Jimmy Kimmel shares ‘special message’ as sidekick Guillermo joins DWTS cast
Jimmy Kimmel shared a “special message” on Good Morning America as his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez joins the cast of Dancing With The Stars.
Jimmy Kimmel shared a “special message” for Guillermo Rodriguez on Good Morning America (Image: Hulu)
Jimmy Kimmel appeared on Good Morning America to share a “special message” as his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez joined the Season 35 cast of Dancing With The Stars.
Guillermo has been a longtime familiar face on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, having worked his way up from a security guard at the show’s Hollywood studio to featured roles in comedy sketches and segments. He has become a beloved personality alongside Kimmel, and now he is facing a new challenge as he puts on his dancing shoes to compete on DWTS.
As the entire DWTS cast was announced on GMA on Wednesday, September 2, Kimmel shared who he would be voting for and offered some hilarious words of encouragement for Guillermo during the broadcast. It comes as Maura Higgins “prayers have been answered” as DWTS partner announced.
Guillermo was a part of the first pairing announced for the upcoming DWTS season, as he will be partnering with season 34 champion Witney Carson.
Guillermo Rodriguez will partner with pro dancer Witney Carson on DWTS (Image: Disney/Andrew Eccles)
“You’re going from late-night to early-morning rehearsals. And of course, we have a special message for you,” a GMA host announced on the broadcast before displaying a video from Kimmel.
Kimmel appeared on the screen holding onto a garden gnome, featuring Guillermo’s face.
“Guillermo, you know who I’m going to be voting for on Dancing with the Stars,” Kimmel said in his message to Guillermo.
“This little champion,” he continued, in a nod to the garden gnome.
“Go out there and dance your little heart out,” Kimmel encouraged, before dramatically kissing the garden gnome, saying, “Muah!”
Kimmel made it known that he will be rooting for his right-hand man in the upcoming season of DWTS, which premieres with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16.
“Witney, are you ready for back-to-back mirror balls because Guillermo’s with it?” the pro dancer was asked during GMA live broadcast on Wednesday morning. Witney won Season 34 with celebrity contestant and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin. She recently announced that she’s pregnant with her third baby with her husband, Carson McAllister.
“I’m so ready, I told Guillermo the other day, I was like ‘I won last season, and I’m ready to win again.’ And what did you tell me?” Witney said on GMA.
“I told her, listen, don’t be too greedy,” Guillermo joked in response.
Guillermo Rodriguez admitted he’s already in pain from his dance training (Image: Disney/Andrew Eccles)
“So I’m like, let someone else win… We’ll see, who knows,” Witney added.
“I’m doing my best, you know having fun, I’m enjoying it, but everything hurt on my body,” Guillermo admitted about his dance training for DWTS. “I’m in a lot of pain.”
Guillermo announced his casting on DWTS on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June 2026, appearing onstage in a flashy blue outfit, offering just a taste of the kinds of outfits fans will see in the ballroom.
“This September, Guillermo will become the first ever parking lot security guard to dance with the stars,” Kimmel said during the episode. “This is gonna be so great.”
“Don’t lose a single adorable pound, okay? Do you promise?” Kimmel joked.
“I promise. If I lose five pounds, I’m gonna gain 10 pounds right away,” Guillermo responded. He will surely be put to hard work as Witney teaches him how to dance like a pro for the upcoming DWTS season.
