Valerie Harper Says Goodbye to ‘Dancing with the Stars’

When the 74-year-old joined the competition while battling terminal cancer, it became clear everyone was on her side, especially pro partner Tristan MacManus. Still, an old knee injury posed major problems for her, and her scores were low.

After the announcement, Harper said, "It has been absolutely wonderful -- completely unique, like nothing else in the world that you would ever do. It was an opportunity for me to carry a message to folks, not just with cancer, whatever they have -- whatever challenge."

MacManus became emotional when he said goodbye. He told host Tom Bergeron, "Sometimes you get very lucky to do well with your partner. Sometimes you get very lucky in your life to meet someone who can affect (you) more than this (show) could at all. I feel like I've been very lucky to get that. And I feel like maybe my life's a little bit better since I met Valerie Harper."

There wasn't a dry eye in the place. Guest judge Julianne Hough was left teary-eyed after watching Valerie dance earlier in the evening. "I don't think that I've had the chance to tell you how courageous I think that you are.”

Meanwhile, Amber Riley and Julianne's brother, Derek Hough, were the top scorers of the evening with an intense, precise tango.