Pentatonix reunites, Val & Jenna’s baby steals the spotlight, and fans demand answers as the ballroom lights up without its biggest star.
The ballroom is glowing again — twinkling garlands, glittering snowflakes, and a winter-white dance floor shimmering beneath miles of fairy lights. It’s the most festive night Dancing with the Stars has staged in years. But before the music even started, before the confetti cannons were loaded, fans across America were already asking the one question that drowned out all the holiday cheer:
Where in the world is Derek Hough?
The DWTS Holiday Special promised magic, nostalgia, and star-packed surprises… but no one expected the show to begin without its most iconic judge, mentor, and ambassador of joy. And what followed only deepened the mystery.
❄️ A Ballroom Without Derek — and Fans Are NOT Okay
The moment the opening montage rolled and Derek’s face was missing from the lineup, social media ignited like a Christmas tree struck by lightning.
“DWTS without Derek is like Christmas without music!”
“Why didn’t anyone warn us?”
“He’s the spirit of the show — WHAT HAPPENED?!”
Producers kept quiet. Hosts made no mention of his absence. The camera didn’t cut to an empty judge’s chair — instead, the seat simply wasn’t there. It was as if he’d been edited out of the evening entirely.
Sources backstage whispered about a “last-minute change,” fueling speculation of everything from a secret project, a family emergency, or a deliberate creative choice to give the holiday spotlight to others. But with no official word from Derek or the show, his absence hung over the first twenty minutes like a snowcloud ready to burst.
And then — as if the universe needed balance — the show unleashed its biggest surprise of the night.
🎶 A PENTATONIX REUNION? Fans Lose Their Minds
The lights dropped. A slow choral hum began. And five silhouettes appeared at the top of the staircase.
Not four.
Not three.
Five.
A PENTATONIX REUNION.
The crowd exploded. The judges (now temporarily seated three across) jumped to their feet. And the camera caught multiple dancers covering their mouths in disbelief. The award-winning a cappella group hadn’t performed together on live television in this configuration for years — and their return did not disappoint.
Their show-opening medley blended “Carol of the Bells,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and a soulful riff on “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” all without a single instrument. Each note wrapped the ballroom in a warm, resonant glow that cut through the lingering shock of Derek’s absence.
Twitter went feral.
Instagram reels hit a million views before the commercial break.
Even celebrities chimed in, calling the moment “unexpected Christmas perfection.”
But the night wasn’t finished dropping bombshells. Not even close.
👶💫 VAL & JENNA’S BABY MAKES A SHOCKING TV DEBUT
The live audience noticed first — soft coos, a tiny squeal, a ripple of whispers moving like a wave across the room.
Then the camera panned.
And there he was.
Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, the tiny superstar in the making, sitting happily on Jenna Johnson’s lap while wearing the most adorable miniature holiday sweater in DWTS history.
Fans gasped.
The judges melted.
Val Chmerkovskiy nearly lost his footing mid-dance when he spotted the moment onscreen.
It was the baby’s first ever television appearance, and the producers played it perfectly: no cheesy reveal, no staged introduction — just a pure, spontaneous family moment that hit the audience right in the heart.
When Val ran over after his routine, scooped little Rome into his arms, and whispered, “Look at daddy dance,” the crowd erupted into a standing ovation. Jenna wiped her tears while still laughing through them, and Rome — proving he already has showbiz instincts — reached out and grabbed Val’s microphone.
It instantly became the clip of the night.
🌪️ The Chaos, the Surprises, the Snubs
With the energy buzzing and the night in full motion, DWTS delivered an avalanche of holiday delights:
⭐ A surprise return from a fan-favorite pro who hasn’t danced in years
When Alan Bersten introduced a mystery partner for a winter-themed Viennese waltz, the curtain pulled back to reveal Witney Carson, returning for one night only. The audience screamed as if Santa himself had walked out.
