Author: Minyvonne Burke

(ABC)

Willow Shields and her partner Mark Ballas nabbed the highest score on Monday’s “Dancing With the Stars” for their stunning contemporary routine to “Atlas” by Coldplay. Shields and Ballas were just one point shy of getting a perfect score. Watch the video below.

Monday’s theme on “Dancing With the Stars” was “My Most Memorable Year,” and Shields dedicated her performance to 2011 when she landed the role as Primrose Everdeen in The Hunger Games. Len Goodman called her routine “fantastic,” and Carrie Ann Inaba excitedly exclaimed, “Bravo!” She added, “Everything about that was pitch perfect. I was blown away.”

Bruno Tonioli told Shields, “It’s a triumph for my little warrior. You’re fierce and fearless. It’s great to see somebody so young doing so well.” And Julianne Hough called her dancing “incredible” and noted that it “makes me so proud.” After receiving excellent reviews from the judges, Sheilds and Ballas nabbed a total score of 39 out of 40.

That’s a huge improvement from last week when the pair found themselves in the middle of the pack with 32 points. Watch the video below of Shieds and Ballas’ near perfect contemporary dance, and tell us what you think.

(ABC)

Michael Sam and Peta Murgatroyd were the third pair eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars” after receiving the lowest number of votes for last week’s dance routine. See the video below of their elimination.

The bottom three strictly by the judges were Patti LaBelle and Artem Chigvintsev with the lowest score of 22, followed by Sam and Murgatroyd with a score of 24, and then Suzanne Somers and Tony Dovolani with 25. But by fan votes, the bottom three were Sam and Murgatroyd, Willow Shields and Mark Ballas, and incredibly Riker Lynch and Allison Holker. Lynch and Holker, by the judges’ scores, were last week’s leaders.

As Gossip Cop reported, Lynch and Holker were on the top of the scoreboard with Nastia Liukin and Derek Hough. Both dancing pairs earned 34 out of 40 points. Trailing right behind them were Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy.

In the end, Michael Sam and Peta Murgatroyd were sent home. Last week, Charlotte McKinney was eliminated, and before her was crowd favorite Redfoo, who was the first contestant to be voted off the show. What do you think about Michael Sam and Peta Murgatroyd being the third couple eliminated on “Dancing With the Stars?” Watch video below of Michael Sam’s elimination.

(ABC)

Rumer Willis scored well with her waltz to Adele’s “Turning Tables” on Monday’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Willis and partner Val Chmerkovskiy have consistently impressed the judges week after week, and again definitely didn’t disappoint. Watch the video below.

On “My Most Memorable Year”-themed night, Willis chose 2014. While fighting back tears, Willis explained that she dealt with a lot of bullying, but finally learned last year to love herself and ignore all the hateful comments.

Len Goodman told Willis that it was “a great dance,” but felt it was too “contemporary.” Carrie Ann Inaba said, “There’s something so powerful about the way you dance.” She added, “I love the way you dance.” Julianne Hough told Willis, “You are so strong, and so beautiful. When you dance, you’re dancing for every girl.” And Bruno Tonioli exclaimed, “That was like watching the striking reflection of who you really are.”

After receiving rave reviews from the judges, the pair earned a score of 35 out of 40. Last week, Willis and Chmerkovskiy came in second place for their routine to Gloria Estefan’s “Turn the Beat Around.” Check out the video below of Willis’ waltz on “Dancing With the Stars,” and tell us what you think!