It has been roughly a decade since the world watched Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler tearfully walk out of the Abby Lee Dance Company for the last time. If you were a Dance Moms fan in 2016, that finale felt like the end of an era.
Honestly? It was.
But what happened next wasn't the typical "child star fade-out." Instead of becoming footnotes in reality TV history, the Ziegler sisters basically rewrote the playbook on how to survive a toxic childhood spotlight. Today, in 2026, they aren't just "those girls who danced for Sia" or "the ones Abby used to scream at." They’re actual powerhouses in two completely different industries.
The Reality of the Ziegler Rebrand
Growing up on camera is a nightmare. Most people forget that Maddie was only eight and Kenzie was barely six when the cameras started rolling in Pittsburgh. By the time they left, they had enough "trauma points" to last a lifetime.
But look at them now.
Maddie has pivoted so hard into prestige acting that you almost forget she spent years doing "The Chandelier" on every talk show in existence. Her 2024 role in My Old Ass earned her a Variety Breakthrough Award, and she’s currently attached to high-stakes projects like Ballerina Overdrive. There was even some messy drama with a film called Shiver that got caught in a Canadian legal battle—proving that even at the top, the industry is a bit of a shark tank.
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Kenzie, meanwhile, is the indie-pop sweetheart no one saw coming.
She dropped Biting My Tongue under Hollywood Records and spent much of last year on the road with Mark Ambor. It’s a far cry from the "It’s a Girl Party" days. Her new sound is moody, acoustic-driven, and—frankly—very good. She’s also dipping her toes back into acting with the film She Dances, which just hit the festival circuit and features her alongside Ethan Hawke and Stephen Zahn.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With Them
There’s a specific kind of "sister lore" that keeps us hooked.
We watched them compete. We watched Maddie be the "favorite" while Kenzie was constantly told to "be more like your sister." That kind of public comparison ruins most sibling bonds. Yet, if you follow them today, they’re practically inseparable.
"We were the only ones that had split families [on the show]," Maddie once shared on their podcast, Take 20. "I just felt like we weren't the picture-perfect family anymore."
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That vulnerability is why they still trend. They don't pretend it was easy. They talk about the divorce, the move to LA, and the struggle of maintaining a relationship with their father who stayed back in Pittsburgh. It’s relatable, even if their "relatable" lives involve Fabletics deals and front-row seats at Fashion Week.
The Career Pivot: By the Numbers
- Maddie’s Acting Surge: Since 2021, she’s moved from The Fallout to Spielberg’s West Side Story. She isn't just taking "dance movies" anymore. She’s fighting for roles that require zero leotards.
- Kenzie’s Sonic Shift: Her Spotify monthly listeners aren't just Dance Moms nostalgics. She’s carved out a niche in the "sad girl pop" genre that actually rivals some of the bigger mainstream names.
- The Social Footprint: Combined, they reach over 40 million people. That is a massive amount of leverage in an era where "relevance" is the only currency that matters.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Zieglers
People think they had it easy because they were "Abby’s favorites."
That’s a total myth.
Being the favorite meant more pressure, more isolation from the other girls, and a much harder fall when things went south. They had to unlearn a lot of the "perfectionism" that the ALDC drilled into them. You can see it in how they carry themselves now—there’s a lot more "unfiltered" content. They’re okay with being messy.
Kenzie recently released a single called "Where Do We Go," which feels like a total departure from the polished "pop star" image her team used to push. It’s raw. It’s kind of heartbreaking. It’s the sound of someone who finally stopped caring what a dance teacher thinks of her feet.
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The 2026 Outlook: What’s Next?
If you're looking for where they go from here, keep an eye on their production credits.
Maddie has expressed interest in starting her own production company. She wants to be the person behind the camera, not just the one in front of it. Kenzie is likely heading toward a headline tour of her own once her next album cycle kicks in.
They’ve also managed to keep their personal lives relatively low-key. While we know who they’re dating (shoutout to the long-term relationships that actually seem stable), they don't sell their private lives for clicks. That’s a veteran move.
How to Follow the Ziegler Evolution
If you want to keep up without falling for the tabloid clickbait, here is the best way to track their progress:
- Listen to the Lyrics: Kenzie’s music is where she drops the real tea about her childhood. Songs like "Anatomy" are basically therapy sessions set to a beat.
- Watch the Indie Credits: Maddie is choosing roles that challenge her "pretty girl" image. Look for her in A24-style dramas rather than big-budget blockbusters.
- Check the Podcast Archives: Their Take 20 episodes are goldmines for understanding the shift from Pittsburgh to Hollywood.
The Zieglers aren't just survivors of reality TV; they’re the ones who actually won the game. They took the fame, ditched the drama, and built something that—dare I say—actually feels authentic in a very fake town.