Dancing with the Stars’ Dedication Night called for tissues.
The remaining nine couples returned to the ballroom on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and danced to songs that dedicate to someone who impacted their life.
Model Brooks Nader dedicated her Salsa with partner Gleb Savchenko to her three sisters, who she referred to as her “built-in best friends” in an Oct. 12 Instagram video.
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“We grew up all together watching Dancing with the Stars in Louisiana, so it holds a very special place in our heart,” Brooks, 28, said. “And I love the feeling of stepping out on that dance floor and I really want them to experience it. I also want them to be able to dance with Gleb because they’ve been begging me, not leaving me alone about it.”
Actress Chandler Kinney, who's been a frontrunner since Week 1, dedicated her Contemporary routine with Brandon Armstrong to her mom.
“She is my rock, she is the calm in the storm for me and she is just ride or die for life,” Pretty Little Liars: Summer School star, 24, said in an Oct. 12 Instagram video. “She’s been through all the ups and downs and I genuinely would not be a fraction of who I am today without her, so she’s the first person that came to mind for me to dedicate this piece to. I just hope that I make her proud.”
Dedication Night will also saw former DWTS pro Mark Ballas join as a guest judge alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
Bachelor Joey Graziadei and former NFL player Danny Amendola ended the night at the top of the leaderboard, while Dwight Howard found himself at the bottom of the batch after dancing to an original song he wrote for his children.
Read on to find out how it went when Bachelorette Jenn Tran paid homage to Taylor Swift, Ilona Maher fought for redemption and Phaedra Parks got emotional for her mom.
1 Pair Might Have 'Manifested' Their Elimination 'Mistakenly'
1 hr 42 min ago
Between the viewers' votes and the judges' scores, Brooks and Gleb, Chandler and Brandon, Dwight and Daniella landed in the bottom three. Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro announced that Brooks and Gleb would be the ones going home.
"I thought we were gonna win," Gleb told Brooks after their elimination. "I had such a blast working with you. You are super talented and I love you."
Julianne asked Brooks if the results shocked her. "I just said, 'Imagine if it was us,' so maybe I manifested it mistakenly," Brooks said.
Next week, the remaining eight couples will work together on team dances during the show's iconic Disney Night.
Jenn Tran Enters Her Taylor Swift Era
2 hours ago
Jenn closed out the night with a Foxtrot to one of pop's biggest names.
"Her music transported me to a different place when I was at my lowest of lows," the Bachelorette, 26, told partner Sasha Farber during rehearsal of Taylor Swift.
The physician assistant student told Sasha how, growing up, her parents had a "volatile relationship." "I remember walking home form school and seeing, like, cop cars in my driveway and feeling scared and alone," Jenn continued.
Ultimately, Taylor taught Jenn, "There's so much strength in being vulnerable and allowing other people to see you for who you really are."
Jenn proved she wouldn't be the prey with her Foxtrot to "The Archer."
"She was moving about like a swift in the air," Bruno said after Jenn and Sasha performed.
Mark told Jenn, "You're improving every week. Keep it going."
Score: 32/40
Ilona Maher Does It Her Way
2 hr 12 min ago
Coming off of a discouraging score on Metal Night, Ilona Maher told partner Alan Bersten during rehearsal, "I felt like, I guess, a failure in a way for disappointing you."
"You're putting so much pressure on yourself," Alan, 30, said to the Olympian, 28.
Ilona chose to dedicate her Rumba to her rugby sevens teammates. "They are my sisters, they are my rocks," she said.
The bronze medalist danced to Yseult's "My Way," which played at the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony.
"That was graceful, that was soft, that was beautiful," Mark said.
Bruno thought Ilona achieved "total redemption." "When the going gets tough, Ilona gets going," he said.
Score: 32/40
Joey Graziadei Becomes the 'King of Ballroom'
2 hr 21 min ago
Joey gave Kelsey an engagement ring during his Bachelor finale, and on Tuesday, Oct. 15, he gave her a leaderboard-topping Viennese Waltz.
"I owe so much to her," Joey said of his fiancée. "I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for her."
During rehearsal, Bruno stopped by and told Joey the Viennese Waltz "should feel like walking on air."
Joey hit the floor to "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims, but he didn't lose many points from the judges.
"You have exceeded my expectations," Bruno said. "I asked for a prince, you have me a king. The king of ballroom."
Carrie Ann called Joey "a phenomenal dancer."
Score: 36/40
Brooks Nader Turns in a 'Mouth-watering Spicy' Salsa
2 hr 29 min ago
Brooks brought in her three younger sisters to learn some moves from Gleb so that they could join her on stage for a Salsa to "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy Williams.
"I went through a really hard divorce and I really saw a different side to them," the Sports Illustrated model said of why she dedicated the dance to her siblings. "They really rallied for me."
During rehearsal, one of Brooks's sisters said to her, "I see why you like him, Brooksy."
In the ballroom, Brooks's sisters helped her kick off the routine before she finished strong with Gleb, 41.
Bruno called the Salsa "mouth-watering spicy."
"You have all the element to be a really, really great dancer,” Mark told Brooks.
Score: 32/40
Derek Hough Dances with 'Beautiful Miracle' Hayley Erbert
2 hr 38 min ago
Before taking the stage with his wife, Derek recalled in a video package how relieved he felt when Hayley woke up in the hospital after undergoing an emergency craniectomy last year.
"She goes, 'What happened? Weren't we just dancing?'" Derek said. "I can't even tell you, just knowing that she was there, she was in there, the relief I felt. She was Hayley. She was my wife. And then the journey began."
Derek recalled Hayley "walking around with a helmet" during her recovery and relearning to dance. "I was just so impressed by her strength," the DWTS judge said. "She is my beautiful miracle."
