Julia Stiles told viewers on Night 2 of Dancing With the Stars that country music icon Dolly Parton personally cleared the use of her anthem “9 to 5” for Stiles’ routine just weeks before Parton’s death. The revelation added emotional weight to the actress’s quickstep debut and underscored why the performance mattered beyond scores and choreography.
Stiles teamed with pro partner Ezra Sosa for a brisk quickstep set to the Parton classic. Judges praised the technical cleanliness and dramatic choices in the routine, even as they encouraged Stiles to push the energy higher in future dances.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 after what her family described as a quiet battle with cancer. Stiles said securing the song was especially meaningful because she wanted to honor Parton’s career and the song’s place in pop culture.
Judges’ reaction and scoring
All three judges acknowledged the performance’s theatricality and precision. Derek Hough highlighted Stiles’s poise while urging a livelier presence; Bruno Tonioli commended the commitment to character; Carrie Ann Inaba described the routine as notably clean.
| Couple | Judges’ total (out of 30) |
|---|---|
| Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas | 21 |
| Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy | 19 |
| Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov | 18 |
| Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa | 18 |
| Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten | 16 |
| Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong | 15 |
| Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills | 14 |
| Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik | 12 |
Stiles and Sosa received scores of six from each judge, giving them a total of 18 and a place in the next round.
Who advanced — and who went home
- Safe early: Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas; Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy
- Also announced safe: Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov; Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa; Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong
- In jeopardy at the end of the night: Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten; Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik; Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills — with Nader and Bills eliminated after viewer votes were combined with the judges’ scores
Eliminations on the show are determined by a mix of judges’ marks and public voting, a format that often produces surprises regardless of technical merit. For Stiles, the combination of a meaningful song choice and a composed performance proved enough to move her forward.
Beyond the competition, the episode prompted conversation about artist approvals and legacy. That Parton personally authorized the song in the weeks before her passing lends the routine a commemorative dimension — a reminder that television performances can serve as public tributes as much as entertainment.
