Sarah Jane Nader shocks fans as she exits DWTS 35 after a brutal jive

The “Dancing With the Stars” audience saw its first female star exit the ballroom on Wednesday night. Love Thy Nader actress Sarah Jane Nader and pro partner Hailey Bills were voted off during the second night of the Season 35 premiere event.

The decision marked a historic moment as Nader became the first female celebrity to leave the show in its long run.

Co‑hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro warned that several other couples were in danger of going home. They named Tatyana Ali with Jan Ravnik, and Giada De Laurentiis with Alan Bersten as the next potential exits.

The scores at the end of the night confirmed the threat, with Nader’s 14 out of 30 placing her last among the female competitors.

The night also highlighted standout performances from past and current stars. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas topped the leaderboard with a flawless Foxtrot, while Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson delivered an energetic Cha‑Cha that earned them a perfect 21/30 score.

## Background & Context

Season 35’s premiere spanned two nights, each featuring a theme that tied the music to the dancers’ birth years. Wednesday’s episode focused on female celebrities performing a No. 1 hit from the year they were born. Nader danced a Jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi,” but received only 14 points, landing her last among the women.

Other top scorers that night included Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy, who earned 19/30 for a Tango to Blondie’s “Call Me.” Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov scored 18/30 for a Cha‑Cha to “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas.

Giada De Laurentiis, despite a busted toe injury during rehearsals, received 16/30 for a Tango to Shocking Blue’s “Venus,” while Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong scored 15/30 for a Foxtrot to Whitney Houston’s “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).”

The night also saw the bottom scores: Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik earned 12/30 for a Jive to Amii Stewart’s “Knock on Wood,” placing them last among that group. The scores confirmed the co‑hosts’ warnings about the couples at risk of elimination.

## What People Are Saying

Social media buzzed with reactions from fans and fellow contestants. Conner Leavitt, who was eliminated the previous night, saw his wife Whitney post a proud statement: “f–king proud” of him.

She added, “I hope you never let this ending take away from what you just did.” Her words echoed the resilience theme that has become a staple of the show’s community spirit.

Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson, as well as comedian Connor Wood and partner Rylee Arnold, were also flagged as potential eliminations.

Fans debated their chances in comment threads, while some praised Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson for the show‑stopping 21/30 Cha‑Cha to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove.” The mix of excitement and concern kept the Twitterverse active throughout the broadcast.

### Public sentiment

Viewers expressed both admiration for the high scores and disappointment over the eliminations. Some celebrated Nader’s effort, noting her perseverance despite the tough choreography. Others lamented the early exit of veteran performers like Giada De Laurentiis, .

## What Happens Next

The next episode will feature the remaining couples performing to another set of themed music, with judges providing scores that will decide who stays. Fans can expect further eliminations, as the competition is designed to narrow the field quickly in the early stages.

Official schedules confirm that the following night’s performances will continue the trend of linking songs to birth years.

Contestants who remain will face increased scrutiny from judges and viewers alike, with each dance carrying higher stakes. As the season progresses, it is expected that the competition will intensify, bringing both star power and technical skill to the forefront.

Viewers can tune in next week to see which dancers earn immunity and which ones will have to leave the ballroom.

The Season 35 premiere has set a dramatic tone, and with early exits already making headlines, the rest of the show promises more twists, turns, and high‑energy performances that keep audiences glued to their screens.