Dancing with the Stars returned on Monday for the fourth week of the competition, and the stars are getting emotional for "Top 13 Night".
After the second elimination of the season last week, the 13 celebs who are still standing - along with their pro teammates - are making it out for the Mirrorball Trophy as they collide from the stage and reflect emotional, critical and formal moments from their past. Huh.
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli as judges and score the performances - and new host Tyra Banks added her commentary to the contest - ET will be following to break all the best dances during the two-hour episode . Emotional moments and most shocking scores.The show closed at 8 pm on Monday. ET / PT on ABC, and ET is bringing you all the highlights in real time with our live blog coverage!
With "Tiger King" star Carole Baskin voted off "Dancing With the Stars" last week, there was one big question.
Would the remaining cast generate the needed drama that the polarizing Netflix star brought to the reality competition?
The answer was a definitive yes, with a sobbing judge, revelations about Anne Heche's 1990s relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, a tearful tribute to "Disney" star Cameron Boyce and the first perfect 10 of the season.
And the other star is Going Home…
7:00 pm:
It's an emotional night, but it's time to see who's going home.
After Tyra reads that the 11 pairs that are safe - which actually takes a long time - we learn which two pairs are in danger.
After an accident, he is. With the three couples leaving the stage, Tyra reveals that Monica and Val - whom she has already declared safe - were actually one of the couples.She incorrectly states after stating that Vernon and Sharma were in the bottom two, which they were not.Eventually, after the confusion subsides, it all turns to Anne and KO against Monica and Val.
She incorrectly states after stating that Vernon and Sharna were in the bottom two, which they were not.
Eventually, after the confusion subsides, it all turns to Anne and KO against Monica and Val.
Carrie Ann and Derek both vote to save Monica and Val, meaning that Anne and Keo are going home.
The show comes to an awkwardly abrupt end as Anne Grace is having kisses to her fellow contestants.
So long and farewell, Anne Heche!
AJ McLean Brings Backstreet Back
6:51 PM:
Larger than life, indeed!
AJ McLean definitely hit the dance floor with a crowd pleasing number that saw a virtual, digital, high-tech reunion of the Backstreet Boys.
Coming out with Cheryl for a cha cha set to "Larger Than Live," AJ largely stayed in the spotlight and was joined for a choreographed performance by towering virtual representations of his bandmates.
"You're living legends, and that was fantastic!" Derek says after the performance.
"What a great way to end! Tonight has been so much fun," Carrie Ann marvels, adding that the performance felt like being at a full concert.
For their efforts, the couple earned three 8s for a total of 24 out of 30.
Skai Emotionally Honors Her Friend Cameron Boyce
6:40 PM:
Skai Jackson dedicates tonight's number to her friend and former co-star Cameron Boyce, who died last year at the age of 20.
"He was in my life for half of my life. I met him on "Jessie," he was a big brother figure for me. And molded me into the person I ended up to be," Skai shares in the pre-taped package, as Alan gets choked up.
The pair come out and deliver a stunning foxtrot set to John Legend's "Ordinary People" that brought the judges to tears.
"I'm sure that Cameron is watching you right now, and he's so proud of you. What you did, you were like an angel dancing the most beautiful dance," Carrie Ann says through tears. "It was sheer perfection."
"This was my absolute favorite dance of the night,' Derek gushes.
Carrie Ann's tears were reflected in her score for Skai -- the season's first 10! Meanwhile, Bruno and Derek award 9s for a grand total of 28 out of 30 -- easily the highest score of the night and the season.
Jesse & Sharna Deliver 'Smooth' Cha-Cha
6:32 PM:
Jesse Metcalfe spends most of his pre-taped package talking about his love of vintage hot rods and classic cars. It's a sweet way to get an inside look at Jesse's psyche -- even if it doesn't play a big role in his performance.
The actor hits the stage with Sharna for a cha cha set to Sanata's classic hit "Smooth," and while there's a lot to like, the judges all seem to feel it was lacking personality.
Bruno laments the lack of hip action, while Carrie Ann says the star spent a lot of time looking at Sharna's feet and says it seems like he's holding back.
Despite the copious notes and critiques, the pair still earn three 7s for a total of 21 out of 30 -- which really makes you wonder how good he could do if he takes their notes to heart.
Vernon and Peta Stay Together for Sultry Rumba
6:25 AM:
Vernon and Peta are holding it down when it comes to the sexiness and sultry numbers.
The pair wow with a rumba set to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green, and it's obviously all part of the performance, but they certainly have a lot of chemistry.
The judges are floored by their number, and their heat together, and award the pair two 7s and an 8 for a total of 22 out of 30.
Jeannie & Brandon Rock Out With Their Tango
6:15 PM:
Even after last week's impressive performance, Jeannie is having a hard time winning over her mom. We learned this week that Jeannie's mom has started a betting pool -- and she's betting against her own daughter!
Tonight, she hits the dance floor with the intention of showing her mom why she shouldn't bet against her. Jeannie and Brandon hit the stage to deliver a Tango to The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," and -- aside from one minor misstep at the end -- it's absolutely incredible.
