debut, Baldwin addressed speculation about how she landed a spot on Season 34. Co-host Julianne Hough had previously joked on the ‘Chicks in the Office‘ podcast that Baldwin “campaigned” her way onto the lineup.
“That’s actually not true. I did not campaign. It was not on my radar,” Baldwin told Page Six backstage. “A few days before the announcement, they called me and asked if I wanted to do it. I made a spur-of-the-moment decision, and we moved the whole family out here to Los Angeles.”
She laughed off the podcast chatter, adding, “I hear a lot of things about me that are not true. But you heard it here first. Breaking news!”
Addressing Ballroom Experience & Unfair Advantage Claims
Some critics online have questioned whether Baldwin’s past experience in ballroom dance gives her an unfair edge. She previously competed before stepping away due to a serious hip injury.
“I think it’s important to focus on how special everyone is this season,” she said. “There’s really high talent, and they all bring things I don’t have. What makes this show so special is the warm, loving environment. I feel so lucky to be a part of it.”
DisneyThe Season 34 cast also includes Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, TikTok star Alix Earle, “Boy Meets World” actress Danielle Fishel, and Traitors alum Dylan Efron.
Looking Ahead in the Competition
Baldwin’s return marks a personal triumph, as she balances motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a return to the spotlight after years away from the dance floor.
Despite her strong start, she isn’t considered a shoo-in for the Mirrorball Trophy. Robert Irwin earned rave reviews for his jive, which Derek Hough called “the best first dance” in the show’s history.
For Baldwin, though, the journey is about more than scores. “I still have pain every day,” she shared. “But to be here, dancing again after all these years, I feel nothing but gratitude.”
“Dancing With the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream the following day on Hulu.
