Elaine Hendrix is on the mend and charting a quick return to Dancing With the Stars after a rib flare-up sidelined her during the show’s Halloween Night broadcast on October 28. The Parent Trap star shared a candid health update the following day, letting fans know she’s resting, receiving treatment, and fully intent on getting back to the ballroom next week.
Health Update And Quick Recovery Plan
In an October 29 Instagram video recorded with her pro partner Alan Bersten, Hendrix reassured supporters that she’s improving after a painful setback just hours before showtime. “I’m doing okay,” she said. “I am up and about. I’m tender, I am sore, but I am starting pain management today.” The actor, 54, added that she’d be taking two days off from dancing on doctor’s orders and expects to rejoin rehearsals in time for the next live episode.
Hendrix also addressed what sent her to the hospital, explaining that the issue stemmed from a prior injury. “I injured my ribs during ‘Defying Gravity’ and today they just seized up,” she said. “I couldn’t move. They brought me to the hospital. The doctor has said that with a day or two of rest, I should be able to continue and that’s exactly what I want to do. I want to dance, I want to keep doing this.”
Grateful and upbeat, Hendrix emphasized that messages of support have been a major boost. She thanked the Dancing With the Stars medical staff for their care and told fans she’s reading everything they send. “All of your messages. I’m seeing it all,” she said. “And I just want you to know first and foremost, I’m okay and second of all, I’m ready to go.” She ended her update with a promise: “So, we will see you next Tuesday out on the ballroom.”
How DWTS Navigated Halloween Night
Although Hendrix and Bersten couldn’t perform live, the show opted to score their Argentine tango using rehearsal footage — a standard approach when medical issues arise. The duo’s routine, set to George Thorogood & The Destroyers’ “Bad to the Bone,” still reached millions of viewers and got a vote of confidence from fans, who rallied for the pair despite the unexpected absence.
Judges Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, and guest judge Cheryl Burke awarded Hendrix and Bersten a total of 32 points from the rehearsal performance, keeping them competitive heading into the next week. Inaba, visibly moved by the situation, praised Hendrix’s resilience and the chemistry she and Bersten brought to the dance. “I am broken-hearted truly for you, Alan and Elaine,” she said. “After last week’s success, that momentum would have taken her to another level. Already I was like, ‘Damn, girl,’ watching that rehearsal. That is amazing.”
Inaba continued with more encouragement: “She was looking hot and sexy, and the chemistry was so real and passionate. She’s so strong, and she’s such a warrior.” It was a sentiment echoed by viewers on social media, many of whom highlighted Hendrix’s performance quality in the dress-rehearsal cut and her determination to return quickly.
Bersten also took a moment to thank the audience directly for the votes that helped keep their season alive. “We just want to say thank you so much for voting for us and showing so much love to Elaine and support,” he said in the duo’s update video. “We can feel it, and we appreciate it so much.”
Inside The Week: Costume, Support, And What’s Next
Hendrix didn’t let the missed performance stop her from celebrating the showmanship of Halloween Night. She shared behind-the-scenes peeks at her Mad Max: Fury Road-inspired look — a striking blend of apocalyptic glam across costume, hair, and makeup — while acknowledging the outpouring of encouragement from fans and colleagues alike. The actor singled out the DWTS team for “taking such good care of me,” underscoring the production’s swift response when her ribs “seized up” shortly before airtime.
Her recovery plan is equally straightforward: rest, begin pain management, and resume rehearsals as soon as she’s cleared. The brief pause is designed to protect her long-term participation, and Hendrix’s messaging has been consistent — she’s eager to compete and expects to be back on the floor Tuesday, provided the doctor’s timeline holds.
For the competition, the 32 from rehearsal footage represents a solid outcome under difficult circumstances. It preserves momentum following what judges described as a breakout prior week and keeps Hendrix and Bersten well within striking distance as the field tightens. While missing a live performance can be a psychological curveball on a show built on week-to-week growth, Hendrix’s calm, focused update — plus her quick pivot to treatment — points to a partner team aligned on the path ahead.
Hendrix, known to many for her scene-stealing turn in The Parent Trap, has leaned into DWTS with a mix of humor and grit this season. Her acknowledgment of a prior rib injury tied to “Defying Gravity” offers context for the flare-up, but her response has emphasized solutions over setbacks. Between Bersten’s careful coaching, the show’s protocols for medical situations, and the audience’s strong support, the pair’s Halloween detour may ultimately read as a one-week hiccup rather than a lasting obstacle.
The Bottom Line
Elaine Hendrix’s message is clear: she’s okay, she’s grateful, and she’s coming back. With a plan in place and fan support behind her, the actor expects to rejoin Dancing With the Stars for the next live broadcast — and pick up right where that promising Argentine tango left off.
