For most of the world who watched “Dancing with the Stars” Monday night, the biggest charge came when Ginger Zee and Valentin Chmerkovskydanced the “Viennese Waltz.” But for scores of Detroiters, the excitement was the song they danced to, or even more specifically, the songstress.
Native Detroiter Beth Griffith Manly, the daughter of the late John Griffith of Motown Funk Brothers’ fame, was a featured vocalist, belting out an amazing rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.” A pop and R&B chanteuse, Beth also sings background for Motown recording artist KEM. “I was so excited when I got the call (to sing on DWTS),” she said. “They called me on a Wednesday evening, and I was on a plane to L.A. the next day.” Beth felt particularly honored when she was asked to sing the Houston song, admitting that she is her all-time favorite singer. “Having worked with her before she passed away on the movie ‘Sparkle’ as her stand-in and body double made me love her even more. And not to mention she and I share the same birthday of Aug. 9.” Ginger and Val walked away with a perfect score after a rousing standing ovation. And, according to the hundreds of social media comments from supportive Detroiters regarding Beth’s performance, Ginger and Val may have earned the 30 points, but the standing O was all for Beth.
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