Grant Denyer breaks down on TV after emotional ‘healing’ dance

Aussie TV personality Grant Denyer has told of why his latest Dancing with the Stars performance brought him to tears.

Australian television personality Grant Denyer has broken down in tears after an emotional performance on Dancing with the Stars, which represented the comeback from the lowest point in his life.

Denyer and dance partner Lily Cornish danced the Viennese waltz to Shannon Noll’s Don’t Give Up, which Denyer said was about “absolute despair, when you think you can’t go on” – something he could relate to.

The 44-year-old TV star was referring to his near-fatal monster truck accident in 2008 which caused serious spinal injuries that took months of recovery.

“I haven’t been this uncomfortable or nervous or emotionally vulnerable ever so it’s not a natural state,” Denyer said, speaking ahead of the performance.

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Grant Denyer’s performance on Dancing with the Stars: All Stars caused many teary eyes. Picture: Channel 7

“I’ve spent my life being a smiley television host that pretends everything is OK,” he added. “That is not real life. It’s OK to struggle. It’s OK to hurt. It’s OK to reach rock bottom because you can come out of it, you can climb out of it with a bit of love and a little bit of help, and that was the case for me.”

Denyer said his family saved his life.

A very different kind of performance for @grantdenyer and WOW did he deliver! 😮 #DancingAUpic.twitter.com/4hlOzLFf1U

— #DancingAU (@DancingAU) March 6, 2022

After an incredible performance, achieving a perfect score of 40, the tears flowed.

Struggling to compose himself, judge Mark Wilson he said he couldn’t look at Denyer while delivering his feedback.

“It was very brave to talk about because by your actions you permit other people to speak in the same way,” Wilson said.

Speaking to Sonia Kruger after the dance, Denyer explained how the dance had been healing and helped him close a difficult chapter in his life.

“I’ve made some mistakes in my life and there was a period that I’m not particularly very proud of,” he said.

“One thing I have learnt is it’s OK to make mistakes. It’s OK to fail and that’s a part of being human.

“Whilst that was a very dark period and a hard dance thing to kind of dance to, I just put one foot in front of the other and I’ve climbed my way out of that hole.

“I feel a lot of healing here done tonight. That’s probably why it’s so emotional.

“I know it’s just a dance and dance maybe isn’t important but it’s important to me and this was important to me, and I feel like I can kind of close that chapter with a little bit of love and forgiveness.”

Denyer and Lily Cornish danced an emotional Viennese waltz. Picture: Channel 7

Denyer won Dancing with the Stars in 2006, and is now back for an “All Stars” season, with fan favourites from previous seasons.

Cormish thanked Denyer for sharing his “vulnerable and human side” in a post to Instagram.

“This dance tells a very special story for @grantdenyer and @chezzidenyer (Denyer’s wife) and I was so grateful to be a part of this,” she wrote.

Grant and Chezzi Denyer with their daughters.

Cheryl Denyer, known as Chezzi, also shared a message ahead of the episode, explaining that the song “was playing everywhere when things were really really tough” and listening to it now transported them back to those hard times.

“When Grant said he was dancing to this song I felt a small lump in my throat,” she wrote.

“I knew it would be incredibly cathartic for him and I was so proud he’s at a point where he’s happy to share that vulnerability.”

She added: “Life is not perfect. No one is perfect. Many of us pretend we are perfect. That we’re happy, successful, have no flaws etc but that’s impossible.”

“This will apply to so many right now with so much sadness and devastation around us – If you’ve had a hard time and you’re not coping, please hang on.”