Dancing with the Stars Week 2: 3 Couples Tie, One Goes Home

FAIRFAX DISTRICT, LOS ANGELES — After a tense opening week, the competition on “Dancing with the Stars” gained momentum as the 14 remaining couples returned to the ballroom. With the mirrorball trophy still within reach, each pair faced a new opportunity to win over the judges and the viewers.

Week two carried a “viral hits” theme, featuring songs by Rihanna, Flo Rida, Gracie Abrams, Karol G, Billie Eilish and Earth, Wind & Fire. Every selection had connected with audiences through viral moments and social media trends on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

The show also introduced a time-saving twist: the third judge to comment after each routine had to deliver their assessment in a single word.

By the close of the night, three couples shared the top spot on the leaderboard, while one celebrity and their professional partner saw their season come to an end.

‘DWTS’ Season 35 week 2 ‘Viral Hits Night’ recap and scores

Jenna Dewan

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy opened the show with a jive to KATSEYE’s “Animal.” The ABC “The Rookie” star and “Step Up” alum earned praise from Bruno Tonioli, who called the routine a “sculpture” and described Dewan as a “fast and furious sexy beast.” Carrie Ann Inaba noted clear progress from week one and said Dewan was making better use of her partnership with Chmerkovskiy. Derek Hough attempted to keep his review to one word, calling the performance “fast, furious, fantastic.”
Score: 7,7,7 – 21 out of 30