Getting cut from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is the kind of moment that would make most people hang up their boots for good. Emily Awbrey, one of the breakout stars of“America’s Sweethearts,”got that news in 2025. She admitted she fell into a rut and feared auditioning again, mostly because failing twice in front of the whole country felt unbearable.
The turnaround came through her teammates. Faith Ward and Taylor Altieri encouraged her to try again, with Taylor letting her stay during the visit and Faith performing the very dream Emily had lost. Those two, as Emily put it, lit that fire in her. She stopped feeling sorry for herself, went to the studio and gym every single day, and ran to AC/DC’s“Thunderstruck”as a form of exposure therapy. She says she skipped traditional therapy and instead committed to her own mindset shift.
Now she’s a member of the 2026-2027 squad and partnering with Dr. Pepper on a collectible honoring the DCC uniform, crafted with Dallas sculptor Brad Oldham and longtime seamstress Meagan Tate. Who deserves the biggest hype for helping you bounce back after a setback? Drop a name in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.