Huge Netflix show’s fate finally confirmed after fans faced agonising months-long wait after series topped charts

THE docuseries following the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will continue giving viewers access to the iconic team and franchise.

Season 2 will document the journey of the 2024-25 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, starting with auditions and training camp, and following the team throughout the entire NFL season, offering an in-depth look from tryouts to game day performances.

Following its premiere on June 20, 2024, the seven-episode docuseries made a strong debut on Netflix.

It ranked in the streamer’s global Top 10 TV list for four consecutive weeks and stayed in the Top 10 U.S. TV shows for five weeks.

The series also made it into the Top 10 list in 27 different countries.

It is directed by Emmy Award winner Greg Whiteley who also worked on Cheer and Last Chance U.

The first season of Netflix’s documentary series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was a huge hit with fans.

It lifted the lid on the secrets and life in the most famous cheerleading team in the US.

The Netflix series provided an inside look at the intense journey of becoming a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC), detailing the tough selection process and immense pressure faced by the recruits.

One standout hopeful was Ariana McClure, a 24-year-old medical sales rep who has relocated to Dallas, aiming to make the team after falling short in the previous year’s training camp.

The documentary highlighted the competitive nature of the auditions, where dancers must master challenging acrobatic routines and meet stringent physical requirements.

Each member is expected to maintain a consistent physique to fit into the iconic DCC uniform — a form-fitting ensemble of tiny shorts, crop top, and cowboy boots.

The series also delved into the emotional and physical toll of training, underscoring the high standards and discipline required to perform flawlessly on game day.

Many viewers have expressed shock at the demands on the cheerleaders, and the comparatively low wages they are paid.

In addition to intense training, most of the women have other full-time jobs.

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In the opening episode, Cowboys boss Charlotte Jones admits the cheerleaders are "not paid a lot" – but says women on the team do not join for the pay, rather to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Within its first month on Netflix, the documentary series not only captivated viewers but also sparked a music trend.

AC/DC’s classic hit “Thunderstruck,” featured prominently in the show, surged in popularity with 37 million streams on Spotify.

The excitement extended to social media as well, with audio clips from the series being incorporated into nearly 10,000 TikTok posts, including creative content from popular accounts like Duolingo and Savannah Bananas.

However, some critics thought the series was a "disturbing" watch and exposed the sport to be misogynistic.

"America’s Sweethearts is a disturbing show on many levels, but the resilience of its women is impressive," the Guardian said, external.

Time's Judy Berman wrote, external: "At best, they’re athletes working at the apex of their sport; at worst, they’re casualties of a job market, a form of entertainment, and a society in which misogyny is so deeply ingrained, it’s often enforced by the women it oppresses."

Writing in the New York Times, Jessica Grose said, external: "If there's another season of the Netflix show, perhaps a more complete picture of the Cowboys cheerleading experience could force this elite institution to evolve, and it may make more of these talented women reach the conclusion that making the team isn't worth the cost."

The second season will premiere in 2025.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' first season is available to watch on Netflix.