‘Bachelorette’ star Jenn Tran can’t wait to come back to UW-Madison
Jenn Tran, star of “The Bachelorette,” shared her love for UW-Madison in an interview with Hannah Kirby of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Grab a box of Kleenex. You’re going to need it for this week’s episode of “Dancing with the Stars.”
And, not just because another couple was eliminated.
The contestants dedicated their Tuesday night numbers to people who’ve had a huge impact on their lives. Some chose family members, a former football player picked his late coach, and an Olympian honored her team.
But, fellow Swifties will have to step it up after “The Bachelorette” Jenn Tran’s dedication.
Tran, a University of Wisconsin-Madison alum, chose to dedicate her dance this week, a Foxtrot, to Taylor Swift. Tran and her pro dance partner, Sasha Farber, performed it to Swift’s song, “The Archer.”
“Her music transported me to a different place when I was feeling at my lowest of lows,” Tran said on the show.
Tran’s parents had a “volatile” relationship, she said. She openly and vulnerably discussed that throughout her time on “The Bachelorette.” While feeling scared and alone, Tran said, she felt like she had to put on a brave face.
Swift’s music helped Tran realize “there’s so much strength in being vulnerable” and letting others “see you for who you really are.”
“It is really tough to balance dancing and being emotional,” Tran said. “But, I am thankful for Taylor Swift’s music to be able to help me bare my soul in this dance, because it’s my heart on the dancefloor.”
Following Tran and Farber’s performance, judge Derek Hough said: “Jenn, that was beautiful … I just see your constant improvement. It’s so so graceful out there.”
While her arms and hands were better, he said, her shoulder and turns need a little more work.
“I love how wild you are and how you throw your body into it,” said guest judge Mark Ballas, a former “DWTS” pro who won the Mirrorball Trophy three times.
While he would’ve liked the dance to be smoother, he noted Tran’s improvement every week.
Judge Bruno Tonioli called the dance a “well-chosen Swiftie-trot,” adding that Tran moved about like a “Swift in the air.” Despite losing her frame at times, she did great, he said.
“What I love most about you when you dance is how much you trust the process,” judge Carrie Ann Inaba said. “You give it full out. You’re not afraid to fall or be loose.”
But, being this deep into the competition now, Inaba wants to see Tran tighten up and take more ownership of her movements.
Inaba had a warning for Farber. She said she might start calling out lifts again, but said she wouldn’t deduct — this time. Tran appeared quite confused, which co-host Julianne Hough noted.
Tran and Farber received a score of 32 out of 40, with eights from all four judges. That landed them in fourth place for the night, tied with four other duos.
Julianne asked Tran: “If (Taylor Swift) were here tonight, what would you want to say to her?”
“Just thank you for making not only me feel less alone, but everybody else in the world,” Tran said. “She’s a lyrical genius and her music — to be able to reach into somebody’s soul and when they’re in that dark place and to be able to take you out of it — that is such a gift.”
The night was full of moving moments, none greater than when Derek’s wife, dancer Hayley Erbert Hough, returned to the dance floor with her husband less than a year after her close call with death and miraculous recovery journey.
Here’s more on that, as well as a look at the other stars’ performances and who was eliminated at the end of the episode:
Derek Hough, Hayley Erbert Hough in emotional dance
In a package that aired on this week’s episode, Derek opened up about his wife, Hayley, who had a near-death experience after suffering a severe brain bleed last winter. Doctors weren’t sure if she’d be “the same person” after what she endured or if she’d ever be able to walk again.
Not only would she relearn how to walk, she’d make her triumphant return to the ballroom to dance on “DWTS” Tuesday.
Hayley and her husband performed a majestic and moving number to “Beautiful Things (Acoustic)” by Benson Boone. When the chorus rang out, “Don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got” — goosebumps. We’re going to guess there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
“Obviously, this was the most challenging thing I’ve been through in my entire life, physically and mentally,” Hayley said on the show. “It was a lot on all of us as a family. You never know what you’re capable of until you go through something like this. So, I’m really proud of myself. I’m proud of my body how I came through this.”
“We’re all so proud of you,” said Julianne, who’s Derek’s sister and Hayley’s sister-in law.
RELATED: Hayley Erbert returns to ‘DWTS’ with husband Derek Hough after near-death brain bleed
How did the other ‘Dancing with the Stars’ contestants do during Week 4?
TV star Chandler Kinney with pro dancer Brandon Armstrong
- Dance: Contemporary
- Song: “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
- Dedicated to: Kinney’s mother
- Score: 32/40
Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik with pro dancer Rylee Arnold
- Dance: Argentine Tango
- Song: “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
- Dedicated to: Men’s gymnastics
- Score: 33/40
Former NFL player Danny Amendola with pro dancer Witney Carson
- Dance: Contemporary
- Song: “Unsteady (Erich Lee Gravity Remix)” by X Ambassadors
- Dedicated to: Former NCAA head football coach, the late Mike Leach
- Score: 36/40
Former NBA star Dwight Howard with pro dancer Daniella Karagach
- Dance: Rumba
- Song: “Shoot For The Stars” by Dwight Howard
- Dedicated to: Dwight’s children.
- Score: 29/40
‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Phaedra Parks with pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy
- Dance: Rumba
- Song: “Because You Loved Me” by Céline Dion
- Dedicated to: Phaedra’s mother.
- Score: 32/40
Model and cover girl Brooks Nader with pro dancer Gleb Savchenko
- Dance: Salsa
- Song: “Mi Gente” by J Balvin & Willy William
- Dedicated to: Nader’s sisters, who made a dancing cameo at the beginning of the number.
- Score: 32/40
Former ‘Bachelor’ Joey Graziadei, who also has ties to Wisconsin, with pro dancer Jenna Johnson
- Dance: Viennese Waltz
- Song: “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims
- Dedicated to: Graziadei’s fiancée, Kelsey Anderson
- Score: 36/40
Olympics rugby star Ilona Maher with pro dancer Alan Bersten
- Dance: Rumba
- Song: “My Way” by Yseult
- Dedicated to: Maher’s U.S. women’s national rugby sevens team.
- Score: 32/40
Who was eliminated on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Week 4 Tuesday night?
Live votes were combined with judges’ scores to determine who would be eliminated, co-host Alfonso Ribeiro explained.
Brooks Nader was cut at the end of Tuesday night’s episode.
When Nader’s name was called, shock flashed across her face. She said she had joked with her partner earlier about being sent home and thought maybe she accidentally manifested it.
How to watch ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 33
The show is simulcast across both ABC and Disney+ at 7 p.m. CT Tuesdays. It’s available the next day on Hulu.