Julia Stiles stepped into the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom for the first time on September 16, 2026, during night two of the Season 35 premiere, pairing her competition debut with the kind of polished, performance-ready styling the show is known for. The actress, competing alongside professional partner Ezra Sosa, danced a quickstep to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5," a song choice that carried extra emotional weight given Parton's death in August at age 80.
Julia Stiles Says Dolly Parton Cleared Her to Use '9 to 5' for 'Dancing with the Stars' Weeks Before Her Death https://t.co/2Yxp7LHzpX
— People (@people) September 17, 2026
Stiles revealed on air that Parton had personally approved the song for her routine just weeks before the singer's passing, turning the performance into something of a tribute. The pairing scored 18 out of 30 from the judges, with Derek Hough calling the routine "beautiful and graceful." As is customary for "Dancing With the Stars," Stiles' quickstep costume was created in-house by the show's wardrobe department, led by longtime costume designers Daniela Gschwendtner and Steven Lee, whose team builds custom, performance-ready looks for every couple each week rather than sourcing from outside fashion labels. Specific details on this particular costume, including exact color, fabrication and any accessories, have not been published by the show or confirmed through wire photography at this time.
