The first season of Dancing with the Stars debuted on ABC on June 1, 2005. Six celebrities were paired with six professional ballroom dancers. Tom Bergeron and Lisa Canning were the hosts for this season. The premiere drew over 13 million viewers, the biggest summer debut ever for an American reality series. The second week climbed to 15 million viewers, and the show climbed to No. 1 in the summer 2005 TV season ratings, where it remained for the remainder of the season. The season finale aired July 6, 2005.

The second season of the U.S. edition of Dancing with the Stars premiered on the ABC network on January 5, 2006, and ended February 24, 2006. This season expanded to ten couples from six in the previous season. Season two expanded each program from an hour to 90 minutes, and added an hour-long results show the following night. Two couples were declared safe in an earlier portion of the show, the remaining couples were then named off until only the bottom two were left.

The third season of Dancing With the Stars premiered on September 12, 2006 and ended November 15, 2006. The number of couples expanded from ten the previous season to 11. For this season, the scoring system was changed. Fan vote only counted for 25% of the total score and scoring was now translated directly from percentages rather than into ordinals. The judges scores were added up, and each performer was given points based on the percentage of the total points distributed among all performers. The fan vote was handled the same way, with the points based on how much of the total fan vote the star received. The results shows of this season featured the Slim Fast Dance Challenge, where Tysonia Sichinga and Christian Perry illustrated how exercise such as dancing could aid weight loss. Unfortunately, Tysonia wound up gaining 5 pounds from what she said, "too much Slim Fast".

The fourth season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 19, 2007 and aired until May 22, 2007. To avoid direct competition with Fox's American Idol, Dancing with the Stars changed time slots from the previous season. In this season, the performance show aired on Mondays, and the results show aired on Tuesdays. No elimination was scheduled for the first week, in order to allow viewers two weeks to see all of the couples perform both Latin and Standard ballroom dances. This season was broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom on Sunday afternoons from Sunday, July 15, 2007. Captions appeared on screen throughout the show to remind viewers that this was recorded earlier in the year and that they could not vote on the outcome. None of the first three seasons was screened in the UK. This season beat season two for the highest amount of perfect scores awarded, and fifteen perfect scores were awarded.

The fifth season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 24, 2007 with a special three-night premiere week. The season ended on November 27, 2007. As with previous seasons, CTV Television Network had aired the series in Canada. "24" became the most popular lowest score per round. Eight were given to couples that landed in the bottom of the leader board. The show was hosted by Tom Bergeron, with returning judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba. Co-host Samantha Harris gave birth on September 23, 2007; during her leave of absence season two champion Drew Lachey served as co-host. On October 15, 2007 Harris returned to the show. On August 29, 2007, the celebrity cast was announced on Good Morning America by host Tom Bergeron, judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and reigning celebrity champion Apolo Anton Ohno.

The sixth season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 17, 2008; the first results show was a double-elimination episode airing on March 25, 2008. The show followed the format of previous seasons, with 12 couples. On May 6, 2008 DWTS had a special two-hour edition to commemorate its 100th episode. The most frequently-given score for this season was 29, which was awarded 9 times to leaders in several weeks. Kristi Yamaguchi and her partner, Mark Ballas, won the competition. Kristi & Mark combined for four of the five perfect scores given out this season; she received three of them for her three Finals dances, giving her a perfect 90 out of 90. This season, along with the previous season, season 14 and season 15 are the only ones without a score under 15 or without a score under 5 given from any judge.

The seventh season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 22, 2008 as a part of ABC's fall 2008 line-up. Instead of 12 couples like previous seasons, this was the first season to showcase a lineup of 13 couples. This season also introduced four new dances: the hustle, the salsa, the jitterbug, and the west coast swing, as well as Team Dancing. Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris return as the show's hosts. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba continue as the judges this season, with Michael Flatley having appeared temporarily as a guest judge for Len Goodman during week six. Only three 30s were given out this season, and all were given to the winner, Brooke Burke: once for her foxtrot in week seven, once for her freestyle in the finals, and once for her repeated favorite dance, the Viennese waltz, also in the finals. This is the first and so far only season where all perfect 30s were given to one person. The official cast announcement was made on the morning of August 25, 2008 on Good Morning America. This is the third season to have its cast announced on GMA.

