(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you haven’t watched Monday’s “Dancing With the Stars”)
“Dancing With the Stars” Season 23 is already on to the semifinals, as the road to the Mirror Ball is almost at an end.
As the numbers of contestants dwindled, they all had to do two dances on Monday night before advancing to the next round of the ABC reality competition.
The hopefuls got the support of their family and friends, as they gathered together to dish on the challenges they’ve overcome throughout their lives.
Despite fabulous performances all round, someone had to go — and that was “Little Women L.A.” reality star Terra Jolé.
After behind-the-scenes footage revealed how IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe almost died behind the wheel doing what he loves, the frontrunner was reunited with pro partner Sharna Burgess following her injury.
“You were standing on your hands and everyone else was standing on their feet,” Julianne Hough said of their sultry, blindfolded Argentine tango. “You guys never step back from taking challenges, and this paid off in your favor.”
Earlier in the evening before her elimination, Jolé got high praise from Bruno Tonioli: “We really admire you. You show everybody that with determination and the right frame of mind, you can achieve anything.”
Usually it’s Hough who cries, but on Monday it was Carrie Ann Inaba, who brought on the waterworks first.
Jana Kramer opened up about her parents’ divorce and her abusive ex, before bursting onto the stage for a sprightly quickstep. Following a rough start, “the rest of it was beautiful,” Inaba praised, while Hough said that everyone was “coming out and kicking some booty” tonight.
Calvin Johnson Jr. shared how NFL injuries took a toll on his body and forced him to retire at age 30. “At the end of the day, it’s about quality of life, if you’ve got jacked up fingers you can’t hold your baby,” he said. “Just because I’m retired from football, doesn’t mean I’m retired from life.”
“Your chemistry has been more on fire tonight than I’ve ever seen it,” Hough gushed after his dance. “You went with it with such power, such determination,” Tonioli added, despite the former Detroit Lions star player suffering a few stumbles.
Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez honored her grandmother, who died just days before semifinals night, before blowing away the judges with her elegant and resilient performance.
“You looked like you were flying, gliding like an angel,” Tonioli said. “You executed everything brilliantly to maximum effect.”
And yes, Hough finally cried.
After the trio round, the contestants were each back for one more shot at glory.
See video of Johnson’s performance below.
“Dancing With the Stars” airs on ABC Mondays at 8 p.m.