Dancing with the Stars Official Podcast

Episode 8: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night Breakdown

Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Joey Graziadei
Guests: Carrie Ann Inaba, Ray Chu, Danielle & Pasha

Episode Overview

This lively episode celebrates "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night" on Dancing with the Stars, featuring judge and long-time dance icon Carrie Ann Inaba, musical director Ray Chu, and newly-eliminated pair Danielle and Pasha. Host Joey Graziadei delves into the behind-the-scenes chaos, heartfelt highlights, challenges of live judging and stage performances, and what makes the magic happen every week for both cast and audience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rock & Roll Night Recap & Competition Update

• Performers & Teams:
  • The episode features tributes to Cool & the Gang, Chicago, and guest Flavor Flav.
  • "Team Chicago" won the team dance.
• Leaderboard Drama & Elimination:
  • Tie at the top: Alex & Val vs. Whitney & Mark, settled by cumulative season scores.
  • Whitney & Mark win immunity and bonus points for next week.
  • Danielle & Pasha are eliminated and reflect on their journey.

2. Exclusive Interview with Carrie Ann Inaba

(00:38–17:15)

Carrie Ann's Journey & Legacy on DWTS

• Career Origins
  • Began dancing at age 4 in Hawaii, started with hula; transitioned to jazz/lyrical; experience in J-pop.
  • Became a Fly Girl on In Living Color alongside Jennifer Lopez.
  • “Dance has always been kind of like my survival tool.” (03:19, Carrie Ann)
• Perspective as a Judge
  • Not from a ballroom background, brings unique commentary.
  • Emphasizes the show’s evolution through diverse dance and personal growth stories.
  • “The one thing about being a judge is you cannot be a judge without expecting to be judged.” (02:10, Carrie Ann)

Notable Couples & Performances

• Cites Amy Purdy & Derek Hough and Iman Shumpert & Daniella as most inspirational and transformative.
  • “She changed my outlook on what's possible.” (07:41, Carrie Ann, about Amy Purdy)

Honest Judging & Challenges of Live TV

• Judging is Grueling:
  • Seven seconds to punch in scores.
  • “It is hard to do it live… It breaks my heart inside. It does.” (10:03, Carrie Ann)
• Empathy and Responsibility:
  • Takes her position as a minority woman on the panel seriously; advocates for integrity and courage.
  • “I can say the same thing as men, and I will be hammered for it.” (11:08, Carrie Ann)
• Difference in Angles:
  • Judges and at-home viewers see different perspectives, which affects assessments.

Advice for Remaining Couples

• Keep surprising judges and fans; maintain momentum and authenticity.
• “The key to winning Dancing with the Stars is momentum and having impact. You have to keep surprising the audience.” (14:35, Carrie Ann)
• Highlights intense level of competition, especially with strong women competitors.

3. Ray Chu: The Man Behind the Music

(18:03–34:27)

The Art & Science of Musical Direction

• Complexity of the Job:
  • Responsible for recreating iconic songs to exact specifications—no simple covers.
  • “If you go to a fine restaurant and they make a great meal… you just want to enjoy the meal.” (00:06, Ray Chu — also repeated 18:28)
  • Describes "unbaking the cake" as reverse-engineering songs down to their smallest details.
• Building the Band & Arrangements:
  • Each week demands up to ten different musical styles—big band, pop, rock, etc.
  • Research team hunts for unique elements of each track; no use of original samples.
• Vocal Shaping:
  • Singers must match original artists' timbres, a rare and demanding skill-set.
  • “They morph their voices and they shape… We do what they call vocal shaping.” (24:54, Ray Chu)
  • Subtle musical cues and lyric nuances are crucial for the dancers' performances.

Personal Journey & Milestones

• Background:
  • Classically trained in New York; TV breakthrough with Saturday Night Live and Apollo Theater.
  • 11 years with DWTS; joined Season 18 to “contemporize” the sound.
• Favorite Challenges:
  • Loved working on "Wicked" week due to technical complexity and collaboration with Universal.
  • Has personal connections and stories with many featured artists (e.g., Prince, Kool & the Gang).

