Guillermo Rodriguez eliminated from Dancing with the Stars Season 35

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Dancing With the Stars hosted its first-ever Super Bowl Night for season 35, featuring routines set to iconic halftime show anthems by artists like Shakira, Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny, while airing as a preview for Super Bowl LXI coming to ABC and ESPN in February 2027, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Page Six. At the end of the evening, Guillermo Rodriguez and his professional partner Witney Carson were eliminated from the competition after finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard with a total score of 22 out of 40.

Guillermo Rodriguez Exits After Bad Bunny Salsa Routine

The night concluded with the elimination of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick following a salsa dance to Bad Bunny’s Tití Me Preguntó, which earned the lowest score of the episode from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge Joe Buck. Reflecting on his time in the ballroom, Rodriguez shared his gratitude with the audience. I had a lot of fun, it was great. Witney, thank you for teaching me how to dance! he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Page Six added that Carson praised her celebrity partner for making this season just so fun, so enjoyable, and for taking care of her and her unborn baby throughout the competition. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess were also in the danger zone before surviving to dance another week.

Joe Buck Joins the Judges’ Panel for High-Scoring Performances

ABC’s Monday Night Football lead play-by-play announcer Joe Buck stepped into the ballroom as the first guest judge of season 35, giving the remaining couples an opportunity to earn scores with an extra set of points. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas opened the night with a tango to Rihanna’s Only Girl (In the World), earning a 33 out of 40 that included a nine from Buck. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov quickly topped that early marker by securing a 34 out of 40 for their samba to J Balvin and Willy William’s Mi Gente, marking the first time Glenn earned a nine from the judges.

Top Scores and On-Air Tension Define the Leaderboard

The competition reached its peak when two couples tied for the highest score of the night at 36 out of 40. Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy earned straight nines for a Paso Doble to Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, prompting Buck to remark that he forgot who the pro is, as noted by Page Six. Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach matched that 36 out of 40 score with a salsa to Nelly’s Hot in Herre. Meanwhile, a contentious moment unfolded when Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson danced a samba to Usher’s Yeah! earning a 33 out of 40.

Super Bowl Night Full Leaderboard and Performances

Throughout the evening, remaining pairs performed various routines, including Jackson Olson and Emma Slater with a salsa to Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk featuring Bruno Mars for a 31 out of 40, and Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess performing a jazz routine to The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas for a 30 out of 40. Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold danced a samba to Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie featuring Wyclef Jean, receiving a 25 out of 40. Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa scored a 33 out of 40 with a jazz routine to Jennifer Lopez’s Jenny from the Block (Track Masters Remix) featuring Jadakiss and Styles P. Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik earned a 29 out of 40 for a salsa to Kendrick Lamar’s Squabble Up. Additional competitors still active in the cast include Harry Shum Jr., Tatyana Ali, Julia Stiles, Jackson Olson, and Connor Wood. The studio audience also featured a cameo by Jane the Virgin alum Justin Baldoni alongside his family, as well as several NFL stars from past seasons of the show, such as season three winner Emmitt Smith, season 14 winner Donald Driver, DeMarcus Ware, and Danny Amendola.

Upcoming Schedule and Voting Details for Season 35

Alfonso Ribeiro announced toward the end of the broadcast that former pro dancer Kym Johnson will join the judges’ panel for the upcoming Dedication Night episode. Viewers looking to participate in the elimination process can cast up to 10 votes per couple via ABC’s website or text messaging during the live East Coast airing. West Coast viewers must submit their votes between 5 p.m. PT and roughly 6:45 p.m.