Would Ann-Margret Ever Do ‘Dancing With the Stars'? The 84-Year-Old Icon Weighs In (Exclusive)
Hollywood dance icon Ann-Margret has exclusively told Parade.com why she hasn't appeared as a celebrity contestant on ABC's hit reality show Dancing with the Stars.
It seems that the famed actress/dancer/singer, who will celebrate her milestone 85thbirthday on April 28, should have been a natural to do the series years ago. Also, as DWTS fans know, a couple of famous folks over age 80 have previously hit the ballroom!
Ann-Margret's six decades in Hollywood includes dancing in such big screen musicals as State Fair (1962), Bye Bye Birdie (1963) and Viva Las Vegas (1964). She also delivered an incredible performance in The Who's movie version of the rock opera Tommy (1975), telling the story completely through music.
The beloved Swedish-American star, who will soon accept a lifetime achievement award, recently told us in a phone interview about how she is doing great after breaking her elbow - despite also missing her late husband of 50 years, Roger Smith.
In addition, she opened up about how she wasn't able to join the DWTS cast at any point. Read on to find out more on why!
Does Ann-Margret watch DWTS?
"Sure, sure!" she said. "I love watching that, yeah." Elaborating on the reason why, the veteran star said she identifies with both the celebrity and pro dancers: "I know all of the nerves that go through everybody when, all of a sudden, well, it's your time to perform and [you think], ‘help!' I go through the same emotions that they go through."
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Did DWTS producers ask Ann-Margret to do the show?
"Through the years, yes," she revealed to Parade. "And always, it's been [bad] timing." When asked if she would do the show now, Ann laughed, "Oh, I have no idea," adding, "I really am enjoying my time off."
Also, she recently suffered an injury, as Parade previously reported. "I fell the other day and so now my right elbow is broken," she told us. After Ann confirmed that she fell at her home, she said, "That's okay. I've done it many times. I just happen to do that all the time. I have fallen so many times." She added with a good-natured laugh, "I don't intend to, but I do! What can I say?"
Related: Ann-Margret, 84, Shares Health Update After Scary Fall: ‘You Just Get Up' (Exclusive)
Ann had to cancel an autograph-signing appearance because of her elbow injury. However, when asked if she's recovering well, the star known for her grit said, "Yes, I am. I sure am!"
Does Ann-Marget like watching the DWTS pro dancers?
Yes! The movie legend said of such former pros as Derek Hough and Mark Ballas and current dancers, "Oh, my goodness, they didn't get on the show if they weren't great!"
What did Ann-Margret think of Cloris Leachman dancing on the show?
Actress Cloris Leachman, who passed away in 2021, was a hilarious sensation on DWTS on season 7 in 2008, and remains the oldest star ever to do the show at age 82 (astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the second oldest DWTS contestant at age 80 on season 10 in 2010). "That was fun," Ann-Margret commented about watching Cloris' senior citizen run. "I had met her [once] but I didn't really know her."
Has Ann-Margret ever danced on TV?
Yes, on ABC, now home to DWTS! Among other things, Ann appeared on the 1980 ABC special Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls, a musical/variety/comedy salute to the femme fatales of Hollywood's past.
What has Ann-Margret said about her own dancing?
The performer will pick up the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Chita Rivera Awards on May 18 at the NYU Skirball Center.
As Playbill reported, one of the event's producers, Joe Lanteri, said, "She has inspired generations of dancers to perform with the same passion and vivacious spirit…We are excited to celebrate her at this year's Awards and know our audience is in for a treat."
But Ann, dubbed the "Sex Kitten" in the 1960s, is modest about her abilities, saying, about actress/singer/dancer Rivera, who passed away two years ago at age 91, "She was this incredible dancer and I'm not that."
Describing her own dancing, Ann-Margret said, "I've always thought of myself as someone who moves. I'm a mover!"
Does Ann-Margret still have her moves?
When asked if she dances at home these days when no one is watching, Ann told Parade, "Yes I do! I do. If I hear something on TV [like]a favorite song of mine, of course I'll start moving naturally. I've always done that."
Would Ann-Margret do another movie musical?
Of course! She said of the recent big screen hit Wicked, "I really enjoyed it. I think that musicals are great. I think that people enjoy them and I would love it if they did more musicals. It would be fun to have a part." Hollywood, are you listening?
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 10:13 AM.