Ariana Madix fought through the pain of a back injury during the semifinals of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday to earn a spot in the season finale.
The 38-year-old reality star and pro partner Pasha Pashkov, 37, advanced to the season 32 finals during a tense ending of the two-hour show on ABC.
Ariana and Marvel Studios star Xochitl Gomez, 17, were the last two celebrities remaining after scores from the judges and live votes were tabulated.
Show hosts Alfonso Ribeiro, 52, and Julianne Hough, 35, revealed the results in no particular order with Alyson Hannigan, Jason Mraz and Charity Lawson being named as finalists leaving Ariana and Pasha and Xochitl with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy, 37, as the two couples left.
‘The question is which couple will compete in the finale? It’s time for the final result,’ Alfonso said.
Ariana Madix fought through the pain of a back injury during the semifinals of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday to earn a spot in the season finale of the ABC show
Ariana and Xochitl were on the verge of tears as they faced elimination despite stellar semifinals performances from both of them.
Los Angeles native Xochitl looked distraught as her hope of making the finale was in jeopardy despite receiving perfect scores from the judges for both of her dances during the semis.
Ariana also looked despondent as she faced elimination despite earning a perfect score for her second dance after admitting that she was suffering from a painful back injury.
‘Based on the combination of the judges’ scores and viewer votes, the couple dancing in the finale is …both of you!,’ Alfonso announced shocking both Ariana and Xochitl.
‘That’s right. No one is going home tonight. Everyone here has made it to the finale. For the first time ever we’ll see five couples dancing for the trophy,’ Julianne said.
All of the celebrities hugged on stage with Ariana and Xochitl sharing a special embrace.
Julianne interviewed Alyson, 49, about making the finals and asked how she was feeling.
‘This is incredible. I’m so grateful. I can’t talk. I sound like a frog,’ Alyson said.
The 38-year-old reality star and Pasha for their second dance performed a Foxtrot and received perfect scores from the judges
Ariana and Xochitl Gomez looked distraught as they faced elimination at the end of the two-hour episode
Alfonso Ribeiro revealed that both Ariana and Xochitl were advancing while standing next to co-host Julianne Hough
All of the celebrities hugged on stage with Ariana and Xochitl sharing a special embrace
Alfonso then caught up with Ariana who was still recovering from the shock of making the finals after believing that she faced elimination.
‘Ariana, how exciting is it for you that it’s going to be five couples in the finale?,’ Alfonso asked.
‘It’s going to be amazing. I’m so excited to see everybody’s dances. Literally I thought I was going to throw up just now. I’m just really glad,’ said Ariana, who has continued to strive since splitting with longtime boyfriend Tom Sandoval, 40, earlier this year after learning of his months-long affair with her friend Raquel Leviss, 29.
The judges’ scores and viewer voting will carry over to next week’s scores to determine the season champion and winner of the first Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, named in honor of the longtime DWTS head judge who died in April at age 78.
Ariana and Pasha opened the show with a spirited Jive dance to Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars that earned strong applause from the studio audience.
Derek Hough, 38, told Ariana that she was ‘not a runaway baby.’
‘You are running towards the finale with that dance,’ Derek added.
Bruno Tonioli, 68, called Ariana’s performance a ‘jewel of a jive’.
‘This is incredible. I’m so grateful. I can’t talk. I sound like a frog,’ Alyson Hannigan said after making it to the finale
‘It’s going to be amazing. I’m so excited to see everybody’s dances. Literally I thought I was going to throw up just now. I’m just really glad,’ Ariana said after advancing to the finals
Ariana and Pasha opened the show with a spirited Jive dance to Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars that earned strong applause from the studio audience
Bruno Tonioli, 68, called Ariana’s performance a ‘jewel of a jive’
‘I know the girl can’t help it, but I love it,’ Bruno said.
Carrie Ann Inaba, 55, told Ariana that she had all the qualities to win the competition.
‘I see it in you every time you get on the dance floor. But I want to know, what is the injury you’re dealing with? Because sometimes I see you holding back and I don’t know if it’s injury or performance,’ Carrie Ann said.
‘Um, it’s right where my ribs connect to my spine,’ Ariana said as she turned around and pointed to her lower back.
Carrie Ann said the injury explained why she didn’t have full range of motion and told Ariana her dance was fabulous.
Ariana got a score of 28 out of 30 points for her Jive with Bruno giving her a perfect score of 10.
