Dedication Night on Dancing With the Stars delivered something genuinely special this week. Tatyana Ali performed a Viennese waltz to Nancy Wilson’s“(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,”singing the vocals herself, all in honor of James Avery, the actor who played her father, Uncle Phil, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Avery passed away in 2013, and Ali made sure every detail of the routine reflected the craftsman he taught her to be.
The moment came with a bonus reunion: Alfonso Ribeiro, her former co-star and the current DWTS co-host, joined her in rehearsals to help shape the tribute. Ali described Avery as“very much a father figure for all of us,”while Ribeiro called him“the most lovable, charismatic, intelligent person.”The performance earned a 32 out of 40, with Bruno Tonioli telling Ali she looked like she was“floating on the wings of your guardian angel.”
After a week of controversy surrounding the show, this tribute brought the focus back to what fans love about Fresh Prince and the people who made it. So did you catch the performance live, or did the clips wreck you after the fact? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.