⭐ A comedic freestyle from Emma Slater & Sasha Farber that left everyone in tears (of laughter)
Think tap-dancing elves, malfunctioning snow machines, and a final moment where Sasha got entirely swallowed by a runaway gift-wrap conveyor belt. It was chaos, brilliance, and pure holiday joy.
⭐ A heart-melting tribute dance from Pasha & Daniella celebrating their journey as new parents
The choreography mirrored the stages of early motherhood, ending with a giant glowing star that lit up the floor as Daniella whispered, “This is our Christmas miracle.”
But with all the celebration came a glaring question:
Which stars were missing?
Producers had teased “the largest cast gathering in holiday special history,” yet several expected names — Cheryl Burke, Lindsay Arnold, and even a few past champions — were nowhere to be seen.
Was it scheduling? Was it strategy?
Or was the show, knowingly or not, creating space for one singular mystery:
Why was Derek Hough absent when his presence defines the ballroom?
🎄 Did the Show Subtly Address Derek’s Disappearance?
Fans caught a moment — tiny, but telling.
During the mid-show montage of past holiday specials, Derek was noticeably included. Quick clips of his iconic routines played across the screen:
his snow-dusted rumba with Julianne, his peppermint-colored jive with Shawn Johnson, his award-winning contemporary pieces that still circulate online every December.
The audience cheered loudly for every Derek flashback.
The producers didn’t erase him.
They didn’t ignore him.
They honored him.
But they still didn’t explain why his chair was empty.
Speculation only intensified:
- Was he filming a secret project?
- Is he preparing for a surprise video message?
- Did a last-minute family commitment pull him away?
- Or — the wild theory fans couldn’t stop posting — is he planning a dramatic return later in the special?
By the final commercial break, the hashtag #WhereIsDerek had climbed into the night’s top 10 trends.
And then… something happened.
🎥 A Message Appears — But Only Raises MORE Questions
As the show neared its final dance, the lights dimmed, and the ballroom went silent. A video screen flickered on.
Snow.
Soft piano.
And then — Derek’s voice.
But not Derek himself.
Just the voiceover.
“The holidays remind us that joy isn’t about perfection.
It’s about connection, kindness, and the people we hold closest to our hearts.”
Fans leaned forward, breath held, expecting him to appear.
He didn’t.
Instead, the footage showed a montage of dancers rehearsing, alumni hugging, pros decorating a Christmas tree, and families gathering backstage.
Derek’s message ended with:
“Tonight’s magic belongs to them. Happy holidays — I’ll see you soon.”
The crowd applauded, but the mystery grew deeper.
🎁 The Finale That Left Viewers Cheering — and Questioning
The night closed with the entire company — pros, alumni, kids from the DWTS Juniors program, and the Pentatonix singers — performing a show-stopping rendition of “Sleigh Ride” that brought the ballroom to a joyful peak.
Val held Rome.
Jenna danced beside them.
Witney spun through the snow.
Pentatonix belted harmonies so powerful they rattled the rafters.
But in the final wide shot of the ballroom, one space seemed almost intentionally visible:
The far side of the judges’ desk — where a fourth chair could have been.
A subtle reminder.
A silent gap.
A promise?
🎅 So Who Made the Cut — and Who Got Snubbed?
Made the cut:
- Pentatonix reunion
- Witney Carson’s surprise return
- Val & Jenna’s baby’s first on-air appearance
- Multiple new parents celebrating the season
- A lineup of pros not seen together in years
Snubbed (or absent):
- Cheryl Burke
- Lindsay Arnold
- Several past champions
- And, most shocking of all…
Derek Hough.
🎆 The Final Takeaway
The DWTS Holiday Special delivered everything fans hoped for: music, sparkle, nostalgia, family moments, and jaw-dropping surprises. It was festive chaos at its most glorious.
But Derek Hough’s unexplained absence?
That’s the part viewers will be talking about all season.
Because when a legend disappears — especially on the happiest night of the year — the questions don’t fade.
They multiply.
And now fans everywhere are waiting for one thing:
Derek’s return… and the truth behind why he missed the biggest holiday celebration in DWTS history.
