'DWTS' semifinals: Amanda Kloots dances for Nick Cordero; Suni Lee, Melora Hardin sent home

• Iman Shumpert made history as the first NBA star to make the 'Dancing With the Stars' finals.
• JoJo Siwa and Amanda Kloots dedicated dances to deceased loved ones in the 'DWTS' semifinals.
• Olympic star Suni Lee and "The Office" star Melora Hardin were both eliminated Monday night.

The tears and the 10 scores were flowing tonight during the "Dancing With the Stars" semifinals, as celebrity dancers plumbed deep emotions to avoid the final double-elimination.

Amanda Kloots bawled after dancing to her late husband Nick Cordero's song "Live Your Life." JoJo Siwa turned on the ballroom waterworks with a dance dedicated to her dearly departed grandfather.

And there was a good reason behind the emotional outpouring. With only four dancers advancing to the finals after Monday, the stakes were high and they all needed as many viewer votes as possible. 

Siwa, 18, said she wanted a finals spot "more than anything I’ve wanted my entire life." She and her pro dance partner "want one more week, I’m not going to sugarcoat it."

The YouTube personality would make it to the finals, while fellow youngster, Olympic gold medal gymnast Suni Lee, 18, would shockingly get the cut along with "The Office" star Melora Hardin, 54.

Here's what went down in the "DWTS" semifinals: 

JoJo Siwa makes everyone cry with the best contemporary dance. Ever.

Siwa wowed during two dances, including an Argentine tango with partner Jenna Johnson, that earned the duo perfect scores. But Siwa's second contemporary dance, dedicated to her grandpa, was the emotional turning point.

During her rehearsal video, Siwa was seen crying and her grandmother was on hand for emotional support. Siwa vowed, "We just want to do grandpa proud." 

Grandma Joni and everyone else was crying in the audience after the flawless, passionate performance to Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go” 

Judge Derek Hough called it the "best contemporary dance we have ever seen on the show." Bruno Tonioli added, "There were moments you sent me to dance heaven, you were like two angels."

With an 80/80 judge's total from two perfect dances, Siwa was the first to find out she would make it to the finals. 

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Suni Lee 2.0 'blossoms,' wows the judges in bare feet

Last week Olympic gymnast Suni Lee stepped out with a new blonde-filled 'do and wowed the judges with her enthusiastic dance for her first perfect score. Suni referred to that as her "breakthrough moment," both on the show and in life, as she dealt with the sudden fame of going from unknown to winning Olympic gymnastic gold. 

"I still haven't found a way to cope with it," Lee said during the show. "It's been hard for me. I felt like the weight of the moment was on me."

But in two dances (a fox trot to Michael Buble's "Haven't Met You Yet" and a contemporary dance to Sara Bareilles' "Gravity") the competitor Lee was happiness unleashed. Her second gravity-defying contemporary dance was joyously performed with bare feet that seemed to never hit the ground due to her sheer athleticism. 

"I love Suni 2.0," said Hough, "It's amazing to see you blossom."

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Amanda Kloots dedicates final dance to late husband Nick Cordero

Kloots pulled at the judges' heartstrings with her dance dedication to Cordero, who died in July after a long battle with COVID-19, dancing to his song "Live Your Life." Kloots was bawling in the pre-dance video explaining how she held her husband's hand as the life support machines were ultimately turned off, while his theme song played.

"I just wanted him to know I had him," said Kloots, as partner Alan Bersten fought back tears. "We played 'Live Your Life' all day and we slowly let him go."

At the end of the emotional dance, Kloots was tearful again, sharing, "When you’re grieving you feel so alone, but I had such an amazing support system." Turning to Bersten, she added that no matter what, she had that moment: "I want to thank Alan for this beautiful dance I’ll always have." 

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said Kloots had "transcended beauty, transcended perfection." Tonioli was unusually subdued saying, "You touched my heart." He added of Cordero, "He’s proud of you and he’s smiling."

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So who is competing in the 'DWTS' finals and who was eliminated? 

As lucky finals-bound dancers skipped happily off the dance floor, there were three left. Hardin, who has been an inspiration in a ballroom filled with dancers 1/3 her age, was the first to go based on judges' scores and viewers' votes.

That left Olympic star Lee and Kloots, right after her emotional performance, in the surprising bottom-two.

The judges, including fellow "The Talk" host Carrie Ann Inaba, unanimously voted to keep Kloots, sending her to the finals. Lee was sent home.

Here's who will compete against Kloots in next week's finals:

Iman Shumpert: The first NBA star to make it to the "DWTS" semifinals is now in the finals with his partner Daniella Karagach.

JoJo Siwa: Further propelled by Twitter support from Demi Lovato, Siwa waltzed into the finals.

Cody Rigsby: The vulture pundits were circling around the Peloton trainer who was at the bottom of the scoreboard. But somehow Rigsby pulled through with his partner Cheryl Burke. They appeared utterly shocked to be dancing next week.

Tune in to next week's "Dancing With the Stars" finale to see a new champion crowned.