Who is the Director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Everything to know about America's Sweethearts star

The Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders gave an in-depth look at the trials and tribulations of America's Sweethearts as aspirants auditioned for a spot on the 2023-2024 seasonal roster. The show followed the perspectives of both the aspirants and the higher-ups of the DCC.

Kelli Finglass has been the director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders since 1991. She is a DCC alum and was the executive producer on the CMT (Country Music Television) series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Kelli Finglass is currently overseeing the training camp for the 2024-2025 roster of America's Sweethearts. As she says in the Netflix docuseries:

"The new energy from the rookie candidates to the veteran candidates, that’s what keeps me energized through the years."

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Who is the director of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders starring in America's Sweethearts?

Kelli Finglass is a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders alum from the mid-1980s. She began cheerleading in 1984, and after becoming a veteran for four years, she became the first cheerleader to be automatically called back for her fifth year without needing to re-audition.

In 1991, she was hired by Charlotte Jones to become the new director of the cheerleading squad, a position she's retained since. For the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' aspirants, Kelli was seen as a demanding manager who pushed them hard.

In a 2013 episode of the CMT series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, Kelli had put four veteran cheerleaders on probation for exceeding their audition weight.

The Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders showed her working very closely with head choreographer Judy Trammell to manage every aspect of the cheerleaders' professional lives, from their rehearsals to their dance routines. Finglass spoke very respectfully of Judy, calling her "an iconic '80s cheerleader."

Judy was also an exacting taskmaster, though she admitted that she actually admired the standards the new generation of cheerleaders set for themselves:

"In 1980, when I auditioned, 2,000 girls showed up. When you see old videos of it now, it’s funny to watch. We wore little shorts sets and heels. I don’t think that in those days, the girls were as technically trained. The girls now are far more superior than what we had."

At the end of the docuseries, Kelli admitted that being a part of America's Sweethearts was not a job that would last forever, but she still hoped that it would serve as a transformative experience for those who made the cut. In her own words:

"What the girls can't forget is, this won't last forever. But the most important thing you can do is be grateful, because it's so dramatic to go from every hour of every day being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader to turning in your uniform tomorrow and wondering "What am I?". But that's the reality."

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What is Kelli Finglass doing now?

Kelli Finglass recently attended the wedding of her daughter, Samantha Finglass. In addition to overseeing the training of the new DCC roster, she is also on Cameo, where fans can commission personalized video messages from her.

Finglass is also responsible for branching out the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders beyond the NFL games through the company DCC Productions, which caters to various events such as the NCAA and International Hockey League.

DCC Productions has also secured engagements with corporate clients such as Sports Illustrated, American Airlines, and J.C Pennery.

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America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders gave a deep, candid insight into the nature of Kelli Finglass's management of the cheerleading squad. The docuseries is available on Netflix.