Why America's Sweethearts' Dayton 'Moved On' From DCC Hopes After 3 Cuts
America's Sweethearts:Dallas Cowboys Cheerleadersstar Dayton Bramhall's journey to dance for the iconic NFL team is officially over.
"It's been a year, so I feel great. My life has completely changed in the last year, like, new job, new career, new city [and] I have a boyfriend now. Life has changed completely," Dayton, 28, said on the Friday, June 26, episode of the "Baddie Besties" podcast. "I think when I said I was done auditioning, I really meant I was done."
As fans saw in America's Sweethearts season 3, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders director Kelli Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell cut Dayton ahead of training camp for the 2025-2026 season. Dayton, who has failed to make the team twice before, is the daughter of team associate choreographer and former DCC cheerleader Shelly Bramhall.
While Shelly was overwhelmingly emotional that her daughter's dreams were dashed, Dayton proclaimed in a confessional that she was done trying to make the team.
"I really put it behind me at that moment and I just, kind of, moved on from there," Dayton said on Friday. "I feel really content this time around … and fulfilled to say the least. I did what I needed to do. I worked my butt off all year. In between the last time I was in training camp [and] the last time I auditioned for finals, I worked so hard and that's all I could do."
According to Dayton, she simply wanted to try "as much as [she] could" and her best.
"I gave it my all and it didn't work," she acknowledged. "So, I'll use my abilities somewhere else, and that's what I've been doing and it's been great."
The DCC is currently in training camp, where Judy and Kelli's teams are whittling down the cheerleading hopefuls to set their roster for the 2026-2027 NFL season. Dayton, for her part, opted against trying out.
"I was encouraged to come back," Dayton alleged on Friday's podcast episode. "My mom and I separately had conversations with staff of me returning and trying again because it was told there was a place for me there, I just had to work for it."
She continued, "[They told me that] it wasn't impossible for me to make the team. I had to really work for it. I was given a lot of feedback because of who my mom is and they expected a lot out of me, and while that seems like it could be a lot of pressure, I actually appreciate that."
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This story was originally published June 28, 2026 at 4:14 PM.