Season thirteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 19, 2011, on the ABC network.
Actor J. R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff were crowned the champions, while Rob Kardashian and Cheryl Burke finished in second place, and talk show host Ricki Lake and Derek Hough finished in third.
Cast Couples Nine professional partners — Derek Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cheryl Burke, Tony Dovolani, Mark Ballas, Lacey Schwimmer, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, and Kym Johnson — returned this season. Maksim's brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, made his debut competing as a professional. Peta Murgatroyd and Tristan MacManus, part of season 12's troupe of dancers, also became professional partners for the first time. Louis van Amstel did not compete as a professional, but participated in a new segment called "Ballroom Battles",Tweet by Louis Van Amstel which was cancelled on November 7. The dance troupe consisted of six dancers: Sharna Burgess, Dasha Chesnokova, Oksana Dmytrenko, Sasha Farber, Kiki Nyemchek, and Ted Volynets, plus the first eliminated male and female pros, who ended up being Val Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd.
This season featured twelve celebrity contestants. The cast was revealed during an episode of Bachelor Pad on August 28, 2011. The twelve professionals were revealed on August 31, 2011 during Good Morning America. Actor Ryan O'Neal was planning on competing as a celebrity, but could not after knee surgery, so Carson Kressley took his place.
From the start, controversy erupted over the inclusion of Chaz Bono, the child of singers Sonny and Cher. His appearance resulted in backlash from conservative supporters of the show, who even threatened to boycott due to his transgender status. Despite the criticism, Bono received strong support from the LGBT community. It was stated in LGBT Weekly that "Bono has become the transgender community's living symbol of hope, strength and defiance against vitriolic hate. When ABC Television announced that Bono would appear on DWTS, he faced vile slurs and death threats from a group of trans-phobic women and men." The controversy did lead producers to hire extra security protection for his time on the show.
Celebrity Notability Professional partner Status NBA small forward Eliminated 1ston September 20, 2011 Model & actress Eliminated 2ndon September 27, 2011 Reality television personality Eliminated 3rdon October 4, 2011 Wilson Phillips singer & solo artist Eliminated 4thon October 11, 2011 Television host Eliminated 5thon October 18, 2011 Transgender activist & author Eliminated 6thon October 25, 2011 Actor Eliminated 7thon November 1, 2011 HLN host & prosecutor Eliminated 8thon November 8, 2011 U.S. national soccer team goalkeeper Eliminated 9thon November 15, 2011 Actress & talk show host Third placeon November 22, 2011 Reality television personality Runners-upon November 22, 2011 Actor & Army veteran Winnerson November 22, 2011
Host and judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli returned as the judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts.
Scoring chart The highest score each week is indicated in with a dagger (), while the lowest score each week is indicated in with a double-dagger ().
Color key:
+Dancing with the Stars (season 13) - Weekly scores Couple Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Night 1 Night 2 J.R. & Karina 1st222626 25+23=48 30+30= 23+27+6=56 24+30= +28+30=112 Rob & Cheryl2nd162124242522 25+26=51 27+24=51 28+27+10=65 27+30= +26+30= Ricki & Derek3rd2024 27+26= 28+24=52 30+29+8= 27+27= +30=84 Hope & Maks4th211924242420 24+26=50 27+25=52 21+24+4= Nancy & Tristan5th162121 212224 21+23= 24+20= David & Kym 6th18 1824232523 24+23=47 Chaz & Lacey 7th172121 Carson & Anna8th171823 Chynna & Tony9th212621 Kristin & Mark10th192224 Elisabetta & Val11th1521 Ron & Peta12th Notes
Weekly scores Individual judges' scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli.
