Week 9

Grammy Week turned up the volume in the ballroom, and the race to the Top 6 Semifinals delivered both glittering highs and a stunning departure. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson set the standard with a night-high 31 from the judges, while Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov scored 30 and Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas posted 29, with both couples securing crucial challenge wins. But the evening’s biggest shockwave came at the buzzer: despite earning a sterling 30 from the judges and winning their challenge, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy were sent packing.

That elimination dealt a crushing blow to Husbands with Opinions. Denied the 15-point semifinal milestone bonus on Jenna, Paul and Max managed just 122 points for the week, even with Maura’s 47-point night and Ezra Frech adding a solid 42. In contrast, The Better Halves ran the table with all four couples advancing to the penultimate round. Amber Glenn topped the fantasy board with 48 points, Harry Shum Jr. delivered 46, and Tatyana Ali and Connor Wood chipped in 42 apiece. That balanced assault fueled a monstrous 178-point frame and a decisive 56-point weekly swing for Beth and Aiden.

The runaway victory widens The Better Halves' season advantage to 1578 points against 1449 for Husbands with Opinions. Down 129 points and a dancer heading into the semifinals, Paul and Max face a steep uphill climb, where only flawless routines from their remaining pairs can keep their championship hopes alive.