Key Facts: Maren Morris DWTS Grammy Night
Key Facts: Maren Morris DWTS Grammy Night
- What happened: Maren Morris sang “The Middle” live on Dancing with the Stars during its first Grammy Night, Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
- The reaction: Fans criticized the live vocals online. “Find the note” became the night’s defining phrase.
- The twist: Jenna Dewan and Valentin Chmerkovskiy were eliminated, even though they had just won their dance-off.
- What’s next: Six couples remain. The semifinals air Tuesday, November 17, on ABC and Disney+.
The Maren Morris DWTS moment nobody expected became the most talked-about performance of Dancing with the Stars season 35. On Tuesday night’s first-ever Grammy Night, the Grammy-winning singer performed her 2018 hit “The Middle” live. Jenna Dewan and Tatyana Ali danced a cha-cha to the same song at the same time. Within minutes, fans were posting their reactions online. The verdict was brutal.
Why Maren Morris DWTS Fans Turned on the Performance
The trouble started almost as soon as Morris began singing. Viewers said the performance sounded pitchy. “Find the note” quickly spread across X as fans shared clips. “Maren’s commitment to not hitting a single note,” one viewer wrote. Another called it “bad karaoke.” Others were kinder. They suggested it was simply an off night for a proven vocalist.
Fans had a second complaint that had nothing to do with the singing. The cameras stayed locked on Morris for much of the opening stretch. As a result, viewers could barely see the dancing — the thing the show is actually about. Context matters, though. “The Middle” is a high-energy dance-pop track built for the studio. Singing it live in a ballroom, while two couples dance around you, is a very different challenge. There are in-ear monitors, a live band, and zero room for a second take. Even so, fans were not giving her much grace on the night.
Jenna Dewan’s Shock DWTS Elimination After Winning Her Dance-Off
If the Morris performance was the night’s most debated moment, the elimination was its biggest shock. Jenna Dewan and Valentin Chmerkovskiy were sent home at the end of Grammy Night. They had just won their dance-off against Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik minutes earlier. They had also posted a 30-point night: 28 from the judges, plus two bonus points.
Co-host Julianne Hough called the result “shocking, to say the least.” Dewan is a trained dancer and former Step Up star. She had been one of the season’s strongest competitors. So how does a couple win a dance-off and still go home? On Dancing with the Stars, judges’ scores and viewer votes are combined. A dance-off win earns bonus points, but it does not guarantee safety. Some fans also reported text-voting problems during the live show. That only added to the confusion.
How the DWTS Dance-Offs Worked on Grammy Night
Grammy Night introduced a new twist: the dance-off. Three pairs of couples faced off head-to-head. They danced the same style to the same song at the same time. The judges then picked a winner from each battle. Each winner received two bonus points. Meanwhile, the pairings were chosen by producers. That drew backlash before the show even aired. Fans were upset that Tatyana Ali, who had been scoring lower, was matched against Dewan. Dewan was one of the season’s highest scorers, with years of dance experience.
| Dance-Off | Song | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov vs. Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach | “The Boy Is Mine” — Brandy & Monica | Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov |
| Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy vs. Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik | “The Middle” — Maren Morris | Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy |
| Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas vs. Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold | “All I Wanna Do” — Sheryl Crow | Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas |
Brandy and Monica reunited to perform “The Boy Is Mine” for the first dance-off. Sheryl Crow performed “All I Wanna Do” live for the third. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson had earned immunity the previous week, so they sat out the dance-offs.
DWTS Season 35 Has a Pattern Problem
Dewan’s exit fits a pattern that has defined season 35. For example, on Mariah Carey Night in week four, Ciara Miller was sent home after her best dance of the season. Her jazz routine earned straight 7s. The week before that, Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart were eliminated despite outscoring couples who survived. Now Dewan has gone home after winning a dance-off.
The lesson fans keep learning the hard way is simple. The judges’ leaderboard is only half the story. Viewer votes carry the rest. A passionate fan base can keep a low scorer in the competition while a technically stronger dancer goes home. That tension is also what keeps people watching. Every week now feels unpredictable. With the semifinals approaching, no remaining couple can feel safe.
What Happens Next on DWTS Season 35
Six couples remain heading into the semifinals on Tuesday, November 17. Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas won their dance-off on Grammy Night. They look like the pair to beat. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov are close behind. The season finale is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24.
As for Morris, the backlash is unlikely to dent her career. She has a Grammy win and some of the biggest country-pop crossovers of the last decade. One rough night in the ballroom is not the story of her career. But it is a reminder that on a show built for viral moments, even a guest performance can become the whole conversation.
Dancing with the Stars season 35 airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+. It streams the next day on Hulu. For more on the season’s earlier shocks, see former DWTS champion Melissa Rycroft’s recent arrest. And for today’s biggest music news, see the Coachella 2027 lineup announcement.
Sources
- Whiskey Riff — DWTS fans slam Maren Morris’ live Grammy Night performance
- Just Jared — Who went home on DWTS week 9? Grammy Night spoilers
- Sports Illustrated — DWTS season 35 week 9 recap: dances, scores and elimination
- TV Insider — DWTS Grammy Night 2026 recap: Jenna Dewan eliminated
