01x04 - God Loves Dallas

[bunniefuu]

[birds chirping]

Welcome to another Social Sunday.

My name is Clinton.

And I'm Jonah.

It is a beautiful Sunday

here in Dallas, Texas.

We are back at Fair Park Coliseum.

And it's Vision Sunday.

-[Clinton] It is.

-[Jonah] It's Vision Sunday.

So, service is about to get started,

so prepare your hearts.

It's gonna be so good.

-Remember, when you say yes to Jesus

-[Clinton] You say yes to being social.

[Jonah] Enjoy the service, y'all.

How did y'all hear about Social

and start coming?

Oh my goodness. My first time, a veteran

I was a rookie at the time, back in 2021.

I came to my first service

in October 2021,

and I never have gotten

so emotional at a church,

and just, like, felt accepted,

and I've been coming ever since.

-Amazing.

-[Madeline] I found Social through DCC.

So you found community here, found family

-Yeah.

-found your people?

I moved here 2020 during the pandemic.

It was August.

I didn't know a soul in Texas.

I made the team.

I had two weeks to move here.

-[Pastor Madu] Wow.

-Yep.

Gave up college and just was like,

"Okay, here I am. Now what?"

Signed a lease

to an apartment I'd never seen.

-And was like, "We're doing this thing."

-[Pastor Madu] True step of faith.

-You're here, four years later.

-Here I am, four years later.

Now like, "Now what?"

-[Madeline] No!

-[Jada] Yeah.

Like, "Now what do I do with my life?"

But giving it to God. [laughs]

-[Taylor] Amen.

-I don't need to know yet.

[dramatic music playing]

[Pastor Madu]

Maybe you don't need another sermon.

Maybe you don't need another song.

Maybe you don't need another podcast.

Maybe you need a vision

[shimmering electronic instrumentals

playing]

a vision for your life,

a vision that is bigger than you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

few things are more powerful and critical

than having a vision.

Vision is not about sight.

Vision is what you see

when your eyes are closed.

[announcer] And now, ladies and gentlemen,

the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

[Pastor Madu]

Vision is when frustration with what is

creates passion for what could be.

[Charlotte, echoing] Whatever you do,

don't tarnish the star.

[Pastor Madu] A vision lets you know

what to say yes to

and what to say no to.

There are some of you who have

so many decisions in front of you,

and the reason you're struggling

to make a decision

is because you have not brought clarity

to the vision for your life.

And I'm trying to tell you

the moment you get clarity on vision,

you'll know what decision to make.

There are few things more beautiful

than being restricted by a vision.

Ari, here's your one,

and then you missed your two.

Do this like you are fighting

for your job.

-I think I've sugarcoated it too much.

-Yes, ma'am.

[Charlotte] There's certainly the boss

who runs this place.

And the rest of us try our best

to create the vision that he espouses

for all of us to follow.

[Kelli] I see how hard you're working.

-And I do see potential.

-Yes, ma'am.

[Kelli] I don't know

if it's this year's potential.

But I did notice you over there.

[Charlotte] When you look for someone

to lead an organization,

you wanna make sure

that they truly believe it themselves.

You knew when you met Kelli

that, whatever she did,

she would not tarnish the star,

she would not tarnish the organization.

I just need somebody around me

that I can trust,

and somebody that will lay awake at night

trying to solve all these problems

and make something positive happen.

[Kelli] As serious as you take

this whole dream and journey,

we take our decisions that way too.

So if it feels like we're intense,

it's because we care.

[Pastor Madu] I wanna fill in the blank

today on Vision Sunday

by letting you know God loves Dallas.

[congregation cheering]

[Pastor Madu] Period.

[laughs] God loves Dallas. Period.

Let's put a comma.

Let's take away the comma.

God loves Dallas Cowboys. Come on!

[congregation cheering]

[laughs] God loves Dal

Look at your neighbor, whichever one

you like the best. Say, "Neighbor"

-[congregation repeating]

-[Pastor Madu] "I'm ready for this word."

Look at your other neighbor,

the one you ignored. Say, "Other neighbor,

-I hope you know God loves Dallas."

-[congregation repeating]

Now, give some praise like

we gonna win the Super Bowl this year.

[cheering]

[congregants speak indistinctly]

[Pastor Madu] Father, have your way.

Speak today. Amen. You may be seated.

[bright, dramatic music playing]

[music fades]

[insects chirring]

[Charly] It's just so weird that

What is it, day 27?

This is day 27 at our our hotel house.

We're at, like, fingertip's reach.

-It's right there.

-[Charly] Yes, I know. I know.

Oh my gosh. I saw this TikTok today

that was, like,

this girl making a gourmet breakfast

with a stove and, like, pots and pans,

and I was like

All Charly and I want are some eggs.

Some eggs! I want eggs so bad.

It's so annoying.

Yeah. We'll get them soon.

We only have so much longer in the hotel.

-That is true.

-It's so weird.

I was thinking that yesterday.

I wonder

when they're gonna announce the team.

[Reece] You know

I don't wanna think about it,

but I wanna know so bad.

I think it's not a matter of

I don't know. I just get worried

because I start making assumptions.

-I know.

-"Oh, what if this?"

And I have to tell myself,

"One day at a time."

"Not every day is promised."

But I know that, like,

God has so much more in store.

[Charly] Definitely.

-Okay.

-[Reece] We know all of this.