Week 1: First Dances Each couple performed either the cha-cha-cha or the Viennese waltz. Couples are listed in the order they performed. CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Ron & Peta 14 (5, 4, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Krazy" — Pitbull, feat. Lil Jon Eliminated Rob & Cheryl 16 (6, 5, 5) Viennese waltz "Lake Michigan" — Rogue Wave Safe Kristin & Mark 19 (7, 6, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Dynamite" — Taio Cruz Safe Chynna & Tony 22 (8, 7, 7) Viennese waltz "If I Ain't Got You" — Alicia Keys Safe Nancy & Tristan 16 (5, 5, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Cry Baby" — Cee Lo Green Safe David & Kym 18 (6, 6, 6) Viennese waltz "Somebody to Love" — Queen Safe Elisabetta & Val 15 (5, 5, 5) Cha-cha-cha "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" — Katy Perry Safe Hope & Maks 21 (7, 7, 7) Viennese waltz "Satellite" — Dave Matthews Band Safe Carson & Anna 17 (6, 5, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Moves Like Jagger" — Maroon 5, feat. Christina Aguilera Safe J.R. & Karina 22 (8, 7, 7) Viennese waltz "Breakaway" — Kelly Clarkson Safe Ricki & Derek 20 (7, 6, 7) Viennese waltz "This Year's Love" — David Gray Safe Chaz & Lacey 17 (6, 5, 6) Cha-cha-cha "Dancing in the Street" — Martha & the Vandellas Safe
Week 2: Top 11 Each couple performed either the jive or the quickstep. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Hope & Maks 19 (6, 7, 6) Jive "Girlfriend" — Avril Lavigne Safe Kristin & Mark 22 (8, 7, 7) Quickstep "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" — from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Safe David & Kym 18 (6, 6, 6) Jive "Runaway Baby" — Bruno Mars Bottom two Elisabetta & Val 21 (7, 7, 7) Quickstep "Don't Get Me Wrong" — The Pretenders Eliminated Rob & Cheryl 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "Surfin' Safari" — The Beach Boys Safe Carson & Anna 18 (6, 6, 6) Quickstep "Walkin' Back to Happiness" — Helen Shapiro Safe Ricki & Derek 23 (8, 7, 8) Jive "Hey Ya!" — OutKast Safe Chaz & Lacey 17 (6, 5, 6) Quickstep "Love Is All Around" — Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Safe Chynna & Tony 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "The Boy Does Nothing" — Alesha Dixon Safe 21 (6, 8, 7) Quickstep "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" — Duke Ellington Safe J.R. & Karina Jive "Jump, Jive an' Wail" — The Brian Setzer Orchestra Safe
Week 3: Most Memorable Year Week Each couple performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Rob & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Fly Me to the Moon" — Frank Sinatra Safe Chynna & Tony 26 (8, 9, 9) Rumba "Hold On" — Wilson Phillips Safe Chaz & Lacey 18 (6, 6, 6) Rumba "Laugh at Me" — Sonny Bono Safe Kristin & Mark 24 (8, 8, 8) Samba "Crazy in Love" — Beyoncé, feat. Jay-Z Eliminated Carson & Anna 23 (8, 7, 8) Tango "It's My Life" — No Doubt Safe J.R. & Karina 26 (9, 8, 9) Rumba "If You're Reading This" — Tim McGraw Safe Nancy & Tristan 21 (7, 7, 7) Waltz "Moon River" — Andy Williams Safe Ricki & Derek 27 (9, 9, 9) Rumba "Gravity" — Sara Bareilles Safe Hope & Maks 24 (8, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)" — Enrique Iglesias, feat. Ludacris Safe David & Kym 24 (8, 8, 8) Rumba "O-o-h Child" — Five Stairsteps Safe
Week 4: Movie Week Each couple performed one unlearned dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicFilmResult Chynna & Tony 21 (7, 7, 7) Tango "Theme from Mission: Impossible" — Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen, Jr. Mission: Impossible Eliminated David & Kym 23 (8, 7, 8) Paso doble "The Raiders March" — John Williams Raiders of the Lost Ark Safe Carson & Anna 20 (7, 6, 7) Viennese waltz "The Black Pearl" — Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Safe 21 (7, 7, 7) Paso doble "Flash's Theme" — Queen Flash Gordon Safe Hope & Maks 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "You've Got a Friend in Me" — Randy Newman Toy Story Safe Rob & Cheryl 24 (8, 8, 8) Paso doble "Theme from Superman" — John Williams Superman Safe Ricki & Derek Tango "The Murder" — Bernard Herrmann Psycho Safe Chaz & Lacey 21 (7, 7, 7) Paso doble "Gonna Fly Now" — Bill Conti Rocky Safe J.R. & Karina Foxtrot "The Pink Panther Theme" — Henry Mancini The Pink Panther Safe
