Season 35 Week 2 Carrie Underwood Says One Word, Couples Battle Scores

Tuesday night’s broadcast saw all remaining Season 35 contestants battle it out in a single live show for the first time since the premiere split.

With fourteen couples still in the running, the competition is just getting started, even as judges tightened their feedback to a single‑word summary for the third judge each night.

The episode also introduced a new rule – after a late‑night mishap over time limits last week, the third judge must now keep his or her commentary down to one word.

## Season 35 In a Nutshell

Season 35 kicked off with a two‑night premiere that separated the women and men into separate shows, resulting in two eliminations on the first week. Scores from that opening night saw Harry Shum Jr. and Maura Higgins tie for the highest marks, yet no contestant received a score above a 7.

Judges have signaled that they will not be easing up this season, and they are also testing a new rule that forces the third judge each night to deliver comments in just one word.

Beyond the scores, the lineup this season is a vibrant mix of returning pros, fresh faces, and celebrities from a broad spectrum of careers. Former NFL player Brandon Armstrong pairs with Ciara Miller, while actress Julia Stiles teams up with dancer‑turned‑actor Ezra Sosa.

Chef Giada De Laurentiis brings culinary flair to the ballroom, and the Savannah Bananas midfielder Jackson Olson adds a touch of baseball rhythm. The show’s producers have always leaned on this eclectic cast to keep audiences guessing, and Season 35 is no exception.

## What People Are Saying

| Couple | Dance & Music | Score | Judge Highlights | |--------|--------------|-------|------------------| | **Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy** | Jive to KATSEYE’s “Animal” | 21/30 | Inaba: “That’s what I’m talking about!”<br>Later: “Ciara has entered the building!!! You are in it to win it.

Watch out everybody!” | | **Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong** | Tango to “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines & Tinashe | 18/30 | | | **Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess** | Salsa to “Girls” by The Kid LAROI | 16/30 | | | **Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa** | Tango to “The Door” by Teddy Swims | 16/30 | Stiles: “Really let go.” | | **Jackson Olson & Chef Giada De Laurentiis** | Foxtrot to “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams | 18/30 | Hough: “Timid.” | | **Alan Bersten & Giada** | Salsa to “Bella Ciao” by Becky G | 12/30 | | | **Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold** | Tango to “12 to 12” by Sombr (honoring grandma) | 15/30 | | | **Paralympian Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach** | Cha‑cha to “Low” by Flo Rida | 21/30 | Hough: “Absolutely blown away.” | | **Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik** | Foxtrot to “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish | 18/30 | | | **Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov** | Tango to “All the Things She Said” by Harrison | 21/30 | Tonioli: “Best tango of the night.

Period.”<br>Hough: Secret handshake salute. | | **Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson** | Paso doble to “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna | 12/30 | | | **Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart** | Cha‑cha to “Cake By the Ocean” by DNCE | 15/30 | Tonioli: “Mistakes, but good bits.”<br>Inaba: “Frenetic.” | | **Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson** | Viennese waltz to “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls | 18/30 | Inaba: “A little safer this time.” | | **Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas** | Cha‑cha to “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire | 19/30 | |

The one‑word rule is a clear cut‑throat experiment. It forces judges like Inaba and Hough to distill their observations into a single, punchy term, turning every comment into a moment of suspense. While some viewers applaud the brevity—“I love the drama!,” “It’s raw!”—others miss the nuanced guidance they used to see.

## Fan Frenzy

Social media erupted in the hours after the episode aired. On Twitter, fans debated whether “frenetic” was an insult or a compliment to Taylor Hanson’s energy. TikTok users compiled a mash‑up of the most viral one‑word clips—“Timid,” “Blown,” “Safely”—and set them to upbeat EDM, earning over 1.2 million likes.

Instagram polls showed 73 % of respondents wanted the rule to continue, .” Yet 24 % felt that a single word was too limiting for judges who have traditionally offered detailed feedback like “Your shoulders should be flatter” or “The lift was solid but lacked drama.”

Fans also highlighted the unique musical choices.

The pairing of Ciara Miller with Brandon Armstrong on the tango to “No Broke Boys” created a meme that spread across Reddit: “When you’re trying to dance but your playlist is a hit.” Meanwhile, Chef Giada’s foxtrot to Gracie Abrams became a trend on TikTok where dancers attempted “Giacetta,” a fusion of her name and the dance style.

## Industry Impact

Beyond the ratings, Season 35 has sent ripples through the dance community.

Local studios in Los Angeles reported a 15 % uptick in enrollment after the episode, , who turned an ordinary salsa routine into a “Best tango of the night.” The one‑word rule also spurred a wave of “quick‑fire” critique workshops for aspiring judges, showing that even seasoned professionals can adapt to constrained feedback formats.

For choreographers, the new rule has been both a challenge and an opportunity. Without extended commentary from judges, they’re forced to focus on storytelling within tighter time constraints, which many say improves their precision.

A dance school in Chicago announced a partnership with the show’s production team to develop a curriculum that trains students for “live‑show” pressure—an area previously underserved.

In the broader entertainment industry, the episode reinforced Dancing with the Stars’ role as a cultural barometer. The show has always reflected contemporary music trends, and Season 35 continued that tradition by featuring tracks from KATSEYE, Becky G, and Billie Eilish.

This cross‑genre approach keeps the program relevant to younger audiences while still appealing to longtime fans.

## What Happens Next

Giada De Laurentiis and Alan will depart after this week’s performances, leaving the remaining thirteen couples to return next Tuesday for the Yacht Rock episode. The one‑word judge rule remains in place, and it remains unclear whether it will continue for the rest of the season.

As Season 35 approaches its climax, every couple is hustling to improve their scores and avoid elimination. The new rule forces them to adapt choreography with an eye toward instant impact, while fans remain glued to the screen—ready to shout at their screens or cheer for the next daring performance.

With the stakes climbing, the dance floor will continue to heat up. Keep your eyes on the stage, because this season is proving that in the world of Dancing with the Stars, rhythm, resilience, and a single word can change a contestant’s fate.