Jackson Olson Joins 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 35 as Savannah Bananas Star

‘Dancing With the Stars’ will feature a unique crossover this fall as Jackson Olson, second baseman and internet personality for the Savannah Bananas, joins Season 35 as a celebrity contestant.

Olson becomes the third celebrity announced for the upcoming season, following ‘Summer House’ star Ciara Miller and ‘The Traitors’ alum Maura Higgins. Both Miller and Higgins were revealed as the first celebrities for Season 35 during Hulu’s Get Real event in Los Angeles.

The full roster of celebrities and professional dancers will be unveiled on Wednesday, September 2, during a special appearance on Good Morning America.

When and Where to Watch ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35

‘Dancing With the Stars’ will air live across ABC and Disney+ this fall, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu. New episodes will air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, leading into new episodes of ‘RJ Decker.’

Disney+ Expands Partnership with the Savannah Bananas

Olson’s casting coincides with Disney’s expanded partnership with the Savannah Bananas. Disney+ will serve as the exclusive U.S. home for the Banana Bowl, streaming the event in October.

Additionally, ESPN, Disney+, and the Savannah Bananas have launched a 25-game exclusive package. Every game will be available on the ESPN App and Disney+, with select matchups airing on ESPN networks and ABC.

High Expectations for Season 35

The buzz surrounding the celebrity lineup suggests strong potential for Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ The previous season, Season 34, saw a nearly 80% year-over-year increase in ratings among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen.

“The team has innovated immensely in the social media space, both from a casting perspective and a lot of the social and marketing tactics involved with the show — I think you’re going to see the same type of approach this season with the amazing work that’s been done on TikTok and across social platforms. I think we’ve also seen the innovation in the podcast space last year that further improved or engaged audiences even more … you’re going to see us doubling down in those areas this season.”
Ari Goldman, ABC SVP of content strategy and scheduling, told TheWrap

Season 34 concluded with a record-breaking 72 million votes in the finale and nearly half a billion votes across the entire season, solidifying its position as the No. 1 entertainment series among adults 18-49 for the second consecutive year.

The ballroom competition series is produced in front of a live audience by BBC Studios.