2026 Cartersville Dances With the Stars raises a record breaking amount yet again!

Celebrating the 14th Annual Cartersville Dancing With The Stars

What an incredible evening at the 14th Annual Cartersville Dancing With The Stars on March 7, 2026! This event continues to be one of the most inspiring and impactful nights of the year for the Bartow County community.

Each year, local leaders step out of their comfort zones and onto the dance floor to raise money for two incredibly important organizations: The Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter and Backpack Buddies of Bartow County. Both organizations provide essential support to families and children in our community who need it most.

This year’s event was especially exciting because it was a record-breaking year, raising an incredible $439,464. That number represents thousands of acts of generosity from donors, volunteers, dancers, and community members who believe in supporting their neighbors, the most incredible being Mrs Shawnee Westmoreland. Shawnee won the People’s Choice Award raising over $125,000. That is absolutely incredible!

Celebrity Ballroom’s Role

For the past seven years, Celebrity Ballroom has had the honor of being part of this special event by coaching many of the dancers who participate in the show. Helping community members learn to dance, build confidence, and prepare for the stage has been such a rewarding experience for our team.

Every year we are reminded that ballroom dancing has the power to bring people together, create unforgettable memories, and support meaningful causes.

Coaching Craig & Beverly Malone

This year we had the privilege of coaching Craig and Beverly Malone, and it was such a joy working with them throughout the process.

They put in an incredible amount of effort, trusted the choreography, and showed up to every practice ready to learn and have fun. Watching their confidence grow each week was one of the highlights of the experience.

Their hard work truly paid off when they were awarded the Judges’ Choice Award during the show. While every dancer hopes to win the audience vote, the Judges’ Choice Award is always a special one for dance coaches because it recognizes the quality of the performance and the effort behind the choreography.

The Real Winners

While awards are exciting, the real victory of the night was the amount of money raised for the community.

Because of the generosity of everyone involved, over 1,100 children in Bartow County will receive food through Backpack Buddies, helping ensure they have meals over the weekends when school is not in session.

Because of the generosity of everyone involved, over 400 individuals each year have access to emergency shelter, nutritious meals, temporary housing, and support services through Good Neighbor Homeless Shelter.

That kind of impact is what makes this event so meaningful.

Thank You to the Organizers

Events like this do not happen without an enormous amount of dedication behind the scenes.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Lori Albea, Doug Belisle, and their incredible team for organizing and producing such a successful and impactful event. Their leadership and commitment to the community make this event possible year after year.

Gratitude for Our Community

We would also like to thank the Celebrity Ballroom students and friends who supported Craig and Beverly Malone throughout their fundraising efforts. Whether you donated, purchased raffle tickets, or attended one of their events, you helped make a real difference in the lives of families in Bartow County.

Your support truly matters.

Looking Ahead

Being part of this event each year is something we deeply value at Celebrity Ballroom. Watching community members step outside their comfort zones, learn something new, and support a meaningful cause is incredibly inspiring.

We are already looking forward to next year’s Cartersville Dancing With The Stars and the opportunity to once again celebrate dance, community, and generosity.