09/16/2026
The competition didn’t waste any time getting intense.
Conner Leavitt and his pro partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated at the end of Tuesday night’s Season 35 premiere — becoming the first couple sent home in a surprising result.
Leavitt, whose wife Whitney Leavitt competed on last season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and finished fifth on “DWTS,” took the elimination in stride.
“This has been the most fun. I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele,” he said after the results. “I can’t wait for the world to get to see her talent.”
For Zaikman, the moment marked the end of a dream. She earned her spot as a professional dancer after winning the first season of “Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro.”
Meanwhile, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson came out on top Tuesday night with a 21/30 for their Cha Cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove.”
Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach followed with 20/30, while Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess scored 17/30.
At the bottom of the leaderboard was “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” star Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, who received 10/30 — the lowest score of the night.
But Rodriguez wasn’t the couple sent home. Instead, Leavitt and Zaikman’s journey ended after they earned 12/30 for their Salsa to Tag Team’s “Whoop! There It Is.”
And the competition is far from over… 👀
Wednesday night’s second half of the premiere puts the female celebrities on the ballroom floor, with each performing a chart-topping song from the year they were born.
Who do you think will make it to the finals?