UPDATE: Actress Elaine Hendrix is on the mend and confirmed her return to Dancing with the Stars after a hospitalization due to a rib injury. In a heartfelt Instagram video posted on October 29, 2023, she reassured fans that she is recovering and ready to hit the ballroom once again.
Hendrix, 54, shared her journey to recovery alongside partner Alan Bersten, 31. “I’m up and about. I am tender. I am sore. But I’m starting pain management today,” she stated, emphasizing her determination to return for the next live show on November 4, 2023. “We’ll be back at it Friday,” she added.
The actress revealed she was hospitalized earlier this month after experiencing severe rib pain during rehearsals for the show’s themed Halloween Night. “I couldn’t move. They brought me to the hospital,” she explained, detailing how the injury occurred while practicing to Wicked’s “Defying Gravity.”
“I want to dance, I want to keep doing this,” Hendrix declared, showcasing her unwavering passion for the competition. Despite missing the Halloween episode, she and Bersten received an impressive score of 8s across the board from judges based on footage from their last full rehearsal, thanks to fans’ votes saving them from elimination.
Hendrix expressed regret for missing the live performance, which saw contestants Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik eliminated. “The hardest part of yesterday was not being able to show you just how incredible our piece could have been,” she shared, posting behind-the-scenes images of her costume inspired by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road.
Bersten also thanked fans for their support, stating, “We just wanna say thank you so much for voting for us. We can feel it and we appreciate it so much.”
With her spirits high and a positive outlook on her recovery, Hendrix is set to return to the DWTS stage next week, where she hopes to showcase the performance she had been preparing for. Fans are eagerly awaiting her return, showcasing the strong connection she has built with her audience throughout the competition.
Stay tuned for further updates as Hendrix prepares for her comeback in the ballroom!