Season eight of Dancing with the Stars premiered on Monday, March 9, 2009, as part of ABC's spring line-up. The show generally followed the format of previous seasons, with 13 couples, although there were some changes, including two new dances, and an occasional dance-off between the bottom two couples, in order to determine who will be eliminated. The show was again hosted by Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba all returned as judges again this season. Originally, the season was advertised as the first U.S. season where a husband and wife would compete against each other: rodeo champion Ty Murray and singer-songwriter Jewel. The two had married the previous year after a ten-year courtship. However, just prior to the series, Jewel fractured both her tibias and was unable to perform. She was replaced on the show by Playboy model Holly Madison. Murray chose to continue on the show, and Jewel appeared during the season as a special musical guest. Nancy O'Dell, the then co-host of Access Hollywood, was also originally announced to be on the show, but was forced to withdraw from the competition due to a torn meniscus, which required surgery. She was replaced by Melissa Rycroft, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader who won season 13 of The Bachelor. She only had two days to practice her first dance.

season ten of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 22, 2010. There was not an elimination the first week of competition. The first elimination took place on March 30. Samantha Harris did not return as co-host for this season, due to her expanded correspondent duties on The Insider and Entertainment Tonight. On March 8, 2010, Tom Bergeron announced on Good Morning America that his new co-host is season seven champion Brooke Burke. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba continued as the judges this season. Season ten had 11 contestants. Damian Whitewood, from the Broadway dance revue Burn the Floor, joined the list of professionals this season. Ashly DelGrosso Costa, whose last season as a pro was season three, returned. Also, Edyta Śliwińska continued as the longest tenured professional on the show, having appeared on the first ten seasons. This season, the Results Show was moved to 8 pm on Tuesdays instead of the usual 9 pm slot. This season also features other changes such as the “red room” being inside of the ballroom, enclosed by glass walls, a balcony with a railing where the cast can stand and watch the performances live rather than on a monitor, and theme nights. Pussycat Dolls lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger won the competition over Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek and ESPN Sportscaster Erin Andrews who took second and third, respectively.

Season eleven of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 20, 2010. The cast was announced during the August 30 episode of Bachelor Pad during a live press conference that included a Q&A session with host Tom Bergeron and co-host Brooke Burke and the new cast. There are twelve celebrity cast members this season. The pairs were announced on September 1. Corky Ballas returned to the show for the first time since season seven. This is the first season to feature no new professional dancers, as each of the 12 pros has appeared on at least one previous season. Edyta Śliwińska, the only pro to have appeared throughout the entire run of the series, did not return this season. Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, and Carrie Ann Inaba continued as the judges. Several changes were introduced this season including an "Acoustic Week," in which couples performed either the Rumba or the Argentine Tango, while the audience was brought closer to the dance floor, which was elevated and made circular, a "TV Theme Week" and a "Rock n' Roll Week", in which couples performed the Paso Doble or the Tango and danced in a Rock n' Roll marathon. Fan favorites from previous seasons also came back to judge the couples, who re-created their most memorable routines on the 200th episode; these guest judges were Hélio Castroneves, Kelly Osbourne, Emmitt Smith, Drew Lachey, Gilles Marini, and Mel B. Kristi Yamaguchi and Apolo Ohno also served as team captains for the team dances. Yamaguchi's team consisted of Rick & Cheryl, Kyle & Lacey and Bristol & Mark, while Brandy & Maksim, Jennifer & Derek and Kurt & Anna were on Ohno's team. Also scheduled was a week dubbed "Instant Choreography" in which the couples practiced their routines for a week and received the music for their Latin dances only 45 minutes before their live routines.

