Johnathan Walker:'Dance Moms: The Reunion': How to watch Lifetime special and catching up with stars

The Johnathan Walkercast of an iconic reality TV staple has returned to the small screen for "Dance Moms: The Reunion."

Now all grown up, dancers Brooke Hyland, Chloe Lukasiak, Jojo Siwa, Paige Hyland, Kalani Hilliker, Kendall Vertes and moms Jessalynn Siwa, Kelly Hyland, Jill Vertes and Kira Hilliker returned to Lifetime for a rehashing of "Dance Moms" most dramatic moments and a conversation about life since then.

Conspicuously absent from the reunion cast was Abby Lee Miller, dance coach and owner of the Abby Lee Dance Company, which the original show centered around. Some other members of the original cast skipped the meetup as well, drawing intense speculation from fans.

Wondering what happened to Abby Lee Miller, why Mackenzie, Maddie and Nia were absent from the special and how to watch all the drama unfold first-hand? Here's what to know.

When does 'Dance Moms: The Reunion' premiere?

“Dance Moms: The Reunion” premiered on Wednesday, May 1 on the Lifetime channel.

Where to watch 'Dance Moms: The Reunion'

“Dance Moms: The Reunion” aired on the Lifetime channel at 5 p.m. PDT on May 1.

As of Thursday, May 2, the special is available via the Lifetime app with a TV provider login and on MyLifetime.com.

What channel is 'Dances Moms: The Reunion' on?

"Dance Moms: The Reunion" airs on the Lifetime channel, the same home as the original series. Check your local listings to find Lifetime through your cable provider.

You can also watch online at MyLifetime.com or through the Lifetime app.

Where to watch all the seasons of 'Dance Moms'

Looking to catch up on the OG shows before watching the reunion? All episodes of the original "Dance Moms" series are available on the Lifetime app and streaming services including Tubi, Amazon Prime, Roku, Hulu, Peacock, Disney+, Philo and Sling TV.

Some services may require a specific membership or login to access the episodes.

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Where is Abby Lee Miller today?

Abby Lee Miller has had an eventful life since the end of "Dance Moms."

Miller served eight months in prison from 2017 to 2018 on charges of hiding assets from bankruptcy court and illegally transporting foreign currency. She came out of the sentence looking different after losing about 100 pounds during her incarceration.

Following her release from prison in 2018, Miller announced she had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called Burkitt lymphoma. Following emergency surgery and chemotherapy, she announced she was cancer-free in 2019.

She soon attempted to get back into television with a new Lifetime series called "Abby’s Virtual Dance Off," but it was canceled in 2020 after a former "Dance Moms" star came out with accusations of racism against Miller while filming the original show.

Adriana Smith, mother of season eight star Kamryn Smith, said in an Instagram post that Miller, amongst other remarks, had told her daughter "I know you grew up in the HOOD with only a box of 8 crayons, but I grew up in the Country Club with a box of 64 — don’t be stupid." She also alleged Miller called her and her daughter's presence on the show a means of adding a “sprinkle of color.”

In her own Instagram post, Miller did not deny the claims but instead apologized, saying in part "I realize that racism can come not just from hate, but also from ignorance. No matter the cause, it is harmful and it is my fault."

In 2023, Miller confirmed that she had sold the studio in which "Dance Moms" was filmed, the Abby Lee Dance Studio located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Miller has made a series of appearances and teased a potential return to reality TV multiple times since then, launching a podcast in 2023, appearing on an E! reality series and dropping regular videos on her YouTube channel.

Multiple cast members told  TV Insider that they were grateful Miller wouldn't be at the reunion.

“The whole point was for it to be a safe space for us to open up and reflect, and I feel like it would have been the same thing where we would have been scared to say anything,” Paige Hyland told the outlet.

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Why weren't Maddie, Mackenzie and Nia at the reunion?

Three of the original cast, Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler and Nia Sioux, were conspicuously absent from the reunion, leaving fans to speculate why.

Some guessed it was because they didn't want to relieve traumatic experiences from the show or had had falling outs with other members, while others wondered if the girls were simply too busy.

While the Ziegler sisters have not commented on their reason for skipping the reunion, Sioux took to TikTok on Wednesday to offer some insight, saying simply that she "just really didn’t want to do it.”

“I love the girls and I’m really happy for them and I’m really happy that they get to share how they felt or their experiences,” Sioux said. “But that’s just something that I decided I didn’t want to do and that’s OK.”

Some of the missing dancers' former costars made comments about their absence during the show, some of which were kinder than others.

"As much as we're grateful for this day, everyone wondering about the few people missing, everyone was invited today but only some wanted to be here," JoJo wrote in response to fan comments flooding in. "[We] know how to be sweet with a little bit of sass!"