Dancing with the Stars: Live! is officially back — and Rylee Arnold and Stephen Nedoroscik are bringing PEOPLE along with them as they kick off this year’s shows.
After the 2025 tour’s opening night in Richmond, Virginia was postponed due to water services issues, the shows kicked off in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 9 with Nedoroscik, 26, as the co-host. The Olympian will be performing at all 81 performances through April 6, and will be joined by some of his former competitors, including season 33 winner Joey Graziadei, runner-up Ilona Maher and Chandler Kinney, who finished in third place, at various stops along the way.
Arnold, 19, is joined by eight of her fellow pros on tour, including her BFF Ezra Sosa, Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, Daniella Karagach, Emma Slater, Gleb Savchenko and Pasha Pashkov. Jenna Johnson, who won season 33 with Graziadei, will also be hitting the road for a few appearances.
Friends for Life
Nedoroscik and Arnold are more than just dance partners — they’re bonded for life.
Following the DWTS finale in November, the Olympian gushed about his partner, whose “positivity, kindness, and determination made every second of this experience worthwhile.”
“Looking back on our first rehearsals, when I was timid, to now ending the show with a perfect score, it is unbelievable what you have taught me,” he wrote of Arnold. “Thank you for not only being the best dance partner, but also an indispensable friend 🫶🏻. ”
Backstage Antics
Ezra Sosa might be one of Arnold’s best friends, but that’s not stopping Nedoroscik from forming a tight bond with the dancer, too.
Following their last tour rehearsal in December, the 24-year-old who made his debut on DWTS this season with partner Anna Delvey, said he couldn’t “put into words how much this tour means to me.”
“Sharing the floor with these incredible dancers is an absolute dream come true, and I know you’re going to fall in love with this show as much as we have,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
Warming Up
As one of the tour’s co-hosts, Nedoroscik has some extra responsibility on his shoulders — but it’s nothing he’s not prepared for.
When he was announced as the cohost, he wrote on Instagram that he was “beyond honored” to fill the position — and, of course, he was thrilled that the “dancing doesn’t stop.”
Finishing Touches
Arnold has a special routine when it comes to doing her stage makeup for tour. In a December TikTok, she revealed she’d done a major Sephora haul and purchased all new products to bring with her on tour — a continuation of a tradition she started ahead of last year’s tour.
“Last year, I did the same thing, I got completely new makeup products for tour and it was just fun because I had fresh, new makeup and I also got some fun things to try that I’ve never tried before,” she said in the video. “And it made it really fun doing my makeup every night.”
Nerves, Who?
If there’s one thing “Pommel Horse Guy” is used to, it’s the nerves before a big performance, but after 11 weeks on DWTS this fall, he’s got this in the bag — despite the challenges his two eye conditions can pose.
“Towards the end of training these dances, I didn’t miss [Arnold’s] hand at all because I knew where it was going to be, and I had the confidence to go and reach for it,” he told PEOPLE of overcoming his nerves over the course of the season.
From Competitors to Family
“Family” is always the word that comes up the most over the course of a DWTS season, but on tour, the cast truly bonds even further — and some real-life couples, like Karagach and Pashkov, who have been married since 2014 and share daughter Nikita and are on tour together this year.
Let’s Do This!
It’s almost showtime and Nedoroscik’s shimmering gold ensemble helps him stand out amongst the other DWTS cast members, both as the co-host and as the only celebrity special guest performing.
His Nickname Is Pommel Horse Guy for a Reason!
There was no way Nedoroscik could not bring his pommel horse with him on the road, and of course, treat fans around the country to a live rendition of the event that earned him a bronze medal in Paris at the Summer 2024 Olympics.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Best Feeling in the World
Following the first show of the tour, Arnold wrote on Instagram, “It was such a special and amazing night and I truly love this show so much ✨ 🫶 . I’m so excited for the rest of tour 🥹❤️🔥.”
Read the full article here
