How Amanda Kloots Hopes To Honor Her Late Husband On DWTS

Amanda Kloots faced an unimaginable loss in 2020 when her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, passed away from COVID-19 at the age of 41 (via CNN). During his 95 day battle with the deadly virus, Kloots kept family, friends, and fans updated on her husband's progress — and awed everyone with her relentless optimism. After Cordero's death, Kloots has focused on building a future for herself and the couple's 2-year-old son, Elvis. 

In addition to continuing her career as a fitness instructor, Kloots became a cohost on "The Talk," and published the memoir "Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero," as noted by People. Although she admitted that she has slowly started dating again, Kloots admits that she will never truly be over her husband's passing. "Even if I found amazing love again and I am beyond happy, I think every day I will miss Nick," she said on "The Talk" (via USA Today). "Every day I will look at Elvis and wish Nick could see what he's doing. That will never change."

In fact, Kloots continues to find ways to honor her late husband. Along with Cordero's best friend, Zach Braff, she attended the reopening of the Broadway show "Waitress" in September 2021 (via CNN), where Cordero originated the role of Earl in 2016 (via People). And when she signed on to compete in the 30th season of "Dancing with the Stars," Kloots decided to turn the experience into a tribute to her husband.

Amanda Kloots decided to compete on the 30th season of "Dancing with the Stars" as a tribute to her late husband, Nick Cordero. "I think the best way to honor somebody's life is to keep living your life, and I know Nick would want me to do that," she told People. "And I feel like being back dancing — I haven't danced like this in seven years — so it's kind of like finding that part of myself again."

Kloots also believes that the experience of competing against fellow contestants Brian Austin Green, Mel C, Matt James, JoJo Siwa, Suni Lee, and Olivia Jade Giannulli will help her connect to a part of herself that has been lost in recent years, especially that she is now a single mother. "So much has changed and I'm excited. I'm excited to find that part of myself again and I know that in doing this, I'll feel him with me every single day. I already have started [to feel him with me again] in rehearsals. I'm having the best time ever," Kloots explained.