Sarah Jane Nader Says It’s ‘Such an Honor’ to Partner with Another Woman on “Dancing with the Stars” (Exclusive)
Sarah Jane Nader Says It’s ‘Such an Honor’ to Partner with Another Woman on “Dancing with the Stars” (Exclusive)
Yamillah Hurtado, Julia MooreThu, September 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM UTC
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Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills for ‘Dancing with the Stars’Credit: Disney/Andrew Eccles -
Sarah Jane Nader tells PEOPLE that being paired with Hailey Bills for season 35 of Dancing with the Stars is “such an honor”
Nader and Bills are the second all-female pairing in DWTS history, following Jenna Johnson and JoJo Siwa, who competed in season 30
“We’re the luckiest girls ever,” Nader says of her partnership with Bills
Sarah Jane Nader is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Brooks Nader, by joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars — but she’s also forging a path of her own.
For season 35, Nader is partnered with the first-time DWTS pro Hailey Bills, making them the second all-female pairing in the show’s history, following season 30 runner-ups Jenna Johnson and JoJo Siwa. The connection also runs in the family, as Bills is Johnson’s niece.
“Iconic family behavior, by the way,” the Love Thy Nader star tells PEOPLE of that coincidence. She also shares that being in a same-sex partnership is “such an honor” and a “crazy opportunity.”
Sarah Jane Nader and Hailey Bills for ‘Dancing with the Stars’Credit: Disney/Andrew Eccles
“We were so excited,” Nader says of the moment they found out about their pairing. “We probably hit a new frequency in the dance studio, screaming. We were just beyond thrilled.”
Bills says, “I am so unbelievably excited for this experience, and I could not be more happy with my partner. It’s going to be great,” with Nader adding, “We’re the luckiest girls ever.”
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Ahead of this season, Bills — who joined DWTS as a troupe member in season 34 — is celebrating her history-making partnership and her promotion to the pro lineup.
“I was actually in the middle of my tour for Dancing with the Stars in April, and [executive producer] Deena Katz just pulled me aside and asked me if I’d be willing to dance with a female, and I was like, ‘Double whammy.’ And of course, obviously I’m down to dance with a female,” she says of her and Bills.
Sarah Jane Nader for ‘Dancing with the Stars’Credit: Disney/Andrew Eccles
Nader says she’s excited for the opportunity DWTS will give her to show people who she is outside of her sisters — Brooks, Mary Holland and Grace Ann. “Everything I’ve done so far, for the most part, has been with my sisters, and so I’m excited for people to get to know me as an individual,” she says.
“This is both of our first time being on this big of a platform, in a way, and so it’s exciting to get to do that together for the first time,” she says of her and Bills.
“I agree, this is the biggest job in dance I’ve ever had in my life, so I’m just excited to see how it goes,” Bills shares. “I’ve never been a pro, so I’m really excited to dive into it and hopefully have a great time.”
Dancing with the Stars returns with a two-night premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16, on ABC and Disney+. Episodes will stream the following day on Hulu.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
