Tennessee’s Own Elaine Hendrix Heads Into the Finale of Dancing with the Stars Tonight on ABC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Get ready Nashville, because our East Tennessee‑gal Elaine Hendrix is in the finale of Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars, airing Tuesday, November 25 on ABC.

From Oak Ridge Roots to the Ballroom

Elaine was born and raised in Oak Ridge and spent her early years in East Tennessee. In a feature with the Knox News she recalled the region’s influence on her life, saying of her upbringing:

“I think that East Tennessee in general is beautiful. I love nature and animals … I felt like Morristown was close enough to Knoxville to have a big‑city experience.”

That grounded, genuine East Tennessee upbringing is shining through as she competes on national television — proud, graceful, and ready to dance.

The Journey to DWTS

Elaine is paired with pro dancer Alan Bersten and they’ve navigated everything from intense rehearsal schedules to a serious rib injury that almost derailed her running in the compeotion.
In a candid moment she said:

“I get really emotional because I was really scared that I was going to be going home and that was not the note that I wanted to end on.”

Elaine Hendrix is best known for her roles in iconic films and television shows spanning more than two decades. She gained widespread recognition playing the ambitious publicist Meredith Blake in Disney’s 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, and earlier appeared as Lisa Luder in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and Evian Graham in Superstar. Hendrix has also made a mark on television, with recurring roles on Joan of Arcadia, a starring role as Ava in FX’s Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, and most recently taking on the iconic role of Alexis Carrington Colby in The CW’s Dynasty reboot. Her career, which began as a dancer and model, has been defined by versatility and resilience.

What the Finale Looks Like

For the finale of Season 34 there are special touches: each couple performs three dances — an unlearned dance coached by a judge, an instant dance (yes — they’ll learn a new style on the spot), and their freestyle routine. Elaine & Alan are prepping hard for this moment. Elaine and her partner sent a message to her East Tennessee supporters earlier this week.

With her past injury in mind, she is doubling down:

“One way or another, I just knew that I was going to fight through it.”

For anyone in Tennessee, this one’s for the home crowd — rooting for our home-state star to own that ballroom.