Wicked Night sends Scott Hoying home — and he leaves on a grateful note
Dancing with the Stars closed its “Wicked Night” with Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying and pro partner Rylee Arnold exiting the competition. In the ballroom and immediately afterward, Hoying stayed upbeat, emphasizing gratitude, friendship, and perspective. He summed up the season with a line that echoed through the press line: “I feel really, really really lucky.”
Scott Hoying reacts to elimination
Speaking to Extra’s Sadie Murray after the show, Hoying described how the experience reshaped his expectations and routine. Gesturing toward Rylee Arnold, he said, “I have literally made a best friend.” He elaborated on the sense of community he found each week, noting that it “felt like a family,” that he “felt so welcome,” and that “every single day felt like such a special experience.” He acknowledged the emotion of the night, adding that he was “so sad to go,” even as he kept returning to the same theme: he felt “really, really really lucky.”
The partnership itself was the anchor for his reaction. Calling out moments of growth in rehearsal and performance, Hoying credited Arnold for helping him push past nerves and uncertainty. While the live result cut his run short, his post-show tone never wavered from appreciation. He highlighted how the weekly schedule forced him to learn quickly, to accept notes, and to recover between live shows—skills he said would follow him back into his touring life.
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A season highlight: sharing baby news on live TV
When asked to pinpoint a favorite memory, Hoying didn’t cite a score or a trick. Instead, he returned to a personal milestone: “My husband and I were standing face to face announcing our baby on this show,” he said, calling the moment “more than I could have ever dreamed for.” That on‑air announcement helped frame the season not only as a competition but also as a chapter in his family story.
‘Wicked Night’ and guest judge Jon M. Chu
“Wicked Night” featured filmmaker Jon M. Chu as a guest judge. Hoying—who is a longtime admirer—lit up when the director’s name came up. “I’m such a big fan of Jon… like read his book fan,” he said, praising him as “a true artist.” In candid fashion, Hoying admitted that the timing of his exit, in front of Chu, was “not amazing.” He then joked that he “accidentally manifested” it because he kept saying online, “I love ‘Wicked’ so much… Please get me to ‘Wicked’ night,” before quipping, “I should have said ’to the end.’”
Theme nights can heighten the stakes. The ballroom’s green‑hued lighting, the orchestral swells, and the overt nods to Oz raise expectations on performance quality and storytelling. For a contestant like Hoying—known first as a vocalist—it also narrows the margin for error: the night’s theatrical tone spotlights body lines, transitions, and character beats that seasoned pros make look effortless. That’s the context in which viewers watched his elimination unfold.
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What comes next: Pentatonix and a “silver lining”
Looking forward, Hoying plans to rejoin Pentatonix on the road. He explained that trying to rehearse the show while preparing to tour left him juggling two full‑time schedules, saying he had been “stressing” and “losing sleep.” With the competition behind him, he framed the exit as a positive: “the silver lining is I can dive into that.” For fans, that means the next time they see him will likely be on a concert stage rather than the ballroom floor.
His remarks also underline a persistent tension for celebrity contestants with active careers: the production calendar doesn’t pause. Tours, album cycles, film shoots, and press obligations can collide with the show’s rehearsal demands and Monday‑Tuesday taping cadence. When that workload lands on a theme week, choices can get even tougher.
Contestants and creatives mentioned (from this week’s coverage)
- Scott Hoying — Pentatonix singer; Season 34 contestant eliminated on “Wicked Night.”
- Rylee Arnold — professional dancer and Hoying’s partner for Season 34.
- Jon M. Chu — guest judge for “Wicked Night”; film director of Wicked.
- Sadie Murray — Extra correspondent who interviewed Hoying post‑show.
How the night fits into Season 34
Analysis: Results nights often pivot on two levers—judges’ scores and viewer votes. Theme episodes can push fan engagement higher, but they also create sharp peaks in difficulty. This week’s outcome signals that small score gaps and big audience swings will matter more with each passing round. The door is open for the remaining couples to surge on their best‑fit themes and survive the tougher weeks by banking votes and minimizing mistakes. No additional names or scores are introduced here beyond those already cited.
Why Hoying’s reaction resonated
Plenty of contestants exit emotionally. Hoying’s reaction stands out because it centers gratitude over grievance. He repeatedly returned to the bond with his partner—“a best friend”—and the community in the ballroom—“it felt like a family.” That tone tracks with the way he and Rylee carried themselves in rehearsal packages and onstage. It also points to how some exits can feel like a handoff rather than a hard stop: the skills and memories move with the artist to the next stage, whether that’s a studio, a set, or a tour bus.
Where and when to watch Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S. Check local listings for any preemptions or time‑zone variations. This section provides general viewing guidance only and does not add new claims about specific episode content.
Conclusion: a “Wicked Night” chapter, a tour‑ready tomorrow
“Wicked Night” closed the book on Scott Hoying’s run. His comments capture the balance between the sting of leaving and the pride of performing under bright lights in front of a filmmaker he admires. He leaves with a partner he calls “a best friend,” with a milestone family announcement shared on live TV, and with the clarity to “dive” into Pentatonix duties. For Dancing with the Stars, the elimination tightens the field; for Hoying, it’s a bridge to the next stage.
Watch the exclusive post‑show interview on Extra.
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