Allison Holker is thanking fans for all of their love and support following the tragic death of her husband, Stephen “tWitch” Boss.
The former “Dancing With the Stars” pro shared a lengthy video message to Instagram on Saturday in which she addressed the “very challenging and emotional” time she and her family have experienced over the past few months.
“You guys have brought so much hope and inspiration to us by sharing stories and memories and moments in different ways Stephen impacted your life, and it’s brought us so much hope and inspiration,” Holker, 35, began.
“He was someone who was just beautiful. He lived his life from love and he made you feel a certain way. My family and I have always said we wanted to make sure that our purpose was lived out by bringing joy to people.”
Allison Holker shared a lengthy video message to Instagram over the weekend, thanking fans for their support following the death of husband Stephen “tWitch” Boss.allisonholker/Instagram
Holker added that while things are “going to feel a little different” now, she knows that’s her new “purpose” moving forward.
“We’ll still do that to this day, and hope that we can remember the feeling that he gave us and remember the we can still move from there,” she promised.
“I will always be there for you guys. I appreciate you guys being there for us at this moment. It goes a really far way for us,” she continued. “So thank you, and I hope you guys remember how special you are and how much of an impact you make around the world, and continue to move from there. We love you guys.”
“You guys have brought so much hope and inspiration to us,” she said in the clip.Getty Images
“You guys have brought so much hope and inspiration to us,” she said in the clip.Getty Images
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“You guys have brought so much hope and inspiration to us,” she said in the clip.Getty Images for Disney
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Plenty of Holker’s celebrity friends took to the comments section to show their support, including “Step Up” star Jenna Dewan who wrote, “Wrapping you and your family in love always ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
“❤️❤️❤️so much love to you and your family,” Maddie Ziegler chimed in, with Derek Hough adding, “We love you Allison ❤️.”
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” Holker said in a statement to People at the time. “Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him.”
She added, “He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.”
Boss is survived by Holker and their three kids: Weslie, Maddox and Zaia.Getty Images
Boss is survived by Holker and their three kids: Weslie, Maddox and Zaia.Getty Images
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Holker and DeGeneres, 65, also recently paid tribute to Boss at his celebration of life ceremony in Los Angeles earlier this month.
“He chose love, grace and kindness. And he deserves to be celebrated,” Holker gushed.
Boss is survived by Holker and her 14-year-old daughter, Weslie, as well as the couple’s son Maddox, 6, and daughter Zaia, 3.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
The “Dancing With the Stars” pros welcomed their first child on Jan. 10.
“Our world is forever changed 🤍,” Johnson announced on Instagram Thursday alongside a photo of her hand and Chmerkovskiy’s hand with their newborn grabbing her finger.
Chmerkovskiy, 36, and Johnson, 28, have been together since 2015 and struggled through “two years of infertility and hundreds of negative tests” while trying to start their family, the new mom revealed in a July Instagram post.
The ABC personalities had even “stopped trying to conceive for about six months to mentally/emotionally give” themselves a break when Johnson unexpectedly found out she was pregnant.
Johnson announced the news with a sweet Instagram post.Instagram/Jenna Johnson Chmerkov
She called her pregnancy her “biggest dream come true” in her baby bump debut.
“Baby Chmerkovskiy coming this January!” Johnson captioned an Instagram photo of Chmerkovskiy kissing her belly.
“My heart has grown beyond comprehension while growing this little miracle inside of me,” the then-expectant star continued. “We can’t wait to meet our precious angel.”
The “Dancing With the Stars” pros announced in July that they were expanding their family.Getty Images for Sandals Resorts
Johnson’s fellow “DWTS” pros shared their love at the time, from Sharna Burgess to Julianne Hough.
“Girl … get ready to meet the love of your life. You’re gonna be amazing ❤️ also you look STUNNING,” Burgess, 37, wrote, while Hough, 34, gushed that she was “so so happy” for the couple.
Johnson called her pregnancy a “dream come true” via Instagram.jennajohnson/Instagram
Johnson’s sister-in-law, Peta Murgatroyd, also commented, writing, “I love youuuuuuuuuuuuu!! I’m so emotional now!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh you will be the best Momma!!!!❤️❤️.”
When Chmerkovskiy posted an ultrasound photo that same day, Murgatroyd, 36, called their expanding family “the beginning of everything.”
The dancers have been married since 2019.jennajohnson/Instagram
The couple tied the knot in April 2019, and the “So You Think You Can Dance” alum told Us Weekly the following year that her husband wanted a baby “very badly.”
She explained, “That’s our future. That’s what we want when that’s gonna happen.”
In October 2021, Johnson gave the magazine an update, saying that timing was “everything” and that she still “wanted a family.”
Chris Brown on “Dancing With the Stars?” He would “kill” it, according to Jordin Sparks.
