DWTS SURPRISE: Alix Earle Almost Danced as a Disney Princess — But Chose Maleficent Instead!
On the Oct. 8 episode of 'Dancing with the Stars,' Earle performed a Viennese waltz dressed as Maleficent
NEED TO KNOW
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Alix Earle's dance on Tuesday night's episode of Dancing with the Stars
almost took a different tone, the influencer revealed -
While getting ready in her trailer for the night, the social media mogul posted a video explaining the thought process behind her and partner Val Chmerkovskiy's dance to "Once Upon a Dream" by Lana Del Rey from the movie
Maleficent -
She also shared the other Disney character that she and Chmerkovskiy considered for Dancing with the Stars' Disney Night
Alix Earle almost went a different route for her dance on Tuesday night's
The influencer, 24, brought the house down during the fourth episode of the show's 34th season, performing a Viennese waltz to "Once Upon a Dream" by Lana Del Rey from the movie
Alongside her partner Val Chmerkovskiy, the pair dressed up as Maleficent, who is the villain in the Disney version of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty, and Stefan, who is the father of Princess Aurora in the film.
Eric McCandless/Disney
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy.
However, Earle revealed that the couple's dance almost took a much different tone, sharing one of the other Disney characters that she and Chmerkovskiy considered before landing on the evil fairy.
In a video posted to her Instagram before the show aired, Earle can be seen getting all glammed up in her trailer.
Speaking to the camera, Earle said, "Originally for Disney night, we wanted to do either like a princess, or like Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder," the social media mogul shared, as makeup artists added prosthetic cheekbones to her face á la Angelina Jolie, who originally played Maleficent in the movie.
However, upon listening to songs from Tangled's soundtrack, Earle said she decided that she wanted to go a separate way.
"I loved Tangled, but the songs are very happy, and I feel like we've been pretty happy the past few weeks, and I wanted to show a different character," Earle shared. "That I can take on a different role for the dance."
"I think I listened to every Disney song ever," Earle said in the video.
Earle said she couldn't stop listening to "Once Upon a Dream" in the car, which is when she knew she wanted to dance to the song.
Disney/Eric McCandless
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy on the Sept. 30 episode of 'Dancing with the Stars.'
"At first I wanted to do Sleeping Beauty and then Val would be Maleficent," she joked.
Going on, Earle described her dance with Chmerkovskiy as a "toxic back-and-forth" similar to the characters of Maleficent and her once-lover Stefan in the movie.
The pair earned a score of 24, with 8's across the board from judges Carrie Anna Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Toniolo.
Last evening's episode was Disney Night in honor of Disneyland Resort's 70th Celebration and ended with the surprising elimination of wellness influencer Hilaria Baldwin and her partner, Gleb Savchenko.
"Listen, I'm so proud of you," Gleb told Hilaria as they walked across the stage. After grabbing the mic from Julianne Hough, Hilaria said, "This has been an incredible experience."
"I am so grateful to all of you, I'm so grateful to my children and my family," she continued. "I'm cheering on everybody in the cast. This has been an amazing time."
Jamal Roberts Leaves Jennifer Hudson Speechless on Her Talk Show Debut! (VIDEO)
Jamal Roberts, the 2025 winner of “American Idol,” received the highest praise a singer can get from EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson while appearing on the latest episode of her talk show, airing on October 9, 2025.
After Roberts serenaded Hudson with a jaw-dropping performance of his song “Nothing Compares,” she threw her shoe across the studio — her signature move when a singer floors her with their vocals.
Jennifer Hudson Says She ‘Watched Every Beatdown’ Between Jamal Roberts & Other Contestants on ‘American Idol’
When Hudson introduced Roberts, she said she was “so excited” to hear his “big, beautiful, soulful” voice. As he sang his new single, he slowly walked over to the stool where Hudson was sitting and rose to her feet, clearly enamored. After his final run, she shouted, “Jamal!” and embraced him, her jaw dropped in awe.
Roberts then joined her onstage to chat and Hudson’s first act of business was to throw one of her pumps across the studio, telling her audience, “I think y’all know what this shoe is for. If you don’t know, this is the ultimate compliment. After you sang that song like that, I’ve got to throw the shoe.”
She was equally impressed as Roberts described the meaning behind the song, sharing, “As my journey progressed throughout the years, I’ve had some people come into my life that’s really meant a lot. They call them ‘aunties’ on social media, ‘cousins’ — all the things. I just wanted to stop and say that I really appreciate them because if they had not come in, for those people coming into my life and support me like they did, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Hudson is among Roberts’ legion of fans who supported his journey on “American Idol.” In May, after he was crowned the winner of season 23, Hudson posted on X, “He did it!!!!! Congratulations Jamal Roberts!!! SO well deserved! You are a star!” As they talked on her show, she said she “watched every beatdown to the last second.”
Although Roberts admitted he was “overwhelmed” during Hollywood Week and thought he’d be sent home, Hudson adorably boasted, “Well, I called you as the winner. I was right!”
Jamal Roberts Admitted He Was Nervous Ahead of ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’
Although Hudson, who was a finalist on season three of “American Idol,” had met Roberts once before at the BET Awards, he admitted in a social media post ahead of his talk show appearance that he was still nervous — mainly about moving his way through her legendary “Spirit Tunnel” of staff members, cheering and singing for him as he headed to the stage.
In a video taken backstage, he said, “I’m kind of a little skippy here, about to get ready to go down the tunnel. I don’t know what I’m about to do going down this tunnel, okay?”
The video showed clips of Lil Wayne, MGK and Simon Cowell making their way down the tunnel before recent appearances as Roberts said, “First off, y’all know you’ve heard me say I am not a dancer. Okay? I do not dance. So hopefully, we make it through the tunnel so we can get to the stage!”
“I’m excited,” he added. “I’m glad to be a part (of the show). I’m glad for this opportunity, and I’m gonna try to enjoy the show — after I get past the tunnel!”
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” airs nationally; check local listings for time and station
