Who Goes Home on Dancing with the Stars Tonight? DWTS Semi-Final Results and Recap

Fans of the glitzy ballroom battles tune in every week, hearts racing for their favorites. Tonight’s semi-final episode of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 packed drama, high scores, and tough choices. If you’re searching who goes home on dancing with the stars tonight, you’re not alone. Viewers across the country buzzed after the live show aired on ABC. This recap breaks it all down: the dances, the judges’ calls, and yes, the big elimination. Stick around for the full scoop on DWTS results tonight, including how viewer votes tipped the scales. Whether you caught the show live or just now checking in, we’ve got the details to keep you in the loop.

Dancing with the Stars has sparkled on screens since 2005. It pairs celebrities with pro dancers for routines that mix fun, skill, and stories. Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, with judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and guests, the show draws millions. Season 34 marks the 20th anniversary. It kicked off September 16, 2025, and wrapped December 2 with a holiday special. But tonight, December 11? That’s the post-finale glow-up. No eliminations here—just a festive recap of the season’s best, with past stars returning. Still, fans search who goes home on dancing with the stars tonight out of habit, craving any fresh twists. Let’s dive into the show’s roots, this season’s stars, and why these results matter.

The Magic of Dancing with the Stars: A Quick History Lesson

Dancing with the Stars started as a U.S. spin on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing. It debuted on ABC in June 2005. Early winners like Kelly Osbourne and Drew Lachey set the tone: celebs learn dances like the waltz or salsa, judged on technique and flair. Viewer votes count big—50% alongside judges’ scores. That’s why DWTS fan voting results often spark debates. Over 34 seasons, 600+ celebs have twirled. Stats? The show averages 7-10 million viewers per episode. Peaks hit 20 million during finals. It’s won 109 Emmys, mostly for choreography.

For more on the format, check the official Wikipedia page. It explains voting rules clearly. Why does it last? Heart. Celebs share backstories—overcoming fears, bonding with pros. Take Season 1: Tucker Carlson’s tango flop went viral. Now, it’s a cultural staple. Reunions, tours, and spin-offs like Junior keep it fresh. Tonight’s special echoes that legacy, with no one “going home” but plenty of nostalgia.

The audience? Mostly women over 35, per Nielsen. But social media pulls in younger fans. Reddit’s r/dancingwiththestars hums with 50,000+ members debating scores. They love the mix: athletic feats, celeb drama, and pro dances that steal shows.

Meet the Season 34 Cast: Stars Who Lit Up the Floor

This anniversary season shone bright. Eleven couples started September 16. Celebs ranged from influencers to athletes. Pros like Witney Carson and Valentin Chmerkovskiy guided them. Highlights? Robert Irwin, Bindi’s brother, brought Aussie charm. Alix Earle slayed as a TikTok queen. Here’s the full cast rundown:

• Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: Wildlife star, 21. Grew from croc walks to cha-chas. Won the Mirrorball November 25!
• Alix Earle & Valentin Chmerkovskiy: Influencer, 24. Her paso doble popped. Runners-up.
• Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: Gymnast, 24. Flips met foxtrots. Third place.
• Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: Actor’s bro, 34. Steady climber to fourth.
• Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: Actress, 64. Parent Trap vet tangoed to fifth.
• Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: Mormon Wives star, 32. Eliminated November 19.
• Andy Richter & Emma Slater: Comedian, 58. Birthday bash boot on November 11.
• Danielle Fishel & Pasha Kovalev: Boy Meets World alum, 44. Rock Hall exit November 4.
• Others like Jen Affleck and more filled early weeks.

Each brought flair. Irwin honored his mum with a contemporary. Earle’s energy fueled fan votes. Stats: Women led winners—23 of 34 seasons. Pros? Val’s five rings top the list. For live buzz, see People’s semi-final updates. It captured the tension as six fought for three finale spots.

