Hilaria Baldwin Breaks Down Over Devastating Family Loss Amid ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Journey

Hilaria Baldwin is juggling the glitz of “Dancing with the Stars” Season 34 with a heartbreaking loss at home. Over the weekend, the wellness author and mother of seven revealed on Instagram that the family’s beloved white Labrador, Dama, passed away after 13 years of companionship, sharing a carousel of memories and writing, “Rest in peace, sweet Dama… your life was long and happy”. The timing couldn’t be tougher: rehearsals with pro partner Gleb Savchenko have ramped up as Baldwin prepares a samba to Moliy’s “Shake It to the Max” for Week 3. In an emotional livestream, she admitted that daily practice leaves little room to grieve but praised Savchenko as “very, very nice… we’re truly like buddies,” promising viewers that her late-night studio sessions are fueling “the performance of a lifetime.” Adding to fans’ curiosity, husband Alec Baldwin was noticeably missing from the ballroom during Week 2. Hilaria told reporters the actor is on location for a film and “juggling” prior commitments but plans to cheer in person when schedules align. Their seven children, however, have filled the front-row gap, waving handmade posters and earning camera time that quickly went viral. Social media has rallied behind the family: condolences for Dama’s passing share screen space with memes of Alec’s stoic reaction to Hilaria’s steamy cha-cha debut. The dual narrative—personal loss and primetime spotlight—has catapulted Baldwin back into trending territory as viewers await her next routine and updates on how surviving pup Gitana is coping without her sister. “Dancing with the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.