Dylan Efron melts hearts with a touching family tribute on 'DWTS'—and earns the season's highest score yet

Dylan Efron wins hearts with a heartfelt performance dedicated to his younger sister, Olivia, and his brother, Zac Efron
PUBLISHED OCT 15, 2025
A photo of Dylan Efron and Olivia from 'Dancing With the Stars' (Image Source: Instagram | @dancingwiththestars)
A photo of Dylan Efron and Olivia from 'Dancing With the Stars' (Image Source: Instagram | @dancingwiththestars)

Dylan Efron just scored the highest marks on 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 34. 'The Traitors' winner won major hearts in the latest episode of the show, paying tribute to his little sister as the dance competition celebrated the Dedication Night. Not only that, but Efron also paid homage to his superstar brother, Zac Efron, in a unique way, making for a performance that was both tear-jerking and incredible to watch.

Still of Dylan Efron from 'DWTS' (Cover Image Source: Instagram | @daniellakaragach)
A still of Dylan Efron from 'DWTS' (Image Source: Instagram | @daniellakaragach)

Efron wowed both fans and judges on 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 34's Dedication Night, performing a heartfelt contemporary routine with partner Daniella Karagach. He dedicated the dance to his younger sister, Olivia, choosing 'Rewrite the Stars' from 'The Greatest Showman.' Notably, the song is sung by his brother Zac Efron and Zendaya, making the performance even more personal and emotional, as per Entertainment Now.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dancing With The Stars #DWTS (@dancingwiththestars)


 

Judges were also left impressed, with Carrie Ann Inaba saying, "I felt that story to the bottom of my soul," praising "the message" as "incredible" and "infused in every step of the dance." Derek Hough added, "You're a great guy, you're in shape, you can dance, and you're a great brother. Well done." Guest Judge Kym Johnson noted, "You are improving and becoming such a great dancer," while Bruno Tonioli  called it a "fantastic number" with a challenging lift, adding that Efron is "getting better and better."

Efron's emotional dance earned him an impressive 36 out of 40, the highest score of the night. Fans were equally moved, flooding Dancing with the Stars' official Instagram post with praise for his stunning performance. One fan commented, "Dylan keeps getting better and better. So proud of his score tonight. It is so deserved!!! His dance demonstrated such a powerful message of being an older sibling, something I can relate to." Another shared, "Dylan is improving and his scores were well deserved. Also, saying Daniella was doing all the work and “tricks” - did we all watch the same dance? He performed this contemporary amazingly."


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dylan Efron (@dylanefron)


 

Meanwhile, another fan added, "That was incredible and so beautiful. Daniella is the best and Olivia oh my heart!!" A fan remarked, "That little toe point!! Omgosh !! Dylan just blew me away!! Well done e!!" while another noted, "This was everything!!  and way to go tiny ballerina she’s a star!" Notably, ahead of the show, Efron shared adorable Instagram photos with his little sister Olivia, introducing her as "the newest member of Team DaDy." In his caption, he joked that she's already the "second-best dancer on the team and by far the cutest."

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The previous seasons had the judges determining the ultimate fate of the contestants, but 'American Idol' Season 24 seeks to change that.
1 hour ago
'The Masked Singer' season 14 began with eighteen contestants, out of which only seven remain in the competition now.
3 hours ago
Windey was seen in Season 26 of 'The Bachelor' and returned to lead Season 19 of 'The Bachelorette' with Rachel Recchia
5 hours ago
Two former contestants return to ‘American Idol’, lighting up the stage again as they showcase how far they’ve come
9 hours ago
The Battle Rounds kicked off with Team Kelly’s youngest contestants, and their performance added a twist to the show
12 hours ago
The Top 20 performances are being stretched across two nights, with the first batch of 10 taking the stage during the March 16 episode
12 hours ago
The clues for High Voltage's true identity left the panelists guessing till the last moment, with some betting he was either Travis Kelce or Jason Sudeikis.
1 day ago
‘Love Island USA’ scores massive streaming numbers, and now Season 8 is on the way, along with a new docuseries about life after the villa.
3 days ago
As 'America’s Got Talent' celebrates its 20-year run, NBC has revealed the Season 21 premiere date, returning judges, and more
4 days ago
'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' stars Jessi and Jordan have been through numerous lows in their relationship, to the point of seeking couples therapy.
5 days ago