The billowing blue sleeves, the star-spangled hot pants, and the seemingly impossible high kicks: Since 1961, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have dazzled audiences with their dynamic dancing, becoming an iconic squad both on and off the field. On June 20, the globally recognized DCC step off the sidelines and take center stage in America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, a series that reveals what it takes — what it really takes — to step into those bright white knee-high boots. 

Director Kelli Finglass and head choreographer Judy Trammell at Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders training camp. 

Led by longtime director Kelli Finglass, the franchise has built a legacy –– from auditions and training camps all the way through the NFL season –– where they perform for more than 90,000 fans at all Cowboys home games in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Created by Emmy Award–winning director Greg Whiteley with One Potato Productions and Boardwalk Pictures (the team behind Cheer and Last Chance U), America’s Sweethearts documents the personal stories behind the uniforms, revealing the ambition and drive shared by the cheerleaders and their coaches through the 2023–24 season. 

“The kind of access and creative freedom we need to make the kind of work we want to make is not easy to come by — especially when dealing with a brand as large as the Dallas Cowboys,” Whiteley told Netflix. “To their infinite credit, the Cowboys offered unfettered access for the year we filmed the DCC and left us alone. The result is an authentic portrait of one of the most storied and beloved institutions we have in American pop culture.”

The series also offers an intimate look at the personal lives of some of the squad members, following them from rehearsal on the field to their private triumphs and struggles at home. Learn more about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders rookie and veteran candidates here. 

“No matter how you are feeling, you have to portray a level of joy and happiness that is now part of the job,” Whiteley says. “Your job is to show up and entertain fans, and that doesn’t leave much room for your own personal emotions. You’ve got to put on some makeup and this uniform and become Wonder Woman for a couple of hours.”

Whiteley adds that giving context about the cheerleaders’ inner lives also speaks to how they each view their position on the squad. Making it onto the team is no easy feat — even veterans have to try out again every single year — and the process can be incredibly challenging to balance with other aspects of their day-to-day responsibilities.

“The women are impressive when you see them all in a kick line — they’re in a row and they’re beautiful, athletic, and strong. They seem impenetrable,” Whiteley says. I think that is made even more impressive when you realize that there’s a living, breathing human being underneath that facade.” 

Watch America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Netflix now.