'Cause we did this yesterday.

[Charly] The tags, we know 18,

and we only have ten more to learn.

-There's not an ounce that's like

-[Charly] Yes.

-"I think I can learn more."

-Uh-huh.

And we have boot fittings today.

I know. I already forgot too.

I just remembered that too.

I'm so excited.

-[Reece] Mm

-[laughs]

[gentle, dramatic music playing]

[music fades]

[phone line ringing]

[woman] Hello?

Hi, this is Ariana,

and I wanted to talk to you

about a new procedure

that many urologists and radiologists

are doing in the area.

Um, it's an MRI-guided

prostate ablation procedure

for men with prostate disease.

What kind of prostate disease?

Um, so it's for men

with prostate cancer and BPH,

so low to intermediate risk, um, men

with prostate cancer.

I currently work in medical device sales,

specializing in prostate disease, so

It's not the most glamorous procedure,

but I've learned so much

in seeing how grateful and appreciative

the patients are.

[gentle ambient music playing]

[Ari] I had always wanted to do Cowboys.

That was my dream.

I decided I was gonna try out

April of 2022, last year.

And I got cut end of July.

And honestly, it was

it was really devastating.

Like, it was heartbreaking.

After I got cut, I was like,

"I don't know where to go from here."

I knew deep down

I wouldn't wanna do another NFL team

because I would compare everything

to Cowboys.

And I think that's what it is,

they set the standard.

So I decided I was gonna stay in Dallas,

and get a job here,

make this my number one priority.

I trained all year with a DCC

and just took literally

as many classes as I could.

I've grown. I've learned a lot.

I think that goes a long way,

especially for me,

'cause I was a head case last year, so

I'm starting to get scared.

I'm almost there,

but it's not quite there yet,

so I gotta work my booty off.

-Can I put

-[man] Put it there.

-[woman] Seven?

-[man] Seven and a half B. 7.5B.

Yeah.

[Randy] Walk up and down there,

just like you're walking

Feels supportive in your heels

-[Ari] Yeah.

-and everything?

See, Dina, that's a good fit on that boot.

You gotta think of it like the DCC boot

fits like no other boot in the world.

-It's a performance boot, okay?

-[Ari] Yeah.

And all of you hit your marks

really hard, okay?

So you want them with you.

-[Ari] Don't wanna be sliding.

-You want them through every move.

Right. No sliding around,

which'll cause friction.

[Ari] Yeah. No, these feel good.

-[Randy] That's awesome.

-I think this is my size.

-[Randy] Let's mark down your size.

-Okay.

[Randy] The girls are working hard

after weeks

and sometimes months

of preparing for auditions.

They get to this point,

and they're getting ever closer

to those final cuts.

We want it comfortably

Like a nice handshake.

-Like this, okay?

-Mm-hmm.

-Just snug on you.

-Okay.

It's gonna stretch a little bit.

We have to make sure

we get everybody properly sized and fitted

for their Lucchese boots,

so that when they take the field

the first game of the year,

they're ready from head to toe.

-I feel like they would stay on.

-Yeah.

[Randy] These are some

of the most iconic boots in the world.

It's sort of like putting on

Superman's cape for a guy, right?

It's really cool. [laughs]

[Randy] There are some girls

I do some special things for their feet,

whether they're narrow,

whether they're wide.

I've done all kinds of little tricks.

We want you, from head to toe,

to feel fantastic.

Well, I haven't stretched, but

[gentle, whimsical music playing]

I think we found something.

Give her one more walk if you don't mind.

I love 'em.

-[Charly] I'm gonna do those ones.

-[Randy] Okay.

Yeah, they feel like

I don't know. They just feel better.

-Okay.

-[man] Good deal.

-[Charly] Thank you so much.

-Absolutely.

-Nice to meet you.

-So cool. Nice to meet you guys too.

Best of luck to you

the rest of training camp.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[man] Yeah. I think

seven and a halfs were better.

[woman] I am so sore.

This makes me want to throw up and cry.

[laughter]

It's not really

I don't know how to explain it, but

-I was, like, so splotchy.

-From this weekend?

-My stomach is like polka dots.

-No, I know.

I was I was, like, way too dark, I think.

-My face was.

-And it and it came off. Like

[indistinct chatter]

[Victoria] Our shorts are kind of low,

and this is the tightness band.

So this makes it not have

that little indention

to make me look like I got a belly roll.

-[interviewer murmurs]

-[laughs]

[Zoë] It's all about the diet, really.

My diet is really good.

It's all about fueling your body.

With Oreos and, uh,

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

-["Thunderstruck" by AC/DC playing]

-And I was shaking at the knees ♪

Could I come again, please? ♪

Whoa, baby, baby ♪

Thunderstruck ♪

You've been thunderstruck ♪

Thunderstruck ♪

Thunderstruck ♪

-Thunderstruck ♪

-[song fades out]

-Brooklyn.

-Yes, ma'am.

I think it's [vocalizes musical beat]

I think you can stretch out more. Yeah.

[Judy] It's still It's boring.

Do it full-out.

-[Kelli] That! Stop!

-[Judy] Reach.

-The first one?

-[Judy] Reach.

Stretch with those long

-Ball change, then together.

-limbs God gave you.

Somebody show her style.

Be a style guide, veteran.

It's a

And that, y'all

Are we doing a bird,

or are we flexing back?

