Jackson Olson Reveals His Behind-the-Scenes 'DWTS' Training Schedule
Newly-announced Dancing with the Stars contender Jackson Olson is going to be playing baseball and preparing for the ballroom at the same, he recently shared.
In an Instagram Q+A, the 28-year-old said that he won't be quitting the exhibition baseball team to compete on DWTS, but he'll be rehearsing for the show whenever he's not on the field.
"The dancer that I'm paired with is actually going to come on tour with us while we're playing," he shared. "I'm going to play my games, we're going to rehearse our dance. It's going to be the craziest schedule I've ever been on, but it's going to be a lot of fun."
Olson, who regularly dropped hints about joining DWTS, was confirmed to be an official "star" earlier this month.
He also shared that he doesn't know who his is partner just yet and while he said he doesn't have a preference, he revealed he'll find out in September.
"They're all super talented," he said. "They're all so fun to watch, and I'm going to be super happy with whoever they put here."
Related: ‘Dancing with the Stars' Reveals Its Third Celebrity Contestant for 2026
As for what songs he'd like to dance to, the baseball player who's known for his theatrics on the field, and his walk-out performance to "Come Back Home" from the 'Greatest Showman,' noted that dancing to songs from the movie's soundtrack is definitely a possibility.
He also named Taylor Swift, Disney, and songs from "a musical about a high school," as a subtle nod to 'High School Musical,' when it comes to other tracks he'd like to dance to.
Beyond logistics though, he said the No. 1 question he gets asked is if he's nervous to embark on this new venture.
"Yes, I am very nervous," he said. "It is the biggest show in the entire world. My hands literally shaking right now thinking about it, but I think as we get closer to the show, I'm just going to be excited."
Along with Olson,Summer House and Traitors star Ciara Miller, as well as Love Island star Maura Higgins are also confirmed to join Season 35 of the ballroom dance competition show.
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 5:00 AM.