Jenna Dewan Eliminated on DWTS Grammy Night Despite a Near-Perfect Score and a Janet Jackson Surprise

A glamorous ballroom dance stage with a sparkling disco ball, golden spotlights and an empty polished dance floor

Jenna Dewan and her professional partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy have been eliminated from Dancing With the Stars Season 35, falling one week short of the semifinals despite one of the best scores of the night. The shock exit came at the end of Tuesday's Grammy Night episode — the season's Week 9 quarterfinal — which aired on November 10, 2026, on ABC and Disney+.

The Short Answer

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated on Dancing With the Stars Season 35, Week 9 (Grammy Night), on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The pair scored 28 out of 30 for their jazz routine — the second-highest score of the night — and won their dance-off against Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, earning two bonus points for a total of 30. But they did not have enough viewer votes, and they were sent home as the last couple out before the semifinals. Six couples remain in the hunt for the Mirrorball Trophy.

How Grammy Night Played Out

Week 9 was Grammy Night, with the seven remaining couples dancing to songs by Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated artists. The episode also brought back the dance-off round, in which couples face off head-to-head performing the same dance style to the same song for two bonus points. Live performances during the night came from Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, and Brandy and Monica.

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson sat out the dance-off after receiving immunity — they had earned the highest cumulative score of the season on the previous week's Disney Night. Harry and Jenna still earned the highest score of Grammy Night, 29 out of 30 for their salsa, plus two immunity bonus points for a total of 31. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov scored 28 for their paso doble and won their dance-off against Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, taking their total to 30. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas scored 27 and won their dance-off against Connor Swindells and Rylee Arnold for a total of 29. Ezra and Daniella, Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik, and Connor and Rylee all finished on 27.

Dewan and Chmerkovskiy danced a jazz routine that earned 10 from Carrie Ann Inaba, 9 from Derek Hough and 9 from Bruno Tonioli — 28 out of 30. They then beat Tatyana and Jan in a cha-cha dance-off to "The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey, earning two more points. It was not enough. When the judges' scores were combined with America's votes, Dewan and Val were the couple going home — a result Page Six called the season's "most shocking elimination yet."

Janet Jackson's Surprise Message

The night carried an extra emotional layer for Dewan. Janet Jackson sent a rare video message to her former backup dancer, wishing Dewan luck and saying she could not wait to watch. Dewan danced behind Jackson early in her career before becoming an actress, and the message was a reminder of how far her journey in dance has come. The judges gave the pair 28 out of 30 — but even Jackson's blessing could not save them from the viewer vote.

Speaking after the show, Dewan told Extra that it had been "a particularly tough week, for a lot of the online noise and all that stuff comes with the show." She added: "I'll never know how or if any of that plays into this, but I know that we went out there and had the best time of our life." Chmerkovskiy, who was suspended for one episode earlier this season over a controversial social media comment about Carrie Ann Inaba, did not get a chance to speak before hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough signed off.

A ballroom dancing couple in silhouette under golden spotlights, the woman's sparkling gown mid-twirl

The Viewers Took the Ballroom Back

Dewan's exit continues a pattern this season of viewers overturning the judges' leaderboard. The elimination swerved around Connor and Rylee — who have ridden the bottom of the leaderboard all season — and Tatyana and Jan, who have been on the bubble since week one. Instead, the couple with one of the night's top scores went home, because the fan vote is what counts when the scores are close.

It is the second week in a row that the vote has surprised the ballroom. Just one week earlier, on Disney Night, actress Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa were eliminated in another result that left fans scratching their heads. And on Horror Movie Night, Tyler Cameron and Jackson Olson were both sent home in a rare double elimination. The message from the audience is clear: no couple is safe, however well they dance.

Who Is Left for the Semifinals

Six couples advance to the semifinals, which air next Tuesday, November 17. Each remaining couple will dance twice as the field is cut again before the finale, where only five couples will compete. The semifinalists are Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Connor Swindells and Rylee Arnold, and Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik. You can follow the latest Dancing With the Stars Season 35 results and semifinal news as the competition heads toward the finale. For more reality TV news, see our coverage of the Love Is Blind Season 11 reunion and the I'm A Celebrity 2026 lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was eliminated on Dancing With the Stars Week 9?

Jenna Dewan and her professional partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy were eliminated on Grammy Night, Tuesday, November 10, 2026 — the last couple out before the semifinals.

What score did Jenna Dewan get on Grammy Night?

Dewan and Chmerkovskiy scored 28 out of 30 for their jazz routine (Carrie Ann 10, Derek 9, Bruno 9), then won their dance-off against Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik for two bonus points, taking their total to 30.

Why was Jenna Dewan's elimination shocking?

Dewan had one of the highest scores of the night and won her dance-off, but she did not have enough viewer votes. Couples with lower scores — Connor and Rylee, and Tatyana and Jan — survived, making it the season's most surprising exit.

Who sent Jenna Dewan a message on DWTS?

Janet Jackson sent a rare video message wishing Dewan luck. Dewan was a backup dancer for Jackson early in her career before becoming an actress.

Who is left on Dancing With the Stars Season 35?

Six couples remain: Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov, Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, Connor Swindells and Rylee Arnold, and Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik.

When are the DWTS Season 35 semifinals?

The semifinals air next Tuesday, November 17, with each remaining couple dancing twice. Only five couples will make it to the finale.

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