What ‘Dedication Night’ includes (time, date, and format)
Dancing with the Stars Season 34’s “Dedication Night” airs Tuesday, October 14, 2025, with celebrities performing tributes to the people who shaped their lives. The pre-episode reveal lays out who will be in the ballroom and who each routine will honor, setting the stage for a mix of “moving ballads and fun, up-tempo numbers,” plus a special return to the judges’ table.
A two-time Mirrorball champion—identified in the preview as Kym Johnson—returns as a guest judge for the night. The advance notes also emphasize that dedications will span “parents, partners, siblings, mentors and friends.”
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All dedications and VIPs confirmed
The following breakdown captures every named dedication and VIP appearance listed in the preview, using the exact spellings and relationships presented, along with direct quotes where provided.
Maria Affleck
— Jennifer Affleck (from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) will honor her mother, Maria. Affleck previously wrote on Instagram: “Last week was a dream come true! My mom experienced NYC for the first time and saw me on a Times Square billboard. 🤍 I love you, Mom! Thank you for always believing in me & supporting me in my dreams.🥺🫶🏼”
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Timothy Chiles
— Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles will dedicate her Viennese waltz to her father, Timothy. The preview notes it was Timothy’s idea for Jordan to try gymnastics when she was “too hyper as a child.”
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Izabel Earle
— Influencer Alix Earle will perform for her sister Izabel; she previously brought her sisters with her to walk the runway for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
@alixearle Izabel is growing up & crashing out like the rest of us ❤️
Olivia Efron
— Dylan Efron is dedicating his contemporary to his sister Olivia and shared a September 2025 video of Olivia giving him a “dance lesson.”
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William Daniels
— Danielle Fishel will honor her longtime Boy Meets World co-star with a jive set to the Boy Meets World theme song. On her Danielle With the Stars podcast, she said, “Mr. Feeny himself is going to be on the ballroom floor with me,” and added, “Bill is going to be on the ballroom floor with us, and he’s going to participate in the dance as well.”
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Lisa Ann Walter
— Elaine Hendrix will honor her longtime BFF from Abbott Elementary. Hendrix told PEOPLE that Walter is her “life security blanket,” explaining, “I look at her and I instantly feel calm.”
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Mark Manio
— Scott Hoying (Pentatonix) will dedicate his dance to his husband. Manio said, “I cannot wait just to see everything unfold, because he’s an incredible dancer,” and continued, “But I don’t think people know how good of a dancer Scott is, because he’s never really taken dance classes before or anything of that sort. So I just can’t wait for him just to explode with creativity on that ballroom floor.” He added, “I’m gonna be his biggest cheerleader at every show, a big ball of nerves just watching him perform because I know Scott’s gonna kill it. But every time I see the lights dim and even when I’m watching TV, it always makes me so nervous.”
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Terri Irwin
— Robert Irwin dedicates his routine to his mom. He gushed, “She is just the most brave, steadfast, determined human being I’ve ever met,” calling her “the epitome of a great leader, a great mother, and just a hero to me because she had this life she created with dad and just had the rug pulled out from under her, but she was able to move forward with such grace and still be there for my sister and I.”
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Conner Leavitt
— Whitney Leavitt will dedicate her number to her husband, Conner Leavitt. Whitney and Conner married in 2016 and have covered some of their dramatic ups and downs on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.
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Cornelia Richter
— Andy Richter will dedicate his dance to his stepdaughter, Cornelia. Cornelia is the daughter of Richter’s wife, Jennifer Herrera, whom he married in 2023. He said, “That’s always been part of the deal for both of us from our first date,” adding, “I never once tried to pretend like it wasn’t, like the two of them weren’t one thing.”
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Will Zac Efron be there?
The preview answers this directly: Zac Efron “isn’t on the roster to attend Season 34 Dedication Night,” but he’ll be “there in spirit and in voice,” since his brother Dylan is dedicating Zac’s signature song from The Greatest Showman to their younger sister.
Dylan reflected on growing up as Zac’s younger brother: “My whole life, Zac’s been famous, and I never wanted to mess up his career and stuff like that. So I think that’s something that I’ve been hyper aware of how I present myself and stuff like that from a young age.” He added, “I always looked up to him. So then, when everyone else started looking up to him, [it] was like, of course, my big brother… I was never surprised that he became what he is.” Dylan also said, “I’m really excited for my mom to be there… my dad and my little brother and little sister.”
Will Mr. Feeny be on the ballroom floor?
Yes—William Daniels, 98, is “expected to join” Danielle Fishel on the dance floor. Fishel called Daniels “an inspiration,” adding, “To be able to say thank you to him and give him this kind of a platform for him to receive the love that he deserves is going to be very memorable.” She teased that “some people I’m shocked are able to be there, but I’m so happy are able to be there. It’s gonna be really special.”
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Why this matters for Dancing with the Stars Season 34
Analysis: Dedication Night often turns mid-season momentum. Emotional narratives can drive audience engagement, while precision and content still decide the leaderboard. With a returning guest judge and multiple high-profile VIPs on the floor, expect routines that split focus between story and technique. Celebrities who integrate clean fundamentals—foot placement, frame, and musical timing—into their tributes typically gain with both judges and voters. The names above also signal cross-fandom interest, from Boy Meets World and The Parent Trap to Pentatonix, Abbott Elementary, and the Irwin family’s global fan base.
Conclusion: Dancing with the Stars Season 34 heads into Dedication Night
Dancing with the Stars Season 34 leans into high-emotion storytelling on Oct. 14, with VIPs like William Daniels and dedications spanning Maria Affleck, Timothy Chiles, Izabel Earle, Olivia Efron, Lisa Ann Walter, Mark Manio, Terri Irwin, Conner Leavitt, and Cornelia Richter. With guest judge Kym Herjavic and a ballroom full of loved ones, the theme night sets up a pivotal chapter in the competition.
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