Taylor Hanson is bringing more than his famous music career to the ballroom. As Taylor Hanson DWTS Season 35 gets underway, the Hanson singer says his years of performing and understanding music are already proving useful during rehearsals with professional dancer Britt Stewart.
ABC officially announced Hanson as part of the Season 35 cast on September 2. He will compete alongside Stewart when Dancing With the Stars returns for its two-night premiere on September 15 and 16.
For Hanson, the connection between music and dance is becoming one of his biggest advantages.
Taylor Hanson’s Music Experience Is Helping on DWTS
Hanson has spent decades performing on stage, writing songs and working with musicians. That experience is now giving him a different perspective as he learns ballroom dancing.
Stewart has also noticed the difference.
In an interview with E! News following the Season 35 cast announcement, Stewart explained that Hanson’s musical knowledge has already helped during their work together. She said there have been moments when Hanson has shared musical insights that add another layer to their rehearsal process.
That makes sense for a performer who has spent much of his life working with rhythm, timing and live music.
However, being comfortable with music does not automatically make ballroom choreography easy. Hanson still has to translate that musical understanding into specific dance techniques, movements and routines.
Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart Are Building Their DWTS Partnership
Hanson will compete with Britt Stewart, who returns as a professional dancer for Season 35.
ABC lists Stewart as Hanson’s professional partner for the new season, confirming the pairing ahead of the premiere.
For Stewart, every celebrity partner brings a different set of strengths to the competition. Her role involves teaching Hanson the technical side of ballroom while also developing routines that suit his abilities as a performer.
The partnership could be particularly interesting because Hanson already understands how music can influence movement.
That gives the pair a useful starting point as they prepare for the competition.
Hanson Has Decades of Stage Experience
Taylor Hanson first formed the band HANSON with his brothers Isaac and Zac in 1992, when he was nine years old. The group later became an international success with its 1997 major-label debut album, Middle of Nowhere, and the hit single “MMMBop”.
“MMMBop” became the band’s signature song and reached No. 1 in 27 countries, according to ABC’s official biography of Hanson. The group also earned three Grammy nominations and released additional successful music, including This Time Around.
Hanson has continued working as a musician, songwriter and producer throughout his career.
That long history of performing could become an important part of his DWTS journey. He is accustomed to being on stage, responding to music and performing in front of large audiences.
Now, however, he has to master a completely different type of performance.
Could Hanson Perform a HANSON Song on DWTS?
One obvious question surrounding Taylor Hanson DWTS Season 35 is whether he could eventually dance to one of HANSON’s best-known songs.
Hanson has acknowledged that rhythm is an important connection between his band’s music and dance. He also pointed to “Give a Little”, a HANSON song with a strong dance-orientated feel, as another possibility worth considering.
Still, no specific HANSON song has been officially announced as one of his competition routines.
For now, fans will have to wait and see what Hanson and Stewart bring to the ballroom.
When Does Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Start?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 begins with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
ABC says the episodes will air live at 8 p.m. ET and will also be available through Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
The Season 35 cast includes a wide range of entertainers, athletes and television personalities.
Among the confirmed celebrity-professional pairings are:
- Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
- Giada De Laurentiis and Alan Bersten
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
- Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson
ABC’s official cast announcement confirms the full Season 35 lineup and professional pairings.
What Makes Taylor Hanson’s DWTS Debut Interesting?
Hanson enters the competition with something many contestants do not have: a lifetime of experience working closely with music.
That could help with rhythm and musical interpretation. At the same time, ballroom dancing requires technique, posture, footwork and precision that are different from performing as a singer or musician.
His partnership with Stewart will therefore be one of the season’s more intriguing storylines.
Fans will get their first opportunity to see how that combination works when the new season begins September 15.
For Hanson, the challenge is no longer simply playing the music.
Now, he has to dance to it.