The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are grappling with the Netflix effect.
For 16 seasons, auditions for the premier dance team were documented for the CMT show “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.” But for as successful at that show was, it’s nothing compared to the number of eyeballs that watch Netflix globally. The first season of “America’s Sweethearts” garnered 2.3 million views in its first four days on the streamer and reached the Top 10 in 27 countries; Season 2 launched with 3.3 million views and reached the top 10 in 20 countries. Last summer, Variety exclusively revealed that production on Season 3 was underway. Seven new episodes, which begin streaming on June 16, follow the 2025-26 squad as they navigate the ups and downs of that viral fame.
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“This is the first time we are viewing applications because of seeing Netflix’s ‘America Sweethearts,’” longtime DCC senior director, Kelli Finglass, says early in the Season 3 trailer. She and head choreographer Judy Trammell have been leading the squad for decades but since the Netflix show, they’ve received an influx of applications from elite performers from all over the world.
One plucky hopeful is from Australia, and she worries whether her nationality will be a barrier to entry. “They’re never gonna want an Aussie gal representing America’s Sweethearts,” she tells the cameras. (For what it’s worth, DCC has recruited international talents before.)
But, as fans of the docuseries know, not all that glitters is gold when it comes to being a professional cheerleader.
“Once you become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, there’s already a lot of weight that is on your shoulders,” one dancer says in the Season 3 trailer. “Some people like that, and some people don’t. I guess the question is, can you handle it?”
And with this level of global fame comes added scrutiny.
“As much positivity as I receive, there’s also loads of negativity,” says Reece, one of the DCC veterans who has been featured on the docuseries since Season 1, when she tried out for the star-spangled squad.
“That’s why we need to keep them busy and focused and positive,” Finglass adds. “Can’t listen to the haters.”
Directed by Emmy winner Greg Whiteley (“Cheer,” “Last Chance U”), with Zoe Lyrintzis serving as episodic co-director, “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” follows the dancers from auditions to their grueling training camp. In his signature verité style, Whiteley reveals more than ever about the women who high-kick (and jump split) in the DCC’s signature high-heeled cowboy boots.
The women must navigate the squad’s strict protocols while grappling with injuries and mental health challenges, among other stressors. Season 2 featured a group of veterans fighting for, and ultimately earning, a major pay raise for future squads. This season, the stakes are higher than ever. “With thirty veterans returning to auditions, only six coveted spots remain for hopeful newcomers, raising the bar for talent,” the synopsis teases.
“As the DCC’s global profile grows, the women at the center of it must handle a new level of attention,” the synopsis continues. “With incredible opportunities — the first DCC tour, marquee appearances, and growing social media platforms — also comes heightened scrutiny and demand for perfection. Against the backdrop of stadium performances and viral moments, the team leans on each other to navigate the spotlight and define their DCC legacies.”
”America’s Sweethearts” is produced by One Potato Productions. Whiteley executive produces alongside Adam Leibowitz for One Potato Productions, as well as Andrew Fried and Dane Lillegard of Boardwalk Pictures and Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans of Campfire Studios.
Watch the full trailer below.
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