DWTS Dedication Night: Stars Honor Loved Ones With Emotional Routines

Dancing With the Stars is turning up the emotional stakes for its Season 35 Dedication Night, airing Tuesday, October 20, on ABC and Disney+ ^[1]. The special episode comes after Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson’s exit from the competition, with the remaining couples preparing heartfelt routines to honor those they’ve lost or deeply admire.

Ali is dancing a Viennese waltz to Nancy Wilson’s "(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am" in tribute to James Avery, her onscreen father from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, who passed in 2013 ^[1]. Her partner, Burgess, will join her in a contemporary piece to Ed Sheeran’s "Supermarket Flowers," honoring mothers worldwide.

The Rookie star is dedicating her Viennese waltz to her mother, Nancy, with a performance set to "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers ^[1]. Frech will honor his mother, Bahar, with a contemporary routine to "Bloodline" by Mon Rovia. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles will pay tribute to her sister Brooke with a contemporary dance to Sia’s "Breathe Me".

Reality star and athlete couples are also paying homage: one is performing a paso doble to "I’m Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys in honor of Ireland ^[1], while another will dance a quickstep to Nat King Cole’s "L-O-V-E" for his mother, Laura. Actor and wife Shelby are sharing a foxtrot set to John Mayer’s "Stop This Train", and actress is dedicating her contemporary routine to Heath Ledger with Frankie Valli’s "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You".

The influencer and Arnold will perform a Viennese waltz to Billy Joel’s "Piano Man" in memory of Arnold’s father, Pete ^[1]. All performances will air live on ABC and Disney+ at 8 p.m. ET.

What happens next? The emotional routines could shift the competition’s momentum as judges and fans react to the personal tributes. The story was first reported by Us Weekly.