Robert Irwin and Whitney Leavitt tied for the highest scores on the Dancing with the Stars Season 34 premiere, which aired on September 16, 2025. Both couples earned a score of 15 out of a possible 20, topping the leaderboard for the first week.
The mirrorball trophy race has officially begun. The Season 34 premiere of “Dancing with the Stars“ aired tonight, and it was a night of high energy, emotional moments, and a surprising tie for the top of the leaderboard.
In a nail-biting finish, wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and reality star Whitney Leavitt both earned a score of 15 out of 20, setting the stage for a tight competition.
The premiere, which introduced all 14 celebrity contestants and their professional partners, saw returning hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, alongside judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba was notably absent from the panel due to illness, but the remaining judges’ scores provided a clear picture of who impressed and who has work to do.
A Tale of Two Top Scores: The Jive and the Tango
Both Robert Irwin and Whitney Leavitt wowed the judges with their routines.
Robert Irwin, following in the footsteps of his sister, Season 21 winner Bindi Irwin, performed a high-energy jive with partner Witney Carson to “Born to be Wild.” The judges were effusive in their praise, with Derek Hough calling it “probably the best first dance I have ever seen on this show.”
Their performance earned an impressive score of 15 (8 from Derek, 7 from Bruno), a fitting start for an Irwin on the show. Robert noted that he was “doing it for his family,” a sentiment that resonated with the audience.
Meanwhile, reality star Whitney Leavitt delivered a powerful tango to “Golden” from the Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters with her partner Mark Ballas.
Her routine was initially scored as a 14, but it was later revealed that Bruno Tonioli’s input had a momentary error, and her score was correctly raised to a 15 (7 from Derek, 8 from Bruno), putting her in a dead heat with Irwin.
The Rest of the Ballroom: Who Stood Out and Who Slipped
While Irwin and Leavitt dominated the top, other celebrities made strong impressions.
- Hilaria Baldwin and her partner Gleb Savchenko earned a solid 14 for their cha-cha, with judges praising her sharp and precise movements.
- Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui and social media star Alix Earle both landed in the middle of the pack, tying with a score of 13 for their respective dances.
- The lowest scores of the night were a tie between comedian Andy Richter and actor Corey Feldman, both of whom scored a 9. Richter’s cha-cha was noted for its comedic moments, while Feldman’s tango left a lot to be desired.
No Elimination, But Double the Stakes
In a move that’s becoming a tradition for the premiere, there was no elimination on the first night. All 14 couples will be returning next week, but with the added pressure of a looming double elimination.
The stakes are high, as the scores from the first two weeks will combine with fan votes to determine which two couples will be the first to leave the competition.
Week 1 Full Leaderboard:
- Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: 15/20
- Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: 15/20
- Hilaria Baldwin & Gleb Savchenko: 14/20
- Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: 13/20
- Lauren Jauregui & Brandon Armstrong: 13/20
- Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: 12/20
- Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov: 12/20
- Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik: 12/20
- Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: 10/20
- Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: 10/20
- Baron Davis & Britt Stewart: 10/20
- Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold: 10/20
- Corey Feldman & Jenna Johnson: 9/20
- Andy Richter & Emma Slater: 9/20
The first week of Season 34 has set a thrilling pace, with the competition already heating up. As the show moves on, viewers will be watching to see if Robert Irwin can continue his family’s legacy and if a surprise contender will emerge to challenge the early front-runners.
