After a week’s hiatus, Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) returned with a bang, celebrating its monumental 500th episode! The night was filled with spectacular performances, nostalgic nods to past seasons, and of course, the tension of elimination. Fans tuned in to find out Who Went Home Tonight In Dancing With The Stars as the competition heated up just before the semi-finals. Let’s recap the dazzling dances and the emotional goodbye of Week 8.
The 500th episode kicked off with a high-energy opening number to Beyoncé’s iconic “Crazy in Love,” the very song that launched DWTS back in 2005. This performance was a true celebration, featuring this season’s professional dancers, judges Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, and even a special appearance by Season 27 champion Sharna Burgess. It set the stage for a night of memorable dances and high stakes, as viewers were eager to learn who was eliminated tonight on Dancing With the Stars.
[instruction]The user asks to include images from the original article. I will select the first image and insert it here with optimized alt text.[/instruction]
Individual Dance Scores: Highs and Lows of the 500th Episode
Before the dramatic elimination, the six remaining couples each performed individual routines inspired by iconic dances from DWTS history. The styles ranged from the passionate Contemporary to the fast-paced Quickstep, the sensual Argentine Tango, and the graceful Viennese Waltz.
Stephen Nedoroscik and Rylee Arnold impressed with their Viennese Waltz, inspired by Charli D’Amelio’s past performance. Their emotional routine to “Glimpse of Us” earned them a near-perfect score of 29 (10, 10, 9), with judges praising Stephen’s improved lyricality and the overall beauty of the dance.
Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong stole the show with their Argentine Tango. Inspired by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough’s routine, their performance to “Para Te” was full of intensity and precision, earning them the first perfect score of the season – a clean 30! Judges were blown away by Chandler’s power and control on the dance floor.
Ilona Maher and Alan Bersten also delivered a strong Quickstep, taking inspiration from Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold. Their energetic performance to “Chuck Berry” earned them a score of 28 (10, 9, 9), with Carrie Ann Inaba particularly impressed, calling it “hers.”
On the other hand, Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach faced a tougher night with their Argentine Tango. While Derek Hough appreciated their innovative use of props, Carrie Ann wished for more actual tango content. They received a score of 26 (8, 9, 9), placing them at the lower end of the leaderboard.
Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, and Danny Amendola and Witney Carson both landed in the middle. Joey and Jenna’s Contemporary earned 28, while Danny and Witney’s Quickstep received 27. While both couples received positive feedback, they weren’t quite at the top of the leaderboard heading into the Instant Dance Challenge.
[instruction]I will include the second image here, after the paragraph discussing individual scores, related to the judges.[/instruction]
Instant Dance Challenge Shakes Things Up
Adding an extra layer of excitement and pressure, the “Instant Dance Challenge” returned for the 500th episode. Couples had a mere five minutes to learn a new routine in a randomly assigned style. This challenge tested their adaptability and quick-learning skills, and the scores were added to their individual dance scores to determine the overall rankings.
Chandler and Brandon once again shone, earning another perfect 30 for their Instant Cha Cha. Joey and Jenna impressed with their Rumba, scoring 27. Stephen and Rylee earned 25 for their Jive, and Ilona and Alan scored 24 for their Salsa.
Danny and Witney struggled slightly with their Instant Jive, receiving 24. Dwight and Daniella also found the Instant Paso Doble challenging, scoring 22. These scores further solidified the leaderboard and heightened the anticipation for the elimination, as everyone waited to see who would be voted off Dancing With the Stars tonight.
The Elimination: Who Was Sent Home on Dancing With the Stars?
Ultimately, after combining judges’ scores from both rounds and viewer votes, it was Dwight Howard and Daniella Karagach who went home tonight on Dancing With the Stars. Despite their efforts and innovative routines throughout the season, they received the lowest combined score.
[instruction]Insert the third image here, showing Dwight and Daniella.[/instruction]
In his farewell, Dwight expressed gratitude for his experience and praised Daniella as an “amazing partner.” Daniella reciprocated the sentiment, highlighting their journey and proving doubters wrong. Their elimination marked an emotional end to their DWTS journey, just shy of the semi-finals.
As Week 8 concluded, Dancing With the Stars said goodbye to Dwight and Daniella. The remaining five couples – Stephen and Rylee, Chandler and Brandon, Ilona and Alan, Joey and Jenna, and Danny and Witney – will move on to the semi-finals. Next week promises even more intense competition as they battle for a spot in the finals. Tune in next Tuesday to see who will shine and who will be eliminated next on Dancing With the Stars!
