Look, I’m not saying I’m going to cry watching Dancing With the Stars next week. But I’m also not saying I won’t.

Dedication Night is coming to DWTS Season 35, and if you’ve watched this show for more than five minutes, you know exactly what that means. Tissue sponsors should be lined up at the door, because this is the episode where everyone – and I mean everyone – performs dances dedicated to someone or something deeply personal. We’re talking family members who’ve passed, mentors who changed their lives, struggles they’ve overcome. It’s emotional manipulation at its finest, and honestly? I’m here for it.

Fresh Off a Tough Elimination

The timing’s interesting here. ABC just dropped the first look at Dedication Night during Thursday’s episode of the “Dancing With the Stars Official Podcast,” and we’re coming right off the heels of Guillermo Rodriguez’s elimination on Super Bowl Night. (Yes, they had a Super Bowl-themed night. Because why not.)

Rodriguez – you know him as Jimmy Kimmel’s sidekick – went home after his performance with pro partner Witney Carson. He was gracious about it, thanking Carson for “teaching [him] how to dance,” which is sweet and all, but let’s be real: the man knew his time was coming. When you’re up against actual performers and athletes in this competition, being the funny guy from late night only carries you so far.

“I had a lot of fun, it was great,” Rodriguez said after his elimination. And you know what? I believe him. Not everyone comes on this show expecting to win the mirrorball trophy. Some people just want the experience, the challenge, the chance to do something completely outside their comfort zone. There’s something refreshing about that, actually.

But What About Next Week?

Here’s the thing about Dedication Night – it’s a double-edged sword for the remaining contestants. On one hand, you get to tell your story, connect with the audience on a deeper level, maybe earn some sympathy votes. On the other hand, you’ve got to deliver a technically solid dance while also being emotionally vulnerable on national television. And if you can’t sell both? You’re toast.

The full list of songs and dance styles is still being rolled out (former contestant Andy Richter is apparently revealing more details, because this show loves to drag out announcements). But based on past seasons, we can expect a mix of contemporary pieces – the go-to style for crying – along with some waltzes and maybe a few upbeat numbers for people who want to celebrate rather than mourn.

The Emotional Calculation

What’s always fascinated me about Dedication Night is how calculated it all is, even when the emotions are genuine. The producers know what they’re doing. They know that viewers at home are more likely to vote for someone who just dedicated their Argentine tango to their late grandmother than someone who’s just out there doing choreography. It’s reality TV 101.

But does that make it cheap? I don’t think so. The emotions are real, even if the framing is strategic. These celebrities are still out there putting their hearts on display, still dancing through tears (which, if you’ve ever tried to do anything athletic while crying, you know is basically impossible). The manipulation is baked into the format, sure, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hit.

Who’s Still Standing

With Rodriguez now gone, the competition’s tightening up. Season 35 started with the usual mix of actors, athletes, reality stars, and random famous people, and we’re getting to the point where the dead weight has been trimmed. The people left are either genuinely good dancers or have such strong fan bases that they’re floating by on votes alone (it happens every season, don’t pretend it doesn’t).

Dedication Night tends to shake things up. Someone who’s been middle-of-the-pack suddenly delivers the performance of their life because they’re dancing for their mom who beat cancer. Someone who’s been a frontrunner stumbles because the emotional weight is too much and they can’t stay on time with the music. It’s unpredictable in the best way.

“I had a lot of fun, it was great.”

What This Actually Means For The Season

If I’m being honest, Dedication Night is where DWTS earns its keep as a reality competition. The rest of the themed weeks are fun – Super Bowl Night, whatever other gimmicks they throw at us – but this is the one that reminds you there are actual human beings under the sequins and spray tans.

Will it be cheesy? Absolutely. Will some dedications feel more authentic than others? Probably. Will I judge people for their song choices? You bet I will. But will I also be sitting on my couch next week with a box of tissues nearby, getting way too invested in whether a retired NFL player can properly execute a Viennese waltz while thinking about his high school coach?

Yeah. I will.

Because that’s the whole point of this show, isn’t it? We tune in for the dancing, but we stay for the stories. And Dedication Night is nothing but stories, set to music, wrapped in a competition format that somehow makes it all feel like it matters more than it probably should.

So get ready. Clear your schedule. Charge your phone so you can vote. And maybe keep those tissues handy, because if past seasons are any indication, you’re going to need them.