Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Eliminates First Celebrity

Brooks Nader Shares Her Biggest ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Advice to Sister Sarah Jane NaderOne star is unfortunately evacuating the dance floor. After the male celebrities competed on night one of the Dancing With the Stars season 35 premiere Sept. 15, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Conner Leavitt and his pro partner Adele Zaikman were eliminated and will officially be hanging up their dancing shoes. "This has been the most fun," Leavitt said after being cut. "I have the greatest dance partner in the world in Adele. I can't wait for the world to get to see her talent." Zaikman, who joined the cast after winning Next Pro, added of the 32-year-old—whose wife Whitney Leavitt competed last season—"It's a dream come true no matter what, and I'm so lucky that I had Conner. I had so much fun, and thank you so much for everything." It was a tough decision for America—and the judges—to make over the two-night premiere, which was split by sex, with the female stars set to perform on Sept. 16 ahead of a second elimination. Not to mention, every duo had quite the personal performance, as the theme enlisted the pairings to dance to a song that debuted the year each contestant was born. While Leavitt and Zaikman ultimately couldn’t best their competition, their salsa dance to “Whoomp! There It Is” was certainly a sight to behold. For contestant Guillermo Rodriguez, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! star shared how he is planning to give it his all this season, despite being an underdog, as he danced the Cha Cha to "Mr. Big Stuff" with pro partner Witney Carson. "People told me, 'Guillermo, you're not gonna pass the first week,'" he shared in his pre-taped video package. "But I'm gonna work real hard and I'm gonna try my best."Disney/Andrew EcclesMeanwhile, the evening also served a heavy dose of nostalgia, with younger duos like Olympian Ezra French, 21, and pro Daniella Karagach dancing to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone" and Savannah Bananas player Jackson Olson, 28, and Emma Slater doing the Cha Cha to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. Although the special circumstance certainly raised the stakes for the competitors, it of course came with added pressure. Even DWTS cast members expressed shock upon confirmation that not one, but two of the initial 16 couples would be eliminated during the two-night premiere. Disney“It's not an even playing field, right?” Mark Ballas posited during a Sept. 10 appearance on the Get Real podcast alongside partner DWTS Maura Higgins. “It's like the cast is split in half and someone's going. It's kind of like boys over there, girls over there, one of you is going from each group, right?” But trust, stars are bringing their A game to the ballroom. In fact, before 10 Things I Hate About You actress Julia Stiles, 45, and her partner Ezra Sosa honor the late Dolly Parton—performing a quickstep to “9 to 5" on Sept. 16—Sosa emphasized that Stiles wasn’t saving her skills for the premiere to be their last dance. “She's doing absolutely incredible,” Sosa told E! News Sept. 6 as the pair prepared for the DWTS premiere. “I will confidently say I've never worked with someone who's working so hard and who's so passionate about doing this, and it just makes me so excited to see their journey on the show.”For a look at all the pairings on DWTS season 35, keep reading… Disney/Andrew EcclesJulia Stiles & Ezra SosaYou won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.Disney/Andrew EcclesGiada De Laurentiis & Alan BerstenCha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.Disney/Andrew EcclesHarry Shum Jr. & Jenna JohnsonWhat did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.Disney/Andrew EcclesTaylor Hanson & Britt StewartThe former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.Disney/Andrew EcclesTatyana Ali & Jan RavnikThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.Disney/Andrew EcclesJenna Dewan & Val ChmerkovskiyTwenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.Disney/Andrew EcclesAmber Glenn & Pasha PashkovThe 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.Disney/Andrew EcclesEzra Frech & Daniella KaragachThe Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.Disney/Andrew EcclesSarah Jane Nader & Hailey BillsAfter sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand. Disney/Andrew EcclesConnor Wood & Rylee ArnoldThe comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.Disney/Andrew EcclesConner Leavitt & Adele ZaikmanThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.Disney/Andrew EcclesTyler Cameron & Sharna BurgessThe Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.Disney/Andrew EcclesJackson Olson & Emma SlaterThe Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.Disney/Andrew EcclesGuillermo Rodriguez & Witney CarsonThe Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.Disney/Andrew EcclesCiara Miller & Brandon ArmstrongThe Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom. "Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."Disney/Andrew EcclesMaura Higgins & Mark BallasThe Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience. "I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App