Jason, 46, performed next with pro partner Daniella Karagach, 30, and they danced a Viennese waltz to Jason’s song I Won’t Give Up.
They got straight 9’s from the judges for a score of 27 points.
Xochitl and Val for their first dance performed an upbeat Samba dance to the Gloria Estefan song Samba and earned a perfect score of 30 points from the judges.
Xochitl and Val for their first dance performed an upbeat Samba dance to the Gloria Estefan song Samba and earned a perfect score of 30 points from the judges
The Bachelorette star Charity, 27, and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev, 41, for their first dance performed a Rumba to Love The Way You Lie.
They received a score of 29 out of 30 points.
Alyson and Sasha for their first dance performed a Jive to Footloose by Kenny Loggins and recieved a score of 25 points.
Jason and Daniella for their second dance performed a Paso doble to Diablo Rojo by Rodrigo y Gabriela and earned a perfect score.
Xochitl and Val for their second dance treated viewers to a flawless Waltz to ‘La Vie en rose’ by Lady Gaga.
The teenager delivered an emotional performance that ended with roses being tossed to her on the stage and wiped away tears afterward.
‘You know, I was thinking about how important this season is, what the gravity of the season means to win this season. Because this is the first time we have the Len Goodman Trophy. I tell you right now, Len would have loved that dance. That was absolutely perfect. Perfect,’ Derek said in a voice full of emotion.
Bruno heaped praise on Xochitl as he called her an ‘artist’.
The Bachelorette star Charity, 27, and pro partner Artem Chigvintsev, 41, for their first dance performed a Rumba to Love The Way You Lie.
Val and Xochitl for their second dance treated viewers to a flawless Waltz to ‘La Vie en rose’ by Lady Gaga
The teenager delivered an emotional performance that ended with roses being tossed to her on the stage and wiped away tears afterward.
Alfonso stood behind judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli
‘This girl became the rose in front of our eyes. For somebody so young, your maturity in the interpretation of the role goes beyond dancing. There is dancing and there is artistry. This is what you did, my love. You have an amazing future,’ Bruno said.
Carrie Ann emotionally told Xochitl that her performance really touched her heart.
‘It transported me to another world and I just felt like I never wanted it to end. And that’s so rare after 32 seasons after watching dances and dances. That was stunning,’ Carrie Ann said.
The judges not surprisingly gave Xochitl and Val a perfect score of 30 points.
Charity and Artem for their second dance performed a Quickstep to Boss by Fifth Harmony.
‘When you have fun, we have fun,’ Carrie Ann told Charity after her routine.
Derek stood up and clapped for Charity and praised her for making a difficult dance look easy and fun.
The judges noticed Charity’s continued improvement in showing emotion and rewarded her with a perfect score of 30 points.
Alyson and Sasha for their second dance did a Waltz to Come Away With Me by Norah Jones and received a score of 26 points.
Ariana and Pasha for their second dance delighted the audience with a Foxtrot to Trampoline by Shaed & Zayn.
The Vanderpump Rules star clutched her ribs while being critiqued by the judges and Carrie Ann noted that she was clearly in pain.
Boss energy: Charity and Artem for their second dance performed a Quickstep to Boss by Fifth Harmony
The Vanderpump Rules star clutched her ribs while being critiqued by the judges and Carrie Ann noted that she was clearly in pain
Ariana and Pasha received a perfect score of 30 for their Foxtrot.
The Vanderpump Rules star during rehearsal for their Foxtrot complained of an ‘aching back’ while forcing herself into awkward body posture for the dance.
‘Pain hasn’t stopped me before. It’s certainly not going to stop me now,’ Ariana said.
Dancing With The Stars will return next Tuesday for the season finale.
Dancing With The Stars: Injuries and Health Issues on ABC show
In 2006, season two contestant Romeo Miller withdrew from Dancing With The Stars due to an injury and was replaced by his father Master P.
Pro dancer Derek Hough during season six in 2008 pulled his neck during rehearsal and missed a week of dancing.
Derek during season seven also blacked out during rehearsal after tripping and landing on the back of his head.
Season seven also saw the departure of Misty May-Treanor after she was injured during practice and ruptured her Achilles tendon.
Rehearsal injury: Misty May-Treanor is shown with host Tom Bergeron in October 2008 as she revealed rupturing her Achilles tendon during practice on Dancing With The Stars
Brooke Burke also severely bruised her foot during season seven during camera blocking when she landed hard doing a front flip with pro partner Derek.
