“Dancing with the Stars” is serving eerie vibes in the ballroom tonight. The theme? Thrills, chills, and maybe a few surprises lurking behind those fog machines… it’s Halloween Night.
The show’s official Instagram page dropped a preview with the caption: “#HalloweenNight is bringing the thrills and the performances will give you chills!” and honestly, that’s a mood. This is one of those nights where the costumes go bigger, the music hits harder, and the dance floor becomes a full-on monster mash.
But don’t worry, we’re going to explain exactly how to vote for Elaine Hendrix below.
What Fans Can Expect Tonight
The episode airs live tonight (Tuesday, October 28, 2025) at 8:00pm ET on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu/ Disney+. It’s Season 34, Episode 7 a.k.a, the one where everything gets a little spooky.
And this week, the fan-favorite Dance Monster-thon is back. Yep, the marathon-style challenge where all the couples hit the floor at once and battle it out for bonus points based on how long they last. According to ABC, those extra points get added to their regular scores to create the final leaderboard of the night. It’s chaotic, competitive, and completely addictive to watch. Basically, survival of the spookiest.
On top of that, DWTS is welcoming back an icon: Cheryl Burke. The two-time Mirrorball champion and longtime pro is returning to the ballroom as a special guest judge. Burke retired in 2022 after 26 seasons, so seeing her back behind the desk? Yeah, it’s giving nostalgia and expertise.
A Tragic Announcement
Film and TV actress Elaine Hendrix (yes, that Elaine Hendrix) is hitting the floor with her pro-partner Alan Bersten for a fiery Argentine Tango set to “Bad to the Bone” by 2WEI and Bri Bryant. It’s dark, dramatic, and deliciously on theme.
Sadly, right at the top of the show, host Alfonso Ribeiro announced that Elaine isn’t in the ballroom tonight; she’d been sent to the doctor for an injury that happened at rehearsals. He didn’t share many details, just that more info would be coming soon. The good news? Elaine and Alan are still in the competition.
Later in the episode, the show revealed footage of Elaine being taken away in an ambulance for evaluation after something went wrong with her ribs. Since she couldn’t perform live, her scores for tonight will come from her final full rehearsal with Alan earlier in the week. So if you’re voting (and you absolutely should) keep that in mind. The effort, the prep, the work she put in? It all still counts. Let’s make sure those votes do too.
How to Vote for Elaine Hendrix
Now, if you’re ready to help Elaine and Alan keep dancing, here’s how to do it. Voting opens at the start of the live broadcast and stays open until the final commercial break of the night. You’ve got two ways to show your support:
- If you are in the United States, including its territories, or Canada, you can vote online at dwtsvote.abc.com,
- Or vote by text; Just send ELAINE to 21523. This is only available to viewers located in the U.S. and its territories (sorry, Canada!)
You can vote up to 10 times per method, meaning 20 votes total if you do both. Don’t sleep on it… those votes matter, especially on a theme night where every point counts.
So, grab your snacks, dim the lights, and tune in for some Halloween magic. Let’s see if Elaine & Alan can make it through this week while she’s healing from an injury.
