# Shock first elimination rocks DWTS Season 35 premiere

> Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman become the first couple eliminated on opening night of the new season.
- Title: Shock first elimination rocks DWTS Season 35 premiere
- Summary: Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman become the first couple eliminated on opening night of the new season. Even on premiere night, Dancing With the…
- Keywords: dancing with the stars, season 35, conner leavitt, adele zaikman, premiere elimination, abc, julianne hough, alfonso ribeiro, reality competition, news, entertainment, Shock
- Source: Page Six — https://pagesix.com/2026/09/15/entertainment/conner-leavitt-sent-home-in-shock-dwts-premiere-night-elimination
- Published: 2026-09-16T02:13:11+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: dancing with the stars, season 35, conner leavitt, adele zaikman, premiere elimination, abc, julianne hough, alfonso ribeiro, reality competition, news, entertainment
## DWTS Season 35 kicks off with shock exit
Conner Leavitt and pro partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated on the first night of the two-night premiere after scoring just 12 out of 30 for their salsa performance.

> This has been the most fun. I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele.
## Leavitt's salsa to Tag Team flops
Leavitt performed a salsa to Tag Team's 'Whoomp! There It Is,' a number one hit from his birth year, but the judges were unimpressed with his 12/30 score.
## Harry Shum Jr. takes early lead
Glee alum Harry Shum Jr. and partner Jenna Johnson earned the night's top score of 21 out of 30 for their cha-cha to Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Let's Groove.'
## Paralympian Frech scores second best
Paralympian gold medalist Ezra Frech and partner Daniella Karagach earned 20 out of 30 for their tango to Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone,' placing them second on the leaderboard.
## Tyler Cameron misidentified by judge
Bachelor Nation alum Tyler Cameron and partner Sharna Burgess scored 17 out of 30 for their tango, but judge Derek Hough hilariously called him 'Dylan' during the critique.
## Guillermo Rodriguez scores lowest
Jimmy Kimmel Live sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson earned just 10 out of 30 for their cha-cha, the second-lowest score of the night but enough to survive.
## Witney Carson dances while pregnant
Pro dancer Witney Carson revealed she had hesitation about competing this season while pregnant with her third child, but the challenge is pushing her to work harder and show other moms they don't have to lose themselves.

> This season I'm all about empowerment, for myself and for other women, because we can do anything.
## Night two features female celebrities
The two-night premiere continues Wednesday with female celebrities and their pro partners performing to number one hits from their birth years. Regular episodes begin Tuesday nights on ABC and Disney+.
## Key takeaway

Even on premiere night, Dancing With the Stars eliminates contestants based on judges' scores, with the lowest-scoring couple going home immediately.