Susan Lucci during season seven fractured two bones in her foot, but remained in the competition.
Nancy O’Dell withdrew from season eight due to a torn meniscus, along with Jewel who fractured both her tibias just before the season premiere.
Steve-O also suffered a pulled back muscle during dress rehearsal in season eight and was unable to perform the salsa live.
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay during season nine withdrew from the competition in week three after injuring his foot during rehearsals before the premiere.
Billy Dee Williams was forced to withdraw from season 18 due to a chronic back problem.
Early exit: Billy Dee Williams withdrew early from season 18 due to a chronic back problem
Season 21 saw two contestants drop-out midseason due to health issues with Kim Zolciak departing after suffering a mini-stroke and Tamar Braxton withdrawing after doctors discovered pulmonary embolisms in her lungs.
Pro dancer Mark Ballas during season 22 injured his back during rehearsal and was unable to perform for a week with his partner, UFC fighter Paige VanZant.
Pro dancer Sharna Burgess during season 23 injured her knee during rehearsal with James Hinchcliffe and was out for two weeks.
Pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy during season 24 suffered a calf muscle injury during rehearsal with Heather Morris and was replaced by dance troupe member Alan Bersten during a four-week recovery period.
Christie Brinkley broke her arm during practice five days before the season 28 premiere and was replaced by her daughter Sailor Brinkley-Cook.
Ray Lewis was forced to withdraw from season 28 after suffering three torn tendons in his foot during practice ahead of week three Movie Night. He re-aggravated an injury from 2010 while playing football for the Baltimore Ravens.
Stepping in: Christie Brinkley broke her arm during practice five days before the season 28 premiere of DWTS and was replaced by her daughter Sailor Brinkley-Cook
Country singer Lauren Alaina during Halloween Week of season 28 revealed that she’d been dancing with ‘four hurt ribs,’ having broken one during the first week of the show, and noting the others ‘don’t feel great’.
The Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe suffered an ‘ankle injury’ during week two of season 29, but still performed with pro partner Artem Chigvintsev. She later revealed during Disney Night that she was suffering from tendonitis and shin splints.
Pro dancer Cheryl Burke announced on September 26, 2021, that she had tested positive for COVID-19 before the second episode of season 30. Her celebrity partner Cody Rigsby tested positive for the coronavirus a few days later and they continued competing together, but dancing in separate rooms.
Coronavirus infection: Pro dancer Cheryl Burke announced on September 26, 2021, that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and her pro partner Cody Rigsby tested positive a few days later forcing them to dance in separate rooms
Olympic gymnast Suni Lee during season 30 also bolted after her performance on Queen Night to throw up, but rallied to stay in the competition.
Judge Derek Hough missed the season 30 finale after being diagnosed with a breakthrough case of COVID-19 and was replaced by his sister Julianne.
Pro dancer Daniella Karagach missed Elvis Night after testing positive for COVID-19 along with four crew members after the season 31 premiere in September 2022 on the Disney+ streaming service.
Selma Blair, who revealed in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, withdrew from the competition during season 31 due to ‘excessive bone trauma’ related to her chronic illness.
Valentin Chmerkovskiy missed Halloween Night on season 31 after testing positive for COVID-19 and Mark Ballas performed during the episode after missing rehearsal due to a ‘flare-up’ in his lower back.
Derek was scheduled to perform during the season 31 live finale with his fiancee Hayley Erbert, but she suffered a shoulder injury the day before while preparing and was unable to dance with him.
Pro dancer Artem during season 32 missed Latin Night in October 2023 after testing positive for COVID-19 and was replaced by pro dancer Ezra Sosa who performed with The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson.
Mira Sorvino during Disney100 Night on season 32 performed with her right wrist bandaged after she slipped while rehearsing and was injured with a sprain and possible fracture.
Pro dancer Daniella Karagach sprained her ankle before Music Video Night on season 32 and missed rehearsal while recovering before she performed with Jason Mraz.
Xochitl Gomez sprained her ankle during team dance rehearsal on season 32 after injuring the same foot while filming the 2022 Marvel Studios film ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. She performed a tango the following episode with pro partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy during Whitney Houston Night and they had the first perfect scores of the season.
Ariana Madix suffered a foot injury before Motown Night on season 32 and later also dealt with a back injury where her ribs connect to her spine.
Bad fall: Xochitl Gomez sprained her ankle during team dance rehearsal on season 32 and performed a tango the following episode with pro partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy during Whitney Houston Night and they got the first perfect scores of the season