It's a bird.

[Kelcey] It's a lift

with these at your shoulders.

-[woman] Small lift.

-Tell Brooklyn where her chin is.

Where's her nostrils?

Give her something that makes sense.

-[Kelcey] Straight up to the ceiling.

-She's Her nostrils to the mirror?

-[Kelcey] Yes.

-[woman] Yes.

["Thunderstruck" playing]

Thunder ♪

Thunder ♪

Thunder ♪

Went through to Texas ♪

Yeah, Texas, and we had some fun ♪

We met some girls ♪

Thunderstruck ♪

Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

[Kelli] Charly's just not

a real style match for me.

Thunderstruck ♪

Thunderstruck ♪

You've been thunderstruck ♪

[song ends]

[applause, cheering]

Don't be afraid in your kickline,

when you're doing your kicks.

Get your feet together.

So from here, you're gonna be able

to get that kick up higher

when you're jumping together.

-Zoë. That

-[Zoë] Yes, ma'am.

-That performance can't work.

-[Zoë] Yes, ma'am.

There were three mistakes in the entrance.

I don't know if you snowballed

by making one,

and then you panicked and made two more.

Yes, ma'am.

[Judy] Reece, you did something not clean

on the two-line part.

-Yes, ma'am.

-Let me see you do it.

-Two

-Oh, sorry.

[Judy] One, two Now, she's gonna panic.

[Reece] I cannot think.

-Yes.

-Face of hers.

Um And you chirp still a little bit.

Your smile is beautiful,

and I like a change of a smile,

but sometimes, you just

-It's distracting.

-[Reece] Yes, ma'am.

But your face is beautiful.

I don't wanna make you stress over that.

-Yes, ma'am.

-[Judy] Do it again.

-[woman] You got it!

-[Judy] Two, three Nope.

I know what she was talking about,

but I guess I didn't, like

-Yeah.

-It registered in my head.

I was like, "Okay,

I'll be more aware of that."

I'll watch you

and tell you exactly what it is.

I can't put a finger on it.

But when I was watching you

and she said it, I was like, "I saw that."

-I was like, "Am I eating an apple?"

-No! You're fine. We all do weird things

[Kelcey] We try to do our best

to take care of them mentally

through this process.

But I remember my rookie year,

by the end of training camp,

you could look at me the wrong way,

and I'd start crying.

I think you're doing like a

It's cute,

but I think that's what they're saying.

That's what that means. I just asked,

'cause I was like, "What did I do?"

No, I think I think she's doing

-Like a

-Like a nose scrinch.

Like, uh [giggles]

All right, that makes sense.

That makes a lot of sense.

I was eating a bag of potato chips

out there.

-[Camille] She said you're chirping.

-[Reece] I am chirping!

No, but it makes sense.

-I'm just glad that they said something.

-Yeah.

-At least I can be aware of it.

-Mm-hmm.

I feel like I'm gonna pass out.

Like [moans]

[Michelle] Are we ready?

[woman] Yeah!

Rookies, I know y'all are flooded

in your mind with new choreography.

I get it. I understand. I was there.

I felt like I was spinning.

I'm like, "I can't

What is even going on?"

Right now is a really crucial,

stressful time for you.

So just know that

you're not the only one feeling like that.

You have your other rookies

feeling like that.

You have your veterans

who just got over that.

So make sure,

when you're going through your day,

and you're by yourself,

maybe you're at work, school,

whatever you're in right now,

and you're just panicking,

and you're like, "I can't even keep up."

We have 25 new sidelines, right?

Just remember,

"This too shall pass."

This time is temporary, okay?

This moment where you feel super stressed,

and you have a lot on your plate,

heavy weight on your shoulders,

that will be lifted

in just a short amount of time.

Five, six, turn, seven, eight.

One, back, two, roll, three, four,

in, five, hop, six, out, seven, eight.

Good. Music.

["Walk This Way" by Aerosmith playing]

[Kelli] Every day and night, we're looking

for that first home, preseason game.

Five, six

[Kelli] We're a pretty well-oiled machine

when it comes to knowing potential,

and nurturing potential,

and developing potential,

and then knowing when it's time.

You wanna be as honest as you can

as fast as you can,

so that you're not delaying the pain

of being cut.

[Ari] I've tried my hardest,

I've done my best,

but we'll see what happens.

I mean, the typical number

they always take is 36.

Last year, they took 37.

I don't know if they'll do that this year,

but if they do, that means

there's only one more cut.

My mental state last year in camp

is really what hurt me the most.

So this year, I'm just trying

to enjoy every single step.

Ari, your petite size is adorable.

Thank you.

[Kelli] We can't make you

physically any larger.

-But you're gonna have to dance larger.

-Yes, ma'am.

[Judy] Some little girls are gonna go,

"Oh, she's my height."

I mean, sometimes

I like the little bitty ones.

I know.

But she is little bitty.

[dramatic music playing]

[Kelli] I'm wondering, like, Charly

I feel like her eyebrows look

a little worried,

like a little heavier on the inside.

I do Is that bronzer or structural?

It's bronzer and highlighter.

[Kelli] Camille, your left kick

won't make this team,

and I don't know where that came from.

I don't care if you're sore.

We don't have time, and we can't put

a sign around your neck. Kick. Hard.

-Or we both lose.

-Yes, ma'am.

