LOS ANGELES, CA – November 14, 2023 – On a night dedicated to the legendary Whitney Houston, Barry Williams soared to fan-favorite status with his heartfelt and energetic performance, earning him the top spot on the leaderboard for the first time this season. The “Dancing With the Stars” stage transformed into a celebration of Houston’s iconic music, with the remaining seven couples showcasing their moves to some of her greatest hits.
Williams, best known for his role as Greg Brady on the beloved sitcom “The Brady Bunch,” delivered a powerful and emotional rendition of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” channeling Houston’s energy and stage presence. The judges praised his performance, with Carrie Ann Inaba calling it “his best dance yet” and Len Goodman noting his “commitment and determination.”
Despite facing stiff competition, Williams’ performance resonated with viewers, who voted him the fan-favorite of the night. This marks a significant turnaround for the actor, who had been struggling to connect with the audience in previous weeks. His performance on “Whitney Houston Night” proved that he has the potential to go all the way, and he is now a serious contender for the mirrorball trophy.
In addition to Williams’ standout performance, the night also saw some other impressive dances. Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart delivered a passionate and athletic contemporary routine to “I Will Always Love You,” while Wayne Brady and Lindsay Arnold showcased their comedic timing with a fun and flirty cha-cha to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).”
The judges were also impressed with Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy’s rumba to “I Have Nothing,” praising their chemistry and connection. However, they had some critiques for Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas’s samba to “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay,” noting that it lacked some of the energy and passion they had seen in previous weeks.
After a night of memorable performances, the results of the judges’ scores and the fan vote were revealed. The final six couples who will move on to the next round of the competition are:
- Wayne Brady and Lindsay Arnold
- Gabby Windey and Val Chmerkovskiy
- Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart
- Shangela and Gleb Savchenko
- Heidi Klum and Artem Chigvintsev
- Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas
Next week, the remaining couples will face the daunting task of performing two dances in one night. With the competition heating up, it’s anyone’s game as to who will make it to the finals.
About Dancing With the Stars
“Dancing With the Stars” is a two-time Emmy Award-winning reality show that pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers. The couples compete against each other in a series of dance challenges, and the couple with the lowest combined score from the judges and the audience is eliminated each week. The show is currently in its 31st season and airs on ABC Mondays at 8:00 PM ET/PT.