'Dancing With the Stars' Cast: Val Chmerkovskiy Talks Bruce Willis' 'Grateful' Phone Calls During Spring Season
Val Chmerkovskiy is proud that he was able to help bring Rumer Willis' family closer during her run on ABC's Dancing With the Stars.
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Willis and Chmerkovskiy won Dancing With the Stars this season with her father Bruce Willis and mother Demi Moore cheering her on along the way. Chmerkovskiy said in a new interview with People that Rumer's DWTS experience "brought her family closer."
The pro dancer felt most good about bringing their family closer over the course of the season.
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"That for me was the accomplishment this season - to see her family outside of their last names or their stature, but as parents, sitting there completely in awe of their daughter," Chmerkovskiy said. "For me that's huge. Validation from a parent? To look at their kid with pride and say, 'Wow. I never thought she could do that. Thank you so much for allowing us as a family to experience that.' Being a part of that - that was the best part."
Chmerkovskiy even said that Bruce would call him up throughout the season to express his gratitude for giving Rumer this experience.
"Her dad was incredibly grateful," Chmerkovskiy said. "He called me many times whether he was on the show or not telling me how proud he was of us and how genuinely happy he was."
After such a great experience with the show, Rumer is looking to continue dancing as she will join Chmerkovskiy and many of the other DWTS pros on tour. They will be embarking on the Dancing With the Stars Live! Perfect 10 tour which takes place from June-August all around the country.
Dancing With the Stars returns for a new season in the fall on ABC. It is returning in its Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT timeslot.