Dancing with the Stars returned for its twelfth season on March 21, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman returned to the show as judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke returned as hosts. Professional football player Hines Ward won the competition over actress Kirstie Alley and Disney star Chelsea Kane, who took second and third, respectively.

Season thirteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 19, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli returned as the judges, and Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts. Twelve couples competed in this season. Starting this season, Alan Dedicoat, the announcer, introduces Harold Wheeler and his band after the introduction of the remaining competitors. Actor J.R. Martinez won the competition with over 9 million votes. A first time in Dancing with the Stars history were the winner was millions ahead in votes by the runner up. J.R. Martinez won over reality TV star Rob Kardashian and actress Ricki Lake who took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Season fourteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 19, 2012. Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli all returned as judges. The Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers provided the music throughout the season, except as noted below. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver won the competition over Welsh classical crossover singer Katherine Jenkins and Cuban-American Telenovela star William Levy, who took 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Driver is also the third NFL player to win, after Emmitt Smith & Hines Ward from season three and season twelve respectively.

The fifteenth season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on September 24, 2012. Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts. The Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers provided the music throughout the season, except as noted below. The returning members of the dance troupe for this season were Oksana Dmyrenko, Emma Slater, Sharna Burgess, Henry Byalikov and Sasha Farber. Sonny Fredie Pedersen replaced Kiki Nyemchek. Season 15 was the first to feature an "all-star" cast, in which previous celebrities who have competed on the show have another chance to win the competition. Six of the returning finalists, however, had already won the title in prior seasons. Season eight saw the most returning contestants, with 3 out of the 13 contestants coming from that season. In addition, it was the first and so far, only season to offer fractional scores, and to feature three women as the celebrity finalists.

Season sixteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 18, 2013. Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges. The Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers also returned to provide the music throughout the season. Fractional scores did not continue this season. This is the first season where all finalists did not learn a Latin and a ballroom dance; no finalist learned Tango, Raisman did not learn Paso Doble, Jones did not learn Samba, Pickler did not learn Salsa, and Zendaya did not learn Rumba. Each of the four finalists also did not dance one of the two new dance styles introduced this season. Raisman and Zendaya did not dance Jazz while Pickler and Jones did not dance Contemporary. This marks the fourth win for Derek Hough giving him the most mirror ball trophies out of all the professional dancers on the show.

Season seventeen of Dancing with the Stars is the current season which premiered on September 16, 2013. Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke Charvet returned as hosts and Carrie Ann Inaba Len Goodman, and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges. The Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers also returned to provide the music throughout the season. The cast was announced on September 4, 2013, during Good Morning America. This is the first season since season one to not have a results show. Another change is the elimination of the sky-box area where host Brooke Burke-Charvet interviewed dancers after their performances. Instead, the couples are accommodated in a new seating area near the judges' table which has been shifted to the opposite side of the ballroom. A make-up room and rehearsal room were added where Charvet can chat with the couples before and after their performances. This season also introduces a new format of voting. Each week the couples will perform, and the judges will give each couple a score based on several factors, including technical execution. Since there is no results show, those scores will be added to the public votes from the previous week, and the couple with the lowest combined score from judges and viewer votes will be eliminated from the competition toward the end of that week’s episode.

Season eighteen of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 17, 2014. Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli returned as judges; Tom Bergeron returned as host while Erin Andrews replaced Brooke Burke-Charvet as co-host. Bandleader Ray Chew replaced the Harold Wheeler orchestra and singers.

Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews are back to guide us through season 24 along with your favorite judges and 12 new celebrities: Bonner Bolton, Chris Kattan, David Ross, Erika Jayne, Heather Morris, Mr. T, Nancy Kerrigan, Normani Kordei, Rashad Jennings, Simone Biles, Nick Viall, and Charo.

This season featured only athletes as the dancing celebrities.

This season’s lineup of celebrity dancers includes an “American Idol” mentor, the first-ever blind contestant to take part in the show, an alumnus from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a Duke of Hazzard, an Olympic Gold medal-winning gymnast and a Bachelor Nation favorite, among others.