Tatyana Ali Honors James Avery With Emotional Viennese Waltz on Dancing With the Stars
On the upcoming Dedication Night of Dancing With the Stars , Tatyana Ali and her professional partner Jan Ravnik will perform a Viennese waltz that serves as a love letter to her late TV father, James Avery. The tribute, set to Nancy Wilson’s “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am,” aims to honor Avery’s lasting influence and the encouragement he gave Ali throughout her career.
A Tribute to a Mentor
Ali, who portrayed Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel‑Air , recalls Avery as more than just Uncle Phil—he was a mentor whose belief in her talent endured long after the cameras stopped rolling. “He was really a mentor to me, and I wanted to honor him,” she says. Avery, who passed away in December 2013 at age 68, is remembered for his imposing yet ...
