Dancing with the Stars eliminated AJ McLean and his professional partner Cheryl Burke from the Season 29 competition on "Icons Night" during Monday night's episode on ABC.
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Dancing with the Stars judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli -- who seemed to agree the results were surprising and unexpected -- were then able to vote to save one of the bottom-two couples from elimination.
Bruno voted to save Johnny and Britt, but then Derek voted to keep AJ and Cheryl on the show. Carrie Ann had to cast the tiebreaker vote and decided to save Johnny and Britt.
"You know what? This has been one hell of ride," AJ said after his elimination. "And I could not have picked a better partner to go on this journey with. So thank everybody at home and thank [you, judges]."
Prior to AJ and Cheryl's ouster, each of the seven remaining celebrity and professional pairings performed a new dance on "Icons Nights" inspired by their favorite musical icons in pop, rock, hip-hop and R&B.
The couples also participated in a Dance Off round in which two couples danced at a time side-by-side in attempt to win two bonus points from the Dancing with the Stars judges.
Two couples topped the judges' leaderboard in first place after they received 30 out of 32 possible points from the Dancing with the Stars judges: The Bachelorette's Season 11 star Kaitlyn Bristowe and partner Artem Chigvintsev as well as Johnny and Britt.
Kaitlyn and Artem earned a perfect score from the judges for their first dance of the night -- an Argentine tango influenced by pop icon Britney Spears.
Derek said Kaitlyn had lacked "impact" in her dances up until Monday night's show and she executed "exquisite lines," and Bruno noted it was "a star performance" and she had more focus and intensity than ever.
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Carrie Ann acknowledged it had been a rough couple of weeks, but then she gave the reality TV star a standing ovation and said Kaitlyn had reached her "ultimate" in the competition and the performed with passion.
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"Everything we've been wanting from you was in this routine!" Carrie Ann gushed.
Johnny and Britt received 30 points from the judges after paying tribute to the late singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse through their quickstep performance.
Bruno said Johnny and Britt's quickstep was "excellent" -- light of touch, precise and beautiful.
Neither Kaitlyn or Johnny won their respective Dance Offs.
Disney Channel actress Skai Jackson and partner Alan Bersten finished the night tied for third place at 29 total points on the judges' leaderboard with Catfish creator and host Nev Schulman and partner Jenna Johnson.
Skai and Alan first took the stage with a 27-point worthy paso doble in honor of Skai's musical icon, singer Janet Jackson.
Carrie Ann said Skai's dance "channeled a new fierce" and was "amazing," and Bruno pointed out it was a very "grown-up dance" for the young actress. Derek just advised Skai to watch her arms going forward.
Skai and Alan also earned themselves two bonus points for defeating rapper Nelly and partner Daniella Karagach in a salsa Dance Off.
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Nev and Jenna also received 27 points from the judges after they embraced the style of Elton John and danced the jive in the ballroom.
Derek said he would've liked a little more "pump and action" in the jive but it was a job well done, and Bruno complimented the theatricality of Nev's performance. Carrie Ann, however, reminded Nev to point his toes.
Since Nev and Jenna finished last week's show tied at the top of the judges' leaderboard and have the highest cumulative scores across the season as of last week, the pair won immunity from the Dance Off and didn't have to compete in the second round at all.
Nev and Jenna received an automatic two points for the Dance Off since they were immune.
Actress Justina Machado and partner Sasha Farber finished in fifth place on the judges' leaderboard with a total of 26 points.
Justina and Sasha danced a rumba in which Justina channeled pop icon Madonna, and they earned 24 points for the routine.
Derek complimented Justina's beautiful rumba and turns, but he was also expected more sharp and punchy movements to offset the gentle, sweeping motions.
Justina and Sasha also received two bonus points in the Dance Off round after defeating Kaitlyn and Artem in a cha cha faceoff.
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AJ and Cheryl landed in sixth place on the leaderboard with 25 total points.
The couple initially received 23 points for their Viennese waltz inspired by lead singer Freddie Mercury from Queen.
Carrie Ann called it "a tough one" because there was "a bad series of events that happened" with AJ messing up a couple of arm movements and then forgetting a few seconds of choreography.
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And finally, Nelly and Daniella fell to seventh -- and last -- place on the judges' leaderboard with 24 total points.
Nelly and Daniella first took the stage with a jazz routine in honor of the late Tupac, a rapper and actor, and received 24 judges' points for it.
Bruno said Nelly was cool, calm and confident but needed to dance for the public and not keep it in his mind. Bruno also pointed out he had missed a couple of steps.
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Nelly and Daniella failed to win their Dance Off, so they were unable to collect any additional points.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
