Taylor Hanson became emotional while reflecting on his unexpectedly deep friendship with Dancing With the Stars partner Britt Stewart following their surprising Season 35 elimination.
Appearing together on the official DWTS podcast, the Hanson singer struggled to hold back tears while explaining how dramatically his relationship with Britt had changed during their short time working together.
Taylor described ballroom dancing as an unusually vulnerable experience. Unlike performing music, where he has spent decades feeling comfortable onstage, dancing required him to hand over control, trust another person physically and emotionally, and accept constant correction.
He described an “intimacy” involved in allowing another person to guide you through something you don’t naturally know how to do — referring to the trust and closeness required in their dance partnership rather than a romantic relationship.
That trust apparently began forming before viewers ever saw them compete.
Taylor revealed that he had specifically hoped to be partnered with Britt before Season 35 began. He respected her work and felt their personalities and commitment to their respective crafts could make them a strong team.
Once rehearsals started, Taylor said the relationship became much more meaningful than he had anticipated. Britt wasn’t simply teaching him choreography; she was helping him work through insecurity, physical limitations and the uncomfortable experience of becoming a beginner again after spending most of his life as an accomplished musician.
As Taylor tried to explain what Britt had given him through that process, he became visibly emotional.
“I am so grateful that happened because she’s incredible,” he said while discussing their partnership and what he was taking away from the experience.
Britt was emotional as well. She explained that one of the things she valued most was feeling genuinely “seen” by Taylor, describing similarities between them and the seriousness with which they both approached their work.
Their elimination made those emotions even stronger. Taylor and Britt were sent home after their Yacht Rock Night foxtrot to “What a Fool Believes,” which earned 18 out of 30, despite Taylor feeling that they were only beginning to discover what they could accomplish together.
Taylor later admitted that leaving hurt partly because he wanted to continue the journey for Britt. He had entered DWTS expecting a difficult dance competition, but left talking about friendship, trust and personal growth instead.
And that may explain why his reaction became so emotional. The most important thing Taylor Hanson says he gained from Dancing With the Stars wasn’t a score or even another week in the ballroom — it was a friendship with Britt Stewart that he believes will continue long after their unexpectedly short DWTS run.
