Jenna Dewan and her professional dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated from Dancing With the Stars Season 35 during the November 10 episode, ending their run just before the semifinals.
The Week 9 episode, titled “Grammy Night,” featured performances inspired by some of music’s biggest artists and songs. Seven celebrity couples returned to the ballroom, competing for a place in the next round and a chance to win the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
Dewan’s elimination came as a surprise because she and Chmerkovskiy delivered a strong performance and earned 28 points from the judges. They also won their dance-off against Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, adding two bonus points to their total.
The pair performed a jazz routine to Janet Jackson’s “All for You.” Despite their strong showing, the combined results of judges’ scores and audience votes were not enough to keep them in the competition.
The elimination reduced the Season 35 lineup from seven couples to six, with the remaining contestants moving forward to the semifinals.
Grammy Night also featured live musical performances from Brandy and Monica, Maren Morris, and Sheryl Crow. Their appearances accompanied the dance-off rounds, giving the episode a special musical theme.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson had a different advantage heading into the episode. The pair earned immunity from the dance-off after finishing Disney Night with the highest cumulative score of the season.
The remaining couples faced three dance-offs. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov defeated Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach in the rumba, while Dewan and Chmerkovskiy beat Ali and Ravnik in the cha-cha.
In the third matchup, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas defeated Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold. The winning couples received bonus points that contributed to their overall scores for the night.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson continued to perform strongly, earning 29 points for their salsa. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov received 28 points, while Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold also delivered competitive performances.
Dewan’s exit was especially notable given her strong performance and dance-off victory. However, the show’s elimination format combines judges’ scores with viewer votes, meaning a high judges’ score does not guarantee safety.
The six couples advancing to the semifinals are Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, and Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold.
With the competition approaching its final stages, the remaining celebrities will have fewer opportunities to recover from a low score or weak audience support. The semifinals will determine which couples move one step closer to the Season 35 finale.
