“Dancing With the Stars” delivered a powerful and emotional tribute to the iconic Whitney Houston this week, as the remaining seven couples danced to her timeless hits. The night was filled with memorable performances, surprising scores, and ultimately, a shocking elimination that left the audience stunned. Adding to the star power, Billy Porter, who playfully calls himself the “male Whitney Houston,” joined the judging panel, bringing his unique perspective and flair to the ballroom after opening the show with a vibrant rendition of “How Will I Know.”
Harry Jowsey and his partner Rylee kicked off the Whitney Houston celebration with a Viennese waltz set to “I Have Nothing.” While the judges acknowledged the elegance of the dance, they felt it lacked intensity. Derek Hough pointed out that Harry sometimes dances “small” for his size, and Billy Porter urged him to amplify the “seduction.” The couple received a score of 28 out of 40, placing them at the lower end of the leaderboard.
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Despite a sprained ankle, Xochitl Gomez, alongside partner Val Chmerkovskiy, delivered a breathtaking tango to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”. Her passionate and technically brilliant performance earned rave reviews from the judges. Bruno Tonioli hailed it as “dancing at its best,” and Carrie Ann Inaba declared it “flawless.” Xochitl’s exceptional performance was rewarded with the first perfect score of the season – a 40 out of 40.
Ariana Madix continued her impressive run in the competition, delivering a fiery paso doble that left both the judges and the audience in awe. Dancing with partner Pasha, Ariana embodied the “Queen of the Night” and received a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40. She was visibly moved and speechless by the judges’ high praise.
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The evening also featured a “dance-off” round, adding an extra layer of competition. Harry and Rylee faced off against Alyson and Sasha in a rumba duel. Billy Porter advised Harry to incorporate more challenging steps and to move with more fluidity. Ultimately, Alyson and Sasha emerged victorious, earning three bonus points. The salsa dance-off saw Barry and Peta compete against Jason and Daniella. Barry’s energetic performance, complete with a shirt-tearing moment, won over the judges, securing him the bonus points. Finally, Xochitl and Val went head-to-head with Charity and Artem in a cha-cha battle. While both couples were strong, the judges felt Charity displayed more intensity and awarded her the additional points.
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Despite his energetic salsa dance-off performance, Barry Williams and his partner Peta were surprisingly eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars”. The ballroom erupted in boos and shock as the announcement was made. Barry expressed his gratitude for the experience, stating, “This has been the most wonderful experience of my life. Everyone here has made this a complete delight, and I knew I won after the first night.”
Here’s a look at the leaderboard after the bonus points were added:
- Xochitl & Val – Tango: 40/40
- Ariana & Pasha – Paso doble: 39/40
- Charity & Artem – Viennese waltz: 39/40
- Alyson & Sasha – Contemporary: 36/40
- Barry & Peta – Rumba: 35/40
- Jason & Daniella – Samba: 33/40
- Harry & Rylee – Viennese waltz: 28/40
Next week, “Dancing With the Stars” will transition from honoring Whitney Houston to celebrating Taylor Swift with its first-ever Taylor Swift night. The remaining couples will dance to the music of the pop superstar.
Catch “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, and stream it the next day on Hulu.