Hayley credited being "a very stubborn person" with why she wanted to dance again despite her doctors warning her that it might not happen. "I was determined to push myself to the limit," she said.
For their first dance on the show since her surgery, Derek and Hayley danced to Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things." They ended the sweet routine with a hug.
"For me, this dance is just a moment for us to be together again on stage, doing what we love," Derek said. "The fact that were able to dance again is nothing short of a miracle."
Hayley thanked her body for being able to get her to that point. "You never know what you're capable of until something like this, so I'm really proud of myself," she said. "I'm really proud of my body and how I came through this."
Phaedra Parks Proves Why She's Mother
2 hr 55 min ago
Phaedra Parks felt frustrated with her score after Metal Night. "There was no way we deserved a 5," she told partner Val Chmerkovskiy.
On Dedication Night, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 50, chose to honor her mom with a Rumba to Céline Dion's "Because You Loved Me."
"I owe her everything," Phaedra said of her mother, Dr. Regina Bell.
The reality star high-fived her mom in the studio audience after finishing her Rumba.
"You're an amazing communicator, and dance is about communication," Carrie Ann told Phaedra.
Derek tossed out his 5 card, signaling he wouldn't use it on Phaedra, and Mark advised her to "put a little more trust in Val."
Phaedra teared up while talking to co-host Julianne Hough about what her mom means to her.
"I wouldn't be the woman I am if it wasn't for her," the Traitors alum said. "She has sacrificed for me to do all these wonderful things."
Score: 32/40
Dwight Howard Shoots for the Stars
3 hr 9 min ago
Dwight decided to do his Rumba to a song he wrote for his five kids titled "Shoot for the Stars."
"I aways tell them to shoot for the stars and that they can do anything that they believe," the former NBA star, 38, explained.
When Derek stopped by Dwight's rehearsal with Daniella Karagach, he advised the father of five to "feel as much as you can feel."
"When I watch you dance, I can't help but smile," Derek told Dwight after his performance in the ballroom.
However, Mark thought the routine "did lack a little hip action."
Score: 29/40
Danny Amendola Has a Breakthrough
3 hr 20 min ago
Danny Amendola channelled his grief into a Contemporary number dedicated to his late college football coach Mike Leach.
"He was an instrumental character in my life and my career," the former NFL player, 38, explained. "His whole model was to swing your sword. You know, you're gonna go into a sword fight, you really want to get out there and really swing it. Since coach passed, I felt a piece of me missing. I don’t have my rock, I don’t have my guy."
Danny and his partner Witney Carson danced to "Unsteady" by X Ambassadors.
"That was a breakthrough," Carrie Ann declared.
Mark, 38, chimed in, "I agree this is a breakout performance for you."
Derek appreciated that Danny showed viewers how athletic dance can be. "To really commit to it, thank you," Derek said. "Thank you for taking the time to learn, to absorb this.
Score: 36/40
The Gymnast Makes an Impact
3 hr 29 min ago
Coming off of their highest score yet, Stephen Nedoroscik wanted to score his first 9 with partner Rylee Arnold.
The bronze medalist, 25, dedicated his Argentine Tango to men's gymnastics. "I owe all my success to men's gymnastics," he said. "Its' my life."
With the NCAA cutting men's teams, Stephen wanted his dance to "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes to be extra impactful. "Men's gymnastics made me the man that i am today," he said.
The performance, in which the gymnast incorporated his signature pommel horse, brought the ballroom to their feet.
"You are a good student," Bruno, who stopped by Stephen and Rylee's rehearsal, said. "Now you're in business."
Carrie Ann agreed. "That dance had impact," she said. "I mean, I will not forget that."
And Derek gave Stephen his coveted first 9.
Score: 33/40
Chandler Kinney Makes Her Mom Proud
3 hr 43 min ago
After her first week not at the top of the leaderboard, Chandler told Brandon, 30, during rehearsal that they had to “work our booties off” on Dedication Night to get back on top. Derek stopped by the rehearsal to show Chandler how to make sure the Contemporary number displayed a connection to her mom.
“I think it’s important that she connects to this dance to allow America into her heart,” Derek said.
Chandler picked Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” for the routine dedicated to her mother.
“What a beautiful way to start the show,” Derek said.
Bruno, 68, described the dance as “ethereal” and "lyrical," and Carrie Ann, 56, encouraged Chandler to “dig a little deeper and just really let it out.”
Score: 32/40
Joey Graziadei Can't Wait to Demonstrate His Love for Kelsey Anderson
Joey, 29, shared on Instagram Oct. 12 that he'll be performing a Viennese Waltz to "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims for his Bachelor finalist Kelsey, 26.
Ahead of the live show on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the reality star shared on Instagram that he'd been "looking forward to this night since the beginning of my experience" on DWTS and felt elated to make it to Dedication Night to "dedicate a dance to this beautiful woman."
"Kelsey, you mean the world to me," Joey wrote. "The love we have built over this past year has been everything I could have imagined and more. You make each day better, and I hope I make you proud tonight. Love you forever ❤️"
On Oct. 12, DWTS troupe member Hayley Erbert Hough will dance live in the studio for the first time on since being suddenly hospitalized in December 2023 for a cranial hematoma (blood collecting in the skull). In a pre-taped package, her husband Derek recalls the scary moment he learned during the DWTS tour that she couldn’t take the stage.
"I was on stage, and she's supposed to come out. The stage manager walked out and just said, 'Hey, she's not coming on stage.' She was on the side of the stage having full seizures and, essentially, dying,” Derek, 39, said. “It's really hard to even put into words other than just pure fear."
After being rushed to the hospital, Derek learned that Hayley, 30, had a severe brain bleed. The doctor told the pro dancer that his wife “might not make it, and that even if she does make it, she won't be the same person."
