Chandler Kinney Reveals Brandon Armstrong's Wife Visits, Gives 'Advice' on Dances During Rehearsal: 'A Lot of Studio Hangs' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(l-r) Chandler Kinney, Brandon Armstrong, Brylee Armstrong.Photo:Disney/Eric McCandless; Brylee Armstrong/Instagram

Disney/Eric McCandless; Brylee Armstrong/Instagram

Chandler KinneyandBrandon Armstrongare revealing their secret weapon.

TheDancing with the Starspartners spoke with PEOPLE about their journey this season after the show’s semi-finals on Nov. 19. With long hours and taxing rehearsals, they reveal Brandon’swifeof two years,Brylee, often keeps them company.

“Brylee will be sitting in the corner,” Brandon laughs. “Lots of studio hangs."

(l-r) Chandler Kinney, Brylee Armstrong, Brandon Armstrong.Brylee Armstrong/Instagram

Brylee Armstrong/Instagram

Kinney says that Brylee, who was also a dancer growing up, will even help out when it comes to perfecting their dances.

“She comes in, it’s nice, she’ll sit there,” theZombiesactress says. “Because she’s seen the show quite a bit, she knows what reads well outside of the whole machine of it, just as an audience member. So she gives us good opinions and advice and it’s really nice to have her here.”

“I’m like, ‘Brandon, celebrate,’” Kinney adds. “He’s like, ‘I got to go work.’ Then we show up Wednesday morning and start working on our next dance. So he literally goes to the studio and starts prepping.”

“Brandon is one of the hardest-working people I know — sometimes a little too much,” she continues, to which Brandon responds, “I agree.”

Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong.Eric McCandless/Disney

Eric McCandless/Disney

This is the first time Brandon has made it to the finals during his time onDWTS,and he says it is hard to put his emotions into words, explaining, “If I said grateful, that would be an understatement.”

“Looking back at the start of the season, Derek actually came in one week for us and he said something that I think is very poignant. He said, ‘Don’t leave any stone unturned. Don’t leave anything in the shed,’” he recalls. “I genuinely feel like I can lay my head on my pillow, and so can [Kinney], and feel like we’ve done that. Regardless if it’s been accepted or not accepted or received or not received. We have put a hundred percent of ourselves into it.”

“Plus, we have one more week to do that, and I’m just going to be excited to be done,” he notes. “I’m just cherishing that.”

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The season 33Dancing with the Starsfinale airs Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available to stream the next day on Hulu.

source: people.com