I just keep telling myself

I have to take it day by day,

section by section.

Get the warmup done, get kicks done.

If I think about it too much

and I stress myself out,

then I'm not gonna execute

as good as I can.

[Judy] No one, at this point,

has been a bad dancer.

But now, we're just trying

to pick the best of the best.

When they learn so many routines,

you do start seeing the cracks

in the ones that maybe aren't

so fast on their feet.

Anna Kate, I don't know what you did.

You bounced, but you gotta have

the strength to hold it.

-Yes, ma'am.

-Was it you that bobbled?

-I bobbled on her as well, so that was me.

-We can both work on it.

[Reece] I get nervous.

Not only are you thinking

about choreography and performing,

but you're also thinking

about everything else,

about staying in line,

and hitting those specific marks,

and that is just something

I am not used to.

[Judy] The final cuts

have to be made soon.

I mean, we have a game to get ready for.

So, I don't know.

Maybe at the end of this week,

I think that we'll be able

to make that final decision.

[Kelli] We know when we've seen enough

and have given them

as many chances as we can.

And there are some that say,

"Just give me one more night."

But at that point, one more night,

it's not gonna change

the longer impression.

I recognize that they have uprooted

their lives to be in Dallas,

and I don't wanna cost them

any more emotional or financial expense

to be in a training camp

where they're not gonna make the team.

[music fades]

[Judy] Zoë.

So, you kind of push your poms back

a little bit.

Now, your elbows aren't like this.

They are in.

But I want to see your face.

-Yes, ma'am.

-Okay.

Thank you. Thank you.

[Victoria] Zoë, she is 20,

so I feel like I can kind of relate to her

starting at such a young age.

What is this for? Homework?

No. It's just if you have troubles

remembering your yard lines.

Oh, okay.

[Victoria] I was 18

when I got cut that first year.

-Yeah, just a few.

-Yeah.

Being in the stressful environment

of training camp kinda made it worse.

'Cause I was at a young age,

I didn't know how to handle it then.

We see you on this field,

and we see you on this team.

Yes, ma'am.

[Victoria whimpers]

Just not this year?

[Kelli] Mm-hmm.

Okay.

[Victoria] I can see it,

envision it perfectly.

But then making the team was electrifying.

It was like, "Oh my goodness.

My dream is coming true."

[gentle music playing]

Hi, lovelies. It's Mental Health Monday,

and I have

our BadA Affirmation book today,

and today it reads,

"I am living a life of my own design."

"I am an action-taker.

I am a hard worker."

Yes, we are.

Tell yourself every day you are fabulous,

because you are.

[Kat] Vic and I are like

rookie sisters together.

Vic's my girl.

I wanna put her on my lap

and then just hold her forever.

Because I feel I've been through

a lot of stuff growing up,

but she's got her own sh*t

that she has to deal with.

[Victoria] My mental health

was already spiraling down,

so I think I was needing

that love support.

Especially when we're

already criticizing ourselves.

[dramatic music playing]

I've never been Okay, I'm just gonna

I've never been open about it.

But my depression

like, it turns into this bad cycle.

And

Whenever I get into a bad depression,

I turn to bad coping skills

and which causes bad eating habits.

And as a dancer, that's the hardest thing

that you can fight

are eating disorders plus depression.

And I go through that cycle

when that depression zone hits.

It's a binge-purge cycle.

It's, uh

It's a binge to get that feel-good, that

empty feeling filled again.

But then game time comes,

so then you just gotta

[rapidly sucks air]

get into those baby clothes,

get into that baby uniform,

and that cycle just keeps going.

[gentle, somber music playing]

[Victoria] After COVID year,

after lockdown and everything,

I didn't feel like

my dancing was up to par.

My body wasn't up to par,

and I just felt very out of it.

And so, I needed a little gap year.

Without that year off,

I did not feel I could be my best

to represent DCC.

When I decided to take my year off,

I got into therapy.

I've learned

that I'm a words of affirmation person.

I've also learned

that I do not like to feel my feelings.

So I think that's why I cover that up.

I cover up any emotion that I have.

I think we all kind of have a tendency

to put up a front,

and that's just not okay,

'cause when you're not feeling good,

you need to let people know.

[Kat] The year Victoria took off,

I've never seen the b*tch happier.

I've never seen

She had a boyfriend. She was going out.

She was bopping around

like a 22-year-old does.

She wanted to be on, like, Rockettes

and, like, move to New York.

And I'm like, "Go, sister! Go! Go! Go!

You got it. Move! Go!"

"Don't go home. Just keep moving."

Then she came back,

and it was all of a sudden, like,

back in this environment.

[Victoria] I am someone who tries

and aims to please people.

I just love making people happy.

But when I don't feel

like it's being reciprocated,

it's very exhausting and hard

not to think that you're not liked.

With DCC, I feel that sometimes,

I could walk away from a practice,

and if I wanted to

and didn't try to say hi to someone,

I could've probably walked away

from that practice not speaking to anyone

if I didn't put that effort in.

It makes me sometimes wanna quit again.

[interviewer] Must be hard to have

this thing that's your dream be this

-The thing that hurts me.

-[interviewer] Yeah.

Yeah.

[interviewer] You're strong, Victoria.

Not always.

[music fades]

Not always.

[groans, inhales sharply]

-[birds chirping]

-[airplane engine whining]

[murmur of distant chatter]

I really need these curls to stay.

