Dancing With the Stars has confirmed its six semi-final couples after a dramatic Grammy Night on Tuesday 10 November 2026: Jenna Dewan and professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated, while Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas advanced. The outcome followed a night of celebrity performances, head-to-head dance-offs and a personal surprise message from Janet Jackson.
Who left Dancing With the Stars on Grammy Night?
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy departed the American competition at the end of the episode. US Weekly and Entertainment Weekly both reported the result, making it possible to distinguish the confirmed elimination from predictions published before the broadcast. The episode began with seven couples and ended with six still in contention for the season 35 title.
The outcome is notable because Dewan had just delivered a jazz routine with a connection to her earlier professional career. She performed to Janet Jackson’s All for You, a song associated with the star for whom she previously danced. The pair earned 28 judges’ points for the routine, according to Entertainment Weekly, and their dance-off victory brought the figure to 30. Those points were not enough to secure a place in the semi-finals once the viewer vote was included.
What happened during Janet Jackson’s surprise message?
The programme played a recorded message from Janet Jackson for Dewan. Entertainment Weekly reports that the singer recalled working with her on tour and expressed affection for her former dancer. Dewan was visibly moved by the tribute, which linked her television performance to the experiences that helped shape her career.
That moment gave the evening a distinctive story beyond the leaderboard. Dewan was not simply dancing to a familiar pop track: she was revisiting music from an artist whose live shows and videos formed part of her own dance background. Her elimination immediately afterwards provided an emotional contrast, although it would be misleading to describe the result as a decision made by the judges alone.
Did Maura Higgins survive the elimination?
Yes. Maura Higgins and partner Mark Ballas reached the semi-finals. The Irish reality television personality, familiar to British viewers from Love Island and The Traitors, had faced considerable pressure entering the episode. US Weekly reports that she was dealing with a rib problem during rehearsals and became emotional while preparing for the performance.
Higgins and Ballas danced an Argentine tango to Sisqó’s Thong Song and received 27 out of 30 from the judges. Their continued place in the competition is the important verified outcome for UK viewers following the American series. The reported rehearsal difficulty should not be exaggerated into a medical diagnosis or used to speculate about her condition beyond what the broadcast and reliable coverage establish.
How did Grammy Night work?
Seven celebrity-professional partnerships returned for a music-themed episode. The announced routine selections drew from Grammy-winning or nominated tracks, with dances set to songs associated with Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Evanescence, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, among others.
Three head-to-head dance-offs gave couples an additional chance to earn judges’ points. The musical guests included Brandy and Monica, Maren Morris and Sheryl Crow. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson did not compete in a dance-off because they had earned immunity through their cumulative score advantage in the previous week.
The distinction between individual dance scores, bonus points and public votes matters. A couple can perform strongly in front of the panel yet still leave if the combined result places them last. That is precisely why a headline about Dewan’s exit should not imply that the judges simply rejected her routine.
What happens next in the competition?
The programme’s next scheduled stage is the semi-final on 17 November, according to the season schedule reported by TV Insider. The six surviving couples will be competing for a place in the final. Future performances, song choices and results should be treated as unconfirmed until the broadcaster announces them.
For BritishSoapNews readers, two threads now stand out: the end of Dewan’s memorable run after a Janet Jackson tribute, and the continuation of Maura Higgins’ campaign despite a challenging rehearsal week. Both are concrete developments from the 10 November broadcast rather than speculation based on pre-show betting or social-media reactions.
Where can viewers follow the results?
Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ in the United States, with next-day viewing through Hulu where available. International access varies by region, so UK audiences should check licensed local services rather than assume American streaming rights apply everywhere.
Sources: US Weekly, Grammy Night results; Entertainment Weekly, Janet Jackson tribute and elimination; TV Insider, episode recap and schedule.