There are nights on Dancing With the Stars that make you hold your breath, and then there are nights that make you reach for a tissue. Dedication Night is shaping up to be both. The ABC competition series is getting ready to turn the ballroom into a place where every step carries a story, every lyric feels like a letter, and every dancer dances for someone who matters more than a trophy ever could. The first look at this emotionally charged evening was revealed by ABC during the Thursday, October 13 episode of the Dancing With the Stars Official Podcast, with some details still expected to be unveiled by former contestant Andy Richter, who knows a thing or two about the magic of this show. The timing couldn’t feel more poignant. Just as viewers were still processing the departure of Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, the show is ready to remind us why we fall in love with these celebrities in the first place. It’s not just about perfect timing or crisp technique. It’s about watching someone open their heart wide open on live television, hoping the person they love feels it across the room, across the country, or even across the veil of memory. Dedication Night is that rare episode where the music hits differently, where the judges soften, and where the audience stops checking scores and starts checking their own emotions.
Before we dive into the emotional dance card, let’s pause for the moment that set the tone. Guillermo Rodriguez, the beloved sidekick from Late Night, may have left the competition, but he didn’t leave without grace. After being eliminated on Super Bowl Night, he shared a warm and humble reflection on his time in the ballroom. “I had a lot of fun, it was great,” Rodriguez said, smiling through the sting of saying goodbye. He went out of his way to thank his professional partner, Witney Carson, for teaching him how to dance. It was a simple, genuine moment that reminded us all that this show is about human connection as much as it is about choreography. Rodriguez may not have taken home the mirrorball, but he took home something maybe more lasting: the experience of being guided by someone patient, talented, and kind. His exit clears the stage for a night that promises to be filled with even more vulnerability. Because if Rodriguez taught us anything, it’s that a contestant’s journey isn’t measured only by scores but by how much they’re willing to give. And on Dedication Night, everyone is ready to give everything—for the people who shaped them, supported them, challenged them, and loved them.
The evening’s first batch of performances reads like a love letter to family, and it’s impossible not to feel the warmth already radiating from the pairings. Tatyana Ali, beloved from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will glide through a Viennese waltz to “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am” by Nancy Wilson. Her dedication is still being kept under wraps, which adds a little tease to the evening, but knowing Ali’s elegance and emotional depth, this dance is bound to be a stunning mix of old-school romance and new-school vulnerability. Then there’s Tyler Cameron, the Bachelorette alum who has won hearts with his charm. He’ll join Sharna Burgess for a contemporary routine set to Ed Sheeran’s heartbreakingly beautiful “Supermarket Flowers.” If you know that song, you know you’re going to need a tissue. Tyler is dedicating this dance to mothers everywhere, and there’s something about a strong, athletic man channeling that much tenderness that has a way of hitting you right in the chest. Meanwhile, Jenna Dewan is bringing her signature poise to a Viennese waltz with Val Chmerkovskiy. They’ll dance to “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers, and the dedication is deeply personal—to her mom, Nancy. You can already picture Jenna’s eyes glistening as she moves across the floor, every turn a thank-you, every lift a tribute to the woman who raised her. Ezra Frech, who has already inspired so many with his resilience and spirit, will perform a contemporary routine with Daniella Karagach. The song is “Bloodline” by Mon Rovia, and it’s dedicated to his mother, Bahar. For a young man who has overcome so much, dancing for his mom in front of millions will be a moment of pure, unfiltered love. And Amber Glenn, the Olympic gold medalist, is dancing a contemporary piece with Pasha Pashkov to Sia’s “Breathe Me.” This one is for her sister, Brooke. There’s a particular kind of bond between siblings that doesn’t always make it to the spotlight, so watching Amber translate that into movement is going to be something special.
