10 Celebs Who Had to Drop Out of Dancing With The Stars

One of the most popular models of all time, Christie Brinkley was the face of CoverGirl for 25 years and is perhaps the most prominent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, appearing on three consecutive covers. She also enjoyed a public marriage to singer Billy Joel that spanned nearly ten years from 1985 to 1994. Brinkley was set to compete on the 28th season of “Dancing with the Stars”. However, she suffered a major arm injury during rehearsals and was forced to undergo immediate surgery. She was quickly replaced by her daughter, Sailor Brinkley-Cook. Paired up with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, she was the third contestant eliminated.

Considering her looks, it’s probably not surprising to learn that Nancy O’Dell was crowned at the Miss South Carolina pageant in 1987 and competed in the Miss America 1988 pageant. Following that, she became known as the co-anchor of “Entertainment Tonight,” serving in the role from 2011 to 2019. Unfortunately, O’Dell was forced to leave the dance competition before her run even started. She was set to compete on season eight but suffered a torn meniscus during rehearsals. The injury required surgery, and O’Dell was replaced by Melissa Rycroft in the competition. If anything, injuries like this prove that “Dancing with the Stars” is no easy adventure.

This rapper, actor, and basketball player made “Dancing with the Stars” history in season two, being the first contestant to drop out. At the time, Romeo was known for his rapping career and Nickelodeon sitcom “Romeo!”, which aired for three seasons between 2003 and 2006. And while he wouldn’t start playing for the USC Trojans until 2008, it was still a basketball injury that prevented him from competing on the dance show. At the time, he was actually playing high school basketball for Beverly Hills. Romeo was replaced by his father Master P, who gave one of the all time worst performances in the show’s history when it came to lowest scores! However, Romeo returned for season 12 and finished fifth.

Famous musician and four-time Grammy-nominated artist Jewel was forced to withdraw at the same time as Nancy O’Dell, also due to a leg injury suffered under similar circumstances. Like O’Dell, Jewel was reportedly overtraining for season eight and began suffering from what was believed to be tendonitis. However, further examination showed that the injury was far more severe - she had a fractured tibia in both legs! Jewel told People, “The doctors told me my injuries were so severe that I couldn’t walk, let alone compete.” Despite her devastation, Jewel did get to sing on a later episode of that same season.

Hamill is an experienced figure skater, and her career peaked in 1976 when she won gold in ladies’ singles at the Gothenburg World Championships and the Innsbruck Winter Olympics. Over 35 years later, Hamill competed on season sixteen of “Dancing With the Stars.” She danced alongside Tristan MacManus, but was forced to depart during the first elimination show due to lower back pain. Hamill had reportedly been suffering from a pinched nerve owing to a cyst that was growing near her lower spine. She voluntarily withdrew from the competition before the elimination results could be read.

A popular country artist, Sara Evans has enjoyed seven Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including the platinum-selling “A Little Bit Stronger.” Three of her albums have also reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart, including Real Fine Place, which reached #3 and went platinum. Evans competed in season three but made the decision to withdraw about mid-way through the competition. Evans was going through personal issues and had filed for divorce from her husband of over ten years, Craig Schelske. Her music label stated, “Ms. Evans felt it was in her children’s best interest that she...withdraw from competition...to give her family her full attention at this difficult time.”

Known primarily for playing Lando Calrissian throughout the “Star Wars” franchise, Billy Dee Williams was a big get for “Dancing With the Stars.” He competed on the show’s eighteenth season in 2014. At the time, Williams was 77 years old and had already received two hip replacements. Williams was partnered with Emma Slater and received the lowest cumulative score in the first two weeks. Regardless, he outlasted both Diana Nyad and Sean Avery. Williams didn’t dance in the third week owing to chronic back pain. His doctor advised him against dancing, and Williams withdrew from the competition.

In 2012, Misty May-Treanor announced that she was retiring from beach volleyball. And what a career it was. She has won 112 individual competitions, including three World Championship wins and three Olympic gold medals; she took home the gold in 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London. Shortly after her Beijing win, May-Treanor appeared on season seven of “Dancing With the Stars.” While rehearsing her jive for week three, May-Treanor ruptured her achilles tendon. It not only took her out of the competition, but it also prevented her from competing in beach volleyball for nearly a year. It obviously didn’t hinder her volleyball performance, judging by her 2012 gold medal win…!

#2: Kim Zolciak-Biermann

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A reality show star, Kim Zolciak-Biermann appeared in the first five seasons of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” during which she received her own spinoff, titled “Don’t Be Tardy.” The latter follows the personal lives of Zolciak and her family and has aired on Bravo since 2012. Three years later, she appeared on the 21st season of “Dancing With the Stars”, having been partnered with Tony Dovolani. The couple lasted two weeks before Zolciak suffered a mini stroke. While she luckily recovered and even learned a new routine, her doctor prevented her from flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles for the live dance. While she tried returning, the rules state that competitors must withdraw over health-related matters, so she was not allowed to return.

This four-time Grammy-nominated artist is known for her solo career, her brief time with The Braxtons in the mid ‘90s, and her We TV reality program “Braxton Family Values.” Between 2013 and 2016, she also served as co-host of the syndicated talk show “The Real.” Braxton competed alongside Kim Zolciak-Biermann on season 21, and she was also forced to withdraw owing to a serious medical emergency. This made the 21st season the first to contain two withdrawals. Braxton was paired with Valentin Chmerkovskiy and made it all the way to week 9. However, she couldn’t compete in the tenth owing to numerous blood clots in her lungs. She understandably withdrew from the competition, and cancelled multiple tour dates.