‘Dancing with the Stars’ Viral Hits Night Just Got Personal: The Hidden Story Behind the Song Choices

Dancing with the Stars is back for week 2, and 14 remaining contestants have already chosen their songs for “Viral Hits Night.”

DWTS released the set list for the September 22 show earlier this week, but the celebs and their pro partners just revealed why they chose their “viral hits.” On Monday, each remaining couple shared (on the official DWTS Instagram Stories) why they selected their songs. And here is what some of the cast had to say.

Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa will perform a Tango to Teddy Swims’ “The Door.” Stiles told her fans that she picked the track “because I just really like this song,” adding, “It’s a viral hit in my world. No, Teddy Swims got his career from this going viral, and it’s a great song.”

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy will dance a Jive to “Animal” by Katseye. Dewan explained to her viewers, “We’re doing ‘Animal’ by Katseye because I am personally obsessed with this song. And my daughter Everly is as well. We broke down doors to get to the Katseye concert last year, and it was so fun. And I think they’re incredible dancers.”

Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik chose to dance their Foxtrot to Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For”, saying, “It’s the Oscar-winning song from Barbie.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live’s Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson will dance a Paso Doble to Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been.” The late-night star told his fans that Rihanna makes him feel more confident and, “I love Rihanna, she’s great. She’s so nice. She’s friendly.”

Summer House’s Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong will perform a Tango to Tinashe’s “No Broke Boys.” Why? According to Miller, “Because they tend to ruin your life.” And yes, Tinashe is Armstrong’s former celeb partner.

Ezra French and Daniella Karagach will dance a Cha Cha to Flo Rida’s “Low.” French shared that the tune is a viral wedding hit, saying, “Every wedding. All ages. Everybody knows this song.”

Jackson Olson and Emma Slater are set to perform a Foxtrot to “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams. Olson said, “She went super-viral for opening up for Taylor Swift in the Eras Tour, and she made a name for herself and paved her way, and she is super-awesome, and we cannot wait to make her proud.”

Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold will dance the Tango to “12 by 12” by Sombr: “He’s so great. But I love this song, but also when you hear this song on the ballroom, it’s like something takes over.”

Along with these celeb-pro pairs, Giada De Laurentis and Alan Bernsten will dance the Salsa to Becky G’s “Bella Ciao,” Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas will Cha Cha to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire, Amber Glen and Pasha Pashkov will perform a Tango to Harrison’s “All the Things She Said,” Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart will Cha Cha to “Cake By the Ocean” by DNCE, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson will dance a Viennese Waltz to the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris,” and Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess will Salsa to The Kid Laroi’s “Girls.”

Catch Dancing with the Stars “Viral Hits Night” on Tuesday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+ or stream the two-hour event the next day on Hulu.