The mother of seven insists her casting on the dance show’s Season 34 happened naturally, and she is now hitting the ballroom floor with her dance partner, Gleb Savchenko. Hilaria also explained that her husband, Alec Baldwin, has encouraged her “for a very long time to join the show.”  

Hilaria Baldwin had to defend how she got the dancing gig after Julianne Hough claimed on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast that she had been actively campaigning for the role. 

Hilaria wants viewers to know her spot on the dancing competition show was not the result of behind-the-scenes lobbying. Speaking backstage alongside her professional partner, Gleb Savchenko, the star explained that she never sought out the opportunity. 

Hilaria laughed off the idea that she had been running any kind of campaign, stating, “That’s actually not true. I did not campaign. It was, like, not on my radar.”

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Instead, producers reached out just days before the cast was revealed, leaving her to quickly relocate her family to Los Angeles so she could take part in Season 34. According to Page Six, speculation began earlier this month when Julianne Hough appeared on the “Chicks in the Office” podcast.

The co-hosts mentioned Hilaria’s TikTok clips dancing with her husband, which had started to gain traction online. Julianne responded by saying those posts looked like a campaign to land a role on the show. 

Apart from pushing back against campaigning claims, Hilaria also noted that her past ballroom dancing experience does not give her an edge. However, the 41-year-old admitted she did compete years ago but said those days ended after a hip injury forced her to walk away. 

Hilaria highlighted the talent surrounding her this season, pointing to names like gymnast Jordan Chiles, conservationist Robert Irwin, TikTok personality Alix Earle, actress Danielle Fishel, and reality star Dylan Efron. She described the group as “special” and said they each bring skills she does not have.

Rather than fueling rivalry, she said the show has felt encouraging and supportive, calling it “the most warm and loving environment.”

As she made her ballroom debut, the star highlighted that her husband, Alec Baldwin, has been her biggest cheerleader. Speaking to PEOPLE at the Season 34 premiere, Hilaria revealed Alec had been encouraging her to join the show long before she finally said yes.

She explained that his excitement has only grown now that she is paired with pro dancer Gleb Savchenko and officially part of the cast.

The actor has backed up his words by attending rehearsals and watching from the audience during her first performance. Alec praised her commitment and resilience, noting, “She’s a hard worker. I’m proud of her, very proud of her.”

Hilaria and Alec have weathered difficult times together, long before stepping into the pressures of “Dancing With the Stars.” 

In her memoir “Manual Not Included,” Hilaria shared deeply personal details about how Alec’s health spiraled in the aftermath of the 2021 “Rust”  shooting, The Blast noted.

She described a man transformed by stress, cold hands, difficulty walking, loss of appetite, and moments when she feared he might not survive.

By 2023, as Alec faced legal charges tied to the incident, his condition worsened. Hilaria recalled rushing him to the hospital twice, the second time convinced she was losing him as he “slumped back, eyes rolling, mouth open.”

He was hospitalized for a week and relied on a walker after being discharged, even as filming continued in Montana.

On the March 16 episode of her family podcast “The Baldwins,” Hilaria reflected on the criticism she faced after clips of her Spanish-inflected speech went viral in 2020.

The Blast highlighted that she described the experience as deeply tied to her upbringing, where multiple cultural influences shaped how she communicates.

The podcaster explained that what many mocked as inauthentic was her shifting between identities, a practice she now identifies as code-switching. Hilaria admitted, “I had to learn about it because the whole world was mean to me, and so I had to learn it.” 

The mother of seven said being in the public eye does not make cruel commentary easier, but she is learning how to “turn down the volume” on outside judgment.

Hilaria Baldwin is making it clear that her dancing will do the talking, and we wish her good luck along the way.