Why is Alfonso Ribeiro trending today?
Alfonso Ribeiro is trending after appearing in a special 'Dancing With the Stars' tribute alongside Tatyana Ali. The duo performed a Viennese waltz to honor the late James Avery, who played their father on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'.
What happened
- Earlier
James Avery, known for playing Uncle Phil, passed away in December 2013 [1], [2].
- 20 Oct, 2026
Ribeiro joined Ali and partner Jan Ravnik on the dance floor for a Dedication Night performance honoring Avery [2], [4].
What you need to know
The routine featured a pre-recorded song by Tatyana Ali covering Nancy Wilson, one of Avery's favorite jazz artists [1], [2].
Ribeiro is a former winner of 'Dancing With the Stars' and currently serves as a co-host for the show [2], [3].
The performance earned a score of 32 out of 40, which was Ali's highest score of the night [2].
It is not mentioned if other 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' cast members were present at the recording.
Background
Alfonso Ribeiro and Tatyana Ali starred as siblings Carlton and Ashley Banks on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' from 1990 to 1996 [2]. James Avery played their father, Philip Banks, a role Ali described as a mentor and teacher [2], [4].
Ribeiro's connection to 'Dancing With the Stars' is long-standing; he won Season 19 and later became a co-host, which Ali noted was a major reason she decided to join the competition [3].
Questions people ask
What song did they dance to?
They performed a Viennese waltz to a pre-recorded version of '(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am' by Nancy Wilson, sung by Tatyana Ali [1], [2].
How did the judges react to the performance?
The judges praised the routine, with Carrie Ann Inaba stating she felt honored to see the longtime friends dance together [2].
Where this came from
[1] yahoo.com
Tatyana Ali's 'Dancing With the Stars' tribute is a 'love letter' to James Avery. 'He always told me he was proud of me.'
Preview image from yahoo.com
[2] today.com
Tatyana Ali, Alfonso Ribeiro Bring the Tears and Smiles Honoring James Avery During ‘DWTS’ Dedication Night
Preview image from today.com
[3] hollywoodreporter.com
Tatyana Ali on James Avery DWTS Dedication, Fan Support, Jan Ravnik
Preview image from hollywoodreporter.com
[4] pagesix.com
Tatyana Ali and Alfonso Ribeiro honor late 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' dad James Avery with touching 'DWTS' tribute
Preview image from pagesix.com
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.