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Janet Jackson Makes Rare Surprise Appearance on Dancing With the Stars With Message for Jenna Dewan
Janet Jackson is all for Jenna Dewan on Dancing With the Stars.
The "Rhythm Nation" singer surprised the Step Up star with a sweet video message during the dancing competition’s Grammys Night episode on Nov. 10, telling Dewan—who was Jackson's backup dancer in her "Doesn't Really Matter" and "All for You" music videos—that she was "so excited" about the routine.
"I cannot wait to watch you perform tonight," Jackson began. "You're performing to 'All for You.' I feel so honored all for you."
The 60-year-old, who won a Best Dance Recording Grammy for the 2001 smash hit, went on to reminisce about their time working together.
"Weren't those such fun times we had back then during those days for the All for You Tour?" she continued. "I miss you. I love you."
Assuring Dewan, 45, that she and pro dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy will do an "incredible job" with their jazz routine, Jackson added, "Let's get together when I'm back in L.A."
Dewan was visibly moved by the Diff'rent Strokes alum's kind words, wiping tears from her eyes. In fact, the Rookie actress considers Jackson as "the start of my dance career."
"Putting Grammys and Janet Jackson together, this is a full circle moment," she shared in a video package shown before her routine, which ultimately received a total score of 28 out of 30 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. "It makes me really, really happy and emotional that I get this opportunity, so this dance cannot be anything but perfect."
Victoria Sirakova/Getty Images; Disney/Andrew Eccles
And while Jackson has stepped away from the spotlight in recent years to focus on raising her 9-year-old son Eissa Al Mana, who she shares with ex Wissam Al Mana, the pop star is always happy to connect with fans.
“You never get tired of it,” Jackson told Today in 2022. “It’s part of why you do what you do—hoping that you could touch someone in a positive way. Making a difference in someone’s—even if it’s just one person’s life—you’ve accomplished. You’ve succeeded."
For more details about the DWTS cast this season, read on.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa
The 10 Things I Hate About You star had her last dance with her pro partner during Nov. 2's Disney Night.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten
The celebrity chef couldn't cha-cha-chop away the competition and was eliminated during the Sept. 22 episode.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson
What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart
Sadly, the former '90s teen heartthrob did not MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35. He and his pro partner were axed from the competition on Sept. 29.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer stepped up—and out—when she got cut from the competition in a shocking Nov. 10 elimination.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov
The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach
The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills
Though her sister Brooks Nader was the fifth star to be eliminated on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star said goodbye to the competition after her debut episode on Sept. 16.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold
The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star followed his wife Whitney Leavitt's footsteps after her season 34 appearance, but he bid farwell to the season 35 competition during the Sept. 15 premiere.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess
Though the Bachelor Nation star traded in roses for rumbas, he was sent home on Oct. 27 in a double elimination.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater
The Savannah Bananas baseball player stepped up to the plate, but struck out on Oct. 27 in a double elimination.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star was ready to learn some new moves, but his time on DWTS was cut short on Oct. 13.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
Even though Summer House star had fans screaming "bravo," she was eliminated from the competition on Oct. 6.
Disney/Andrew Eccles
Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas
The Love Island U.K. alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.
"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."
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