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- Why Amanda pushes newcomers to join DWTS
- Early hints and the season 35 lineup to watch
- Amanda’s own DWTS run and the idea of an all-star return
- Why the show’s culture earns praise
- Back on stage — DWTS Con appearance
- Launching “Good Grief with Amanda Kloots”
- Helping others who are newly grieving
- How she frames growth after loss
Amanda Kloots says stepping into the Dancing With the Stars ballroom changed her life. Now retired from competition, she still urges celebrities to take the leap. Her message is simple: the show is brutal and beautiful in equal measure, and you’ll be glad you tried it.
Why Amanda pushes newcomers to join DWTS
Amanda has become an unofficial adviser for celebs weighing the DWTS decision. She tells them the show will demand everything they have. At the same time, she calls it a rare opportunity for growth and joy.
- Challenge and reward: intense training paired with big emotional payoff.
- Community: pros and castmates form tight bonds.
- No regrets: Amanda insists most who try it say it was worth it.
DWTS contestants turn to Amanda Kloots for advice every year
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She rarely names who reaches out to her. But she admits that former contestants frequently ask if the experience lives up to the hype. Amanda’s reply is consistent: yes.
Early hints and the season 35 lineup to watch
ABC has confirmed several faces for season 35, which will premiere on September 15. While casting details remain incomplete, Amanda mentioned hearing from people considering the competition.
Confirmed competitors
- Maura Higgins (Love Island alum)
- Ciara Miller (Summer House personality)
- Jackson Olson (Savannah Bananas standout)
- Guillermo Rodriguez (Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick)
Amanda declined to reveal who specifically contacted her. Still, she pointed out that many past contestants become unwitting ambassadors for the show.
Amanda’s own DWTS run and the idea of an all-star return
Amanda competed on season 30 and danced with pro Alan Bersten. They reached the final rounds and finished just shy of the trophy. The experience left her eager for more.
She told reporters she would jump at the chance to appear in an all-star season. Amanda made clear she’s proud of the series and stays connected to its creative team. She said a return would be “a dream come true” and that casting bosses know she’s available.
Why the show’s culture earns praise
Recently, the series received an Emmy nomination. Amanda applauded the recognition and used it to explain DWTS’s appeal.
She emphasized: the atmosphere is supportive, not cutthroat. Pros and celebrities cheer each other on, and the dressing room often feels like family. That camaraderie, she says, makes the grueling rehearsals worthwhile.
Back on stage — DWTS Con appearance
Although not competing again, Amanda returned to perform at DWTS Con in Palm Springs. She shared the stage with Alan Bersten and former winner Hannah Brown.
- She described the event as joyful and healing.
- She noted how many pros are now parents and how the cast dynamic has softened with time.
- Amanda spoke about feeling grateful to reconnect with that community.
Launching “Good Grief with Amanda Kloots”
Days after DWTS Con, Amanda debuted her new podcast, “Good Grief With Amanda Kloots,” produced with Dear Media. The show springs from her personal story of loss and recovery after her husband, Nick Cordero, died from COVID-19 complications in 2020.
What the podcast aims to cover
- Real conversations about living with loss.
- Practical and emotional tools for grieving people.
- Stories of resilience and how grief can change identity.
Amanda said the project grew out of years of therapy. She has experimented with both evidence-based treatments and spiritual approaches while living in Los Angeles. That varied path shaped her take on mourning and moving forward.
Helping others who are newly grieving
Amanda has become a mentor to many widows and grieving people. She describes taking others “under her wing,” echoing how she herself once received support.
Her message: grief does not vanish. Instead, people learn to carry it and to find ways to love themselves again. The podcast is meant to spotlight that journey, not promise a quick fix.
How she frames growth after loss
Amanda challenges the common idea that grief is something to be cured. Instead, she suggests living alongside loss can reveal unexpected strengths.
- Learning to accept grief as ongoing work.
- Finding community that understands long-term sorrow.
- Rebuilding identity and self-compassion.
Her hope for the show is to normalize those conversations and to offer both comfort and practical strategies for listeners navigating big life changes.
