Musician Taylor Hanson and his professional partner, Britt Stewart, were eliminated from Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars on September 29, 2026. Their exit followed a Week 3 performance during the show’s popular “Yacht Rock Night.”
The duo performed a foxtrot to “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers, earning a score of 18 out of 30 from the judges. This score marked an improvement over their previous weeks-they scored 16 in the season opener and 15 during “Viral Hits Night”-but it placed them in the lower tier of the leaderboard. When combined with viewer votes, the results landed Hanson and Stewart in the bottom group, cutting their journey short.
Reflecting on a Memorable Run
Despite the early exit, Hanson expressed deep gratitude for his time in the ballroom. He emphasized how stepping completely out of his comfort zone tested him physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“This has been everything, this has been incredible,” Hanson said following his elimination. “She’s shown me things I didn’t think were possible, and I’m so grateful for this time.”
Britt Stewart echoed her partner’s sentiments, praising his dedication and the hard work he poured into rehearsals. Hanson is best known as a member of the band Hanson, alongside his brothers Isaac and Zac. Throughout the short season, he credited his decades-long background as a musician as a helpful tool for keeping rhythm, even though learning intricate ballroom footwork from scratch remained a steep challenge.
Yacht Rock Night Leaderboard and Elimination Details
During Yacht Rock Night, the remaining couples danced to smooth soft-rock classics and iconic 1970s and 1980s grooves. Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn and partner Pasha Pashkov topped the leaderboard alongside actor Harry Shum Jr. and partner Jenna Johnson. Both couples pulled in an impressive 24 out of 30.
At the other end of the spectrum, Jimmy Kimmel Live! star Guillermo Rodriguez and partner Witney Carson finished at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard with 15 points. Strong viewer support saved Rodriguez from elimination. This left Hanson, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez in the bottom danger zone before Hanson’s departure was finalized.
Season 35 Elimination History
Hanson is the fourth celebrity contestant sent home during Season 35 of the ABC competition series. Previous eliminations included:
- Conner Leavitt and pro Adele Zaikman (Week 1)
- Sarah Jane Nader and pro Hailey Bills (Week 1)
- Giada De Laurentiis and pro Alan Bersten (Week 2)
With Hanson’s departure, 12 celebrity couples remain in the running to capture the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy as the competition shifts focus toward upcoming theme nights.
