'Dancing With the Stars' turned its latest episode into a full music showcase, with routines built around Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated songs, plus live turns from Brandy and Monica, Maren Morris and Sheryl Crow. The night blended pop, R&B and rock into one of the season’s most competitive rounds. By the end, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated in seventh place, despite a strong score and a dance-off win. According to Page Six, the result came at the end of Tuesday’s “Grammy Night,” after seven couples battled through individual routines and head-to-head rounds.
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy Score 30 Before Exit
Actor and dancer Jenna Dewan delivered a jazz routine to Janet Jackson’s “All For You,” a song with personal meaning tied to her past work as a backup dancer for Jackson. The performance earned praise from the judges and a 28/30, then climbed to 30/30 after a dance-off victory over Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik. After the elimination, Dewan reflected on the run. “Dancing again, getting to share my joy with my family, who’s over here, every single night … I had a great time and I loved getting to share that with the world,” Dewan said according to Page Six. “Honestly, all love.”
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson Finish on Top
Actor Harry Shum Jr. and pro Jenna Johnson closed the main round with one of the night’s strongest performances, a salsa to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile.” Johnson had broken her nose in rehearsal a day earlier, adding another layer to the pair’s performance. The judges rewarded the routine with a 29/30, and the couple also entered the dance-off portion with immunity based on earlier scores. That bonus pushed them into an even stronger position as the field narrowed and the leaderboard tightened across the music-themed episode.
Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov Win Key Dance-Off
Figure skater Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov leaned into drama with a paso doble to Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life,” earning a 28/30 in the first round. They then faced Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach in a rumba dance-off to Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” performed live in the ballroom. Glenn and Pashkov took the win and added two points, finishing with a perfect 30/30. Their rise marked one of the biggest shifts of the night, especially with several couples landing within a point or two of each other before the extra dance-off totals were applied.
Maura Higgins, Tatyana Ali and Connor Wood Stay Alive
TV personality Maura Higgins danced through a rib injury and still posted a 27/30 for her Argentine tango to Sisqó’s “Thong Song” with Mark Ballas. The pair later beat Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold in a cha-cha dance-off, ending on 29/30. Ali reached her highest score of the season with a 27/30 tango to “Boom Boom Pow,” while Wood earned a 27/30 for an Argentine tango to Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack.” As reported by Page Six, the episode’s music-first format gave every routine a distinct identity, but the final vote still sent home one of the night’s strongest scorers.