[sprayer hissing]

You would think, "Pageant girls.

Hair is, like, always big,

and voluminous, and curly."

My hair sometimes

just does not wanna hold anything.

And so, the techniques and stuff

have helped me,

but, I mean, my hair just sometimes

is a little stubborn for me.

[gentle music playing]

[Charly] I think if I did pageants,

I would be better at makeup, for sure.

There's pictures of me with my eyelashes,

like, up here on my eyebrows

and crazy stuff, so

I never really learned how to do it

up until now,

and now, I feel like

I'm a little bit better at least.

Maybe just a little bit.

Obviously, I want it

more than anything in the world.

But me getting in my head

and my mindset throughout the last week

has been really rough. I've barely slept.

This is not how

I'm supposed to go through the process.

I'm not supposed to be so hard on myself.

I'm not supposed to be practicing

night and day.

I have the mindset of,

"I'm gonna get cut today."

"Oh gosh. I'm so scared," all the time.

And I feel like the worst thing

you can be is nervous.

[music fades]

[phone line ringing]

-Hey, baby.

-Hi.

-Hi. How you doing?

-I'm good. How are you?

Good. How's training camp going?

It's good.

-It's hard, but it's fun.

-Yeah?

It's just Yeah.

We all miss you here.

I know. I miss you too.

I just wanna know, like,

the outcome so bad.

Yes, I know. It can't come soon enough.

I know.

They keep saying,

"I don't know how they're gonna pick."

Everyone's so good.

And everyone's so nice, too, literally.

I wish you could meet everybody.

I know. I would love to.

I know you would. [laughs]

Well, maybe if I make it,

you'll come to meet the team.

Yeah, absolutely.

-Okay, baby, I'll talk to you soon, okay?

-Okay.

[Charly's mom] Charly's our only child,

and having a little girl,

as a mom's dream,

you want a little ballerina.

I just wanted to see her in a tutu.

She never stopped from there.

She loved being kind of

the center of attention a little bit.

I mean, she just loved dancing,

loved competing.

Always strived to do her best.

She came home from college,

and she started thinking about auditioning

for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

And, um

You know, I wasn't aware

that she was interested in that.

As a mom, you know, I'm a little concerned

about all the men goggling over her

if she was to make the team.

But other than that, um,

I honestly feel it's very

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

are a very respectable team.

Um You know,

and I definitely 100% support it.

As a parent, you worry,

but Charly is a strong girl,

very, very independent,

and we're very proud of her.

I just know that she's putting everything

that she can possibly put into this.

She's very determined,

and my fear, obviously,

which is probably her fear,

is if it doesn't happen.

[light, delicate music playing]

[music fades]

[traffic humming]

[Kelli] We're at the top

of the hill of the roller coaster.

There's no turning back now.

So that pressure is good for me,

because it makes me get decisive

at this point

and, um, focused.

I've also asked Charlotte

to join us tonight.

She's gonna take a peek and weigh in.

It is a hard night,

'cause now, relationships have formed.

Friendships have started.

They're all pulling for each other.

None of them want

to have to hug somebody goodbye.

Um

So it's really kind of a mixed emotion.

They're They will be elated

that they made the team,

but that doesn't make

the goodbyes any easier.

They told all of us candidates to come

with all of our outfits we got from them,

I'm assuming in case we get cut,

and we have to return it all.

So, that's kind of nerve-racking.

But just gotta keep trucking along

until something happens with that.

[interviewer] Do you know

when they're gonna do the cuts?

[Anna Kate] No idea.

[laughs] Not sure.

[tense, grim music playing]

Perfect.

The hardest part is the drive

and the wait before practice,

because all you can do is anticipate.

[Brooklyn] True.

But the best friendships start from

-Start with a carpool.

-driving to practice together.

I genuinely have pictured

wearing that uniform

[Camille] Mm-hmm.

-my whole life.

-Mm-hmm.

-And I don't wanna get cut.

-[Camille] I know.

[Brooklyn] I don't wanna think

about how I would wanna get cut.

[Camille] It scares me.

[Brooklyn] That's like the question,

"How would you wanna die?"

-That's horrible.

-[Camille] Literally.

[Brooklyn] And it's so hard.

We're all so close now.

[Camille] I know. I know.

[Brooklyn] Driving up to work.

[Kelli] This is what training camp is for.

And some some thrive.

Some buckle under pressure.

Some surprise us.

Um

Some kinda disappoint.

[music fades]

[Kelli] We're hiring people,

technically in one day,

that are about to be

global ambassadors for the brand.

That's why part of this selection process

is so thorough,

because we are giving them

a lot of responsibility

and a lot of opportunities

to represent something

that, in Charlotte's case,

it's her entire family's everything.

I recently caught up

with the man behind America's Team,

Jerry Jones, and his daughter, Charlotte,

who's helped him build

the most lucrative team in the NFL.

What is it like to be

the highest-ranking woman in football?

It's inspiring to hear that.

But, um, all I really wanna do is

make my parents proud, so that's great.

-[Jerry] Well, Charlotte

-[Hager] Has she made you proud?

She's a great, uh, face

for our game in the NFL.

Yes, I'm proud of her.

Charlotte is my mom,

so I've been around this for 30 years.

We do have a strong family base.

I have my brothers working here.

My cousins are working here.

So it's a good, strong family connection.

