Who was eliminated from 'DWTS' tonight? Mariah Carey Night sends fan-favorite reality TV star home
'Dancing With The Stars' season 35 has come back with some iconic Mariah Carey tunes. The 12 remaining couples put their best foot forward to get one step closer to the precious Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. This week, some finally get their breakthrough moment, while some falter under pressure. The night kicks off with the pros and troupe members delivering a fantastic performance on Carey's 'Heartbreaker.' Then the hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough introduce the contestants and explain the voting rules. Voting lines are open for all couples throughout the episode.
The breakout star of the night is undoubtedly Maura Higgins. The reality star's package started with her sharing how surprised she was to get an 8 last week. Her pro, Mark, commented that maybe if things were different, she could have become a "dance star" in this life. During practice, she worked diligently to keep her scores up. The duo performed a mesmerizing waltz to 'If It’s Over.' Carrie Ann Inaba got emotional watching the performance, claiming she was "transported" to "another world." “That was just a classic waltz,” said Derek. He appreciated the "pure ballroom dancing" in the routine. Bruno Tonioli noted that the musicality was “out of this world.” Carrie gave Maura the first 9 of the season, and along with Bruno and Derek's scores, she scored a whopping 25 out of 30.
It is safe to say that Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson have taken over the hearts of the entire nation, but haven't found much success on the leaderboard. The adorable duo performed a samba to 'Obsessed.' Derek noted that the routine was 100% Guillermo but wasn't a typical samba. “But it was still a lot of fun. We love you,” he added. Bruno said the dance was “beyond critique.” Carrie, though, put forward some concerns. She felt that the Jimmy Kimmel sidekick was "dimming his light" during the dance. “I don’t ever want you to dim your light because you are special and you have a natural gift we need,” she urged him. Carrie and Derek gave the duo 4s, while Bruno went one up with a five, bringing their total to 13.
Jackson Olson & Emma Slater were the next to take the stage. The birthday boy and his pro were determined to improve this week, and gave it their all on the dance floor. They performed a waltz to “Without You.” Bruno was mighty impressed and noted that Jackson “actually owned the music” and was “with the music.” Carrie was elated to see him getting more and more comfortable. “Makes me happy to see you tapping into the love of dance,” she said. Derek also loved the dance, but critiqued the player's shoulder levels. All three judges gave them a seven, bringing their total to 21. After the scores and public votes were locked in, the couples in the bottom three were Ciara Miller/Brandon Armstrong, Guillermo Rodriguez/Witney Carson, and Jackson Olson/Emma Slater. The couple sent home was Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong. Dancing with the Stars Season 35 continues to air live on ABC and Disney+ every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT.
