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Guillermo Rodriguez joins Dancing with the Stars
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The gist
Guillermo Rodriguez, Jimmy Kimmel's sidekick, joins Dancing with the Stars season 35 with pro Witney Carson.
The 55-year-old's casting puts a late-night fan favorite in the ballroom when the show.
Background
Dancing with the Stars is returning for its 35th season, with the full celebrity cast and pro partners announced on ABC's Good Morning America. Rodriguez is Jimmy Kimmel's longtime sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he was discovered while working as a security guard at the studio and became a fan favorite through comedy sketches and celebrity interviews. He has worked on the show for over 23 years and recently launched his own salsa brand.
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2026The full Dancing with the Stars season 35 cast and pro partners are revealed, including Guillermo Rodriguez paired with Witney Carson.
- Sep 9, 2026Previews note the season premiere is one week away.
- Sep 10, 2026Rodriguez says he has gained 10 pounds despite rehearsing three hours a day for five days ahead of the premiere.
Who’s saying what
- Competitors
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach call Rodriguez their biggest competition, describing him as 'stiff competition' precisely because he isn't stiff.
- Rodriguez
- Rodriguez has said he signed on partly to lose weight, noting that everyone who does the show tells him they lose weight.