Conner Leavitt was eliminated Tuesday in a shocking “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35 premiere-night sendoff.
Leavitt, the husband of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt, earned a 12/30 score for his Salsa routine set to Tag Team’s “Whoop! There It Is” alongside pro partner Adele Zaikman. The routine came during “Premiere: Night One,” which featured all male celebrities dancing to No. 1 hits from their birth years. Co-hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro revealed the elimination after placing two other couples in jeopardy: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” star Guillermo Rodriguez with Witney Carson, and comedian Connor Wood with Rylee Arnold.
Leavitt praised his partner after the elimination. “This has been the most fun. I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele. I can’t wait for the world to get to see her talent,” he said following his exit. His wife, Whitney Leavitt, had competed on the show last season and finished in fifth place.
Zaikman, who won the first season of “Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro” to earn her spot as a pro this season, reflected on her brief time in the ballroom. “A dream come true,” she called the experience.
The night’s highest score went to “Glee” alum Harry Shum Jr. And partner Jenna Johnson, who earned 21/30 for their Cha Cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove.” Paralympian gold medalist Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach placed second with 20/30 for their Tango to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” “Bachelor Nation” alum Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess rounded out the top three with 17/30 for their Tango to Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
The middle of the leaderboard saw Wood and Arnold’s Cha Cha to Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It” score 16/30, matching musician Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart’s Quickstep to Billy Joel’s “Tell Her About It.” Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson and Emma Slater earned 15/30 for their Cha Cha to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” Rodriguez and Carson landed at the bottom with 10/30 for their Cha Cha to Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff” — the lowest score of the night despite Carson’s pre-season enthusiasm for the partnership.
Carson had spoken about Rodriguez before the premiere. “He wears his heart on his sleeve, and he’s down for everything, while being naturally funny and open,” she said in an interview. “He’s a great person to have in the ballroom because we laugh and have so much fun, but he’s also such a hard worker. He is putting in the work and shows up ready to learn every day.”
Carson also addressed her own circumstances this season. “There was definitely some hesitation in agreeing to do this season” while pregnant with her third child, she admitted. “This season I’m all about empowerment, for myself and for other women, because we can do anything,” she continued. “One of my biggest priorities for this season is to show all moms that we don’t have to lose parts of ourselves to grow a family.”
The elimination capped a competitive opening night that established the Season 35 field. Leavitt’s departure marked the end of a family connection to the show, with his wife Whitney having reached the quarterfinals in her previous run.
“Dancing With the Stars” continues Wednesday with “Premiere: Night Two,” as the female celebrities and their pro partners perform chart-toppers from their birth years.