Let's hear a round of applause for our girl, Gladys. "Dancing With The Stars Results" ABC Tuesdays at 9 (Image courtesy of ABC)

“I heard it through the grapevine, not much longer would you be mine.” Don’t you just hate it when songs get it a little too right? Though disappointing, it came as a surprise to no one that Empress of Soul Gladys Knight was the “Dancing With The Stars” contestant eliminated this week.

It didn’t seem a shock to Gladys. While expressing a desire to stay in the competition until “they throw me out,” Gladys stated that she wasn’t naïve. The competition is getting fiercer (and raunchier) every week, and Gladys had accepted her natural limitations. She deserves some crazy R-E-S-P-E-C-T though, 67 years old and outlasting half the competition. She lost 60 pounds too! While the ballroom will feel a little emptier now without Gladys’ soulful words of wisdom and Tristan’s sexy Irish accent, he had it right by saying Motown week was a proper goodbye tribute to the music legend. “What better way for Gladys to open the show and then close it as well?”

Joining Gladys and Tristan in the dreaded Dance Duel were Roshon and Chelsie, who failed to impress judges and voters with an over-the-top dramedy of a routine Monday. The two teams had an intense jive off in front of the judges – an impressive feat since neither of them had danced the jive before. Roshon’s routine was energetic, sparky, and agile – much like him. Gladys’ routine focused more on tradition and soul – much like her. I didn’t envy the decision the judges were faced with. Nor did Bruno, apparently, comparing the Gladys-Roshon verdict to “Sophie’s Choice.” Ha. Carrie Ann voted to save Gladys, and Len to save Roshon, leaving Bruno in the even more perilous position of tiebreaker. No spoiler alert needed, we all know how this story ends. Bruno chose Roshon.

Gladys took her elimination like a champ, smiling and genuinely appreciative throughout the entire send-off. The entire cast joined her in the middle of the dance floor for a giant group hug.

The dance floor was a place for sentimentality Tuesday night, as the AT&T Spotlight Performance highlighted Michaela DePrince, an orphan from Sierra Leone who realized her dream as a dancer after she was adopted into the United States. Michaela’s performance was gentle and melodic, looking moonlit from above, and accompanied by a soulful performance of “Wild Horses” by Natasha Bedingfield. It was almost out of a dream. Check it out below. Boyz II Men also performed, with their smooth hit “One More Dance.” I like to think that this was not-so-subtly dedicated to Gladys.

Well, this week officially marks the halfway point of season 14. Wasn’t that bad so far right? Haha, no. In a short clip more dramatically scored than a “Lord of the Rings” battle scene, the celebs complained of aches and pains and grueling rehearsals. But there ain’t no rest for the wicked “DWTS” cast, so they better get their game faces (and bandanas) on for next week’s classical themed showdown.

Reach writer Kelly Hanelt here

Check back every Tuesday and Wednesday for Kelly's "Dancing" recaps.