Then the mood shifts, and the lineup gets even more colorful and deeply personal. Maura Higgins, the reality star known for her fierce personality, is ready to unleash a paso doble with Mark Ballas. But this isn’t just any paso doble—it’s dedicated to Ireland, her home. The song? “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys. You can already hear the bagpipes and feel the stomp of the floor. Maura will bring the fire and pride of her homeland into every sharp turn and powerful stance. It’s going to be less of a dance and more of a warrior cry, and honestly, we’re here for it. Jackson Olson, the athlete and relative newcomer to the ballroom, will take on a quickstep with Emma Slater to the timeless classic “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole. His dedication is to his mom, Laura, and there’s something so sweet about choosing a song this joyful and classic for the woman who likely supported every dream he ever had. It’s a celebration, not a lament, and it’s exactly the kind of energy that makes Dedication Night feel balanced—not all tears, but also gratitude for the people who believed in us early. Harry Shum Jr., who so many of us remember from Glee and his dazzling screen presence, is dedicating his foxtrot to his wife, Shelby. He’s dancing with Jenna Johnson to “Stop This Train” by John Mayer. The song itself is about wanting to pause time, to hold onto the moments that matter most, and that’s exactly what Harry seems to want to do with his partner. Watch for this dance to be tender, nostalgic, and overflowing with marital sweetness. And then there’s Julia Stiles, the actress who has always carried a quiet intensity with her. She’s performing a contemporary routine with Ezra Sosa to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli, and the dedication is enough to break your heart: it’s in honor of her late costar Heath Ledger. This is the kind of tribute that goes beyond dance. It’s memory, grief, gratitude, and love all wrapped into one sweeping number. The song feels hauntingly beautiful in this context—an enduring gaze, a fond remembrance, a way of saying that some people never truly leave us.
What makes this particular Dedication Night so powerful is the way it weaves together so many different kinds of love. There’s mother love everywhere you look: Tyler Cameron honoring mothers everywhere, Jenna Dewan dancing for her mom Nancy, Ezra Frech moving for Bahar, and Jackson Olson celebrating Laura. There’s sister love in Amber Glenn’s tribute to Brooke. There’s romantic love in Harry Shum Jr.’s foxtrot to his wife Shelby. There’s family love in Connor Wood’s Viennese waltz with Rylee Arnold, dedicated to his dad, Pete, and set to the gentle, nostalgic “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. That song has a way of making you feel like you’re sitting in a dimly lit bar, surrounded by old friends, remembering all the people who made you who you are. For Connor to dance that with his father in mind is going to be a moment of quiet, heartfelt connection. And there’s love for a heritage in Maura Higgins’s Ireland-inspired paso doble. But perhaps the most enduring thread is the love that continues after loss—Julia Stiles dancing for Heath Ledger, Tyler choosing a song that carries so much grief and gratitude, and even the slower, softer songs that seem chosen to make the dancers and the audience feel safe enough to be vulnerable. Dedication Night is a reminder that dance is a language for what words can’t always carry. It’s the extra beat in a hug, the release of a held breath, the courage to look someone in the eye and say everything without opening your mouth. No matter who goes home at the end of the night, these performances will live in the memory long after the scores are added up and the glitter is swept away.
So mark your calendars, because Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, and this is one episode you absolutely do not want to watch alone. Grab a loved one, or at least a box of tissues, because the ballroom is about to become a very emotional place. Whether you’re tuning in for the choreography, the costumes, the judges, or just the chance to see your favorite celebrity in a whole new light, Dedication Night promises to be the kind of television that makes you feel a little more human. It’s a night that reminds us why we watch reality competition shows in the first place: not just to see who wins, but to see people risk their hearts in front of millions. And in a world that can feel so divided and loud, there’s something deeply comforting about watching a contestant choose a song for their mother, or their wife, or their late friend, and pour every ounce of their effort into making that person proud. That’s the real magic of Dancing With the Stars. It’s not just a show about celebrities learning to dance. It’s a show about love, memory, and the things we carry with us when we step into the spotlight. So when the music starts on Tuesday, and the first couple takes the floor with trembling hands and hopeful eyes, remember that they’re not just dancing for the judges. They’re dancing for someone they love—and maybe, just for a moment, they’re dancing for all of us, too.
