Dancing With the Stars Season 35 delivered its first major elimination surprise on Yacht Rock Night, as Taylor Hanson and professional partner Britt Stewart were sent home despite receiving higher judges’ scores than several couples who survived.
Thirteen couples entered the September 29 show, with the celebrities performing routines inspired by classic yacht rock hits while Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli scored each dance.
At the top of the leaderboard were Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov and Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, who each earned 24 out of 30. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas followed closely behind with 22 points.
Taylor and Britt performed a Foxtrot to The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes.” Their routine earned 18 out of 30, placing them in a three-way tie with Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong and Jackson Olson and Emma Slater.
More importantly, Taylor wasn’t at the bottom.
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess received 17 points, while Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson finished last on the judges’ leaderboard with 15 out of 30.
But judges’ scores tell only part of the story on Dancing With the Stars. Those scores are combined with viewer voting, meaning a couple can survive a difficult night if they receive enough support from the public.
As the results were announced, Taylor and Britt were left waiting alongside Jackson and Emma and Guillermo and Witney.
Then came the result that caught the ballroom by surprise: Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart were eliminated.
Britt appeared visibly emotional after hearing the announcement, while Taylor later admitted that the result was difficult because he felt their partnership was only beginning to gain momentum.
The elimination also sparked frustration among viewers who believed Taylor had just delivered his strongest performance of the season. Some questioned how a couple sitting above the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard could still be sent home, while others called for the judges’ save — a feature used in previous seasons — to return.
Taylor became the fourth celebrity eliminated from Season 35, reducing the field from 13 couples to 12.
Yacht Rock Night ultimately proved how unpredictable this season can be. Stronger judges’ scores alone cannot guarantee survival, and with viewer votes carrying significant weight, every remaining couple now has another reason to worry when elimination time arrives.
