Dancing with the Stars turned the ballroom into a Mariah Carey celebration this week, with the remaining celebrities taking on some of the singer’s biggest hits as they fight for a spot in the next round.
Week 4 brought emotional performances, unexpected breakthroughs and a few disappointing scores as the competition for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy continued to heat up.
With every point becoming increasingly important, the pressure was especially high for contestants who struggled during the previous week.
Maura Higgins Takes the Lead
Maura Higgins delivered one of the biggest performances of the night alongside Mark Ballas.
The pair performed a Viennese waltz to Mariah Carey’s “If It’s Over,” and Maura appeared noticeably more confident after receiving an 8 from the judges the previous week.
Her performance earned plenty of praise.
Carrie Ann Inaba said the routine moved her emotionally and felt like it transported her somewhere else. Derek Hough described it as a classic waltz that relied on pure ballroom technique rather than gimmicks.
Bruno Tonioli also praised Maura’s musicality.
The judges rewarded the performance with 25 out of 30, giving Maura one of the strongest scores of the evening.
Harry Shum Jr. Keeps His Momentum Going
Harry Shum Jr. also continued to establish himself as one of the season’s strongest contenders.
Partnered with Jenna Johnson, Harry performed a tango to “It’s Like That,” a song that has an especially personal connection for him because he appeared in the original music video.
Despite having to balance his Grey’s Anatomy schedule with rehearsals, Harry brought plenty of energy to the ballroom.
Carrie Ann called the performance masterful, while Derek praised Harry’s sharpness, precision and willingness to take risks.
Bruno described it as a red-hot tango.
Harry and Jenna finished with 24 out of 30.
Jenna Dewan Finds Her Breakthrough Moment
Jenna Dewan entered the night determined to bounce back after a frustrating week.
With Val Chmerkovskiy, she performed a rumba to “My All.”
Val encouraged Jenna to relax and allow him to lead, something she admitted was difficult because of her natural tendency to give everything she has to a performance.
This time, however, the approach worked.
Derek was particularly impressed, saying he felt this was the first time he had truly seen Jenna emerge as a competitor in the ballroom.
Bruno praised her artistry, while Carrie Ann highlighted the transformation she has shown throughout the competition.
The performance earned 24 out of 30.
Ezra Frech Scores His Best of the Season
Paralympic athlete Ezra Frech had another reason to celebrate.
Dancing with Daniella Karagach, Ezra performed a rumba to “Anytime You Need a Friend.”
The slower routine required him to show a different side of his dancing, but Ezra embraced the challenge.
Bruno praised his charisma and called him a convincing Latin performer. Carrie Ann was equally impressed, while Derek highlighted Ezra’s sophistication and technique.
The result was 24 out of 30, his best score of the competition so far.
Ezra was visibly thrilled with the result.
Tyler Cameron Turns an Emotional Story Into a Strong Performance
One of the most emotional moments of the night came from Tyler Cameron.
Before performing, Tyler opened up about losing his mother to a brain aneurysm in 2020. He explained that she had always dreamed of seeing him compete on Dancing with the Stars.
That motivation carried into his foxtrot with Sharna Burgess.
The couple danced to “#Beautiful,” Mariah Carey’s collaboration with Miguel, and Tyler showed significant improvement compared with his previous performances.
Bruno praised his elegance and called the improvement remarkable.
Carrie Ann told Tyler that his mother would be proud, while Derek became emotional while discussing the personal story behind the performance.
Tyler received 21 out of 30.
Ciara Miller Finally Gets the Boost She Wanted
Ciara Miller was hoping to escape the string of scores in the 6s that had frustrated her during the previous week.
With Brandon Armstrong, she performed a jazz routine to “Emotions.”
The routine used a classroom setting to tell a playful story about two students developing a romance.
The concept gave Ciara plenty of opportunities to show personality while also demonstrating stronger technique.
Derek called it a great way to start the show, while Bruno praised the chemistry and synchronization.
Carrie Ann went even further, calling it Ciara’s best dance of the season.
Ciara finished with 21 out of 30.
Jackson Olson Shows Improvement on His Birthday
Jackson Olson and Emma Slater took on the waltz with “Without You.”
The performance came on Jackson’s birthday, adding an extra emotional element to the routine.
Emma had spent the week reminding Jackson to slow down and avoid rushing through the choreography.
The difference was noticeable.
Bruno said Jackson connected with the music and appeared more comfortable on the floor. Carrie Ann was happy to see him rediscover his enjoyment of dancing.
Derek also praised his improved arm movement while offering a few technical adjustments.
Jackson earned 21 out of 30.
Tatyana Ali Brings Energy to “Fantasy”
Tatyana Ali described performing to Mariah Carey as a dream come true, and she certainly embraced the opportunity.
Partnered with Jan Ravnik, Tatyana performed a jazz routine to “Fantasy.”
The routine included increasingly difficult choreography, including flips, as Jan pushed Tatyana to become more confident.
Carrie Ann praised her storytelling but wanted more power from the jazz movements.
Derek said Tatyana was blossoming but also encouraged her to make her transitions stronger.
Bruno enjoyed the playful performance but believed she could push herself even further.
The judges awarded 20 out of 30.
Guillermo Rodriguez Takes a Step Back
Guillermo Rodriguez brought his usual personality to the ballroom, but the judges weren’t as enthusiastic about his performance this week.
He and Witney Carson performed a samba to “Obsessed.”
The routine featured plenty of attitude, cameras and playful moments that fit Guillermo’s personality.
Derek admitted that the performance wasn’t exactly a traditional samba but said it was unmistakably Guillermo.
Bruno understood why Guillermo has become such a fan favorite.
Carrie Ann, however, felt that something was missing from the performance and questioned where his usual joy had gone.
Guillermo received just 13 out of 30, putting him in a vulnerable position.
Who Could Be in Trouble?
With the judges’ scores in, the leaderboard began to reveal a clear divide.
Maura Higgins emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners with 25 points, while Harry Shum Jr., Jenna Dewan and Ezra Frech each finished on 24.
At the other end of the leaderboard, Guillermo Rodriguez’s 13 points put him under serious pressure.
But Dancing with the Stars eliminations aren’t determined by judges’ scores alone. Viewer voting can dramatically change the outcome, meaning even a contestant near the bottom isn’t necessarily guaranteed to go home.
That makes the elimination one of the most unpredictable moments of the night.
Mariah Carey Night Raises the Stakes
With the competition becoming more intense each week, the Mariah Carey theme gave the celebrities a chance to show both their technical growth and personality.
For some contestants, Week 4 represented a breakthrough.
For others, it exposed weaknesses that could become difficult to overcome as the season progresses.
Maura, Harry, Jenna and Ezra strengthened their cases as serious contenders, while Guillermo now faces a much more uncertain road ahead.
The biggest question remains: Will the judges’ leaderboard match the audience vote when it’s time to decide who stays and who goes home?
For fans, that’s where the real drama begins.