How the Show Works: Votes, Scores, and Why They Matter

Simple rules drive the thrill. Each week, couples dance one or two routines. Judges score 1-10 per dance. Viewers vote via app, text, or online—up to 5 per method. Tuesday reveals combine them. Lowest total? Who got eliminated on DWTS tonight. In semis, stakes soar: two dances, no redo.

Break it down:

1. Judges’ Panel: Carrie Ann on lines, Derek on tech, Bruno on passion. Guests like Tom Bergeron add spice.
2. Viewer Power: 50% weight. Fans rally via Twitter storms. Example: Season 33’s Joey Graziadei surged on Bachelor buzz.
3. Ties? Rare, but head-to-heads decide.

Dancing with the Stars judges scores tonight often predict, but not always. Popularity trumps perfection. Stats: 60% of upsets favor fan faves over high scores. That’s the debate fodder on Reddit. Tonight’s special skips this—no DWTS voting results—but recaps semis’ edge-of-seat math.

Semi-Final Showdown: Performances That Stole the Spotlight

November 19’s semi-finals? Fire. Six couples: Irwin, Earle, Chiles, Efron, Hendrix, Leavitt. Theme: Prince Night—purple haze and funky beats. Each did a judges’ pick and a high-energy jive. Dancing with the Stars live recap vibes were electric. Alfonso hyped, Julianne cheered.

Key moments:

• Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: Viennese waltz to “Purple Rain.” Graceful lifts, emotional nod to dad. Scores: 29/30. Jive to “1999”? Explosive—first perfect 30! Derek: “You’re a star!”
• Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: Contemporary to “When Doves Cry.” Raw power, 28/30. Jive nailed sync—29. Bruno: “Sizzling!”
• Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: Paso doble to “Kiss.” Fiery stamps, 29. Jive had timing slips—27. Carrie Ann: “Gymnast grit shines.”
• Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: Tango to “I Would Die 4 U.” Sharp, 28. Jive smooth—29. “Breakthrough,” judges agreed.
• Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: Quickstep to “Let’s Go Crazy.” Fun chaos, 27. Jive energetic—28. “Age no barrier,” Derek praised.
• Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: Salsa to “Kiss.” Hot, but lifts wobbled—26. Jive to “Baby I’m a Star”—27. “Bold,” but vulnerable.

DWTS leaderboard update post-dances: Irwin topped 59/60. Leavitt lagged at 53. Viewer votes? Earle’s social army pushed her up. Chiles’ Olympics fame helped. Full recaps trended on X—#The DWTS semis hit 500K mentions.

Drumroll… In the semi-finals, Dancing with the Stars elimination tonight shocked: Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. Lowest combined score and votes. Leavitt, a consistent topper, fell to popularity’s edge. “Gut-wrenching,” Alfonso said as tears flowed. Whitney hugged Mark: “This journey changed me.”

Safe: Irwin, Earle, Chiles for finale. Efron and Hendrix joined later. Why Whitney? Judges loved her growth—three 10s that night. But votes favored youth and fame. Reddit exploded: “Rigged? No—fans pick winners.” Who is leaving DWTS tonight searches spiked 300% post-show.

No double boot, but tension built. Relays earlier? Chiles’ team won. Guest Flavor Flav judged Rock Week prior, but Prince Night went judge-free extra. DWTS semi-final elimination proved: Skill starts it, votes finish.

For the live play-by-play, People’s updates nailed the suspense.

Fan Reactions: The Online Buzz After the Elimination

Social media lit up. DWTS live updates tonight filled feeds. X trends: #SaveWhitney trended, but #TeamIrwin won. Reddit’s r/dancingwiththestars thread? 2K comments. “Whitney deserved the finale—her story inspired!” one wrote. Others: “Votes matter. Alix’s TikTok army is too strong.”

Stats: Engagement up 40% from semis past. Fans love controversy. Who goes home on DWTS tonight spoilers threads predicted Leavitt—spot on. Positives? Praise for pros. Mark Ballas, back from retirement, dazzled. “His choreo gold,” fans said.

