LOS ANGELES — Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis made her Dancing With the Stars Season 35 debut on September 16, 2026, scoring 16 out of 30 for a tango to “Venus” by Shocking Blue with professional partner Alan Bersten.
What to know
The Food Network star performed during Premiere Night 2, when the female celebrities danced to No. 1 songs from their birth years. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli awarded scores of 6, 5 and 5 respectively.
De Laurentiis appeared nervous but completed the choreography cleanly. Bersten incorporated light cooking-themed moments into the routine, playing to her public persona as a chef.
She advanced past the first elimination and will compete again next week.
Based on official scores from the September 16, 2026, episode of Dancing With the Stars.
