‘Dancing with the Stars’: Tori Spelling Says Shannen Doherty’s 4 Words ‘Inspired’ Her to Join Season 33

Tori Spelling says she was “inspired” by her late Beverly Hills 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty to join Dancing with the Stars season 33 . The television star and podcast host says her friend’s four words sealed her decision.

Shannen Doherty’s 4 words allowed Tori Spelling to say yes to ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Tori Spelling is no stranger to hard work. Therefore, Dancing with the Stars appeared a natural fit for the mother of five.

However, she told Entertainment Weekly that four words Shannen Doherty once told her helped seal the deal when asked to compete in the dance competition series. “She definitely inspired me during that last year to kind of ‘turn on my power,’ as she would say,” Spelling admitted. “And that’s staying with me, definitely, in my heart.”

“I think in general, Shan was always a big champion of mine,” Spelling continued. “And, in the last year, I was really grateful that we were able to spend time together.”

Doherty died after a long battle with cancer. The actor first learned she had the disease in early 2015. After treatment, the disease was in remission two years later. In 2020, her cancer returned, and in 2023, Doherty revealed the disease spread to her brain and bones. She died in July 2024.

Tori Spelling was ‘scared’ to do ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for many years

Dancing with the Stars puts a call out for certain celebrities year after year. Tori Spelling says she was one of those famous faces who had repeatedly been asked to put on her dancing shoes.

She told Entertainment Weekly, “I’ve gotten that call before — many seasons, since the first season of Dancing with the Stars . And I said no.”

Spelling had a good reason for sitting out the past 32 seasons; her nerves got the best of her.

She explained she stepped back from joining the cast, “Not because I didn’t want to do the show because I was terrified and I was so scared. But this year, when I got the call, I was like, ‘You know what? I’m really trying to turn things around and find myself.’”

Spelling concluded, “So I was like, ‘What scares me the most is gonna push me forward in life. So I’m doing it.’”

Doherty’s children are reportedly concerned for one solid reason

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In addition to hosting her podcast misSPELLING and various acting jobs, Tori Spelling’s most significant role is a mom of five children. She and ex-Dean McDermott parent Liam, Stella, Hattie, Finn and Beau.

Therefore, the quintet was concerned about their mom’s latest television effort because they claimed she was not athletic. They feel her pro partner, Pasha Pashkov, has his work cut out for him.

“They were worried I was gonna get hurt. Because I don’t work out,” Spelling admitted.

She continued, “I’m the girl at the shopping mall. I’ll, like, drive around for 30 minutes to find a parking spot closest, and my kids know it. They’re like, ‘Mom, wait, you’re gonna dance. Are you gonna be OK?’ I’m like, ‘We’ll see!’”

Tori Spelling debuts her first dance as a cast member in an attempt to win a mirrorball trophy on Dancing with the Stars beginning Tuesday, Sept. 17. The series starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, streams simultaneously on Disney+, and is available on Hulu the next day.