[Hager] What's the most important lesson

you've learned from your family?

Loyalty.

And, uh and it's not something

that's talked about every day.

It's just that you know it's there.

[dramatic electronic music playing]

[music fades]

-Knock knock.

-[Charlotte] Hey-hey!

-Hi. How are you doing?

-[Charlotte] Come on in. What's going on?

-How are you?

-I'm just getting ready for tonight.

-Okay. Tonight.

-Tonight.

-So, tonight is the last practice.

-Last practice before the announcement.

Okay.

-I talked to Kelli.

-[Haley] Okay.

[Charlotte] Just got off the phone

with her.

And I know she was kind of pushing

for the 37,

but I told her to plan tonight,

to go into tonight to think about 36.

-six. Okay.

-Yeah.

I know this is a hard cut.

It's always hard, the very last one.

-Everybody gets even more emotional.

-Emotional.

But I really do think we need

to kinda stick to the format

that we've always had,

that brought us here.

But we can talk about that

later tonight after practice.

You know.

I'm sure Kelli would like to say,

"Let's go with everybody on these pages."

[chuckles] "And let's call it a day."

-[Haley] Get ready to fight that battle.

-[Charlotte] "Have a squad of 38." I know.

We all want more,

because they're all great.

There will be some that are happy

and then a few that are not,

but we'll have to move forward with that.

[upbeat music playing faintly

from speakers]

[chatter]

Nobody that was up here

has fallen down to here.

[Kelli] No.

So this is now 38.

Tonight's job is to say goodbye

to one or two.

Well, I think we need to go into tonight

cutting to 36.

So we need to make sure

that we're truly focusing on

the nuances of all of those

that could potentially be in question,

to make a fair assessment of that.

[dramatic music playing]

[Kelli] You putting Madeline

in that group?

[Charlotte] I'm asking you.

[Kelli] Madeline, I don't think

she fuels herself, energy-wise, and

-Energy Like intake?

-Like eating. Yes. Yes.

Or mental?

-No. Intake.

-Intake.

Who would be next? Do you feel like

there is a debate, a negotiation over

I'd like to see

-I'd like your opinion on Ari.

-[Charlotte] On this situation?

[Kelli] Because if it's not scale,

I think she matches appeal.

Even though she's down here

last night when we pushed her

-She got better.

-She got better.

Who, in your mind then,

is she competing against?

If it's 36 girls, then

I'd like to see if you think Zoë rushes,

or if she's as strong as I think she is.

[Judy] Camille, the only thing

that some people have noticed on her is

her feet looked awkward.

-[Charlotte] Mm-hmm.

-Last night, Charly got my first no.

But if you remember,

she had a super strong solo.

-[Charlotte] Mm-hmm.

-[Kelli] She is a strong technician.

-[Charlotte] Mm-hmm.

-[Kelli] Anna Kate's in her head a bit.

I think she's heard too much

about Caroline.

[Charlotte] That's interesting.

So I'm taking it

this is what I'm looking at.

[Kelli chuckles softly]

She's pursing her lips

and kind of grumbling,

and I'm trying to interpret that.

What does that mean

when Mama does that at the dinner table?

[laughter]

[indistinct chatter]

[Charlotte murmurs]

Okay

[Judy] Why is "Do Not Disturb"

so hard for me to find now?

Swipe down.

-Other way from the corner.

-'Cause you can't see anymore.

-There it is.

-There it is!

Hayley, I need you around all the time.

Until tomorrow morning

for right now. Okay.

["Thunderstruck" playing]

[Kelcey] Five, six, seven

♪ Thunder ♪

♪ Thunder ♪

♪ Thunder ♪

♪ Thunder ♪

♪ Thunder ♪

♪ Thunder ♪

♪ We're doin' fine ♪

♪ So fine, thunderstruck ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, thunderstruck ♪

♪ Thunderstruck ♪

♪ -Thunderstruck ♪

-[song fades out]

[Charlotte] You know, I think

the challenge is a little bit

Like, comparatively

Kind of looks like a junior.

If she makes it,

it just looks like

It looks like a little girl

running from behind.

Like, "Hurry. Hurry.

I can almost get there."

-It feels like a

-[Kelli] Chase.

-[Charlotte] Left behind.

-[Haley] Yes.

[Charlotte] And a chase.

[whispers] If that's the case,

then do we need to start having

a minimum height?

I think it is something to consider.

I definitely do.

'Cause I do that online.

I said no online because of

It's not great for us

to get to this point of,

"Okay, and this is gonna be the reason

that she can't catch up."

Agreed.

-[Judy] Okay, y'all, stand up.

-[Kelli] Charlotte knows our veterans.

But if you're in pink,

will you reintroduce yourself, just to

-Yes.

-just to reintroduce yourself?

Um, I just graduated

from Texas Christian University

with a degree in finance

and a minor in accounting.

[Camille] a bachelor's in journalism

and minor in Spanish.

[Charlotte] Are you fluent?

-Un poco.

-[Charlotte laughs]

I graduated with a degree

in marketing and event management.

in marketing and sales.

[Charlotte] A lot of people in sales

around here.

[Brooklyn] Yes, ma'am.

[Zoë] I am 20 years old.

I'm originally from Rowlett, Texas,

but live down the road in Prosper.

-[Charlotte] 20?

-Yes, ma'am.

How many 20-year-olds do we have?

