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Thursday, September 17, 2026

Dancing With the Stars Removes 2nd Celeb in Back-to-Back Elimination

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Dancing With the Stars' Emma Slater Reacts to Judges' "Stingy” Scores on Premiere Episode

One more couple has gotten off on the wrong foot.

After Conner Leavitt and Adele Zaikman were eliminated during night one of the Dancing With the Stars season 35 premiere, another pair have met the end the road. 

This time, during part-two of the premiere on Sept. 16 which saw all the female celebrities perform, it was Love Thy Nader star Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills whose time in the ballroom came to an end. 

Though the pair pulled off a fiery jive to "Sk8er Boi" by Avril Lavigne, they were out of sync and their score of 14 combined with votes from the public wasn’t enough to earn them a spot in week two. 

Before the reveal, Sarah Jane had expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of a same-sex pairing on DWTS

"I think that us being on this ballroom floor together as two women is just so powerful," she said after her routine. "And I hope that it shows you can dance with whoever you want, you can love whoever you want, and being yourself is the best power."

Gratitude was a feeling echoed by Conner, whose wife Whitney Leavitt made it to during week 10 of season 34 with partner Mark Ballas

"This has been the most fun," Conner said from the ballroom stage after his elimination. "I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele. I can't wait for the world to get to see her talent."

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Indeed, it was his partner Adele’s first year on the cast after she won Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro. And though her cha-cha to “Whoomp! There It Is” wasn’t enough to best her and Conner’s competition, she doesn’t have any regrets.

"It's a dream come true no matter what, and I'm so lucky that I had Conner,” Adele said during the premiere. “I had so much fun and thank you so much for everything."

Disney/Andrew Eccles

As for those celebrity-pro pairings who landed on their feet? There are a few whose twinkle toes ushered them into the upper echelon of contestants after week one. 

Among them are Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, whose cha-cha earned 21 points and Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach, who stunned with a 20-point tango. 

And though some armchair experts may call foul when it comes to celebrities enter the competition with prior experience on a dance floor—Harry previously danced for Beyoncé while Jenna Dewan starred in the 2006 dance film Step Up—celebrities and pros alike have defended the casting choices.

Harry, for his part, pointed out during an interview with E! News, “A lot of people who had dance backgrounds don't make it very far. That tells you everything you need to know about what the show is. It's beyond just dancing.”

Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images

Mark, too, emphasized that prior experience only takes someone so far in the ballroom. 

“Just because someone danced in high school or they danced for an artist or something,” he said during a Sept. 10 appearance on the Get Real podcast, “that doesn't mean they can't take this on and improve every single week.”

Plus, “I also think that even though there is dancing on the show and you want to root, you want to see great dancing, it's also like about experience,” he added. “Some fans want to see banger dances. Some fans want to see someone from ground zero make it.”

For a closer look at those pairings hoping to make it all the way to the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, read on.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa

You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten

Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson

What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart

The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy

Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov

The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach

The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills

After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold

The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess

The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jackson Olson & Emma Slater

The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong

The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom. 

"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas

The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.

"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."

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