Jenna Dewan Exits DWTS Season 35 Despite Tying for No. 2 on 30 Points

Q: How did Jenna Dewan face a shocking DWTS elimination despite earning near-perfect scores on Grammy Night?

Jenna Dewan was eliminated because *Dancing With the Stars* does not base results on judges’ scores alone; eliminations are decided by the combined total of judges’ scores and live viewer votes. On Grammy Night, Dewan and partner Val Chmerkovskiy were among the strongest couples. They scored 28 out of 30 for their jazz routine to Janet Jackson’s “All for You,” then beat Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik in the dance-off, earning two bonus points. That gave them 30 total points, tying them for second on the final leaderboard behind Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson. Even so, the show’s format meant that a high placement on the judges’ leaderboard did not guarantee safety. Once audience votes were added to the scores, Dewan and Chmerkovskiy ended up with the lowest combined result among the remaining couples and were sent home. That is why the elimination was widely described as shocking: Dewan had been seen as a frontrunner, had one of the top scores of the night, and had just won her dance-off. But on *DWTS*, strong judging numbers can still be overturned if viewer support is not enough.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Nov 11

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were eliminated on DWTS' first Grammy Night after finishing tied for second on 30 points, making them the episode's surprise exit.
A 28/30 jazz to Janet Jackson's "All for You" and a dance-off win added 2 points, but the show's combined judges-and-viewer-vote format still sent the pair home.
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson topped the leaderboard with 31 after a 29/30 salsa and immunity from the dance-off, while Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov also reached 30.
No couple scored a perfect 30/30 on the night, which featured live performances from Brandy, Monica, Maren Morris and Sheryl Crow; six celebrities remain in season 35.