‘Dancing With the Stars’ Jodie Sweetin Says Her Life Is ‘A Lesson To Never Give Up’

The troubled past of Dancing With the Stars celebrity competitor Jodie Sweetin is no secret. Between the time she left Full House and her appearance on this season of DWTS, Sweetin was often in the headlines for her drug abuse. She has turned things around though and recently celebrated five years of sobriety. Thirty-four-year-old Jodie Sweetin’s debut on Dancing With the Stars coincided with this milestone. Sweetin battled addiction to alcohol, cocaine, and crystal meth, and told Us Weekly that she feels like she’s really living now.

“We all have our demons. When we finally learn to let them go, we get to live and be free.”

Jodie has come a long way from the dark days of addiction. Radar Online reports that Sweetin has even admitted that during her early efforts at recovery, while pregnant with 7-year-old Zoie, “there were a couple instances of me drinking.” Sweetin added that she hit “rock bottom” when she drove with her daughter in the car after drinking a couple of glasses of wine.

“Those things I never thought I would do, I did… I was living a double life… I not only put myself in danger, but also my daughter, who I loved more than anything.”

Jodie started a 12-step recovery program after learning that there was an emergency investigation into her alcohol use. Her hard work has paid off and Sweetin has created a life full of love and joy. She had two children with second husband Cody Herpin and third husband Morty Coyle. Cody is the father of Zoie. Morty is the father of 5-year-old Beatrix. Jodie is currently engaged to Justin Hodak and appears on two hit TV shows: Dancing With the Stars and Fuller House. Sweetin’s life experience has given her some perspective.

“I’ve got everything I could want… I look back at things that have happened in the past, and I look at where I’m now, and it’s crazy… If anything, my life is a lesson to never give up.”

Jodie believes that fiancee Hodak understands her in a way previous husbands have not, because he too is a recovering addict. Thirty-nine-year-old Justin celebrated 11 years of sobriety in December. He is a writer and producer and has one child, 16-year-old Tatum.

“We turn to each other for support. We both have our own lives and things we’re excited about, but we combine that, where we have this great relationship.”

Sweetin and Hodak have been together since 2014, and Jodie believes that because they understand each other so well, their marriage will be a success.

“He’s so different and, really importantly, I’m different… I haven’t always had the best luck in relationships, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons. I want to be married. I don’t think there’s anything wrong admitting that it didn’t work before and trying again.”

As for her participation in Dancing With the Stars? Jodie’s faring very well so far. She’s tied for second place with Good Morning America meteorologist Ginger Zee. The two have 21 points each. Sweetin and Zee are only three points behind the two who are currently tied for first place with 24 points each, Boyz II Men’s Wanya Morris and UFC Fighter Paige VanZant.

Jodie Sweetin was born on January 19, 1982 in Los Angeles, California. She was raised by adoptive parents, a handyman named Sam and a wedding coordinator named Janice. Jodie exhibited a talent for acting from a very young age and when she was 4-years-old, at the urging of friends, Janice took Sweetin to meet with a talent agent. Jodie appeared in numerous national commercials and then landed a guest role on the sitcom Valerie. Full House creators saw Jodie on Valerie and approached Janice about adding her to the Full House cast. She began her time on the show as Stephanie Tanner at the age of five.

Check out Jodie Sweetin’s dance performance on week two of Dancing With the Stars below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77bz-1MRnGE