Gabby Windey Says Fiancé Erich Is 'Supportive' of Her Getting Super Close with Val Chmerkovskiy on 'DWTS'

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty

After competing in Monday’sMichael Bublé-themed night, the former Bachelorette opened up about how her soon-to-be-husband feels about her weekly ballroom dance numbers with Chmerkovskiy, especially after this week’s sensual performance.

“Erich’s really supportive,” Windey, 31, told reporters after the show. “I think it’s a learning curve for all of us. We’ve never been in this arena before, but it was great having Jenna to come into the rehearsal space and teach me and get to learn from her. And Eric has been so supportive. He kind of understands this is a performance and we have a goal.”

The duo performed a rumba to Bublé’s romantic song “Home.” To prepare for the routine, Windey even got tips from Chmerkovskiy’s wife — fellow proJenna Johnson— on how to be sexier in the ballroom.

But Windey did admit that it was “absolutely” weird having to getsoup close and personal with Chmerkovskiy, 36, for the dance number.

“I think if it would’ve happened any earlier, we probably wouldn’t have had the comfort with each other, the relationship,” she continued. “But now I’ll get as closest to his face and not be weird because I got used to it.”

Windey and Chmerkovskiy’s hard work paid off. After giving it their all on the dance floor, judgeDerek Houghcalled Windey a “sensational dancer” while praising her for the “absolutely gorgeous” and “phenomenal” dance number.

“Some of the shapes you did, even the greatest artist could not draw them more beautifully,” fellow judge Bruno Tonioli said. “To me, it was perfect.”

In the end, Windey and Chmerkovskiy earned a score of 46 out of 50.

Windey recently told reporters it’s “amazing” to have Schwerwatching her from the crowd, especially as it allows him “to see a different side of me that we don’t get to share with each other every day.”

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Dancing with the Starsairs live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT Mondays on Disney+.

source: people.com