Broader: DWTS cast elimination tonight sparks empathy. Celebs share vulnerabilities—Whitney on motherhood, Elaine on age. It bonds viewers. Polls on Instagram? 55% thought it unfair, 45% fair game.

The Road to the Finale: What Happened Next

Post-semi, three advanced: Irwin, Earle, Chiles. Finale November 25? Epic. Redemption dances, freestyles, relays. Irwin’s croc-themed freestyle? Viral gold. Dancing with the Stars finale elimination none—crowning only. Winner: Robert Irwin! Mirrorball magic. Runners-up: Earle, then Chiles.

Full path:

1. Week 9 (Nov 11): Andy Richter out on birthday bash. Relay fun, Tom Bergeron judged.
2. Week 10 (Nov 19): Whitney’s shock boot.
3. Finale: Irwin’s 30/30 sweeps. “For family,” he teared up.

DWTS season 34 elimination timeline shows tight races. Early boots like Fishel (Nov 4, Rock Hall) set tones. No one is safe. Tour follows—2025 live shows hit 40 cities.

Iconic Eliminations: Lessons from DWTS History

DWTS thrives on surprises. Who got kicked off dancing with the stars tonight echoes past shocks. Remember Season 1’s Monica Phelps? First out, tango flop. Or 2019’s Ray Lewis—football star, dance dud.

Top upsets:

• Season 25: Drew Scott high scores, low votes—home early.
• Season 29: Johnny Weir’s artistry lost to Nelly’s charm.
• Season 33: Xochitl Gomez’s fire snuffed by votes.

Stats: 70% elims mix low scores and votes. Dancing with the Stars elimination predictions nail 60%. Fans on Reddit use spreadsheets—judges’ biases, celeb heat. Tonight’s special nods these: Clips of past boots, laughs included.

Why care? Builds stakes. DWTS celebrity elimination humanizes stars. They cry, hug, vow comebacks. It inspires—dance anyone can try.

Pro Dancers: The Unsung Heroes Behind the Stars

Pros make magic. Season 34’s? Stars. Witney Carson, Irwin’s partner, coached with patience—her third win. Val Chmerkovskiy’s energy? Electric. Ezra Sosa, newbie, flipped with Chiles.

Spotlight:

• Emma Slater: Richter’s laughs hid her precision.
• Daniella Karagach: Efron’s steady hand—two-time champ.
• Mark Ballas: Whitney’s returnee, salsa king.

Dancing with the Stars episode recap always hails them. Emmys? 50+ for choreo. Off-season? Tours, teaching. Tonight’s holiday special features their group numbers—snowy waltzes to Bing Crosby.

Voting Tips: How to Sway Who Stays

Want influence? DWTS fan voting results reward action. Vote during East Coast broadcast—window closes quickly¹.

Easy guide:

1. App Way: Download ABC app. Free, five votes per couple.
2. Text It: Text couple number to 21523. One per phone.
3. Online: ABC.com/dwtsvote. Email sign-up, five max.
4. Smart: Vote early—lines jam. Follow #DWTSVote.

Limits? No spam. Season total: Unlimited, but per-episode caps. Stats: 100M+ votes yearly. Your say counts—saved faves before.

Judges’ Insights: Scores That Shape Destinies

Panel’s gold. Dancing with the Stars judges scores tonight blend tough love, praise. Carrie Ann: Emotional. Derek: Technical. Bruno: Theatrical.

Memorable calls:

• Derek on Irwin’s jive: “Effortless—like breathing.”
• Carrie Ann on Leavitt: “Vulnerable, victorious—10!”
• Bruno on Chiles: “Olympic fire in heels!”

Guest judges? Flavor Flav’s “Yaaas!” Bruno’d it up. Scores average 25-30 in semis. Low? 20s spell trouble. DWTS leaderboard update apps track live.

