Some people just have it. You know what I mean? That weird, intangible "thing" where they step onto a stage and the air in the room just changes. When Jordan Fisher joined the cast of Dancing with the Stars back in 2017 for Season 25, most people knew him as the kid from Hamilton or that Disney Channel guy with the incredible hair.
He left as a legend.
Seriously. To this day, if you scroll through Reddit threads or YouTube comments about the show's greatest contestants, his name isn't just mentioned—it usually tops the list. He didn’t just win; he and his partner Lindsay Arnold basically rewrote the manual on what a "perfect" season looks like. They were relentless.
The Season That Changed Everything
It’s easy to forget that Season 25 was actually pretty stacked. You had Lindsey Stirling, who is basically a human sprite with a violin, and Frankie Muniz, who had the biggest "underdog to hero" arc of the year. But Jordan? Jordan was different. From the first Samba to that iconic Jive, he moved like the floor was an extension of his own body.
Most contestants spend the first three weeks just trying to remember which foot goes where. Jordan was already playing with the rhythm. He was syncopating. He was doing things with his hips that usually take professional ballroom dancers a decade to master.
Why His Technicality Was Different
Let’s get nerdy for a second. In ballroom, there’s this thing called "frame." It’s how you hold your upper body. It’s supposed to be stiff but fluid, a weird paradox that breaks most celebrities' brains. Jordan nailed it. But he didn't just nail the posture; he brought this contemporary, hip-hop-influenced musicality that made the traditional dances feel fresh.
Honestly, it wasn't even fair at times.
When they did their Paso Doble to "Animals," the intensity was uncomfortable in the best way possible. It wasn't just "celebrity learns a dance." It was performance art.
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The "Ringer" Controversy (And Why It’s Silly)
Every time a Broadway star or a professional singer gets on Dancing with the Stars, the internet loses its mind. "He’s a ringer!" they shout. "He already knows how to dance!"
Look, Jordan Fisher had theater experience. He could move. But Broadway jazz or hip-hop is not a Viennese Waltz. It just isn't. The muscles you use to stay grounded in a Fox Trot are completely different from the ones you use to leap across a stage in Hamilton.
The reason Jordan succeeded wasn't because he had a "cheat code." It was because he worked harder than everyone else. Lindsay Arnold has said in multiple interviews that Jordan was a perfectionist. He would stay late. He would obsess over the angle of his pinky finger. That’s not being a ringer; that’s being a professional.
If having "some experience" was enough to win, every single pop star who has ever been on the show would have a Mirrorball. They don’t. (Looking at you, Nick Carter).
Breaking Down the Perfect Scores
Jordan holds the record for the most perfect scores in the history of the show. Think about that. Over thirty seasons of celebrities, athletes, and performers, and he’s the one at the top of the mountain. He earned nine perfect scores in a single season.
- The Charleston: It was frantic, precise, and looked like a 1920s film on steroids.
- The Salsa: Most people look stiff doing the Salsa. Jordan looked like he was made of liquid.
- The Freestyle: This is usually where people stumble. They try too hard. They add too many pyrotechnics. Jordan and Lindsay just... danced. It was a masterclass in joy.
He basically lived at the top of the leaderboard. It got to the point where the judges—especially Len Goodman, who was notoriously grumpy about "traditional" technique—had nothing left to criticize. When Len gives you a 10 for a dance that has "too much fluff," you know you've won life.
The Chemistry with Lindsay Arnold
You can't talk about Jordan Fisher on Dancing with the Stars without talking about Lindsay. This was her first and only win as a pro (so far), and it felt earned. Sometimes the pro-celebrity pairings feel forced. You can tell they don't actually like each other.
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With Jordan and Lindsay, it felt like two best friends trying to one-up each other. She pushed him. She didn't give him "celebrity-level" choreography. She gave him "pro-level" choreography.
She knew he could handle it.
There was this one moment during their Trio Dance with Corbin Bleu (another legendary contestant) where the three of them were so synchronized it was actually scary. You couldn't tell who the "amateur" was. That’s the Lindsay Arnold effect. She saw a Ferrari and she drove it like one.
What He’s Been Up To Since the Mirrorball
Winning the show usually gives people a nice career bump, but Jordan used it as a catapult. He went back to Broadway (Dear Evan Hansen). He starred in Netflix rom-coms like To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. He became a father.
But he never really "left" the DWTS world. He hosted Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, proving he’s just as good at talking about dance as he is at doing it. He’s become a sort of unofficial ambassador for the show, the gold standard that every new casting director looks for.
The Impact on the Show's Legacy
Before Jordan, there was a bit of a slump. The show was feeling a little "predictable." Jordan Fisher brought a level of athletic artistry that reminded everyone why the show exists in the first place. It’s not just about watching a C-list actor fall over their own feet; it’s about the transformation.
Even though he was "good" from day one, he got better. His growth wasn't about learning to walk; it was about learning to fly.
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Why We Still Care in 2026
It’s been years. Why are we still talking about this? Because in the age of 15-second TikTok dances and overnight influencers, seeing someone spend 100+ hours a week to perfect a Quickstep is actually pretty inspiring.
He didn't phone it in. He didn't treat it like a PR stop. He treated it like the Olympics.
Actionable Takeaways for DWTS Fans
If you're a superfan or even just a casual viewer, there's a lot to learn from Jordan's run. It's not just about the glitter.
- Go back and watch the "Animals" Paso Doble. If you want to see what "intention" looks like in dance, that's the one. Notice his eyes. He never breaks character.
- Look at the footwork. Don't just watch the upper body. Watch his feet in the Jive. They're light, they're fast, and they're never flat.
- Appreciate the humility. Despite being the best, Jordan was always the first to cheer for his competitors. That's how you win over a voting audience.
- Understand the "Ringer" debate. Next time a trained performer joins the show, remember Jordan. Having talent is a start, but the work is what wins the trophy.
Jordan Fisher didn't just win a trophy; he set a bar that hasn't been cleared since. He reminded us that Dancing with the Stars is at its best when the talent is undeniable and the passion is real. Whether you're a fan of his music, his acting, or just his footwork, you have to respect the hustle. He came, he danced, and he conquered.
And honestly? We’re still obsessed.
Next Steps for the Superfan:
To truly understand the technical gap between Jordan and other winners, watch his Season 25 Freestyle side-by-side with any Season 32 or 33 finalist. Pay close attention to the "groundedness"—Jordan's ability to stay low to the floor while maintaining speed is a professional-grade skill that remains the gold standard for the series. For those looking to see his more recent artistic evolution, check out his work in the Dear Evan Hansen archival clips or his vocal performances on Disney soundtracks, which mirror the same rhythmic precision he displayed on the ballroom floor.