What to know about Jenna Dewan and Janet Jackson on DWTS
- Surprise message: Janet Jackson sent Jenna Dewan a loving video message before Dewan’s performance on Dancing With the Stars.
- Career connection: Dewan said working with Jackson, including dancing in two of her music videos and on tour, helped launch her career.
- Dance results: Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy scored 28 out of 30 for their jazz routine to “All For You” but were eliminated.
- Next episode: The remaining couples were set to dance twice in the following week’s semifinal.
Jenna Dewan had a special surprise guest on her side on Tuesday night’s (Nov. 10) Dancing With the Stars. The Step Up star and her professional dance partner paid tribute to the show’s Grammy Night theme with a jazz routine to Janet Jackson’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “All For You,” which won Best Dance Recording at the 2002 Grammy Awards.
In the introductory video, Dewan said she was “so excited” about the performance because she remembered dancing with *NSYNC at the 2002 Grammy Awards and how much that appearance meant to her. “It was amazing and it’s the top awards show that you can ever perform at,” she said. Dewan also praised Jackson, saying that working for the singer was “the start of my career.” She recalled dancing in Jackson’s videos for “Doesn’t Really Matter” and “All For You,” as well as performing as a backup dancer on Jackson’s tours. “This is a full-circle moment.”
The connection came full circle after Dewan’s energetic routine to “All For You,” when Jackson made an unannounced appearance on the show in a message honoring her former dancer. “I am so excited. I cannot wait to watch you perform tonight,” Jackson said, wearing oversized round glasses, a black hoodie and a black-and-white “Funkbox NYC” ball cap in a video posted by E! News.
“You’re performing to ‘All For You.’ I feel so honored. ‘All For You!’” Jackson, 60, added with a smile. “I really do feel honored though. I know you’re going to do an incredible job. Weren’t those such fun times we had back then during those days, the All For You tour? I miss you, I love you, I can’t wait to see you tonight, like I said, you’re going to do an incredible job, I know it.”
After earning a perfect 40 the previous week for their quickstep to “Be Our Guest” on Disney Night, Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy performed a jazz routine to “All For You.” The dance featured acrobatic lifts and spins, along with crisp, fluid choreography associated with Dewan and Jackson.
The pair received 28 out of 30 from the judges. Carrie Ann Inaba said the performance felt like “no time has passed at all … I expected greatness and you delivered.” Despite earning the second-highest score of the night and winning their dance battle against Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Dewan and Chmerkovskiy were eliminated at the end of the show.
The following week’s semifinal was scheduled to feature the remaining couples dancing twice. DWTS airs live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.
Watch Dewan’s tribute to Jackson below.
What did Janet Jackson say to Jenna Dewan on DWTS?
Janet Jackson said she was excited to watch Jenna Dewan perform “All For You” and recalled their time together on the tour. Jackson told Dewan she loved her and believed she would do an incredible job.
What song did Jenna Dewan dance to?
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy performed a jazz routine to Janet Jackson’s “All For You” for Grammy Night on Dancing With the Stars.
What score did Jenna Dewan receive on DWTS?
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy received 28 out of 30 for their “All For You” jazz routine, then were eliminated at the end of the show.
Where can viewers watch Dancing With the Stars?
Dancing With the Stars airs live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, and streams the following day on Hulu.
