Jessie James Decker explains why she needed ‘to release’ emotions on ‘DWTS’
Jessie James Decker is finding her time on “Dancing With the Stars” to be very therapeutic.
While speaking to Page Six in the ballroom for Monday’s “Disney+ Night,” the country music star explained why shedding some tears in rehearsals with her pro partner, Alan Bersten, “needed” to happen.
“I felt like I had been trying to hold back those emotions,” Decker told us, referencing the tear-filled interview package that aired right before her performance on World Mental Health Day.
“I always like to stay positive, but I just couldn’t hold it back any longer.”
The “Lights Down Low” singer, 34, has been traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and Nashville to compete on the live show and spend time at home with her husband, Eric Decker, and their three young kids, Vivianne, 8, Eric Decker II, 7, and Forrest, 4.
Jessie admitted that dedicating so much time to rehearsals and receiving critical feedback from the judges — all while being away from family — hasn’t been easy.
“I’ve had a hard time. It’s been the travel and everything that comes with it, and then on top of not being a dancer and having no background in this, I just felt like it was all just kind of crumbling down on me,” she confessed.
“I just, I needed that release. And I think letting that release go was actually good for me.”
Jessie said she has to remind herself that she’s only “human” at the end of the day.
“Having those emotions is real and natural and it’s OK to cry,” she told us. “And I feel like it made me feel strong and, like, breakthrough. I feel like it helped us tonight. Just kind of like, ‘OK, wipe the tears away, we got this.’”
Bersten, 28, agreed, telling us, “Sometimes a breakdown creates a breakthrough.”
“Jessie wants this so bad,” he added. “And I think it kind of, to me, reminded her that she’s here for a reason.”
Jessie and Bersten performed a “Hocus Pocus”-themed jive to “One Way Or Another” Monday night, receiving a total score of 31/40 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
The Kittenish founder told Page Six “it was a dream” getting to channel actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who portrayed Sarah Sanderson in the 1993 Disney film alongside Bette Midler as Winifred and Kathy Najimy as Mary.
“I love [her], she’s one of my idols,” Jessie said of the “Sex and the City” star. “I felt in my element channeling one of my idols. I mean, I think Carrie Bradshaw, and of course Sarah Sanderson.”
She added, “It was exciting, and I think it gave me that boost of confidence I needed.”
“Dancing With the Stars” returns for two back-to-back nights of performances next week at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Disney+. On Monday, each contestant will dedicate a dance to their “Most Memorable Year,” followed by a “Prom Night”-themed episode on Tuesday.
“I’m not going to tease much except you will not be surprised what I consider my most memorable year,” Decker told us, playing coy on what fans can expect from #TeamAlHandsOnDeck.