Tatyana Ali Reaches Out to James Avery's Widow Before 'DWTS' Tribute
Tatyana Ali's Tribute on Dancing With the Stars
Tatyana Ali recently paid tribute to the late James Avery on Dancing With the Stars with the blessing of his family. She performed a heartfelt Viennese waltz in his honor.
Ali shared that she sought approval from Avery's widow, Barbara, before going forward with the tribute. “I wouldn’t have done it without her,” she expressed.
A Meaningful Performance
On Dedication Night, Ali and partner Jan Ravnik danced to "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am" by Nancy Wilson. Alfonso Ribeiro also participated in the performance as a tribute to Avery.
The dance earned a score of 32 out of 40 from judges such as Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.
Remembering James Avery
James Avery, known for his role as Philip Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, passed away in December 2013 due to complications from surgery. His legacy remains influential among his former cast members.
Reflecting on her experience, Ali shared that performing this tribute allowed her to reconnect with cherished memories from her early career days alongside Avery and others from the show.
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