"I would not bet against you, with all that fire and all that passion," Carrie Ann shares. "That is what we are going to need more of."
The pair end up earning three 7s -- which likely would have been 8s if not for the misstep -- for a formidable total of 21 out of 30.
Johnny & Britt Bring Rock Out to Elton John
6:06 PM:
Johnny Wear is finally opening on the dance floor!
All of the energy and charisma they can bring to the stage for their jive set for Olympian and his supporting partner Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" (which is no small amount).
Bruno, Carrie Ann and Derek all commend the star for bringing his full personality to the number, and for delivering a dance that was anything but ordinary.
The pair earns three 8 out of the total 24 out of 30 - their highest points so far this season.
Kaitlyn & Artem Deliver 'Crazy Beautiful' Performance 6:00 PM:Kaitlyn dedicates tonight's Viennese Waltz to her boyfriend, and the tribute is truly special when she and Artem manage to deliver a truly magical, classy number set to Luke Combs' "Beautiful Crazy."
"That was just so beautifully danced. Just every week you are better and better," Derek marvels.
Carrie Ann and Bruno both shower them with praise as well, and express their desire to see if Kaitlyn is as good at Latin dance styles as she is with ballroom numbers.
The praise is backed up when Carrie Ann awards the couple with the season's very first 9! Added to the 8s from Derek and Bruno, and they've taken the top spot on the leaderboard with a total of 25 out of 30.
Justina Machado draws inspiration from her late grandmother 5:52 PM:
Justina gets emotional in her pretend package, thinks about her family and is the product of the very loving, hardworking people who came before her.The actress gets emotional and suffocates thinking of her late grandmother, who died in 2006.
"Any time I get scared, I just have to remember all the incredible courage she had," she shares. "She taught me anything is possible if you do the hard work. And I will absolutely be dancing, thinking about her, sending her all my love."And there was a lot of love in her performance with Sasha as the two deliver a larger than life salsa set to “Que Viva La Vida” by Wisin that gets the judges up on their feet and dancing behind the desk.
"That was so much fun! Oh, my gosh. It comes from within you, and that's what is so fun to watch you dance, it's so authentic!" Derek shares.
The pair receive a ton of love from the judges and earn three 8s for a total of 24 out of 30.
Nev Dishes On the Love of His Life Ahead of Romantic Rumba 5:43 PM:
Nev's rumba this week is set to Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me," so it only makes sense that he introduces the love of his life in his pre-taped segment.Nev reveals that he actually met his wife over Instagram when she DMed him about borrowing his motorcycle for a film shoot, and the rest was romantic history.
When Nev and Jenna hit the stage for their performance, the two were like a vision as Carrie Ann says, and they really blow the judges away.That was like a romantic dream set to music, Bruno shares, before Nev reveals that he actually trimmed his chest hair and manscaped just for Bruno's approval.I actually trimmed for you, Bruno. Its the first time Ive seen my nipples in 15 years, Neu quips.
The pair end up earning three 8s for a total of 24 out of 30.Nev and Jenna are quickly becoming one of the most consistent pair this season, and are definitely among those who have a shot to win.
Anne & Keo 'Rise' to the Occasion
5:33 PM:
Anne Heche really opened up about her experience being ostracized in the late '90s for her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres, and she reflects on how her love -- and her refusal to hide who she is -- essentially cost her her career.
It adds a whole other level of depth to her performance, when she hits the dance floor, in a rainbow cloak, to perform a powerful paso doble set to Katy Perry's "Rise" with Keo.
"It makes me so happy to see progress each week," Derek shares. "So good work."
Bruno calls Anne a "multicolored warrior" and said it was her "most focused performance to date."
"You don't give up, and we don't give up rooting for you," Carrie Ann says. "You have more to learn, but I'm rooting for you and I think everyone else is."
For their efforts, Anne and Keo earn three 7s for a total of 21 out of 30.
Skai Jackson paid tearful tribute to Cameron Boyce
Disney star Jackson was not just emotional paying tribute to her late "Jessie" co-star, the 18-year-old was full-on in tears during her pretaped interview.
"I want this dance to be dedicated to Cameron, who was a really close friend of mine and co-star," Jackson said of Boyce, who died at age 20 in 2019. She showed she keeps his picture on her iPhone. "He was in my life for half of my life, which was crazy. We built up this bond for years and years and years."
Then the drama really started …
Banks began announcing the couples who had been spared by a combination of viewers' votes and judges' scores. But she accidentally dismissed Aldama, saying she was safe. Banks had to dramatically cop to a live TV error and bring Aldama back – she was in the bottom two with Heche.
"There has been an error in the control room. This is live TV. I'm so sorry. This is live TV," said Banks. "We apologize for this."
Aldama, who had just frolicked off to the wings, had to be brought back to centerstage and face elimination with Heche. But the judges did not spare Heche in the actress' second week at the bottom. Inaba and Hough voted to keep Aldama.
Heche was voted off and, in the final indignity of live TV, did not even have a chance to say goodbye to the cast before credits rolled.
