“Summer House” star Ciara Miller and pro Brandon Armstrong were eliminated Tuesday on “Dancing With the Stars” Mariah Carey tribute night.
Miller, 28, and Armstrong, 34, received a 21/30 from judges for their Jazz routine set to “Emotions” before being sent home during the live ABC broadcast. Their departure marked the fifth elimination of Season 35, which has already seen “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Conner Leavitt, “Love Thy Nader” star Sarah Jane Nader, celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, and Hanson singer Taylor Hanson exit the competition.
Co-hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro revealed before the elimination that Miller and Armstrong were not the only couple in jeopardy. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” star Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson, along with Savannah Bananas star Jackson Olson and partner Emma Slater, also faced potential elimination. Rodriguez and Carson landed at the bottom of the leaderboard with a 13/30 for their Samba to “Obsessed,” while Olson and Slater matched Miller and Armstrong’s 21/30 score with a Waltz to “Without You.”
At the top of the leaderboard, “Traitors” fan-favorite Maura Higgins and partner Mark Ballas earned the evening’s highest score. The pair received a 25/30 for their Waltz to “If It’s Over,” placing them ahead of the field on the themed night.
Several couples tied in the middle of the pack with strong performances. “Glee” alum Harry Shum Jr. And partner Jenna Johnson scored 24/30 for their Tango to “It’s Like That,” which featured the original track’s Jermaine Dupri and Fatman Scoop verses. Paralympian gold medalist Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach also earned 24/30 for their Rumba to “Anytime You Need a Friend.” “Step Up” actress Jenna Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy matched that score with their own Rumba, performed to “My All.”
Other scores from the night included Olympian gold medalist Amber Glenn and partner Pasha Pashkov’s 23/30 for a Rumba to “Hero,” which came after an earlier rehearsal incident that left Pashkov with a bloody injury. “Bachelor Nation” alum Tyler Cameron and partner Sharna Burgess, “Save the Last Dance” actress Julia Stiles and partner Ezra Sosa, and Olson and Slater all received 21/30 scores for their respective routines. Comedian Connor Wood and partner Rylee Arnold earned 19/30 for their Rumba to “Touch My Body,” while “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum Tatyana Ali and partner Jan Ravnik received 20/30 for their Jazz routine to “Fantasy.”
The Mariah Carey-themed episode featured the singer’s catalog throughout the night, with couples performing to tracks ranging from early hits like “Vision of Love” to later singles including “Touch My Body” and “Obsessed.” The tribute marked the fourth week of competition for the Season 35 cast, which is vying for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.
The elimination continues a pattern of unexpected exits this season, with several fan-favorite contestants departing earlier than predicted. Miller’s background as a Bravo reality personality had drawn viewer interest, making the Tuesday night result particularly surprising to audiences following the competition.
New episodes of “Dancing With the Stars” air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.
