Peta Murgatroyd is basically the heartbeat of the ballroom. If you’ve watched the show at all over the last decade, you know her. She’s the tall, blonde Australian powerhouse who can turn a NFL linebacker into a graceful waltzer within forty-eight hours. But lately, things have been a bit quiet on the Peta front in the actual competition.
She wasn't on Season 33. She’s not on Season 34.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for fans who grew up watching her dominate the floor. We’re used to seeing her in those high-stakes finales, usually with a partner nobody expected to win. But the reality of Peta Murgatroyd Dancing with the Stars involvement has shifted from being the pro at center stage to being the legendary veteran who is choosing her family over the Mirrorball.
The Reality of Her "Sudden" Absence
It wasn’t actually sudden. If you follow Peta on social media, you know she’s been incredibly open about the toll the show takes. In July 2024, she and husband Maksim Chmerkovskiy welcomed their third son, Milan Maksim.
Coming back for Season 32 with Barry Williams—who was, by the way, a total gem of a partner—was a feat in itself. She was only ten weeks postpartum with her second son, Rio, at the time. She basically did the impossible: rehearsing for hours, breastfeeding behind the scenes, and keeping a "Brady" legend in the competition until Week 8.
But when Season 33 rolled around in late 2024, she hit the brakes. "It’s just too soon," she told fans during an Instagram Live. She’s been very vocal about the "mom guilt" and the sheer physical exhaustion of trying to be a world-class athlete while raising three boys under the age of eight. In late 2025, it was confirmed she wouldn't be back for Season 34 either.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Her Wins
Everyone remembers the wins, but people forget how hard those seasons actually were.
Peta has two Mirrorball trophies. Her first was in Season 14 with Donald Driver. That was a big deal because she had been eliminated first the season before with Metta World Peace. Going from "first out" to "champion" is a narrative the producers love, but it’s a grueling mountain to climb.
Then came Nyle DiMarco in Season 22.
That season changed the show. Nyle is deaf, and Peta had to completely reinvent her teaching style. She couldn’t use the music as a cue; they had to rely on physical touch and vibrations. It was a masterclass in choreography that often gets overlooked because people focus on Nyle’s charisma. Peta wasn’t just a dancer that year; she was an architect.
A Quick Look at the Partners Who Defined Her Career
- The Champs: Donald Driver (Season 14) and Nyle DiMarco (Season 22).
- The Fan Favorites: Tommy Chong (Season 19) and Barry Williams (Season 32). These guys weren't the best dancers, but Peta made them look like stars.
- The "What Ifs": James Maslow and Gilles Marini. Both were incredible dancers who just barely missed the top spot.
- The Tough Calls: Lamar Odom. Peta has been honest about how difficult it was to partner with someone so tall (6'10") who was also in the middle of a very public recovery.
Life After the Ballroom (For Now)
Just because she isn't in a fringe dress on Tuesday nights doesn't mean she’s retired. Far from it.
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In September 2025, she launched a new podcast called The Penthouse with Peta. It’s filmed at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and it’s surprisingly raw. She’s moved away from the "perfect pro" persona and started talking about the "s***" she took for bringing a nanny to the DWTS set back in 2017 when her oldest, Shai, was a baby.
She recently had Heather Rae El Moussa on, and they spent a good chunk of time talking about the reality of being a working mom in the public eye. It’s a side of Peta that the Dancing with the Stars cameras never quite captured.
The Maks Factor and the 2026 Landscape
You can’t talk about Peta without mentioning Maks. They are the royal couple of the ballroom, but they’re also the most outspoken.
Recently, Maks has been a bit of a lightning rod for controversy. In late 2025, he went on Peta's podcast and heavily criticized new pro Jan Ravnik, saying he had "no business being a pro." It caused a massive stir in the DWTS community. Peta, ever the diplomat but always supportive of her husband, found herself in the middle of the "popularity contest" debate.
They both seem to be leaning into a life where the show is a fond memory rather than a daily job. Maks has his vodka brand, Tetya Kapa, and Peta is still running Peta Jane Beauty.
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Why She Might Never Come Back
There is a real possibility that we’ve seen the last of Peta Murgatroyd as a competing pro.
The show is shifting. They’re leaning into younger pros like Rylee Arnold and Daniella Karagach. While the fans want the veterans back, the physical demand of the show is no joke. Peta has dealt with major ankle injuries in the past—one almost ended her career before she even joined the show.
At 39, with three kids and a thriving business, the 16-hour days in a windowless rehearsal studio might just not be worth it anymore.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're missing Peta on your screen, here is how to keep up with her current projects and the actual facts of her status:
- Check the Podcast: The Penthouse with Peta is where she’s giving the real "tea" on the show’s current seasons and her life as a mom.
- Follow the Makeup: She’s still very active with Peta Jane Beauty, which was her "side gig" that became a main gig during her various maternity leaves.
- Watch the Specials: While she’s done with the main competition for now, she often appears in anniversary specials or holiday episodes (like the 20th-anniversary celebration in late 2025).
- Don't believe the "feud" rumors: Despite Maks’s comments about new pros, Peta remains on great terms with the cast, especially her sister-in-law Jenna Johnson.
Peta Murgatroyd's legacy on Dancing with the Stars is cemented by her two wins, but her real impact was her ability to make any partner—no matter their age or ability—feel like they belonged on that floor. Whether she returns for a "senior" season or stays in the podcast booth, she’s already done more for the ballroom than most.