Following her elimination from the dance competition show Monday night, the singer told Page Six that she would love to see the “King of R&B” compete for the mirrorball trophy one day.
“To see him [dance] ballroom? And then he would do contemporary and he’d just – he’d kill everything. It would be amazing,” Sparks gushed, with her pro partner, Brandon Armstrong, agreeing.
“You dance on tour, you’ve danced with some of my homies,” Armstrong added. “You’re a bad boy but come on. Let’s see you out in the ballroom floor. That would be nuts! That’d be nasty.”
Other famous friends that Sparks said she would love to see in the ballroom include Chris Tucker – “he would be so good!” she raved – along with her “A Christmas Treasure” co-star Michael Xavier and his wife, Eddie Murphy’s 32-year-old daughter, Bria Murphy.
The two collaborated on the 2008 hit “No Air.”M. Phillips
Sparks, 32, and Brown, 33, go way back, as they famously collaborated on the 2008 hit “No Air,” which was featured on her self-titled debut album.
The “American Idol” alum performed a contemporary routine to the track during the show’s “Prom Night”-themed episode, which received raving reviews from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli at the time.
Unfortunately, Sparks and Armstrong didn’t have as much luck this week during “Halloween Night.” The dance duo found themselves in the bottom two with Heidi D’Amelio and Artem Chigvintsev, whom head judge Goodman ultimately voted to save from elimination.
“I’m actually very happy. The judges have been amazing to me all season, and I’ve grown so much on this journey,” Sparks told reporters via Zoom after the show. “I am sad to go home but I’m really happy to sleep in tomorrow and to get a massage, to get some physical therapy and to spend time with my son. There’s lots of silver linings.”
She continued, “It gets tougher as the weeks go by and everybody is good … so, you know, it’s tough. I was watching the judges, actually, and they really were grappling with who they wanted to save. So I’m happy I made it a difficult decision for them.”
Sparks said she’s not letting the elimination get her down, however, as she’s already planning to make a special announcement about her next big move on Tuesday.
“I honestly feel like this journey has really kind of opened me up in a way. I’m still the same person that I was but I feel new, I feel limitless almost, like the energy has kind of shifted,” she explained.
“I’m about to step into a really amazing new chapter. Which, I have an announcement tomorrow about new music. I didn’t plan it this way but I gotta let you know anyway! And I am very, very excited.”
As for Brown, it’s no question that the “Run It!” singer – who has often credited the late Michael Jackson as his inspiration – would be an amazing contender for “DWTS” with his impressive dance and stage skills alone.
However, the audience reaction to producers actually casting Brown could be a different story due to his controversial past.
The entertainer has found himself battling a long list of legal issues over the years, including an infamous arrest in 2009 for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna. Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault and completed probation in 2015 for the incident, in addition to community service and domestic-violence counseling.
“Dancing With the Stars” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+.
The full lineup for Season 31 of “Dancing With the Stars” is finally here!
Following months of anticipation, “Good Morning America” announced the official cast list on Thursday, after revealing the first two contestants – TikTok star Charli D’Amelio and her mother, Heidi D’Amelio – one day prior.
From the show’s first drag queen to a fan-favorite “Housewife” and “Legally Blonde” star, here are all of the celebrities who will be vying for the mirrorball trophy.
“What? Like, it’s hard?” The 50-year-old actress, who portrayed Vivian in “Legally Blonde,” is bringing her undeniable star power to the ballroom.
Blair, whose other famous projects include “Cruel Intentions,” “The Sweetest Thing,” and “Hellboy,” will have a unique experience this season due to her battle with multiple sclerosis. The actress has been vocal about her journey ever since her diagnosis in 2018, including in her new memoir, “Mean Baby.”
“It really was the gift I received when I was vulnerable about the MS,” Blair previously said during a “Today” show appearance. “There’s no real room for guilt.”
After previously turning down the offer to do “DWTS” in 2016, the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star finally said “yes” for Season 31.
Her ballroom debut will come just weeks after she said “I do” to Luis “Louie” Ruelas in a lavish New Jersey wedding. The reality star, 50, follows in the footsteps of a number of “Housewives” who have previously competed on the show, including Lisa Rinna, Kenya Moore, Erika Jayne, Nene Leakes and Lisa Vanderpump.
Fresh off filming for “The Bachelorette” and straight into rehearsals for “DWTS,” the reality star, 31, certainly isn’t wasting any time.
Windey has big shoes to fill, as former “Bachelorette” stars Hannah Brown and Kaitlyn Bristowe won the mirrorball trophy in Season 28 and Season 29, respectively. However, we’re guessing her five-year stint as a Denver Broncos cheerleader will help put her on the leaderboard in the weeks to come.
Gym, tan and… learning how to quickstep. The “Jersey Shore” star, 34, will also be one to watch, seeing as he spent plenty of time onstage (shirtless, nonetheless) dancing for Chippendales in Las Vegas.
