Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell are setting the record straight about where things stand with longtime colleague Shelly Bramhall after her daughter, Dayton Bramhall, was cut once again from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) squad.
Dayton returned to the high-stakes audition process for season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the Netflix docuseries offering a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic team. She previously tried out at age 19 on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.
Despite the disappointment of being cut a second time, both Finglass and Trammell say their friendship and professional relationship with Shelly remains strong. 
“Dayton was in my daughter’s wedding,” Finglass revealed, referring to her daughter Samantha Finglass McKean’s wedding in June 2024. This personal connection highlights the closeness between the families.
Trammell added, “Shelly’s definitely a good friend of ours besides a coworker, so we do feel for her and how she struggled with this.”
Shelly Bramhall, a former DCC herself, has long served as the team’s associate choreographer. Watching her daughter go through the rigorous selection process again—and being cut—was emotionally challenging.
Still, Dayton remains committed to her goal of joining the team. Finglass noted, “She’s in the trial process now for another year, and we’ll wish her the best.”
Both Finglass and Trammell acknowledge that this season is particularly emotional. “I noticed that I’m crying right off the bat,” Finglass shared. “Watching some episodes again, it just hit harder this year.”
Trammell praised director Greg Whiteley for capturing new emotional depths. “Every year it’s a new group of girls and they all come with new stories. I think he told them very well.”
Reflecting on the show also gave both women an opportunity for self-growth. “We watch them as fans and critics of ourselves,” Finglass said. “I find myself thinking if there’s something I could have done better.”
Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is now streaming on Netflix, giving fans a closer look at the trials, triumphs, and team dynamics that shape one of the NFL’s most iconic squads.
