Many celebrities step onto the glitzy floor of Dancing with the Stars with dreams of lifting the Mirror Ball Trophy. But for country music legend John Schneider, his motivation wasn't about winning. It was deeply personal. In a candid moment on the November 5 episode, John revealed his sole purpose for joining the show: to mend his strained relationship with his three adult children.

During the show, John opened up about the toll his lengthy, four-year divorce from estranged wife Elvira Schneider has taken on his family. "I’ve been going through a divorce now for four years, and it’s been absolutely devastating," John shared, his voice heavy with emotion. "The hardest part of all this is that it's driven a wedge between me and my three adult children." This heartfelt confession came just before his performance on the reality series, where he was ultimately eliminated that same night.

In a previous exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, John shared the reasons behind the breakdown of his marriage with Elvira. "Let's be honest, I probably wasn't the easiest person to be married to," he admitted candidly. However, he emphasized his desire to maintain a strong relationship with Elvira for the sake of their children. "Elly and I want to show that you can be amazing parents, even after divorce," John expressed, hoping to set a positive example for their kids.

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Missing Faces in the Audience

Despite John's best efforts, his daughters Karis and Leah, along with his son Chasen, never made an appearance at any of his DWTS performances. "My kids still weren’t there," John told Entertainment Tonight after the show, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Every Monday, I would look into the crowd, hoping to see their faces. I would have loved for my kids to have been at Dancing with the Stars."

Heartbreak Beyond Words

John's pain over the distance between him and his children is profound. "I never imagined, in the grand plan of my life, that I wouldn’t have a relationship with my kids," he explained, his words filled with raw emotion. "The word 'hurt' doesn’t even come close to describing what this feels like. It’s far beyond that. I don’t even have the words to express it."

This emotional turmoil extends to his new relationship with girlfriend Alicia Allain. While Alicia has brought happiness into John's life, it hasn't been easy for his family to accept her. "It’s been a tough road, and it’s real life," John revealed to ET, his voice breaking slightly. "It’s the ugly part. And the hardest part is that I don’t understand why this distance exists. It’s like being diagnosed with cancer, and no one will tell you what it is or why it’s there."