“He was definitely one of the best-received guest hosts we have had, bringing in tons of ‘Jersey Shore’ and ‘Double Shot at Love’ fans,” a rep for the male striptease show previously told Page Six. “He basically sold out almost every performance.”
She won Season 6 of “American Idol” when she was just 17 years old. Can the Grammy-nominated singer, now 32, top that and take home another reality TV competition win?
Sparks is definitely in good hands with her pro partner, who has previously worked with singing legends like Tinashe (Season 27) and Supremes icon Mary Wilson (Season 28).
We didn’t get an NFL star this season, but we did get a former football player’s wife! The country singer, who is married to Eric Decker, will be showing off her stage skills in the ballroom, and we already know her game face will be on.
In addition to music, Jessie James, 34, is also a TV personality, fashion designer, beauty and lifestyle influencer/entrepreneur, and a two-time New York Times bestselling author.
The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star, 40, is of course no stranger to making history, however. Shangela previously made headlines for being the first person to walk the red carpet in drag at the Oscars for her supporting role in “A Star Is Born,” which starred Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The activist currently stars on HBO’s “We’re Here.”
The beloved actress, 71, portrayed Kris Munroe in “Charlie’s Angels,” taking on the role from Farrah Fawcett in 1977.
Since then, she’s appeared in a variety of TV shows like “Ballers,” “Ray Donovan,” “NCIS,” and “American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson.” She also sang and danced as Mrs. Claus in the Disney musical “The Search For Santa Paws: Santa Pups 2” and as Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun!” on Broadway.
As for her partner, he’s returning as a pro for the first time since Season 21. His “DWTS” history dates all the way back to the show’s first season when he competed with “Bachelorette” alum Trista Sutter.
The actor, 51, is best known for playing Smith Jerrod – a boyfriend of Kim Cattrall’s character, Samantha – on HBO’s iconic “Sex and the City” series. He also reprised his role for both feature films, “Sex and the City” and “Sex and the City 2.”
Other notable projects include “Midnight, Texas,” “House M.D.,” “CSI,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “Charmed.”
Seeing as the fitness model, who is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mildred Patricia Baena, is paired with the show’s reigning mirrorball champion, fans will likely have their sights set high on him being an early frontrunner.
In addition to heath and fitness, the 24-year-old has a passion for acting and has starred in projects like “Called To Duty: The Last Airshow,” “Terminator 2 remake with Joseph Baena: Bad to the Bone” and “Bully High.”
The actor, 43, is best known for portraying Teddy Montgomery on “90210,” and making history as the show’s first and only LGBTQ+ character that was a series regular.
His casting comes one season after former co-star Lori Loughlin’s youngest daughter, Olivia Jade Giannulli, competed and placed eighth with pro Val Chmerkovskiy.
The “CODA” star, 32, has already proved he’s a force on the big screen, but will his acting chops translate to the dance floor?
With help from his pro partner, we have no doubt Durant will compete for his righteous spot on the leaderboard. In addition to starring in the Oscar-winning film, Durant’s other credits include “Switched at Birth,” “You,” and “Silent Notes.”
If the Emmy Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated comedian’s previous work is any indication of success, the rest of the cast should be prepared to step it up.
His own accomplishments aside, the “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” star, 50, is paired with the pro who won Season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro, who is returning to the show to co-host with Tyra Banks. We have a feeling the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum may already be rooting for Brady and Carson to take home the win this season.
The weather anchor’s last name says it all: Champion.
His impressive resume includes a combined 25-year career on WABC-TV and “Good Morning America,” along with work at the Weather Channel and Eyewitness News.
Champion, 61, is also the recipient of a Peabody Award and multiple Emmys. Mix that with Burke’s two “DWTS” wins and we’ve got ourselves a solid partnership.
The TikTok star, 18, will be paired with the fan-favorite veteran dancer, who is returning as a pro for the first time since Season 25. Ballas previously won the mirrorball with Kristi Yamaguchi (Season 6) and Shawn Johnson (Season 8).
In addition to what will surely be a legendary partnership, Charli and her mom’s joint appearance on the show will mark the first time a mother-daughter duo has competed against each other for the coveted trophy.
While the D’Amelio matriarch, 50, will always support her daughter, fans can still expect some friendly competition between the pair.
“It would be nice to have some smack talk, but she is also still my mother,” Charli teased on “GMA,” adding that she hopes to include “a nod” to her TikTok moves this season.
Season 31 kicks off Monday, Sept. 19 on Disney+.ABC
As previously reported, Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Len Goodman will be back at the judges’ table this season. The show will also see the return of a full troupe, featuring dancers like Ezra Sosa, Kateryna Klishyna and “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 17 winner, Alexis Warr.
The all-new season of “Dancing With the Stars” premieres Monday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+.
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