‘Dancing With the Stars’ Live Blog: Who Will Be Eliminated on Mariah Carey Night?

Another week of rehearsals came to an end, which meant it was time for the remaining 12 Dancing With the Stars contestants to hit the ballroom again on October 6. For this week’s episode, all the pairs performed their dances to Mariah Carey hits.

Throughout the live show, judge Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli will weigh in on the routines, then score the couples accordingly. At the end of the night, the couple with the lowest combined judges’ score and votes from viewers will be eliminated from the competition.

Below, we’re live blogging the episode, so follow along for all the scores and comments throughout the evening, and check back at the end of the night to find out who’s going home.

Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong — 21/30

First up, Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong danced a jazz to “Emotions,” hoping to earn their first 7s from the judges. “What a great way to start the show, that was so fun,” Hough said. “Your personality is just bubbling over.” He also complimented the jazz steps and her “commitment” to the dance.

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Tonioli called it a “great performance” and pointed out how synchronized Miller and Armstrong were. Meanwhile, Inaba said Miller was “clean” and “polished,” and confirmed it was her best dance of the season so far.

Miller earned three 7s from all the judges for a score of 21/30.

Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach — 24/30

Next, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach did a rumba to “Anytime You Need a Friend.” Tonioli raved over Frech’s “charisma,” telling him, “You really are the dark and handsome Latin lover. The perfect frame for your lady, which is actually the role the man should play in the rumba, is complementing the beauty of the lady, and you did so beautiful.”

 

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Inaba couldn’t help but blush over how “hot” it was after Frech danced, adding, “What you did is spectacular. How many different landings did you hit and land each time? Power. Beauty. And grace.”

Hough called the routine “seriously sophisticated” and “fantastic.” With three 8s from the judges, Frech scored 24/30, his best score of the season so far.

Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson — 24/30

After tying for the top of the leaderboard last week, Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson returned with a tango to “It’s Like That,” which he actually appeared in the music video for.

 

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Inaba was practically speechless. “That was masterful. That was beautiful. So sharp, so in control, so dynamic,” she said, noting that both Shum Jr. and Frech are “top notch” dancers. Hough called the dance “sharp, powerful, and precise,” while also praising Shum Jr. for “taking chances” with his dances.

“A red hot tango from a man on a mission. Sharp as a knife. So intense, it gave me whiplash,” Tonioli gushed. With three 8s from the judges, Shum Jr. earned a 24/30.

Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy — 24/30

Jenna Dewan hit the floor next, dancing a rumba to “My All” with Val Chmerkovskiy. Hough stood up to give Dewan a standing ovation. “All I have to say is … there she is,” he said. “The fundamental steps in there, the figures, done so beautifully. The quality of movement, every element of that was so stunning.”

 

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Tonioli told Dewan she showed “the light and shade of artistry” with the rumba. “It’s all about balance,” he noted. “And now you’ve got it.” Inaba praised Dewan’s “transformation” and pointed out that’s what DWTS is all about. “Starting that with a solo is exactly the kind of courage I’ve been waiting for us to see. Your vulnerability, your beauty, that was spectacular and stunning,” she added.

The routine earned Dewan and Chmerkovskiy three 8s for their highest score yet of 24/30.

Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess — 21/30

After receiving one 5 for their jive last week, Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess had a lot to prove with their foxtrot to “Beautiful.” Tonioli said the dance was “elegant, smart,” and a “proper foxtrot” that was “full of content.” He made sure to note the improvement in this performance compared too last week, too.

 

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“I am absolutely sure that your mother is so proud of you right now,” Inaba told Cameron. “That was a man dancing with a woman in all of its beauty. You provided such great support. You were a different person this week.”

Hough warned Cameron that he still needs to work on his frame but said, “I love watching you and hope to see more of you.” Cameron earned his highest score yet with a 21/30.

Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas — 25/30

For their Mariah Carey dance, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas did a waltz to “If It’s Over.” Inaba got “emotional” watching Higgins’ dance. “It was just so good,” she said. “The artistry and emotion, you transported me into another world and I feel like right now the world needs that kind of beauty.”

 

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Hough called it a “classic waltz” with “no gimmicks and no tricks,” which was “beautiful, pure ballroom dancing.” He made sure to note, too, that those kind of dances are his “favorite thing to see.” Tonioli raved that Higgins’ musicality was “out of this world.”

Higgins earned the first 9 of the season from Inaba, along with 8s from Hough and Tonioli, for 25/30 total.

Gullerimo Rodriguez & Witney Carson — 13/30

Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson danced a samba to “Obsessed,” and despite being the fan favorite contestant, he has consistently fallen on the bottom of the leaderboard, so he still had something to prove to the judges.

 

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“That wasn’t quite a samba, but it was 100% Guillermo. Just like everybody else, I’m obsessed with you. But samba? I don’t know…” Hough admitted. “But it was still a lot of fun. We love you.”

Tonioli said he can understand why Rodriguez is “becoming a national obsession” and revealed the dance is “beyond critique.” Inaba wondered what was going on with Rodriguez because she felt like he was “dimming [his] light” in the samba. “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.

Rodriguez scored 4s from Hough and Inaba, but a 5 from Tonioli, for a 13/30.

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