Community and Fandom: Where Fans Connect

DWTS lives online. Dancing with the Stars live results spark chats. Reddit’s sub? Prediction megathreads, 1K upvotes. X? Live-tweet parties.

Why join?

• Debate Fairness: “Votes over skill?” Threads rage.
• Share Gifs: That lift failed? Meme gold.
• Support Pros: #ProSpotlight trends.

Demographics: 60% female, 40+ heavy, but Gen Z via TikTok. Who goes home on dancing with the stars tonight? posts hit 10K replies. It’s a family—virtual high-fives post-elim.

Holiday Special Tonight: A Festive Twist with No Boots

December 11’s episode? Holiday extravaganza. No DWTS cast elimination tonight—pure joy. Past winners like Bindi Irwin guest. Pros dance “Jingle Bells” jazz. Clips revisit semis’ heat.

Highlights:

• Irwin family medley.
• Earle’s festive freestyle.
• Troupe’s “Nutcracker” mash-up.

Airs 8/7c ABC, stream Disney+. Who won Dancing with the Stars tonight? No contest—just cheer. But semis’ echo lingers: Whitney’s grace in exit.

FAQs: Who Goes Home on Dancing with the Stars Tonight & Everything You’re Asking Right Now

Who goes home on Dancing with the Stars tonight?

In the most recent competitive episode (the Season 34 semi-finals on November 19, 2025), Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas were eliminated. Tonight (December 11, 2025) is the holiday special – no eliminations, just festive performances!

Who got kicked off Dancing with the Stars tonight? 

No one was kicked off tonight. The December 11 holiday special is elimination-free. The last person sent home was Whitney Leavitt on November 19.

Who got eliminated on DWTS tonight? 

Zero eliminations tonight! It’s a celebration episode with past winners and pros only.

When is the next Dancing with the Stars elimination?

Season 34 is officially over – Robert Irwin & Witney Carson won the Mirrorball on November 25, 2025. The next elimination will be Season 35 in fall 2026.

Q: Who won Dancing with the Stars 2025 (Season 34)? 

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson took home the Mirrorball trophy!

Who is leaving DWTS tonight?

Nobody! Tonight is a feel-good holiday special with no voting or goodbyes.

What time does Dancing with the Stars air tonight?

The holiday special airs Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 8/7c on ABC and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

How does DWTS elimination work? 

Judges’ scores (50%) + live viewer votes (50%) = combined total. The couple(s) with the lowest combined percentage go home. In the finale there is no elimination – just crowning the winner.

In Conclusion: The Heartbeat of DWTS Endures

We’ve recapped the semi-final fireworks, where Whitney Leavitt became who goes home on dancing with the stars tonight². Her exit stung, but Irwin’s win proved dreams dance on. From Dancing with the Stars elimination predictions to live recaps, Season 34 mixed sweat, tears, and triumphs. Fans, your votes shaped it all—proof community crowns kings. As the holiday special twinkles without goodbyes, remember: DWTS isn’t just steps; it’s stories that stick.

Which couple’s journey moved you most this season? Drop your thoughts below—we’d love to hear³!

References

1. Wikipedia. (2025). Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) Season 34. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_with_the_Stars_(American_TV_series)_season_34. Detailed timeline, cast bios, and voting mechanics for factual context. ↩︎
2. People.com. (2025). Dancing With the Stars Live Updates: 6 Semi-Finalists Fight for the Finale. Retrieved from people.com/dancing-with-the-stars-live-updates-6-semi-finalists-fight-for-the-finale-11851982. Real-time play-by-play of performances, scores, and tension leading to elimination. ↩︎
3. Reddit. (Ongoing). r/dancingwiththestars Community. Retrieved from. reddit.com/r/dancingwiththestars/. Fan discussions, predictions, and reactions that capture the passionate, debate-driven audience. ↩︎