Week 5: '80s Week The couples performed one unlearned dance to a song released in the 1980s. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Hope & Maks 24 (8, 8, 8) Tango "Livin' on a Prayer" — Bon Jovi Safe Carson & Anna 19 (6, 6, 7) Jive "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" — Wham! Eliminated Nancy & Tristan 22 (7, 7, 8) Rumba "True" — Spandau Ballet Safe J.R. & Karina 28 (9, 9, 10) Samba "Conga" — Gloria Estefan Safe Rob & Cheryl 25 (9, 8, 8) Rumba "Hello" — Lionel Richie Safe Chaz & Lacey 21 (7, 7, 7) Samba "Get Down on It" — Kool & the Gang Safe David & Kym 25 (8, 9, 8) Tango "Tainted Love" — Soft Cell Safe Ricki & Derek 24 (8, 8, 8) Foxtrot "Easy Lover" — Phillip Bailey & Phil Collins Safe
Week 6: Broadway Week Each couple performed one unlearned dance and a group Broadway dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicBroadway showResult Rob & Cheryl 22 (8, 7, 7) Cha-cha-cha "Walk Like a Man" — The Four Seasons Jersey Boys Safe 24 (9, 7, 8) Foxtrot "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" — Monty Python Monty Python's Spamalot Safe David & Kym 23 (8, 7, 8) Quickstep "We Go Together" — Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey Grease Safe Ricki & Derek Quickstep "Luck Be a Lady" — Frank Loesser Guys and Dolls Safe Chaz & Lacey 19 (7, 6, 6) Tango "The Phantom of the Opera" — Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera Eliminated Hope & Maks 20 (7, 6, 7) Rumba "Seasons of Love" — Jonathan Larson Rent Safe J.R. & Karina 29 (10, 9, 10) Quickstep "Hot Honey Rag" — Kander and Ebb Chicago Safe Chaz & LaceyDavid & KymHope & MaksJ.R. & KarinaNancy & TristanRicki & DerekRob & Cheryl No scoresreceived GroupBroadway "Big Spender" — Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields (from Sweet Charity)& "Money, Money" — Kander and Ebb (from Cabaret)
Week 7: Halloween Week Each couple performed one unlearned dance and a team dance. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult David & Kym 24 (8, 8, 8) Cha-cha-cha "Abracadabra" — Steve Miller Band Eliminated J.R. & Karina 25 (9, 8, 8) Tango "Ghostbusters" — Ray Parker Jr. Safe Nancy & Tristan 21 (7, 7, 7) Jive "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" — Charlie Daniels Band Bottom two Rob & Cheryl 25 (9, 8, 8) Tango "The Addams Family Theme" — Vic Mizzy Safe Ricki & Derek 27 (9, 9, 9) Paso doble "Sweet Dreams" — Beyoncé Safe Hope & Maks 24 (8, 8, 8) Samba "Werewolves of London" — Warren Zevon Safe David & KymJ.R. & KarinaNancy & Tristan 23 (8, 7, 8) TeamTango"Disturbia" — Rihanna Hope & MaksRicki & DerekRob & Cheryl 26 (9, 8, 9) TeamPaso doble"Bring Me to Life" — Evanescence
Week 8: Instant Choreography Week Each couple performed two unlearned dances, one of which was an instant jive. Couples are listed in the order they performed.
CoupleScoresDanceMusicResult Rob & Cheryl 27 (9, 9, 9) Quickstep "Take On Me" — A-haSafe 24 (8, 8, 8) Jive "Maneater" — Hall & OatesHope & Maks 27 (9, 9, 9) Quickstep "Valerie" — Mark Ronson, feat. Amy WinehouseSafe 25 (8, 9, 8) Jive "The Best Damn Thing" — Avril LavigneRicki & Derek 28 (9, 9, 10) Waltz "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" — Aretha FranklinSafe 24 (8, 8, 8) Jive "Land of a Thousand Dances" — Wilson PickettNancy & Tristan 24 (8, 8, 8) Tango "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" — The Ames Brothers Eliminated 20 (7, 6, 7) Jive "Upside Down" — Paloma FaithJ.R. & Karina 30 (10, 10, 10) Waltz "What the World Needs Now Is Love" — Burt BacharachSafe 30 (10, 10, 10) Jive "Tutti Frutti" — Little Richard
Week 9: Semifinals Each couple performed two unlearned dances, one of which was the Argentine tango, and a cha-cha-cha relay. Couples are listed in the order they performed.