Anybody else 20? No?

Great.

Hi, Charlotte. My name is Charly.

I'm from Livermore, California,

and I'm 22 years old,

and I just graduated

from Arizona State University

with a degree in communications

and a minor in media analysis.

-[Charlotte] Is Charly your full name?

-It is.

[Charlotte] It is. Charly.

I was wondering.

[giggles] Yes.

[Ari] Hi, Charlotte. My name is Ariana.

I am 23 years old

from San Diego, California.

I currently work in medical device sales,

specializing in prostate cancer.

-[Charlotte] Love that. Good for you.

-Thank you.

[Charlotte] I think you could

talk about her all day long.

We're never gonna solve the challenge

that exists.

But the other challenge is

we need to be at 36,

and I don't think you would fight for her

over somebody else.

Unless you would. And I actually think

that's the discussion.

[Judy] Right. I don't know why

Did y'all not like the 37 last year? Or?

Well, I think the 36

I think we had extended to 37

We had really strong reasons around COVID

to have an extra person around.

Um, I did not like having a rotation

of the 37th.

You make the squad at 36,

or you don't make the squad.

-[Judy] Gotcha.

-Um

Then the conversation evolved to,

do we then have an alternate?

And you're declared

and you're named an alternate,

you know, to sit there and

Honestly, what I really don't like

about that is

you just have somebody

eternally on standby.

And I don't like that.

[Judy] I don't like also,

"Congratulations, you made the team."

-"By the way"

-And then, you're an alternate.

So I really just

philosophically don't like that.

[gently taps table]

[all laughing softly]

Okay, so if that's

if that is a final answer,

to answer your question about Ari,

I watched her a lot last night,

and I watched her a lot tonight.

I think she is as

She's a strong performer,

she has good style, and she's beautiful.

-[Charlotte] Trust the process.

-[Kelli] I do.

What kind of conversation

do we have with her to send her home?

You have 36 cheerleaders on this squad.

You have the easiest conversation.

There's 36 spots.

[Kelcey] And one, pump, two, three, four,

five, and six, and seven, and eight.

And one, and two, walk, three

Five, six, and seven, eight.

Thunder, two, three

[Kelli] My hesitation here is

that she's grown on me as a performer.

She moved here.

She stayed here. She took classes.

[Judy inhales deeply, sighs]

[Kelcey] Two, four, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven. One

[loudly] Everybody come in, please.

Who needs a microphone?

All right, good work tonight, y'all.

This was really good.

Um Tomorrow night

is our first night at the stadium.

[cheering softly]

Who's never driven to Arlington?

[hushed chatter]

[Kelli] Anybody else?

Anybody else? Okay.

'Cause traffic can be kinda brutal on 30,

and it's definitely 45 minutes from here.

So give yourself enough time

to not be stressed.

Yes, ma'am.

[Kelli] So, we will see y'all tomorrow

at the stadium.

I do need Ari and Charly to stay back

if you will.

Yes, ma'am.

[Kelli] And everybody, we will see you

tomorrow night at AT&T Stadium.

-Yes, ma'am.

-[Kelli] Okay? Good work, y'all.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-You're gonna be okay.

-Yeah, okay.

Hey. Hey, girl. You got it. You got it.

Be strong. I know you are.

You got this.

You're so strong, and I love you so much.

-You're stunning, beautiful, perfect.

-Thank you.

-Love you so much.

-Love you too.

We love you guys. It's just a meeting,

so show 'em who you are in there.

You can always change their mind.

You don't know what's happening.

It's just a meeting. Okay?

We love you.

-All right, ready?

-Mm-hmm.

One, two, three, DCC!

Whoo!

[tense, dramatic music playing]

-[music fades]

-[sighs]

[indistinct chatter]

[Kelli] Hey.

Come have a seat.

How are you feeling?

[quietly] Not my best.

-Huh?

-Not my best right now.

I'm You're not gonna like

where this is going to end,

and I don't either.

So

Is

[tearfully] Is there, like

anything I can do? I mean

[Kelli] I wish I could tell you there was.

Yes, ma'am.

I mean, if you guys could give me

one more night, I would

Like, I know that

[Kelli] Literally, this is not even

something personal

or even too much developmental for you.

It's It's that we are limited

to a team of 36.

[Kelli sighs]

[cries softly]

[inhales sharply] Just

[Kelli] Is there anything

I can say or give you

No. I just wanna thank you guys

for everything.

And the girls are

the greatest girls I've ever met. And

[Judy] You can tell

they connected with you.

I just think God has other plans, maybe.

Thank you.

-[Kelli] Let's get you

-[Judy] Michele will get you safe.

[Kelli] home before it's not too late.

-Michele will

-[Ari sobs]

walk you out.

Let's go. We're gonna go this way.

Can I give you a hug? Thank you.

[Kelli] You be proud of yourself.

Are you?

You know you did great.

Okay.

Thank you.

-Thank you guys for everything.

-[Kelli] Okay.

-We're gonna go out this way.

-Okay.

[Judy] Hello.

-Hey, Charly.

-Hi.

I am looking at your final audition notes.

[Charly] Mm-hmm.

-You wanna hear some of them?

-[quietly] Sure.

Yes.

"Strong technician. Wow dancer."

"Great."

"Outstanding."

"Check, check, check."

"Stunning technique."

"Beautiful showmanship."

"Great technique."

