Jamie Lynn Spears goes home in shocking Week 2 ‘DWTS’ elimination
“Dancing With the Stars” featured a shocking elimination Tuesday night.
In just the second week of the ABC celebrity dance competition, one of the show’s biggest stars was sent home: “Zoey 101” star Jamie Lynn Spears, sister of pop star Britney Spears.
Even the celebrity judges could not hide their shock at seeing Spears, 32, eliminated after her cha cha with pro dancer Alan Bersten, which earned respectable judge scores.
But when the viewer votes were tallied, Spears and Bersten were among the bottom two in danger of elimination along with football star Adrian Peterson and pro partner Britt Stewart.
Then “DWTS” host Alfonso Ribeiro dropped the bomb and announced Spears was indeed headed home.
“Honestly, it’s quite surprising,” judge Derek Hough said. stumbling for words after the blindsiding elimination. “Jamie Lynn you were fantastic. It’s just, wow. It’s a shocker, honestly.”
The “Sweet Magnolias” star showed determination during her first two weeks of dances but lacked confidence, judges pointed out. “The judges could tell I was doubting myself,” Spears said during her pre-dance taped interview segment Tuesday. “I can do better.”
Spears did improve. The mother of two also said that as a “softball mom,” performing a sultry Latin dance might be out of her league. “Being a softball mom is not sexy,” she said.
The judges disagreed with Spears’ personal assessment.
“I beg to differ, I think softball moms are hot,” said Hough, adding that Tuesday night’s dance number was “a big improvement from last week.”
Judge Bruno Tonioli pointed out Spears was just starting to “come out of your shell.”
During an awkward stage interview in front of a stunned studio audience − as the couple dealt with the elimination shock − Spears said she felt worse for her partner Bersten. She could be heard saying, “I’m so sorry” to Bersten right after the elimination. “I hate it for him the most, thank you Alan,” said Spears as she hugged Bersten.
Spears added that being on “DWTS” with no experience was “doing something I never thought I’d do my whole life.”