Netflix announced this week a new show coming to the streaming service that will provide unfiltered access to one of the nation’s most recognizable cheer squads.
Titled ‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,’ the Netflix special is planned for seven episodes and will explore the team’s lives and routines. While the show was known to be in production, Netflix has announced that it will debut on June 20, as reported by CBS News Texas.
The show was filmed during the Cowboys’ 2023-24 season, which ended in defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
“Led by longtime director Kelli Finglass, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders opens their doors to document the personal stories behind the uniforms – revealing the drive, hustle, and drama among the cheerleaders and coaches. For many, it’s a dream to make the team – but that’s only just the beginning,” the team said in a statement reported by NBC 5 DFW.
The Cowboys’ cheer squad was previously featured in a television show called, ‘The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.’ That show ran for 16 seasons on CMT and documented the process of earning a spot on the most coveted cheer team. It was canceled about two and a half years ago.
While the new show will have little in common with the previous experience, the Cowboys Cheerleaders used the announcement to remind fans and encourage viewership. In a post on X, the team wrote, “Making the team is just the beginning.”
“The storytelling through this open access will captivate viewers episode after episode and Netflix’s global stage is the perfect platform to showcase it,” Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president/chief brand officer and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders president said. “We went into this understanding that the opportunity to transparently share the journey of our season, and the emotions, challenges, and joy experienced along the way, is exactly what our fans and viewers would want.”
The 45-minute episodes were directed and produced by Emmy Award-winning director Greg Whiteley and the team behind Cheer and Last Chance U.
“To their infinite credit, the Cowboys offered unfettered access for the year we filmed the DCC and left us alone,” said Whiteley, per NBC 5. “The result is an authentic portrait of one of the most storied and beloved institutions we have in American pop culture.”
Despite not being considered a sport under Title IX, some regions and colleges have declared the activity a sport. Until recently, cheerleading was the leading cause of catastrophic injury to female athletes in high school and college, according to USA Cheer, an organization that promotes the activity.
The newest Netflix show will give fans an up-close look at what it takes to be a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.