Abby Lee Miller Reveals Why She Nearly Quit Dance Moms Over Maddie Ziegler

Abby Lee Miller has never been one to hold back—especially when it comes to defending her students. And when Maddie Ziegler, her former star pupil, was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Abby made it clear that nothing would stand in the way.

Showing Strong Support To Students

In an exclusive conversation with E! News’ Francesca Amiker, the Dance Moms alum revealed just how far she was willing to go to support Maddie’s career.

“I quit my job many times,” Abby admitted. “The first time I quit and said, ‘Get your stuff, get out of my building,’ was when they didn’t want Maddie to go do the Sia video.”

At just 11 years old, Maddie was selected to star in Sia’s Chandelier music video—a project that would later become a defining moment in her career. However, according to Abby, the show’s producers weren’t on board.

“They weren’t allowing that,” she claimed. “And I was like, ‘She’s going, that’s it.’”

When Maddie returned to Dance Moms after filming the video—her first of many collaborations with Sia, whom she has described as her “guardian angel”—Abby sensed retaliation from the show’s producers.

“They gave her a solo that day to put her on the spot, to make her fail,” she alleged. But Abby had a plan. “We just used an old solo and put different music to it. They didn’t even know.”

Feeling Forgotten

Despite her unwavering support for Maddie and her younger sister, Kenzie Ziegler, Abby now feels distant from both of them.

Reflecting on her difficult health battles—including cancer and emergency spinal surgery—she questioned where her former students were during her lowest moments.

“I’m laying in a hospital bed dying, and where was anybody? Who showed up?” she asked.

While some students have kept in touch, Abby noted that only a few remain in her inner circle, such as Elliana Walmsley and Maesi Caes. However, she shares the closest bond with Kalani Hilliker and JoJo Siwa.

“JoJo, I talk to all the time,” she shared, revealing that they frequently discuss Dance Moms-related opportunities. “We’re kind of in alliance. We have a thing happening where if we both decide to do it, we’ll do it. Otherwise, we’re both not doing it.”

One of those joint decisions? JoJo’s appearance on Abby’s Leave It on the Dance Floor podcast last August.

A New Era of Dance

But Abby isn’t just looking back—she’s also embracing a new chapter. When asked if she would return to the chaos of Dance Moms, her answer was clear.

“Hell yeah,” she responded without hesitation. “I had five crazy mothers 10 years before, when there wasn’t reality TV. I could have done it then, and I can do it now. I could start tomorrow.”

For now, though, she’s channeling her energy into Mad House, a reality show that showcases a more mature group of dancers. The second season premieres on Brandon TV on February 27, featuring talent like Haley Huelsman, Donovyn Diaz, and Dakayla Wilson—JoJo Siwa’s recent ex.

Unlike Dance Moms, this new show is free from overbearing parents.

“There’s no moms, so I don’t have to hold back,” Abby explained. “I’m talking to them, and they have to stand up. They have to fight back with me, and they usually don’t.”

Instead, she says, they’re focused on one thing—success.

“These kids on Mad House, they have a future,” she emphasized. “Whether it be on a cruise ship or Broadway or in a music video, they have a future, and we’re trying to get them there.”

For Abby, it’s not just about teaching dance—it’s about shaping careers. And as long as there are dancers with dreams, she’ll be there, pushing them to the top.

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