Dancing With the Stars contestants who've dropped out

By Wonderwall.com Editors 8:06am PST, Nov 22, 2019

The finale of the 28th season of "Dancing With Stars" airs on Nov. 22, 2019, and to mark the occasion, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at all the contestants over the years who've had to drop out of the competition… starting with Christie Brinkley. The iconic supermodel fell and broke her arm during rehearsals before she even got to perform her first dance on Season 28. But Christie was thrilled that she was replaced by her own daughter, 21-year-old model Sailor Brinkley-Cook. "Showbiz is all about getting a break, and Sailor and I both got one on 'Dancing With the Stars' this season. Sailor joined the cast when I got mine … ouch somebody stop me, it hurts to laugh!" Christie quipped after announcing her exit. Keep reading to see more stars who've dropped out of the competition show…

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"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kim Zolciak-Biermann appeared on the 21st season of "Dancing With the Stars" in an effort to bolster her fame. After a strong showing early in the season, Kim unexpectedly pulled out of the competition during week 3 after she suffered a ministroke and was hospitalized for two days. While Kim and pro partner Tony Dovolani petitioned to be allowed back in, they were denied because Kim had missed a live dancing (and voting) broadcast.

"Star Wars" franchise actor Billy Dee Williams was one of the oldest contestants to ever compete on "Dancing With the Stars" when he joined the 18th season at 77. While the man who played Lando Calrissian was able to perform live the first week, he had to pull out of the competition after battling chronic back pain from the grueling training. Despite the short run, it was still a sweet one for Billy, who called the experience a "wonderful, brilliant, fantastic blast of a time."

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay appeared on the ninth season of "Dancing With the Stars." He was the second former politician (Jerry Springer was the first) to ever join the show. Unfortunately, dancing proved to be more stressful than lawmaking: The Republican congressman suffered stress fractures on both of his feet, leading him to reluctantly follow doctors' advice and exit after his week 3 samba with pro partner Cheryl Burke. But he triumphantly returned to dance again on the finale.

R&B singer Tamar Braxton appeared on the 21st season of the franchise and was a frontrunner from the start. Unfortunately, during the live taping during week 9, Tamar was rushed to the hospital with what was believed to be pneumonia. But after being checked out, doctors determined that she was suffering from several blood clots on her lungs, requiring her and pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy to drop out of the competition.

While most celebrities who've pulled out of "DWTS" did so due to injuries, country singer Sara Evans was dealing with some personal drama that led to her exit from the show. During the third season, she announced she was leaving on the same day she filed for divorce from then-husband Craig Schelske. Sara's rep explained that the music star felt she needed "to give her family her full attention at this difficult time" amid what turned out to be a very contentious split.

Fans of "DWTS" might remember Romeo Miller from season 12 of show, but he was originally set to appear on season 2. The rapper suffered an unspecified injury and was forced to pull out of the show before filming had even begun, so his father, Master P, stepped up to the plate. Unfortunately, Master P earned the lowest score — an 8 out of 30 — in "Dancing With the Stars" history for his subpar paso doble.

Famed former figure skater Dorothy Hamill was considered a sure bet to win "Dancing With the Stars" season 16 because of her athletic background, but that's not what happened! The Olympic gold medalist had to pull out of the competition after two weeks on her surgeon's orders due to a nerve-pinching spinal cyst that could have lead to potentially irreparable damage.

She sings "You Were Meant For Me," but Jewel wasn't meant for "Dancing With The Stars." The '90s music star joined the eighth season of "DWTS" alongside then-husband Ty Murray, making them the first couple to compete against one another. Unfortunately for everyone, Jewel fractured both of her tibias and never even made it to the first live taping!

Wow! Maybe the eighth season of "DWTS" was cursed or maybe Mercury was in retrograde? What else can explain how both Nancy O'Dell and Jewel had to drop out of the same season! Nancy pulled out before the live performances because she suffered a torn meniscus. Even though the entertainment show host left, pro partner Tony Dovolani continued on with competitor Melissa Rycroft — and went on to win third place!

Olympic beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor took a risk when she signed up for the seventh season of "Dancing With the Stars" because she was still actively competing in her sport at the time. During week 4 of her season, Misty ruptured her Achilles tendon during rehearsal and was informed that she was in for a nine-month rehab process. After learning the news, the three-time gold medalist left the show to work on her health. Lucky for her, surgery and rehab worked: Misty went on to win the more gold at the 2012 Olympics nearly four years later.