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Giada De Laurentiis Turned Down ‘Dancing With the Stars’ 10 Times: Here's Who Finally Convinced Her
Giada De Laurentiis is finally trading in her kitchen for a ballroom floor.
As the Food Network star laces up her shoes to join pro Alan Bersten on Dancing With the Stars' upcoming season 35, she revealed that her 18-year-old daughter Jade inspired her to finally take the leap.
"Funny enough, Dancing With the Stars has come to me maybe 10 times over the years," De Laurentiis exclusively told E! News in a joint interview with Bersten following the DWTS cast reveal at Disney HQ in New York City on Sept. 2. "And I was always like, 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.'"
With her sous chef starting her first semester in college, the 56-year-old knew season 35—which kicks off with a two-night premiere Sept. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC—was her time to shine.
"This time, I thought, with my daughter pushing me and with my daughter out of my house," she explained, "This is a really good time for me to go on a new adventure and push myself to do something I've never done."
The celebrity chef playfully teased, "And hopefully, I won't regret it!"
In fact, De Laurentiis—who shares the teen with ex-husband Todd Thompson—admitted that she even tried to back out, much to Jade's chagrin.
"I tried to get out of it," she said. "Right before I dropped her off, I was like, 'I can't. This is just too much.' And she's like, 'Mom! Pull up your boots and let's go. Get it together.'"
So, she committed to cooking up this new adventure. And the Giada at Home alum emphasized that the dance competition is completely out of her wheelhouse.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
"It's totally different," she shared. "I do not have a stove. I do not have any of my tricks and any of my tools in my toolbox. So this is way, way out of my comfort zone."
But she's also up for the challenge, especially with Bersten—who placed fifth with Elaine Hendrix last season—by her side.
"I already learned a lot and I already have a lot of sore muscles, muscles I didn't even know I did," De Laurentiis jokingly added. "I'm trying to tell myself even at this stage, you can do something new. You can conquer something new."
Meanwhile, the pro couldn't be more excited for the opportunity. He exclaimed to De Laurentiis during the interview, "You're gonna learn so much. It's gonna be amazing."
As De Laurentiis and Bersten warm up for Dancing With the Stars season 35, keep reading to see all the pairs vying for the Mirrorball Trophy.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom.
"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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