Memorable Collaboration & Upcoming Episodes

• Preview of 20th Birthday Episode:
  • Teased a collaborative opening number with Derek Hough and special guest Tom Bergeron.
  • “That's gonna be a tearjerker for many people… Tom Bergeron… brought this show to where it could be.” (33:43, Ray Chu)
• Looking Forward:
  • Excited for upcoming “Prince Night,” and reflecting on his time playing with legends.

4. Danielle & Pasha: Emotional Farewell

(34:53–48:31)

Reflections on the DWTS Journey

• Impactful Relationships:
  • Danielle shares how quickly deep bonds form on the show.
  • “I have never felt so connected to people that I have known for such a short amount of time… I feel like I have made friends for life, especially Pasha and Dani.” (35:07, Danielle)
• Facing Challenges:
  • Describes both physical and emotional challenges, and personal growth.
  • Cites the unique competitive camaraderie and mutual rooting among contestants.
• Their Partnership:
  • Pasha and Danielle felt an instant connection; credits trust, similar humor, and family-like ties.
  • “When you just know. You walk into the room, you meet the person and you just know from the get go. No awkwardness…” (37:00, Pasha)

Memorable Moments

• Team Dance:
  • Spoke emotionally about the pride of team wins and unity: “Those are the moments that I will take with me for the rest of my life.” (40:09, Danielle)
• Personal Triumphs:
  • Danielle's favorite dance: Argentine Tango — celebrated how they tackled its difficulty and near-accident on stage.
• Personal Growth:
  • Felt empowered as a mom, able to focus on herself for the first time in years.
  • “Just being able to say, this time is for me.” (41:54, Danielle)

Final Thoughts and Upcoming Support

• Advice & Gratitude:
  • Emphasized the lessons from perseverance and teammates' support.
  • Danielle expresses continued support for fellow competitor Dylan.
  • Pasha praises Danielle's learning curve and positive attitude.
  • “She would go home, review, sleep on it, come back next day better…” (42:19, Pasha)

5. Looking Ahead: Song & Dance Styles for Next Week

(48:33–end)

• Joey lists next week's pairings and song/dance assignments for the 20th Birthday Episode, teasing a show packed with diverse talent and special performances.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Carrie Ann Inaba:

  • “Dance has always been kind of like my survival tool.” (03:19)
  • “The key to winning Dancing with the Stars is momentum and having impact. You have to keep surprising the audience.” (14:35)
  • “I can say the same thing as men, and I will be hammered for it.” (11:08)

• Ray Chu:

  • “You have to decide… what the ingredients are in that song. Each song could be different.” (20:26)
  • “They have to shape their voice into whatever it is. So if we have… a Katy Perry song, Felicia… could morph her voice…” (24:54)
  • “If he gives me a grunt, I got it. If he does a little something, I got it and can translate that into a sound.” (33:06)

• Danielle:

  • “I have made friends for life, especially Pasha and Dani.” (35:07)
  • “Those are the moments that I will take with me for the rest of my life.” (40:09)
  • “Just being able to say, this time is for me.” (41:54)

Memorable Moments

• Carrie Ann recounting being called a "wet noodle" by a dance teacher and using it as motivation (04:40).
• The seven-second window to give scores—unbelievable pressure of live TV (10:03).
• Judging mishap with Flavor Flav—Carrie Ann attempting to step in (13:29).
• Ray Chu describing “unbaking the cake” and “essence sandwich” in musical recreation (20:26–27:15).
• Danielle’s near-miss on the Argentine Tango, showing the real risks on stage (45:17).

Key Takeaways

• The heart of DWTS is not just in dancing, but in the authentic bonds, grueling effort, and creative reinvention behind every episode.
• Judging is more difficult and emotionally taxing than viewers may realize—requiring empathy, courage, and real-time decision-making.
• Music direction is a detailed, collaborative craft that underpins the entire show; Ray Chu’s leadership ensures every performance sounds as magical as the original, if not more so.
• Contestant journeys are transformative, often reshaping self-image, confidence, and lifelong friendships.
• Momentum, surprise, and authenticity are crucial to winning and enjoying the ride.

Next Week Preview

• Teasers of new musical numbers and routines for the show's 20th birthday.
• Hints at big returns (Tom Bergeron) and a unique opening number.
• Derek Hough to appear on the next podcast for more insider details.

For fans and newbies alike, this episode is a masterclass in what makes Dancing with the Stars endure: passion, teamwork, vulnerability, and a drive to deliver something unforgettable every week.