Tatyana Ali’s Heartfelt DWTS Tribute to James Avery: A Dance of Love and Pride

Tatyana Ali is set to honor her late ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ co-star and mentor, James Avery, with a deeply personal performance on ‘Dancing With the Stars’. For Dedication Night, she and her partner Jan Ravnik will dance a Viennese waltz to Nancy Wilson’s ‘(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am’, a song Ali says was one of Avery’s favorites. She describes the routine as ‘a love letter’ to Avery, who played her TV dad, Uncle Phil, and was a constant source of encouragement.

In a heartfelt interview, Ali recalls how Avery always told her he was proud of her, a sentiment she carries with her. ‘He was really a mentor to me, and I wanted to honor him,’ she says. Avery, who passed away in 2013 at 68, is remembered by Ali not just for his iconic role but for his genuine warmth. ‘He was like a giant of a man, but also such a sweet, sweet, sweet teddy bear,’ she shares.

The journey to this point hasn’t been easy for Ali, who admits she came into the competition feeling like a beginner. ‘I’m just like a baby bird,’ she jokes, highlighting the humility of learning to dance after years of acting. Despite the challenges, Ravnik understands the emotional weight of this tribute, keeping the routine’s details close to the chest but promising it will be special.

Adding to the nostalgia, Alfonso Ribeiro, who played her onscreen brother Carlton, will join them on the dance floor. Ali hopes the performance shows Avery’s family and fans the man behind the character. ‘He was as wonderful as you imagined,’ she says. ‘He planted seeds in people everywhere he went.’ On Tuesday, she’ll dance not just for competition, but to keep his memory alive. ‘I just want to honor him. That’s how we keep people alive in our lives.’