Dancing with the Stars Season 35 introduced its first-ever “Super Bowl Night” on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The episode brought football and halftime show culture to the ballroom floor. Airing live on ABC and Disney+, the Week 5 episode featured the remaining 11 celebrity and professional pairs. They performed high-energy routines inspired by iconic Super Bowl halftime performances.
The themed evening followed the Week 4 “Mariah Carey Night” elimination. That episode saw reality star Ciara Miller and her professional partner, Brandon Armstrong, leave the competition. With 11 couples remaining, the competition tightened. Stars tackled styles ranging from the samba and salsa to the tango and paso doble.
Week 5 Super Bowl Night Songs and Dance Styles
The celebrity contestants and their professional partners prepared specialized routines. These dances matched tracks made famous by legendary halftime headliners:
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov: Samba to “Mi Gente” by J Balvin and Willy William
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold: Samba to “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach: Salsa to “Hot in Herre” by Nelly
- Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson: Salsa to “Tití Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson: Samba to “Yeah!” by Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater: Salsa to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy: Paso Doble to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: Jazz to “Jenny From the Block [Track Masters Remix]” by Jennifer Lopez ft. Jadakiss and Styles P
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: Tango to “Only Girl (In the World)” by Rihanna
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: Salsa to “Squabble Up” by Kendrick Lamar
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess: Jazz to “The Time (Dirty Bit)” by Black Eyed Peas
Special Guest Judge and NFL Appearances
To honor the football theme, Monday Night Football broadcaster Joe Buck joined the ballroom as a guest judge. Buck is set to call his seventh Super Bowl. That game airs on ABC and ESPN on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2027.
Buck made his judging debut on the panel. The episode also welcomed several NFL legends who are former Dancing with the Stars contestants and champions. Donald Driver, Emmitt Smith, DeMarcus Ware, and Danny Amendola made special appearances. Driver and Smith previously won the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during their respective seasons.
Opening Numbers and Pro Routines
The evening began with a large opening number. The cast performed to a medley of “NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny, “Rude Boy” by Rihanna, and “HUMBLE.” by Kendrick Lamar.
Professional and troupe dancers performed additional routines. These dances were set to sports and pop tracks, including “It’s Heavy Action (Monday Night Football Theme)” by APM, Chris Stapleton’s rendition of “In The Air Tonight,” and Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious.”
Fans can stream episodes the day after they air on Hulu.
