Dancing With the Stars Recap: Grammy Night Ends in a Shocking Elimination

Grammy Night on Dancing With the Stars was jam-packed with famous faces, and not just the ones dancing on the ballroom floor.

Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, and Brandy and Monica accompanied the final seven couples during the Dance-Off Round on the Tuesday, November 10, episode, performing hits such as “All I Wanna Do,” “The Middle,” and “The Boy Is Mine.”

Before the Dance-Offs, the dancing duos performed routines to some of the most famous Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated songs over the years, including “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland, “Crazy in Love (Remix)” by Beyoncé, “Die with A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and more.

As usual, the couple with the lowest combined judges’ scores and viewer votes at the end of the night went home, narrowing the competition ahead of the November 17 Semifinals.

Scroll down for a recap of the performances and to find out who went home at the end of the night.

Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach — 27/30

Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach kicked off the night with an Argentine tango to “Crazy in Love (Remix)” by Beyoncé. The pair pushed aside their sibling dynamic and channeled their passion into the dramatic routine.

Carrie Ann Inaba praised Frech for the balance he displayed during his “hardest” routine of the season and praised the pair’s intimacy. Derek Hough agreed, using Bruno Tonioli to display the close connection he witnessed between the partners. Tonioli said the couple was “smoldering” on the dance floor, but noted some slight balance issues.

After waiting for a commercial break to receive their scores, Frech and Karagach earned a total of 27/30 points.

Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov — 28/30

Amber Glenn channeled her teenage angsty side for her Paso Doble to “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence with her partner, Pasha Pashkov. The duo matched the song’s intensity with powerful, impressive moves.

Hough had just as positive a reaction to the routine as the audience did, praising Glenn for creating clean shapes and pulling off difficult knee spins. Tonioli said the routine was “everything” a paso doble should be, including featuring Pashkov’s pecs. Inaba applauded Glenn for how her resistance has improved throughout the season, but pointed out a slight foot lift.

The duo received 9s from Inaba and Hough, but got a 10 from Tonioli, bringing their total to 28/30.

Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas — 27/30

Maura Higgins came into Grammy Night hoping to climb back to the top of the leaderboard with her and Mark Ballas‘ Argentine tango to “Thong Song” by Sisqó. Despite a rehearsal rib injury, the reality star pulled through and fought for a top spot on the leaderboard.

Higgins’ injury didn’t have an effect on her performance, as Tonioli gushed over her “high-class” routine. Inaba called Higgins both “graceful” and a “warrior,” calling the number a “work of art.” Hough had nothing but kind words as well, calling the performance “gorgeous.”

Like Frech and Karagach, Higgins and Ballas scored all nines from the judges, earning a total of 27/30.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy — 28/30

Jenna Dewan had multiple connections to the night’s Grammys theme, having danced with *NSYNC on the music awards show and having toured in the past with Janet Jackson. Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy performed a Jazz to Jackson’s song “All For You.”

Inaba said it “hit differently” watching Dewan tap into her past self on the DWTS ballroom floor. Hough said Dewan’s performance that night proved why she has inspired dancers over the years. Tonioli noted that Dewan was in her “comfort zone” with the routine, and the duo’s scores proved their hard work paid off.

Before receiving their scores, Julianne Hough surprised Dewan and Chmerkovskiy with a surprise video message from Jackson, who reflected on the “fun times” they had together. Dewan’s happy tears continued as she and Chmerkovskiy earned a score of 28/30.

Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik — 27/30

Like Dewan, Tatyana Ali has a connection to her Grammy Night routine, as she is friends with will.i.am. The musician FaceTimed with the actress and Jan Ravnik during rehearsals as they prepared for their tango to “Boom Boom Pow” by Black Eyed Peas.

Will.i.am was in the audience to cheer on his friend. Derek said Ali not only spoke to the camera with her lip-sync moment, but also “spoke to America.” Tonioli said the routine was “boom boom wow,” full of slick and powerful movements. Inaba said she’s so “proud” of Ali and her and Ravnik’s connection, but noted there were a few small mistakes.

After earning their first 9 of the season during last week’s Disney Night, the duo earned their highest score of the season with three 9s, a total of 27/30, from the judges.

Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold — 27/30

Connor Wood felt “confident” heading into Grammy Night, which served as the perfect motivator for his and Rylee Arnold‘s Argentine tango to “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland. After getting notes from Inaba to embrace his leading man energy, Wood oozed confidence during the steamy routine.

Wood’s hard work paid off, as Tonioli said he proved he “can lead” a dance with his performance. Inaba was speechless for a moment before shouting, “Holla!” She offered slight critiques despite her praise, after which Hough said Arnold couldn’t have performed as well as she did without Wood’s control. “That was, dare I say, one of your best dances,” he praised.

Proving the competition is tighter than ever, Wood and Arnold joined several of their competitors with a score of 27/30.

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson — 29/30

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson were safe from the night’s Dance-Off round, but they still had to impress the judges with their salsa to “Die with A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. The routine his an emotional nerve for Shum Jr., while Johnson revealed ahead of the episode that she would be performing with a broken nose.

Inaba said the pair’s latest performance was full of “heart,” stating, “I felt you enjoying yourself truly, and dancing from your heart and soul.” Hough shared Inaba’s compliments, but offered some technique critiques about the lower half of Shum Jr.’s body throughout the dance. Tonioli declared the routine was “super-charged” and “extra spicy” Salsa.

Before getting their scores, Johnson noted that she’s feeling “amazing” after her injury the day prior. The first round of dances ended with the night’s highest scores, as Shum Jr. and Johnson earned 29/30 points. With the Dance-Off immunity they earned last week, their two extra bonus points brought their total score up to 31 points.

Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov vs. Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach

The first Dance-Off was a battle between spouses and this season’s Olympic athletes. Brandy and Monica joined teams in the ballroom for a special live performance of their 1998 hit “The Boy Is Mine” as the teams danced separate rumba routines. The pair’s performances were as impressive as the singers’ vocals, with a few moments of joint choreography.

Hough called it “one of the most satisfying Dance-Offs we’ve ever seen” on the show, with their interactions and mirrored moments. Tonioli loved how the two teams “celebrated each other’s talent” by feeding off of each other and displaying good sportsmanship. Inaba said their respective performances didn’t make her job easy, and jokingly hid under the judges’ desk.

Glenn and Pashkov were crowned the winners of the first Dance-Off, earning two extra points and bringing their total to 30 points.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy vs. Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik

While the first Dance-Off was between athletes, the second was between two actresses. Dewan and Chmerkovskiy competed against Ali and Ravnik, performing a cha-cha to “The Middle” by Maren Morris and Grey, performed live in the ballroom by Morris.

While Tonioli said both couples had unique interpretations of the dance, they both did as well as each other. Inaba said judging them was like “comparing apples and oranges,” but praised Ali and Ravnik for extra choreography at the beginning of their routine. Hough, meanwhile, loved how much the competitors supported each other despite competing against one another.

The winners of the second Dance-Off were Dewan and Chmerkovskiy, bringing their total points of the night to 30.

Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold vs. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas

In rehearsal footage, Wood was jokingly upset over being paired against Higgins for their Dance-Off cha-cha to “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow, praising Higgins and Ballas for their impressive performances throughout the season.

Inaba earned audible reactions from the audience for criticizing Wood and Arnold for incorporating lots of country line dancing into their cha-cha, and praised Higgins and Ballas for sticking more to the program. Hough called the performances “really interesting the best possible way,” while Tonioli was amused by Woods and Higgins’ matching fringe pants.

The final dance of the night ended with Higgins and Ballas winning the Dance-Off, bringing their total score to 29/30.

Who was eliminated on Grammy Night?

In no particular order, the couples announced to be moving on to the Semifinals were Shum Jr. and Johnson, Glenn and Pashkov, Frech and Karagach, Higgins and Ballas, and Wood and Arnold, leaving Ali and Ravnik and Dewan and Chmerkovskiy in the bottom two.

The couple sent home was revealed to be Dewan and Chmerkovskiy. “Honestly, dancing again, getting to share my job with my family who’s over here every single night — thank you, my baby, thank you. I had a great time, and I loved getting to share that with the world,” Dewan stated at the end of the episode. “Honestly, all love.”

Dancing With the Stars, Season 35, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC and Disney+