-You blew us away with your craft

-Thank you.

and your level of expertise.

Fast-forward into this training camp

and our choreography,

now you gotta punch. You gotta power.

-You kinda have to thrash a little more.

-Yes.

You're not there yet for this style.

Yes, ma'am.

[Kelli] We're making

our final cuts tonight,

and unfortunately, we're releasing you.

Yes, ma'am. [sniffles]

[Kelli] Um

-You You're a very impressive dancer.

-Thank you so much.

I really appreciate that

from the bottom of my heart.

And I love this organization so much,

and I love the girls so much, and

[Kelli] I'm glad

you found camaraderie here.

-Absolutely.

-[Kelli] Because that does make sense.

Yes.

-And that is a great part of this team.

-It's unlike anything else.

It's getting to dance,

but it's all the other things.

Yes.

-You did great.

-Thank you so much.

-You did great.

-I love you guys so much. Thank you.

-We're glad you had a positive experience.

-Absolutely.

-I'll be back stronger next year.

-Well, good. That's a plan.

-Definitely.

-That's a plan.

-Thank you so much.

-Okay.

[Judy] That's heartbreaking.

She actually would've been 37.

-Hmm?

-She actually would've was 37.

[Kelli sighs]

[Judy sighs]

-[Charly] I love you.

-[Reece] Sorry.

-[Charly] It's okay.

-[Reece cries] I'm so sorry.

[Charly] I'll be back with you next year.

I know.

-[Reece] I'm so proud of you.

-[Charly] I'm proud of you too.

[Reece] I'm so grateful for you

and our friendship.

[Charly] Oh, I cannot gain a better friend

through this, seriously.

Thank you for being there for me.

I'll be cheering you on all season long,

every step of the way.

And then when I come back next year,

you'll be my vet. [laughs]

Okay, I'm gonna call my mom.

[Reece] Charly is so talented, number one.

But she also carries herself beautifully.

-[Heather] Hey, baby.

-[tearfully] Hi, Mom.

How you doing?

[crying] I'm okay.

[Reece] We just grew so close

in such a short period of time.

And when you become so close to someone

and love them so dearly,

and you see them, um, just hurting,

that's extremely hard to witness.

Oh, God. I just wish

I could be there to hug you.

-I hate that I'm not there.

-It's okay.

I'll be home soon, so you can hug me then.

[Reece] I don't think

I'm more special than someone else.

I think that God was all

in control of this.

Well, you'll have me, Kelly, and Becca

coming back for you. Don't you worry.

[Reece] Listen, that literally

would make everything.

[Charly laughs]

[Reece] I know

that I am not a perfect person,

and I will never meet perfection.

And so, my mission as a dancer

is to use my gift and my talent

to bring glory to my creator.

[grand, dramatic music playing]

[Pastor Madu] I want you to pray

for the peace and prosperity of you.

Pray for the peace and prosperity of the

-[congregation] City.

-city.

If the city prospers,

then you will prosper.

[congregation applauding]

[Pastor Madu] God loves Dallas.

Delta Dawn

♪ What's that flower you have on? ♪

Could it be a faded rose

♪ From days gone by? ♪

♪ And did I hear you say ♪

♪ He was a-meetin' you here today ♪

♪ To take you to his mansion in the sky? ♪

You 36 are officially

the 2023 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders!

[cheering]

All the folks around Brownsville

♪ Say she's crazy ♪

Love all the pile-ons.

'Cause she walks downtown

♪ With a suitcase in her hand ♪

[jubilant clamoring]

[shrieking joyfully]

[indistinct chatter]

In her younger days

♪ They called her Delta Dawn ♪

So good.

You represent a team.

You represent a community.

You represent a legacy

of over 60 years of women

who have cheered for the Dallas Cowboys.

You are the epitome

of class, and style, sophistication,

and all of what we value as a brand,

as an organization, and as a family.

Delta Dawn

♪ What's that flower you have on? ♪

♪ Could it be a faded ♪

[Kelli] We are so grateful for the women

that came before all of us.

And it is now your responsibility

to wear this uniform,

to steal Charlotte's words,

with grace, class,

uplifting, cheerful spirit.

This is when the magic starts.

Passing the baton to Anna Kate.

[cheering]

Thank you so much.

She got her name from a baby book

on the Bs, Brooklyn!

She's gonna give a kick sky-high,

'cause we're proud of her, Camille.

[cheering]

-Thank you.

-[Charlotte] I have Reece.

Thank you.

[cheering]

-Congratulations.

-Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

[chanting] Rookies! Rookies!

Rookies! Rookies! Rookies!

Whoo!

[cheering]

From my family, I thank y'all so much.

Since 1983, you've all been my family.

So, thank you.

[Charlotte] We've got you.

We've been very warm and fuzzy,

but now the pressure's on.

So my tone will go from this to

[shrieks] this!

[laughter]

Delta Dawn

♪ What's that flower you have on? ♪

Could it be a faded rose

♪ From days gone by? ♪

♪ And did I hear you say ♪

♪ He was a-meetin' you here today ♪

♪ To take you to his mansion in the sky? ♪

♪ And did I hear you say ♪

♪ -He was a-meetin' you here today ♪

-[crowd roaring]

♪ To take you to his mansion in the sky? ♪

[song echoes as it fades]

[bright, dramatic electronic music

playing]

[music fades]

♪