Colton Underwood Hints At Joining 'Dancing With The Stars,' Says He Wants A Male Partner

Could fans be seeing Colton Underwood trading roses for rumba? The former "Bachelor" star recently revealed that his time filming season 4 of Peacock’s hit competition series "The Traitors" has him seriously considering a future stint on "Dancing with the Stars," and he already has his ideal partner in mind. The 33-year-old reality TV personality, who came out as gay in 2021, opened up about bonding with longtime "DWTS" pro Mark Ballas during filming for "The Traitors." Their friendship, Colton Underwood admits, has sparked a new dream of taking the ballroom floor together as a same-sex dancing couple.

In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Underwood confessed, "I would be so terrified. I would want to do it, because I love pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. But I have tight hips. My mobility is not the best, but what I lack in my flexibility, I make up for in strength.”

Underwood didn’t hesitate when naming his preferred partner. “I want to dance with Mark, because I know him from 'Traitors,'” he said, confirming their close connection.

If Underwood joins the show, he wouldn’t be the first to perform as part of a same-sex pairing on the long-running ABC competition.

"Dancing with the Stars" has increasingly embraced inclusivity over the years, featuring several groundbreaking partnerships. In 2021, JoJo Siwa and pro Jenna Johnson competed together and quickly became instant fan favorites. Shangela and Gleb Savchenko also made waves as the show’s first drag performer and partner pairing, while Nyle DiMarco and Keo Motsepe delivered the American version’s first-ever same-sex dance back in 2016.

Before hinting at a potential run on "Dancing with the Stars," Underwood made headlines in 2021 when he publicly came out as gay during an emotional interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America." The former "Bachelor" star revealed that it took him years to accept his identity and be honest with both himself and the world.

“I’ve ran from myself for a long time. I’ve hated myself for a long time,” Underwood admitted during the interview. “And I’m gay. I came to terms with that earlier this year and have been processing it. And the next step in all of this was sort of letting people know.”

Underwood explained that the challenges of 2020 forced him to reflect deeply on his life, describing it as a turning point where he could no longer run from his truth. “It made people look at themselves in the mirror and figure out who they are and what they’ve been putting off,” he said.

The reality star also opened up about a dark period leading up to his coming out, admitting that he had experienced “suicidal thoughts” before reaching a moment of clarity and deciding to take back control of his life. “There was a moment in L.A. that I woke up and I didn’t think I was gonna wake up,” he recalled. “I didn’t have the intentions of waking up. And I did.”

Following his announcement, Roberts noted she could “see the joy” and “see the relief” in Underwood, something he confirmed, sharing that he’s now “emotional in such a good, happy, positive way” and feels “the happiest and healthiest” he’s ever been.

That happiness has only grown since marrying Jordan C. Brown, a political strategist and entrepreneur.

The couple tied the knot in May 2023 during a romantic three-day celebration in Napa Valley, surrounded by family and friends. Underwood has often credited Brown with helping him embrace his authentic self and supporting him through this new chapter of life. The pair frequently share glimpses of their adventures together, and Underwood has described Jordan as his “safe space” and “biggest supporter.”

Underwood has acknowledged that his journey may have been confusing or even painful for others, particularly the women from his Bachelor season, admitting, “I do think I could’ve handled it better, I’ll say that.”

Today, Underwood says he’s focused on living authentically, embracing new challenges, and stepping fully into this chapter of his life, which might just include hitting the ballroom floor on "Dancing with the Stars."